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Pakistan wins toss, elects to bat against red-hot South Africa in must-win World Cup game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat in his team’s must-win game against high-flying South Africa at the Cricket World Cup on Friday.Red-hot South Africa has eight points from four wins in five games thanks to aggressive hitting by its top six batters.Led by Quinton de Kock’s three centuries, South Africa has slipped just once when the Netherlands recorded a stunning 38-run win at Dharamsala – the only time the Proteas have been chased in the tournament.Captain Temba Bavuma returns to lead the side after missing massive wins against Bangladesh and England, replacing Reeza Hendricks in the batting order.Bavuma said he would have definitely batted first had he won the toss and hoped his team will keep the momentum going with its “inspirational performances.”South Africa brought in left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and also included Lungi Ngidi while leaving out pace bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Lizaad Williams. Rabada missed out as a...

Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff advocates for women’s reproductive rights in Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

Second Gentlemen Doug Emhoff is set to make an appearance in Miami on Friday afternoon, where he will host a roundtable discussion. The event is scheduled to take place at Converge Miami, located at 1951 NW 7th Ave, where Emhoff will be joined by Men4Choice leaders, Planned Parenthood, local community members, and students dedicated to safeguarding reproductive rights. Emhoff’s primary goal is to rally men in support of women’s reproductive rights, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as an advocate for abortion rights in the Biden administration. In recent months, she has traveled extensively across the country, championing reproductive care protections and challenging state-imposed restrictions.The focus of Friday’s discussion will center on the role that men can play in ensuring and upholding the rights of women.

Police seeking information following fatal hit-and-run on I-595

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

A hit-and-run incident on Interstate 595 claimed the life of one person Thursday night. The crash occurred just east of Nob Hill Road in Davie around 10:45 p.m. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the victim was struck while changing a tire.The incident led to the temporary closure of all lanes on the interstate, but they have since been reopened. Authorities now need the public’s help for any information that could assist in their investigation. If you have any details related to this incident, please call the police.

Hollywood City Hall unites Jewish community, honors kidnapped individuals amidst tragedy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

The Jewish community of Hollywood came together Thursday night in a powerful show of solidarity, turning out in large numbers to share stories and photos of loved ones still held hostage in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. Families affected by this tragedy found solace and support as they converged at this symbolic event at city hall, where the city’s mayor also revealed his personal story of loss. “Many families were so deeply and personally impacted by this,” expressed Mayor Josh Levy. “You might know, our own family, you know, we lost Johnny and his wife the three children: two 6-year-old twin girls and a 4-year-old son, who were living in on a Saturday morning probably still sleeping when these attacks started and in the end were murdered.” A symbolic place setting was thoughtfully arranged at each seat, honoring the captives and symbolizing the hope for their safe return. Clergy members joined the community in offering prayers for the well-being ...

Green MEP faces re-selection battle amid bullying claims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

German MEP Manuela Ripa is facing a campaign from some of her own staff to block her run for reelection to the European Parliament in June 2024, whilst others have come out in support of her.In a letter, sent on July 6 and obtained by POLITICO, a group of nine staffers and three interns alleged that Ripa had neglected her parliamentary duties, instructed them do personal tasks for her, and bullied them at work. The letter accused Ripa of “harsh words, yelling, general lack of respect/courtesy, compulsive and controlling behavior and sometimes personal insults.”Ripa told POLITICO she and her office had been “shocked” by the anonymous allegations. She said it was difficult to respond to an anonymous letter “with false defamatory accusations. Out of the anonymity anything can be stated without the need to be proven.” “I take this anonymous accusation very seriously as you can imagine,” the MEP said. She said no formal complai...

London Mayor Sadiq Khan defies Labour line with call for Gaza cease-fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

LONDON — Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Friday urged a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas — putting him directly at odds with his party’s leader, Keir Starmer.As the directly elected mayor of London, Khan is one of the opposition party’s most prominent figures, and his comments come amid mounting pressure on Starmer to go beyond his current call for humanitarian “pauses” to the fighting.“The terrible situation in Gaza now looks set to deteriorate even further,” Khan said in a video posted on X Friday.“I join the international community in calling for a cease-fire,” he said. “It will stop the killing and would allow vital aid supplies to reach those who need it in Gaza, but it will also allowed the international community more time to prevent a protracted conflict in the region and further devastating loss of life.” Khan added that while Israel “has a right to defend itself” and to target Hamas, i...

Orbán’s Putin handshake was ‘middle finger’ to dying Ukrainians, says Xavier Bettel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

Luxembourg’s outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel on Friday slammed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over his handshake with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I have to tell you, what I said yesterday still holds true — what Orbán has done with Putin is a middle finger to all soldiers, all Ukrainians that are dying every day and that have to suffer from Russian attacks,” Bettel said, after being asked at the European Council summit what the EU should do to stop Hungary’s continuous blocking of financial aid to Ukraine.Ukraine has been fighting to fend off Russia’s full-scale invasion for 20 months now.During budget discussions on Thursday, Orbán made his position clear to the EU leaders, an exasperated Bettel said. The Hungarian leader cannot continue taking the EU hostage based on claims like “if you need money for Ukraine, we need money for us,” Bettel said. Last week, Orbán doubled down on his close links with Russia by shakin...

Russia is executing its own soldiers in Ukraine, says US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

Moscow’s forces in Ukraine have been executing Russian soldiers who disobey orders, according to the U.S.“We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said at a press briefing in Washington on Thursday. “We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire,” he added.“It’s reprehensible to think … that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn’t want to follow orders,” Kirby said. “And now threatening to execute entire units. It’s barbaric.”With Russian President Vladimir Putin’s all-out invasion of Ukraine entering its 21st month, the Kremlin’s forces have started another offensive on the eastern front, attacking Ukrainian positions around Avdiivka, Lyman and Kupiansk. Moscow’s forces &#...

To Sunak’s resc-EU! Von der Leyen will attend AI summit as snubs pile up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

LONDON — Trust one of the European Union’s most senior politicians to spare Brexit Britain’s blushes.After French President Emmanuel Macron became the latest world leader to snub Rishi Sunak’s much-hyped global artificial intelligence event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will give the Brits at least one big EU cheese besides Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to parade around Bletchley Park next week.The German politician will attend next week’s event, the Commission officially confirmed Friday morning, following a report by POLITICO that her attendance was now likely.One consideration driving the Commission president’s trip across the Channel, according to two EU officials granted anonymity to  speak candidly about von der Leyen’s plans, is a show of support after the United Kingdom rejoined the EU’s Horizon research program. That’s especially true as London has coughed up billions of pounds that will inevitably be spent across the 27-country bloc.British Prime...

Loved ones mourning those killed in Maine rampage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:51 GMT

Family members and friends of the 18 people who were fatally shot during two mass killings in Maine are mourning their loss while some share stories of their heroic acts in their final moments after a gunman opened fire at two locations in Lewiston. Joseph Walker was the manager at Schemengees Bar and Grille, and his father says he tried trying to stop the gunman after grabbing a knife from behind the bar.“He picked up a butchers knife and went after the gunman to try and stop him from other people,” Leroy Walker Sr. said. “and that’s when he shot my son to death. Trying to save some more lives and he ended up losing his life.”Bryan MacFarlane, 49, spent many of his Wednesdays at Schemengees, and was participating in a cornhole tournament when he was shot and killed.Bobbi Nichols, a witness to the shooting at a nearby bowling alley, said her sister, Tricia Asselin, who worked at the bowling alley, was among the victims there.“We heard a big bang,&...