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Israel says it doesn’t plan long-term control of the Gaza Strip after its war with Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, and Muslims around the world protested in solidarity with Palestinians.Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it tries to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew.Speaking to lawmakers about Israel’s long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005.First, Israeli airstrikes and “m...

Rescuers descended into a deep cave to rescue a trapped dog – then they found a bear

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

(CNN) — Firefighters encountered an unexpected challenge while rescuing a dog trapped in a Tennessee cave: A black bear was also there.The dog, Charlie, spent three days trapped nearly 40 feet deep in an “extremely narrow cave shaft” on English Mountain in eastern Tennessee, according to a Facebook post from the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department.A rescue team consisting of “rope rescue technicians” from several fire departments set off on the mission to free Charlie on Tuesday, the Facebook post says. The team hiked to the mouth of the cave, where firefighter Tori Downing and captain Jon Lanier descended into the cave.“Things took a turn when Firefighter Downing rounded a corner and found a bear sleeping five feet below her and the trapped hunting dog farther in the cave system,” reads the Facebook post.Charlie’s unwitting companion was a 2-year-old black bear weighing an estimated 200 pounds, according to the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department.The rescue team l...

Kenneth Chesebro: Pro-Trump attorney who helped craft fake elector plot pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

(CNN) — Kenneth Chesebro, a Donald Trump-aligned attorney who helped craft the 2020 fake elector plot, is pleading guilty in the Georgia election subversion case.The plea deal is another major victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged Trump and 18 others in the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Thursday, former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty.Chesebro is pleading guilty to one felony – conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Fulton County prosecutors are recommending that Chesebro serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution. He agreed to testify at any future trials in the sprawling election subversion case and write an apology letter.The plea came shortly after jury selection began Friday. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had met with the pool of prospective jurors Friday and told them the trial could last four to five months.A source familiar with the discussions said the l...

GEM provides aid to civilians in Israel and Gaza as war continues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

A South Florida-based organization is supporting civilians caught in the war in the Middle East.The Global Empowerment Mission, originally from Doral, was one of the first to provide aid to Gaza.The organization currently has a team that has mobilized close to the Rafah border on the Egyptian side with trucks loaded with humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians once the border opens.The organization has also been in Israel and currently has more than 400 pallets of aid in transit to the country.They are also in partnership with others that are providing supplies at a base outside of Tel Aviv.

US finds Orbán-Putin love-in ‘troubling’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman said Friday that Washington was “concerned about Hungary’s relationship with Russia,” adding it finds Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent decision to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “troubling,” according to Reuters.On Wednesday, Pressman faulted Orbán on X (formerly Twitter) for “choosing to stand with a man whose forces are responsible for crimes against humanity in Ukraine, and alone among our Allies.”The previous day, Orbán was seen shaking hands with Putin on the sidelines of a two-day forum marking the 10th anniversary of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, drawing international censure.Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, Orbán has been criticized for opposing EU initiatives designed to help Kyiv against Moscow. His government maintains closer relations with Russia than other member countries, and is seen as advancing some of Moscow’s aims, including thwarting NATO expansion.Ukraine has...

House Republicans reject Jim Jordan a third time for the speaker’s gavel as opposition deepens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Jim Jordan failed badly Friday on a third ballot for the House speaker’s gavel, rejected by even more Republicans from the conservative mainstream who warned the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no threats or promises could win their support.The Republicans have no realistic or workable plan to unite the fractured GOP majority, elect a new speaker and return to the work of Congress that has been languishing since hard-liners ousted Kevin McCarthy at the start of the month.In all, Jordan lost 25 Republican colleagues, leaving him far from the majority needed.Ahead of the vote, Jordan showed no signs of stepping aside, insisting at a Capitol press conference: “The American people are hungry for change.”Drawing on his Ohio roots, Jordan, who is popular with the GOP’s right-flank activist base of voters, positioned his long-shot campaign alongside the history of American innovators including the Wright brothers, urging his...

Patriots need to find Demario Douglas more snaps coming off of injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

FOXBORO — There’s one clear and obvious way the Patriots can potentially improve their league-worst offense: Get rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas on the field more.Extenuating circumstances have kept Douglas from receiving a full slate of snaps six weeks into the season. He fumbled in Week 2 and was benched for the remainder of the Patriots’ Week 2 loss to the Dolphins. Then he was working his way back into earning trust in the offense before leaving the team’s Week 5 loss to the Saints early with a concussion. Douglas missed Week 6 but has returned to practice ahead of the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Bills.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Is the Patriots’ health improving before Sunday’s Bills game? New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: What changes are coming in the next year? New England Patriots | Callahan: Bills QB Josh Allen has become Bill Belichick-proof New England Patriots | Patriots ...

Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleads guilty over efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss in Georgia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

By KATE BRUMBACK (Associated Press)ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty to a felony on Friday just as jury selection was getting underway in his trial on charges accusing him of participating in efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia.Chesebro, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law, pleaded guilty to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents in a last-minute deal. His plea came a day after fellow attorney Sidney Powell, who had been scheduled to go to trial alongside him, entered her own guilty plea to six misdemeanor counts.In Chesebro’s case, he was sentenced to five years’ probation and 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution, write an apology letter to Georgia’s residents and testify truthfully at any related future trial.The two guilty pleas — along with a third for a bail bondsman last month — are major victo...

Is the Patriots’ health improving before Sunday’s Bills game?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

The Patriots were down just three players at Friday’s practice, the last before they will host the Bills on Sunday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: What changes are coming in the next year? New England Patriots | Callahan: Bills QB Josh Allen has become Bill Belichick-proof New England Patriots | Patriots release 2023 NFL Draft pick, freeing up roster spot New England Patriots | Patriots’ Jabrill Peppers received special attention from Bill Belichick this week New England Patriots | Patriots’ Jalen Mills breaks silence on tweet over lack of playing time Outside linebacker Josh Uche, defensive lineman Keion White and offensive tackle Riley Reiff were absent, indicating they will miss Sunday’s game after sitting out all three practices this week.Tight end Hunter Henry (ankle) and cornerback Jonathan Jones (ankle) were non-participants on ...

Biden faces tough battle to secure $105 billion for Ukraine, Israel, the border and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:13 GMT

By CHRIS MEGERIAN and MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Friday released a sweeping set of proposals to bolster Israel and Ukraine in the midst of two wars as well as invest more in domestic defense manufacturing, humanitarian assistance and managing the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.The total cost of the supplemental funding request was pegged at just over $105 billion. President Joe Biden hopes Congress will move urgently on the legislation, and he made the case for deepening U.S. support for its allies during a rare Oval Office address on Thursday night.The Democratic president’s plans faces some immediate complications on Capitol Hill. The House is at a standstill, unable to pass legislation, as the Republican majority struggle to choose a new speaker, and it could also get bogged down in a divided Senate where some Republicans want to add additional border policies to the measure.But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a ...