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How Lebanon’s Hezbollah group became a critical player in the Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — When the Lebanese militia Hezbollah announced last week that its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, would deliver his first public speech since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, much of the region held its breath.Would Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the Arab world’s most powerful paramilitary force, continue its limited exchanges of fire with Israel or throw itself wholeheartedly into the war? In Lebanon, streets emptied as people sat glued to their screens to watch, ready to parse his words along with decision-makers in Israel and across the Mideast.Hezbollah has traded fire with Israeli troops along the border since the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip. Both sides have suffered casualties, but the fear is that the conflict will escalate and spiral into a regional fight.Nasrallah nodded to those concerns in his speech Friday. “Some say I’m going to announce that we have entered the battle,” he said. “We already enter...

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to share stage with former Fox host Tucker Carlson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

CALGARY — A right-wing news commentator is to have a conversation with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in January when he’s scheduled to speak in Calgary.Tucker Carlson, who was fired by Fox News in April, is to appear at the Telus Convention Centre on Jan. 24.An itinerary posted on Carlson’s website says he will make remarks and have a conversation with Smith.The premier’s office says in a statement that Smith participates in a variety of public and private events, and does interviews with people from across the political spectrum.It adds that she doesn’t subscribe to every view of every interviewer or reporter.Opposition NDP members of the legislature say the premier shouldn’t give time to such a divisive personality.“Tucker Carlson is a pro-Putin white nationalist, so naturally Danielle Smith is scheduled to help him promote his event in Calgary in January,” finance critic Shannon Phillips wrote on the social media platform X, formerly kno...

Chile president calls for referendum on new constitution proposal drafted by conservative councilors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Tuesday received the new Constitution draft and called for a national plebiscite next month so citizens can decide whether the new charter will replace the country’s dictatorship-era constitution.Chileans, who in September of last year resoundingly rejected a proposed Constitution that had been written by a left-leaning convention, will decide on Dec. 17 whether to accept the new document that was largely written by conservative councilors.“The definitive time for citizens has begun, and now it is their voice and their decision that truly matter,” Boric said during a formal ceremony in Congress to formally deliver the document and sign the decree that calls for the vote.After Chileans rejected the proposal for what many characterized as one of the world’s most progressive constitutions, they must now decide whether to vote for a document that some warn goes to the other extreme.One of the most controversial articles in the pr...

Biden administration says colleges must fight ‘alarming rise’ in antisemitism and Islamophobia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is warning U.S. schools and colleges that they must take immediate action to stop antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses, citing an “alarming rise” in threats and harassment.In a Tuesday letter, the Education Department said there’s “renewed urgency” to fight discrimination against students during the Israel-Hamas war. The letter reminds schools of their legal duty to protect students and intervene to stop harassment that disrupts their education.“Hate-based discrimination, including based on antisemitism and Islamophobia among other bases, have no place in our nation’s schools,” wrote Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the department.Universities have faced mounting criticism over their response to the war and its reverberations at U.S. schools. Jewish and Muslim students on many campuses say too little is being done to keep them safe. Protests have sometimes turned violent including at a recent dem...

DeSantis argues Iowa governor’s support may help him stop Trump and he labels his rivals as spoilers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ senior advisers are outlining a difficult path to the Republican presidential nomination that can succeed only by first denying former President Donald Trump “a big win” in Iowa, where the DeSantis campaign is promising to leverage the “vast statewide political operation” of his newest major endorser, Gov. Kim Reynolds.The memo, distributed late Monday to the campaign’s national donor network and to another group of uncommitted billionaires known as the American Opportunity Alliance, argues that other Republican candidates, including former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, are at best spoilers. Instead of cementing his place as Trump’s chief rival as many expected when he entered the race, DeSantis is locked in a distant second place in Iowa with Haley, who is gaining more interest from donors and voters heading into Wednesday’s third GOP debate. The memo, shared with The Associated Press, pointed to Reynolds’ surp...

