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Israel-Hamas truce deal for hostage release hits last-minute snag, now expected to start Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An agreement for a four-day cease-fire in Gaza and the release of dozens of Hamas-held hostages and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel appeared to have hit a last-minute snag when 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 over 1.7 million Palestinians who have fled their homes under weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of their loved ones captured 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. Israeli media reported that some final details were still being worked out.The Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, which played a key role in mediating with Hamas, said early Thursday that a new time for the agreement to go into force would be announced “in the coming hours....

4 Indian soldiers killed in fighting with rebels in disputed Kashmir

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Four Indian soldiers were killed in a gunbattle with rebels fighting against New Delhi’s rule in disputed Kashmir, officials said Thursday.The fighting started Wednesday, days after Indian troops started searching for militants in dense forests based on information that at least two rebels were hiding there, a military official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in keeping with official policy. Intermittent firing at regular intervals continued for all of Wednesday, the official said. Troops continued their search Thursday in the mountainous and forested area of southern Rajouri district near the highly militarized Line of Control that divides the Himalayan region between India and Pakistan.Two officers were among the four killed. An officer and two of the soldiers were from a special forces unit, the military official said.The army wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that rebels were also injured in the gunbattle and were surrounded by Indian troops. It did n...

US electric vehicle sales to hit record this year, but still lag behind China and Germany

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

Electric vehicle sales are expected to hit a record 9% of all passenger vehicles in the U.S. this year, according to Atlas Public Policy. That will be up from 7.3% of new car sales in 2022.It will be the first time more than 1 million EVs are sold in the U.S. in one calendar year, probably reaching between 1.3 million and 1.4 million cars, the research firm predicts. Although the numbers show significant progress for electrification, the nation is lagging behind countries like China, Germany and Norway. EVs reached 33% of sales in China, 35% in Germany, and 90% in Norway for the first six months of 2023, according to a BloombergNEF EV outlook published in June. These figures include both battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid EVs.In those countries, ambitious government zero-emissions targets, vehicle tax incentives and subsidies, and affordable options play a role in a consumer’s decision to adopt a plug-in vehicle.Several factors helped boost U.S. EV adoption this year...

Prime minister and international partners address Kazakhstan’s investment landscape and sustainable infrastructure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov (pictured), leaders of top international companies, and experts reviewed Kazakhstan’s emerging opportunities and challenges in building investment infrastructure for long-term sustainable growth as part of the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR) on 17 November in Astana, writes Assem Assaniyaz in Business, International. In his welcoming speech, Smailov said that “despite the current global challenges, Kazakhstan’s economy is showing steady growth.” “Last year, the total volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 18% and reached $28 billion. In the past six months of this year, approximately $14 billion more have been attracted to the national economy,” he said.Smailov added that the stability of the country’s sovereign credit rating is regularly confirmed by international rating agencies, such as Fitch, S&P Global, and Moody’s. Investments, he emphasized, are “the main factor of Kazakhstan’s economic growth.”...

Motorcyclist killed, passenger injured in crash near San Martin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

SAN MARTIN – A motorcyclist was killed and his passenger was seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon near San Martin, according to the California Highway Patrol.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | The three latest fatal crash victims on Highway 4 have been identified Crashes and Disasters | 20-year-old California driver doing donuts at intersection dies in crash, sheriff says Crashes and Disasters | Driver arrested in hit-run death of San Lorenzo pedestrian Crashes and Disasters | Less driving but more deaths: Spike in traffic fatalities puzzles lawmakers Crashes and Disasters | Hit-and-run driver kills man standing outside disabled vehicle on Oakland freeway The collision happened around 2:45 p.m. at Uvas and Watsonville roads, the CHP said in a news release.A 68-year-old Los Gatos man was riding a 2004 Harley-Davidson eastbound on Uvas Road toward the intersection and, per a wi...

Kraken score 4 times in 1st in 7-1 victory over NHL-worst Sharks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Oliver Bjorkstrand and Yanni Gourde each had a goal and an assist in Seattle’s four-goal first period and the Kraken beat the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks 7-1 on Wednesday night.Brandon Tanev and Adam Larsson also scored in the opening 20 minutes to help the Kraken get to the .500 mark for the first time this season at 8-8-5. They won for the fourth time in 10 home games, and have points in their last five games.Jared McCann scored his team-leading ninth goal early in the second, Eeli Tolvanen added two third-period goals and Joey Daccord made 13 saves. Bjorkstrand finished with three assists and Jamie Oleksiak had two.“I think we’re feeling it,” Bjorkstrand said. “Maybe a few lucky bounces off the glass, but no, we like playing together, and I think it just kind of went our way today. First period was a little bit back and forth. I mean, I thought we created some good chances. And in the second period, I think we kind of took over.”Mike Hoffman scored for San Jose in th...

