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Gaza conditions a ‘complete catastrophe,’ official warns as Israel prepares for offensive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Gaza and Jerusalem (CNN) — Conditions in Gaza have deteriorated into a “complete catastrophe,” according to one official, with serious shortages of clean water and food as tens of thousands of Palestinians attempt to flee crippling airstrikes and an Israeli ground offensive.Israel’s military said Saturday its forces are readying for the next stages of the war, including “combined and coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land” in response to the unprecedented October 7 terrorist attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls the enclave.At least 1,300 people were killed during Hamas’ rampage in what US President Joe Biden described as “the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.”Further escalation of the long-running conflict now increasingly risks spilling over regionally, prompting the Pentagon to order a second carrier strike group and squadrons of fighter jets to the region as a deterrence to Iran and Iranian proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.T...

Biden eclipses Trump and GOP field with $71 million third quarter haul

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden raised more than $71 million for his reelection campaign and the Democratic Party in the third fundraising quarter of the year, his campaign announced on Sunday, far outpacing former President Donald Trump and the rest of the GOP primary who have reported their results so far.The president’s political operation with the Democratic National Committee ended the quarter with $91 million, the campaign said. Biden’s campaign did not disclose how that money was divided between the campaign and the party committee.The president nearly met the $72 million that he raised in the first fundraising quarter this year, though that period was three weeks shorter since he launched his reelection in late April.Campaign co-chair Jeffrey Katzenberg told CNN the figure “exceeded the high-bar goals” the campaign set for the July to September period, which is typically a sluggish time to raise money. Katzenberg argued it provides Biden with an upper h...

Ayo Dosunmu embraces ‘go guy’ role as Chicago Bulls put a new emphasis on crashing the offensive boards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

At the start of the third quarter of Thursday’s preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, Ayo Dosunmu was flying.Every time a teammate launched a ball, Dosunmu followed as if attached by a thread. He tipped in a missed shot, snagged loose balls to sling passes out for Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević to take 3-pointers, slapped a ball that was just out of reach into the hands of Alex Caruso. Dosunmu finished with only three offensive rebounds on his ledger, but the impact was larger.The performance showcased Dosunmu’s aspirations for this season, in which he hopes to set himself apart as a “go guy” for the Chicago Bulls.“We talked about the go guys going — did he go tonight or what?” coach Billy Donovan said. “He generated a lot of extra possessions for us.”Any team’s offensive rebounding scheme is split: get-back guys and go guys. Donovan is emphasizing a more rigorous scheme for players to seek second...

All-electric 'Rapid' bus route begins in South Bay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- As of Sunday, you may see a fleet of 60-foot electric buses operating in the South Bay. The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has officially launched its Rapid service -- a first-of-its kind resource that's part of the agency's efforts to transition to an all zero-emissions bus fleet by 2040.Not only are the buses efficient for clean energy operations, but they are also providing quicker routes for the communities of Otay Mesa, Nestor and Imperial Beach. San Diego finished handing out green composting bins. How have they done? According to MTS, thousands of daily pedestrians crossing from the Otay Mesa Port of Entry will now be able to walk directly to the Otay Mesa Transit Center and travel to Imperial Beach on Rapid 227 in 40 minutes or less. On top of that, the route will feature limited stops (10), and will offer a connection from the border to the UC San Diego Blue Line via the Iris Avenue Transit Center in just 15 minutes.Service will run every 15 minutes or bet...

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ dances to No. 1 at the box office, eyeing ‘Joker’ film record

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Movie theaters turned into concert venues this weekend as Swifties brought their dance moves and friendship bracelets to multiplexes across the country. The unparalleled enthusiasm helped propel “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to a massive, first place debut between $95 million and $97 million in North America, AMC Theatres said Sunday. It’s easily the biggest opening for a concert film of all time, and, not accounting for inflation, has made more than the $73 million “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” earned in 2011. In today’s dollars, that would be around $102 million. And if it comes in on the higher end of projections when totals are released Monday, it could be the biggest October opening ever. The one to beat is “Joker,” which launched to $96.2 million in 2019.A unique experiment in distribution, premium pricing, star power and loose movie theater etiquette—more dancing and shouting than Star Wars premiere—have made it an undeniable hit. Compiled from Swift’s summer shows at Sout...

