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Israeli army says ground forces are ‘expanding’ activities in Gaza, where internet has collapsed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

By WAFAA SHURAFA, JOSEF FEDERMAN and BASSEM MROUE (Associated Press)DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Internet and phone services collapsed in the Gaza Strip under intensified bombardment Friday night, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from the outside world and each other, as Israel’s military said it was “expanding” its ground operations in the besieged territory.The military’s announcement signaled it was moving closer to an all-out invasion of Gaza, where it has vowed to crush the ruling Hamas group after its bloody incursion in southern Israel three weeks ago. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.Frequent explosions from airstrikes lit up the sky over Gaza City after nightfall Friday, when the black-out in internet, cellular and landline services hit. The Red Crescent said it lost all contact with its operations room and medical teams. It said it feared people would no longer be able to contact ambulan...

Authorities scour woods, water and homes on Day 2 of search for suspect in Maine mass shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

By DAVID SHARP, PATRICK WHITTLE, HOLLY RAMER and MICHELLE R. SMITH (Associated Press)LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities scoured the woods and hundreds of acres of family-owned property, sent dive teams with sonar to the bottom of a river and scrutinized a possible suicide note Friday in the second day of their intensive search for an Army reservist accused of fatally shooting 18 people and wounding 13 at a bowling alley and a bar in Maine.Nearly two days after the shooting, law enforcement officials gave no indication that they have any leads on Robert Card’s whereabouts. During a lengthy news conference absent of any major developments, Maine Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck would only say that authorities are leaving all their options open.“We’re going to be all over the place,” Sauschuck said. “That’s not saying that we know that the individual is in this house, you know, in that house or they’re in that sw...

1 shot near Dufferin and Davenport, suspect sought

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

Toronto paramedics say a man was taken to hospital with serious, but non life-threatening injuries after he was shot on Friday afternoon near Dufferin Street and Davenport Road.Police responded to a call for a shooting at around 1:06 p.m.The suspect fled westbound on Davenport. He’s described a Black, around 25 years old with a thin build. He was wearing a black du-rag, a green black camoflague sweater and a scarf over his face.More to come

Alberta government dismisses board at Banff Centre, replaces with administrator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

BANFF, Alta. — The Alberta government has dismissed the entire board of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and replaced it with a temporary administrator.The centre in the mountain town of Banff, west of Calgary, develops and promotes creative work in the arts, sciences, business and the environment.The government says in a statement late Thursday that it’s supporting the centre as it focuses on its mandate while “strengthening its future competitiveness and sustainability.”It says the temporary administrator, Paul Baay, will review the internal processes and policies at the Banff Centre over the next six to nine months, and take on the responsibilities of the board of governors until a new chair and board can be appointed.Baay, who’s president and chief executive officer of Touchstone Exploration Inc., has worked for various oil and gas companies in the past 25 years.He has also served on numerous boards and is the current chairman of the Alberta Found...

Four Gulf of Mexico federal tracts designated for wind power development by Biden administration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Four tracts of federal Gulf of Mexico waters of the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, ranging in size from nearly 57,000 acres (23,100 hectares) to over 495,000 acres (200,230 hectares), were designated Thursday for development of wind energy by the Biden administration. Friday’s announcement follows the first Gulf sale of leases for wind development earlier this year. That sale drew a $5.6 million bid from one company for one Gulf tract, a modest start for wind energy in the Gulf, which lags behind the Northeast in offshore wind power development.The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announcement said its next step will be to issue a formal notice for a proposed lease sale, which will be followed by a 60-day comment period.The areas designated on Friday: — 495,567 acres (200,549 hectares) about 47 miles (76 kilometers) off the coast of Texas that could support wind power generation for 2.1 million homes.— 119,635 acres (48,415 hectares) about 61 miles (98 kilometers...

Spain’s report on Catholic Church sex abuse estimates victims could number in hundreds of thousands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s first official probe of sex abuse by clergy members or other people connected to the Catholic Church in the country included a survey that indicated that the number of victims could run into hundreds of thousands.The survey was part of a damning report by the office of Spain’s ombudsman, or “defensor del pueblo,” following an 18-month independent investigation of 487 cases involving alleged victims who spoke with the ombudsman’s team.Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo criticized the church’s response to sex abuse scandals, saying it had often been to minimize if not deny the problem. He presented the nearly 800-page report to the speaker of the Spanish parliament’s lower house Friday and then to reporters.“This is a necessary report to respond to a situation of suffering and loneliness that for years has remained, in one way or another, covered by an unfair silence,” Gabilondo said in a statement, He acknowledged that the church had taken steps to address both abuse by ...

UN General Assembly set to vote on nonbinding resolution calling for a `humanitarian truce’ in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly scheduled a vote Friday on a nonbinding resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza leading to a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers.Jordan’s U.N. Ambassador Mahmoud Hmoud, speaking on behalf of the U.N.’s 22-nation Arab group, which drafted the resolution, called for an afternoon vote before all 112 speakers get to the assembly’s rostrum, because of the urgency of taking action.The Arab group is seeking action by the 193-member world body because of the failure of the more powerful 15-member Security Council to agree on a resolution after four attempts.Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly so the resolution is certain to be adopted. While council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not, but they do serve as a barometer of world opinion.It would be the first response from the United Nations to Hamas’ surprise Oct. 7 attacks on Israel an...

Catalytic converter theft claims fell in first half of year, first time in 3 years, State Farm says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of catalytic converter theft claims dropped in the first half of this year, the first time that’s happened since 2019, according to data from insurance company State Farm.Thefts of catalytic converters have become problematic nationwide in recent years. Once stolen, they are often melted down for their valuable metals.State Farm said that there were approximately 14,500 claims from Jan. 1 through June 30. That compares with more than 23,000 catalytic converter theft claims during the same period a year ago.State Farm attributes the decline to several factors, including media coverage of the issue, more legislative efforts and declining metal prices.The Associated Press

DC Murder suspect who escaped police custody recaptured after seven weeks on the run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police have recaptured a murder suspect who escaped custody in September, forcing an hours-long shelter-in-place order at George Washington University.Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department announced that Christopher Haynes, 30, was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force in nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland. Haynes was originally arrested on Sept. 6 in connection with the Aug. 12 murder of 33-year-old Brent Hayward at a northeast D.C. gas station. But shortly after his arrest, Haynes complained of an ankle injury and was taken by officers to George Washington University Hospital.While he was being handcuffed to a hospital gurney, police said Haynes assaulted an officer and fled, leading to the shelter-in-place order on the university campus and an extended manhunt. MPD chief Pamela Smith later acknowledged that the officers had not properly secured Haynes, providing an opportunity for his escape.Police later r...

Tammy has redeveloped into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:44:47 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Tammy has redeveloped Friday into a tropical storm over the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said.The storm around midday was about 215 miles (350 kilometers) east of Bermuda, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northwest at 3 mph (5 kph).Tropical Storm Tammy earlier this month formed in the Atlantic, became a hurricane and made landfall Oct. 21 on the Caribbean island of Barbuda. Minor damage was reported before Tammy continued over the Atlantic and became a strong extratropical cyclone.A gale warning was in effect for Bermuda, where high winds were forecast into Friday night before the storm moves away from Bermuda on Saturday.The Associated Press