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‘We are at war:’ Israel retaliates after massive surprise attack by Hamas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

Israel was struck by a surprise attack by Hamas early Saturday morning in one of the most serious escalations in years between Israel and the Islamist militant group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country was “at war.”Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on targets in Gaza.The massive assault by Iran-backed Hamas combined a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel and dozens of heavily armed gunmen attacking the country’s south from Gaza. It came a day after Israel marked the 50th anniversary of the surprise invasion on Yom Kippur in 1973. At least 40 Israelis have been killed in the attack with more than 700 wounded, according to media reports. The death toll was expected to rise. “We are at war, and we will win,” Netanyahu said in a message to Israelis. “The enemy will pay an unprecedented price.”The Israel Defense Forces carried out retaliatory strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. “Th...

ICE grabs migrants wanted for fentanyl, arson and assault at hotel shelter

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

An illegal immigrant wanted for peddling heroin, another arrested at a hotel for migrants and a third convicted of setting fire to a church have all been taken into custody by Boston-based ICE agents.The suspects are now in the pipeline to be deported back to their home countries.The arrests come as the state is in the midst of a migrant crisis that has the White House sending an assessment team to the Bay State to gauge the severity of the hotel overflow for migrants and the homeless.Raul Fernando Lora, 43, was busted in Methuen on Wednesday after a law enforcement source tells the Herald he was spotted with a bulge in his waistband that was later confirmed to be packets of fentanyl and cocaine. His arrest came after a motor vehicle stop by local police.The Dominican national had been kicked out of the U.S. twice before “on multiple felony charges, including intent to distribute heroin, illegal firearms possession, aggravated identity theft, false representation of a social s...

Start of ALDS Game 1 between Orioles and Rangers delayed by rain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

Orioles fans have waited nine years for a home playoff game. They’ll have to wait a bit longer.Saturday’s American League Division Series Game 1 between the Orioles and the Texas Rangers, scheduled to begin at 1:03 p.m., has been delayed by rain. The team did not yet announce a rescheduled time for the contest.The delay could complicate what is sure to be a busy day at the Camden Yards complex. At 7 p.m., rock icons Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks are scheduled to perform at neighboring M&T Bank Stadium, which shares parking lots with Oriole Park. The playoff game was scheduled at 1:03 p.m. in an effort to avoid the events overlapping.This story will be updated. ()

Brockton’s Good Samaritan Medical Center not accepting incoming patients amid power outage

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

The Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton stopped accepting patients Saturday morning as it grappled with a power outage, according to a spokesperson for the hospital’s parent company.The Brockton Emergency Management Agency said they were at the hospital working with officials “in regard to emergency issues affecting hospital operations.”“Good Samaritan (Medical) Center is condition black, not accepting any incoming patients,” the organization said.A spokesperson for Steward Health Care, which runs the medical center, said the hospital was dealing with a power outage. It is the only major medical center in the area after a fire knocked the Brockton Hospital offline earlier this year.“As patient safety is always our number one priority, our patients are receiving uninterrupted care. Where needed our patients are being transferred to our sister hospitals for care,” the Steward Health Care spokesperson said in a statement to the Herald.The...

NFL notes: The Patriots have failed Mac Jones, but they need quarterback to save them anyway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

The worst loss of the Bill Belichick era fell squarely on Mac Jones.Two of his turnovers led directly to 15 Cowboys points last weekend. The Pats scored three. That was it.Here’s what’s happened since.Jones’ performance eroded the faith certain members of the organization had in their quarterback, according to Boston Sports Journal. In a mid-week interview, Julian Edelman blasted Jones and claimed he’s not developing fast enough for the Patriots’ liking. Michael Lombardi, a former Patriots executive and longtime Bill Belichick confidant, ripped Jones for having a sweet tooth for turnovers and lacking any ability to lead his team to a comeback win.Bottom line: it was a bad week to be Mac Jones.On Wednesday, Jones admitted he tried to play outside the structure of Bill O’Brien’s system against the Cowboys. Translation: he forced the issue.Why would Jones force the issue? Well, he has to.Jones’ failures are not mutually exclusive from O&#...

