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Israeli military confirms that Hamas is holding Israeli soldiers and civilians captive in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says that Gaza's militant Hamas rulers are holding Israeli civilians and soldiers captive in the Palestinian enclave, marking major escalation in the fighting. The military confirmed Hamas claims that its fighters had kidnapped a number of Israelis after they infiltrated Israel's highly fortified separation fence and stormed into Israeli communities in the country's south. The army did not offer further details, declining to comment on how many Israelis had been seized. Social media has been filled with videos claiming to show Hamas fighters dragging lifeless Israeli soldiers and parading captured civilians through the streets.At least 40 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded, making the unprecedented surprise early morning attack by Hamas the deadliest in Israel in years. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into ...

San Diego gets record ranking as top big city destination for travelers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With its beaches and sprawling food culture, San Diego has risen in the ranks to become a favorite destination in the U.S. travelers, according to the newest edition of a long-running poll by Conde Nast Traveler.For the first time ever, America's Finest City took the No. 2 spot in the 36th annual Reader's Choice Awards for the Best Large Cities in the U.S. ranking, coming in higher than other popular destinations like New York City and San Francisco.Over the last few years, San Diego had been on the rise in the survey. In 2021, the city was ranked No. 7 by Conde Nast readers on the same poll."Several years ago, travelers headed to San Diego might have wondered what they would do in the city, besides hitting the beaches. No longer," the magazine wrote. "With a recent string of hot hotel openings … and a legit food scene that offers up some of the best Mexican dishes and seafood platters you'll ever taste, San Diego has officially stepped out from the shadow of its big si...

Rebeca Andrade wins vault’s world title, denies Biles another gold medal at world championships

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Rebeca Andrade of Brazil denied Simone Biles a 22nd world title by winning the women’s vault competition ahead of the American superstar on Saturday.A day after she became the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles tried to claim back the vault title she last won in 2019 by performing her extremely difficult signature Yurchenko double pike vault that nobody else does in the women’s competition.But she fell on her back on the landing. Biles then delivered an excellent Cheng to finish with a combined score of 14.549. Andrade was nearly flawless to snatch the gold medal by a margin of 0.201 points.Yeo Seo-jeong of South Korea took the bronze medal with 14.416.Elsabeth Black of Halifax finished fifth with a total of 13.933 points.Biles became the first woman to do the Yurchenko double pike at the world championships during qualifying, and the vault is now named the Biles II because it was achieved in international competition. The 26-year-old Americ...

Police search for man in connection with sexual offence agianst 9-year-old

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

Police are looking to identify a man wanted for committing a sexual offence against a 9-year-old boy in Mississauga. Investigators say the boy was in the public washroom at Square One Shopping Mall in July when a man struck up a conversation with him that was sexual in nature.Police say the man and child were not known to each other. The man is described as white with a tanned complexion, five-foot-six to five-foot-nine with an average to thin build, a full beard, braids and dreadlock-type hair. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black t-shirt with a logo and distinct red ‘Air Force One’ type shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Canadian politicians condemn deadly surprise Hamas attack on Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

Canadian politicians are condemning an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants, who fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated the heavily fortified border by air, land and sea.Israel’s national rescue service says at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds have been injured in the attack — the deadliest in the country in years.The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 198 people have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded in the territory in Israel’s retaliation after the attack which caught the country off guard on a major Jewish holiday.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Canada strongly condemns the “terrorist attacks against Israel” and fully supports the country’s right to defend itself.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also released a statement denouncing what he called “the invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists” and “the sadistic violence” carried out a...

Parts of Quebec under rainfall warning, localized flooding on some Montreal streets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

MONTREAL — Parts of Quebec are subject to rainfall warnings as Environment Canada forecasts some areas could receive up to 70 millimetres of additional rain between today and tomorrow.Environment Canada meteorologist Dominic Martel reports between 50 and 60 millimetres of rain has already fallen in the Montreal area since Friday evening.Water accumulated on several Montreal streets this morning, in some cases overflowing onto sidewalks and private property.Environment Canada says it expects between 40 and 70 millimetres of rain in much of the central part of the province, including the Montreal area, between Saturday morning and Sunday morning.The federal weather agency says areas of higher elevation could see as much as 100 millimetres of additional rainfall this weekend.Between 50 and 80 millimetres of rain are expected further east, in areas along the St. Lawrence River northeast of Quebec City, between Saturday evening and Sunday evening.This report by The Canadian Press was fir...

Saturday Forecast: Partly cloudy, mid 50s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

Saturday:  Partly cloudy, breezy, and chilly. NW 15-25 mph. Air quality is Good with some areas of Moderate around Chicagoland. High: 56Saturday Night: Increasing clouds late & breezy. NW 10-15 mph. Low 42, chillier in outlying areasSunday: Mostly cloudy & chance of showers. NW 5-10 mph. High: 55Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for mostly cloudy on Monday with a few showers. High temps back up to 60. Tuesday a bit milder with highs near 63 and partly sunny skies. Sun on Wednesday helps boost our temps back to normals in the upper 60s. Thursday has some showers and possible thunderstorms with highs near 60. 

Cohen on Trump fraud trial: 'There's no way for him to escape this'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

(The Hill) – Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen said that Trump's ongoing New York business fraud trial is likely to spell the end of the former president’s business empire, as Cohen prepares to testify against him in the case.“I can assure you that, as I had stated once again before the House Oversight Committee, everything that happened at the Trump Organization happened with the direct knowledge and at the direction of, and ultimately signed off by, Donald J. Trump,” Cohen said in a CNN interview Friday. “There's no way for him to escape this.” Trump recounts ‘terrible experience’ of being booked in Georgia New York prosecutors argued that Trump and his sons committed business fraud by intentionally inflating and deflating the value of their assets in order to get more favorable loans and insurance rates.A judge ruled that Trump did commit fraud last month, and the trial this week is set to determine damages. Prosecutors are seeking $250 million in financial penalties and to b...

Manatee that made rare trip to New England waters found dead weeks later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

(WPRI) – A manatee spotted last month in Rhode Island waters has been found dead offshore, according to Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium."We are so saddened by it," Sara Callan, manager of Mystic's animal rescue program, told Nexstar's WPRI. Momo the monkey captured after running rampant overnight in Indianapolis Manatees are rarely seen as far north as New England. The West Indian manatee species — which "cannot tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods of time," according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — is generally found off the Florida coast and in the Caribbean. The manatee seen in Rhode Island was first spotted swimming in Quonochontaug Pond on Sept. 11 before slowly making its way toward Narragansett. It was last spotted alive on Sept. 18 in Warren.Callan saw the manatee when it was in Narragansett."It did seem, overall, like the animal was in pretty decent shape and was exhibiting normal behaviors," she said.The manatee that...

Texas, Oklahoma clash in final Big 12 Red River Rivalry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's finally here.The Red River Rivalry kicks off from the Cotton Bowl at 11 a.m., and with both Texas and Oklahoma sporting 5-0 records in their last year in the Big 12 Conference, this one just means more. Who do you believe? ESPN’s analytics thinks Oklahoma will win, Vegas favors Texas in Red River Rivalry Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders will be available to play against the Sooners while defensive back Ryan Watts is out. Both were injured in last week's 40-14 win over Kansas. Sarkisian said he'll use his typical rotation of players in the secondary even with Watts not available to play. Defensive lineman Kristopher Ross and offensive lineman Cole Hutson are both still out for Texas.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersOklahoma will miss defensive back Justin Harrington who's out for the rest of the season...