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Warning of genocide, New England academics call for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

More than 1,000 of New England’s top academics have signed onto a letter in which they plead with their elected representatives to support an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip and warn of the potentially genocidal consequences of continued conflict.The letter, which began circulating last week and passed the 1,000-signers mark in less than 72 hours, calls for an immediate end to violence and the establishment of an independent commission tasked with investigating whether or not war crimes were committed in Israel and Palestine in the weeks since the war began.The cries for an end to the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip comes as the war between the Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas enters its third month, the civilian death toll continues to climb, and water, food, electricity, and medical supplies run short for cornered Palestinians.“The devastation of Gaza by Israel violates the norms of war, not to mention the many international agreements intended to ensure protection ...

‘The Boy and the Heron’ another gift from Studio Ghibli

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

From the supposedly retired animation auteur and Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki (Academy Award-winner “Spirited Away,” “Howl’s Moving Castle”) comes “The Boy and the Heron,” a hand-drawn fantasy with autobiographical elements. Like “The Wind Rises” (2013), Miyazaki’s announced valedictory effort, “The Boy and the Heron” invokes World War II. In fact, the action begins when the film’s protagonist Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki) sees his beloved mother burned to death in a hospital in an attack on Tokyo.Some time later, Mahito’s father Shoichi Maki (Takuya Kimura), a factory owner, marries his late wife’s younger sister Natsuko (Yoshino Kimura), who becomes pregnant. They then all move to the country to a lavish house on a hill near a river. A big grey heron seems interested in the newly-arrived boy, who injures his head with a sharp rock after getting into a fight with his new classmates. Near to the house is an old tower. Mahito and one of the old maid...

Fake Donald Trump electors settle civil lawsuit in Wisconsin, agree that President Biden won

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

By SCOTT BAUER (Associated Press)MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Ten Republicans who posed as fake electors for former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and filed paperwork falsely saying he had won the battleground state have settled a civil lawsuit and admitted their actions were part of an effort to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory, attorneys who filed the case announced Wednesday.Under the agreement, the fake electors acknowledged that Biden won the state, withdrew their filings and agreed not to serve as presidential electors in 2024 or any other election where Trump is on the ballot.The 10 fake electors agreed to send a statement to the government offices that received the Electoral College votes saying that their actions were “part of an attempt to improperly overturn the 2020 presidential election results.”The settlement marks the first time that any Trump electors have revoked their filings sent to Congress purporting that Trump had won in seven battleg...

Chicago basketball report: Coby White’s star rises as Bulls get first winning streak — without Zach LaVine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

Coby White is fueling the first run of the season for the Chicago Bulls. The team is now on a win streak without Zach LaVine on the court. But injuries could hamper the roster for the rest of the month.Down in the SEC, Chicago native and former DePaul star Aneesah Morrow impressed in her second test against top-ranked NCAA opponents.Every Wednesday throughout the season, Tribune writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead — for the Bulls, Sky and local basketball.Coby White’s star continues to rise as young players fuel wins — without Zach LavineIt took a few weeks, but the highly anticipated breakout season for Coby White appears to have entered into full swing.The fourth-year guard’s moment seemed to come in Saturday’s win over the New Orleans Pelicans when fans at the United Center joined in chanting White’s name as he led the Bulls in a 31-point performance. White dropped eight 3-pointers in the win while dis...

Shooting investigation prompted in Ramona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

RAMONA, Calif. -- A homicide investigation was launched in Ramona Wednesday morning, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed to FOX 5.According to authorities, a call came in around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night reporting multiple gunshots in the area of the intersection of Highway 78 and Haverford Road. Fire erupts in North County hoarder home Responding deputies located a a red Ford F150 and a man with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities confirmed.SDSO said the victim, who has not been identified at this time, was taken to a local hospital by paramedics. He was later pronounced dead around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.There were no other victims in connection to this incident.Homicide investigators remained at the scene for hours. The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation, and SDSO said there's no suspect information at this time.Evidence markers were seen surrounding the red Ford F150 and shell casings were seen on the road, FOX 5 confirmed at the scene W...

