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Confusion, frustration and hope at Gaza’s border with Egypt as first foreign passport-holders depart

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of foreign passport-holders and dozens of other seriously wounded Palestinians desperate to escape Israel’s bombardment of Gaza crowded around the black iron gate on the Egyptian border Wednesday, hoping to pass through the enclave’s only portal to the outside world for the first time since the war began.Restless children pressed their faces against the wire mesh as families with backpacks and carry-on suitcases pushed and jostled. The air was thick with apprehension.Everyone was waiting for the Hamas authorities to call their names over the scratchy loudspeaker. Each name represented another individual with a chance to escape the punishing war that has killed over 8,800 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and forever altered the enclave they had called home. “We are relying on God and hoping that we get out,” said Rania Hussein, a Jordanian resident of Gaza, as she breathlessly described the horrors she had fle...

Opposition mounts in Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Arab nations where monarchies typically quash dissent and that have normalized or are considering improving relations with Israel are coming under growing public pressure to cut those ties because of Israel’s war with Hamas.Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Rabat and other Moroccan cities in support of the Palestinians. In Bahrain — a country that almost never allows protest — police stood by as hundreds of people marched last month, waving flags and gathering in front of the Israeli Embassy in Manama.The demonstrations, which mirror protests across the Middle East, present an uncomfortable dilemma for governments that have enjoyed the benefits of closer military and economic ties with Israel in recent years.In Egypt, which has had ties with Israel for decades, protesters rallied in cities and at universities, at times chanting “Death to Israel.” A parliamentary committee in Tunisia last week advanced a draft law that would cr...

GFL Environmental reports revenue boost from price hikes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

VAUGHAN, Ont. — Waste removal company GFL Environmental Inc. says it saw a boost in revenue last quarter thanks in part to higher prices. Revenue came in at $1.89 billion in the third quarter, up from $1.83 billion in the quarter last year, as it carried out an 8.8 per cent increase in its solid waste core pricing.The company says it had a net income of $18.3 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30, compared with a loss of $183.7 million in the same quarter last year. Its adjusted net income from continuing operations came to $116.8 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, compared with $74 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, for the quarter last year.Analysts had expected adjusted earnings per share of 27 cents, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.The company, which had about $8.8 billion in long-term debt at quarter end, said it managed to lower its cost of borrowing by 0.6 percentage points under its senior secured term loan in the quarter.This report by The Can...

Canadian family of Hamas hostages calling for their release at any cost

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

As the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt opens to people for the first time since the war between Israel and Hamas began, families of Hamas hostages are calling on the Canadian government to secure their release. At least 20 Palestinian patients and 110 dual nationals have left so far and over 200 have been approved to leave. None of them are Canadian citizens.It’s been 25 days for families of the Hamas hostages as they continue waiting for word on their loved ones.  Canadian Aharon Brodutch is speaking out about the violent kidnapping of his close relatives, including children and the desperation to get them homeA non-stop roller coaster of emotion is how Brodech described the last three weeks. The Toronto resident’s sister in-law Hagar, 10-year-old niece Ofri, two young nephews Yuval and Uriah, were taken by Hamas during a rampage at their Kibbutz near the Gaza border. “My niece, hopefully, she’s just an incredible child. So fun-lov...

Israel criticizes South American countries after they cut diplomatic ties and recall ambassadors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Israel criticized Bolivia, Chile and Colombia on Wednesday after the South American countries undertook a series of diplomatic moves to protest Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza.Other Latin American countries, including Argentina and Brazil, have also increased their criticism of the impact that Israel’s military operations are having on civilians.Israel on Wednesday called on Colombia and Chile to “explicitly condemn the Hamas terrorist organization, which slaughtered and abducted babies, children, women and the elderly,” according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The call came hours after Chile and Colombia both recalled their ambassadors to Israel on Tuesday evening amid criticism of the killing of civilians in Gaza.“Israel expects Colombia and Chile to support the right of a democratic country to protect its citizens, and to call for the immediate release of all the abductees, and not align themselves with Ve...

