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Families in Israel and abroad wait in agony for word of their loved ones taken hostages by militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

TEL AVIV (AP) — One of those taken hostage is a grandmother who learned Arabic in hopes of building bridges with her neighbors. Others include 11 members of an extended family, one an elderly man in a wheelchair who requires hospital care. Still another is a nurse who delivered thousands of babies over the years to parents both Israeli and Palestinian.All are among roughly 150 people abducted by Hamas militants early Saturday during sweeping raids on Israeli towns and villages near the heavily fortified border with the Gaza Strip. They include citizens of Brazil, Britain, Italy, the Philippines and the United States, as well as many Israelis. The number of hostages, provided by Hamas and Israeli officials, has not been independently confirmed.Militants have vowed to start killing hostages if Israel’s airstrikes target civilians inside Gaza without first providing a warning allowing them to flee. It has placed the families and friends of those taken in a terrifying and desperate situ...

What was Hamas thinking? For over three decades, it has had the same brutal idea of victory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — In the three and a half decades since it began as an underground militant group, Hamas has pursued a consistently violent strategy aimed at rolling back Israeli rule — and it has made steady progress despite bringing enormous suffering to both sides of the conflict.But its stunning incursion into Israel over the weekend marks its deadliest gambit yet, and the already unprecedented response from Israel threatens to bring an end to its 16-year rule over the Gaza Strip.Israel’s retaliation for the Hamas assault, in which over 1,200 people were killed in Israel and dozens dragged into Gaza as hostages, will likely bring a far greater magnitude of death and destruction to Gaza, where 2.3 million Palestinians have nowhere to flee and where 1,100 have already been killed.Hamas officials say they are prepared for any scenario, including a drawn-out war, and that allies like Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah will join the battle if Israel goes too far.“I don’t t...

‘Turtleboy’ blogger charged with witness intimidation in murder case in Massachusetts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

STOUGHTON, Mass. (AP) — A confrontational blogger known as “Turtleboy” was charged Wednesday with witness intimidation and conspiracy related to a criminal case against a woman accused of running over and killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, with her vehicle.Aidan Timothy Kearney wore a hoody emblazoned with the message “Free Karen Read” when he was led handcuffed into a courthouse to be arraigned on multiple counts of intimidation of a witness, juror or law enforcement official, and a single count of conspiracy.Kearney, who pleaded not guilty, was released on personal recognizance — with a requirement that he not have contact with people tied to Read’s murder case.Saying his client “vehemently denies” the accusations, Kearney’s lawyer told the judge Wednesday that Kearney’s opinions were protected by the First Amendment.The charges in Stoughton District Court stemmed from Kearney’s advocacy on behalf of Read, who’s accused of running o...

Purchase of old ship yard from port operator put on hold amid questions from state financing panel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Plans by the Port of South Louisiana to purchase what was once a major New Orleans area shipyard for construction of military vessels have been delayed. The port announced in January its intent to purchase the old Avondale Shipyard site from the current owner, port terminal operator T. Parker Host. However, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported Wednesday that the purchase has been put off after port officials faced questions last month from the state Bond Commission. Members of the commission, which must approve government debt, had noted that the port had not provided detailed accounts of Host’s revenue at Avondale for previous years. Host bought the site in 2018, roughly four years after the shipyard that once employed thousands was shuttered. The proposed purchase would require more than $400 million in public financing.“With the full cooperation of the seller, we believe the delay is warranted to thoroughly consider points raised by the state Bo...

Leaks of secret information ‘happen often,’ lawyer for ex-RCMP official tells court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

OTTAWA — A lawyer for a former RCMP intelligence official accused of breaching Canada’s secrets law is suggesting federal leaks of sensitive information happen often.Mark Ertel, who represents Cameron Jay Ortis, made the comments while cross-examining RCMP Sgt. Peter Neily, who took part in the police force’s investigation of Ortis.Ortis, 51, is charged with violating the Security of Information Act by allegedly revealing secrets to three individuals in 2015 and trying to do so in a fourth instance, as well as breach of trust and a computer-related offence.He has pleaded not guilty to all charges in Ontario Superior Court.Neily told the court today about how he personally followed up with business people who allegedly received offers of secret information from an unknown sender.The Crown is trying to make the case that Ortis was behind the overtures, ultimately breaching the Security of Information Act.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2023.T...

