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Live updates | Timing for the Israel-Hamas pause in fighting will be announced in the next 24 hours

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

A cease-fire agreement between the Hamas militant group and Israel has been confirmed by both parties, along with Washington and Qatar, which helped broker the deal that would bring a temporary halt to the devastating war that is now in its seventh week.The Israeli government said that under an outline of the deal, Hamas is to free at least 50 of the roughly 240 hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack over a four-day period. Qatar, which mediates with Hamas, later confirmed the deal, saying the start time will be announced in the next 24 hours and that it will last for four days. The agreement will bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 11,000 people have been killed, according to health authorities.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the Cabinet voted early Wednesday that the war would continue even if a deal was reached. Some 1,200 people have been killed in Israel, mostly during the initial incursion by Hamas.Currently:— Truce deal rai...

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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day halt in their devastating war in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages taken captive by militants on Oct. 7, when Israeli communities were overrun and some 240 people abducted.The agreement will bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 11,000 people, many women and children, have been killed, according to health authorities. It could also offer a glimmer of hope to the agonzied families of those abducted weeks ago.The deal, brokered by Qatar, the U.S. and Egypt, was announced as fighting intensified in central neighborhoods of Gaza City. It caps weeks of fitful indirect negotiations and sets the stage for a tense period that could determine the course of the war, already in its seventh week.Israel, Hamas and Qatar have released different details of the agreement, but those details do not appear to contradict each other.WHAT’S IN THE DEAL?Qatar announced Wednesday that Hamas ...

Sam Altman is back as OpenAI CEO just days after being removed, along with a new board

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

The ousted leader of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is returning to the company that fired him late last week, culminating a days-long power struggle that shocked the tech industry and brought attention to the conflicts around how to safely build artificial intelligence.San Francisco-based OpenAI said in a statement late Tuesday: “We have reached an agreement in principle for Sam Altman to return to OpenAI as CEO with a new initial board.”The board, which replaces the one that fired Altman on Friday, will be led by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor, who also chaired Twitter’s board before its takeover by Elon Musk last year. The other members will be former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo.OpenAI’s previous board of directors, which included D’Angelo, had refused to give specific reasons for why it fired Altman, leading to a weekend of internal conflict at the company and growing outside pressure from the startup’s investors.The chao...

Voters offered a clean slate in an election to replace The Netherlands’ longest-serving leader

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — One thing is certain for the Dutch voters casting ballots Wednesday in a general election: Mark Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister, is on the way out.His replacement after 13 years in office could be the country’s first female premier or a social democrat who left his job as the European Union’s climate czar to return to national politics. The next prime minister also might turn out to be an anti-Islam lawmaker or a centrist who created his party only three months ago.“It’s time for change in the Netherlands, and I feel there is a large momentum for change at the moment,” said Pieter Omtzigt, whose brand-new party New Social Contract, is slated to be finish among the top four in a tightly-contested race. The outcome after polls opened in the morning is hard to predict given what happened in other European elections in recent months. Populist and hard-right parties triumphed in some EU member nations and faltered in others...

Daily horoscope for November 22, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST today (7 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023:You are confident and independent. You like to do things your own way and make your own rules. This is a year of work. Simplify your life. Take charge of your health. Physical exercise will be important. Stay grounded and levelheaded. Stay organized in order to accomplish your goals.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Travel will appeal to you in the next few weeks, no question. So, if you’re able to get outta Dodge, by all means, do so! This is because you have a strong urge now to explore your world and learn new things. You want to meet new faces and see new places! Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★You are the financial wizard of the zodiac. And for the next four weeks, your interest in financial matters, shared property, inheritances, taxes, debt and insurance mat...

