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Desert horror: Music festival goers heard rockets, then Gaza militants fired on them and took hostages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

(CNN) — The rockets began around 6:30 a.m., Tal Gibly told CNN. Thirty minutes later, she and hundreds of others attending an Israeli music festival were running as Gaza militants fired at them.The terrifying attack was just one of multiple locations hit on Saturday morning by the most sustained and coordinated assault inside Israel ever carried out by Hamas militants.At least 260 bodies would later be found at the festival site, according to Israeli rescue service Zaka. Some attendees were taken hostage, seen in social media videos being seized by their armed captors.The outdoor Nova Festival event in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel border was supposed to be an all-night dance party, celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. But as dawn broke, Gibly said they began hearing sirens and rockets.“We didn’t even have any place to hide because we were at [an] open space,” she told CNN. “Everyone got so panicked and started to take their stuff.”Explosions can be heard in v...

Gloucester police, fire crews rescue 2 women swept off Dog Bar breakwater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

The Gloucester Police and Fire Departments rescued two women Sunday morning after they were washed off the Dog Bar breakwater in Gloucester Harbor, officials said.Crews responded to a 10:45 a.m. report that two women had washed off the breakwater, which extends out from Eastern Point Lighthouse in Gloucester’s outer harbor, according to a statement issued by Police Chief Edward Conley and Fire Chief Eric Smith.Officers and firefighters climbed 12 feet down the side of the granite breakwater to reach the women, both whom were in their 20s, and some used their bodies to shield the women from several direct impacts as the waves crashed against the breakwater. Both women were taken to area hospitals with significant leg injuries.Police Sgt. Jerry Ciolino, Detective Josiah Aberle, and officers Alex Aiello, Noah Aiello, Steve Testaverde and Andrew Marques, along with multiple members of the Gloucester Fire Department, assisted in the rescue.“The Dog Bar is 2,250 feet long and ...

Desperate people dig out dead and injured from quakes that killed over 2,000 in Afghanistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels in western Afghanistan Sunday in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes that killed at least 2,000 people.Entire villages were flattened, bodies were trapped under collapsed houses and locals waited for help without even shovels to dig people out.Living and dead, victims were trapped under rubble, their faces grey with dust. A government spokesman said Sunday that hundreds were still trapped, more than 1,000 hurt and more than 1,300 homes destroyed.“Most people were shocked … some couldn’t even talk. But there were others who couldn’t stop crying and shouting,” photographer Omid Haqjoo, who visited four villages Sunday, told The Associated Press by phone from Afghanistan’s fourth largest city, Herat.Saturday’s magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit a densely populated area near Herat. It was followed by strong aftershocks.A Taliban government spokesman on Sunday provided ...

Columbus Day weather clear but chilly, more of the same to come

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Aside from a slight chance of showers Tuesday, the region should see clear but seasonally chilly weather through most of the week — but there is potential rain in the weekend forecast, according to the National Weather Service.The last vestiges of Tropical Storm Philippe passing through Maine this weekend will leave a chance of rain in its wake, according to Allan Dunham, a meteorologist with the NWS.“It’s a weak cold front extending from (Philippe),” Dunham said. That front will leave “about a 30% chance of rain” behind it according to the meteorologist.Those enjoying the day off while the federal government observes Columbus Day will get nice weather Monday, according to the NWS. The temperature will only reach the low 60s, but there won’t be much wind and the sun will be shining through most of the day, Dunham said.It will be chilly overnight Monday, with temps falling into the upper-40s and clouds rolling in.Those clouds will bring a 30% chance of rain on Tuesday, Du...

