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Pentagon to send ships, aircraft closer to Israel in show of force

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

The Pentagon will send ships and aircraft closer to Israel, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday, demonstrating a major show of force a day after Hamas militants launched attacks across southern Israel.The closest U.S. Navy assets are the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and its carrier strike group, which is currently deployed to the Mediterranean Sea.The Biden administration is also expected to announce the transfer of additional weapons to Israel, as POLITICO first reported.President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Sunday morning call that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel, with more expected to follow in the coming days, according to a White House readout of the call.“The President again expressed deep sympathy for all those missing, wounded, and killed, and pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas...

Parties in Germany’s ruling coalition projected to suffer big losses in state elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

In two German state elections that are seen as a bellwether of the national mood, the three parties that comprise the country’s coalition government on the federal level suffered significant losses, while insurgent parties, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained ground, according to early projections. Conservative forces won clear victories in both the states of Bavaria and Hesse, according to early projections. In Bavaria, the Christian Social Union (CSU), a sister-party to the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), won 37 percent of the vote, according to the projections, slightly less than the party won in the last state election five years ago. In Hesse, the CDU won 35.5 percent of the vote, marking a significant improvement over the last state election. If the exit polls are accurate, the results will be seen as a sign of deep dissatisfaction with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition — made up of the center-left Social Democra...

Israel declares war with Hamas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

In response to thousands of deadly rocket attacks and after hundreds of militants poured over the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel, the government has declared a formal state of war exists with Hamas.Made in accordance with the nation’s 13 Basic Laws, which serve as a sort of constitution for the small middle eastern country, the declaration by the Security Cabinet paves the way for what is certain to be a violent response by the Israeli Defense Forces against the militant arm of the Palestinian government.“We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack. The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. At the same time, we have begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Sunday morning statement. “We will restore security to ...

Coast Guard: 3 rescued from capsized vessel off New Jersey coast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — The Coast Guard says it has rescued three people without injury who were found clinging to the hull of a capsized vessel off the New Jersey coast.Officials said the operator of the 18-foot (5.5 meter) disabled vessel used a VHF-FM radio to contact the Coast Guard’s Delaware Bay sector for help Saturday afternoon, saying the vessel was disabled and needed help getting to shore.The operator said three people were aboard and that his vessel was anchored in Great Bay in Little Egg Harbor Township less than a mile (kilometer) from the Great Bay Marina. Shortly after the initial call, the operator said his boat was going down because of inclement weather.Coast Guard officials said they rerouted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter that was already in the air for routine training. A TowBoatUS commercial salvage team also heard the distress call and went to the scene, reporting to the Coast Guard that the vessel had capsized and its three occupants were ...

Canadians stuck in Israel as flights are cancelled, embassy closed for Thanksgiving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

Some Canadians say they are stuck in Israel in the midst of deadly fighting as airlines cancel their flights out and reaching the Canadian Embassy on a holiday weekend proves difficult.Hamas militants out of Gaza fired thousands of rockets and sent out dozens of fighters to wage war on Israel on Saturday, with the attack and counteroffensive killing hundreds on both sides.Toronto residents Marie and Kendall Fullerton, who were vacationing in the country when the fighting broke out, say their scheduled flight out was cancelled and they’ve been spending the day trying to book another to no avail.The couple say they’re anxious to leave the region amid fears of escalating violence but have been unable to get information or support from the Embassy in Tel Aviv because it’s closed for the Thanksgiving weekend.Robbie Segall, a 22-year-old in Israel for an internship, says he currently feels safe in the West Bank settlement of Efrat, but is frustrated with the lack of care...

Kiptum sets world marathon record in Chicago in 2:00:35, breaking Kipchoge’s mark

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Kelvin Kiptum set a world record in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 35 seconds to shatter fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s old mark by 34 seconds.Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands also took advantage of cool and cloudy weather that’s considered ideal for a marathon to win the women’s race in 2:13:44 — the second-fastest ever for a woman at the 26.2-mile distance.Kiptum won the London Marathon in the spring in 2:01:25 and shaved almost a minute off the world record set last year in Berlin by Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and the most successful marathoner ever. Kipchoge also broke the 2 hour mark in 2019 in a specially designed Vienna exhibition that does not qualify for the world record.Hassan’s time is second behind the women’s world record of 2:11:53 set last month in Berlin by Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia. Assefa shattered the women’s world record by more than two minutes.More than 47,000 runners took part ...

US to send a carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, two U.S. officials said Sunday.The USS Gerald R. Ford and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza on Saturday. At least 600 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 300 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory.The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. It's the United States newest and most advanced aircraft carrier and this is its first full deployment.The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter before ...

1 dead, 8 injured in shooting at Pennsylvania community center

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

WHITE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a shooting that killed one person and injured at least eight others early Sunday morning.The shooting happened shortly after 12:30 a.m. at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, about 65 miles east of Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania State Police believe the shooting broke out during a private party at the community center. Troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) along with local police department and EMS personnel responded to a shooting that took place around 12:35 a.m. on Oct. 8. The shooting happened at the Chevy Chase Community Center along 5th Avenue in White Township, according to PSP. Troopers say one person, a 22-year-old man from Pittsburgh, was killed in the shooting and eight others were injured. An 18-year-old from Chicago is in critical condition. Authorities have released limited information regarding the remaining victims:18-year-old man from Florida20-year-old man from Pennsylvan...

Creator of 'Coffeecon' on the best coffee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

Coffeecon returns to Chicago next weekend and the host of the event, Kevin Sinnott joins WGN Weekend Morning News to share more about the event for caffeine lovers and finding his perfect brew.

School vouchers, border security, and COVID mandate bans: Here's what to expect in Texas' 3rd special session

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:28 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Fights over so-called school vouchers or school choice, border security measures and expanding COVID-19 mandate bans to the private sector are all on the agenda for the Texas Legislature's third special session slated to start Monday.Gov. Greg Abbott has spent considerable time this year pushing for initiatives regarding "school choice," which would allow Texas parents to use public education funds to help pay for tuition for private or charter schools. The third-term Republican governor has said this is to allow families flexibility in choosing the best education for their children, whereas opponents say it will take away critical funding from public schools and will not be equitable. The governor's push for school choice has faced bipartisan roadblocks in the Texas House, whereas the measure passed swiftly with broad Republican support in the Senate during the regular legislative session.Education savings account program faced roadblocks in HouseFiled during the...