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Live updates | Israel bombs Gaza and unveils tunnel complex as hostage negotiations gain momentum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

At least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded early Wednesday after Israel bombarded the urban Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, according to Munir al-Bursh, a senior official in the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.The Israeli military said its troops have located “ a vast tunnel network ” under Gaza City that included command and control positions, meeting rooms and hideout apartments for the most senior leaders of Hamas, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.There were new signs of progress Wednesday in negotiations to halt the war in Gaza and secure the release of at least some of the estimated 129 Israeli captives held by Palestinian militants. Hamas said that Haniyeh, who is believed to be based in Qatar, was in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the war, without providing more details. Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combat...

Slow-moving Pacific storm threatens to bring California flooding and mudslides

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Heavy rains drenched parts of California on Wednesday, bringing the threat of flooding and mudslides as millions of people geared up for holiday travel, the National Weather Service said.The Pacific storm centered offshore was moving gradually southeastward, sending bands of rain ashore and hitting particularly hard on the central coast after sweeping through the San Francisco Bay Area. Flood watches were posted all the way south to San Diego.California’s rain came as the Northeast battled the effects of storms that brought floods and downed trees, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands and killing at least five people.More than 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) of rain had fallen by late morning in the Santa Ynez Mountains — the steep backdrop to the south Santa Barbara County’s “American Riviera” communities — and more bands of heavy rain were expected to follow.The stormy weather came as millions of Californians geared up for holiday travel and finished pr...

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson returns to practice following second suspension for illegal hits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson, who has forfeited nearly $1 million in fines and paychecks over a series of over-the-top tackles this season, returned to practice Wednesday after completing his second suspension.After missing six of the Broncos’ last seven games, Jackson is eligible to return Sunday night when Denver (7-7) hosts the New England Patriots (3-11), although the Broncos have a roster exemption through Monday and could choose to sit him out this weekend.His role is also uncertain because fourth-year safety PJ Locke has played well in Jackson’s absence opposite Justin Simmons. Jackson could be used on early downs or in certain sub packages with Locke maintaining most of the snaps.“It’s been four weeks,” coach Sean Payton said. “All those things are possibilities. It’s still something that we’re kind of going through.”Last time he returned from a suspension, Jackson was reinserted into the starting lineup right away, but his very fi...

Kylian Mbappé scores twice on 25th birthday as PSG beats Metz 3-1. Ethan Mbappé makes league debut

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé celebrated his 25th birthday with two goals as Paris Saint-Germain beat lowly Metz 3-1 on Wednesday to head into the winter break with a five-point lead in the French league.The France star got a birthday bonus, as well, when his 16-year-old brother Ethan Mbappé made his league debut as a stoppage-time substitute.Kylian Mbappé extended his league-leading tally to 18 goals. He has 21 goals overall this season, and since joining PSG from Monaco in 2017 he has netted a club record 233 goals in 282 appearances.Mbappé’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has yet to say whether he will sign an extension or leave on a free transfer, possibly to long-time suitor Real Madrid.Portugal midfielder Vitinha guided in a cross from the left to put PSG ahead in the 49th minute following a drab first half and then provided the pass for Mbappé’s trademark curling shot from the left of the penalty area into the top right corner in the 60th.Although t...

Ejim has 27 points, Maxwell 14 of 17 in 3rd quarter, No. 20 Gonzaga women drop Arizona 81-69

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Yvonne Ejim scored 21 of her 27 points in the first half, Brynna Maxwell scored 14 of her 17 in a dominant third quarter and No. 20 Gonzaga defeated Arizona 81-69 on Wednesday in the Jerry Colangelo Classic.It was the first meeting between the program’s although the men’s teams, both national powers, have played some memorable games over the years. It was also Gonzaga’s fourth matchup against a Pac-12 team this season. Behind Ejim, who was 10-of-12 shooting, the Bulldogs took a 38-32 halftime lead. Then Maxwell got hot, making all five of her shots, four of them 3-pointers, as the Zags outscored the Wildcats 29-14 in the third quarter to lead 67-46.Starting with a Maxwell layup and ending with two Ejim baskets, Gonzaga scored the first eight points of the third quarter. When Maxwell hit her fourth triple in the closing seconds, the lead was 21.The Bulldogs were 12 of 16 in the third quarter and were shooting 68% (28 of 41) entering the final 10 minut...

