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Netanyahu orders 'very extensive' operation in West Bank after two Israeli soldiers killed
Two soldiers and two Palestinians killed in exchange of fire outside Hebron, where Israeli military says it thwarted 'terror attack'Israel has launched a campaign of collective punishment against Palestinians in Hebron after gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and injured three near a checkpoint outside the city.Benjamin Netanyahu announced a siege on Hebron and neighbouring Halhul and said residents of the gunmen's home neighbourhoods would all be forced out. He promised mass demolitions of homes. Continue reading...
The 4 soldiers killed in fast-moving fire at CFB Wainwright in Alberta
WAINWRIGHT - Four Armed Forces members were killed when a fast-moving fire overwhelmed soldiers during a training exercise at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, southeast of Edmonton, on Saturday. Dozens of others were injured, with 27 remaining in hospital as of…
Israel orders 'full lockdown' of West Bank after military kills 2 accused of attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a "full lockdown" of the occupied West Bank on Friday after Israel's military said it killed two Palestinians accused of launching an attack that injured five people near the city of Hebron. The deadly incident comes just days before a crucial election that will decide whether Netanyahu can hold on to power. There has been a recent surge in Israeli settler violence and military activity in the West Bank centered on the start of the olive harvesting season, with Palestinians, activists and American journalists among those attacked and detained. Netanyahu's office said said it instructed the Israel Defense Forces to "impose a closure" on Hebron and to prepare for a "full lockdown" across the entire West Bank starting Friday.In comments following an emergency meeting with his Security Cabinet and top military and security officials, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the shooting and said the militant group was "planning a major attack aimed at murdering innocent civilians."He cited "large quantities of weapons and ammunition discovered," but did not provide further details on the attack."Our brave soldiers thwarted this attack with courage and determination," he said in a statement shared by the Israeli government's press office. "I commend them for their actions and wish our wounded a speedy recovery," he added. He did not say whether the injured included soldiers or civilians.The order to lock down the West Bank came hours after the Israeli military said it had killed two people after a shooting attack in which at least five people were reported injured. It said the gunmen had been armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun and that "numerous" soldiers would be operating in the area following the incident.Magen David Adom, Israel's primary emergency service, said it received a report at around 7:15 a.m. local time (12:15 a.m. ET) of multiple casualties following the attack near the Yehuda Junction, near Hebron. It said first responders had provided medical treatment to at least five people, including two in critical condition.The identities of the two people alleged to have launched the attack and who were killed by Israeli forces was not immediately clear as of late Friday morning. The lockdown comes ahead of next week's Israeli election, which is largely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership around the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. Netanyahu has focused much of campaign in the lead-up to next Tuesday's vote on security for Israelis. His government has repeatedly warned of potential attacks by the country's "enemies" in the lead-up to the election, without providing evidence.Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister, called Friday for the Palestinian Authority, the governing body that has long overseen parts of the West Bank, to be dismantled in response to the alleged attack near Hebron."There cannot be a situation where, within Judea and Samaria, we have a state of terror," he said in a post on X, using a name employed by some Israelis for the area. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shared similar sentiments, saying there was "no avoiding a comprehensive military campaign" in the West Bank to "dismantle the Palestinian authority, collect weapons, and eliminate terrorists — just as in Gaza and Lebanon."The West Bank has been a growing flashpoint for months, and the past week has seen another wave of settler violence and military activity in the territory as the Palestinian olive harvesting season has gotten underway. American nationals are among those who have come under attack while accompanying Palestinian farmers on their harvests. Earlier this week New York congressional candidate Brad Lander was detained in the area alongside a number of activists and American rabbis.Settler violence has long flared during the olive harvesting season, but in the years since the Oct. 7 attacks, violence has increased sharply, with Palestinians also seeing their olives stolen. According to the United Nations, at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvesting season were recorded in the first two weeks of October alone. The U.N. said many of those attacks were carried out "under the protection of, or with the participation of, Israeli forces." Netanyahu's government has backed settler expansion in the West Bank despite international condemnation.The mounting settler violence has increasingly been described as terrorism by some global officials, including by U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Severe flooding in eastern Spain and UK hit by first named storm of winter