Off-duty CPD officer under investigation after shoving 8th grader

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer is under investigation after allegedly shoving an eighth grader at a South Side school.According to the child's mother, the incident happened before the first bell rang outside of Gresham School of Excellence in the City's Auburn Gresham neighborhood back in May, and was caught on the school's security cameras.The security footage shows eighth grader Jaquwuan Williams walking into school with a black sweatshirt and jeans on, having just wrapped up a game of basketball with his friends before heading in to get ready for school.Video shows as he approaches his teacher, the man standing next to her, an off-duty Chicago police officer, turns to him and shoves him by the neck."The casual violence, the completely unprovoked attack would be shocking if it was anyone," said Jordan Marsh, the victim's attorney. "There's no question about it. This was a battery and the fact that it was on public property makes it an aggravated battery." Des Plaines man cha...

2 cousins charged after Carpentersville shooting leaves teen dead

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

KANE COUNTY, Ill. -- Two cousins face first degree murder charges after a shooting left a teenager dead and two others injured last week in Carpentersville.According to the Kane County State's Attorney's Office, 19-year-old Alan Medina and his 16-year-old cousin, Jimmy, were driving on the 60 block of Robin Road in Carpentersville around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25.While driving on Robin Road, one or both of the Medina's fired multiple gunshots towards a vehicle with multiple individuals inside. Venezuelan migrants accused of stealing nearly $3K in merchandise from Oak Brook Macy’s A 17-year-old from Carpentersville was discovered by police laying in the road with a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Another victims was shot and continues to recover from their injuries. A third victim was grazed by a bullet, but recovered. Two other occupants were not injured in the shooting.The Medina's were taken into custody on Fr...

New approach to stopping spread of hepatitis C helping to protect babies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

There is a new approach to stop the spread of hepatitis C and help protecting babies from a common virus striking their mothers.Hepatitis C cases are on the rise – fueled by the opioid epidemic and the use of needles. Born from the crisis – there is an uptick in women of child-bearing age who learn they have the virus during pregnancy.Dr Lynn Yee is a maternal fetal medicine physician with Northwestern Medicine.“We’re seeing a dramatic increase of Hep C in the United States because it’s a hidden epidemic that really parallels the opioid epidemic,” she said.It’s a virus – often spread by needle drug use -- that impacts the liver.“Hepatitis C can cause chronic liver scarring and fibrosis,” Yee said. “It can eventually contribute to liver cancer and liver failure and lots of long-term complications we hope to prevent.”Learn more at Northwestern Medicine's Women’s Infectious Disease Program sitePregnant women who test positive have a 5 to 15 percent chance of passing hepatitis c to thei...

Missing 15-year-old girl last seen 2 weeks ago on Chicago's Near West Side, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago police seek the public's help locating a 15-year-old girl who has been missing for two weeks.Kennedi Showers was last seen in the 2100 block of W. Jackson Blvd., on the city's Near West Side, on Oct. 18. The missing girl is also known to frequent the area of 69th and Dan Ryan.Police described Kennedi as 5-foot-5-inches, weighing 118 pounds with brown eyes, brown eyes and a dark skin complexion. She was last seen wearing black clothing with white shoes. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Anyone with information on Kennedi's whereabouts is asked to contact police at (312) 744-8266

Confusion, frustration and hope at Gaza's border with Egypt as first foreign passport-holders depart

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:23 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hundreds of foreign passport-holders and dozens of other seriously wounded Palestinians desperate to escape Israel's bombardment of Gaza crowded around the black iron gate on the Egyptian border Wednesday, hoping to pass through the enclave’s only portal to the outside world for the first time since the war began.Restless children pressed their faces against the wire mesh as families with backpacks and carry-on suitcases pushed and jostled. The air was thick with apprehension.Everyone was waiting for the Hamas authorities to call their names over the scratchy loudspeaker. Each name represented another individual with a chance to escape the punishing war that has killed over 8,800 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and forever altered the enclave they had called home. “We are relying on God and hoping that we get out,” said Rania Hussein, a Jordanian resident of Gaza, as she breathlessly described the horrors she had fled — en...