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Belgian PM calls Israel’s actions in Gaza ‘no longer proportionate’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Monday that “what we have seen today in Gaza is no longer proportional,” slamming Israel’s recent strikes on refugee camps.Since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel — which killed 1,400 people — the country has launched ongoing retaliatory strikes in the densely populated Gaza Strip, killing more than 10,000 Palestinians including thousands of children, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities.While De Croo said he has condemned Hamas’ attack and supported Israel’s right to defend itself, recent retaliatory attacks have been excessive.“Bombing an entire refugee camp with the intention of taking out one terrorist, I don’t think you can say that is proportional,” De Croo said on Monday. “It is a bridge too far. And also unbridled violence in the West Bank, you have to be careful.”Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday. The Hamas-run health ministry ...

Suspect accused of stabbing woman to death on Boston Common ordered held without bail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

A 22-year-old woman charged for the stabbing death of a victim on Boston Common over the summer was ordered to be held without bail.The court decision came Monday, days after Weymouth resident Alyssa Partsch, 22, was arrested over the weekend.Authorities said Partsch was taken into custody on Saturday morning for her alleged role in the death of 21-year-old Jazreanna Sheppard of South Boston.Her arrest came months after police originally found Sheppard suffering from multiple stab wounds the night of July 20 outside of Park Street station on the Boston Common.According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, surveillance video of the incident showed Partsch approach Sheppard while holding a knife and then stab her numerous times in the head and neck.“Assistant District Attorney Kaitlin Tolbert said the two women had never met but that Partsch had sent Sheppard numerous antagonistic social media messages,” the DA’s office stated in a news release.“It...

Mystery of African elephants dropping dead unraveled by scientists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

(CNN) — The cause of mysterious mass deaths of African elephants has finally been unraveled — and scientists who authored a new report say that the outbreaks could be more likely to occur amid conditions created by the ongoing climate crisis.Thirty-five African elephants in northwestern Zimbabwe dropped dead under baffling circumstances between late August and November 2020. Eleven of the massive herd animals died within a 24-hour period.“They died over a very narrow window. That’s one of the most enigmatic parts of the whole puzzle. That many animals dying quite close together but not right next to each other over such a narrow space of time. It’s really to my mind, rather unique, certainly in this part of the world,” said Dr. Chris Foggin, a veterinarian at Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust in Zimbabwe, who is a coauthor of the study on the cause of the deaths.Earlier that same year, about 350 elephants in neighboring northern Botswana also had died suddenly over t...

Medicare expands the roster of available mental health professionals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health NewsLynn Cooper was going through an awful time. After losing her job in 2019, she became deeply depressed. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and her anxiety went through the roof. Then her cherished therapist — a marriage and family counselor — told Cooper she couldn’t see her once Cooper turned 65 and joined Medicare.“I was stunned,” said Cooper, who lives in Pittsburgh and depends on counseling to maintain her psychological balance. “I’ve always had the best health insurance a person could have. Then I turned 65 and went on Medicare, and suddenly I had trouble getting mental health services.”The issue: For decades, Medicare has covered only services provided by psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and psychiatric nurses. But with rising demand and many people willing to pay privately for care, 45% of psychiatrists and 54% of psychologists don’t participate in the program. Citing low payments and bureaucratic hassles, more ...

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka lists Streeterville condo for nearly $600,000

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

Hall of Fame former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka and his wife, Diana, have placed their longtime two-bedroom, 1,904-square-foot condominium on the 39th floor of a Streeterville high-rise on the market for $599,900.Known as “Iron Mike,” Ditka, 84, was a six-time All-Pro tight end for the Bears. He later was the team’s head coach from 1982 until 1992, during which he led the Bears to their only Super Bowl victory ever, in 1986. Ditka maintained a presence in the Chicago area even after his time as the Bears’ head coach came to an end, as he kept a house in Bannockburn until selling it in 1997.Also in 1997, Ditka lent his name to a Magnificent Mile steakhouse — the first of several that eventually would open — in which he was an investor. After Ditka’s second and final head coaching stint, with the New Orleans Saints, concluded in early 2000, he and his wife resumed being area homeowners, paying $700,000 several months later for their St...

