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Meloni adviser steps down over Russian hoax call

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday said her diplomatic adviser Francesco Maria Talò resigned over a prank call on Wednesday in which Meloni told two Russian comedians that European leaders are ‘tired’ of the war in Ukraine, thinking she was speaking with African Union officials.“The call was dealt with carelessly and exposed the nation,” Meloni said, according to Italian press agency ANSA.The leaked conversation came amid fears the West’s support for Ukraine will wane as international attention has been redirected to Israel since the attack by Hamas last month. Ukrainian politicians appealed to Europe not to abandon the country after the unintentional disclosure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the West not to let up in its support for Ukraine, saying in an interview with Time: “Exhaustion with the war rolls along like a wave. You see it in the United States, in Europe.”Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukraine could n...

Blinken in Israel: ‘We need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

Tel Aviv (CNN) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday issued a strong message after a day of meetings with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv, declaring, “we need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians.”In some of his most forceful comments to date, the top US diplomat said that “civilians should not suffer the consequences for (Hamas’) inhumanity and its brutality.”Still, Blinken continued to offer support for Israel’s “right” and “obligation” to defend itself after the brutal October 7 Hamas attacks.The top US diplomat, who appeared visibly shaken while speaking to the press, described seeing new graphic images and videos of the attacks, calling it “striking” and “shocking” that the brutality of the attack “has receded so quickly in the memories of so many.”“Today, we saw additional images, additional footage collected by the Israeli government from video cameras, some the terrorists, some others and communities that were attacked,” Blinken said after v...

Retired businessman will lead Boy Scouts of America as it emerges from scandal-driven bankruptcy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

The new president of the Boy Scouts of America plans to reverse the trend of declining membership and improve safety programs as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a sexual abuse scandal.Roger Krone, a retired businessman and Eagle Scout, was named Friday as the new chief executive of the 113-year-old youth organization, replacing the retiring Roger Mosby as the top administrator.A federal judge in March upheld the $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan for the Irving, Texas-based organization, which allowed it to keep operating while compensating more than 80,000 men who filed claims saying they were sexually abused while in scouting. The trust recently began paying claimants who elected an expedited amount of $3,500, the organization said in an email to The Associated Press. Others must complete questionnaires and submit supporting documentation, and only a few payments have been made in that process.Some local Boy Scout councils have sold about 15 properties to sa...

More travelers are using buy now, pay later for holiday trips

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

By Sean Cudahy | NerdWalletThe holidays are fast approaching, and the time to book holiday flights is even closer. But as travelers securing end-of-year trip reservations begin to reach for their wallets, another payment option is on the table.A growing list of airlines offers travelers the chance to buy expensive flights now and get an interest-free loan to pay off the purchase in smaller monthly installments. These “buy now, pay later” financing options are available through third-party providers, like Affirm, Uplift, Klarna or PayPal Credit, directly on the airline’s checkout page.Almost 1 in 5 holiday travelers (about 18%) plan to use a buy now, pay later service to pay for their holiday travel expenses, according to a NerdWallet survey conducted by The Harris Poll in September among over 2,000 U.S. adults. For the purposes of the survey, holiday travelers were defined as people who plan to spend money on flights/hotels for 2023 holiday travel.Buy now, pay late...

Israel rules out Gaza cease-fire until hostages released, as US presses for aid, civilian protection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

By NAJIB JOBAIN, BASSEM MROUE and DAVID RISING (Associated Press)KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — The United States urged Israel on Friday to ensure more humanitarian aid gets into Gaza and to do more to protect Palestinian civilians, as Israel’s prime minister said there would be no cease-fire in the nearly month-old war until Hamas releases hostages. The leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group stoked fears that the conflict could widen by promising more attacks along the Lebanon border.Israeli troops tightened their encirclement of Gaza City, the focus of their campaign to crush the enclave’s ruling Hamas terrorists, who launched a brutal attack on Israeli communities that started the war. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.But ever since that Oct. 7 assault, there have been concerns the conflict could ignite fighting on other fronts, and Israel and the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah have repe...

