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Netanyahu fires defense minister for urging halt to overhaul

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister on Sunday, a day after the former army general called for a halt to the planned overhaul of Israel’s judiciary that has fiercely divided the country.The move signals the prime minister will move ahead this week with plans for the overhaul, which has sparked widespread opposition. Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets, military and business leaders have spoken out against it and leading allies of Israel have voiced concerns. Outgoing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a former army general, is a senior member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party. On Saturday, he called for a pause in the controversial legislation until after next month’s Independence Day holidays, citing the rift’s threat to Israel’s national security. Netanyahu’s office did not provide further details over the firing. Galit Distal Atbaryan, Netanyahu’s public diplomacy minister, said that the prime minister summoned Ga...

Union Pacific 2nd railroad to drop push for one-person crews

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific has become the second major freight railroad in the past week to back away from the industry’s longstanding push to cut train crews down to one person as lawmakers and regulators increasingly focus on rail safety following last month’s fiery derailment in Ohio.The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said in a statement Saturday that it had reached an agreement with the union that represents conductors to drop its proposal to take those workers out of the cabs of locomotives just months after it was pressing to test out the idea of stationing conductors in trucks in parts of its 23-state network. Norfolk Southern made a similar announcement several days earlier.The Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train that forced the evacuation of roughly half the town of East Palestine near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border after officials released and burned toxic chemicals is what sparked the renewed interest in railroad safety. A bipartisan bill that...

Berlin climate proposal fails to get enough yes votes to win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A Sunday referendum in Berlin that would have forced the city to ramp up its climate goals failed because there weren’t enough votes in favor of the proposal, the German news agency dpa reported.After about 98% of the votes had been counted, the supporters of the proposal were just ahead of the opponents of such a change in the law, according to an announcement by the city-state’s election administration. However, that result only met one requirement for a successful proposal. The second requirement, a quorum of at least 25% of all eligible voters, was not met, dpa reported.Shortly before the end of the count, there were around 423,000 votes in favor and around 405,000 votes against. The quorum for a successful referendum would have been around 608,000 votes in favor of the proposal.The referendum had called for Berlin to become climate neutral by 2030. The target meant that in less than eight years, the city would no longer be allowed to contribute further...

Army pulls recruiting ads after Jonathan Majors’ arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The arrest of actor Jonathan Majors has upended the Army’s newly launched advertising campaign that was aimed at reviving the service’s struggling recruiting numbers.Majors, who authorities said was arrested Saturday in New York on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment, was the narrator of two ads at the heart of a broader media campaign that kicked off at the start of the NCAA’s March Madness college basketball tournament. Army leaders were hopeful that the popularity of the star of the recently released “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania,” would help them reach the youth audience.In a statement Sunday, the Army’s Enterprise Marketing Office said that the Army was aware of Majors’ arrest and was “deeply concerned by the allegations.” It added that while Majors “is innocent until proven guilty, prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allegations is complete.”New York City police said the actor...

Florida school uproar leads Italy to invite viewing ‘David’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

ROME (AP) — A Florence museum on Sunday invited parents and students from a Florida charter school to view Michelangelo’s “David” in person after the school principal was forced to resign following parental complaints that an image of the nude Renaissance masterpiece was shown to a sixth-grade art class.Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also tweeted an invitation for the principal to visit so he can personally honor her. Confusing art with pornography was “ridiculous,” Nardella said. The incredulous Italian response highlights how the U.S. culture wars are often perceived in Europe, where despite a rise in right-wing sentiment and governance, the Renaissance and its masterpieces, even its naked ones, are generally free of controversy.The Italians are responding to the board of the Tallahassee Classical School forcing Principal Hope Carrasquilla to resign last week. The school has a policy requiring parents to be notified in advance about “controversial” topics being taught. Carrasquilla...

