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Ukraine reports nonstop assaults by Russia on a key eastern city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

Ukrainian officials reported intense combat as Russian forces relentlessly assaulted the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka for a fifth consecutive day Saturday.City leader Vitalii Barabash reported that Moscow was deploying additional forces to encircle the strategically important city in the eastern Donetsk region, situated just north of the Russian-held regional capital, also called Donetsk.“The enemy hasn’t stopped either assaulting or shelling positions” around Avdiivka, Barabash said on Ukrainian television.Around 1,600 civilians remain within the city, a stark contrast to its prewar population of about 31,000. Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war against Ukraine in February 2022.Barabash’s comments came after Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Friday that the intensified attacks in the east amounted to a new stage in Moscow’s campaign in Ukraine.“Russian troops have, for several days now, switched over ...

Celtics add Jeff Van Gundy as senior consultant: ‘It’s a no brainer’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

Joe Mazzulla’s supporting staff was already beefed up with experience this summer. Now the Celtics have another seasoned mind to help them.Jeff Van Gundy – who has coached and worked in the NBA for more than three decades – has been hired by the Celtics as a senior consultant. MassLive.com first reported the news on Saturday, which was revealed on the Celtics’ website as he was added under the coaching staff section.A team official clarified that Van Gundy will work in an advisory role for the entire basketball operations department, not just the coaching staff, and his responsibilities will include the G-League Maine Celtics. Mazzulla said the veteran coach will not be on the bench during games, but that he’ll be in every meeting and games when he’s in Boston. He’s excited to have another experienced person behind the scenes.“Any time you can add high character, high level, professional people, I think it’s a no-brainer,” Mazzulla said. “So, fortunate enough that he’s h...

Patriots promote Malik Cunningham in series of roster moves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

The Patriots are adding a playmaker to their offense for Week 6.The Patriots signed quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham from their practice squad to their 53-man roster Saturday, a source confirmed.Cunningham is set to make his NFL debut Sunday against the Raiders. The former college quarterback converted to wide receiver this spring after signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville. Cunningham also received snaps at quarterback in training camp and the preseason but was waived during roster cuts. He signed to the practice squad after going unclaimed.Head coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien both called Cunningham one of the team’s most improved practice squad players this week.Belichick said Cunningham was “trending” towards a game-day role.Cunningham joins quarterbacks Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe and Will Grier and wide receivers DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas and Ka...

Tabor moves to 4-0 with 38-28 win over St. Sebastian’s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

NEEDHAM — When coach Jeff Moore came to Tabor Academy this offseason, people expected success, but maybe down the road.Maybe the Seawolves are a bit ahead of schedule.Behind a strong running game and big plays in the passing game in the second half, Tabor beat St. Sebastian’s Saturday, 38-28, to improve to 4-0.St. Sebastian’s drops to 2-2 with the defeat.“Feels great,” Moore said. “The biggest thing is the players. They work really, really hard. They’re very unselfish. They really love each other. It’s an important piece to what we do. I’ve been fortunate. I have a great group of kids. The record last year doesn’t tell justice of the leadership that we have, the camaraderie that we have. All the kids that were already here. They’ve done a phenomenal job of being leaders, as well. So, we’re really fortunate for where we’re at.”Junior running back Hugo Djeumeni rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns on 26...

In first call with Palestinian president Abbas, Biden discusses support for humanitarian aid to Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians. The weekend calls in Washington came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken intensified diplomatic outreach across the Middle East and beyond to rally an international response to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding.Blinken met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh before stopping in the United Arab Emirates as he sought ways to help civilians trapped in between the fighting and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. He also called his Chinese counterpart as Palestinians struggled to flee from areas of Gaza targeted by the Israeli military before an expected land offensive.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as well on Saturday spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav G...

