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Live updates | Israel says hostage release will not take place before Friday, as talks are ongoing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

Israel’s national security adviser said late Wednesday that cease-fire talks with the Hamas militant group were still ongoing, and the hostage release will not take place before Friday. Tzachi Hanegbi gave no explanation for the delay, and it was not immediately clear when the cease-fire might begin.The cease-fire agreement between the Hamas militant group and Israel had earlier 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 will free over a four-day period at least 50 of the roughly 240 hostages taken in its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and Israel will release some Palestinian prisoners in exchange. Egyptian state media say the truce will begin Thursday morning. Egypt helped mediate the cease-fire agreement, which would bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where ...

Argentina and Brazil to meet in Under-17 World Cup quarterfinals. England, U.S. out in 2nd round

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Argentina and defending champion Brazil will meet in the quarterfinals of the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia after navigating a second round that saw the England and U.S. teams eliminated from the tournament. Uzbekistan upset 2017 champion England 2-1 on Wednesday, a day after Germany advanced 3-2 over the United States. Germany will open the quarterfinal stage against Spain on Friday before Argentina takes on Brazil. The quarterfinals Saturday will feature France against Uzbekistan and Mali against Morocco.Brazil’s title defense got off to a shaky start in a 3-2 loss to Iran, but a 9-0 rout of New Caledonia and a 2-1 win over England earned the 2019 champions a spot in the round of 16.Brazil then beat Ecuador 3-1 with two goals coming from Estevao and one from Luighi.Argentina thrashed Venezuela 5-0, a result that was not in doubt after three goals in the first 32 minutes.After an own-goal, Santiago Lopez and Claudio Echeverri found the target befor...

Franz Wagner has big 2nd half as Magic hold off Nikola Jokic, Nuggets for 5th straight win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 24 of his 27 points in the second half, Paolo Banchero added 23 points, and the Orlando Magic overcame Nikola Jokic’s triple-double Wednesday night to record their fifth straight victory, 124-119 over the Denver Nuggets.Jokic finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Nuggets, who fell to 4-4 without injured guard Jamal Murray. The triple-double was the sixth of the season for Jokic and 111th of his career.Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points for the defending NBA champions, who lost for the third time in four games on their current trip.The Magic took the lead for good on a 3 by Banchero that broke a 115-all tie with 1:49 left. Last season’s Rookie of the Year shot 4 of 5 from behind the arc, bringing his season percentage up to 45.4%. He shot 29.8% on 3s last season.“A lot of teams try to stop me from getting to the rim so my whole thing is just making ’em pay,” Banchero said. “I’ve always been a good shooter so ...

City council passes controversial Community Standards Bylaw

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

Despite objections from a number of delegations at Tuesday’s council meeting, Kingston city council approved a new Community Standards Bylaw. The stated purpose of the bylaw is “to promote a healthy, safe and vibrant community for all residents and visitors in the City of Kingston by regulating and prohibiting activities or conditions that interfere with the public’s right to use and enjoy public spaces or that negatively impact the safety, comfort or wellbeing of the community.”The bylaw is similar to those other municipalities already have, including Oshawa and Brampton, but it has drawn criticism for its potential disproportionate impact on Kingston’s homeless population. Advocates for people living on the street objected to some elements of the bylaw being left too vague, potentially leading to discrimination and abuse of vulnerable people. Work on the bylaw started almost 18 months ago, covering a wide range of activities like building materials, odours,...

Busy Thanksgiving expected at Colorado ski resorts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

DILLON, Colo. (KDVR) — Thanksgiving kicks off the beginning of Colorado’s ski season, and resorts are preparing for tourists from across the nation and the world.“We are here for Thanksgiving. I got up here around 8 and have been boarding all day,” Michael McKay told FOX31. Snow incoming: Get the latest Pinpoint Weather forecast update After weeks of snowmaking and priming the slopes, resorts are ready to accommodate those eager to explore the beauty of Colorado’s terrain.“It's probably the first big ski weekend that we have for the season, so we’re super excited for everyone to come up and celebrate with their families and get some nice time outside,” Arapahoe Basin spokesperson Shayna Silverman said.An aerial view of A-Basin, from nearby Grizzly Peak. (Getty Images)Colorado ski resorts along the Interstate 70 corridor are expecting larger crowds this year during the holiday weekend.Loveland Ski Area, which has had about 29 inches of snow this year, told FOX31 that runs are ready...

