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Israeli rabbis work around the clock – even on the Sabbath – to count the dead from Hamas attack

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

SITRIYA, Israel (AP) — Rarely do rabbis spend the Sabbath counting bodies. But on Saturday, a week after Hamas militants blew easily past Israel’s fortified security fence and gunned down hundreds of Israelis — at music festivals, in their homes, in cars while trying to flee — Israel’s military rabbinate made an exception.At Shura military base in central Israel, bodies have been coming in faster than the rabbis can identify them. Hundreds of soldiers, women, and children in body bags line shelves of refrigerated trucks, awaiting examination. Identification teams gather on plastic stools opposite the trucks to take smoke breaks between shifts. They wear heavy gas masks — the smell of death is overwhelming.“Generally, Jewish law says that you cannot break the Sabbath for a dead person,” said Rabbi Israel Weiss, who is helping lead the operation. “The exception is when a family is in doubt, and the death is so crippling that it may risk the family’s lives. Then, you must work on the S...

Colorado train derails, spilling mangled train cars and coal across a highway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — A train derailment Sunday spewed coal and mangled train cars across a highway near Pueblo, according to Colorado State Patrol. Photos and videos posted of the wreckage by state patrol and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office appear to show a partially collapsed bridge that runs over the interstate and a semi-truck caught beneath it. The site is about 114 miles (183 km) south of Denver.A Colorado State Patrol spokesperson told The Denver Post that first responders were trying to rescue the semi-truck’s driver from the cab. Law-enforcement have not offered more details on whether anyone was hurt.Officials are directing drivers to avoid the area. Associated Press, The Associated Press

Biden considering trip to Israel in the coming days, but travel isn’t final, according to AP source

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is considering a trip to Israel in the coming days but nothing has been finalized, a senior administration official said Sunday.The news comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been traveling around the Mideast this past week trying to prevent the war with Hamas from igniting a broader regional conflict. Biden has staunchly proclaimed his support for Israel and a trip there would be a firm sign of U.S. support following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. The official could not publicly discuss internal deliberations about the potential presidential travel and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.Yet in an interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, the president warned Israel not to reoccupy Gaza, in his strongest public effort to hold Israel back after the attack that killed more than 1,300 people, including at least 30 U.S. citizens. “I think it’d be a big mistake,” Biden said. “Look, what happened in Gaza, ...

Banana empire heir holds lead with more than half the votes counted in Ecuador presidential race

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A young heir to a banana empire held the lead in early returns from Sunday’s presidential runoff election in Ecuador. Results from the National Electoral Council gave Daniel Noboa had 52.4% of of the vote with about 61% of the ballots counted. Leftist attorney Luisa González had 47.6% of the votes in an election held amid unprecedented violence on the streets and within prisons. Ecuadorians have a universal demand for the new president — safety. Noboa and González have limited governing experience and will undoubtedly have their work cut out.The election comes as more Ecuadorians become victims of drug-related violence that erupted roughly three years ago and intensified in August, when a presidential candidate was assassinated in broad daylight. People continuously watch their backs and limit how often they leave home. The uneasiness even pushed Noboa to add a bulletproof vest to his daily outfit.The election took place without any major incidents. After...

Egypt's leader criticizes Israel's Gaza operation as the top US diplomat extends his Mideast mission

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's president criticized Israel’s military operation in Gaza in a stern pushback Sunday to the United States as America's top diplomat extended his frenetic travels across the Mideast trying to prevent the war with Hamas from igniting a broader regional conflict.With an Israeli ground offensive looming, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed in some of his strongest language to date that Washington would stand with Israel “today, tomorrow and every day” in a partnership of shared democratic values, but that Israel must take “every possible precaution to avoid harming civilians.” He leveled no direct public criticism of Israel or its bombing campaign that has killed civilians in Gaza.From Cairo, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi conveyed his criticism, Blinken went to Jordan and planned to return to Israel on Monday, carrying to Israeli leaders the feedback he received in a rush of meetings with leaders throughout the Arab world.His second visit to Isr...

