In brief: Gaza clashes rise in ferocity
International efforts to rejuvenate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks took on new urgency Friday as internal Palestinian clashes reached a ferocity that transformed Gaza City into a besieged war zone.
Nearly two dozen people have been killed and more than 150 people injured since the latest cease-fire broke down Thursday, once again dashing hopes that the rival Palestinian factions could contain the clashes.
Egyptian negotiators stepped in again late Friday to broker a cease-fire between the Islamist Hamas forces and the secular Fatah party, which have been waging a costly battle for political and military control.
Negotiators for both sides worked to finalize plans for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the Muslim holy city of Mecca early next week to meet Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in peace talks brokered by Saudi Arabia.
Los Angeles
Geneticist gets term for molesting
A world-renowned geneticist was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison for molesting an employee’s daughter who took martial arts classes at his home.
Many people, including a Nobel Prize winner, wrote letters in support of William French Anderson, Time magazine’s runner-up for Man of the Year in 1995. But Judge Michael Pastor said he caused “incalculable” emotional damage to a victim he described as an insecure and trusting immigrant.
“Because of intellectual arrogance, he persisted and he got away with as much as he could,” the judge said.
Anderson, 70, was convicted in July of child molestation. He could have gotten 18 years behind bars.
Punxsutawney, Pa.
Groundhog fails to see his shadow
A new pair of hands pulled Punxsutawney Phil from his stump this year, so it was only fitting that the groundhog offered a new prediction.
Phil did not see his shadow on Friday, which, according to German folklore, means folks can expect an early spring instead of six more weeks of winter.
The last time Phil failed to see his shadow was in 1999.
More than 15,000 revelers milled about in a misty snow waiting for the prediction, as fireworks exploded overhead and the “Pennsylvania Polka” and other music blared in the background.