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Hamas frees 24 hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of cease-fire swap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

By WAFAA SHURAFA, BASSEM MROUE and DAVID RISING (Associated Press)RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison in the first stage of a swap under a four-day cease-fire deal.The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.The agreement opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza for beleaguered residents. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.With the truce’s start Friday morning, Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and ...

Live updates | Israel-Hamas truce begins, and dozens of hostages and prisoners freed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

By The Associated PressA four-day cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war began Friday in Gaza as part of an agreement that Qatar helped broker. Twenty-four hostages were freed, including 13 Israeli citizens, 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen, Qatar said. Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners later in the day.With the truce deal comes increased shipments of fuel and supplies into Gaza — though still only enough to dent the needs of the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, according to aid groups. Israel has agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,300 gallons) of fuel a day into besieged Gaza for humanitarian needs for the duration of the truce. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza after a dayslong pause in its casualty report, which it attributed to the health system’s collapse in northern Gaza making it impossible to provide a detailed count.Israel...

5 things to do in San Diego Thanksgiving weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Though Thanksgiving has come and gone, many San Diegans still have family and friends in town for the weekend. From murder mystery dinners to holiday shows and music concerts, America's Finest City is the place to be for entertaining house guests post-holiday.Here are five things to do Thanksgiving weekend in San Diego: Take this as a sign, head to the slopes at Big Bear Mountain (share with your shred pal) -- "Lightscape" at San Diego Botanic GardenThis one-mile walking trail is lit up to delight visitors. "Merging nature and art, the garden will come to life at night with festive sights and sounds for all to enjoy," said the event's coordinators. Better move quickly if you hope to land tickets. As of Friday morning, Thanksgiving weekend slots are only available for Sunday.-- "Winter Wonderland Swim" at Plunge San DiegoGrab your swimsuits and head to Belmont Park for "Winter Wonderland" fun at Plunge San Diego -- this is the West Coast after all. The facility has be...

Homicides are rising in the nation’s capital, but police are solving far fewer of the cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Though it’s no longer the homicide capital of the United States, the nation’s capital is witnessing a multiyear spike in the number of homicides but solving far fewer of them.And for families of the victims, the issue of unsolved killings cuts deep.Asiyah Timimi’s husband, Aqueel, was stabbed in a dispute in January 2021 and died several days later. “You just don’t feel safe until they’re caught,” Timimi said. “I could be walking past the person that killed my husband.” Natalia Mitchell wants justice for her son Morris, who was fatally shot in March 2022, and closure for herself. A successful arrest of her son’s killer, she said, “doesn’t bring Morris back, but it would help.” The percentage of homicides that are solved by the Metropolitan Police Department has declined sharply in 2023, leaving the city on track to record its lowest so-called “clearance rate” or “closure rate” in more than 15 years. As of Nov. 13, only 75 of the ...

‘He’s blowing stop signs’: Video shows police pursuing driver in armed Brampton carjacking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

Peel Regional Police shared dramatic helicopter footage of officers in pursuit of a speeding driver allegedly involved in an armed carjacking in Brampton.Authorities said that on Thursday, Nov. 23, at around 2 p.m., a 43-year-old man attended a parking lot in the area of Biscayne Crescent and First Gulf Boulevard in Brampton to sell his 2022 Mercedes G Wagon to a potential buyer.Police said two men arrived, and one brandished a firearm, making demands for the victim’s car keys. He complied, and one suspect drove away in the victim’s vehicle while the other followed.With assistance from the Provincial Carjacking Joint Task Force and the York Regional Police helicopter, authorities tracked the vehicles to Weston Road and Highway 401, where they say the suspects met up with the driver of an F-150 truck.Two arrests made, other charges expectedPeel police officers attempted to stop the driver of the stolen G Wagon when they say the driver intentionally struck the police vehic...

Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Oshawa arson investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

One man is facing a second-degree murder charge in a homicide investigation after another man was found dead following a house fire in Oshawa.Emergency crews responded to a fire at an address on Court Street, in the area of Olive Avenue and Simcoe Street, on the morning of March 6, 2023.Oshawa Fire quickly responded to control the spread of the flames, and one person was located deceased inside the home.The Ontario Fire Marshal deemed the fire suspicious. Police in Durham Region said that a post-mortem revealed the victim suffered trauma to the body, indicative of a homicide.Investigators identified the victim as 22-year-old Oshawa resident Amaar Jawaid.On Friday, authorities located 37-year-old Josh Bickle of Tweed in the area of Mary Street North and Adelaide Avenue East in Oshawa. He was taken into police custody.Bickle has been charged with second-degree murder and has been held on bail. In October, police said Bickle was facing charges in a violent sexual assault and was requir...

Bird flu still taking toll on industry as 1.35 million chickens are being killed on an Ohio egg farm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

More than 1.3 million chickens are being slaughtered on an Ohio egg farm as the bird flu continues to take a toll on the industry.The U.S. Department of Agriculture said all 1.35 million chickens on the farm in Ohio’s Union County will be slaughtered to help limit the spread of the highly contagious virus after a case was confirmed in the flock this week.The outbreak that began in early 2022 has been much less severe this year as fewer cases of the virus are being found among the wild birds that spread it. But there have still been 8.1 million birds killed this year to help control the spread of the disease and 5.8 million of those have come just this month as several large egg farms have been struck. That includes 1.2 million birds at one Iowa egg farm and another 940,000 chickens at one Minnesota egg farm that had to be killed.Egg farms tend to be much larger than turkey or chicken farms, sometimes with millions of birds. That’s a big part of why Iowa — the nation̵...

Canada’s high court to rule if bankruptcy wipes out court-ordered fines in B.C. case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada has set a December date to hear an appeal from a British Columbia couple who argue their declaration of bankruptcy should wipe out millions of dollars in court-ordered fines owed to provincial securities authorities.The case of Thalbinder Singh Poonian and Shailu Poonian has been scheduled for Dec. 6 after Canada’s highest court granted leave to appeal earlier this year.Court documents show the Poonians were ordered by the B.C. Securities Commission to pay back several million in profits they made and collective administrative penalties of $13.5 million for committing market manipulation.The Poonians appealed the fine in court, arguing that the debt should be erased when they are discharged from bankruptcy.Last year, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and agreed with the securities commission that the penalty was a sanction for the couple’s fraudulent activity and won’t disappear when bankruptcy ends.The securities co...

Ontario giving police services $18M to fight auto theft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

Ontario is giving police services $18 million over three years to help them fight auto theft.Premier Doug Ford says auto theft is a growing problem and the funding will help dismantle organized crime networks and get criminals off the streets.The grants are set to fund 21 projects, including buying new software, GPS and tracking devices, providing specialized training to investigators, creating new units dedicated to auto theft, and expanding data collection and analysis.The government says that from 2014 to 2021 there was a 72 per cent increase in auto theft across the province, and a 14 per cent increase in the last year alone. Related: 1,000-plus cars recovered, over 200 arrested in stolen vehicle investigation across Toronto Hyundai to hold software-upgrade clinics across the US for vehicles targeted by thieves Toronto police seize more than 1000 vehicles in auto theft sting Which vehicles are most often targeted by Ontario...

New bill seeks to limit new captivity of elephants, apes in Canada

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:38:12 GMT

Canadian zoos won’t be able to bring in new elephants or apes under new federal legislation introduced this week, except under specific circumstances.Bill S-15 looks to ban all new captivity of the species except where a licence is granted for conservation, research or an animal’s best interest.It will also fully bar the use of elephants and apes as entertainment, though that does not currently include exhibits where people can ride on an elephant.Saskatchewan Sen. Marty Klyne is sponsoring the bill in the Senate and says it can and should lead to the “world’s first nationally legislated phase-out of elephant captivity.”There are more than 20 elephants and approximately 30 apes in captivity in Canada currently.Klyne says elephants and apes, including gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, are self-aware, highly intelligent creatures, and yet in Canada, they can be held in captivity even without a licence.This report by The Canadian Press was fir...