The Hunt: Terror concerns grow in the US and Europe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

On this episode of “The Hunt with WTOP national security correspondent J.J. Green,” senior director at the Counter Extremism Project Hans-Jakob Schindler says the discovery of two terror cells revealed what authorities believe was a chilling plot. toggle audio on and off change volume download audio How ice packs located in apartments in cities across Europe were part of a chilling plot $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': ...

Tormenta en California amenaza con inundaciones a millones de personas: ¿cuándo llegarían y qué zonas están en riesgo?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

(CNN) — Mientras millones de personas se preparan para viajar por las festividades navideñas, las fuertes lluvias, la nieve y las ráfagas de viento pueden retrasar la salida de los vuelos en California y dificultar el tránsito por las carreteras durante los próximos días.Más de 20 millones de personas están bajo alerta de inundaciones en todo el sur de California, incluido Los Ángeles, debido a que un río atmosférico amenaza con causar inundaciones y deslizamientos de tierra.Justo después de un sistema que impactó California este martes, otro sistema se moverá ahora a través del estado de miércoles a viernes.Un río atmosférico trae fuertes lluvias al centro y sur de California, la alerta de inundaciones aumenta a 23 millones de personas“Una tormenta más fuerte desatará varias horas de lluvia constante de moderada a fuerte y ráfagas de viento el miércoles y el viernes, con amenazas de inundaciones y tormentas eléctricas”, advirtió la oficina del Servicio Meteorológi...

Queen’s exchange student completes cross-border bike journey for charity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

An exchange student from Queen’s University has raised nearly $3000 for the Kingston Youth Shelter thanks to the coldest bike ride he’s ever faced. Raphael Fenski, a German student studying Commerce at Queen’s for the Fall ’23 semester, kicked off his “Race Against the Cold” journey on December 4 that would take him 1000 KM from Kingston to the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C. While he’s done expansive cycling journeys before, a winter trek in less bike friendly infrastructure (compared to Europe) brought new challenges. Fenski said he discovered his school schedule permitted him quite a bit of free time in December and he was keen to use that time to pursue some kind of physical challenge, and decided to use the opportunity to link it to some kind of social cause.He said he didn’t have an existing connection with Kingston Youth Shelter, but that he has a personal connection to homelessness that made the Youth ShelterR...

Denver Health begins offering elective abortions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

DENVER — For the first time in its history, Denver Health is now offering patients access to elective abortions. Denver Health opened its Reproductive Choice Clinic on November 6, 2023. It provides abortion services one day per week to both adults and minors who are less than 12 weeks pregnant.  Colorado measles case confirmed days after patient flew into Denver airport According to the clinic’s medical director, Dr. Stephen McClelland, the decision to open the clinic is not tied to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding abortion access. “It’s been a couple years long conversation that started before the Dobbs decision,” Dr. McClelland said. He says even before the Dobbs decision, Denver Health patients were having trouble with long wait times at other area clinics. Now, however, he says demand for care in the Denver area is surpassing availability. “We’ve been full every day since opening and the vast majority of those patients are patients who are already ...

Paramedics overdosed Elijah McClain with a sedative he didn’t need, prosecutor says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:04 GMT

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado prosecutor told jurors Wednesday in a criminal trial against two paramedics that they failed to properly care for Elijah McClain when they overdosed the Black man with a sedative that he didn't need, leading to his death following a 2019 police encounter.Aurora paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec are being tried for manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault. The case has explored largely uncharted legal territory because experts say it is rare for medical first responders to face criminal charges. Missing Colorado child found in Virginia sex trafficking sting Three officers from the Denver suburb already have gone to trial over McClain’s death. Two were acquitted, including one who has since returned to work for the Aurora Police Department. The third officer was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault.Defense attorneys have argued the paramedics followed their training in giving ketamine to McCla...