Commission launches new ‘EU One Stop Shop' to boost Green Line trade in Cyprus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

The Commission has launched the new ‘EU One Stop Shop Supporting Green Line Trade and Businesses' service in Nicosia, Cyprus. It is designed to provide information and technical assistance to businesses and individuals who are, or are interested in, trading across the Green Line in Cyprus.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said:“Increasing Green Line trade is one of the Commission's priorities in Cyprus. Green Line trade brings people and businesses together and offers important economic opportunities for businesses from both communities. By fostering trade, we can help to build trust and confidence among the two communities.”The ‘One Stop Shop' will provide easy access to valuable information on procedures for Green Line trade to both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot producers and traders. It will also inform on the EU standards and requirements that Turkish Cypriot products need to comply with when they are placed on the EU market. The service will employ...

Dear Abby: I’m dreading talking to this girl’s parents about the cheek situation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am a fairly laid-back mom of a wonderful 13-year-old daughter.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’m on the verge of blowing up at my boss over my unofficial duties Advice | Dear Abby: The bride has no room for all the gifts she wants Advice | Dear Abby: They dated for a month, and now she’s threatening to reveal his private business Advice | Dear Abby: I’m tired of my husband telling me that he doesn’t intend to change Advice | Dear Abby: Is it out of line to tell him I’ll help him leave his odious wife? Her friends are nice kids, but some of them dress pretty provocatively. I have seen them wear super-short shorts that are very “cheeky” and tops that really expose their assets.We have been invited to a party at a family friend’s home, and my daughter is allowed to bring a friend. The friend she has chosen to invite regularly dresses in very ...

Sale closed in Danville: $1.8 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

4 Sheri Court – Google Street ViewThe property located in the first block of Sheri Court in Danville was sold on Oct. 27, 2023. The $1,765,000 purchase price works out to $1,016 per square foot. The house, built in 1955, has an interior space of 1,737 square feet. This single-story house offers a capacious living environment with its four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The home’s outer structure has wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. In addition, the house features an attached two-car garage, providing ample room for vehicles and storage needs. The property’s backyard showcases a pool.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:A 3,446-square-foot home on the 100 block of Town and Country Drive in Danville sold in September 2023, for $3,250,000, a price per square foot of $943. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.In June 2022, a 3,366-square-foot home on Highland Drive in Danville sold for $3,150,000, a price per square foot of $...

No. 4 Marquette routs No. 1 Kansas 73-59 in Maui Invitational semifinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Oso Ighodaro had 21 points and nine rebounds as No. 4 Marquette routed No. 1 Kansas 73-59 on Tuesday night in the Maui Invitational semifinals.The early-season clash of top-5 teams with national title hopes ended up being one-sided. The Golden Eagles (5-0) led for all but 22 seconds and were up by 17 with about seven minutes to play.Marquette will take on No. 2 Purdue for the tournament championship Wednesday.Tempers flared in the first half after Kansas swingman Kevin McCullar Jr. drained a jumper in front of Marquette’s bench. McCullar appeared to be jawing in the direction of Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart and his players as he headed back downcourt, and members of both teams had to be pulled away in the heated dustup that followed.An angry Smart and Jayhawks coach Bill Self appeared to exchange unpleasantries along the sideline at the end of the ensuing discussion with officials.Ighodaro shot 9 of 15 from the field and scored 14 points in the second half. Chase ...

U.S. fighter aircraft strike Iraqi Hezbollah targets after attacks on bases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:08 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. fighter aircraft struck two operations centers belonging to Iraqi Hezbollah in response to attacks on U.S. bases that have escalated alongside Israel’s operations against Hamas in Gaza, two defense officials said.They said attacks on U.S. bases included the first use of a short-range ballistic missile against U.S. troops, which happened Tuesday.The U.S. fighter jets struck Kataib Hezbollah operations center and a Kataib Hezbollah Command and Control node near Al Anbar and Jurf al Saqr, south of Baghdad, on Tuesday, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide additional sensitive details of the attacks. There were Kataib Hezbollah personnel at both sites at the time of the strikes but the officials said they could not yet confirm whether anyone there was killed.The U.S. strike followed another immediate, unplanned retaliatory strike by an AC-130 gunship that was in the air when the Iranian-backed militants fired two short-range ballistic m...