Cougar struck and killed near Minneapolis likely the one seen in home security video, expert says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A cougar that was struck and killed on an interstate highway in suburban Minneapolis Wednesday was more than likely the same animal captured on home security video sauntering across a driveway earlier this week, a Minnesota wildlife official said.An SUV struck the male cougar before dawn Wednesday on Interstate 394 in Golden Valley, Minnesota — a short distance from the Minneapolis neighborhood where a cougar showed up in surveillance video two days earlier.Dan Stark, a large carnivore specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said the cougar that was killed was almost certainly the same one since the animals are exceedingly rare in that area. Until this week, a cougar hadn’t been seen in Hennepin County in nearly 20 years.Stark said the cougar that died had an ear tag placed on it in northwestern Nebraska in 2021, when it was a kitten. He said male cougars sometimes wander off in search of females in areas not dominated by other males.“...

3 killed at massive fire in Pakistan’s largest southern city of Karachi, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — A massive fire broke out Wednesday at a multi-story commercial building in Pakistan’s largest southern port city of Karachi, killing at least three people and damaging several shops, police and rescue officials said.The fire started at a furniture store and quickly engulfed other shops on the ground floor of the building known as Ayesha Manzil, said Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab. He said firefighters doused the flames after hectic efforts. Wahab and hospital officials said three people died in the blaze and one person was injured.TV footage showed billowing into the sky as flames engulfed parts of the building.The cause of the fire was not immediately clear and officers said they were still investigating.Most structures in Karachi, and other parts of the country, lack fire prevention and firefighting systems, which often results in damages and casualties.Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province, where such incidents are common.Wednesday’s blaze ...

Union representing German train drivers calls strike that will hit passenger services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A union representing German train drivers on Wednesday called its members to strike for 24 hours this week, following the breakdown of talks with the main national operator in what is shaping up to be an unusually difficult dispute over pay and working hours.The GDL union said the strike will affect passenger services operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn from 10 p.m. on Thursday until 10 p.m. on Friday. Freight trains will be hit from 6 p.m. Thursday. The walkout follows a 20-hour strike on Nov. 16, when Deutsche Bahn ran a much-reduced long-distance schedule — as it has on previous occasions when GDL took industrial action. GDL’s strength among drivers and some other railway personnel varies regionally, and some regional services run by private operators aren’t affected by the dispute.Limited “warning strikes” are a common tactic in German pay negotiations, but GDL may soon expand its action. On Nov. 24, GDL chairman Claus Weselsky declared that negotiati...

Prosecutor seeks terror-linked charge for man accused of killing tourist near Eiffel Tower

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s anti-terrorism prosecutors requested on Wednesday that the man who allegedly fatally stabbed a tourist and wounded two other people over the weekend near the Eiffel Tower be given preliminary charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist organization.The suspect, Armand Rajabpour-Miyandoab, will go before an investigating magistrate who ultimately decides the charges.Rajabpour-Miyandoab, 26, is accused of killing a German-Filipino tourist at a bridge near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night. He was under surveillance for suspected Islamic radicalization at the time, and had been convicted and served prison time for a planned attack that never took place.The stabbing has drawn special concern from French authorities less than a year before the 2024 Paris Olympics, whose opening ceremony is planned along the Seine river. It has also raised questions about how people convicted of terrorism-linked crimes can roam freely after serving th...

Pro-Israel Democrat to challenge US Rep. Jamaal Bowman in primary race next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:12:26 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — A pro-Israel Democrat will challenge U.S. Rep. Jamaal Brown in the primary race for his congressional seat next year.Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced his candidacy Wednesday for the New York district, which covers parts of the north Bronx and Westchester suburbs.Bowman is one of the House’s most vocal critics of Israel, and Jewish community leaders have been encouraging Latimer to run since the eruption of the latest Israel-Hamas war. The 70-year-old launched his campaign with an ad criticizing Bowman’s stance on the conflict as well as his opposition to a major Democratic infrastructure bill. “It’s the continual commentary from people who live in the district who feel that they are not represented properly from the incumbent,” Latimer said in an interview with the Associated Press. “His focus has been to make a national name for himself.”Several other House Democrats are also facing primary challenges due in part to their s...