Lack of water worsens misery in besieged Gaza as Israeli airstrikes continue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — As Israel pounds the Gaza Strip with airstrikes, Laila Abu Samhadaneh, 65, is anxious about water. The besieged Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million people don’t have access to clean, running water after Israel cut off water and electricity to the enclave as it intensifies its air attacks in response to a bloody Hamas attack last week. The chokehold has seen taps run dry across the territory. When water does trickle from pipes, the meager flow lasts no more than 30 minutes each day and is so contaminated with sewage and seawater that it’s undrinkable, residents said.“I don’t know what we’re going to do tomorrow,” Abu Samhadaneh said from her three-room home in the southern town of Rafah, which turned into a de facto shelter after Israel demanded everyone in Gaza evacuate south. She said she rations just a few liters among dozens of friends and relatives each day. “We’re going crazy.”The deprivation has plunged Gaza’s population deep...

Cloud breaks bring cheers from partial solar eclipse watchers at B.C. observatory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

SAANICH, B.C. — Cheers greeted the brief cloud breaks that gave more than 100 people gathered at an astrophysical observatory site near Victoria, B.C., a peak at Saturday’s partial solar eclipse.Fog and clouds were present for most of the morning at the mountain-top site, but there were moments when the skies parted and the partial eclipse was visible, said Calvin Schmidt, an employee of the non-profit Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Saanich.Those moments of solar splendor were worth the waiting, he said, though there are reports the skies were almost totally clear in some parts of Victoria, giving those residents a sustained view of the partial eclipse.“So, it was completely foggy,” Schmidt said. “It’s totally clouded over, however, occasionally the fog would be just thin enough that the optical depth would be just low enough that we could see it without using glasses for a moment or two and then it would disappear.”“Th...

Police seek help identifying men allegedly involved in strong-armed robbery on Green Line train

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are asking for help as officers work to identify two people allegedly involved in a strong-armed robbery on a Green Line train in late September.According to Chicago police, a search is underway for two men who allegedly hit and robbed a man while on a Green Line train at the California station in Garfield Park at around noon on Tuesday, Sept. 26. Evanston mother, daughter being held hostage by Hamas Officers say the two men approached the victim and struck him before one of the men wrapped their arm around the victim's neck. Police say the two men then stole the man's belongings before fleeing the scene.Police say they believe the two men are between 25 and 40 years of age. CPD shared photos of the two men captured by CTA security cameras. In the photos, one man could be seen wearing a mask and a grey hoodie with a black design on the front, while the second individual was seen wearing a black, white and red hoodie. Parents sue Hyatt Hotels Corporation after de...

What are the beautiful, crescent-shaped shadows that occur during an eclipse?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) -- Beautiful, crescent-shaped shadows can be seen during an eclipse -- what are they?As a solar eclipse draws near, you can see little crescent shadows start to appear.According to the American Astronomical Society, as the Sun becomes a thin crescent in appearance, shadows become much sharper and more detailed. "Look at your own shadow — notice how you can see the shadows of individual hairs on your head or arms," the organization said.Experts say, however, anything that can cast a shadow while allowing small amounts of sunlight to peer through can create the effect of the crescent shadows. Trees are reportedly an easy way to see these shadows, due to the light passing between leaves.It is reportedly due to a "pinhole camera effect," which works by letting light through a tiny hole in a screen. The same phenomenon occurs when light from an eclipse passes through tree leaves. During an eclipse, not every ray of light can pass through to the ground, leaving only ...

Jewish United Fund President discusses Israel-Hamas conflict, fundraising efforts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:40:43 GMT

CHICAGO — The war between Israel and Hamas is expected to escalate soon as the Israeli military warns of a possible ground invasion of Gaza. According to the Associated Press, Israel's military ordered over 1 million people to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of the possible ground invasion.The military gave civilians 24 hours to leave on Friday, however, the deadline was extended after the UN said an evacuation within that time frame would be impossible without devastating humanitarian consequences.Israeli tanks are positioned near the border on Saturday and the Israeli military says it has prepared an offensive in the Gaza Strip involving air, ground and naval forces.The Associated Press reports that the war has claimed the lives of at least 3,200 people since the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. Lonnie Nasatir, the President of the Jewish United Fund (JUF), joined WGN-TV News on Saturday morning to discuss fundraising efforts by the JUF and talk about how Chicagoan...