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Temporary cease-fire in Gaza and hostage release now expected to start Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An agreement for a four-day cease-fire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel appeared to have hit a last-minute snag. A senior Israeli official said it would not take effect until Friday, a day later than originally announced.The diplomatic breakthrough promised some relief for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of their loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced the delay late Wednesday, without providing a reason. Negotiators were still “working to create the appropriate conditions” for the cease-fire and swap, according to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman from the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which played a key role in mediating with Hamas.The Persian Gulf nation said early Thursday that...

Carbon removals: Extra measures to reach climate neutrality  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

To reach the EU’s climate goals, emission reduction efforts will need to be complemented by measures to remove carbon from the atmosphere, Economy.Climate change is already a reality but depending on the measures taken now, it is still possible to limit its consequences. Under the Paris Agreement on global climate action, the EU has committed to pursue limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To reach this goal, EU climate law sets a binding target of net-zero emissions by 2050.The main tool for reaching zero emissions is rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the EU has been making progress in this regard. However, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will be necessary to complement emission cuts. This is because it is difficult to reach zero emissions in some sectors, such as agriculture, cement and steel production or aviation and maritime transport.The EU is working on a certification scheme to make sure any carbon removals in the EU create cle...

Horoscopes Nov. 23, 2023: Miley Cyrus, stay on top of your priorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Miley Cyrus, 31; Salli Richardson-Whitfield, 56; Robin Roberts, 63; Bruce Hornsby, 69.Happy Birthday: Take your time, fact-check and find your comfort spot before you discuss your plans or make changes that will alter your routine or living arrangements. Stay on top of your priorities, health and getting along with people with something to contribute to your adventure. Take the path that ensures an unforgettable journey filled with gratitude and lifelong memories. Take responsibility for your happiness. Your numbers are 7, 13, 21, 24, 32, 39, 44.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be open about how you feel, and avoid a situation that can stifle your plans. A trip, educational pursuit or meeting will create something new and exciting. Don’t hesitate to reunite with someone you think might be interested in joining you. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t share secrets or participate in joint ventures. You’ll do your best by handling matters y...

Bridge: Nov. 23, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

“What do you call a potato wearing glasses?” my little girl asked me.“I’m afraid to know.”“A spec-tater,” she said delightedly.“That’s the worst joke I ever heard,” I groaned.You’re a spectator in today’s deal. Playing at six hearts, South takes the ace of spades and cashes the A-K of trumps. When East-West follow low, declarer leads a diamond to dummy’s king, returns a diamond to his ace and tables the queen. Both defenders follow, so South draws the missing trump and claims 12 tricks.South then turns around to you as if seeking your congratulations. Do you have any comments?CLUB LOSERSouth’s play was wrong and would have failed if West had held one fewer diamond. West could ruff the queen of diamonds, and South would still have a club to lose.After South takes the K-A of diamonds, he should lead a low diamond. As the cards lie, he is safe; but if West could ruff, South could discard dummy’s l...

Word Game: Nov. 23, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — IMPLANT (IMPLANT: im-PLANT: To fix or set securely or to insert into living tissue.)Average mark 25 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 31 or more words in IMPLANT? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — ADHERES adhere dare dash dasher dear deer hard hare head header hear heard hearse heder heed herd here hers eared ease erase rash read reed sear seder seed seer sere shad shade shard share shear shed sheer shredTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Cont...

Ask Amy: My boyfriend said his public insult was just a joke. Should I let it go?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

Dear Amy: I am 15 years old and recently got my first boyfriend. He’s really nice.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: This odd comment makes me wonder if my empty-nest parents are off the rails Advice | Ask Amy: Everyone was stunned when the other grandmother lashed out at me Advice | Ask Amy: We’re baffled by our sister’s behavior. Is a surprise visit in order? Advice | Ask Amy: After 25 years with my fiancé, I’m apparently not family yet Advice | Ask Amy: I’m hurt that my friends didn’t realize I needed their help Our parents know and like each other. I really feel comfortable around him. We go to the same school and have a lot of the same friends.Last week we were hanging around with some friends at school. We were all joking around, and my boyfriend started making fun of the skirt I was wearing. It wasn’t too short or anything. It is just a skirt.Anyway, during this time, ...

Sale closed in San Jose: $2.9 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

7242 Gold Creek Way – Google Street ViewA 2,837-square-foot house built in 1983 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 7200 block of Gold Creek Way in San Jose was sold on Nov. 6, 2023, for $2,850,000, or $1,005 per square foot. This two-story home boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. In addition, the house provides a two-car garage, granting ample space for parking and storage purposes. The property’s backyard is further enhanced by both a spa and a pool.Additional houses that have recently changed hands close by include:In October 2022, a 3,623-square-foot home on Jaland Court in San Jose sold for $3,588,000, a price per square foot of $990. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 3,365-square-foot home on the 1100 block of Mockingbird Court in San Jose sold in April 2023, for $3,300,000, a price per square foot of $981. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Grimley Lane, San Jose, in December 2022, a 3,959-square-foot home...

Presto’s Picks: Terps, Hokies, Mids and Cavaliers hope to get full on Thanksgiving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

The final games of college football’s regular season (I know Army-Navy is technically a regular season matchup, but it serves as an appendix) are fittingly played during the Thanksgiving weekend.As we load up our plates this Thursday (next to leaving the kiddie table; the rite of passage on this holiday was being able to dish up your own dinner), we get to choose from the traditional (turkey is the old-school rivalry that is good when it’s juicy but dry when both teams are sub-. 500 like Indiana-Purdue), the delicious (Ohio State-Michigan is the sweet potato casserole that delivers even when the dish doesn’t have an inch of brown sugar or the matchup features two unbeaten teams), the mandatory (Georgia-Georgia Tech and Clemson-South Carolina are the rarely-tasty greens that must make their way to the plate for you to merit dessert), and the manufactured (Penn State-Michigan State has never felt like a final game of the season, just like green bean casserole feels f...

Israel and Hamas reached a deal on a cease-fire and hostages. What does it look like?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A temporary cease-fire agreement to facilitate the release of dozens of people taken hostage during Hamas’ raid on Israel is expected to bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza and a glimmer of hope to the families of the captives.After hitting a last-minute snag, the deal was expected to take effect on Friday, a day later than originally planned. Under its terms, Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day halt in hostilities. Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would also be freed as part of the agreement.The deal was brokered by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt and announced on Wednesday. It capped weeks of fitful indirect negotiations and set the stage for a tense period that could determine the course of the war, which was set off by Hamas’ Oct. 7 raid.Israel, Hamas and Qatar have released different details of the agreement, but those details do not appear to contradict one another.WHAT’S IN THE DEAL?Qatar announced that 50 hostages will be r...

WHO asks China for more information about rise in illnesses and pneumonia clusters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:00 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says it has made an official request to China for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. The U.N. health agency cited unspecified media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service as reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. In a statement late Wednesday, WHO said it was unclear whether those were linked to a rise in respiratory infections reported by Chinese authorities.Outside scientists said the situation warranted close monitoring, but were not convinced that the recent spike in respiratory illnesses in China signaled the start of a new global outbreak.The emergence of new diseases, particularly new flu strains or other viruses capable of triggering pandemics, typically starts with undiagnosed clusters of respiratory illness. Both SARS and COVID-19 were first reported as unusual types of pneumonia. WHO noted that auth...