Hamas says it is holding dozens of Israeli soldiers captured in surprise incursion

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ISSAM ADWAN (Associated Press)JERUSALEM (AP) — The Hamas militant group says it is holding “dozens” of Israeli soldiers captive in the Gaza Strip.Abu Obeida, spokesman for the group’s military wing, said the soldiers, including some officers, were captured during a surprise infiltration into southern Israel on Saturday.He said the captives were being held in “safe places” and militant tunnels.If true, the claim could set the stage for complicated negotiations on a prisoner swap with Israel, which is holding thousands of Palestinians in its prisons.Israel in the past has agreed to lopsided exchanges in order to bring captive soldiers home.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Sa...

Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop service from San Diego International Airport

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Alaska Airlines announced Friday it will offer a new daily nonstop flight from San Diego International Airport (SAN).Starting May 16, 2024, travelers headed out of America's Finest City can hop a nonstop flight to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ALT) in Atlanta, Georgia. This is also true for those headed west after departing from the Peach State. San Diego gets record ranking as top big city destination for travelers “We appreciate Alaska Airlines’ new options to destinations across the country,” said Kimberly Becker, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority President and CEO. “This new nonstop service to Atlanta offers Southern Californians direct access to Georgia’s capital and key economic center, while providing easy access for Georgians to the warmth and beauty of San Diego."Alaska Airlines joins three other carriers that provide nonstop service to Atlanta, including Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Free ‘Dump Day’...

Man stabbed in the face in College Area; suspect at large

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was attacked by an armed suspect in the College East neighborhood Saturday, authorities said.According to the San Diego Police Department, the 28-year-old victim was standing outside his apartment talking on the phone shortly after midnight prior to the incident. His resident was located on the 6500 block of Montezuma Road. VIDEO: Boat carrying at least eight washes ashore in Carlsbad Police say he saw another man acting strange and swinging his arms around in the air. The man reportedly ran up to the victim without saying a word and stabbed him in the face with a knife.The suspect then ran away in an unknown direction, SDPD explained. He's described as a white man with long hair, no shirt, and dark pants. Local dentist, ex-office manager plead guilty to Medicare fraud The victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.San Diego Police Eastern Division Detectives are investigating the stabbing. Anyone with information related to ...

5 things to know about the Hamas militant group’s unprecedented attack on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Without warning on Saturday, Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers attacked Israel by air, land and sea. Millions of Israelis in the country’s south awoke to the searing sound of incoming rockets and the inevitable thud of impact. Air raid sirens wailed as far north as Tel Aviv. Israel’s anti-rocket interceptors thundered in Jerusalem. And in an unprecedented escalation, armed Hamas fighters blew up parts of Israel’s highly fortified separation fence and strode into Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier, terrorizing residents and trading fire with Israeli soldiers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies were scrambling to respond to the rapidly changing events. Within just nine hours, some 40 Israelis and nearly 200 Palestinians were confirmed dead, with the numbers expected to rise.Here are some key takeaways from the multi-pronged attack that has suddenly plunged Israel into war.ISRAEL CAUGHT UNAWARE The shock that ...

An Egyptian appeals court upholds a 6-month sentence against a fierce government critic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:20:13 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian appeals court on Saturday upheld a six-month prison sentence for a fierce government critic who was convicted of defamation last month in a case that stemmed from an online spat.Hisham Kassem, who is a leading official with the Free Current, a coalition of mostly liberal parties, was convicted of insulting and defaming Kamal Abu Eita, a former labor minister and opposition figure. He was also convicted of verbally assaulting a police officer.Kassem was sentenced last month to six months in prison and fined 20,000 Egyptian pounds (around $647), according to Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, which represents Kassem before the court.He appealed the sentence at the court of appeals which confirmed the verdict on Saturday, Bahgat said.Kassem, who for decades ran a series of news outlets that helped keep alive pockets of independent free press in Egypt, was arrested in August after prosecutors questioned him about accusations leve...