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Blinken vows US support for Israel ahead of possible ground operation as strikes pound Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

ERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed American support to Israel on Thursday as its military pulverized the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip with airstrikes and prepared for a possible ground invasion. As Palestinians tried to stock up on bread and groceries amid dwindling supplies, Israel said nothing would be allowed into Gaza until around 150 hostages taken captive by Hamas during a weekend attack are freed.International aid groups warned of worsening humanitarian crisis after Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, fuel and electricity to the tiny enclave of 2.3 million people and prevented entry of supplies from Egypt. The war has already claimed at least 2,700 lives on both sides.“Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet will be turned on, and not a single fuel truck will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home,” Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said on social media.Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spok...

Gaza crisis grows under intense bombardment as Israel retaliates to Hamas atrocities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

Gaza and Jerusalem (CNN) — Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepened Thursday, with warnings people are at risk of starvation, as Israel continues airstrikes and withholds essential supplies from the enclave in response to Hamas’ brutal terror attacks.The decades old conflict between Israelis and Palestinians entered uncharted territory this week after Israel suffered its worst attack by Palestinian militants since its founding 75 years ago.Israel has stepped up its offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7 onslaught, when armed militants poured over the heavily-fortified border into Israel.The gunmen killed more than 1,200 people, wounding thousands more in a coordinated rampage through farms and communities where they also took as many as 150 hostages.The atrocities have sparked international revulsion and vows by Israel’s government to destroy Hamas, which has continued to fire rockets at Israeli towns over the last five days.In a press conference with US Secretary of State Antony B...

Volunteers pack up supplies at Skylake Synagogue in North Miami Beach as war in Israel continues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

As several horror stories are brought to light due to the war in Israel, several people in South Florida are trying to do anything they can to help.Volunteers in North Miami Beach on Thursday lined up at Skylake Synagogue, located at 1850 NE 183rd St., to pack, organize and load boxes full of supplies onto trucks that will be sent to Israel.Some of the volunteers there said they were born in Israel or still had family there. Others simply showed up to the synagogue and said it was the least they could do.The synagogue will be accepting donations all day and on Friday.

Chase Claypool looking to close Chicago chapter and contribute to Dolphins’ prolific offense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Chase Claypool stood in front of his locker for the first time as a Dolphin on Wednesday, eager to close the door on a disappointing stint with the Chicago Bears and embrace his new role as part of Miami’s top-ranked offense.Claypool’s tenure in Chicago ended just 11 months after the Bears acquired him from Pittsburgh last November. The Dolphins traded for the 25-year-old last week.“Excited for the new opportunity and excited to work with coach (Mike) McDaniel and Tua (Tagovailoa),” Claypool said. “And excited to play alongside (Jaylen) Waddle and Tyreek (Hill), and a bunch of new receivers.”Claypool grew frustrated with Chicago’s lack of winning — the team lost 14 straight games before winning at Washington last Thursday. The Bears were reportedly frustrated with Claypool’s effort. And the relationship fizzled quickly.“When you lose a lot of games, there’s frustration, naturally,” Claypool said. “I think that’s ne...

Woman arrested after fatal shooting outside Miami Gardens library

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

A shooting unfolded at the North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens, leading to a fatality.The Miami Gardens Police Department responded to the incident, which occurred Wednesday at approximately 5:37 p.m., where they found a female victim in the library’s parking lot suffering from multiple apparent gunshot wounds. According to the police report, the victim was pronounced deceased at 5:41 p.m.Police said that a witness observed the offender approaching the victim and opening fire. The victim pleaded for her life, but the assailant continued to shoot, ultimately standing over her and delivering a fatal shot to the head. The offender then left the scene.Later, a positive identification of the offender was made, and the police located a firearm near the library.The alleged shooter informed officers that she believed the victim was involved with her boyfriend and had mistreated her over several months. The tension came to a head when the offender encountered the victim at the...

