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What to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza Strip after unprecedented Hamas attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Fighting continued in southern Israel early Monday after the government declared war and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. Special forces soldiers were brought in to try to retake four Israeli sites held by Hamas following its unprecedented weekend incursion, which officials said involved as many as 1,000 fighters. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival where authorities had removed about 260 bodies by Sunday.Israel struck back with airstrikes including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. At least 700 people were reported killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Thousands were wounded and some 123,000 displaced people in Gaza were in shelters, the U.N. said.Here are some key takeaways from the ...

Luxembourg’s coalition under Bettel collapses due to Green losses in tight elections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

Luxembourg’s three-party coalition led by liberal Prime Minister Xavier Bettel lost its decade-long hold on power in tight parliamentary elections, mostly because of a poor showing by the Green party, according to election results early Monday.Bettel’s DP liberal party surged from 12 to 14 seats in the 60-seat house in Sunday’s elections and the socialist LSAP also added a seat to reach 11. But the fall of the Greens from nine to four seats meant that the coalition falls just short of the numbers needed for a continued five-year stint in government.The Christian Democrat CSV remains the biggest single party in parliament with 21 seats and will be the power broker to form the next government.Ten years ago, Bettel succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker, the Christian Democrat who had been Europe’s longest serving democratically elected leader at the time. The CSV Christian Democrats have been left uncharacteristically on the sidelines for the past 10 years, despite being the single...

Commission outlines further support measures for Armenia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

At the European Political Community Summit in Granada, President von der Leyen outlined further measures of emergency and long-term support to Armenia.President von der Leyen said: “The EU stands by Armenia. We are doubling our humanitarian support to alleviate the plight of the 100,000 displaced Karabakh Armenians. And we are channelling more budget support towards the Armenian State. The EU remains fully committed to supporting the negotiations with Azerbaijan and facilitating the dialogue.”The president made the following announcements:Humanitarian assistance: the Commission will more than double its humanitarian aid, with a further €5.25 million in emergency assistance added to the previously announced €5.2 million. Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič will travel to Armenia tomorrow to assess the situation and discuss further targeted support, notably through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.EU4Peace programme: the EU4Peace programme willl be topped up with additi...

How George Kittle reminded the NFL he’s a star among the 49ers’ constellation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

SANTA CLARA –There was a time when most of George Kittle’s highlights included clips of him steamrolling defensive backs and dragging linebackers as he fought for extra yards.There was none of that on Sunday night, and yet Kittle found a different way to create his first career three-touchdown game as the 49ers rolled to a 42-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys.Kittle, who turns 30 on Monday, proved that he can still fly.All three times he scored, Kittle outpaced the defense with his legs, twice bursting through the seams of the Cowboys’ defense while the other score, which came on a reverse flea-flicker, gave Kittle a chance to race past a cornerback on the sideline.Three catches, three scores for the first time in his career.“I saw (former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis) before the game and he told me to score three to tie his record, so I was like, ‘Fine, Vern, I’ll do it,’” Kittle joked afterward.The happy-go-lucky tight end has been just as eager to block for the NFL’s thi...

Las frases que dejó el segundo debate presidencial en Argentina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

(CNN Español) — A 14 días de las elecciones, el segundo debate presidencial en Argentina dejó algunos intercambios, momentos tensos y definiciones entre los cinco candidatos a la Casa Rosada.El domingo 22 de octubre, los argentinos elegirán al próximo presidente. Los candidatos son Javier Milei de La Libertad Avanza, Patricia Bullrich de Juntos por el Cambio, Sergio Massa de Unión por la Patria, Myriam Bregman del Frente de Izquierda Unidad y Juan Schiaretti de Hacemos por Nuestro País.Los 5 aspirantes se volvieron a cruzar para debatir sobre Trabajo, Seguridad y Medio Ambiente, entre otros temas, no sin antes enviar su solidaridad al pueblo de Israel.Patricia Bullrich“Massa, el país entero se pregunta ¿cuándo van a dejar de afanar [robar]?”“Estás con Barrionuevo. Te metió la casta adentro” (A Milei, en referencia a su acuerdo con el líder sindicalista gastronómico Luis Barrionuevo)“Estas dos semanas vimos lo más brutal de la corrupción argentina....

