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US national security adviser doesn’t rule out extension of 4-day cease-fire in Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday did not rule out the possibility that the four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began Friday could be extended, but said that the decision was up to Hamas.“I think it is certainly a possibility, and we would like to see that happen,” Sullivan told NBC’s Kristen Welker during an interview on “Meet the Press.”Israel has proposed extending the ceasefire one additional day for every 10 more hostages Hamas releases beyond the 50 women and children the two sides agreed to in the initial deal. But it’s unclear whether Hamas will agree to such an extension.“Hamas is going to make the decision about whether they’re prepared to release another 10 hostages. Israel has put its cards on the table. They’re prepared to extend the pause in the fighting,” Sullivan said.“So the ball is in Hamas’ court. Will Hamas step up and release another 10 hostages? If they won’t, then they’re the ones choosing to bring an end to the pause i...

Moscow adds Meta spokesperson to criminal wanted list, TASS reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

Russia’s interior ministry has added the spokesperson of U.S. tech giant Meta Andy Stone to its wanted list, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported. Stone “is wanted under an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation,” the agency reported, citing the ministry’s database. The reason Stone was added to the list was not indicated, according to the report. In 2022, following Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, Moscow officially designated the American tech company — which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — as a “terrorist and extremist” organization. That opened the door to heavier legal proceedings against its users in the country.Western social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) were banned from Russia and are only accessible in the country through VPNs. On Sunday, Russian authorities also said they downed 24 Ukrainian drones. The day before, Russia had launched the larg...

Hamas, Israel prepare to swap more hostages, prisoners as fragile truce holds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

Israel and Hamas are expected to go through a third round of hostage-prisoner swap on Sunday amid a fragile truce in the fighting in the Gaza Strip.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has received a list of the names of the hostages set to be freed and has informed the families, Israeli media reported on Sunday. According to Haaretz, at least one of the hostages expected to be released is Russian and part of a deal between Hamas and Moscow. The exchanges are part of a four-day truce agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. that started on Friday. Overall, Hamas is set to free 50 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners. On October 7, Hamas’ armed wing led an attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping about 240 more. In retaliation, the Israeli armed forces relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip and launched a ground operation, leveling entire neighborhoods and killing over 14,000 Palestinians. About 1.7 million Gazans ha...

Arab states condemn Geert Wilders for push to relocate Palestinians to Jordan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League on Saturday condemned statements by Geert Wilders, the Dutch far-right politician who won this week’s election in the Netherlands, that Palestinians should be relocated to Jordan.The Palestinian Authority labeled the statements as “a call to escalate the aggression against our people and a blatant interference in their affairs and future,” the Wafa news agency reported. Jordan issued a separate condemnation and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Yemen, and the Arab League did the same, Arab News reported.“Irresponsible statements made by Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders [are] considered interference in the internal affairs of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and [are] rejected and condemned,” the UAE embassy in the Netherlands wrote on X.A populist and anti-Islam far-right politician, Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party (PVV), is known for his firm support for Israel. Over the last few years, h...

Lawyer for Italian student arrested in ex-girlfriend’s slaying says he’s disoriented, had psych exam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

ROME (AP) — An Italian man who was extradited from Germany for the kidnapping and slaying of his former girlfriend hasn’t yet spoken about the “merits” of the accusations and will appear before a judge on Tuesday, his lawyer said.The hearing before the judge to decide whether Filippo Turetta should stay jailed while the investigation proceeds will be his first occasion to formally respond to prosecutors’ allegations that he kidnapped and killed Giulia Cecchittin, whose disappearance and slaying gripped Italy and fed demands for action to stop violence against women.Turetta, 21, was flown aboard an Italian air force plane on Saturday from Germany to Italy. He had been held for several days in a German jail after he was found by police a week earlier in his car, out of gas and parked on an emergency shoulder of a German highway after days of an international search.“He’s very, very tried” and “disoriented,” lawyer Giovanni Caruso told reporters on Saturday even...

Heavy snowfall in Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldova leaves 1 person dead and many without electricity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Heavy snowfall and strong blizzards in Romania and Moldova on Sunday left one person dead and hundreds of localities without electricity, as well as forcing the closure of some national roads, authorities said.A 40-year-old man in Moldova died on Sunday after the vehicle he was in skidded off the road and crashed into a tree, Moldova’s national police said, adding that six road accidents had been reported by about midday.“We repeatedly appeal to drivers not to hit the road with unequipped cars and to drive at low speed,” Moldovan police said in a statement posted on Telegram, and warned against driving “without an urgent need.”In Romania, red weather warnings were issued in the eastern counties of Constanta, Tulcea, Galati, and Braila where winds were forecast to reach as high as 100 kph (62 mph), the National Meteorological Administration said.Romania’s Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja told The Associated Press on Sunday that more than 400 locali...

At least 5 injured, including teen after U-Haul truck crashes into SUV on South Side: CPD

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

CHICAGO -- At least five people, including one teen are injured after a U-Haul truck crashed into an SUV in Grand Crossing overnight, police said.According to police, officers responded to the crash near the 200 block of West 71st Street around 12:34 a.m. Two men were transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition. Two additional men were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center. They are listed in critical and fair condition. Investigation underway after officer shot in Bedford Park A 15-year-old boy was transported to Comers Children Hospital where he is listed in serious condition. The driver of the U-Haul truck was placed into custody by Illinois State Police.

Award-winning executive chef Art Smith makes Deviled Eggs for Sunday Brunch

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

Award-winning executive chef and former private chef to Oprah Winfrey, Chef Art Smith will joined WGN Weekend Morning news to share a recipe for Sunday Brunch.Deviled Eggs Makes 24 deviled eggsWhenever people bring something to eat to a gathering, you can be sure there will be a plate of deviled eggs. Here's a classic recipe. 12 large eggs3 tablespoons mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard1 tablespoon minced sweet pickleDash of Worcestershire sauce Salt and freshly ground black pepperHot red pepper sauce2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnishPaprika, for garnishPlace the eggs in a large saucepan just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Add enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Drain carefully and rinse under cold water. When cool enough to handle, but still warm, peel the eggs. Cool completely. Cut each egg in half lengthwise. Re...

House Republicans ratchet up focus on Jan. 6 amid Greene, Trump loyalist pressure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

House Republicans are bringing fresh attention to the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob in ways that are earning praise from former President Trump and the party base.Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) this month announced he was posting online video clips from around the Capitol complex on Jan. 6, 2021, gathered from a tranche of tens of thousands of hours of security footage — making good on a pledge during the Speaker’s race to release the tapes to the public and building on previous GOP efforts.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), one of Trump's top supporters in Congress, is calling for a new select committee aimed at investigating the members of the bipartisan panel that conducted an extensive probe into the attack in the last Congress — and reached damning conclusions about Trump’s role in orchestrating the violence. The renewed focus is opening up questions about how much further the House GOP will go down Jan. 6 rabbit holes amid pre...

Remembrance bench unveiled for mother, son killed in domestic violence incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN)—It was a somber morning in an East Austin park Saturday for a tribute to a mother and son who were shot and killed last year.A bench was dedicated to Michelle and Xavier Limon—not only to honor them—but to serve as a reminder to the community of the devastation domestic violence can bring.The man accused, David Ontiveros, is the husband and step-father, according to police.Michelle and Xavier's family and friends shared memories of the two, and members of the Travis County Family Violence task force were also there to spread the word about resources available for those enduring domestic violence.According to Travis County's court docket, the man accused of killing Michelle and Xavier is expected to appear in court for a hearing Thursday.