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Ambush kills 7 Israeli soldiers in Gaza City, where battles rage weeks into devastating offensive

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least seven Israeli soldiers were killed in an ambush in Gaza City, Israeli media reported Wednesday, as the army continued to meet heavy resistance in an offensive against Hamas that has drawn international outrage and rare U.S. criticism over the killing of thousands of civilians. President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly called on Israel to take greater measures to spare Palestinians civilians, even as it has blocked international calls for a cease-fire and rushed military aid to its close ally. Israel has rejected U.S. suggestions for a postwar plan that would revive the long-dormant peace process with the Palestinians.The air and ground offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 18,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that triggered the war. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have been forced to flee their homes, and much of northern Gaza resembles a moonscape.Israeli ground troops a...

Live updates | Israel forges ahead with its offensive in Gaza despite US criticism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Israel forged ahead with its air and ground offensive Wednesday in Gaza, drawing international outrage and rare criticism from the United States over the killing of thousands of civilians. The United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to demand a humanitarian cease-fire in a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, but the assembly’s messages are important barometers of world opinion.Just hours before the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden warned that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza.The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in the deaths of over 18,400 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Israel says 113 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, ...

The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica of St. Mary Major, not in the grottoes of the Vatican like other popes, so he can be near his favorite icon of the Madonna.Francis, who turns 87 on Sunday, also said he never thought about resigning this year despite a series of health scares. He said he has a trip confirmed to Belgium next year and visits under consideration to Polynesia and Argentina.“It is true that all journeys are now all rethought,” Francis told N+ of Mexican broadcaster Televisa. “If they’re close by, they can be done. If they’re farther away they are rethought. There are limits.”It was Francis’ first interview since his latest bout of acute bronchitis, which forced the cancellation of a trip this month to Dubai to participate in the U.N. climate conference. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, appeared in good form and said he was now recovered and feeling fine.While the job of pope is for life, Francis reconfirmed ...

New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is sworn in with his government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk was sworn in by the president on Wednesday morning in a ceremony where each of his ministers was also taking the oath of office.The swearing-in ceremony of the pro-European Union government was taking place in the presidential palace in Warsaw. It is the final step in a transition of power that has taken place this week.It marks the end of eight tumultuous years of rule by a national conservative party, Law and Justice.The government change follows a national election on Oct. 15 that was won by a group of parties that ran on separate tickets vowing to work together under Tusk’s leadership to restore democratic norms eroded by Law and Justice and mend alliances with allies that were also strained.Tusk and his ministers arrived at the presidential palace in a bus in the white and red colors of Poland’s flag and the words: “We thank you, Poland!” They were greeted by cheering supporters.Tusk’s government won a vote o...

Iran executes man convicted of killing a senior cleric following months of unrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran on Wednesday executed a bank guard who was convicted of fatally shooting a senior cleric in April following months of unrest, state media reported.Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani, 77, was the most senior member of the clergy who was killed after protests and a bloody security crackdown on demonstrators. The protesters were enraged by the death in September of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was arrested by the country’s morality police. The protests gradually died in early months of the year.A Wednesday report by the official IRNA news agency said the execution took place in northern city of Babol in Iran’s Mazandaran province, just north of the capital, Tehran, in the presence of the victim’s family. The report said a court sentenced the man to death in May and the Supreme Court upheld the verdict. It did not elaborate but Iran usually applies hanging.Authorities offered no motive for the attack in April in Babolsar, a town near the place of the execu...

Missiles from rebel territory in Yemen miss a ship near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two missiles fired from territory held by Yemen’s Houthi rebels missed a commercial tanker near the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Wednesday, a U.S. official said. An American warship also shot down a suspected Houthi drone flying in its direction during the incident, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. No one was hurt in the attack, the official said. The ship that was targeted, the oil and chemical tanker Marshall Islands-flagged Ardmore Encounter, was traveling north toward the Suez Canal in the Red Sea, satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The vessel had been coming from India and had an armed security crew aboard it, according to data transmitted by the ship.Ardmore Shipping Corp., which owns and operates the ship, issued a statement to the AP acknowledging the attack.“No one boarded the vessel and all crew members are safe and accounted for,” the statement said...

EU-funded works win seven prizes at 2023 European Film Awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Five films that received EU support came out on top at this year's European Film Awards, winning a total of seven prizes.The winners of the 36th edition of the European Film Awards, which took place in Berlin, were announced during the Awards Ceremony held on 9 December 2023. The EU-funded front-runners are:The Promised Land (Bastarden) by Nikolaj Arcel for Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Actor award to Mads Mikkelsen for his role in the film; Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (Savvusanna sõsarad) by Anna Hints for Best Documentary; Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger for Best Feature Film; Club Zero by Jessica Hausner for Best Original Score; and La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher for Best Production Design.The EU supported the development and distribution of these works through its Creative Europe MEDIA Programme.

Dear Abby: If my daughter’s not good enough for his son, what does that mean for him and me?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have been dating “George” for 17 years following our divorces. I have three grown children. He has four — two of whom are still at home. We have never lived together.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I let a drunk guy stay on my couch, and he won’t leave Advice | Dear Abby: I skipped the wedding because of what the bride’s mother demanded Advice | Dear Abby: My kids want the inheritance but I’m scared to give it to them Advice | Dear Abby: Do I need to be honest about what happened to their gift? Advice | Dear Abby: If my friend dies without revealing the truth, should I tell what I know? My daughter and George’s son (still at home) had a crush on each other when they were teenagers. Fast-forward 10 years — they have reunited and expressed their love for one another.Although George cares deeply for all my children, I’m afraid he feels m...

Klay Thompson vents over fourth quarter benching: “Of course it frustrates me”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

PHOENIX — Klay Thompson pulled tight on the laces of his hightop Chuck Taylors, head down but voice elevated as he sat at his locker at Footprint Center to unpack an unfamiliar feeling.“I deserved to be benched tonight,” Thompson said. “I played like crap.”It wasn’t long before that coach Steve Kerr pulled the lever he’s been hesitating to grasp; late in the fourth quarter down four against the Phoenix Suns, Thompson, considered still one of the NBA’s most prolific crunch-time scorers, was benched.Thompson caused a scene during the deciding timeout. He was throwing towels, pacing around the Warriors’ bench and yelling at those around him who’d listen. Steph Curry took his shoulders to calm him, knowing that kind of reaction was justified just as much as Kerr’s decision.“Of course it frustrates me. You think I’m going to just chill? I’m friggin’ competitive,” Thompson said. “At the e...

German budget crisis: Government reaches spending deal for 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Germany’s three-party ruling coalition has agreed on a new spending plan for next year after weeks of tense negotiations that have mired the government in political and fiscal crisis.The deal, reached in the early hours of Wednesday, is set to be publicly announced in a statement to the press by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, his Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner at noon local time. Scholz is also scheduled to address parliament shortly thereafter.“Habemus budget 2024!” wrote Andreas Schwarz, a budget policy lawmaker from Scholz’s Social Democratic Party, wrote on X (formerly Twitter). An official from the ruling coalition told POLITICO that a joint meeting of leading politicians from the three ruling parties — the SPD, Habeck’s Greens and the fiscally conservative Free Democratic Party (FDP) of Lindner — is scheduled for this afternoon.Germany’s ruling coalition had been in disarray since a bombshell Constitutional Co...