Storm Adam brings torrential rain to Valencia, Alicante and Balearic Islands, as Storm Austen strikes England and WalesStorm Adam brought torrential rain to eastern Spain earlier this week. In Pego, Alicante, 632mm fell in 36 hours, with 430mm of this falling in just six hours, while the Valencian town of Olivia received 600mm in 24 hours.The severe flooding led 145 municipalities across Valencia and Alicante to impose a temporary lockdown on about 850,000 people on Monday. At least five people have died, 500 have been rescued and 2,100 evacuated. Continue reading...
Minnesota officials say US government stopped sharing evidence on fatal ICE shootings
State authorities investigating killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti said federal officials paused transfer of evidenceThe federal government has stopped sharing evidence with Minnesota authorities who are investigating the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers during a violent anti-immigration, anti-protest crackdown in the state earlier this year, state officials said in recent court filings.Minnesota officials sued the Trump administration in March for access to materials they said they needed to independently investigate the shootings. Continue reading...
From boos to a roar, Sixers give Philadelphia the night it needed
Over the last three weeks, it has not exactly been Always Sunny around the sports complex on South Broad Street.There has not been much to cheer for, either.The Phillies fell to the division-rival Braves in the National League Wild Card Series. The struggling Eagles lost Jalen Hurts for what is expected to be the remainder of the season after blood clots were discovered. The Flyers opened their season with a franchise-record nine-game winless streak.Things had been heading in the wrong direction during the spooky month of October. That might be an understatement.So, sure, there was weight attached to the start of the Sixers' season.After stealing a victory in the hectic environment of Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, the Sixers returned to Philadelphia for one of the city's most highly anticipated basketball events in decades.A sellout crowd of 21,423 packed Xfinity Mobile Arena for the home debuts of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in red, white and blue. Boyz II Men performed the national anthem. Philadelphia boxing icon Bernard Hopkins rang the bell. Allen Iverson sat courtside.The video-board presentation played like a movie trailer before public-address announcer Matt Cord introduced the starting lineups. His familiar, drawn-out delivery left just enough room for the crowd to insert "sucks" after the name of every visiting Cavalier.Then the Sixers' starters were introduced.The place shook."You could really feel it before the game, probably more than ever that I've been here, for sure," Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. "Just the general buzz and all that kind of stuff."That buzz did not last uninterrupted.Turnover after turnover. Mistake after mistake. Cleveland began pulling away while sucking the energy out of an increasingly anxious crowd.Donovan Mitchell closed his 22-point first half with a seven-foot turnaround shot, assisted by former Sixer James Harden. It pushed Cleveland's lead to 69-40 with 1:12 remaining.Twenty-nine points.The Sixers committed 15 first-half turnovers. The Cavaliers shot 51 percent from the floor. What had started as a celebration became an all-out chorus of boos.By halftime, the fans had seemingly run out of things to boo. The halftime drone show did not escape them.James understood."Got the boos," he said. "That was amazing. We deserved it."The Sixers entered the locker room trailing 69-45. The players discussed how they would respond. The fans received a chance to reset, too.When the Sixers came back onto the floor, there was soon nothing left to boo.Philadelphia scored the first 11 points of the third quarter in 78 seconds. Brown hit a three-pointer. VJ Edgecombe converted a three-point play. Maxey stole the ball from Peyton Watson and found James, who scored through contact. James then fed Joel Embiid for a layup.The deficit was down to 13.Maxey picked up Harden for nearly the entire length of the floor. The Sixers began forcing turnovers and attacking the paint. They put together another 11-0 run later in the quarter.With 5:21 remaining, Maxey pulled up for a 27-foot three-pointer that cut Cleveland's lead to seven.That was when the building found its voice again."When he hit that three, that's certainly as loud as I've heard it here," Nurse said. "You come back from 29 down, that's pretty fun as a fan to ride that wave."Momentum began moving back and forth between the floor and the stands.The Sixers gave their fans another reason to believe. The crowd pushed them to keep going."The energy was great," Brown said. "The crowd helped us get back into that game. We didn't do ourselves any favors in the first half, but I think Cleveland felt the atmosphere and they felt the crowd in that second half. It helped us crawl back."Philadelphia outscored Cleveland 37-21 in the third quarter. The Sixers began it down 24 and finished it down eight.As "Enter Sandman" played through the arena before the fourth quarter, the crowd stood. The song is best known around sports as a closer's entrance.The Sixers still had to finish the job.Cleveland pushed its lead back to six early in the fourth before Philadelphia delivered its final surge.Embiid converted a three-point play and then hit a jumper that gave the Sixers their first lead of the night. Brown scored the next six points. Maxey finished the 15-0 run with a basket that pushed Philadelphia ahead, 104-95.The game had