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Egypt floats an ambitious plan to end the Israel-Hamas war as Netanyahu vows to expand Gaza combat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

By SAMY MAGDY, NAJIB JOBAIN and MELANIE LIDMAN (Associated Press)CAIRO (AP) — Egypt has put forward an ambitious, initial proposal to end the Israel-Hamas war with a cease-fire, a phased hostage release and the creation of a Palestinian government of experts who would administer the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, a senior Egyptian official and a European diplomat said Monday.Word of the proposal came as Israeli airstrikes heavily pounded central and southern Gaza, crushing buildings on families sheltering inside. In the Maghazi refugee camp, rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the wreckage hours after a strike that killed at least 106 people, according to hospital records seen by The Associated Press — one of the deadliest of Israel’s air campaign.The Egyptian proposal, worked out with the Gulf nation of Qatar, has been presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments but still appeared preliminary. It falls short of Israel’...

Woman in hospital following stabbing in Dundas East and Parliament area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

A woman is in hospital after being stabbed early Monday morning in the Dundas Street East and Parliament Street area.Police were called to the area just after 4:30 a.m., and a woman in her 20’s was found with a stab wound. She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.Police are still searching for the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

1 in custody after officer hit by vehicle on SW Side: CPD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

CHICAGO -- A person is in custody after an officer was hit by a vehicle during a disturbance on the city's Southwest Side Sunday night.Police say officers were responding to a domestic disturbance between two people inside a vehicle near the 4500 block of West 59th Street around 9:24 p.m. in West Elsdon. Driver, passenger of scooter critical after car crash on NW Side Once officers arrived on the scene and exited the car, one was hit by the offending vehicle.Other officers were able to remove the driver of the striking vehicle and place him into custody without further incident.The officer sustained swelling to the arm and leg. He was transported to Little Company of Mary in good condition.There were no other injuries and charges are pending.

Suspect found dead after Christmas Eve standoff, fire in Hermosa Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES - A Christmas Eve standoff with a domestic violence suspect in Hermosa Beach ended late Sunday evening when the suspect was found dead, authorities said.The first 911 call was received around 3:30 p.m. from the 600 block of 11th Street near Ardmore Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.A witness told KTLA 5 News that neighbors heard a loud argument and saw a man with a gun. Video captured by Frank Taraborelli Jr. shows a townhome in Hermosa Beach ablaze during a standoff on Dec. 24, 2023. “Officers discovered that a domestic incident occurred and a male made several verbal threats towards the victim causing her and other family members to flee the residence for safety,” Hermosa Beach said in a statement early Monday morning. “The male then barricaded himself inside the residence and refused any contact with police.”At about 4:30 p.m., the garage of the two-story home caught fire and flames quickly spread throughout the rest of the building. Fir...

Pope Francis denounces weapons industry in annual Christmas appeal for peace

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

Pope Francis on Monday blasted the weapons industry and its “instruments of death” that fuel wars as he made a Christmas Day appeal for peace in the world and in particular between Israel and the Palestinians.Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to the throngs of people below, Francis said he grieved the “abominable attack” of Hamas against southern Israel on Oct. 7 and called for the release of hostages. And he begged for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the “appalling harvest of innocent civilians” as he called for humanitarian aid to reach those in need.Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said that Bethlehem “is a place of sorrow and silence” this year.Pope Francis waves before delivering the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basili...

What happens to the billions spent on unused gift cards?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don't stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays.Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the most popular, making up one-third of those sales.Most of those gift cards will be redeemed. Paytronix, which tracks restaurant gift card sales, says around 70% of gift cards are used within six months.But many cards — tens of billions of dollars’ worth — wind up forgotten or otherwise unused. That’s when the life of a gift card gets more complicated, with expiration dates or inactivity fees that can vary by state. Jury’s Out: Gift card scams and holiday party liability Here’s what to know about the gift cards you’re giving — or getting:LOVED, BUT LOSTAfter clothing, gift cards will be the most popular present this holiday season. Nearly half of Americans plan to give them, according to the Nat...

What Are the Best Cannabinoids for Weight Loss?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

View the original article about The Best Cannabinoids for Weight Loss at Real Tested CBD.Weight loss is always one of the “top five” resolutions at the start of the year. Indeed, the CDC now says about 50 percent of American adults are trying to slim down with exercise and diet changes. Despite these efforts, Americans continue to struggle with their waistlines. Data now suggests that about two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese.Although there’s no “magic pill” that will rev up your metabolism, many people believe hemp could play a supporting role in their weight loss journey. A few select cannabinoids show potential in curbing appetite and speeding metabolism, but customers have to know what to look out for. Choosing a hemp-derived product without the “right” cannabinoids could stall their weight loss goals.Three Hemp Cannabinoids That May Help Beat The “Belly Bulge”THCV May Inhibit “The Munchies”“THC” and “weight loss” aren’t terms you often see together. If anythi...

92 Melted Bananas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

Melt-BananaCell-Scape (A-Zap)92 Melted Bananas: Quinn Barnum, bassist with Long Beach hardcore band ’92, told us about his love for a Melt-Banana gem.(A-Zap)Quinn Barnum: I love how the guitar can morph a noise of pure effects drenched feedback into the type of riff that is impossible not to bob your head to. The band effortlessly fuses chaos and dissonance into harmony and groove. It is extremely difficult to overstate just how much this juxtaposition inspired my teenage musical mind. Still to this day, with every listen, I find something new I love about this album. Every track is like an audio feast. In particular, the track “Shield for your eyes, a Beast in the well on your hand”. This song encapsulates everything I love about this band. Of course the guitar is amazing, but the bass tone is perfect, punching right through the sonic assault.  The build up from the intro is perfectly paid off when YAKO’s vocals come in. This song taught me alot about how I like energy to flo...

San Jose State football: Amid bowl loss, a memorable journey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

At mid-season, San Jose State’s football team was in deep trouble.After blowing a 20-point lead to Boise State on the road, the Spartans stood 1-5 and needed to win five of their remaining six games to qualify for a bowl game. Instead, they won all six to mark one of the greatest in-season comebacks in school history.The season didn’t end in storybook fashion. The Spartans, a 10 1/2-point favorite in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night, were shut out for three quarters and lost 24-14 to Coastal Carolina.That’s not what coach Brent Brennan will remember about this season.“A lot of 1-5 teams end up being 2-10,” Brennan said Saturday night. “The fact that these guys finished the season tied for the lead in the Mountain West after where they were, speaks to the quality of their character and the quality of their work ethic. This is a special group of guys.”The Spartans finished 7-6 with all the losses coming to bowl teams and an opening schedule among the most imposing in the ...

Wish You Were Here: Astride camels in the Sahara Desert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:48 GMT

Our readers have circled the world over the last year, heading for Alaska for a bear-watching vacation, the Galapagos for wildlife adventures,  England to explore maritime history and more, sharing travel tales and helpful tips along the way.Today’s reader missive comes from four South Bay friends whose adventures included camels in the Sahara Desert.Wish You Were HereMOROCCO: A 15-day tour of Morocco took Pete Anderson of San Jose, Sarah Sherfy of Gilroy, Sylvia Shih of Seaside and Debbie Anderson of San Jose on a guided adventure across the sands of the Sahara (pictured) near Merzouga, a small town near the Algerian border. “We traveled together with a local guide, Youssef and a driver, Nabil,” Debbie says. The tour included Casablanca, Fes, Midelt, Ouarzazat and Todra Gorge, as well as the port city of Essaouira and coastal town of Safi on the Atlantic coast. “We stayed in riads, a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an indoor garden and courtyard lo...