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‘Catastrophic’ intelligence failure let Hamas wreak havoc, says former Israeli security official

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

An unprecedented military offensive by Hamas fighters on Saturday that has left dozens of Israelis dead and hundreds more injured or taken prisoner was allowed to happen by “disarray” in the Israeli armed forces and intelligence services, said Chuck Freilich, the country’s former deputy national security adviser.Freilich pointed out that the bloodshed comes 50 years and a day after the start of the 1973 Yom Kippur war. “That was a catastrophic failure in regards to Egypt and Syria. This is a catastrophic failure in regards to Gaza,” he told POLITICO. “It’s a failure in terms of intelligence, operationally,” Freilich said. “It’s clear we were caught totally unprepared by this. The divisional headquarters responsible for Gaza was occupied, they’re in disarray, and so the whole response has been delayed.”Freilich, who was deputy national security adviser in the early 2000s and is now a professor at Tel Aviv University’s Instit...

Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza Strip stuns Israel and leaves dozens dead in fighting, retaliation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday, killing dozens and stunning the country. Israel said it was now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”Several hours after the incursion began, Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities near Gaza. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. Also, an unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians had been seized and taken into Gaza.At least 198 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israel’s retaliation and at least 1,610 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said.The strength, sophistication and timing of the attack shocked Israelis, with images o...

Drake releases album and announces he’s taking time off for health reasons

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

(CNN) — Just after releasing a new album, Drake announced he plans to step away from the spotlight for an extended period of time to focus on his health.The artist was a guest on the “Table for One” on SiriusXM’s Sound 42 Friday morning, where he said “I probably won’t make music for a little bit.”“I need to focus on my health, first and foremost. … Nothing crazy, but just, like, you know, I want people to be healthy in life,” Drake explained.He added that the issues were related to his stomach.“I need to focus on my health, and I need to get right, and I’m going to do that,” Drake said. “So, I’m a lock the door in the studio for a little bit. I don’t even know what a little bit is, maybe a year.”The rapper also released the video for his new song “8 AM in Charlotte,” off his new album “For All the Dogs.” His 5-year-old son Adonis opens the video by explaining a piece of artwork he drew.“All right. Adonis, tell me about your beautiful piece of artwork t...

Powerball jackpot rises to an estimated $1.4 billion for tonight’s drawing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

(CNN) — Lottery players have the chance to win big tonight, with the Powerball jackpot soaring to an estimated $1.4 billion for Saturday’s drawing after there was no grand prize winner Wednesday.The jackpot will bear out a cash value of around $614.0 million, according to the Powerball website. Winners can choose to either receive their prize in one lump-sum payment or in 30 graduated payments over 29 years.If a lucky player takes home the grand prize, they would be the winner of the third largest jackpot in the game’s history. The prize up for grabs Saturday would also be the fifth largest US lottery jackpot, Powerball says.But players shouldn’t get their hopes too high: The chances of winning the jackpot are just 1 in 292,201,338.00, according to Powerball. The drawing will be streamed live at 10:59 p.m. ET on Saturday.Powerball has had no grand prize winner since July 19, when a single ticket sold in California won a jackpot ...

Israeli military confirms that Hamas is holding Israeli soldiers and civilians captive in Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says that Gaza's militant Hamas rulers are holding Israeli civilians and soldiers captive in the Palestinian enclave, marking major escalation in the fighting. The military confirmed Hamas claims that its fighters had kidnapped a number of Israelis after they infiltrated Israel's highly fortified separation fence and stormed into Israeli communities in the country's south. The army did not offer further details, declining to comment on how many Israelis had been seized. Social media has been filled with videos claiming to show Hamas fighters dragging lifeless Israeli soldiers and parading captured civilians through the streets.At least 40 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded, making the unprecedented surprise early morning attack by Hamas the deadliest in Israel in years. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into ...

San Diego gets record ranking as top big city destination for travelers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With its beaches and sprawling food culture, San Diego has risen in the ranks to become a favorite destination in the U.S. travelers, according to the newest edition of a long-running poll by Conde Nast Traveler.For the first time ever, America's Finest City took the No. 2 spot in the 36th annual Reader's Choice Awards for the Best Large Cities in the U.S. ranking, coming in higher than other popular destinations like New York City and San Francisco.Over the last few years, San Diego had been on the rise in the survey. In 2021, the city was ranked No. 7 by Conde Nast readers on the same poll."Several years ago, travelers headed to San Diego might have wondered what they would do in the city, besides hitting the beaches. No longer," the magazine wrote. "With a recent string of hot hotel openings … and a legit food scene that offers up some of the best Mexican dishes and seafood platters you'll ever taste, San Diego has officially stepped out from the shadow of its big si...

Rebeca Andrade wins vault’s world title, denies Biles another gold medal at world championships

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Rebeca Andrade of Brazil denied Simone Biles a 22nd world title by winning the women’s vault competition ahead of the American superstar on Saturday.A day after she became the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles tried to claim back the vault title she last won in 2019 by performing her extremely difficult signature Yurchenko double pike vault that nobody else does in the women’s competition.But she fell on her back on the landing. Biles then delivered an excellent Cheng to finish with a combined score of 14.549. Andrade was nearly flawless to snatch the gold medal by a margin of 0.201 points.Yeo Seo-jeong of South Korea took the bronze medal with 14.416.Elsabeth Black of Halifax finished fifth with a total of 13.933 points.Biles became the first woman to do the Yurchenko double pike at the world championships during qualifying, and the vault is now named the Biles II because it was achieved in international competition. The 26-year-old Americ...

Police search for man in connection with sexual offence agianst 9-year-old

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

Police are looking to identify a man wanted for committing a sexual offence against a 9-year-old boy in Mississauga. Investigators say the boy was in the public washroom at Square One Shopping Mall in July when a man struck up a conversation with him that was sexual in nature.Police say the man and child were not known to each other. The man is described as white with a tanned complexion, five-foot-six to five-foot-nine with an average to thin build, a full beard, braids and dreadlock-type hair. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black t-shirt with a logo and distinct red ‘Air Force One’ type shoes. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Canadian politicians condemn deadly surprise Hamas attack on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

Canadian politicians are condemning an unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants, who fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated the heavily fortified border by air, land and sea.Israel’s national rescue service says at least 40 people have been killed and hundreds have been injured in the attack — the deadliest in the country in years.The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 198 people have been killed and at least 1,610 wounded in the territory in Israel’s retaliation after the attack which caught the country off guard on a major Jewish holiday.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Canada strongly condemns the “terrorist attacks against Israel” and fully supports the country’s right to defend itself.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also released a statement denouncing what he called “the invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists” and “the sadistic violence” carried out a...

Parts of Quebec under rainfall warning, localized flooding on some Montreal streets

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:12 GMT

MONTREAL — Parts of Quebec are subject to rainfall warnings as Environment Canada forecasts some areas could receive up to 70 millimetres of additional rain between today and tomorrow.Environment Canada meteorologist Dominic Martel reports between 50 and 60 millimetres of rain has already fallen in the Montreal area since Friday evening.Water accumulated on several Montreal streets this morning, in some cases overflowing onto sidewalks and private property.Environment Canada says it expects between 40 and 70 millimetres of rain in much of the central part of the province, including the Montreal area, between Saturday morning and Sunday morning.The federal weather agency says areas of higher elevation could see as much as 100 millimetres of additional rainfall this weekend.Between 50 and 80 millimetres of rain are expected further east, in areas along the St. Lawrence River northeast of Quebec City, between Saturday evening and Sunday evening.This report by The Canadian Press was fir...