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US begins delivering munitions to Israel as the American death toll rises to 11 in Hamas attacks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war with Hamas, a senior Defense Department official said Monday.Planes have already taken off, said the official, who declined to provide details on the weapons. The official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments, also warned that the U.S. is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of them from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel.The weapons movement came as President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. death toll in the war has gone up to 11.The official said the U.S. is “flooding the zone” with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question Americ...

Demonstrators gather in Cambridge in support of Palestinians caught in conflict between Israel and Hamas 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

Demonstrators gathered in Cambridge Monday in support of Palestinian people caught in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Days after Hamas fighters launched their surprise attack against Israel on Saturday, and after responses from Israel, organizers of the event in Cambridge said they condemn the killing of innocent civilians on both sides of the war. Pro-Palestinian supporters continued in their comments, saying they were supporting Palestinians who they say have been violently oppressed for 75 years. “As a human being, if you see this much injustice and this much oppression, it just hurts,” one person said. “You just have to be human. You just have to feel. Have a heart.”Tensions were high while the demonstration along Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge continued around 5 p.m. While hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters marched through the streets, pro-Israel supporters gathered nearby, with members of both groups at times yelling across the street.Organ...

Police identify individuals allegedly involved in East Bridgewater church vandalism

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

Authorities say a pair of juveniles were allegedly involved in a case of vandalism at an East Bridgewater church.Officials with the East Bridgewater police and fire departments announced that after investigating the incident, which involved someone setting a fire at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, two 12-year-old juveniles were identified as suspects.The announcement came after authorities were first called to the church on Friday afternoon and found a fire had been lit in the building, damaging part of an altar and a Bible before those responsible tried to extinguish the flames themselves.In an update, officials said an investigation that included a witness led police to the two juvenile suspects – identified only as a boy and a girl.As of Sunday night, police said no charges had been filed in the case.“The investigation into this incident was all around great police work,” East Bridgewater Police Chief Jenkins said in a statement. “Thank you to...

Full text: 9/11 Families Statement on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

9/11 Families Statement on Terrorist Attacks in Israel“The 9/11 family community’s heart goes out to the victims of terrorism in Israel, and we unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal assault on innocents. We know the families’ pain and anger, and we feel – and share – their visceral demand for justice. They have our deepest sympathies.“We also are disgusted by the pathetic ‘blame Israel’ response from our so-called friends in the Middle East, who are showing that their long-standing support for violent jihadists has not waned. As recently as April, Saudi Arabia welcomed Hamas leaders to Riyadh, and it is well known that Hamas itself is the product of a culture of hatred and vile antisemitism that has received direct support from King Salman himself. It is therefore no surprise that his Kingdom has blamed Israel for Hamas’ murderous acts. It is absurd for the U.S. to consider extending security guarantees to the Saudi Kingdom given that it has never been held acc...

Mack Truck workers reject deal, join strike 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

DETROIT — Union workers at Mack Trucks went on strike Monday after voting down a five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company.The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m., adding to labor turmoil in the industry that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers.With those workers joining picket lines, the total number of UAW members that are on strike now exceeds 30,000 across 22 states, the union said Monday.Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday.The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1.UAW Locals 171, 677, 1247, 2301, and 2420 in UAW Region 8 and Region 9 represent workers at Mack Trucks in Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida.The deal negotiators ha...

Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies after allergic reaction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello — who ran restaurants in San Francisco and Napa Valley — died on Friday night after an acute allergic reaction led to anaphylactic shock.Chiarello’s company, Gruppo Chiarello, announced the chef’s passing over the weekend. He was 61 years old.“As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts,” said the Chiarello family in a statement. “His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life’s flavors.”Chiarello founded restaurants including Bottega and Ottimo, both located in Napa Valley, and Coqueta, with locations in both Napa and San Francisco. Over his decades as a chef, Chiarello earned numerous accolades for his culinary work — from being named Esquire magazine’s Chef of the Year in 2013, to hosting national television shows on PBS, the Food Network, and the Cooking Channel, including the Emmy Award-winn...

Full text: White House Joint Statement on Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

White House Joint Statement on Israel:Today, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States of America released the following joint statement following their call:Today, we — President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States — express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism.  In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.Our countries will support Israel in i...

Surge in bond yield may help ease rate hikes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

WASHINGTON — Two Federal Reserve officials suggested Monday that the central bank may leave interest rates unchanged at its next meeting in three weeks because a surge in long-term interest rates has made borrowing more expensive and could help cool inflation without further action by the Fed.Since late July, the yield, or rate, on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note has jumped from around 4% to about 4.8%, a 16-year high. The run-up in the yield has inflated other borrowing costs and raised the national average 30-year mortgage rate to 7.5%, according to Freddie Mac, a 23-year high.Business borrowing costs have also risen as corporate bond yields have accelerated.Philip Jefferson, vice chair of the Fed’s board and a close ally of Chair Jerome Powell, said in a speech Monday to the National Association for Business Economics that he would “remain cognizant” of the higher bond rates and “keep that in mind as I assess the future path of policy.”U.S. stock pric...

Ticker: Oil jumps on war in Israel; DreamWorks cuts 70 jobs amid strike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

Oil surged nearly 5% after Hamas’ surprise attacks on Israel over the weekend, the broadest and bloodiest in decades, threatened to inflame tensions in the Middle East, home to almost a third of global supply.West Texas Intermediate traded near $87 a barrel as a war-risk premium returned to markets. U.S. crude rose 4.46% to $86.48 per barrel and Brent was at $88.04, up 4.09% on the day.Monday’s rise in crude helped oil and gas stocks to some of Wall Street’s biggest gains. Marathon Oil rose 6.6%, and Halliburton climbed 6.8%.The broader market also rose with the S&P 500 up 0.6%. The Dow added 197 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.4%. They perked higher after two officials at the Federal Reserve suggested they may not need to raise interest rates again at their next meeting at the end of this month.DreamWorks cuts 70 jobs amid strikeDreamWorks Animation cut about 70 positions, as many entertainment companies have adjusted their staffing levels amid rising productio...

11 Americans dead in violence between Hamas and Israel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:51 GMT

At least 11 Americans have died in bloody violence in Israel, President Biden said Monday, the third day since Palestinian militants launched a stunning and complex surprise attack in Israel.In a statement, Biden described the deaths as the “heart wrenching” results of an “appalling terrorist assault against Israel.” He said the U.S. believes that the Hamas militant group is likely holding American citizens as prisoners, and he added that the U.S. is working with Israel to handle the hostage crisis.“This is not some distant tragedy,” the president said in his statement. “The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack.”The identities of the dead Americans were not immediately released, and it was unclear if any were from New York, which is home to about 1.6 million Jews. In New York City, there was a heavy police presence at synagogues on Monday.Major U.S. airlines have canceled flights into...