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‘Ring of fire’ eclipse moves across the Americas, bringing with it cheers and shouts of joy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.. (AP) — First came the darkening skies, then the crescent-shaped shadows on the ground, and finally an eruption of cheers by crowds that gathered Saturday along the narrow path of a rare “ring of fire” eclipse of the sun.It was a spectacular show for millions of people across the Americas as the moon moved into place and the ring formed. There were hoots, hollers and yelps for those with an unfettered view in Albuquerque, where the celestial event coincided with an international balloon fiesta that typically draws tens of thousands of spectators and hundreds of hot air balloon pilots from around the world.They got a double treat, with balloons lifting off during a mass ascension shortly after dawn and then the eclipse just hours later. Some pilots used their propane burners to shoot flames upward in unison as the spectacle unfolded.“It’s very exciting to be here and have the convergence of our love of flying with something very natural like an eclipse,” said Allan ...

Palestinians struggle to evacuate northern Gaza amid growing Israeli warnings of ground offensive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians struggled Saturday to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military while grappling with a growing water and medical supply shortage ahead of an expected land offensive a week after Hamas’ bloody, wide-ranging attack into Israel.Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for Gaza residents to move south, while Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups have said such a rapid exodus along with Israel’s siege of the territory would cause untold human suffering.The evacuation directive covers an area of 1.1 million residents, or about half the territory’s population. The Israeli military said “hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians had heeded the warning and headed south. It gave Palestinians a six-hour window that ended Saturday afternoon to travel safely within Gaza along two main routes.A week after Hamas’ attack, Israel was still working to assess the full extent of the c...

Foreign affairs minister announces plan to help Canadians evacuate from West Bank

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says the federal government is still working to get Canadians out the Gaza Strip, but announced an evacuation plan for those in the West Bank. Joly’s announcement comes after an earlier plan to allow foreign nationals to leave the Palestinian territory of Gaza via a border crossing with Egypt was cancelled Saturday. She says the Israeli government has authorized Canadians’ departure from the besieged territory on the Mediterranean Sea, but that more work needs to be done to secure their passage.She says about 160 Canadians and their relatives are still in Gaza.Meanwhile, Joly says a new plan would allow between 80 and 100 Canadians in the West Bank to leave by bus from the city of Ramallah to the Jordanian capital of Amman starting as early as Tuesday.She says that plan has received authorization from Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Canadian Israeli woman, missing since ambush at musical festival, has died: family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

Family of a Canadian Israeli woman, who was missing since Hamas militants ambushed a music festival in southern Israel last Saturday, are dealing with the heartbreaking news she has died.Shir Georgy’s aunt, Michal Bouganim, said the 22-year-old was killed by Hamas in the attack on the festival near Kibbutz Re’im.“We are currently a mess, heartbroken,” Bouganim said on Instagram. Earlier in the day, Bouganim shared a post, saying the family “received the terrible news.”Georgy is the fourth Canadian to die in the Israel and Hamas conflict.Georgy, a dual citizen of Israel and Canada, was attending the Supernova music festival in the Negev desert — a region bordering the Gaza Strip — on Oct. 7 when Hamas gunmen attacked the partygoers. In a 22-second video shared by Bouganim online, Georgy is seen terrified, sitting among other festival attendees — some of them injured — as they hid in a small room.  Valeri Mesasof, a cousin of Georgy’...

Weary families trudge through Gaza streets, trying to flee the north before Israel’s invasion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Some fled home with suitcases jammed with clothes and heirlooms and photographs. Some left with stacks of foam mattresses tied to car roofs. They took buses and vans and cars and carts pulled by donkeys.Many walked. Many had nothing with them but exhausted family members trudging through streets littered with rubble. All of them were trying to get to safety.“We left the house without food, without water and without clothes,” said Mohammad Hillis, sitting at a wooden school desk scarred by generations of students in a makeshift refugee camp in central Gaza. “We left without taking anything with us.”He said about 150 people lived in his building in their northern Gaza town. All left after clouds of Israeli leaflets began dropping from the sky, warning civilians to flee the north within 24 hours.“Evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields,” an Israeli ...

