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Now freed, an Israeli hostage describes the ‘hell’ of harrowing Hamas attack and terrifying capture

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Eighty-five-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz spoke of a “hell that we never knew before and never thought we would experience” as she described the harrowing Oct. 7 assault on her kibbutz by Hamas militants and the terror of being taken hostage into the Gaza Strip.Lifshitz was the first of the four hostages released so far to speak of their experience, from the initial attack through the more than two weeks of captivity.“Masses swarmed our houses, beat people, and some were taken hostage,” said Lifshitz, speaking softly from a wheelchair as she briefed reporters on Tuesday at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, a day after Hamas released her and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper. “They didn’t care if they were young or old.”Her 83-year-old husband, Oded, remains a hostage in Gaza.Lifshitz, a member of Kibbutz Nir Oz, was among the more than 200 Israelis and foreigners seized after heavily armed Hamas militants broke through Israel’s multibillion-dollar electric border fence a...

Miners from a rival union hold hundreds of colleagues underground at a gold mine in South Africa

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A group of miners from an unregistered, rival union are holding around 500 of their colleagues underground for the second day at a gold mine in South Africa over a union dispute. Some 15 miners have been injured in scuffles, the head of the mine said on Tuesday.Details were sketchy and there were conflicting statements about what happened.According to Jon Hericourt, CEO of New Kleynfontein Gold Mine company, which manages the mine, the incident erupted early on Monday when the miners from the unregistered union prevented hundreds of others from leaving after their night shift ended at the Modder East mine in Springs, east of Johannesburg. He said he did not know exactly how many of the miners were being “held hostage” by others from the rival union. There were all sorts of hammers, picks, shovels and other mining equipment that could potentially be used as weapons, he said.Police were deployed to the mine but they have not been in contact with anyone underground ...

US suspending most foreign aid to Gabon after formal coup designation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AP) — The U.S. government is suspending most financial assistance to Gabon after a military coup earlier this year ousted the president whose family had ruled the nation for more than five decades, the State Department said.The official coup d’etat designation comes nearly two months after President Ali Bongo Ondimba ‘s overthrow.“We underscore that our humanitarian, health, and education assistance will continue to benefit the people of Gabon,” spokesperson Matthew Milller said in a statement Monday.Foreign aid already had been put on temporary hold to Gabon as of Sept. 26, the statement said.“We will resume our assistance alongside concrete actions by the transitional government toward establishing democratic rule,” Miller added.Ondimba had served two terms since coming to power in 2009 after the death of his father, who ruled the country for 41 years. Another group of mutinous soldiers attempted a coup in 2019 but was quickly overpowered.The former ...

China announces the removal of defense minister missing for almost 2 months with little explanation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

TAIPEI. Taiwan (AP) — China has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation, state media reported Tuesday. Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was removed from office in July with no explanation offered. Li, who became defense minister during a Cabinet reshuffle in March, hasn’t been seen since giving a speech on Aug. 29. There is no indication that the disappearances of Qin and Li signal a change in China’s foreign or defense policies, although they have raised questions about the resilience of president and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping’s circle of power. Xi has a reputation for valuing loyalty above all and has relentlessly attacked corruption in public and private, sometimes in what has been seen as a method of eliminating political rivals and shoring up his political position amid a deteriorating economy and rising ...

Trump’s lawyers file challenges to Washington election subversion case, calling it unconstitutional

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for Donald Trump are raising new challenges to the federal election subversion case against him, telling a judge that the indictment should be dismissed because it violates the former president’s free speech rights and represents a vindictive prosecution.The motions filed late Monday in the case charging the Republican with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost are on top of a pending argument by defense attorneys that he is immune from federal prosecution for actions taken within his official role as president.Special counsel Jack Smith’s team urged a judge last week to reject that argument and is expected to do the same for the latest motions. It is routine for defendants to ask a judge to dismiss the charges against them, but such requests are rarely granted. In Trump’s case, though, the challenges to the indictment could at a minimum force a delay in a prosecution that is set for trial in Washington next March.T...