Powerball jackpot continues to near record with $1.5B jackpot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

The Powerball jackpot continues to climb, with the prize for Monday’s drawing estimated at a whopping $1.55B.The grand prize increase follows another Saturday night drawing without a winner. The winning numbers were 47, 54, 57, 60, 65 and red Powerball 19.Two $1 million prize winners were sold Saturday for matching all 5 numbers without a Powerball match. Those tickets were sold at A.L. Prime Energy on Bridge Street in Dracut and at a Stop & Shop in West Springfield.Lottery officials announced that the drawing’s estimated cash prize is $679.8M. Monday’s jackpot would also be the largest winner sold in Massachusetts, with the current record set at $758.7M back in August 2023.There have been 34 Powerball drawings since a jackpot was last hit in July with a $1.08B prize. The record for the most consecutive lottery drawings without a jackpot winner was set in 2021 and 2022.An estimated $1.55B jackpot is the fourth-highest grand prize in U.S. lottery history and the third-highest Pow...

Airlines cancel flights from San Diego International Airport to Tel Aviv

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Airlines have started to cancel flights from San Diego International Airport to Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict in Israel.United has suspended operations from the Israeli capital until "conditions allow them to resume," the airlines confirmed in a statement to FOX 5. Meanwhile, Delta has also canceled all flights to Tel Aviv into this week, an airline spokesperson said. The airline added that they will be monitoring the situation and "make adjustments accordingly.""Customers impacted by canceled flights or who want to change their TLV ticket should check their Delta app, visit Delta.com or call Delta reservations to make adjustments,” the company continued in their statement.FOX 5 has reached out to other airlines with scheduled flights from San Diego International Airport to Tel Aviv and is waiting to hear back.Over the last day, several airlines have also worked with the U.S. government to bring back travelers to the U.S. after the attack began, including one that ...

Live updates | Israel taking 'significant military steps' in response to Hamas attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Israel says it has brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters more than 24 hours after the militant group launched its unprecedented incursion into Israel.Earlier Sunday, Israel formally declared war and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas for the surprise attack. The Israeli military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides.The fighting continued in several locations Monday morning. UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS, TAKES NO ACTION ON US DEMANDThe U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday but took no immediate action on a demand from the United States that all 15 members strongly condemn “these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas."U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said after the meeting that “a good number of countries," but not a...

Live updates | Israel taking ‘significant military steps’ in response to Hamas attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

Israel says it has brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters more than 24 hours after the militant group launched its unprecedented incursion into Israel.Earlier Sunday, Israel formally declared war and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas for the surprise attack. The Israeli military tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides.The fighting continued in several locations Monday morning. UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS, TAKES NO ACTION ON US DEMANDThe U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday but took no immediate action on a demand from the United States that all 15 members strongly condemn “these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas.”U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said after the meeting that “a good number of countries,̶...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes bill to make free condoms available for high school students

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill on Sunday that would have made free condoms available all public high school students, arguing it was too expensive for a state with a budget deficit of more than $30 billion.California had about 1.9 million high school students enrolled in more than 4,000 schools last year, according to the California Department of Education.“This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process,” Newsom wrote in a message explaining why he vetoed the bill, known as Senate bill 541.The bill would have required all public schools that have grades nine through 12 to make condoms available for free to all students. It would have required public schools with grades seven through 12 to allow condoms to be made available as part of educational or public health programs.And it would have made it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to youth.State Sen. Caroline Men...

American Airlines pilot union calls for stopping flights to Israel, citing declaration of war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The pilots’ union for American Airlines has directed its members to refuse to fly to Israel, citing the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza. Union President Ed Sicher said in an email to members that the company’s pilots should not fly to Israel until they “can be reasonably assured of the region’s safety and security.”The email cites the most recent advisory from the U.S. State Department, which warns that the current situation in Israel “continues to be unpredictable,” and that mortar and rocket fire can take place any time without warning, putting aircraft in danger. “It is not prudent or appropriate to knowingly put our flight crews and passengers in harm’s way by maintaining flights into a war zone,” Sicher said. Israel formally declared war Sunday as it bombarded the Gaza strip with airstrikes in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas.The declaration came a day after an unprecedented incursion by Hamas fight...