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Israeli media say death toll in Israel from Hamas attack rises to 900

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli media are reporting Monday that more than 900 people were killed in Hamas’ multi-pronged attack on the country’s south.The rising death toll comes as Israel has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, from which Hamas launched the onslaught.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Israel’s military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting deliveries of food, water, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of airstrikes in retaliation for the militants’ bloody weekend incursion.More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Israel’s vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard by Hamas, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades.Israeli tanks and drones were dep...

Misty Copeland’s dedication to inclusion spans many projects – and her push for new dance emojis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Misty Copeland has her hands (and feet!) in many different projects simultaneously, but all are motivated by her passion to use her platform to promote diversity in all the spaces she inhabits.The first Black woman to be promoted to principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre in 2015, Copeland says she never takes that opportunity for granted. Beyond performing, she says she feels a responsibility to show the importance of representation, and work on projects that are an extension of who she is as a dancer.Her influence has transcended the stage to author, head of her own production company and charitable foundation, and now co-founder and designer of a new athletic wear brand, Greatness Wins, that focuses on clothing for women of all ages and body types.Copeland also likes to try new things that scare her so she’s taken on the role of interviewer on a new show called “PBS Arts Talk,” where she recently interviewed painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn and dancer and cho...

For years, they trusted the army to defend and inform them. Now many Israelis feel abandoned

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — It was, they thought, an ironclad social contract. Israeli citizens would serve in the military and live along enemy borders. In exchange, the army would defend them.That contract was shattered Saturday when hundreds of Hamas militants breached Israel’s defenses from the Gaza Strip, pouring in by air, land and sea on a rampage that would leave hundreds dead. The infiltration caught Israel’s storied high-tech army completely unaware and stunned a country that prides itself on military prowess. Further shocking Israelis was how long it took the military to respond. As thousands in southern Israel suddenly found themselves besieged, their cries for help went unanswered for hours. Holed up inside homes and safe rooms as militants sprayed bullets, torched homes and hurled grenades, they turned in desperation to social media, to journalists and to friends, beseeching the army to save them. The weekend attacks and the military’s response brought an unsettling new sen...

IMF and World Bank pledge Africa focus at first meetings on the continent in 50 years

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — In the shadow of a deadly earthquake in Morocco that caused nearly $12 billion in damage, the world’s most powerful economic policymakers said they would focus on Africa as they work to grow and stabilizing the global economy during times of war, inequality and climate change.The International Monetary Fund and World Bank are holding their annual meetings in Africa for the first time in 50 years as they face a growing chorus of criticism that poorer nations are underrepresented at the two institutions. Both have recently said they plan to give Africa additional seats on their executive boards. The conference theme was clear Monday during the gathering in Marrakech, although definitive details had yet to be discussed.“We’re here, Africa,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on a panel with African entrepreneurs.Often lenders of last resort, the IMF and the World Bank use billions in loans and assistance to buoy struggling economies an...

Pakistan ‘extremely disappointed’ over Cricket World Cup visa delay by India for media and fans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistan Cricket Board has expressed “extreme disappointment” about a delay in the issuing of Indian visas to its country’s journalists and fans for the World Cup.The chairman of the PCB management committee, Zaka Ashraf, met with Pakistan foreign secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi on Monday and asked him to take up the matter with India’s home ministry through Pakistan’s high commission in New Delhi.“The PCB is extremely disappointed to see that journalists from Pakistan and fans are still facing uncertainty about obtaining an Indian visa,” it said in a statement.Around 50 Pakistan journalists, accredited by the International Cricket Council governing body, are uncertain when they will get their visas, with Pakistan scheduled to play its second game against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.The Pakistan team received its visas less than 36 hours before it was due to fly to Hyderabad via Dubai last month. The delay in the issuing of the player visa forced the PCB...