A teen’s death in a small Michigan town led the FBI and police to an online sexual extortion scheme

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Last year, a teenager in a small Michigan town killed himself after an online chat turned to demands that he pay money to keep intimate photos secret. He was one of dozens of people targeted online by two men extradited from Nigeria to face charges, FBI director Christopher Wray said Saturday.The arrests came after the FBI joined with police in Michigan to investigate the death of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay, one thousands of American teenagers targeted in a sharp rise in online “sextortion” cases in recent years.“They will face charges in the U.S. for what they did to Jordan, but also unfortunately, a whole bunch of other young men and teenage boys,” Wray said in an interview with The Associated Press. “You’re talking about a crime that doesn’t respect borders. We make sure our partnerships don’t have any borders either.”Wray highlighted the case in a speech to the International Association of Chiefs of Police about the ways the agency assists police in tackling viol...

PHOTOS: Annular solar eclipse attracts thousands to Balloon Fiesta Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The rare annular solar eclipse made day 8 of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta extra special for thousands of people in the crowd.The day started off with a drone show, and then balloons filled the sky as part of Mass Ascension. During the eclipse, balloon pilots took part in a special candle burn commemorating the event.Photos from day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta and the eclipse can be viewed below:New Mexico flag made of drones on day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 14, 2023. (KRQE News 14 Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)"Meep meep." Drone show on day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 14, 2023. (KRQE News 14 Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)Dawn Patrol on day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta on October 14, 2023. (KRQE News 14 Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)Getting set up on day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 14, 2023. (KRQE News 14 Digital Reporter Fallon Fischer)Balloon Glow on day 8 of the Balloon Fiesta on Oct. 14, 2023. (KRQE News 14 Digital Report...

Buy Hefty or Great Value recycling bags? You may be owed money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you purchased certain Hefty or Great Value brand recycling bags in the past five years, you may be able to take part in a $3 million class action settlement. According to a lawsuit, Reynolds Brands (which owns Hefty and Great Value), falsely advertised the bags as recyclable, even though they weren't able to be recycled.Although Reynolds has not admitted to any wrongdoing in the case, the company has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve the matter — and customers may be entitled to $2 per purchased product. T-Mobile planning to move customers on older phone plans to newer ones The bags, which the lawsuit claim can't be recycled in waste disposal facilities, must have been purchased between July 20, 2018 and August 30, 2023. If you're wondering if you need proof of purchase, here's the breakdown for customer payment:With proof of purchase — you can claim up to 25 products, for a maximum payment of $50Without proof of purchase — you can claim up to six products, for a ...

ZT Systems bringing new site with 1,500 jobs to Georgetown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – ZT Systems, a cloud computing company based in New Jersey, announced Friday it has acquired a 430,000-square-foot facility in Georgetown. The facility is located in an industrial development at Interstate 35 and State Highway 130. ZT Systems intends on hiring 1,500 employees and expects the facility to be at full capacity by 2024, according to a press release. “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome ZT Systems into our community,” Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder said in the release. “The technology ZT Systems manufactures powers the digital world we all live in. The investment and jobs ZT Systems will bring to Georgetown make this one of our most significant economic development projects in our City’s history. Their partnership and presence in our community will strengthen our City and our region for decades to come,” he continued.ZT Systems website slates itself as a top provider of complex compute, storage and accelerator solutions for the top ...

Charley Walters: Loss to Bears could alter Vikings’ future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:29:31 GMT

The NFL trade deadline is in 16 days. What happens Sunday afternoon in Chicago against the Bears could lead to several major changes for the Vikings.The Vikings’ next game after the Bears is against the 49ers, the NFL’s best team. If the Vikings lose in Chicago, chances are good they will be 1-6 after playing San Francisco.Minnesota’s biggest trade chip is pass rusher Danielle Hunter, not QB Kirk Cousins. Trading Hunter, who turns 29 in two weeks, would indicate a Vikings rebuild. The Vikings would be expected to seek a second-round draft pick for Hunter, but probably would have to settle for a third-rounder.Meanwhile, free safety Harrison Smith, 34, is nearing the end of his career. The Vikings might graciously be willing to give away the potential hall of famer at this point so he has a chance to win a championship.>> It appears now that Cousins, 35, a free agent after the season, won’t be moved.>> If the season ended today, the Vikings would have the No. 4 overall pic...