Shots fired at Kirkwood school’s trunk-or-treat event

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

KIRKWOOD, Mo. – One man is in custody after brandishing a handgun and firing shots at a trunk-or-treat event at North Kirkwood Middle School.In a letter sent to parents in the district, the shooting happened just before 5 p.m. Sunday.Tillman Elementary School organized the event, but due to construction projects, the trunk-or-treat was moved to North Kirkwood's school parking lot, in the 11200 block of Manchester Road.According to the school district, an adult began behaving erratically and causing a disturbance. When confronted by other parents, this person pulled out a gun and started shooting into the air. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW Other parents tackled the armed man and detained him until police arrived. No one was injured in the...

Senator Laphonza Butler tests positive for COVID

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

(FOX40.COM) -- Two weeks after being chosen for a U.S. Senate seat by Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Laphonza Butler tested positive for COVID-19, according to a post she made on social media. To run or not to run? New California senator faces tough decision on whether to enter 2024 campaign "After a busy first week on the job, I have tested positive for COVID-19 and am experiencing mild symptoms," Butler said in a post on X on Sunday. "Per CDC guidelines I will be isolating while the Senate is in session and working remotely."Butler succeeded the late Dianne Feinstein after the former U.S. senator from California passed away in September.

J Street Alumni Condemn "Pro-Peace" Group for Opposing Gaza Ceasefire

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

While Israel continues its war against the Gaza Strip, over 100 former J Street staffers and representatives from its network of university groups are pushing their former organization to join mounting calls for a ceasefire.The letter comes in response to J Street’s push for a congressional resolution that pledges unconditional support to Israel’s war in Gaza. The group, according to a report in The Intercept, is threatening to withhold its endorsement from Democrats who refuse to sign on. The resolution — led by Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., and now backed by more than 420 members of Congress — makes no mention of Palestinian civilians, of which Israel has now killed over 2600, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.“As former staff and student representatives of J Street — many of whom are mourning the losses of family and friends in both Israel and Palestine — we condemn the organization’s align...

Resilient Springboks ruin host France’s dream in the quarterfinals at the Rugby World Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Springboks were at their most stubborn to wreck France’s dream at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.The defending champions dug deeper than normal for one of their most resilient performances to knock the highly-rated French out of their home World Cup by a riveting 29-28 in the quarterfinals in front of nearly 80,000 fans at Stade de France.“For all the support we’ve had, it’s heartbreaking,” France flanker Charles Ollivon said.France played all the attacking rugby for the first hour, and the crowd loved it, leaving South Africa to feed off crumbs and cling on before suddenly swinging the momentum in the final 13 minutes when lock Eben Etzebeth made up for an earlier yellow card by barging over near the posts.That put South Africa ahead for the first time since a breathless, six-try opening 30 minutes.While France came within a point of the Springboks at the end, their great hopes of a first title, and clinching it at home, slipped away when replacement pro...

Eagles and 49ers are no longer unbeaten; Jets top Philly 20-14 and Browns stop Niners 19-17

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:44:52 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Breece Hall ran for an 8-yard touchdown with 1:46 remaining, one play after Tony Adams intercepted Jalen Hurts, and New York held on to shock previously undefeated Philadelphia 20-14 on Sunday for the Jets first win against the Eagles.The Jets (3-3) appeared on their way to falling to 0-13 in their history against the Eagles, but Hurts’ third interception of the game — and the fourth turnover by Philadelphia — was returned by Adams 45 yards to put New York into immediate scoring position.Hall’s run shook MetLife Stadium as the Jets fans went wild, then Zach Wilson connected with Randall Cobb on a 2-point conversion.The Eagles (5-1) got one more chance to win when they got the ball back, but the defense stiffened — as it had all game. Hurts’ deep throw to DeVonta Smith on fourth down was knocked away, and Wilson and the offense were able to kneel down twice to seal an unlikely victory.Hurts finished 28 of 45 for 280 yards and one touchdown but had three p...