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As US bombs Iranian sites in Syria, Houthis shoot down drone over Red Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

In a sign of the increasing violence in the Middle East, two U.S. F-15 fighters on Wednesday struck what the Pentagon said was an ammunition dump used by Iranian-backed militia groups in eastern Syria, while a U.S. surveillance drone was shot down over the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi forces.The violence comes amid a U.S. military buildup in the region — including the dispatch of two aircraft carrier strike groups, a Marine rapid response unit, fighter squadrons and air defenses — to protect U.S. bases as tensions are fueled by the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the facility that was struck in eastern Syria was one used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “and affiliated groups,” and that the attack was “a response to a series of attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria by IRGC-Quds Force affiliates.”U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Syria have been attacked by rockets and drones 41 ti...

Germany’s never-ending migration crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

BERLIN — Olaf Scholz is getting desperate. With less than two years left in his first term and his government struggling to cope with a more than 70 percent rise in asylum applications so far in 2023, the famously subdued German chancellor has resorted to hyperbole. “I don’t want to use big words,” a weary Scholz told reporters in the small hours of Tuesday after hammering out an overhaul of asylum rules with regional leaders, “but I think this is a historic moment.”He may well be proved right, if only because there’s a fair chance history will mark his failure to achieve more significant reforms as the beginning of his political end.Scholz has been trying to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in Germany for months, an effort many Germans perceive as increasingly urgent amid a recent outbreak of antisemitic incidents, many of which conservative politicians have blamed on migrants. A spike in hate crime towards Jews so unnerved Scholz’s c...

International justice must serve victims of Israel-Hamas war atrocities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

Carla Del Ponte served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (1999–2007) and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (1999–2003). Graham Blewitt served as deputy prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (1994–2004).The unfolding situation in the Middle East is a human tragedy.Thousands of lives have already been lost, and many more have been destroyed. Respect for international law is in short supply, with attacks on civilians, hostage taking, and the indiscriminate bombing of urban areas. Such acts can constitute international crimes.We have prosecuted such war crimes before, as well as crimes against humanity and genocide. It is never an easy task, but it is a vital one.The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has already established jurisdiction over the situation Gaza and the West Bank, as well as over potential international crimes committed by Hamas on Israeli territory. And the...

Macron’s peace forum adds to ‘conference overkill,’ critics say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has a dizzying to-do list this week: fix the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stop melting ice-caps, and straighten out the challenges of artificial intelligence.And that’s just a glimpse of the agenda of this week’s diplomatic marathon in Paris that brings together leaders, diplomats and NGO workers from across the world.But what exactly Macron can achieve is less than certain.Delegates are meeting for the Paris Peace Forum, an annual assembly and one of Macron’s many pet diplomatic projects; its ambitions include tackling global challenges from migration to climate change.Solving the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is the latest addition to the gathering’s agenda.On Thursday, heads of state and foreign affairs ministers will discuss “concrete ways” to improve access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and answer the population’s need of water, food, medicine and fuel, according to one of Macron&...

Timmermans hunts for allies in knife-edge Dutch election race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

During the last four elections, it was pretty simple in the Netherlands: The campaign was heated, the number of parties grew infinitely, political one-hit wonders came and went, and in the end Mark Rutte won. But now that the record-holding Dutch prime minister is quitting after 13 years in office, nothing is certain anymore in The Hague.Cue Frans Timmermans, the EU heavyweight who is leading the ticket for the Labour and Green Left alliance after these two parties joined forces in a bid to stem a decline in support for left-leaning politicians. Timmermans is campaigning on a green and social agenda. He wants to reduce Dutch greenhouse gas emissions by 65 percent by 2030 – above the 55 percent EU target – increase the minimum wage and introduce a new top rate income tax. But he is facing fierce competition from Rutte’s successor at the the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), Dilan Yeşilgöz, as well as centrist outsider Pieter Omtzigt, who is narrowly leadi...

Police investigating after 2 people stabbed, another assaulted in Roxbury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

Two juveniles were stabbed and a third was assaulted in an attack in Roxbury Wednesday night, Boston police said. The incident happened near the corner of Tremont and Camden Street. Later speaking to reporters, officials said one of the victims had life-threatening injuries. Police had not made any arrests as of around 9 p.m. In the meantime, authorities were urging anyone with information to contact investigators.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey lead 76ers to sixth straight win, 106-103 over Celtics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The 76ers did what they could to shed themselves of the bad vibes that lingered over the franchise in the wake of an appalling postseason exit.They hired a new coach. They traded a malcontent.Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are determined to show the new-look 76ers won’t suffer the same-old postseason fate.Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Maxey had 25 points and nine assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight win, 106-103 over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.The 76ers are the only 6-1 team in the Eastern Conference and their lone loss came on opening night.They are 5-0 at home.“New coach, new systems, bunch of new guys, just trying to get everybody up to speed,” Embiid said. “Let’s see what we can do.”Kristaps Porzingis led the Celtics with 29 points and Derrick White, back after missing two games for the birth of his child, had 19.The Sixers were amped for the first game between the long-time rivals since their Eastern ...

Dog recovering after ingesting bag of drugs while on walk in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

Veterinarians recently needed to use Narcan to save the life of a woman’s beloved beagle after the woman said her dog overdosed from drugs he ate while out for a walk in Boston’s South End.Nancy Rittenhouse said she had been on a walk with her puppy, Finn, on Tuesday afternoon at the Southwest Corridor Park when they stumbled upon an item on the ground. “We came across like a melted ice cream sandwich and next to the sandwich was a bag,” she said. Rittenhouse said the bag was tied, adding that she saw white powder coming out of it.Rittenhouse said she pulled Finn away but realized something was not right. After about three minutes, her dog collapsed on the ground. Rittenhouse shared video of herself rushing her lethargic pet to a veterinarian. “He woke up and he stayed there for six hours and he came home and he was fine,” Rittenhouse said. “I wasn’t but he was.”“It was really terrifying,” she said. Rittenhouse said this was not the first time Finn ate...

Revolution season ended with physical 1-0 loss to Philadelphia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

FOXBORO – The New England Revolution’s season started with great promise, devolved into a catastrophe, and ended with a calamity.The Philadelphia Union swept the best-of-three Round One MLS Cup playoff series with a 1-0 victory over the Revolution before 15,214 on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.The Revolution finished the season 16-11-10 overall and 2-6-1 under interim head coach Clint Peay, who inherited a messy situation following the resignation of Bruce Arena and the dismissal of first interim head coach Richie Williams. The Revolution are likely to have already started their search for a new sporting director and head coach.“As I reflect, it was a great experience for me in terms of being able to work with the group and learn a little bit more what that means,” said Peay. “In terms of my future, that is not for me to decide.”Referee Drew Fischer changed the complexion of the match in the 45th minute when he issued a red card to Revolution midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye for s...

Prince Harry, Meghan visit San Diego ahead of Veterans Day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:23:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, attended military events Wednesday in the San Diego area ahead of Veterans Day.The royal couple first visited military members and their families at Camp Pendleton Wednesday morning.During the evening hours, Prince Harry and Meghan headed to the Navy SEAL Foundation's unveiling of a 20,000-square-foot Warrior Fitness Program West Coast Facility in downtown San Diego. These San Diego-area cities among fastest-growing wealthy suburbs in US: study "We are thrilled the Duke and Duchess are here, it's quite an honor for them to be here for the commissioning, they've proven through the Archewell Foundation their commitment to Veteran causes, domestically and internationally, specifically they've really destigmatized mental health issues for those who have gone through military service and they've done that with courage and just great validation to have them here. It's a great signal of partnership internationally, an...