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Fighting intensifies in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp despite attempted truce talks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

SIDON, Lebanon (AP) — Fighting intensified in Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp Monday claiming the life of another person as stray bullets and shells hit residential areas in the country’s third-largest city.The fighting that resumed Thursday night after nearly a month of calm in Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp near the port city of Sidon between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group and militant Islamist groups has left six people dead and more than 50 wounded according to medical officials and state media. Fatah and other allied militant factions in the camp had intended to crack down on suspects accused of killing one of their military generals in late July.The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, shared its own tally on Sunday saying four people were killed and 60 others wounded.On Monday, gunfire and explosions were heard throughout the day inside the camp and stray bullets hit the municipality building in Sidon damaging windows without hurting any...

FWC officers, biologist rescue bear cub trapped in tree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

Officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) joined forces with a bear biologist to rescue a young bear cub that had found itself in an unusual predicament. According to a Facebook post on FWC’s page, the incident unfolded when FWC officers received a call about a bear cub with its hind paw firmly wedged in the crook of a tree. The officers immediately sought the expertise of a bear biologist to assist in freeing the trapped cub. For two hours, the team worked tirelessly under the scorching sun as they avoided the cub’s sharp claws and teeth. Attempts to pry the tree limbs apart and even using dish soap to lubricate the entangled leg proved unsuccessful. As a last resort, an officer found a local resident who provided the team with a chainsaw. The bear biologist held the cub steady while the officer skillfully cut through one of the tree limbs, finally freeing the young bear.With the cub liberated, a quick medical examination was conducted to...

BSO investigation underway following fatal shooting in Wilton Manors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

A fatal shooting in a Wilton Manors neighborhood has led to an investigation by the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO). According to officials, the Wilton Manors Police Department responded to a shooting report in the 500 block of Northwest 28th Court, shortly before 11 p.m. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they discovered a man with gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital but was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival. The BSO Homicide Unit has been alerted to the incident and has assumed control of the ongoing investigation. Detectives are working to uncover the circumstances surrounding this fatal shooting. Authorities are urging anyone who may have information relevant to this case to come forward and assist in the investigation. If you have any information on this crime, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

JetBlue is stepping up a campaign to save its plan to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — JetBlue Airways said Monday it has reached agreement to turn over Spirit Airlines’ operations at airports in Boston and Newark, New Jersey, as JetBlue ramps up its effort to win regulatory or court approval to buy Spirit.JetBlue CEO Robin Hays said the announcement “is aimed at removing any doubt of our commitment to promoting competition.”The U.S. Justice Department is suing to block JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit, arguing that it will hurt competition and raise prices by eliminating Spirit, the nation’s biggest discount airline. A trial is scheduled to start next month in federal court in Boston. Lawyers for two dozen consumers have filed a similar lawsuit in the same court.The Justice Department was emboldened after it won a similar case and blocked a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines, leading JetBlue to scramble to salvage its Spirit deal. The New York-based airline argues that buying Spirit will make it bigger and a stronger c...

American Red Cross declares national blood shortage due to low donor turnout and climate disasters like Hurricane Idalia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

(CNN) — The American Red Cross is sounding the alarm that the United States’ blood supply has fallen by nearly 25% since early August, to what it describes as “critically low levels.”The organization, which provides about 40% of US blood and blood components, announced on its website Monday that this national blood shortage is potentially threatening the medical care of patients who might have an emergency need for blood or those who depend on lifesaving blood transfusions for conditions such as cancer or sickle cell disease.As donor turnout fell in August, the Red Cross announced that it saw a shortfall of about 30,000 donations last month alone, amid a busy summer travel season and back-to-school activities.In its announcement, the Red Cross also pointed to “back-to-back months of worsening climate-driven disasters” as further straining the blood supply since some blood drives had to be canceled due to extreme weather, for instance.Just a couple of weeks a...