‘This is no time’: Pence rips Trump for criticizing Netanyahu

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence lit into former President Donald Trump on Thursday for his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and praise of Hezbollah, just days after the attack on Israel.“This is no time for any former president or any other American leader to be sending any message other than America stands with Israel,” Pence said on a New Hampshire radio station.Speaking on News Radio 610 ahead of a two-day campaign swing in New Hampshire, Pence took aim at Trump’s remarks the previous night, in which the former president called Hezbollah “very smart.”“Hezbollah aren’t smart, they’re evil,” Pence said. “But the former president also said when Russia invaded Ukraine in a similar, unprovoked, unconscionable invasion a year-and-a-half ago, he said Vladimir Putin was a genius.”Pence added that while Trump has “been critical” of Netanyahu, he considers him a friend.Pence’s comments follow his broader criticism of his rivals on foreign policy i...

Tory anger as Wembley Stadium won’t light up in Israeli colors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

LONDON — England’s Football Association (FA) has resisted appeals to light up London’s Wembley Stadium in the blue and white colors of Israel’s flag to commemorate those killed in the ongoing attacks by Hamas.In a move that has angered some U.K. ministers, English football’s governing body said instead that players in an England versus Australia match Friday will wear black armbands to mourn all those who have died across the region.“Our thoughts are with them, and their families and friends in England and Australia and with all the communities who are affected by this ongoing conflict,” the association said in a statement. “We stand for humanity and an end to the death, violence, fear and suffering.”In its press release announcing the move, the FA also announced it will only permit spectators to wear kit and wave flags of the competing teams, meaning Israeli and Palestinian flags will be banned.The decision comes despite calls from some Bri...

Negotiations suspended between Hollywood studios and actors’ union

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

(CNN) — The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said late Wednesday that negotiations with SAG-AFTRA — the union representing about 160,000 actors — have been suspended.“After meaningful conversations, it is clear that the gap between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA is too great, and conversations are no longer moving us in a productive direction,” the AMPTP said in a statement.The suspension came after the actors’ union presented its latest proposal to the AMPTP, according to the studios’ statement.AMPTP said the union’s latest offer “included what it characterized as a viewership bonus that, by itself, would cost more than $800 million per year — which would create an untenable economic burden. SAG-AFTRA presented few, if any, moves on the numerous remaining open items.”The actors’ union lashed out, accusing the Hollywood studios of offering a contract that lacked the actors’ critical demands on reining in AI and failed to deliver sufficient wage increases. The union ...

UAW expands strike, hitting Ford’s largest factory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

(CNN) — The United Auto Workers union surprised Ford with a major escalation of its strike, ordering workers off the job at the company’s largest plant.Late Wednesday night, the union told 8,700 workers to strike at the Kentucky Truck Plant, which builds some of Ford’s most important vehicles, including the heavy duty version of its F Series pickup, as well as its full-size SUVs.“We have been crystal clear, and we have waited long enough, but Ford has not gotten the message,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “It’s time for a fair contract at Ford and the rest of the Big Three. If they can’t understand that after four weeks, the 8,700 workers shutting down this extremely profitable plant will help them understand it.”A Ford official told media that the UAW had called for a negotiation session with Ford for Wednesday evening. He said that the union wanted a different offer from Ford from what it had presented before. After a very brief discussion that last only a few minutes, Fain ...

Veteran guard Alex Caruso finds his niche as an elite defender for the Chicago Bulls: ‘He just causes havoc’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:46:14 GMT

Entering his seventh NBA season, Alex Caruso has forged his identity on doing the dirty work.He’s comfortable coming off the bench and accepts the challenge of playing every position from the one to the four. And even after earning his first All-Defensive Second Team selection last season, Caruso isn’t one to focus on individual accolades.“I’ve found individual success has always followed team success,” Caruso told the Tribune. “When we win games, when we perform well, I fall in line with that. When a team doesn’t do well, I usually don’t have as great a season or as great a performance as I can. So that makes it easy for me to just black out and lock into what we need to do night after night.”Even when the Chicago Bulls struggle, Caruso’s impact rarely is overlooked — even on the national stage.Caruso was the only Bulls player mentioned on this year’s NBA general manager survey — he was tied ...