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Hamas official calls for stronger intervention by regional allies in its war with Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A senior Hamas official told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Palestinian militant group had expected stronger intervention from Hezbollah in its war with Israel, in a rare public appeal to its allies in the region.Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ decision-making political bureau, said in an interview that “we need more” from allies, including Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in light of an Israeli air campaign that Palestinian health officials say has killed more than 7,000 people, mostly civilians, in the besieged Gaza Strip.The relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza came in response to a brutal Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, many of them civilians. More than 200 people were dragged back to Gaza as hostages.The death toll on both sides is unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is likely to rise if Israel launches an anticipated ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas.On the sid...

Self-reported paid sick leave coverage has increased ‘moderately’ since 1995: StatCan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says self-reported paid sick leave coverage has increased moderately since 1995, but coverage for front-line workers is still far from universal. The federal agency says that approximately 64 per cent of workers reported having paid sick leave coverage in November 2022, in comparison to 56 per cent in November 1995.Self-reported coverage appears to have increased for groups that traditionally have lower rates of coverage, including workers with full-time temporary jobs and non-unionized jobs.The report says this suggests inequality in coverage has narrowed between some job types — but lower-wage earners are still less likely to report that they have sick leave coverage. Only 17.2 per cent of workers aged 15 to 64 whose hourly wages are in the bottom 10 per cent say they have coverage.Employees of small businesses are also less likely to report coverage. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2023. The Canadian Press

Prep star Flagg shifts focus to home state Maine after mass shooting, says college decision can wait

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

Cooper Flagg, the consensus top player in the 2024 recruiting class, said Thursday that his focus is on the tragedy of a mass shooting in his home state of Maine, an indication that an announcement on where he will play college basketball could be delayed.The 6-foot-9 small forward has been deciding between Duke and defending national champion UConn.There were reports he would announce his decision Thursday. But Flagg indicated in a social media post that would not happen.“All of our focus should be on supporting the victims, their families, and law enforcement — everything else can wait,” Flagg said. “My heart is with Maine.”Flagg plays at Montverde Academy in Florida, but is from Newport, Maine, about 80 miles from Lewiston, where at least 18 people were killed and 13 injured Wednesday night in shootings at a bowling ally and a restaurant.Flagg had called Duke his dream school, but added the Huskies to the mix after an official visit in September, when he hung out with 7-2 center ...

19-year-old charged for stealing multiple vehicles across GTA

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

York Regional Police say the provincial carjacking task force arrested a 19-year-old allegedly behind multiple vehicle thefts across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). On October 24, authorities were looking into reports of a stolen Audi S5 in Markham when officers observed a man steal a 2021 Range Rover in the Steelcase Road West and Woodbine Avenue area.Police said the suspect was arrested and the stolen Audi S5 and Range Rover were recovered. The man is believed to have committed three additional vehicle thefts in Peel Region. The suspect was identified as 19-year-old Ariyan Chegini of Richmond Hill. Related: Ontario-wide carjacking task force to be co-led by OPP, Toronto police He’s facing several charges, including four counts of motor vehicle theft, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, among other offences.“Co-led by the Toronto Police Service and the Ontario Provi...

Highland Park mass shooting suspect says attack staged by federal agents: Sheriff's office

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. -- The Highland Park mass shooting suspect claimed the deadly July 4th attack was staged by federal agents, on a recorded video call, according to the Lake County Sheriff's office. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Robert E. Crimo III has not been disciplined and is still allowed to make calls from a tablet. A spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office said it was aware of the video but would not comment further.It is now up to a judge to decide what to do since Crimo III wasn’t the one who violated jail rules but was a woman who recorded the call on Sept. 21, violating jail rules, the sheriff’s office said. Chicago father convicted of attempted murder in shootings to avenge 2015 slaying of 9-year-old son Crimo III lost his tablet privileges for a period of time earlier this year after he prank called a journalist, according to the Sun-Times. The sheriff’s office said it has forwarded details about the call to the Lake County state’s attorney’s office.