Chicago Cubs are calling up top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hit .271 at Triple-A Iowa in 34 games

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

As the Chicago Cubs try to lock down a playoff spot, they have not shied away from giving opportunities to younger, less experienced players.That trend continues as they begin a six-game road trip. The Cubs are calling up top prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong, sources told the Tribune. ESPN first reported the move.Crow-Armstrong, 21, gives the Cubs elite defense and speed at all three outfield positions for the stretch run to the postseason. Acquired from the New York Mets at the 2021 trade deadline for shortstop Javier Báez and right-hander Trevor Williams, Crow-Armstrong opened the year at Double-A Tennessee.Since his promotion to Triple-A Iowa on Aug. 1, the lefty-hitting Crow-Armstrong put up a .271 average, .350 on-base percentage and .829 OPS in 34 games.The Cubs currently have four players on their 26-man roster who began in the season at the Double-A level or lower — right-hander Daniel Palencia, left-hander Jordan Wicks, catcher Miguel Amaya and left-hander Luke Littl...

Libyan prime minister says 2,000 people believed dead in flooding in eastern Libya following storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — At least 27 people were reported dead Monday in flooding in eastern Libya, but one of the country’s leaders said as many as 2,000 or more are feared dead after Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods over the weekend in the North African nation. In a phone interview with al-Masar television station Monday, Prime Minister Ossama Hamad of the east Libyan government said that 2,000 were feared dead in the eastern city of Derna, and thousands of others are reported missing. He said the floods have swept away entire neighborhoods in Derna, which has been declared a disaster zone.Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister of the east Libya government, announced a death toll earlier Monday of 27 in a telephone interview on the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. Abduljaleel said the tally didn’t include the city of Derna, where the situation was less clear as of Monday afternoon. The dead reported by Abdulj...

Google’s dominance of internet search faces major challenge in legal showdown with U.S. regulators

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE (AP Technology Writer)The U.S. government is taking aim at what has been an indomitable empire: Google’s ubiquitous search engine that has become the internet’s main gateway.The legal attack will swing into full force Tuesday in a Washington D.C. federal courtroom that will serve as the battleground for the biggest U.S. antitrust trial since regulators went after Microsoft and its dominance of personal computer software a quarter century ago.The 10-week trial before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to include potentially revelatory testimony from top executives at Google and its corporate parent Alphabet, as well as other powerful technology companies. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, who succeeded Google co-founder Larry Page in 2019, will be among the most prominent witnesses likely to testify. Court documents also indicate one of Apple’s highest-ranking executives, Eddy Cue, might be called to the stand.The case against Google mirrors the...

Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante flees search area, changes look and asks acquaintances for help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

By MARC LEVYAuthorities searched Monday for an escaped murderer who has eluded capture since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania prison a week and a half ago after they said over the weekend he slipped out of the search area, changed his appearance, stole a dairy delivery van and tried to contact acquaintances.Chester County residents were asked to be on the lookout and keep vehicles and homes locked as the search for Danelo Souza Cavalcante continued, state police said on social media Monday morning. Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Sunday that Cavalcante stole the unlocked van, which had the keys inside, sometime Saturday night about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) from the northern perimeter of the search area where hundreds of law enforcement officers had been searching for him. Bivens vowed to “aggressively continue” the search with the aid of federal, state, county and local resources and expressed confidence that the f...

Oregon man charged in brutal 1979 hammer slay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:47 GMT

An Oregon man is being charged with the brutal 1979 cold case killing of a Pennsylvania woman who was found bludgeoned to death at a Beacon Street construction site.John Michael Irmer is expected at Boston Municipal Court today where he’ll be charged with murder in connection with the brutal slay of Susan Marcia Rose, 24, of Pennsylvania.Irmer, now 68, approached the FBI in Portland, Oregon and told agents he met the red-headed  Rose at a skating rink around the time of Halloween in 1979, according to the Suffolk DA’s office. The two made their way to Beacon Street and entered a building under renovation where Irmer grabbed a hammer and repeatedly struck Rose in the head, according to the DA’s office.Irmer fled to New York the next day, he told FBI agents.Investigators with the DA’s office confirmed Rose was found murdered at 285 Beacon Street. The cause of death was determined to be blunt injuries to the head.DNA evidence was preserved from the scene and that matched a sample obtai...