Teck Resources raises cost estimates for QB2 project in Chile

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

VANCOUVER — Teck Resources Ltd. raised the cost estimates for its QB2 copper project in Chile as it reported its latest quarterly results and lowered its production guidance for copper, molybdenum and steelmaking coal for the year.The mining company says it now expects the QB2 project to cost between US$8.6 billion and $8.8 billion, up from earlier guidance for between US$8.0 billion and US$8.2 billion.The update came as Teck says it earned a profit attributable to shareholders of C$276 million or 52 cents per diluted share for the quarter end Sept. 30 compared with a loss of C$195 million or 37 cents per share a year earlier.Revenue totalled C$3.60 billion, down from C$4.26 billion in the same quarter last year.On an adjusted basis, Teck says it earned 76 cents per diluted share, down from an adjusted profit of C$1.74 per diluted share a year earlier.In its guidance, Teck lowered its annual copper production forecast to 320,000 to 365,000 tonnes from 330,000 to 375,000 tonnes for t...

SIU investigating fatal police shooting in St. Catharines

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

Ontario’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate a fatal shooting in St. Catharines involving officers with the Niagara Regional Police Service.Police were called to a home on Melody Trail near Arthur Street around 9 p.m. Monday.Authorities say there was an interaction between uniformed patrol officers and a male suspect that ended with the man being shot by police.Police say lifesaving measures were performed by paramedics, but the man died of his injuries.The Special Investigations Unit has been notified and have invoked their mandate.The SIU is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to please contact them.

Millennial Money: How to adjust to prosperity after poverty

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

Growing up without money affects how you live on a daily basis in childhood, and it can have long-term effects into adulthood, even when you begin to have enough money to make ends meet.When you move from experiencing poverty to maintaining financial stability, there can be some major opportunities to set yourself and your family up for long-term security. But there can also be challenges around changing your mindset and managing your emotions about money. Here are some things to expect when you move from one circumstance to another.HOW THE EXPERIENCE OF POVERTY CAN SHAPE YOUR MONEY BEHAVIORSWhen money is tight on a continual basis, hard decisions often have to be made, such as, “Am I going to pay my light bill or am I going to buy groceries?”“There’s no right answer, and either way there’s going to be a lack of safety,” says Saundra Davis, a money coach and director of Sage Financial Solutions.Davis says that lack of safety — i.e., not being able to fulfill all of your needs and li...

Tuesday Forecast: Unseasonably warm conditions with temps near 80

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Unseasonably warm conditions Tuesday with temperatures near 80. Sunny start with building clouds and wind. Winds: SSW 15-25, G30-40 mph. Air quality in the Good category for today. High near 80.Rain developing tonight, heavy at times overnight. Very mild temps. SSW 10-25 mph. Low near 60. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Wednesday Forecast: Morning rain tapers off, some late-day clearing and continued mild. Winds: SSW 10-15 mph. High 70.Extended outlook calls for mild temps to continue on Thursday with highs near 70 and rain at times. Mid to low 70s on Friday with showers and gusty winds. This weekend temperatures crash into the mid to low 50s for high temps and both days have a chance of showers. Monday a chilly high of only upper 40s. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Insight: Supporters walk to Texas Capitol to raise awareness for Burundi clean water

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As a way to raise awareness for clean water in Burundi -- a country in Africa -- Central Texans carried heavy jugs of water from Town Lake to the Texas State Capitol on Friday. Gilbert Tuhabonye joined KXAN News at 4 p.m. for a live interview.Read a transcription of the discussion below or watch the interview in the video player above. Some responses have been edited for clarity.Sanders: Well, a truly transformational day here in Central Texas for Central Texans as they carried heavy jugs of water from Town Lake to the state capitol to raise awareness about the need for clean water in Burundi, a country in Africa. Now this is all in honor of all American retired professional runner Gilbert Tuhabonye, and he is a role model and a coach to people not only here in Austin, but around the world. So he is also a genocide survivor, escaping a horrific massacre in Africa, witnessing mass murder and barely escaping his own death. It's his 30th anniversary of life happening t...