turned completely.So had the mood inside the arena.When Maxey and Harden went nose-to-nose and exchanged shoves during the fourth quarter, the crowd responded with a loud, not-for-print chant directed at Harden.When Edgecombe returned to the floor with cotton in his nose after taking an accidental elbow from James, the fans applauded his toughness. The second-year player clapped his hands in acknowledgment."I think that's the loudest I've ever heard Xfinity since I've been there," Edgecombe said. "Shout out to them for not leaving after halftime when you're down 25 points. That's big time. I love how the fans supported us tonight."They helped us win that game."Cleveland made one final push and cut the Sixers' advantage to 106-102. Mitchell then missed two free throws.Maxey answered with a driving floater. James stole the ball from Evan Mobley on Cleveland's next possession, and Brown finished at the other end.Brown later punctuated the comeback with a driving dunk in the closing seconds.The Sixers won, 114-106, after trailing by 29. They outscored Cleveland 69-37 after halftime and completed the largest comeback in franchise history over at least the last 30 seasons.Embiid has experienced nearly every version of a Philadelphia crowd during his years with the Sixers. He has heard the building during playoff runs, his MVP ceremony and plenty of memorable individual performances.Thursday stood with any of them."That was probably top five for me since I've been in Philadelphia," Embiid said. "That was amazing. I have no words."The night carried a different meaning for James.It was his fourth home debut with a new franchise, but his family helped make this one personal. His daughter, Zhuri, spent her 12th birthday courtside. The Sixers displayed her name and a birthday message on the video board. James' mother was there, too."Super special for me to be able to have moments like this in this building, in this city," James said. "Philly is damn sure right up at the top. I'm happy to be here. I'm extremely happy."Philadelphia did not give James and his new teammates unconditional support Thursday night. That would not have been authentic.The fans arrived ready to celebrate. They booed when the Sixers gave them every reason to boo. Then they stayed, believed and nearly lifted the roof when the team gave them a reason to believe.For one night, South Philadelphia had something to celebrate again."It was everything that I dreamed of and more," James said.
Roope Hintz scores OT breakaway goal after tying game late as Stars beat Jets
Roope Hintz scored on a breakaway 3:47 into overtime after his game-tying goal with 2 minutes left in regulation, and the Dallas Stars beat the Winnipeg Jets 3-2 on Thursday night.Wyatt Johnston scored his first goal of the season for Dallas, after 45 last season, and had an assist. Jason Robertson and Mikko Rantanen each had two assists.Rantanen, who two nights earlier had a hat trick for every Stars goal in a 3-2 overtime win against Boston, passed to Hintz from behind the net for the late regulation goal.Hintz had been denied a tying goal at the end of the second period after he got his stick on a puck from the side of the net behind Stuart Skinner, who made an incredible save reaching back with his glove to smother the rolling puck before it could cross the line.Skinner finished with 35 saves.Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor scored goals less than 2 minutes apart in the second period for the Jets, who have lost four one-goal games in a row.Vilardi kept whacking at an unsecured puck that was against the pads of goalie Jake Oettinger, and Connor scored on a one-timer from the middle of the right circle after a turnover.Oettinger stopped 17 shots and has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of his eight games this season.Jets forward Nino Niederreiter left the ice bleeding with 6:51 left in the game after taking a stick to the face from teammate Tyrel Bauer.Robertson got his 500th and 501st career points (216 goals, 285 assists) in his 466th game. Only three players in Stars franchise history reached 500 points in fewer games — Neal Broten (461), Bobby Smith (463) and Dino Ciccarelli (465).Up nextJets: Host the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic, an outdoor game Sunday in Winnipeg.Stars: Play the third of six consecutive home games, a season high, when they host the New York Rangers on Sunday.
Meghan Markle reacts to "disturbing" child sex abuse accusations against estranged father
For years, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has had a strained relationship with her estranged father Thomas Markle. He did not attend her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Now, Markle is publicly sharing her distress after allegations her father possessed images of child sexual abuse.
Troy Stecher scores late in regulation to power Maple Leafs past Rangers 5-4
Troy Stecher scored with 26.3 seconds left in regulation as the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the New York Rangers 5-4 in a back-and-forth affair for their third straight victory Thursday. Brandon Duhaime, with a goal and two assists, Teddy Blueger, Kirill Marchenko and Easton Cowan provided the rest of the offence for Toronto (6-4-2). Sergei […]
Could the president's rallies impact the outcome of the midterms?
President Donald Trump is traveling to southwest Florida to rally supporters ahead of the midterm elections, with tight races in the state potentially influencing the balance of power.
On TV
Outlander: Blood of My Blood — 2x6: "Small Mercies" (STARZ)
Ellen finds herself a guest among unexpected company; Brian and Murtagh attempt a daring rescue; Colum waits for news of the war; Henry makes an ally of a former enemy.
New Music