12 injured in apartment floor collapse near university

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

INDIANA, Pa. (AP) — A dozen people were injured in the collapse of a second-story floor inside an apartment complex near a western Pennsylvania over the weekend, authorities said.Seven people were taken to hospitals and five others were treated at the scene after the 11:50 p.m. Saturday collapse at Elm by Traverse Commons about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, state police told the Tribune-Review.Trooper Cliff Greenfield said the victims had injuries ranging from serious to minor. He said responding troopers found one person lying in the road and others grouped outside the three-story building reported that a floor inside had collapsed.“It is unknown exactly how many people were inside the apartment at the time of the floor collapse,” he said. Those still inside were helped out through a broken first-floor window, which caused many of the injuries. Fire rescuers searched the building, which has been secured by the management.Greenfield said its unclea...

Pray for rain: Spanish farmers hold unique Mass amid drought

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

L’ESPUNYOLA, Spain (AP) — When Josep Altarriba looks across his parched fields, the Spanish farmer can’t remember a time of such widespread drought in Catalonia. If it doesn’t rain in the next two weeks, he says there’s little chance of saving the harvest.What can be done? For the mountain villagers of L’Espunyola, the answer is divine intervention. On Sunday, around 250 residents brought back the faded practice of a special Mass and procession to pray to Our Lady of the Torrents, a local virgin associated with rainfall. Under mostly sunny skies, worshippers lifted the colorfully painted statue of the Lady of the Torrents from its place of prominence in the stone church. She was nestled onto a wooden litter filled with green branches and hoisted aloft, then carried around the village followed by the bishop and parishioners. “It’s not a magic act, it is an act of trust,” Bishop Francesc Conesa told The Associated Press.Very low rainfall and high temperat...

Army pulls recruiting ads after Jonathan Majors' arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The arrest of actor Jonathan Majors has upended the Army’s newly launched advertising campaign that was aimed at reviving the service’s struggling recruiting numbers.Majors, who authorities said was arrested Saturday in New York on charges of strangulation, assault and harassment, was the narrator of two ads at the heart of a broader media campaign that kicked off at the start of the NCAA's March Madness college basketball tournament.Army leaders were hopeful that the popularity of the star of the recently released “Creed III” and “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania,” would help them reach the youth audience. ‘Don’t give up’: Arkansas man missing since 2021 found in Texas In a statement Sunday, the Army’s Enterprise Marketing Office said that the Army was aware of Majors’ arrest and was "deeply concerned by the allegations.” It added that while Majors “is innocent until proven guilty, prudence dictates that we pull our ads until the investigation into these allega...

'Don't give up': Arkansas man missing since 2021 found in Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) -- An Arkansas family is getting their best sleep in ages after their loved one finally returned home almost a year and a half since he was reported missing.Harley McCourt was located in Galveston, Texas on March 11, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office confirmed.According to McCourt's family, the 27-year-old first went missing in October of 2021. It was just before a University of Arkansas Razorbacks game when they realized he was nowhere to be seen at his trailer. Even his wallet and phone had been left behind. Missing 81-year-old survives six days trapped in snowbound SUV McCourt's family did everything to get Harley's name out there for the more than 500 days he was missing, from renting a billboard to making flyers and offering a $10,000 reward."Every day, just trying to find something, anything. I felt like an investigator," Brittany Crumpton, Harley's sister, said. "Your mind just wanted to tell you no, he's not alive. He's not alive, but my heart ju...

Mississippi woman accused of killing husband on Facebook Live

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:13 GMT

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) - A woman was arrested after she allegedly shot and killed a man on Facebook Live in Mississippi on Saturday. Officials with the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) said deputies responded to a domestic violence call in Columbus shortly before 8 a.m. They found that a 28-year-old man, who lived at the home, had died from a single gunshot wound. Florida woman charged after boyfriend dies in suitcase According to LCSO officials, the victim and 28-year-old Kadejah Michelle Brown were in an argument that turned physical. Brown then allegedly shot the victim, which officials said was captured on Facebook Live. They said evidence was found at the scene, including a handgun. Authorities confirmed the man was Brown's husband, who was trying to leave the home. Brown was arrested and charged with murder. She was booked into the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. Florida dad allegedly shoots, kills daughter’s ex-boyfriend after domestic dispute: police A...