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Growing concerns from allies over Israel’s approach to fighting Hamas as civilian casualties mount

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s prime minister pushed back Saturday against growing calls from Western allies to do more to protect Palestinian civilians, as troops closed in on Gaza’s largest hospital that Israel claims is Hamas’ main command post but still hosts thousands of patients and people seeking shelter.Benjamin Netanyahu said the responsibility for any harm to civilians lies with Hamas, repeating long-standing allegations that the militant group uses civilians in Gaza as human shields. He said that while Israel has urged civilians to leave combat zones, “Hamas is doing everything it can to prevent them from leaving.”His statement came after French President Emmanuel Macron pushed for a cease-fire and urged other leaders to join his call, telling the BBC there was “no justification” for Israel’s ongoing bombing.Following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in which at least 1,200 people were killed, Israel’s allies have defen...

Dear Abby: The bride is my best friend, but I’m not comfortable with her plan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My best friend is getting married next year and is planning for her bachelorette party.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: At 3 a.m. there were two strange girls in my house Advice | Dear Abby: My son is in tears when my mother tells him he must walk Advice | Dear Abby: The thoughtless grandchildren won’t be happy about this gift Advice | Dear Abby: I like to video people who are behaving badly Advice | Dear Abby: The rest of the book club is appalled by the woman I invited Right now, she is looking at places that have a three- or four-night minimum and would cost each person more than $500. (That’s just to rent the place. It wouldn’t cover food, gifts, etc.)My friend isn’t a fancy, extravagant person, so I was shocked by the length of time I’ll need to take off from work and the amount of money I will have to spend.I worry if I try to (nicely) say something, it w...

Two-alarm fire rips through Sunnyvale business

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

SUNNYVALE – A two-alarm blaze ripped through a business Friday evening in Sunnyvale, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Photos: World War II-era hangar in Southern California burns in massive fire Crashes and Disasters | Oakland: Person badly burned after fire breaks out in tent Crashes and Disasters | San Jose: Elderly man injured in two-alarm house fire Crashes and Disasters | ‘It can happen anywhere’: Author explains why no one is safe from wildfires in the 21st century Crashes and Disasters | Fast-rising PG&E bills draw big-time opposition The fire was first reported around 7:40 p.m. at a commercial complex at 154 San Lazaro Avenue, according to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Crews arrived to find a business fully engulfed in flames.A second alarm was quickly called due to the size of the structure, authorities said.All occupants evacuated the busine...

EU’s next Ukraine ammo and cash support plans stalling

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

BRUSSELS — EU defense ministers will gather in Brussels on Tuesday, but some of the bloc’s pledges to support Ukraine with arms and cash are running into trouble.Diplomats are increasingly worried the bloc’s aim of delivering 1 million rounds of ammunition to Kyiv within a year to help in its war against Russia are floundering, while fresh cash commitments are also stuck in a tense political debate.One senior EU official said Friday that 300,000 rounds had been shipped since February 9 under a program to send shells from national stockpiles to Ukraine. That’s nowhere near on track for the million rounds promised earlier this year.“It will be very difficult to reach the target by mid-March,” one national diplomat said on condition of being granted anonymity.Industry executives point to staff shortages and problems sourcing adequate supplies of explosives as some of the bottlenecks facing contractors as they seek to ramp up production.“The target is not dead,” ...

Myanmar military court sentences general ousted from ruling council to 5 years for corruption

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A military court in Myanmar has sentenced a general who until recently was a senior member of the country’s ruling council to five years in prison for abusing his authority and taking bribes, state-run media reported Saturday.Lt. Gen. Soe Htut, who was home affairs minister as well as a member of the ruling State Administration Council, is the latest senior officer to be jailed for corruption since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than 2 1/2 years ago.A report in Saturday’s state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said Soe Htut abused his rank and authority by directing subordinates to issue passports to companies at their request, accepted bribes and failed to ensure that financial rules and regulations were followed for the staff welfare fund of the home affairs ministry.The newspaper described him as a former general, which means he has already been dismissed from the army. Soe Htut had been reportedly under investig...