Art d’Ecco — "Scheele's Green" (Paper Bag Records)

Swervedriver — "raise:demos" ()

Anderson .Paak — "Heavy Is the Crown" (Mass Appeal)

Amy Winehouse — "Back to Black" (Island)

Yeah Yeah Yeahs — "Hidden in Pieces: Live at the Royal Albert Hall" (Secretly Canadian)

In theaters
A Talent for Murder (106 minutes)
A young man travels from New York to Switzerland to try to persuade acclaimed thriller writer Patricia Highsmith to write one final installment of her Tom Ripley series, with his efforts gradually turning more sinister.
Launching today

Nothing launching today. Every rocket is staying grounded and behaving.

Useless Fact

A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!

The loonie
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Today In History
2003 — Soong Mei-ling, Wife of Chiang Kai-shek, Dies at 106
Soong Mei-ling, the second wife of the Nationalist Chinese president Chiang Kai-shek and a powerful political figure in her own right, died at age 106
2001 — Apple Introduces the Iconic iPod
Apple introduced the i Pod, a revolutionary portable media player that became one of the most successful consumer electronics products of the early 2000s
1998 — Britney Spears Releases Hit Single "...Baby One More Time"
American singer Britney Spears released the single "...Baby One More Time" in 1998, which accompanied by a controversial Lolita-inspired music video, became a huge hit and helped establish her as a major pop star.
1983 — U.S. and French troops attacked in Beirut
On this day in 1983, suicide bombers drove truckloads of high explosives into the barracks of U.S. Marines and French paratroopers in Beirut, killing 241 U.S. servicemen and 58 French troops
1956 — 1956 Hungarian Uprising Against Soviet Rule
The 1956 Hungarian Revolution was a nationwide revolt against the Soviets and the Hungarian communist government. It began with a peaceful student demonstration in Budapest that quickly turned into a full-scale uprising across the country, with citizens attacking communist symbols and party officials. The revolt was eventually crushed by a Soviet military intervention.
1956 — Creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established in 1956 to promote the peaceful use of atomic energy and help prevent its military use. Its purpose was to increase the contribution of atomic energy to world peace, health and prosperity.
1944 — Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944
During World War II, U.S. forces under the leadership of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., commenced a decisive air and sea battle against the Japanese on the central Philippine island of Leyte. How much do you know about World War II? Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc
1942 — British Victory at El-Alamein in 1942
The British, led by Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, launched a successful infantry attack against the Germans at El-Alamein, Egypt, during World War II
1941 — Disney's Dumbo Animated Classic Premieres
The Disneyanimatedclassic Dumbohad its world premiere. Disney quiz
1925 — Johnny Carson, Host of The Tonight Show
American comedian Johnny Carson was born in 1925. He established the standard format for television chat shows as the long-time host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992.

This is today, boiled down to the essentials. The full stash lives at logicalchaos.ca. Go get lost in it.