Uno to showcase new program in Japan in his bid for a Grand Prix Finals spot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Two-time World champion Shoma Uno will showcase his new programs at the NHK Trophy as he bids for a spot in figure skating’s Grand Prix Final.Now coached by Stephane Lambiel, himself a former two-time world champion, Uno has unveiled two new programs this season which will be on display in Osaka.“I’m aiming to demonstrate through the new programs that ice skating is much more than just executing jumps,” Uno told Japanese broadcaster NHK. “I’ve been trying to pay a lot more attention to spins and other details.”Uno, runner-up at the Cup of China earlier this month, will start as the favorite at his home Grand Prix, the sixth in the International Skating Union’s series, which he has won the previous two years.A third consecutive title here would qualify him for the Dec. 7-10 Grand Prix Final in Beijing, where the top six skaters from each discipline compete.Adam Siao Him Fa of France, Ilia Malinin of the United States and Kao Miura of Japan have already qualified for Beij...

Dallas blows a 20-point lead in the 4th, but Kyrie’s 3-pointer pushes Mavs past Lakers 104-101

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 28 points and hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds to play, and the Dallas Mavericks blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter before rallying back for a 104-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night.LeBron James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and made the tiebreaking tip-in with 1:16 to play for the Lakers, but the NBA career scoring leader also made a turnover with four seconds left and then missed a tying 3-point attempt at the buzzer.After Luka Doncic and James traded missed 3-point attempts in the final minute, Irving coolly hit his fourth 3-pointer of the night near the Lakers’ bench. Doncic then stole James’ poor pass to the basket, and Irving hit two free throws before James missed another 3-point attempt.Doncic scored 30 points for the Mavs, who missed 16 of their 19 shots in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles outscored Dallas 30-13 in the fourth, but couldn’t turn it into a win....

¿Qué es Acción de Gracias (Thanksgiving), cuál es su origen y por qué se celebra?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

(CNN) — En Estados Unidos se celebra en grande el Día de Acción de Gracias, y la indudable protagonista de la fiesta –claro, además del espíritu de agradecimiento y recogimiento– es la comida.Millones de familias en Estados Unidos comerán pavo este jueves. ¿Por qué? Mira esta y otras respuestas aquí:1. Nace la tradición del Día de Acción de GraciasLas comidas congeladas deben agradecerle al Día de Acción de Gracias. En 1953, alguien en la empresa Swanson calculó mal el número de pavos que se necesitarían para la festividad… por 26 toneladas. A alguien con una mente de negocios se le ocurrió una brillante idea: cortar la carne de los pavos sobrantes y empacarla con algunos acompañamientos.Aumenta el costo promedio de los ingredientes del Día de Acción de Gracias: ¿cómo se puede ahorrar?2. ¿Vas de compras?Si eres un plomero, es probable que el ‘Black Friday’ no puedas ir de compras frenéticas, pues ese día es el más ocupado para ellos en todo el año, según Rot...

Newhook scores twice, Canadiens bounce back to beat Ducks 4-3 and end 4-game skid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:45:25 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Alex Newhook scored with 3:20 remaining for his second goal of the game, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 Wednesday night to snap a four-game losing streak.Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson also scored, Sam Montembeault made 30 saves, and the Canadiens won on the road for the second time in six games.Mason McTavish had two goals and an assist, and Frank Vatrano had a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ fourth straight loss. John Gibson finished with 24 saves.Montreal blew leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before Newhook finished off a 2-on-1 rush from Jake Evans. McTavish got his second multi-goal game to pull the Ducks to 3-2 at the six-minute mark of the second, period with Vatrano setting him up by spinning around on a centering pass after chasing down Tristan Luneau’s pass.It was the first career point in three games for Luneau, who was the 53rd overall pick in the 2022 draft.Vatrano tied it at 3 with 8:29 remaining in the third, beating Montembeau...