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Hamas leader’s home is hit in airstrike as Israel presses its attacks and U.S. envoy seeks aid route

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s military hit the family home of the exiled leader of Hamas on the outskirts of Gaza City with an airstrike Saturday and pressed ahead with attacks across in the besieged enclave where a humanitarian crisis is rapidly worsening.With food, water and the fuel needed for generators that power hospitals and other facilities running out, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate cease-fire to allow aid in.“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is horrific,” Guterres said late Friday in an unusually blunt statement. “An entire population is traumatized, nowhere is safe.”U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in the region since Friday trying to find ways to ease the plight of the civilians caught in the fighting and was meeting with Arab foreign ministers on Saturday. His mission is complicated by Israel’s insistence there can be no temporary cease-fire until all hostages held by Hamas are released. Guterres said he had not for...

Australian premier will protest blogger’s detention conditions while meeting the Chinese president

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

SHANGHAI (AP) — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Saturday he would protest a lack of transparency in China’s treatment of a detained Australian democracy blogger when meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing during a trade-focused state visit.The detention of Yang Hengjun without conviction for almost five years will be one of the topics raised with Xi when they meet in the Great Hall of the People on Monday.Yang is being held in a Beijing detention center awaiting the verdict of a 2021 closed-door trial on espionage charges. The 58-year-old’s family fears he is dying.“I’ll be saying that Dr. Yang’s case needs to be resolved and I’ll be speaking about his human rights, the nature of the detention and the failure to have transparent processes,” Albanese told reporters in the northern Australian city of Darwin hours before he was to fly to Shanghai.The Chinese Foreign Ministry this week defended Yang’s prosecution, saying his case had been handled in strict accordance with the...

St. Paul’s Pilgrim Baptist Church recognized for role in anti-slavery Underground Railroad

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

Born and raised in St. Paul, Elyse Pearson-Hill was always fascinated by the history of the sizable church just down the street. It was said that Pilgrim Baptist Church was founded by escaped slaves, whom the Rev. Robert Hickman dubbed his “pilgrims” as he led them by cover of night out of the plantations and farm fields of Missouri and up the Mississippi River to St. Paul.Pilgrim Baptist Church’s Cedar St. location. (Courtesy of Pilgrim Baptist Church)Little did she realize during her teen years at St. Paul Central High School in the 1970s that she would someday play a role in elevating that church to a historic status.With her help, Pilgrim Baptist Church has been newly listed as the first Minnesota location on the National Park Service’s “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom,” a directory of more than 700 notable sites where slaves seeking their freedom hid or found refuge.The National Park Service listed the church, which was chart...

Ask Amy: Mother-in-law’s clothing choices rankle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ll get straight to the point. My mother-in-law dresses in clothes that are too tight or too short.The clothes aren’t revealing, necessarily, but they don’t flatter her figure at all. They make her look like she has absolutely no sense of style. I feel bad for her.I know that she thinks she looks good in these clothes, but I also know that she would want to know if something looked bad on her.The problem is, I have absolutely no idea how to broach the subject.She’s an extremely sensitive person and I have trouble talking to her about anything even remotely serious.I have made her cry on occasion just for bringing something up that other people wouldn’t think twice about.Should I tell her how I feel, or do I keep it to myself?If so, what would I say?— Doubting DILDear Doubting: Your mother-in-law does not dress for you. She dresses for herself. She no doubt chooses her clothing with some care, and she likely believes she looks good in wh...

Bridge: Nov. 4, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

“Simple Saturday” columns focus on basic technique and logical thinking.South’s jump to 2NT was forcing and showed a balanced 12 to 15 points. (Some pairs use a 2NT response to a minor-suit opening bid as invitational, a treatment I dislike because subsequent development of the auction may be murky.)Against 3NT, West led a low spade: ten, king, ace. Declarer then led a diamond. East won and returned his last spade, and the defenders forced out South’s queen. South then took his heart and club tricks, but West won the last four tricks with the king of diamonds and good spades.NINTH TRICKSouth was at risk since he had to lose the lead twice to set up a ninth trick in diamonds. In case the missing spades are divided 6-2, South must execute a “hold-up” play — even with a double stopper.South ducks the first trick and wins East’s spade return. When he loses a diamond to East’s ace, East must shift, and South has time to force out West...

