Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill scores in Gaza as Egypt offers new ceasefire proposal
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israeli strikes have killed more than 60 Palestinians including women and children. The strikes overnight and Monday came nearly a week after Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas with a surprise bombardment. Meanwhile, officials say Egypt has introduced a new proposal to try and get the Israel-Hamas ceasefire back on track. Under the proposal, Hamas would release five living hostages, including an American-Israeli, in return for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and a weekslong pause in the fighting. A Hamas official said the group had responded positively to the proposal.
US holds separate talks with Russians after meeting Ukrainians to discuss a potential ceasefire
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. negotiators are working with Russian representatives on a proposed partial ceasefire in Ukraine. The meeting on Monday came a day after holding separate talks with the Ukrainian team. Each side has accused the other of undermining efforts to reach a pause in the 3-year-old war. Kyiv and Moscow agreed in principle Wednesday to a limited ceasefire after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with the countries’ leaders, but the parties have offered different views of what targets would be off-limits to attack. Monday’s talks are expected to address some of those differences, as well as a potential pause in attacks in the Black Sea to ensure the safety of commercial shipping.
French actor Gérard Depardieu stands trial in Paris for alleged sexual assaults on film set
PARIS (AP) — French actor Gérard Depardieu is standing trial at a Paris courthouse on sexual assault charges. It is seen as a potential watershed for the #MeToo movement in France. The 76-year-old actor is accused of having groped a 54-year-old set dresser and a 34-year-old assistant director during filming in 2021 of the movie “Les Volets Verts” or “The Green Shutters.” The actor denies any wrongdoing. The trial was initially scheduled for October but was postponed until Monday because of Depardieu’s health.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo reinstated as acting president after impeachment overturned
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has been reinstated as the acting president as the Constitutional Court overturned his impeachment. Han, South Korea’s No. 2 official, had become acting leader after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his imposition of martial law in December. Han thanked the court after Monday’s ruling and said he would attend to urgent matters. He also called for national unity. The court ruled 7-1 that Parliament didn’t have a a quorum to pass the impeachment motion, that the accusations against Han weren’t against the law or that they weren’t serious enough to remove him from office. Many experts said the ruling on Han didn’t signal how the court would rule on Yoon’s impeachment.
The Latest: Mass layoffs in the federal government raise concerns of potential espionage
As President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk work to overhaul the federal government, they’re forcing out thousands of workers with insider knowledge and connections who now need a job. These mass layoffs and resignations are prompting concerns that a disgruntled former employee may seek to sell secrets to a foreign power.
Concerns about espionage rise as Trump and Musk fire thousands of federal workers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mass layoffs and resignations at the federal government are prompting concerns that a disgruntled former employee may seek to sell secrets to a foreign power. National security experts say that while the overwhelming majority of federal workers are conscientious patriots who would never sell out their country, it would only take one or two informants to cause a significant national security crisis. Counterespionage is a concern even when the federal workforce is stable. But in recent weeks President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have slashed thousands of jobs. National security and intelligence experts say Russia, China and other adversaries will seek to take advantage of the opportunity.
Greenland’s leader laments ‘mess’ as US vice president’s wife to visit island coveted by Trump
Greenland’s people are bracing for another visit from U.S. President Donald Trump’s inner circle. Second Lady Usha Vance’s office said Sunday she is set to travel to the autonomous Danish territory of Denmark this week. The same day, her husband ratcheted up talk about U.S. security and “territorial” interests in the vast Arctic island coveted by the new U.S. administration. Denmark is a NATO ally of the United States, and Greenland already houses a U.S. military base. Danish national police on Sunday sent extra personnel and sniffer dogs to Greenland as part of regular security measures taken during visits by dignitaries.
12 dozen lawmakers accused in 8 years. Women in the statehouse weigh #MeToo’s impact
In an updated report, The Associated Press has cataloged at least 147 state lawmakers in a total of 44 states who have been accused of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct since 2017. Many women say there is still work to be done as new allegations continue to come to light. At the same time, others say the atmosphere in statehouses has improved and is less rife with the “boy’s club” culture. Some attribute the change to reforms made over the past eight years since the start of the #MeToo movement and others credit the increase of women in legislative seats and leadership positions.
Former Utah Rep. Mia Love, the first Black Republican woman elected to the US House, has died
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Mia Love of Utah, a daughter of Haitian immigrants who became the first Black Republican woman elected to Congress, died on Sunday. She was 49. Love had been undergoing treatment for brain cancer prior to her death. Her daughter posted March 1 on Love’s X account that the former lawmaker was no longer responding to treatment. Love entered politics in 2003 after winning a seat on the Saratoga Springs (Utah) City Council. She later became the city’s mayor. She narrowly lost a 2012 House race but came back two years later and won in a district that includes suburbs of Salt Lake City. She was edged out while seeking reelection in 2018.
With March Madness underway, it’s game time for newly opened women’s-sports bars across the US
PHOENIX (AP) — Several new bars dedicated to women’s sports have made the mad dash to open in time to capitalize on March Madness, now in full swing. From Phoenix to Austin, there will be more than a dozen overall across the country before the year is over. The femme-focused bar scene has made huge strides from three years ago when The Sports Bra in Oregon was the only one. It comes during an exciting first year where women’s teams will finally be paid for playing in the NCAA Tournament. Many credit athletes like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese for raising the profile of women’s college hoops.
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