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Biden orders top aides to prepare reprimands for violent Israeli settlers in West Bank

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

President Joe Biden directed top officials to prepare visa bans and sanctions for extremist Israeli settlers attacking and displacing Palestinians in the West Bank, according to an internal document read to POLITICO.The Cabinet memo, sent to senior aides like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday, orders their agencies “to develop policy options for expeditious action against those responsible for the conduct of violence in the West Bank.”A senior U.S. official read sections of the memo to POLITICO on Saturday evening shortly after Biden published an op-ed in The Washington Post revealing his intentions for such a move. “The United States is prepared to take our own steps, including issuing visa bans against extremists attacking civilians in the West Bank,” he wrote in the op-ed.The directive comes as the Biden administration aims to show that it’s supporting Palestinian civilians in need, even as it staunchly defends Israel’s retaliation ag...

Patriots mailbag: Who should start at quarterback after bye week?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

One of the saddest parts of the current state of the Patriots’ quarterback position is that despite the fact that five starters around the NFL have suffered season-ending injuries and three have been benched — plus whatever is going on with Aaron Rodgers — the Pats still have one of the worst current situations in the league.It would be difficult to argue that the Patriots have a top-25 starting QB on their roster even with Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins and Anthony Richardson being out for the year.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots veteran leader relays message for Mac Jones after benching New England Patriots | Three Patriots assistants named in NFL head coach watch list New England Patriots | Patriots make Mac Jones look like starting QB in practice after benching New England Patriots | Callahan: Mac Jones has lost the locker room and 6 more Patriots thoughts at the bye New...

MLB notes: Lexington’s Sal Frelick reflects on memorable rookie year with Brewers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

Sal Frelick had always dreamed about playing in the big leagues, and growing up starring on the local fields in Lexington the talented outfielder always wondered what the day might be like if and when it finally came.Yet even in his wildest dreams, he never imagined things would play out like this.Frelick’s MLB debut was like something out of a fairy tale. Upon being called up ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers’ July 22 series opener against the Atlanta Braves, Frelick delivered an epic performance to lead his team to a 4-3 win over the NL East powerhouse. Batting sixth and starting in right field, the 23-year-old went 3 for 3 while making two sensational catches at the warning track and driving in two runs, first tying the game in the sixth and then knocking in the go-ahead run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly.Even four months later, Frelick still can’t quite believe it.“I had imagined really hoping to get my first hit out of the way and having a good game overa...

Extreme weather claims 2 lives in Bulgaria and leaves many in the dark

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Gale-force winds and heavy rain and snow hit large parts of Bulgaria on Sunday, claiming the lives of two people and causing severe damage and disrupting power supply in towns and villages, officials said on Sunday.Residents in eastern Bulgaria, that was hit hardest by the storm said they had never experienced such weather.A state of emergency has been declared in the Black Sea city of Varna, where officials said the extreme weather poses serious risks to the population. The port city was struck by gale-force winds and torrential rain mixed with snow.The mayor’s office reported that the power supply is disrupted in all boroughs of Varna, key roads are blocked by fallen trees and branches, leaving vehicles stranded. It called on citizens to stay at home and not to use their cars except in urgent cases.Varna International Airport was open, but there were delayed and canceled flights, airport officials said.On Saturday, police reported that a man had died after h...

Roadside bomb kills 3 people in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit Baluchistan province

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A roadside bomb exploded, killing three people in insurgency-hit southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday, police said.Police officer Mohammad Rahim said the bomb was planted on a dirt road in Balgatar area of Kech district and was detonated remotely. Three men, two of whom were brothers, were killed while on their way to a family gathering, and a privately owned car was destroyed, he said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but suspicion falls on Baluch nationalists turned separatist groups who have been involved in low-level insurgency for over two decades in the gas and mineral-rich province. The groups have been calling for independence from the central government in Islamabad.Kech district and surrounding areas have suffered from insurgency for years. Insurgent groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces and civilian targets in recent months. Islamic militants and a banned Sunni extremist group also operate...

