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Biden’s pick to be ambassador to Israel tells senators he’ll ensure the US ally ‘has what it needs’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s nominee to be ambassador to Israel told senators Wednesday that he would “ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself” and would work with the U.S. ally to end the attacks by Hamas if he were confirmed. Jacob Lew, a treasury secretary under President Barack Obama, promised to coordinate with the international community and address the humanitarian crisis facing civilians in Gaza amid Israeli military strikes. His hearing came as Biden visited Israel to reinforce U.S. support and try to ease tensions in the latest war with Hamas. “At this moment, there is no greater mission than to be asked to strengthen the ties between the United States and the State of Israel and to work toward peace in a region that has known so much war and destruction,” Lew said in his opening statement. The Senate is moving quickly to confirm Lew, who was nominated by Biden last month after Tom Nides left as ambassador in July. Democrats say Lew’s wealth of go...

To speed up boarding, United Airlines starts seating passengers with window seats first in economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

United Airlines says that it will start boarding passengers in economy class with window seats first starting next week, a move that will speed up boarding times for flights.The airline said in an internal memo that it will implement the plan on Oct. 26. The plan, known as WILMA, for window, middle and aisle, was tested at four domestic locations and one hub. United said that it’s shown to save up to two minutes of boarding time. The change will begin with passengers in Group 4. Those with window seats will board first, followed by those with middle seats and then those with aisle seats. United said that multiple customers on the same economy reservation, such as families, will be allowed to board their flight together. The plan will be implemented on domestic flights and some international flights. Individuals in first class and business class will see no change in their boarding process. There’s also no change for the pre-boarding group that includes travelers with disabilit...

Corrupt ex-Baltimore police officer asks for compassionate prison release, citing cancer diagnosis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — A former Baltimore police officer convicted in 2018 as part of the department’s Gun Trace Task Force corruption scandal is asking a federal judge for compassionate release from prison, saying he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer.Daniel Hersl, the oldest member of the deeply corrupt and now-disbanded Baltimore police unit, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty of racketeering and robbery.In a court filing Tuesday, the 53-year-old ex-detective said he was recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer that has spread to his lymph nodes, liver, lungs and more. He said a prison doctor concluded he has less than 18 months to live and asked for home detention.A ruling has not yet been issued on his request.Hersl was one of eight indicted members of the once-lauded Gun Trace Task Force, which was created to get illegal guns off the streets of a city plagued by violent crime. But instead, members robbed drug dealers, planted narcotics a...

S&P/TSX composite down 150 points, U.S. stock markets also lower

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down 150 points in late-morning trading as losses in the base metal stocks helped lead the way lower, while U.S. stock markets also fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 150.94 points at 19,541.86.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 165.61 points at 33,832.04. The S&P 500 index was down 29.96 points at 4,343.24, while the Nasdaq composite was down 110.70 points at 13,423.05.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.03 cents US compared with 73.28 cents US on Tuesday.The December crude contract was up US$1.74 at US$87.18 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up five cents at US$3.13 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was up US$24.00 at US$1,959.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up less than a penny at US$3.58 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press

Suspect arrested in Kensington Market stabbing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

Toronto police say a suspect is in custody following a stabbing in Kensington Market on Wednesday morning.Officers responded to the area of College Street and Bellevue Avenue just before 11 a.m. for reports a person had been stabbed.When police arrived, they found a man in his 30s with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital.Police say a 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene. There is no word on charges at this time.It is not yet known what led to the stabbing.Toronto police at the scene of a stabbing near College Street and Bellevue Avenue on Oct. 18, 2023. CITYNEWS/Sean Toussaint

$5 million in grants awarded to 8 Cook County domestic violence organizations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced Wednesday that nearly $5 million in grant money has been awarded to eight domestic violence support organizations throughout the county beginning next year.The grants range from $132,000 to $1.5 million and are supporting services from the beginning of 2024 through September 2025.The organizations that received grant funding are American Indian Health Services of Chicago, ANEW: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse, The Crisis Center for South Suburbia, KAN-WIN, Mujeres Latinas En Acción, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, Sarah's Inn and WINGS Program, Inc."Forms of gender-based violence including domestic violence have silently impacted our communities for generations,” said Preckwinkle. “This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are making an important investment in programs and services for survivors and their families. We are committed to supporting and empowering our residents impacted by g...

Chicago police investigate brawl captured on video at Soldier Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police have confirmed they are investigating after a viral video of a Sunday game-day brawl at Soldier Field.The video captures an unidentified man wearing a Justin Fields jersey and a Chicago Bears cap punching another man from behind, knocking him to the ground.According to police, a 50-year-old and 27-year-old man were involved in a verbal altercation with three other men when the offenders battered the victims. The 50 and 27-year-old man suffered multiple injuries and self-transported themselves to a local hospital in stable condition. 2 University of Chicago students robbed at knifepoint on campus It is unclear what caused the altercation to happen. No one is in custody. Area Three Detectives are Investigating.

Gaza hospital blast sparks protests across Middle East

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

In the wake of a deadly hospital blast in Gaza that reportedly left hundreds dead Tuesday, protests erupted across the Middle East.In Jordan, protestors attempted to storm the Israeli embassy. In Cairo, a small group of protestors were spotted near the U.K. and U.S. embassies — pushing for the country to break off ties with Israel. Protests and fighting also erupted between militant group Hezbollah, based in Lebanon, and Israel along its border. All of this comes as a backdrop to President Biden’s visit to Israel to meet with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israel officials Wednesday. The recent hospital blast is of disputed origin, with Israel blaming Palestinian militants and Hamas blaming an Israeli airstrike. Biden appeared to side with Israel’s version of events Wednesday.“The point is … that I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, n...

Secret lounge discovered in Rikers Island jail, stashed with unused equipment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) -- Employees from the Department of Correction allegedly built a secret lounge stocked with stolen equipment inside Rikers Island jail, according to a city investigation.New York City investigators discovered a secret lounge filled with leather couches, a giant TV screen and a stash of Correction Department equipment in 2020, according to New York Daily News. The lounge was stocked with unused snow blowers, air conditioners and other supplies that could have been used in the jail."The items were, in some cases, hidden in a hallway behind a false wall made out of plywood blocked with equipment, or in rooms behind doors secured with combination locks," the Daily News reported. Prospect Park Zoo closes indefinitely due to damage from Tropical Storm Ophelia The Legal Aid Society says a secret lounge built on Rikers Island by the Department of Correction is a "declaration of war on authority -- and the perpetrators got away with it."“While incarcerated people suffer in ...

Israel Instagram account blasts Gigi Hadid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:38:03 GMT

(The Hill) -- Israel's government’s official Instagram account called out model and personality Gigi Hadid for a post she shared on the Israel-Hamas war. Hadid, who is half-Palestineian, took to her Instagram over the weekend to share a graphic that read: “There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians. Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas,” according to Variety.“Have you been sleeping the past week?” the State of Israel wrote on Instagram in reaction to Hadid’s post. “Or are you just fine turning a blind eye to Jewish babies being butchered in their homes? Your silence has been very clear about where you stand. We see you.”The State of Israel’s post also included a graphic that revised the original post to call out Hamas. The revised text reads: “There is nothing valiant about Hamas’ massacre of Israelis. Condemning Hamas for what it is (ISIS) is not anti-Palestine and support...