Maine mass shooting: What we know so far

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities say a man fatally shot at least 18 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night. A massive search for the suspect was underway. The suspect was identified as Robert Card, a trained firearms instructor. The shooting in the state’s second-largest city is the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. The database includes every mass killing since 2006 from all weapons in which four or more people, excluding the offender, were killed within a 24-hour time frame.Here's what we know about the suspect and where the shooting happened:WHO IS THE SUSPECT?Authorities on Thursday identified Robert Card, 40, as the suspect in the attack.Maine State Police say an arrest warrant has been issued for eight counts of murder. Ten victims remain unidentified.Card has been described as a firearms instructor b...

Flags to fly at half-staff until Monday for Maine shooting victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — President Joe Biden has ordered flags across the U.S. to fly at half-staff until Monday as a mark of respect for the victims of two shootings in Maine. In a proclamation Thursday morning, Biden ordered the U.S. flag to fly at half-staff at the White House, public buildings and grounds, military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels throughout the country until sunset on Oct. 30. Authorities were continuing massive search efforts for the man they say shot and killed 18 people and injured 13 others at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, late Wednesday. 18 dead in Maine mass killing; manhunt for shooter continues During a Thursday morning press conference, Maine Gov. Janet Mills said the shooting suspect, Robert Card, is considered armed and dangerous and warns people not to approach him. Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the U.S. Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.After the shooting, po...

Best Buy recalls nearly 1 million pressure cookers over burn risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

(WHTM) -- Best Buy has recalled about 930,000 Insignia pressure cookers due to a burn hazard.According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the inner pot of the pressure cooker has the wrong volume markings, which could lead to overfilling. The commission says this can result in hot food and liquids being "ejected" when the pressure cooker is vented -- either by using the steam release valve or by removing the top."Consumers should always check that the inner pot is not filled beyond two-thirds capacity when pressure cooking, that the lid is fully locked before pressure cooking is started, and that the floating locking valve has dropped before attempting to open the lid when pressure cooking," the CPSC advised.So far, Best Buy has gotten 31 incident reports, including 17 reported burn injuries, according to the commission. Pennsylvania gets seven new laws dealing with dogs, school bus safety and more The recall includes Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers with...

Flooding risk continues for Central Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- 3-6" of rain has fallen overnight in portions of the Hill Country causing some localized flooding including minor flooding along the Llano river.The National Weather Service has expanded the timing and area of the Flood Watch to include ALL of the Austin Metro Counties. The Flood Watch now continues into early Thursday afternoon.Flood Watch until 1 p.m. ThursdayThe rain will continue its eastward movement and approach I-35 during the Thursday morning commute before moving into our eastern counties by late morning. Live, updated rain totals During the day on Thursday a 2 out of 4 flash flooding risk is in place for the Austin Metro. Watch out for localized heavy downpours on Thursday, which will be most widespread in the morning and become less numerous during the afternoon.Flash flooding risk Thursday (WPC)Another round of rain and thunderstorms happens Friday. Saturday looks drier, but more storms ar...

Here’s how Gophers football can win the Big Ten West

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:55 GMT

The Gophers’ 12-10 win over Iowa last week has rejuvenated Minnesota’s outlook to contend for the Big Ten West Division title.With five games remaining, Minnesota is 2-2 in the Big Ten and enters Saturday’s home game as a seven-point favorite against Michigan State (0-4).In the West standings, the third-place Gophers sit one game behind Wisconsin (3-1) and a half-game behind Iowa (3-2). But Minnesota holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Hawkeyes and fourth-place Nebraska (2-2).This current situation sets up a plausible scenario for the Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Nov. 25 to decide the winner of the West.Here’s how that might shake out:Wisconsin is a 14-point home underdog against No. 3 Ohio State (4-0) on Saturday, and Minnesota will be a big underdog when the Gophers play the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 18. It’s not going out on a limb to assume Ohio State wins both games.Let’s also predict the Badgers and Gophers win every other game on their schedules — all of whic...