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Ukraine and the Western Balkans top Blinken’s agenda for NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken is turning his attention to Ukraine, NATO and the Western Balkans after weeks of intense focus on Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.Blinken has spent much of the last month-and-a-half deeply engaged on the Gaza crisis, making two trips to the Middle East. Now, amid signs that a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas due to expire on Monday may be extended, Blinken is departing for Brussels for a NATO foreign ministers meeting.In Brussels, the alliance will reaffirm its support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion, explore ways of easing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and look at preparations for NATO’s 75th anniversary next year.The two-day session on Tuesday and Wednesday will include the first foreign minister-level meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a body created by alliance leaders at their last summit to improve cooperation and coordination and help prepare Kyiv for eventual membership.“Allies w...

Israel and Hamas agree to extend truce for two more days, and free more hostages and prisoners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to extend their cease-fire for two more days past Monday, the Qatari government said, bringing the prospect of a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war and further exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.The announcement, made by Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary in a post on X, came on the final day of the original four-day truce between the warring sides. A fourth swap of hostages for prisoners under that deal was expected later Monday. Qatar, along with the United States and Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. After the Qatari announcement, Hamas confirmed it had agreed to a two-day extension “under the same terms.”But Israel says it remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year ru...

Family celebrates ‘Swiftmas’ with Taylor Swift-inspired decorations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Illinois (WLS) — Maybe you’ve heard of her. Taylor Swift is kind of a big deal.She’s everywhere, including, right now, in our news, thanks to a Naperville family who put its own spin on the holiday season.Are you ready for it? It’s officially “Swiftmas” in the suburbs.By foot, by car and even by trolley, the traffic has been picking up in front of the Scott household near Atlas and Tupelo, like some kind of suburban legend.“We weren’t expecting, like, all of this,” said homeowner Amy Scott.Maybe they should have. After all, Taylor Swift is on a bit of a roll!Long story short, Amy is the mastermind behind the afterglow lighting up her Naperville neighborhood.She said the idea to bring the season of Swift to her house came to her after seeing Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” movie.“I walked out of there saying two things. Number one, I want bangs, and number two, we can do this for our lights display,&...

1 injured after shooting at Miramar apartment complex; 2 detained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

A shooting at an apartment complex in Miramar has left one man injured, with the shooter still on the loose, according to officials. Miramar Police responded to the Avalon apartment complex on the 4300 block of SW 133th Avenue, just before 10 a.m. Officials said one adult male was shot and was transported to the trauma center at Memorial Regional Hospital. His condition is currently unknown. Two individuals have been detained as a result of this incident. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Israel-Hamas truce extended by two days, Qatari official says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas have agreed to extend the temporary cease-fire in Gaza by two days, a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry said Monday.“The State of Qatar announces, as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip,” Majed Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, said on X, formerly Twitter.Under a previous deal struck last week and brokered by Qatar — together with the United States and Egypt — Israel and Hamas had agreed to halt hostilities in Gaza.The agreement, which included a prisoner swap that has led to the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas as well as dozens of Palestinians in Israeli detention, was set to expire on Tuesday, at 7 a.m. local time (6 a.m. CET).

Swedish PM rebukes far-right leader who said mosques should be flattened

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has condemned far-right Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson for saying mosques should be demolished, calling the statement “disrespectful.”“In Sweden, we don’t tear down places of worship,” Kristersson said on Monday, Swedish outlet SVT reported.Åkesson came under fire on Saturday for saying that Sweden should ban the establishment of new mosques, while suggesting it should also demolish existing ones in the country.“We also need to start confiscating and demolishing mosque buildings where anti-democratic, anti-Swedish, homophobic, antisemitic propaganda or general disinformation about Swedish society is spreading,” he said during a speech.While not an official part of the ruling coalition, the Sweden Democrats offer crucial support to the government, which includes center-right minority parties Moderates, Liberals and Christian Democrats.Åkesson’s comment drew backlash from across the Swedish political scene, i...

Bavaria’s premier calls for early election as budget crisis roils German politics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

Bavarian Premier Markus Söder called today for an early German federal election, arguing that voters have lost faith in the country’s ruling three-party coalition following a constitutional court ruling that has plunged Germany into a budget crisis.“The whole traffic light system [i.e. coalition] is not working,” Söder, the conservative leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “That’s why a fundamental change is needed.” Early elections, he added, “would be the right way forward.”Söder’s call for an early election comes as the government grapples with the political fallout of a major budgetary crisis. Earlier this month, the country’s top court ruled it had been unconstitutional to repurpose €60 billion left over from an emergency COVID-19 fund for climate projects. More broadly, the ruling also limits the government’s ability to draw from a variety of special funds ...

Russian hackers pose ‘high’ threat level to EU, bloc’s cyber team warns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

Russia’s notorious hacking group Fancy Bear is targeting European governments with cyberattacks, the European Union’s cyber emergency response team has warned officials in a note seen by POLITICO.At least seven European governments have been targeted with spearphishing campaigns, which include using custom-tailored lures to target specific, high-profile targets to download malicious software or give away access to digital systems. “We assess that the threat level posed to [EU institutions and agencies] by this activity is high,” the bloc’s Cyber Emergency Response Team for the EU (CERT-EU) said in a note classified for limited distribution (TLP Amber+Strict) sent earlier in November.Fancy Bear, also known as APT28, is a Russian intelligence-affiliated hacking group that the United States said was behind the 2016 hacks of the Democratic National Committee which contributed to Donald Trump’s election win. The group was also sanctioned by EU authorities in 2020 ...

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman says Israel-Hamas truce to be extended for two more days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that an agreement has been reached to extend the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days.Qatar, along with Egypt, has been the key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.The announcement comes on the final day of a four day truce between the warring sides.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas appeared open to extending a cease-fire in Gaza that has halted their deadliest and most destructive war but is set to expire after Monday, with a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel planned for later in the day.Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has also said it hopes to extend the four-day truce, which came into effect Friday after several weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by the United States, ...

Suspect in shooting of 3 Palestinian college students in Vermont pleads not guilty

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:40:15 GMT

(CNN) — The man suspected of shooting three Palestinian college students in Burlington, Vermont, pleaded not guilty Monday to three charges of attempted murder in the second degree.Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday afternoon near the scene of the attack, the Burlington Police Department said. At Monday’s arraignment hearing, the judge ordered Eaton to be held without bond.The case has garnered national attention amid rising reports of hate crimes since the Israel-Hamas war erupted.Authorities said Eaton lives in an apartment building in front of the shooting scene and a search of his home uncovered evidence that gave investigators “probable cause to believe that Mr. Eaton perpetrated the shooting.”During the search of the suspect’s home, authorities recovered a .380 semi-automatic Ruger pistol, a law enforcement source said. The weapon was taken to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ballistics lab, where experts are firing a comparison bullet ...