Texas Rangers and their fans celebrate World Series title with parade in Arlington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Thousands of Texas Rangers fans were already lined up along a 2-mile stretch near the team’s ballpark hours before a parade Friday to celebrate the franchise’s first World Series championship.The parade comes two days after the Rangers wrapped up the World Series with a 5-0 win on the road in Game 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It came a week after Texas won the series opener on an 11th-inning homer by Adolis García after Corey Seager hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to tie the game.World Series MVP Seager, AL Championship Series MVP García and all of the Rangers players were expected to participate in the parade in the entertainment district of Arlington, the city where they play along Interstate 30 halfway between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas. The Rangers arrived home in North Texas on Thursday. All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien exited first, hoisting the World Series trophy into the air as he stepped out of the plane....

Blinken warns Israel that humanitarian conditions in Gaza must improve to have ‘partners for peace’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

TEL AVIV (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel on Friday that it risks destroying an eventual possibility for peace unless it acts swiftly to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza for Palestinian civilians as it intensifies its war against Hamas. In a blunt call for Israel to pause military operations in the territory to allow for the immediate and increased delivery of assistance, Blinken said the current situation would drive Palestinians toward further radicalism and effectively end prospects for any eventual resumption of peace talks to end the conflict.“There will be no partners for peace if they’re consumed by humanitarian catastrophe and alienated by any perceived indifference to their plight,” Blinken said.The comments to reporters in Tel Aviv, following meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials, amounted to some of the Biden administration’s strongest warnings since the brutal Oct. 7 rampage by Ham...

2 killed in shooting at graveyard during Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two men were shot to death while visiting a graveyard during Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday, prosecutors said Friday.The two men were killed, and a third person wounded, in a shooting Thursday at a cemetery in the Mexico City suburb of Naucalpan. Mexicans traditionally visit the tombs of their deceased relatives during the Nov. 1 – 2 holiday. The killers apparently used that tradition to wait for the victims. There was no immediate official information on a motive in the attack or the identity of the victims. But local media reported that the victims were a businessman who provided bullet-proofing for cars, and his bodyguard.On the Day of the Dead, families clean the tombs of their loved ones, decorate them with flowers, and sometimes eat, sing or sit quietly beside the graves.This peaceful tradition also was marred by violence in northern Mexico on Wednesday.Police in the northern border state of Sonora were attacked while driving between the towns of San...

A gas explosion at a building north of New York City injures 15, including 5 responders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

WAPPINGERS FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A gas explosion collapsed part of a brick multifamily building north of New York City, trapping victims in the rubble and injuring 15 people, including five first responders, according to officials. There were no fatalities in the Thursday afternoon explosion and fire, which sent thick smoke billowing in the air about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of the city. Rescuers scrambled to pull people from the wreckage.“I’ve never seen anything like this. I’ve got 27 years as a volunteer fireman and chief. So I think they did a remarkable job,” Wappingers Falls Fire Chief Jason Enson told reporters at a briefing late Thursday.Eight adults and two children suffered blast or burn injuries. One child and two adults were flown by helicopter to Westchester Medical Center. Three patients remain hospitalized in critical condition and five more in serious condition as of Friday. Another victim was listed in good condition at a separate area hospital, according t...

Missouri man who carried pitchfork at Capitol riot pleads guilty to 3 felonies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:36:06 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man accused of carrying a pitchfork and assaulting police during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol has pleaded guilty to three federal felonies.Christopher Brian Roe, 39, of the Kansas City suburb of Raytown, pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of assaulting, resisting and impeding certain officers, the Kansas City Star reported. Sentencing is scheduled for March 5.Roe is the 24th Missouri defendant convicted in connection with the riot at the Capitol. Cases of 12 other Missourians are ongoing.A probable cause affidavit in Roe’s case included 48 photos that showed a man it said was Roe breaching the Capitol, repeatedly scuffling with police and using a metal bike rack to try to break open a door.All told, 1,185 people have been arrested in connection with the riot, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.The Associated Press