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Live updates | Israel releases 30 prisoners after Hamas frees 12 hostages in extended truce deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

The latest swap of Hamas militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel took place Tuesday evening as part of an ongoing cease-fire agreement between the warring sides. Twelve Israeli hostages — nine women and a 17-year-old — as well as two foreigners were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza and were back in Israeli territory, the military said. About an hour later, Israel released 30 Palestinian prisoners.Israel and Hamas have agreed to extend their cease-fire until Wednesday, raising the prospect of further exchanges and a longer halt to their deadliest and most destructive war. Since last Friday, Hamas has released 81 hostages, mostly Israeli nationals, while Israel has freed 180 Palestinian prisoner.An extended case-fire would also allow more aid into Gaza, which has been battered by weeks of Israeli siege and bombardment and a ground offensive that has driven three out of every four people in Gaza from their homes. The territory is home to 2.3 million people.But ...

Crews work to put out car fire on I-75 in Miami Lakes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

A car that caught on fire on Interstate 75 prompted a swift response by rescue crews.Hialeah Fire Rescue arrived at the scene at the southbound exit ramp on I-75, Tuesday afternoon. 7Skyforce hovered over the scene where crews attempted to knock down the flames. The eastbound lane was closed down as crews work to remove the vehicle.Drivers are urged to take alternate routes until crews clear the area. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

SWAT respond to barricaded subject after shots fired in Opa-locka

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

After shots were fired at a supermarket in Opa-locka, police and SWAT teams responded to a subject who barricaded themselves at a home nearby. The incident occurred at the Chavez Distributors supermarket, located at 141 Opa-locka Blvd, Tuesday afternoon.7News cameras captured officers and SWAT as they surrounded the area.Officials told 7News that a subject ran from the the shopping plaza after some sort of altercation and possible shooting took place. Cellphone video showed officers running with long-guns as they surrounded the home. A perimeter was established around the area as police attempt to coax the subject out of the home.No injuries were reported. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Ukraine’s EU reforms ‘deeply impressive’: Von der Leyen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

TERVUREN, Belgium — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that Ukraine had fulfilled “almost” all the requirements set out by the EU to start accession talks, ahead of a pivotal European Council summit in December. “To see the deep and structural reforms that Ukraine is doing while fighting an existential war is to me deeply impressing,” von der Leyen told a POLITICO event.“They have fulfilled all the necessary requirements for almost all the seven steps we asked them to do … when they became a candidate country.”The EU is expected to announce the opening of accession talks for Ukraine, which was granted candidate status in June, following the mid-December summit of European leaders in Brussels.Earlier this month, von der Leyen said Ukraine had completed “well over 90 percent” of the prerequisites set out by the EU, as the Commission recommended opening accession talks with both Ukraine and Moldova.Du...

Zelenskyy’s split with military is ‘Russian propaganda’: Ukraine parliament chief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

BRUSSELS — The chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, dismissed what he called “rumors” of tension between the country’s government and its military high command in an interview with POLITICO. Russia, he said, was using the insinuations to splinter Kyiv’s unity following Moscow’s full-scale invasion.Ukraine’s sluggish progress in recovering some of its lost territory during its counteroffensive to repel Russian forces has led to the first public signs of friction between Zelenskyy and his generals, as the Ukrainian president scrambled to preserve support among Western allies.Ruslan Stefanchuk, speaker of the parliament and a former top aide to Zelenskyy, claimed the rumors of discord were spread from “Russian channels,” calling them “Russian propaganda.” “There has never been a single case of tension between the political and the military leadership,” said Stefanchuk, who is typically presen...

By the numbers: POLITICO 28 Class of 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

POLITICO has unveiled its ranking of the 28 most powerful people in Europe.Donald Tusk, the former European Council president, takes the top spot after leading the Polish opposition’s battle to regain power in last month’s election. Tusk succeeds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the most powerful person in Europe.The remaining 27 entries are divided into three categories: doers, disrupters and dreamers. Politicians take 21 spots in the list, which features people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including in climate, economy, sport and diplomacy.Among the non-politicians are Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, and Jovita Neliupšienė, the incoming EU ambassador to the U.S. Power in Europe, as reflected in this ranking, is not gender-balanced (there are 10 women in the list) and not racially diverse: all 28 members of the list are white. Only two of them are under 40: Jenni Hermoso, the Spanish football star who has become...

The most powerful person in Europe: Donald Tusk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

Check out the POLITICO 28: Class of 2024.

Donald Tusk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

For two decades, two men have waged a battle for Poland’s soul. In the blue corner, fighting for a democratic, modern, European vision of the future: Donald Tusk, a former prime minister who served as president of the European Council before returning as leader of the centrist opposition; in the red corner, duking it out for the traditionalists, the Catholic conservatives, the nationalists: Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice Party (PiS). Each man has had a chance to shape Poland in his image, only to have the other wind back the clock. Now, after eight years of Kaczyński, the country is on the cusp of a new age of Tusk, and the wind of change is blowing once more.Tusk’s showing in October’s election, in which the charismatic 66-year-old led a grouping of parties ranging in views from the center right to the left, gives his coalition a clear path to power. His performance in the EU’s fifth most-populous country — secured despite increasingly desperate attempts by PiS t...

Former co-owner of Sons of Boston pleads guilty to helping cover up 2022 stabbing death of Marine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

A former co-owner of the Sons of Boston bar changed her plea on Tuesday, admitting to accusations that she helped a bouncer charged with the 2022 stabbing death of a Marine veteran.Alisha Dumeer of Everett pleaded guilty in Suffolk Superior Court as part of a plea deal, over a year after Chicago native and United States Marine Daniel Martinez was stabbed to death outside of the Sons of Boston on March 19.She was previously indicted on a charge of Accessory After the Fact to Murder, while former bouncer Alvaro Larrama was charged with second-degree murder, accused of stabbing Martinez twice in the chest during a confrontation.According to prosecutors, Dumeer helped dispose of Larrama’s blood-soaked clothing that night and gave him new clothes before ushering him out a backdoor. Surveillance video also showed Dumeer return to the trash containing the bloody clothing and attempt to better conceal the evidence.She also told police that she was unaware that there had been a stabbin...

Driver expected to face charges in connection with crash into former restaurant in Saugus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:34 GMT

A driver is now expected to face charges in connection with a violent crash that sent two cars into a former Boston Market restaurant in Saugus on Monday. The crash happened Monday night along Route 1. Police soon responded and in an initial statement said a 62-year-old man appeared to have slammed into a parked car, pushing both vehicles into the shuttered Boston Market. In an update Tuesday, police said the Boston man had a suspended license and drugs on him at the time of the crash. The driver was taken to a hospital Monday night. While was still recovering as of Tuesday afternoon, police said he is expected to face charges of negligent operation, operating an unregistered car without a license and possession or either fentanyl or heroin.New video emerged, in the meantime, as people in the area shared their reactions to this incident. “It almost sounded like a bomb going off,” said local business owner Phil Castinetti. “It was that loud.”Castinetti said security cameras...