The Cowboys get ‘humbled’ by the 49ers in a 42-10 loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The frustration from back-to-back playoff losses to San Francisco that both ended on odd plays turned to humiliation for the Dallas Cowboys.Hoping to prove themselves against a fellow NFC contender in a showdown against the 49ers, the Cowboys were run off the field almost from the start.The defense that had been so stingy the first four weeks was completely exposed. The offense took more than a quarter to gain even a single first down and couldn’t move the ball or protect it.It added up to a 42-10 loss to the 49ers on Sunday night that was the most lopsided ever for Dallas in this storied rivalry and that raised more questions about whether the Cowboys are a viable threat to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in more than a quarter-century.“It’s a punch in the gut, it’s a kick the in the (butt), whatever phrase you want to put on it,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “They beat us in all three phases.”Dak Prescott was under pressure from San Fran...

Luxembourg PM Bettel faces exit after election defeat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

Luxembourg’s center-right Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) emerged as the clear winner in Sunday’s general election, while Prime Minister Xavier Bettel’s ruling liberal coalition suffered major losses, failing to secure a clear majority.The CSV ranked first with 29 percent of the vote, winning 21 out of 60 seats.The outgoing coalition, made up of the Greens, the Socialists and the liberal Democratic Party, only secured 29 seats, falling narrowly short of a majority as the Greens sustained the loss of five seats.The results put the CSV in a strong position to lead a coalition government, with negotiations set to begin as soon as Monday.CSV leader Luc Frieden hailed his party’s victory on Sunday night, saying that “voters voted massively for a different government and a different policy,” according to local media reports.“They put the CSV in a position to play a key role in the formation of that government,” Frieden added.Bettel, whose Democratic Party s...

Leading Polish candidates to debate on state TV six days before national election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Leading Polish candidates are gearing up for a debate Monday where they hope to sway undecided voters six days before a national election that many Poles believe is the most important once since communism was toppled.Debates in Poland’s post-1989 democratic era have in some cases sealed the destiny of candidates, creating a sense of anticipation surrounding the debate.The ruling conservative Law and Justice party is leading in the polls with around 35% support, yet it is at risk of losing its majority in parliament. Its nearest rival, the Civic Coalition led by Donald Tusk, is just a few points behind but has gained momentum lately. The Civic Coalition and two other opposition groups together have greater support than the ruling party, but they are weakened by not running together. Small swings in the performance of the smaller parties could shift the final result.The debate will be broadcast starting at 6:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) by public broadcaster TVP, whi...

Stock market today: World markets are mostly lower after Israel strikes back at Hamas attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Crude oil prices surged and share prices were mostly lower on Monday after the Israeli government declared war following deadly attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. U.S. futures declined. Oil prices fell back slightly after gaining more than $3 a barrel. Conflict in the Middle East often pushes oil prices higher given the risk of disruptions to supplies. “Disruptions or escalations in the region can have far-reaching implications for energy markets, global supply chains, and geopolitical dynamics,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.The fighting has not yet had any discernible impact on oil output, but geopolitical escalations in the Middle East typically lead to a “buy-first-ask-questions-later” response, he said. Oil prices had eased back from highs of the mid $90 range last month in recent days, falling sharply last week. Early Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil was up $2.70 at $85.48 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantil...

The winner of the Nobel memorial economics prize is set to be announced in Sweden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:21 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, the final prize of this year’s Nobels season, is set to be announced in Stockholm on Monday.The winner or winners unveiled by The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences follow the awards in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace that were announced last week.The economics award was created in 1968 by Sweden’s central bank and is formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Last year’s winners were former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip Dybvig for their research into bank failures that helped shape America’s aggressive response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis.Only two of the 92 economics laureates honored have been women.A week ago, Hungarian-American Katalin Karikó and American Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in medicine. The physics prize went Tuesday to French-Swedish physicist Anne L’Huillier, French scientist...