Geddy Lee pulls out two unreleased songs for new memoir, plans new music

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

TORONTO — Geddy Lee is finally ready to start recording new music.After years of feeling uninspired, the former Rush bassist says he found a new songwriting spark following the discovery of two unfinished demo tapes he made in the late 1990s.Lee unearthed the solo recordings while researching his upcoming memoir “My Effin’ Life,” and he says he endeavoured to complete them before the book’s release on Tuesday.He will issue both tracks — “Gone” and “I Am… You Are” — as part of the audiobook version of “My Effin’ Life,” with plans to later release both songs on digital streaming services.Lee says shining up those two songs originally meant for his 2000 solo album “My Favourite Headache” has whet his appetite to create more.He says he plans to record some music on his own over the next year. He’s also spoken with Rush bandmate Alex Lifeson about a potential collaboration, though he says he can offer no ...

National Remembrance Day ceremony to be held in Ottawa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s national Remembrance Day ceremony is set to kick off in Ottawa at around 10:30 this morning with the veterans’ march. Gloria Hooper, the national Silver Cross Mother, will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hooper’s son Chris Holopina was the first Canadian peacekeeper to be killed in the UN operation in Bosnia in 1996, when he was just 22 years old. She travelled from rural Manitoba to take part in the event. As always, the Last Post will be played, followed by two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. to commemorate the time the armistice went into effect on Nov. 11, 1918, ending the First World War.The events at the National War Memorial will be broadcast live on TV and streamed online by the Royal Canadian Legion for those who cannot attend in person. The prime minister is among the dignitaries expected to attend, as is Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor. “The (focus) this week, for me as the minister of veterans aff...

Daily horoscope for November 11, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or major decisions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST today (7 a.m. to 11 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Libra into Scorpio.Happy Birthday for Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023:You appear to be bright, energetic, cheerful and always charming. Privately, you are more complex. This year is slower paced. It’s OK to rest. Take time to rejuvenate your energy and outlook on the world. Concentrate on your needs and relationships that have your back.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★Postpone important decisions about inheritances, shared property, banking or anything to do with the wealth and resources of someone else, because you might be rash today. You might impulsively do something that you later regret. Oh yes. Tonight: Check your finances.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Generally, you are reasonable and patient. Not crazy impulsive. However, today you might overreact because of something a partner or close friend says or does. Whatever happens, count to three and conside...

Harriette Cole: I asked why my boyfriend’s mom doesn’t like me, and the answer hurt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in a new relationship, and my boyfriend’s mom doesn’t like me.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Ever since I committed to being happy, my life has been a trainwreck Advice | Harriette Cole: Does my husband’s full-time job exempt him from child care? Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m staggered by my boyfriend’s rule for living together Advice | Harriette Cole: How can I extract myself from my teen romance? Advice | Harriette Cole: She told a lie about me that broke our friendship. How do I deal with this? I asked my boyfriend if there was something I did for her to not like me, and he told me that she wanted him to get back with his ex. Hearing this really hurt my feelings because, from the moment she met me, she has never given me a chance.I truly love my boyfriend, but knowing the fact that his mom doesn’t like me makes it hard for me to see a f...

Miss Manners: My child was upset by this episode on the train. Who was in the wrong?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:49 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My college senior — a very capable, autistic young adult — was traveling by train from Washington to Philadelphia. Seats were scarce. My child ended up seeking a seat in the “quiet car.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: I was at the game, too, but I lied to my friend about it Advice | Miss Manners: My neighbor is convinced I’m making this noise. How do I get him to drop it? Advice | Miss Manners: My wife rebuked cinema patrons who walked in front of us. Who was rude? Advice | Miss Manners: The host seemed put out by the guests’ sober dress. Were they rude? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I have done something about this shopper’s bad behavior? They found an empty seat and asked the woman next to it if it was taken. The woman very loudly and dramatically shushed them and pointed out that it was a quiet car, causing everyone in the car to turn...