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Mediators scrambling for Israel-Hamas truce extension, as hostages-for-prisoners swaps get harder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

A man smiles as he is welcomed after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. International mediators on Wednesday worked to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas militants to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further relief from Israel's air and ground offensive. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)(AP/Nasser Nasser) A man smiles as he is welcomed after being released from prison by Israel, in the West Bank town of Ramallah, early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. International mediators on Wednesday worked to extend the truce in Gaza, encouraging Hamas militants to keep freeing hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and further relief from Israel's...

Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman to serve on Supreme Court, dies at 93

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and who emerged as the swing vote on some of the court’s biggest cases, died Friday. She was 93.O’Connor died in Phoenix of “complications related to advanced dementia, probably Alzheimer’s, and a respiratory illness,” the court announced in a statement.Just over a decade after she retired, O’Connor had announced in 2018 that she was withdrawing from public life after being diagnosed with dementia.Nominated by then-President Reagan in 1981, O’Connor became the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest bench.Over her more than two decades on the Supreme Court, O’Connor became an independent voice, at times siding with the liberal wing and guiding many of the court’s consequential cases.Originally personally opposed to abortion, O’Connor ultimately wrote majority opinions upholding the constitutional right to the procedure. She also wrote the court’s landmark decision upholding affirmative actio...

Festivus grievances welcomed: Tampa Bay Times opens platform for year-end venting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (WSVN) – If you’re ready to bid farewell to 2023 and have some grievances to air, the Tampa Bay Times has your outlet. The eighth annual Tampa Bay Times Airing of Grievances for Festivus is here, providing a platform for individuals worldwide to share their complaints.This “fictional” holiday tradition, inspired by the 90’s sitcom, Seinfeld, invites participants to voice their biggest pet peeves from the past year. Whether you’re frustrated with global events or personal matters, this is your chance to gripe and complain.To participate, submit your grievances by December 7, giving you the opportunity to unload your frustrations and join the collective venting for a lighter start to the upcoming year.

NFL suspends credentials of videographer who was involved in backflip celebration with Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

(CNN) — The NFL suspended the credentials of a videographer who was involved with an on-field touchdown celebration by Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill – and in response, Hill said he will pay the videographer’s salary.The incident took place during the Dolphins’ October 15 win against the Carolina Panthers. After scoring a touchdown, Hill grabbed a camera from University of Miami student Kevin Fitzgibbons on the field sidelines and performed a backflip selfie.In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Fitzgibbons said he shared a friendship with Hill, describing him as “one of my best friends.” Fitzgibbons said Hill noticed him standing in the sidelines after scoring the touchdown and “surprised me by grabbing my phone and doing a backflip.”“It was the coolest moment ever, and I ran into the tunnel to send the clip to the NFL,” the student said in his video. Fitzgibbons said he began working for the NFL at Dolphins home games in 2022.Hill was not fined for t...

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman on the Supreme Court, dies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

(CNN) — Former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who blazed trails as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court, has died, the court announced Friday morning.O’Connor, 93, died due to “complications related to advanced dementia,” the court said.O’Connor inspired generations of female lawyers – including the five women who served after her nomination on the high court. They admired her path marking success in a field that had been dominated by men. Over time, she became known as a moderate conservative and often the swing vote on hot-button social issues. She died after living to see a new conservative leaning court overturned an abortion decision she helped pen in 1992, lower the bar between church and state and set its sights on another area of interest to her: affirmative action.In 2018, O’Connor revealed in a letter that she had been diagnosed with the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.“While the final chapter of my life with dementia may be trying, not...

‘Everything indicates’ Chinese ship damaged Baltic pipeline on purpose, Finland says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

BRUSSELS — As the investigation into damage to Baltic Sea critical infrastructure continues, Finland’s Minister of European Affairs Anders Adlercreutz said it’s hard to believe sabotage to the undersea gas pipeline was accidental — or that it happened without Beijing’s knowledge.“I’m not the sea captain. But I would think that you would notice that you’re dragging an anchor behind you for hundreds of kilometers,” Adlercreutz said in an interview Thursday in Brussels. “I think everything indicates that it was intentional. But of course, so far, nobody has admitted to it.”Finland and Estonia have been investigating the rupture of the Balticconnector, a 77-kilometer-long gas pipeline that connects the two NATO members beneath the Baltic Sea. The pipeline was damaged around October 7-8, along with two telecoms cables connecting Estonia to Finland and Sweden.An investigation by Finnish authorities identified as the main suspect Chinese container ship Newnew Polar B...

A balanced transition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

This content focuses on Equinor’s role in the EU energy transition, please visit their pages to learn more about their wider European and global operations.

Report: Red Sox no longer pursuing top free agent Shohei Ohtani

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

The possibility of the Red Sox landing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani always felt like a reach, but now the prospect is looking even more unlikely.According to a report by ESPN insider Jeff Passan, the Red Sox have backed off their pursuit of Ohtani and shifted their focus to other players.“The Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who were among the initial group of suitors, have turned their attention to other players, sources said,” Passan wrote. “Among those confirmed by sources to be still in the bidding: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays and Angels.”Passan later wrote that the Red Sox are still in the mix for right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the 25-year-old Japanese ace who is expected to land a deal worth well over $200 million.Ohtani, who won his second American League MVP award this season, is expected to land the largest free agent contract in North American sports history. Even after undergoing elbow surgery that will keep hi...

Editorial: Northwestern’s David Braun deserved to be Big Ten Coach of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

Amid the flameout of the Chicago White Sox, the Bulls’ horrific start, the Bears’ continuing allergy to winning and the Blackhawks suffering yet another scandal involving off-ice conduct, there’s been one cheering story to remember.That’s David Braun, who began this year as Pat Fitzgerald’s new defensive coordinator at Northwestern University, was tapped on an interim basis to coach the team after Fitzgerald’s firing, and led the Wildcats to a wildly improbable 7-5 record and a bowl berth.Braun deservedly had the interim tag removed two weeks ago, and days ago was honored as Big Ten Coach of the Year.Have yourself a year, David Braun.Braun’s accomplishment goes far beyond his team’s record. There were questions about whether Northwestern’s football program ought even to continue following the disturbing disclosures of hazing that destroyed Fitzgerald’s coaching career.Simply focusing the team on the task of competing in foo...

Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, has died at age 93

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:42 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, an unwavering voice of moderate conservatism and the first woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, died Friday. She was 93.O’Connor died in Phoenix, of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness, the Supreme Court said in a news release. Chief Justice John Roberts mourned her death. “A daughter of the American Southwest, Sandra Day O’Connor blazed an historic trail as our Nation’s first female Justice,” Roberts said in statement issued by the court. “She met that challenge with undaunted determination, indisputable ability, and engaging candor.”In 2018, she announced that she had been diagnosed with “the beginning stages of dementia, probably Alzheimer’s disease.” Her husband, John O’Connor, died of complications of Alzheimer’s in 2009.O’Connor’s nom...