Clerk denies tampering or influencing jury that found Alex Murdaugh guilty of murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The clerk of court accused of tampering with the South Carolina jury that found Alex Murdaugh guilty of two counts of murder denied asking jurors if they thought he was guilty before deliberations or suggesting she thought he killed his wife and son.The sworn statement from Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill was filed Tuesday by prosecutors telling a judge there is no need to hold a hearing where jurors, Hill, other court employees and even the trial judge could be questioned under oath and their messages and texts subpoenaed.Defense attorneys said Murdaugh deserves a new trial because of Hill’s alleged actions. Murdaugh’s six-week murder trial, which concluded in March, became a sensation with its mix of privilege, brutality and power. The judges, lawyers and Hill herself all became minor celebrities.On Tuesday, prosecutors included statements from nine jurors and an alternate nearly contradicting what four jurors, one dismissed before deliberat...

Jury selection in Burke federal trial moving slowly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — With the judge hoping it would be wrapped up by the end of Tuesday, the jury selection process in Ed Burke's federal corruption trial appears to be moving slowly.At the speed things are going, opening statements may not start until Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.Former Chicago Ald. Ed Burke walked into the Dirksen Federal Building by himself on Tuesday morning for day two of jury selection.He is facing 14 counts of racketeering, bribery and extortion. Burke’s co-defendants are Peter Andrews, a longtime political aide, and Charles Cui, a real estate developer.So far on Tuesday, only a handful of potential jurors have been questioned with Burke listened in seated at the center table.He is specifically accused of withholding city permits to strong arm developers and businesses into using his private law firm — which handled tax appeals. Previous: Jury selection underway in Ed Burke corruption trial It’s been nearly five years since the FBI raided Burke’s offices in...

Former convent now housing City Colleges of Chicago students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

CHICAGO — Several City Colleges of Chicago students who were experiencing housing insecurity now have a new place to stay.A building that was once a convent for Holy Innocence in the city’s West Town neighborhood has been configured to house six non-traditional college students. The majority of the building sat empty for some time and in a matter of nine months was made it move-ready for the students. City Colleges of Chicago and Depaul USA partnered for this opening which is the latest part of their latest Dax program.  Up Next: Lincoln Ave businesses targeted in North Side burglaries The students will be provided with fully furnished rooms and share common areas like the kitchen. WGN’s Christine Flores has more.

Newborn syphilis cases at highest level in 30 years: CDC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

(The Hill) – Cases of newborn syphilis are rising rapidly in the U.S., and federal health officials are sounding the alarm and urging action. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show cases are at the highest level in at least 30 years. There were more than 3,700 infants born with syphilis in 2022, a tenfold increase over the past 10 years. Syphilis during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage, infant death and lifelong medical issues for both mother and baby. However, syphilis is easily preventable if people can be reached with screening and treatment.  Benzathine penicillin G is the preferred treatment for syphilis during pregnancy, and it is currently in short supply. Pfizer, which is the only company manufacturing the drug, said it would take until at least the second quarter of 2024 to increase production enough to end the shortage. Nearly 90 percent of newborn syphilis in 2022 might have been prevented with timely testing and tre...

Netflix price hikes are coming: Here's when, and how much you'll owe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:25 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — In what feels like an annual trend, Netflix is getting more expensive. Last month, the streaming giant told shareholders it would be raising prices on some of its subscription plans. At the time, Netflix said the adjustments would be "starting today," impacting both new and existing customers. The changes did not, however, seem to take effect that day, October 18. Users reported paying the same amount in October and even this month, not the newly set prices. Netflix does however list the new prices on its website, affecting new subscribers. Netflix has three pricing tiers available to customers: An option with ads, “Standard” and “Premium.” Some customers are also grandfathered into a “Basic” plan, but it’s not an option people can choose now. More expensive tiers allow customers to stream on more devices and add members in other households. ‘Strong’ El Niño winter coming: Here’s where we could see more snow The new price hike is hitting Netflix’s “Basic” and “Premium”...