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Live updates | UN seeks another a cease-fire vote as the US, Israel and Qatar hold talks

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a vote Monday on an Arab-sponsored resolution calling for an urgent cessation of hostilities in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militants.The U.S. has previously vetoed calls for a cease-fire at the U.N. and rushed munitions to Israel. The 10-week-old war has transformed much of the north of Gaza into a moonscape. Nearly 85% of Gaza’s population have fled their homes.U.S. and Israeli intelligence chiefs were holding talks with Qatar’s prime minister in Poland to broker freedom for more hostages, the first known meeting of the three since the end of a weeklong cease-fire in late November.More than 19,400 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths. Thousands more lie buried under the rubble of Gaza, the U.N. estimates. Israel says 127 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive...

Skidding Jaguars still have a clear path to the AFC South title, but anything beyond seems suspect

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars are good at a lot of things and great at nothing.That has become clear during the team’s three-game losing streak to AFC contenders, the latest defeat being a mistake-filled, 23-7 home loss to playoff-bound Baltimore on Sunday night.Jacksonville simply has more holes than heroes.A roster that general manager Trent Baalke and coach Doug Pederson believed was good enough to compete for a Super Bowl might not even have the talent and depth to win the rebuilding AFC South.The Jaguars (8-6) are now tied with Houston and Indianapolis atop the division. Although Jacksonville holds tiebreakers over its rivals, another loss down the stretch could knock the franchise out of the postseason picture for good. Jacksonville plays at surging Tampa Bay (7-7) on Sunday.No one should expect a quick fix considering the Jags have issues on both sides of the ball. They have been outrushed by 285 yards during their skid, a staggering margin that shows jus...

Colfax Avenue near Aurora five-alarm fire will stay closed indefinitely

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The intersection of Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street in Aurora will stay closed for the foreseeable future as crews continue to fight hotspots from Saturday's five-alarm fire.The intersection was first closed by the Aurora Police Department to assist Aurora Fire Rescue with the fire, which broke out around 12:48 p.m. Saturday.AFR said that the bare wood in the under-construction apartment building is what continues to catch fire and create new hotspots for crews to put out.AFR said there was no timeline on when the intersection may reopen or when the investigation will be able to begin. Local family warns others after dog was dragged off porch by pack of coyotes However, AFR anticipated that crews would have to fight the emerging hotspots for at least another day or two after Monday.

South Florida deputy’s legal team says he didn’t have an obligation to stop Parkland school shooter

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida sheriff’s deputy is claiming he had no legal duty to confront the gunman who murdered 17 people and wounded 17 others at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School nearly six years ago, his attorney argued Monday.The legal team representing Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the victims’ families and survivors, even though the decision would likely be derided by the public.Attorney Michael Piper told Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips that under the law, his client cannot be sued for anything he did or didn’t do during the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre. He cited appellate court cases that say police officers don’t have a legal obligation to protect others from third-party harm and cannot be sued for decisions they make during a crisis.Piper said that while it might not be a popular decision, the judge must uphold the law and throw out the lawsuit, which seeks unspecif...

Small plane makes emergency landing at Miami Executive Airport; no injuries reported

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

A pilot in training made an emergency landing at Miami Executive Airport on Monday following engine failureAccording to the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, the pilot was conducting a ‘touch and go’ training where they practice landing the plane.There were no injuries or damages other than to the plane, officials said.

Actor Jonathan Majors found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend in car in New York

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors was convicted Monday of assaulting his former girlfriend after a two-week trial that the actor hoped would salvage his damaged reputation and restore his status as an emerging Hollywood star.A Manhattan jury found Majors, 34, guilty of assault and harassment. He was also acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment. Majors, who was asked to stand and face the jurors as the verdict was read, showed no immediate reaction, looking slightly downward.His sentencing was set for Feb. 6.The charges stemmed from a dispute between the “Creed III” actor and his girlfriend, Grace Jabbari, that began in the backseat of a chauffeured car and spilled into the streets of Manhattan one night last March.Jabbari, a 30-year-old British dancer, accused Majors of an attack inside the vehicle that left her in “excruciating” pain. She said he struck her in the head with his open hand, twisted her arm behind her back and squeezed her middle finger unti...