Myanmar’s military seeks to keep ethnic minority allies on its side with anniversary of cease-fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government hosted representatives from ethnic rebel groups Sunday to mark the eighth anniversary of the signing of a multilateral cease-fire agreement. But the event was boycotted by three of the signatories that oppose the current army-installed regime.The event in the capital Naypyitaw was the first such formal gathering of the military government and ethnic minority leaders since the army seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government on Feb. 1, 2021.Maintaining a cease-fire with as many groups as possible is crucial for the military government, which for more than two years has been faced with nationwide armed resistance from opponents of its 2021 takeover. Those pro-democracy forces have crucial alliances with, or support from, several ethnic rebel groups. The military has launched offensives in the territory long under the control of the ethnic minority groups.In order to shake and divide the anti-military rule alliances, the military...

Man arrested for multiple firearm and drug related charges in downtown Toronto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Toronto police have made an arrest in a firearm investigation in the Yonge Street and Dundas Street East area of downtown Toronto.On Saturday, at approximately 10:40 p.m., police were in the area, where allegedly officers were made aware of a male who was in possession of a firearm.Officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest. The suspect was in possession of a loaded Waffenfabrik Mauser firearm with five rounds of ammunition. Subsequent to the arrest, officers also located a quantity of drugs.Tyler Williams-Dennis, 26, of Toronto, was charged with nine different firearms related charges including possession of a loaded regulated firearm, and possession of a restricted or prohibited firearm without holding a licence and registration certificate.Williams-Dennis was also charged with five counts of possession of a scheduled I substance for purpose of trafficking (fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth, codeine), possession of proceeds obtained by crime under $...

Russian governor has been reported to police after saying there’s ‘no need’ for the war in Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

A Russian governor was accused by critics on Sunday of “discrediting Russia’s armed forces” after telling residents in her region that the country had “no need” for its war in Ukraine.Natalya Komarova, the governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk region and a member of President Vladimir Putin’s governing United Russia party, made the remarks during a meeting with residents in the Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk on Saturday.Critics have called for authorities to launch an investigation into her remarks, but Komarova hasn’t been detained or faced any charges so far.A video of the event posted on social media showed the politician being confronted by the wife of a Russian soldier who said that mobilized men had been poorly equipped for the front line.Komarova told residents that Russia hadn’t been prepared for the invasion of Ukraine.“Are you asking me (why your husband does not have equipment), knowing that I’m the governor and not the minister of defense?”, the 67-year-old said.“...

French soccer federation condemns Nice player Atal for reportedly reposting hate speech against Jews

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Algeria soccer player Youcef Atal, who plays for French Ligue 1 side Nice, apologized Sunday after reportedly reposting and then deleting a video that called for “a black day for Jews.” French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo said Atal had relayed “appeals for violence.” Diallo said in a statement that he “condemns them with the greatest severity.” “Hate speech will not be allowed,” Diallo said.The federation’s ethics committee is taking over the case, he added.Writing on Instagram, the defender said he understood that his post “shocked several people, which was not my intention.” He apologized.Atal also said he condemns all forms of violence, “no matter where in the world.” French sports newspaper l’Equipe reported that Atal had quickly deleted the video he’d reposted Saturday in which a Palestinian preacher called for “a black day for Jews” and for support of Gaza residents “if they throw the stone.” ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com...

A third-generation Israeli soldier has been missing for over a week. Her family can only wait.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:40 GMT

Roni Eshel, a 19-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier, was stationed at a military base near the Gaza border when Hamas attacked last Saturday. Although she didn’t answer her phone when her mother called to check on her that morning, she later texted to say that she was busy but OK.“I love you so much,” Eschel told her mother, Sharon, about three hours after the attack started. Her parents haven’t heard from her since. More than a week later, Eshel’s family is desperate to know happened to their daughter. Her father, Eyal Eshel, describes the wait for news as “hell.”“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to think, actually. Where is she? What is she eating? If it’s cold for her? If it’s hot? I don’t know nothing,” Eyal Eshel said.The IDF hasn’t publicly released any names of hostages. Her father says IDF has told them she is considered missing; he believes she has been kidnapped.“Otherwise, where is she?” he asked.Eshel grew up in a small village north...