Guatemala’s attorney general asks authorities to act against pro-democracy protests

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s attorney general on Monday called for the government to act against largely peaceful protesters, who have taken to the streets for weeks demanding her resignation for what they say are clear attempts to undermine their nation’s democracy.Protests broke out in Guatemala two weeks ago following one of the most tumultuous elections in the country’s recent history. The protests are fueled by accusations that Attorney General Consuelo Porras has tried to prevent President-elect Bernardo Arévalo from taking office in January.Since emerging as a political contender earlier this year, Arévalo – a progressive outsider challenging the elite who have long controlled the Central American nation – and his Seed Movement party have faced waves of legal attacks. Those only ramped up when he won the country’s elections in August.The attacks have included raids on electoral facilities and the suspension of Arévalo’s political party, effectively handicapping his abili...

Toronto police boost presence ahead of Israel, Palestine rallies, warn against hate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

TORONTO — Police are warning the public that there will be no tolerance for violence or hate crimes ahead of expected large-scale demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinian and Israeli communities in downtown Toronto.One rally is being held by the Youth Palestinian Movement at 2 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square, while another gathering in solidarity with Israel is expected for 7 p.m. at Mel Lastman Square.They come after a Saturday attack on Israel by Hamas militants out of Gaza left more than 1,000 dead.Deputy chief Lauren Pogue says police will have an increased presence at the unsanctioned Palestinian rally in front of Toronto city hall. She adds there are currently no concerns for the safety of the public or any specific communities. Mayor Olivia Chow and several Toronto councillors have denounced the pro-Palestine demonstration. Chow and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to speak at the rally for Israel in north Toronto later this evening.Some police forces have upped their pr...

$3M winning scratch-off Lottery ticket sold in Mount Prospect

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. — An Illinois Lottery player won $3 million on a scratch-off ticket bought in the northwest suburbs.According to Illinois Lottery officials, the $30 Cash Fortune scratch-off was purchased at a BP gas station, located at 1625 East Euclid Drive in Mount Prospect.“This is such happy news,” exclaimed Benny Lukose, Manager at BP in Mount Prospect. “While we sell a lot of lottery tickets, I can definitely recognize our regular customers - so I bet I’ll know the winner. I hope the lucky winner stops in to tell us, so we can share in the excitement of their big win!”Lottery officials said the Mount Prospect gas station will receive a $30,000 cash bonus for selling the winning ticket. Powerball jackpot up to $1.55 billion as lottery losing streak continues “This couldn’t have come at a better time,” expressed Lukose. “Business can be slow at times due to competitors, so with this bonus, we plan to use it to cover some business expenses. We are very grateful!”Winners ha...

MedWatch Digest: More evidence of 'long term cold' symptoms — and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

For Monday, Oct. 9, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Study finds more evidence of 'long term cold' symptoms More research on the existence of long colds after a study by London's Queen Mary University finds people may experience long-term symptoms after acute respiratory infections that test negative for COVID-19. Common symptoms like coughing and stomach pain remain more than four weeks after the initial infection. The study suggests more research needs to be done to find out why some people suffered extended symptoms and others don't. Autism diagnosis may change in toddlers by 6 Not all children who receive an autism diagnosis as toddlers will still have that diagnosis once they reach elementary school.  Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that 37% of the toddlers with autism they studied no longer met the criteria for the condition by the age of six.  The subjects were diagnosed between 12 and 36 mo...

Trump rips Forbes after removal from wealthiest Americans list

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:47 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Donald Trump tore into Forbes magazine after it again dropped him from its annual list of the wealthiest Americans.Trump ripped the magazine in a Truth Social post on Monday, calling it "very badly failing" and asserting it "lost most of its relevance long ago."Trump bemoaned that Forbes "took me off their Fake Forbes 400 list, just by a 'whisker,' even though they know that I should be high up on that now very dated and discredited 'antique.'" Justice Department fights Trump effort to push Mar-a-Lago trial until after 2024 election The magazine announced last week that Trump had fallen off the list of its 400 richest Americans for the second time in three years, citing what it said was Trump's estimated $2.6 billion fortune, which came in $300 million short of the threshold used to make the list."For years Forbes has attacked me with really dumb writers assigned to hit me hard, and I am now up 60 Points on the Republicans, and beating Crooked Joe ...