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy joins a meeting of global defense leaders to make a direct plea for military aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined a meeting of more than 50 defense leaders from around the world, making a personal pitch Wednesday for military aid in the face of lagging political support in the United States and new pressure on allies to send weapons to bolster Israel’s war with Hamas.His presence underscored growing concerns about cracks in what has been staunch international backing for Kyiv in its war against Russia’s invasion, and worries that Ukrainian forces haven’t made measurable progress in the counteroffensive as winter closes in.Asked about concerns that Ukraine could get less military support because of the Mideast conflict, Zelenskyy said there is a “very understandable volume” that the U.S. and Europe can provide. Zelenskyy said he has asked that question himself, adding he thinks nobody really knows but he is still assuming U.S. and European support.As for the Israel complication, “of course, everybody’s afraid, and I t...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits fire-ravaged parts of Northwest Territories

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

HAY RIVER, N.W.T. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has begun a tour of parts of the Northwest Territories that were ravaged by a record wildfire season.Trudeau, along with local politicians, walked up residential driveways in the community of Enterprise to see the burned-out remains of homes and melted vehicles.Chaal Cadieux, a foreman with the hamlet of about 100 people, told the prime minister that everyone got out safely.A fast-moving wildfire in August tore through Enterprise, destroying nearly all its homes and structures.About 20 people have returned, but many are staying elsewhere in the territory and other parts of Canada.Cadieux says his family is now renting a place about 40 kilometres away in Hay River, where Trudeau is set to visit later in the day.As Trudeau and Cadieux walked over to a charred skidoo trailer and swing set, Trudeau asked about something on the ground. Cadieux said it was for a zip line.“I know that hitch,” Trudeau said Wednesday.The territory saw nearly ...

Major Canadian grocers won’t confirm discounts, price freezes feds promised last week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

OTTAWA — Major grocers in Canada are not yet confirming whether they have committed to special promotions to stabilize grocery prices, as was recently promised by the federal government. Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced last week that the grocers have presented initial plans to stabilize prices, which include discounts, price freezes and price-matching campaigns.The Canadian Press has reached out to the grocers —  Loblaw, Empire, Metro, Walmart and Costco — to confirm what exactly each of them has promised to do. Metro declined to comment, while Loblaw, Empire and Costco have not responded to requests for information. In a written response, a spokeswoman for Walmart Canada said the company plans to keep offering “every day low prices,” which refers to Walmart’s strategy of offering low prices on a regular basis, rather than on promotion only. “Last week, we shared with the government how we will continue to deliver every day low prices ...

Former NFL player Sergio Brown arrested in San Diego on murder warrant of mother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Former NFL player and Maywood native Sergio Brown is in custody for first-degree murder of his mother.Myrtle Simmons-Brown, 73, was discovered dead in a creek behind her home, in Maywood's 1000 block of Nichols Lane on Sept. 16. Police said Brown lived there as well.Last month, Maywood police have stopped short of naming Brown as a person of interest, but stated they’d like to talk to him. Both Brown and his mother were originally classified as missing persons.A photo of Myrtle Simmons-Brown (Courtesy: Christian A. Conway)Brown is a former safety for Notre Dame who played seven seasons in the NFL.He has been in U.S. custody since Tuesday in San Diego after re-entering the country from Mexico. A first-degree murder warrant was issued for his arrest, according to police.A few days after Simmons-Brown’s body was found, videos of Brown surfaced on social media, where he appeared to be outside of the United States.In one of the videos, Brown claimed to have been kidnapped twi...

Teresa Weatherspoon to become Chicago Sky's next coach, according to her agent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:53 GMT

The Chicago Sky have an agreement in place with Teresa Weatherspoon to make her their next coach, according to her agent, Richard Gray.He confirmed the news in a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday night.The Sky, who won the 2021 WNBA championship, have been searching for a new coach since James Wade left in the middle of the season to take an assistant job with the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Chicago announced at the end of the season, after it was eliminated from the playoffs by the Las Vegas Aces, that interim coach Emre Vatanseyer wouldn't return.The Athletic was first to report the negotiations with Weatherspoon.The Sky will hire a general manager separately. Wade and then Vatanseyer worked as both coach and GM, but the team announced after the season it would separate the positions like every other team in the WNBA now has.Weatherspoon returns to the WNBA after working with the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans since 2019. She first was a player development coach and then an a...