Arrestan a un hombre acusado de atravesar la valla de una central nuclear de Carolina del Sur e intentar atropellar a un guardia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

(CNN) — Un hombre acusado de atravesar una valla en una central nuclear de Carolina del Sur e intentar atropellar con su vehículo a un agente de seguridad esta semana fue detenido el viernes por la noche, informó una oficina del sheriff.Doyle Wayne Whisenhunt, de 66 años y natural de Lockesburg, Arkansas, ha sido acusado en relación con el incidente del jueves por la noche en la central nuclear de Oconee, informó la oficina del sheriff del condado de Oconee.Whisenhunt fue detenido el viernes en una casa abandonada en el condado de Pickens, en Carolina del Sur, dijo la oficina del sheriff.Whisenhunt está acusado de acelerar su Toyota Camry hacia un agente de seguridad en los terrenos de la estación “en un intento de causar graves daños corporales o la muerte” el jueves, dijo la oficina del sheriff, citando una orden de arresto.El hombre de Arkansas también utilizó su coche para golpear puertas y vallas fuera de la zona de seguridad de la planta, dañándolas, dijo el ...

Biden under pressure from within his own party to use leverage on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

Progressives on Capitol Hill are ramping up pressure on the Biden administration to use its leverage to force Israel to address the growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.But while the White House supports a pause in hostilities to address those concerns, Israeli leadership on Friday said it did not.The tension could very well crest in the days ahead as Congress pushes forward on an ambitious funding request that would, in part, send billions of dollars to Israel.Over the last few days, several lawmakers have demanded the White House take a tougher stance with its Israeli counterparts. Those lawmakers have called on the administration to push the Israelis to publicly share their plans to ensure civilian safety and address humanitarian issues, such as access to water and fuel, before the United States finalizes additional aid to the country.“Beyond just a ceasefire, I think it is time for our party to press upon the president to really be a mediating force in what we are seeing in the...

Patriots extra points: Bill Belichick says rookie WR had best practices this week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

No pressure, rook.Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte “probably” enjoyed his best week of practice leading up to Sunday’s game against the Commanders.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Demario Douglas one of the 4 Patriots most important to beating Washington New England Patriots | The Patriots’ glue guy linebacker keeping Bill Belichick’s defense together New England Patriots | Patriots place O-lineman on injured reserve, create open roster spot New England Patriots | Patriots-Commanders injury report: Trent Brown among 10 questionable for Sunday New England Patriots | Bill Belichick pays tribute to late friend, basketball legend Bob Knight Boutte, a sixth-round pick last April, has been a healthy scratch every week since the Pats’ season opener. During that 25-20 loss to the Eagles, Boutte didn’t register a catch despite...

Demario Douglas one of the 4 Patriots most important to beating Washington

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

By idling at the NFL’s trade deadline this week, the Patriots sent a message to their roster: we’re riding with you the rest of the way.At 2-6, it’s all but certain the Pats won’t turn their season around in time for a playoff run, but a few young players could shape the remainder of this campaign. Whether that means finishing close to .500 or making a case for playing time in 2024 and beyond remains to be seen. But it all starts Sunday.From the roster, these are the four Patriots most pivotal to a win over the Commanders.WR Demario DouglasThe Patriots’ new leading receiver played a career-high 41 snaps last week. Don’t be surprised to see Douglas surpass that against Washington.The Commanders rank second-worst in the league at defending opponents’ No. 1 receivers by DVOA. They field a young secondary with tall, long cornerbacks that could struggle against Douglas’ elite quickness. The sixth-round rookie is by far the Pats’ best ...

A glance at some of Nepal’s deadliest earthquakes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:09:14 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook northwestern Nepal just before midnight Friday, killing at least 138 people with dozens more injured. Officials said the death toll was expected to rise as rescuers searched the Himalayan villages where communication was cut off.Earthquakes are common in mountainous Nepal. Here are some of the strongest in recent history:— July 29, 1980: At least 200 die and thousands are injured after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits Nepal-India border. — Aug. 20, 1988: The Himalayan nation’s capital is rocked by a 6.9 quake, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring thousands.— April 25, 2015: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake kills some 9,000 people, the worst in Nepal’s history, and damages about 1 million structures. The previous deadliest earthquake that struck the region was in 1934 with over 8,000 fatalities. — May 12, 2015: One among about two dozen aftershocks of the April 25 earthquake kills over 200 people and injures more than 2000...