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More hostages freed, mediators work to extend Israel-Hamas truce

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

By Wafaa Shurafa, Jack Jeffery and Melanie Lidman | Associated PressDEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — A new swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israel got underway late Wednesday in the final hours of the current Gaza truce as international mediators raced to extend the halt of Israel’s air and ground offensive to allow further exchanges.The Israeli military said a group of 10 Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals had been handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza and were heading to exit the territory. Earlier, two Russian-Israeli women were freed by Hamas in a separate release. Israel was set to free 30 Palestinian prisoners in return.Negotiators were working down to the wire to hammer out details for a further extension of the truce beyond its deadline of early Thursday. The talks appear to be growing tougher as most of the women and children held by Hamas are freed, and the militants are expected to seek greater releases in return for fre...

Oakland City Council meeting speakers accused of 'supporting Hamas'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

(KRON) -- Viral video clips of commenters at Monday night's Oakland City Council meeting backing a cease-fire resolution in the Israel-Hamas war have drawn condemnation. California State Sen. Scott Weiner retweeted one clip in which a speaker claimed, "Israel murdered their own people on October 7th.""Calling Hamas a terrorist organization is ridiculous, racist, and plays into genocidal propaganda," said another commenter in the same viral clip. "Oakland City Council passed a reso calling for Gaza ceasefire," Weiner posted on X, formerly Twitter. "When a council member asked to add language condemning Hamas, a stream of public comment praising & supporting Hamas ensued.""The council then rejected the request to condemn Hamas," he continued. "Just awful." Nearly two dozen Bank of America branches closing across Bay Area "The public comment praising Hamas & defending the October 7 massacre of 1,2000 mostly Jews is despicable & unconscionable," Weiner posted in a subsequ...

Jill Biden is bringing a holiday ice rink to the White House for children to skate and play hockey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden is extending her holiday theme of “Magic, Wonder and Joy” to the White House grounds by putting an ice rink on the South Lawn for children to skate and play hockey in December. The first lady was set to announce the ice rink after sunset Wednesday in the company of Brian Boitano, who won a gold medal in figure skating in the 1988 Olympics, and the comic-strip dog Snoopy, among others. Earlier this week, she unveiled decorations inside the executive mansion that she said were designed to help visitors experience the “magic, wonder and joy” of the holidays as they did when they were kids.The 50-by-70-foot (15.2-by-21.3-meter) rink will operate throughout December, but the White House did not specify days and hours. Washington, D.C.-area schoolchildren and children from families with service members, frontline workers, first responders and teachers will be invited to skate. The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association will provide lessons thro...

La-Z-Boy: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

MONROE, Mich. (AP) — MONROE, Mich. (AP) — La-Z-Boy Inc. (LZB) on Wednesday reported net income of $27.2 million in its fiscal second quarter.The Monroe, Michigan-based company said it had net income of 63 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were 74 cents per share.The furniture company posted revenue of $511.4 million in the period.For the current quarter ending in January, La-Z-Boy said it expects revenue in the range of $515 million to $535 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LZB at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LZBSource

Real Madrid beats Napoli 4-2 to clinch first place in its Champions League group

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored a goal each as already qualified Real Madrid beat second-place Napoli 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday.Teenager Nico Paz and Joselu also scored to give Madrid its fifth straight win in Group C and secure first place for the record 14-time European champion. Napoli is eight points behind Madrid and three points in front of Braga, which drew 1-1 at home against last-place Union Berlin in the other group match. Napoli will host Braga in the final round to try to secure its spot in the knockout stage.The visitors opened the scoring nine minutes into the match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a close-range strike by Giovanni Simeone.Madrid answered two minutes later with Rodrygo finding the top corner for his sixth goal in the last four matches with the Spanish club, and Bellingham scored his fifth goal in the last five matches for Madrid with a header in the 22nd.Zambo Anguissa equalized with a powerful shot from a tight angle in...

Inter comes back from 3 goals down for 3-3 draw at Benfica in Champions League

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Serie A leader Inter Milan came back from three goals down for a 3-3 draw at already eliminated Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, keeping last season’s finalist in contention to win its group.Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez (with a penalty) scored for Inter after João Mario’s first-half hat trick for the hosts.Inter, which had already secured passage to the knockout round, remained second but level on points with Group D leader Real Sociedad, which drew 0-0 with Salzburg.Real Sociedad tops the group with 11 points, followed by Inter (11), Salzburg (4) and Benfica (1).Inter rested strikers Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram and a host of other regulars at the start but Lautaro and Thuram came on in the second half and Thuram earned the penalty that Sanchez converted.Mario, who formerly played for Inter, took advantage of a series of defensive errors to score in the fifth, 13th and 34th minutes past goalkeeper Emil Audero,...

Britain’s Parliament honors Elton John for his work fighting HIV in the UK and beyond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Elton John has addressed Britain’s Parliament at an event honoring his dedication to fighting HIV in the U.K. and beyond.The British star spoke to dozens of lawmakers and campaigners in the grand Speaker’s House of Parliament on Wednesday. John set up his AIDS Foundation in 1992 and has helped raise millions of dollars to prevent HIV infections and reduce stigma. “This evening I was privileged to welcome Sir Elton John and acknowledge his exceptional contribution to the global fight against HIV and AIDS — personally and through the Elton John AIDS Foundation,” Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said on X, formerly Twitter. “His work embodies the solidarity and kindness that defines our shared humanity,” he added. In the U.K., the charity recently led campaigns to extend a pilot government program to test people visiting hospitals’ emergency rooms for HIV. Under the program, which was recently introduced in London and other cities with a high prevalen...

Sands casino family says they’ll buy majority of Mavs from Cuban. AP source says valuation is $3.5B

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has entered into an agreement to sell a majority stake in the NBA franchise to the family that runs the Las Vegas Sands casino company, it was announced Wednesday. The deal could be completed in the coming weeks.The agreement would be in the valuation range of $3.5 billion, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because that detail was not being made public. Cuban would retain control of basketball operations in the deal.The company controlled by Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, announced earlier Tuesday it was selling $2 billion of her shares to buy an unspecified professional sports team. It revealed Wednesday that the team was the Mavericks.“The families are targeting a closing of the transaction by year-end, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and approval of the NBA Board of Governors,” said the statement released by the Adelson and Dumont families.Patric...

Noah: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

SHANGHAI (AP) — SHANGHAI (AP) — Noah Holdings Ltd. (NOAH) on Wednesday reported profit of $32 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Shanghai-based company said it had net income of 46 cents.The wealth management firm posted revenue of $102.8 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NOAH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NOAHSource

Cortez police officer shot, killed; 1 suspect dead, another arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:01 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- A Cortez Police Department officer was killed Wednesday morning after suspects shot at him following a traffic stop, according to police. One of the suspects was also killed at a second location.Around 11:25 a.m., the officer initiated the traffic stop on South Broadway, according to the Cortez Police Department. Shots were fired, and the officer was injured. He was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The suspects drove away but were quickly located in the 7500 block of U.S. Highway 160 and U.S. Highway 491.Additional shots were exchanged between the suspects and officers, police said. One of the suspects was arrested, while the other one was shot and killed.According to Cortez police, flags in the area were lowered to half-staff in support of the department.Gov. Jared Polis released a statement on the officer's passing, and declared that flags across the state will ...