Northern Ireland’s DUP dumps coal in Sunak’s Christmas stocking

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

DUBLIN — The Democratic Unionists dumped a lump of coal in the British government’s Christmas stocking Monday, declaring that their party will maintain its stubborn blockade of Northern Ireland’s cross-community government into the new year — a deadlock that could take billions in extra U.K. finance to break.Hopes were dashed of a pre-Christmas breakthrough following London’s conditional offer last week of an extra £2.5 billion for local leaders to spend together over the coming four years if they form a new coalition of British unionists and Irish nationalists in line with Northern Ireland’s Good Friday peace accord of 1998.Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris specified that this extra finance — far more than in previous agreements to sustain or revive power-sharing — would start to flow from London to Belfast only if the DUP first agreed to resume its crisis-prone coalition with the Irish republicans of Sinn Féin following a nearly two-year breakdown. Power-sharing rules...

Framingham police investigating ‘potential hate crime’ after suspect seen toppling menorah at Centre Common

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

Police in Framingham are investigating after authorities say a person knocked over a menorah in the city’s Centre Common over the weekend.The Framingham Police Department said it was Sunday when officials learned the menorah near Edgell Road was vandalized, with responding officers finding the candelabrum knocked over and two light bulbs damaged, as well as a sign expressing support for Israel missing.According Framingham PD, surveillance video showed an individual knock over the menorah just before 7 p.m. the night before on Saturday.In a news release, authorities stated investigators were actively investigating the incident as a potential hate crime. No description of the individual was given.Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact Framingham Police Detective Chris Teel at 508-532-6214. Those who wish to share info anonymously can do so by calling 508-532-5900 or using the department’s website found here.

I’ve watched dozens of cheesy holiday rom-coms this year. Here are 5 good ones

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

Kayla Samoy | Chicago TribuneSince November, I’ve been watching the season’s new Christmas romantic comedies basically nonstop. There were many mediocre movies, but also a few that hit the right balance of cheesy, cringy and Christmas charm.‘The Santa Summit’It’s a Christmas hater’s absolute nightmare: the annual Santa Summit. What began as a bar’s seasonal promotion for discounted drinks has turned into a crazy barhopping gathering of hundreds of people dressed as jolly old Saint Nicholas. Teacher Jordin (Hunter King) drags her two besties out for the night of holiday fun.At the start of the event, Jordin loses her wallet and stumbles across Liam (Benjamin Hollingsworth) in her hunt. They strike up a conversation and somehow start to tell their life stories to each other in the span of just minutes. They discover they both love “Casablanca” and tacos! It’s instant love.But when they go into the bar to get a drink, they get separated in the crowd full of red suits and beards. Of cou...

Massachusetts police investigating after someone knocks over menorah; more than 200 swatting incidents and hoax bomb threats targeting Jewish facilities

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:25:12 GMT

A menorah was vandalized in Framingham over the weekend, according to police who are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.Meanwhile, more than 200 swatting incidents and hoax bomb threats targeting Jewish facilities across the country were reported over the weekend, as antisemitic incidents spike amid the Israel-Hamas war.In Framingham, police on Sunday received a report that the Centre Common menorah had been vandalized. The menorah had been reportedly knocked over, and a pro-Israel sign that had been in front of the menorah was missing.“Video surveillance shows an individual knock the menorah over around 6:51 p.m. on Saturday evening,” Framingham Police said in a statement.The menorah was scratched and two light bulbs were damaged in the incident.The individual had not been identified as of early Monday afternoon, and police were urging residents to come forward if they had any information about the incident.“Investigators are actively working this...