Trump’s Gaza plan has stunned the region. Here’s a look at the serious obstacles it faces

BY JOSEPH KRAUSS

President Donald Trump’s stunning proposal to forcibly transfer hundreds of thousands of Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and develop it as a tourist destination faces major obstacles.

The Palestinians and many others view such plans as ethnic cleansing, an attempt to drive them from their homeland after Israel’s 15-month offensive against Hamas rendered much of it uninhabitable. It was also seen as an attempt to liquidate their decades-long struggle for a state, which has wide international support.

Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan — close U.S. allies at peace with Israel — have condemned such plans and roundly rejected Trump’s suggestion that they take in more Palestinian refugees.

NFL referees union calls allegations of bias toward the Chiefs ‘insulting’

BY JOSH DUBOW

*The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the Super Bowl this weekend in New Orleans. Photo from NBC Sports Boston.*

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The head of the union representing NFL officials called allegations that officiating crews are biased in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs or any other team “insulting and preposterous.”

NFL Referees Association executive director Scott Green released a statement on Tuesday thanking Commissioner Roger Goodell for dismissing the allegations and responding to “conspiracy theories” on social media about favoritism to the Chiefs.

“Commissioner Goodell’s comments that it is ‘ridiculous’ to presume that NFL officials are not doing everything possible to make the right call on every play is spot on,” Green said. “Officiating crews do not work the same team more than twice each regular season. It is insulting and preposterous to hear conspiracy theories that somehow 17 officiating crews consisting of 138 officials are colluding to assist one team.”

Sweden’s worst mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead, including the gunman

Sweden mass shooting leaves at least 11 dead at adult education center | AP News

OREBRO, Sweden (AP) — Sweden’s worst mass shooting left at least 11 people dead, including the gunman, and at least five seriously wounded at an adult education center west of Stockholm.

The gunman’s motive hadn’t been determined on Wednesday, a day after the shooting, as the Scandinavian nation — where gun violence at schools is very rare — reeled from the attack.

“Not in this place,” Malin Hilmberg, 37, told The Associated Press as she stood near a growing makeshift memorial near the scene. “I mean, we heard about it in different parts of the world, but of course it’s a shock. It’s your hometown and so many lives destroyed. It’s hard to find words.”

Officials said three women and two men, all with gunshot wounds, underwent surgery at Orebro University Hospital. All were in serious but stable condition after being admitted to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Another woman was treated for minor injuries and was stable.