At least 30 premature babies evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital, health officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — At least 30 premature babies were evacuated from Gaza’s main hospital on Sunday and will be transferred to facilities in Egypt, the territory’s Health Ministry said.Medhat Abbas, a spokesman for the ministry, confirmed the evacuation in a phone call with The Associated Press. A World Health Organization team that visited Shifa Hospital on Saturday said 32 babies were among scores of critically ill patients stranded at the hospital, where Israeli forces have been operating since last week. It was not immediately possible to resolve the discrepancy in the numbers. There was no immediate comment from the WHO.The WHO team said earlier Sunday that 291 patients were left at Shifa after Israeli troops had others evacuate. They included the babies in extremely critical condition, trauma patients with severely infected wounds, and others with spinal injuries who are unable to move.The team was able to tour Shifa Hospital for an hour after about 2,50...

Horoscopes Nov. 19, 2023: Meg Ryan, start something new

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jodie Foster, 61; Meg Ryan, 62; Allison Janney, 64; Ann Curry, 67.Happy Birthday: Think outside the box, and act on gut feelings. Pay attention to the changes around you this year; you will instinctively know how to get what you want. Don’t let opportunities slip away because you are focusing on drama. Know when to call it quits and when to start something new. Be direct, confident and quick to respond. Your numbers are 8, 13, 17, 26, 31, 35, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Give yourself a moment to review details, and consider who or what you need to reach your goal. Look for the most cost-efficient way to proceed; you’ll impress and compel someone with something to contribute. A physical pick-me-up is apparent. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t let mixed emotions confuse you or worry about someone backing out or taking a different path. Stick to what you want and concentrate on reaching your goal. Adapt and use your skills to fit ...

Word Game: Nov. 19, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AMUSEMENT (AMUSEMENT: uh-MYOOZ-mint: A pleasurable diversion or pastime.)Average mark 47 wordsTime limit 60 minutesCan you find 59 or more words in AMUSEMENT?TODAY’S WORD — AMUSEMENT amen amuse ante aunt mane manse mast mate meanest means meant meat meme menu mesa meta mete muse must mute unease unmet unseat same sane sate sateen saute seam seamen seat seem seen semen senate sent smut stamen steam stem stun suet ease east eaten enate enema ensue name neat nest tame team tease teem teen tense tuna tuneTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns...

Ask Amy: After 25 years with my fiancé, I’m apparently not family yet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

Dear Amy: I have been with my fiancé for 25 years. We’ve lived together all of that time.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: I’m hurt that my friends didn’t realize I needed their help Advice | Ask Amy: We rushed home from our trip, and then we learned what our friend’s ’emergency’ was Advice | Ask Amy: Am I wrong to think my son should put aside his trauma for our family’s sake? Advice | Ask Amy: I found out why I was behaving badly, but my wife won’t come back Advice | Ask Amy: The bride and I aren’t speaking because of her non-negotiable demand I opened my door to his kids and thought we were all family, but I found out that’s not the case.My fiancé’s grandson died suddenly, and in the death notice my fiancé’s deceased wife was mentioned (as it should be) and all the aunts’ husbands were also mentioned, but nowhere was I mentioned as a loving partner to my...

Last Republican on Philly City Council Fired Staffer Who Reported Sexual Harassment, Says Lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:34 GMT

The office of a Philadelphia City Council member fired a staff member who took medical leave for mental health treatment after a complaint that she was sexually harassed by another staffer.Philadelphia City Council member and Minority Leader Brian O’Neill, the last remaining Republican on the council after this month’s elections, fired an administrative assistant in his office in April 2017, less than six months after she accused a co-worker of sexual harassment, according to court documents.The administrative assistant, Linda Trush, sued the city in 2021 and alleged that she was repeatedly sexually harassed by a co-worker and subjected to a hostile work environment before being unlawfully terminated from her job. In her suit, Trush said she was retaliated against after reporting “severe and pervasive sexual harassment” and taking medical leave for mental health treatment as a result of the alleged harassment. (Trush’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.)&nb...