Lucas: Let’s put a turkey on Mass. state seal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

After three years of meetings and $100,000 later, a 20-member special commission still failed to come up with a replacement for the Massachusetts state seal.Everyone would have been better off if they had simply chosen a turkey and called it a day. It could have been announced today, Turkey Day.Don’t laugh. Benjamin Franklin, back in 1784 allegedly thought the turkey should have been adopted as the country’s national bird but was beaten out by the bald eagle, which is on the national Great Seal.And if you are wondering if Massachusetts has a state bird, the answer is yes. It is not the much-maligned turkey or the bald eagle but the chickadee, which was adopted in 1941 as the state bird although nobody knows why.The Massachusetts state seal, which the commission was supposed to change, is composed of a Native American holding a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. Above him is an arm holding a sword.Draped around the image is the Latin motto that translates into “By the sword w...

Shopping for holiday gifts? Add yourself to the list

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

Are you ready – It’s about to get extremely gift-y around here. We’re heading into Black Friday, the big kickoff to holiday shopping season (even though the online versions have been going on since last week). Start making all of your lists, break out your comfiest shoes, and make sure your credit cards are in working order.But wouldn’t it be lovely to have a few gifts for yourself lined up? You know, some little indulgences to get you through this hectic season? It’s like putting your own oxygen mask on first. Because we all know this is going to be a marathon of thinking of others and an ongoing outpouring of selfless giving. So it only makes sense to punctuate that every now and then with a few treats for yourself.I’m talking about just a few delightful things here and there —nothing that’ll send your bank account into the red before the holidays really even get rolling.Let’s say you’re piling up the presents for everyone from the boutiques along Newbury Street,...

Nic Cage keeps it real for ‘Dream’ role

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

With a surreal premise and intensely committed star turn from Nicolas Cage, “Dream Scenario,” in theaters now, has become a critics’ favorite and prompted its Oscar-winning veteran into this year’s Best Actor Oscar race.Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli’s movie finds Cage’s Paul Matthews, an evolutionary biology professor, suddenly appearing in people’s dreams. Initially, it’s weirdly just family and friends but the phenomenon soon expands and Paul haunts many dreams.Then, as Herald film critic James Verniere noted in his review, “Dream Scenario” becomes “the art house version of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ the 1984 horror film sensation” to become “A dark fantasy about fame, cancel culture and the dangers of ‘going viral.’”“When I read the script,” Cage, 59, said in a virtual global press conference last week, “I have to say it’s one of the five best I’ve read scripts I’ve ever read — and I’ve been doing this for over 42 years.“The others were ‘Raising Arizona,’ ‘Le...

King: So many have reason to be thankful for so much

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

With the world seemingly teetering between democracy and authoritarianism, you might feel overshadowed by gloom this Thanksgiving.With some parts of the world torn by savage war and others wracked by persistent poverty and hopelessness, giving thanks may seem like a stretch. But make no mistake: More people than ever are living on this planet, and more are living better. Give thanks.These are the people of a bountiful epoch stretching from the end of World War II to this day. In all of human history, never have so many enjoyed so much.I am part of that most fortunate generation that grew up after the war ended, where hope marched arm-in-arm with prosperity. We expected to do much better than our parents in every way, and we did.We expected life to improve on all its frontiers, from mobility to health, and it has. We expected to own something of value (maybe a house, a car, some savings), and we have.More than ever, we have lived lives free from want, larded with good things. We have...

Editorial: Exiting lawmakers another sign of dysfunction in D.C.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:28 GMT

Not even Congress likes Congress.An October Gallup showed Americans’ approval for the way Congress was doing its job barely breathing at 13%. Now lawmakers themselves are giving Capitol Hill the thumb’s down.They’re not just complaining – they’re leaving.With legislating hitting the wall and partisanship at an alarming high, members of Congress in both parties are heading for the exits, opting out of another term on Capitol Hill to vie for higher office or, in some cases, leave politics altogether, The Hill reported.Lawmakers, of course, come and go, but the trend of departures has skyrocketed in recent months. A 10-week stretch on the Hill saw an especially tortuous search for a new House Speaker which laid bare some of the partisan rancor afflicting Congress. It’s expected to continue through the end of this year.Is this any way to run the country? No. Polarization and dysfunction does nothing to help the American people. But that doesn’t ...