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Truce in Gaza extended at last minute as talks over dwindling number of Hamas captives get tougher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and Hamas on Thursday agreed to extend their cease-fire by another day, just minutes before it was set to expire. The truce in Gaza appeared increasingly tenuous as the number of women and children held by the militants as bargaining chips dwindled after dozens were released.Word of the extension came just as the truce was to expire at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) Thursday. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the truce was being extended under the same terms as in the past, with Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages per day in exchange for Israel’s release of 30 Palestinian prisoners.International pressure has mounted for the cease-fire to continue as long as possible after nearly eight weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign in Gaza that have killed thousands of Palestinians, uprooted three quarters of the population of 2.3 million and led to a humanitarian crisis. The war has stoked tensions across the region. On Thursday morning, two gunmen opened...

China factory activity contracts in November for 2nd straight month despite stimulus measures

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — An official survey of Chinese manufacturers shows that factory activity contracted for a second straight month in November, an indicator of weak demand despite various stimulus measures aimed at supporting the economy. The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.4 in November, down slightly from October’s 49.5, according to data released Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics.A figure below 50 indicates a contraction in manufacturing activity while a number above 50 reflects an expansion, on a scale up to 100.The index has fallen in seven of the past eight months, with an increase only in September. Despite prolonged weakness after the pandemic, the economy is expected to grow at about a 5% annual pace this year.The new orders sub-index contracted for a second consecutive month, while two other sub-indices for raw material inventory and employment also were lower.China’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has faltered after an initial bu...

Commission sets out actions to accelerate the roll-out of electricity grids

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

Interconnected and stable energy networks are the backbone of the EU's internal energy market and key to enable the green transition. To help deliver the European Green Deal the Commission is proposing today an Action Plan to make sure our electricity grids will operate more efficiently and will be rolled out further and faster. The Commission has already put in place a supportive legal framework for the rollout of electricity grids across Europe. With the EU markets fully integrated, a modernised infrastructure network will ensure citizens and business can benefit from cheaper and cleaner energy.Electricity consumption in the EU is expected to increase by around 60% between now and 2030. Networks will have to accommodate a more digitalized, decentralized and flexible system with millions of rooftop solar panels, heat pumps and local energy communities sharing their resources, more offshore renewables coming online, more electric vehicles to charge, and growing hydrogen production n...

Leonard and Harden combine for 60 points as Clippers top Kings, 131-117

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and seven assists, James Harden scored 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a big game by De’Aaron Fox to beat the Sacramento Kings 131-117 on Wednesday night.Paul George added 19 points and seven assists for the Clippers, who defeated the Kings for the first time since October 2022.Fox scored 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting for Sacramento, which was coming off an emotional win over Golden State that advanced the Kings to the knockout round of the In-Season Tournament.The Clippers were coming off a 113-104 loss Monday to the Nuggets, who played without Nikola Jokic, but were the aggressor against the Kings most of the night.Leonard shot 14 of 18 from the field, including 2 for 3 on 3-pointers, and Harden was 8 of 14, including 5 of 8 on 3s.Leonard and Russell Westbrook repeatedly drove the lane and scored down low while keeping Sacramento’s defense off balance.Westbrook had nine points and eight assists while coming off the bench again for Los Angeles....

Solano County residents skeptical of possible new 'California Forever' city

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

VALLEJO, Calif. (KRON) – The founders of “California Forever” are asking for community input on a new city they plan to build in southeastern Solano County. The investment group held its first of six town halls Wednesday in Vallejo.The founder started with a presentation explaining the project. The idea is to transform more than 50,000 acres of farmland near Travis Air Force Base into a city with tens of thousands of new homes, parks and a solar energy farm.But at the town hall, people got impatient, yelled out questions and pushed back on the idea.“I’m sick of developers coming in, and we don't know nothing, and then you say it’s not a secret but you haven’t consulted us,” one attendee said. Angry and frustrated neighbors sounded off Wednesday night as the development project took its first step toward making a vision into a reality. Oakland City Council meeting speakers accused of ‘supporting Hamas’ “Still feeling skeptical about a lot that he had to talk about. In fact, I may b...