WATCH: Is it a meteor? A UFO? Nope, it is the Navy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diegans might have seen some mysterious lights in the sky Sunday night, with some even taking to social media to speculate if it was a UFO or an unusual meteor shower.As spectacular as that would have been, the lights over the sky were actually the U.S. Navy Parachute Team "Leap Frogs" commuting to Snapdragon Stadium to the cheer on the San Diego Wave FC during the National Women's Soccer League semifinal match.The parachute team gave a heads up to San Diegans Sunday afternoon that they would be jumping into the game just before kickoff in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.Holding flares, the team dropped into the stadium, lighting the trail in the sky that some may have seen from other parts of the city. Padres’ Tatis Jr., Kim win first Gold Glove awards Video of the jump from FOX 5 viewers who caught a glimpse of the display outside Snapdragon Stadium can be seen in the player below. While the San Diego-based parachuting team served as an epic ope...

Broadcast, audio companies will be eligible for Pulitzer Prizes, for work on digital sites

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pulitzer Prizes, considered the premier award for print journalists, are opening eligibility to broadcast and audio companies that also offer digital news sites.But the work these companies can submit for prize consideration must primarily be written journalism, the Columbia University-based Pulitzer Prize Board said on Monday.Broadcast news outlets were historically prohibited from entering work in the Pulitzer competition because they produced little text-based journalism. Other competitions, like the Emmys and the duPont-Columbia Awards, honor broadcast journalism.But television and audio companies like CNN, NPR and broadcasters like ABC, CBS and NBC have robust digital sites.“There’s no such thing as newspaper and broadcast anymore,” said Brian Carovillano, senior vice president and head of news standards at NBC News. “We’re all digital news operations. We’re all operating on multiple platforms.”He noted that The New York Times, considered p...

A fire at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria has killed 2 workers repairing generators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A fire at the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria’s capital killed two people and injured two others, the local emergency services said Monday.The fire broke out in the morning while workers were servicing generators, said Nkechi Isa, spokeswoman for the State Emergency Management Agency in Abuja. The two killed were Nigerian maintenance workers, she said.“The fire occurred when the tank of diesel in the generator house containing 2,000 liters exploded,” Isa said.Two maintenance workers were being treated for severe burns, she said.Nigerian President Bola Tinubu mourned the victims and offered the Canadian government his government’s full support, his office said in a statement.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Military investigates member of supply ship unit over alleged harmful comments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

OTTAWA — The Defence Department says a disciplinary investigation is underway following complaints a member of the unit attached to naval supply ship MV Asterix made harmful and inappropriate comments toward subordinates.The department also says the leadership of the vessel decided to bring another member home after an alleged interaction may have breached professional standards.Department spokeswoman Andrée-Anne Poulin provided few details but said the incident did not occur while the member was on duty.Poulin noted it marks the second Canadian Armed Forces member to be repatriated from Naval Replenishment Unit Asterix since the start of the ship’s deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. Poulin said an investigation into the latest case is ongoing.She said it would be inappropriate to provide further comment.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2023.The Canadian Press<!– Photo: 20231106141140-654941a50923190c54b7c8afjpeg.jpg, Caption: The Defe...

Israel, Hamas conflict causes surge of discrimination, B.C. rights commissioner says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:50 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s human rights commissioner says the devastating events in and around the Gaza Strip are causing a surge of discrimination and violence targeting Jewish and Muslim people. Kasari Govender says in a statement that she is deeply concerned about the rising number of hate incidents and she’s calling for immediate and sustained action to address and prevent further proliferation. Govender says Vancouver police alone have reported 18 hate incidents aimed at the Jewish community, while the National Council of Canadian Muslims has said the last few weeks have been the worst in decades for Islamophobia reports. She says the latest surge follows a wave of discrimination this fall against trans and gender diverse people, which came after a dramatic rise in hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Govender says while hate isn’t new, it will rise during times of crisis in society and be amplified by the spread of misinformation if no concerted action is t...