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Palestinians stream south in Gaza as Israel urges a mass evacuation and conducts brief raids

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinians scrambled to flee northern Gaza on Saturday after the Israeli military ordered nearly half the population to evacuate south and carried out limited ground forays ahead of an expected land offensive a week after Hamas’ bloody, wide-ranging attack into Israel.Israel renewed calls on social media and in leaflets dropped from the air for some 1 million Gaza residents to move south, while Hamas urged people to stay in their homes. The U.N. and aid groups have said such a rapid exodus would cause untold human suffering, with hospital patients and others unable to relocate. Families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed with possessions crowded a main road heading away from Gaza City as Israeli airstrikes continued to hammer the 40-kilometer (25-mile) long territory, where supplies of food, fuel and drinking water were running low because of a complete Israeli siege. Egyptian officials said the southern Rafah crossing would open later Saturda...

Police in Warsaw detain a man who climbed a monument and reportedly made threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Police in the Polish capital on Saturday detained a man who climbed the top of a monument and reportedly threatened to blow himself up. Large numbers of police and special counterterrorism officers sealed off a large square where the man had shouted something through a megaphone for hours. An Associated Press photojournalist nearby could see him could not hear what he said. The incident ended when he climbed down from the monument without anyone being harmed. Polish media said he was detained. The incident took place at Pilsudski Square, the site of the memorial to late President Lech Kaczynski and the dozens of other victims of a plane crash near Smolensk, Russia.The man’s intentions and whether he had an explosive device were not immediately known. The incident came on the eve of a critical national election. The country’s de facto leader is Lech Kaczynski’s surviving twin, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, while his ruling Law and Justice party is fighti...

The Louvre Museum in Paris is being evacuated after a threat while France is under high alert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Louvre Museum in Paris is evacuating all visitors and staff and closing early Saturday because it received a written threat. It said the move was linked to the government’s decision to put France on high alert after a fatal school stabbing by a suspected extremist.The Louvre communication service said no one has been hurt and no incident has been reported. Paris police said verifications in the museum are underway. Police officers cordoned off the area as tourists and other visitors streamed out of the museum.The French government raised the threat alert level and is deploying 7,000 troops to increase security after Friday’s school attack. The government is also concerned about fallout in France from the war between Israel and Hamas.The Louvre, home to masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, welcomes between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors per day.The Associated Press

Crews battle fire at over century old church on Far South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago firefighters are tackling a fire that broke out at a church on the Far South Side overnight.The fire appeared near 4 a.m. at the Advocate United Church of Crist located on 103rd and Avenue L but no one was in the building and no injuries were reported.Neighbors told WGN the noise and commotion woke the up and looked outside the window to see flames shooting out of the over 100-year-old church. ‘It’s just so senseless:’ Friend remembers man killed in attempted armed robbery in Humboldt Park Nearby residents of the church were ordered to evacuate, and the church pastor said when firefighters got there and opened the door, a brush of flames appeared. "Very emotional, I really don't have any words," senior pastor Rev. Malcom Griffith said.Rev. Griffith mentioned he was just here Friday doing ministry and mentioned the building passed the code inspection as well. He also said the church is considered a lifeline for many people and is known for its work to help the ho...

Israeli bombing along Lebanon border kills 1 journalist, wounds 6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

ALMA Al-SHAAB, Lebanon (AP) — An Israeli shell landed in a gathering of international journalists covering clashes on the border in south Lebanon on Friday, killing a Reuters videographer and injuring six other journalists.An Associated Press photographer at the scene saw the body of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and the six who were wounded, some of whom were rushed to hospitals in ambulances. Images from the scene showed a charred car.“We are deeply saddened to tell you that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” the Reuters news agency said in a statement. The agency added that Abdallah was part of a Reuters crew in southern Lebanon that was providing a live signal.Reuters said that two of its journalists, Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh, were wounded in the shelling in the border area.Qatar’s Al-Jazeera TV, said two of its employees, Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar, also were among the wounded. Muslims gather at mosques for first Friday prayers si...

Austin Police holding a media briefing Saturday for southeast Austin homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department tweeted Saturday morning that it will hold a media briefing for a homicide that occurred at 1700 Burton Drive.APD tweeted that the briefing will start at 7:45 a.m.APD has yet to release more additional details about the incident.

Mild afternoons and cool mornings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A fine weather day is in store for Central Texas. Temperatures will be cooler than the normal of 83°. In fact, highs will be below normal the next four days.North winds left from Friday's cold front will gust into the low to mid 20s.That north wind will also keep the air dry. The relative humidity will drop through the 20s into the teens this afternoon.Today is the day several have been looking forward to as the Annular Solar Eclipse happens. The sky will be mostly sunny during the time of the eclipse. Most of the area will see a partial solar eclipse but the western Hill Country will see that "ring of fire" around the moon. The moon will not completely block out the sun but rather leave a bright halo around its edges. You will need to wear eclipse safety glasses to protect your eyes.While some will be watching today's celestial others will be watching live music at Zilker Park. Those headed to today's concerts will find sunshine and those strong north breezes. You ...

Which Halloween costumes will be this year's most popular?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — You might not be as creative as you think when it comes to your choice of Halloween getup. Google Frightgeist pulled the top 500 costume searches from Google Trends to determine the most popular Halloween costumes for 2023. If you want to wear a trending costume, one of these top 10 costumes is your best bet. If you're looking for something unique, you may have to try harder. Here are the costumes you will probably see the most this year.Most popular costumes nationallyWitchSpider-ManDinosaurStranger ThingsFairyPirateRabbitCheerleaderCowboyHarley QuinnSurprisingly, the most searched costumes aren't all that basic. While a witch is a classic costume, there aren't as many dinosaurs and "Stranger Things" characters roaming the street on Oct. 31.The national list goes on to the top 100 costumes. If you need more ideas, or if you're looking for something that's not on the list, check out all the costumes on the website.Google shows costume searches across the country, inc...

October is statistically deadliest month for Texas pedestrians: Here's why, how to help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – The highest number of pedestrian crashes in Texas last year happened during October, and that's why TxDOT is launching a "Be Safe, Drive Smart" campaign. The campaign aims to remind Texans that pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users. The shorter days and longer nights associated with autumn and winter mean it is becoming more difficult for drivers to see pedestrians along roadways.Misael Rico was only six when doctors told him that he might never walk or talk again. And though Rico started college this year, his life was forever changed when he walked to school with his mother, and a distracted driver crashed into them. Misael Rico was dragged underneath the car. He asks for Texas drivers to watch for people walking.In Texas, 19% of traffic fatalities are pedestrians, but only 1% of crashes involve pedestrians. Pedestrian traffic fatalities are increasing not just in Texas, though. They're growing nationwide.That's why TxDOT urges drivers to wat...

Weird Barbie among most popular Halloween costumes in US, according to experts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:28:35 GMT

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - Weird Barbie, Wednesday Adams and Harley Quinn are among the most popular Halloween costumes in the US, according to new research from fashion retailer Boohoo. The company analyzed Google Trends data to identify the top pop culture-inspired and traditional costumes that people are searching for in each state. The analysis revealed that Barbie is the most popular character to dress up as this spooky season when it comes to pop culture references. This is probably unsurprising to many, seeing as it was a big year for the brand. Warner Bros. Discovery's "Barbie" film has generated at least $1.36 billion at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing movie in the world in 2023 so far, Variety reported."With many states choosing to dress up as Barbie, it proves that one of Margot Robbie's biggest films to date is continuing to take over and dominate the fashion world," a Boohoo spokesperson said in a press release. The ‘most hated’ Halloween ca...