Man indicted for manslaughter in champion cyclist's SF death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- A federal grand jury indicted a man for involuntary manslaughter and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol in connection with the April death of champion cyclist Ethan Boyes in San Francisco, the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Boyes was riding a bicycle near the Presidio Golf Course on April 4 when he was fatally struck by a car on Arguello Boulevard. Eyewitnesses said the suspect car swerved across the center line of Arguello Boulevard and into the bicycle lane, striking Boyes.Arnold Kinman Low, 81, was allegedly driving the car that hit Boyes. Low is accused of being drunk at the time of the crash, the DOJ said. Suspect who critically injured dog during San Jose road rage incident arrested "Driving while under the influence of any amount of alcohol can have serious and sometimes fatal consequences," the DOJ said. Boyes frequently went on rides in the Presidio for training before his death. He was a well-known ...

An Indian official plotted to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York, US prosecutors say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — An Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader living in New York City, United States prosecutors said Wednesday as they announced charges against a man they said was part of the thwarted conspiracy.U.S. officials became aware in the spring of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who advocated for the creation of a sovereign Sikh state and is considered a terrorist by the Indian government. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration interceded and set up a sting, with an undercover agent posing as a hitman, after the conspirators recruited an international narcotics trafficker in the plot to kill the activist for $100,000.The Indian government official was not charged nor identified by name in an indictment unsealed Wednesday, but was described as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in security management and intelligence, said to have previously served in India’s Central Reserve Police Force. The charges...

Brazile, Battle and defense lead Arkansas to 80-75 victory over No. 7 Duke

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Trevon Brazile had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Khalif Battle scored 21 off the bench and Arkansas held on to beat No. 7 Duke 80-75 on Wednesday night.Playing without leading scorer Tramon Mark, the Razorbacks (5-3) snapped a two-game skid before a capacity crowd of 20,344 — a record at Bud Walton Arena. When the final horn sounded, fans rushed the floor to celebrate.“It was awesome. Words can’t describe the feeling right now. It’s a great win,” coach Eric Musselman said after his 100th victory at Arkansas.Preseason All-American Kyle Filipowski was held to three points for the Blue Devils (5-2) in the first half. He played a key role in their late rally, though, finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds.“We talk about confrontations all the time. When you go to the basket, you’ve got to go with conviction,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “I thought a few times we were going just to get our shots off. Against a team like them, you’re not going to be very ef...

Sutherland scores 19, Le Moyne downs SUNY-Fredonia 92-54

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Luke Sutherland’s 19 points helped Le Moyne defeat SUNY-Fredonia 92-54 on Wednesday.Sutherland added five rebounds for the Dolphins (3-5). Darrick Jones Jr. scored 17 points and added seven rebounds. AJ Dancier shot 5 for 11, including 2 for 7 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points.David Jordan led the Blue Devils in scoring, finishing with 16 points. Keenan Roberts Jr. added 10 points and seven rebounds for SUNY-Fredonia. NEXT UPLe Moyne visits Army in its next matchup on Tuesday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source

Mitchell scores 30, UCSB beats Northern Arizona 70-59

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:15:06 GMT

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Ajay Mitchell’s 30 points led UCSB over Northern Arizona 70-59 on Wednesday.Mitchell added five assists for the Gauchos (4-2). Josh Pierre-Louis added 12 points while shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line, and he also had 10 rebounds. Matija Belic went 3 of 5 from the field to finish with eight points.Jayden Jackson finished with 17 points and two steals for the Lumberjacks (2-5). Oakland Fort added 14 points for Northern Arizona. Trenton McLaughlin also recorded 12 points.NEXT UPUp next for UCSB is a Wednesday matchup with New Mexico on the road, and Northern Arizona hosts Pacific on Saturday.___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.Source