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Live updates | Relief operations in Gaza in jeopardy as Israeli airstrikes increase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says its relief operations across the Gaza Strip will need to be sharply curtailed amid crippling Israeli airstrikes. Hospitals in Gaza are doing their best to provide treatment to the wounded with diminishing resources.The war, in its 19th day, is the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Wednesday that at least 6,546 Palestinians have been killed and 17,439 others wounded. In the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed and 1,650 wounded in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7.The Associated Press couldn't independently verify the death tolls cited by Hamas, which says it tallies figures from hospital directors.More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, according to Israeli officials, mostly civilians who died in the initial Hamas rampage. Israel's military on Wednesday raised the number of remaining hostages in Gaza to 222 people, including foreigners believed captu...

Kevin Durant makes long-awaited return in front of Warriors fans: ‘Nothing but respect’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A pair of NBA championships, the most beautiful basketball ever played, a horrific injury, the end of an era and more than four years of waiting were all wrapped up in about 60 seconds of emotion, from 7:02 p.m. to 7:03 p.m., Tuesday night inside Chase Center.A few feet away from the visiting team’s bench, Kevin Durant looked up from his slender, 6-foot-10 frame toward the 9,699 square feet of video screen above him.When the 15-second highlight reel of him in a Warriors uniform, soaring, roaring and then sinking a dagger from deep, faded away, the exuberant voice of hype man Franco Finn came over the loudspeakers — “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Bay, two-time Warriors world champion, two-time Finals MVP, No. 35 Kevin Durant!” — but he quickly gave way to the 18,064 on hand, here to see not only the Warriors open their season but for Durant’s first game back in front of them since his right Achilles tendon gave out and his Golden St...

Bouie: Millennials and Gen Z are tilting left and staying there

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

As the saying goes, if you’re not a liberal when you’re young, then you have no heart, and if you’re not a conservative when you’re old, you have no brain.The idea, of course, is that liberalism is a game for the youth and that age brings security, stability and a natural resistance to change. The upshot, in American politics, is that while most voters might start on the center-left, with Democrats, they’ll end their political journey on the center-right, with Republicans. One party represents disruption and change; the other party represents a steady hand and the status quo.Or at least that’s the story. The reality is a little more complicated. Not only does our narrative of political change over time exaggerate the degree of rightward drift among different people as they age, but there’s good evidence that for the youngest generations of Americans, it is hardly happening at all.The evidence comes from a new Wall Street Journal analysis of the latest data from the General Social Su...

Gov. Newsom has surprise meeting with China’s leader Xi amid warm welcome in Beijing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

BANGKOK  — California Gov. Gavin Newsom had a surprise meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday after being warmly welcomed by other senior leaders in a display of friendliness that stands in sharp contrast to the dialogue between the United States and China in recent years.The governor is on a weeklong tour of China where he will push for climate cooperation. Newsom’s trip as governor, once considered routine, is drawing attention as it comes after years of heightening tensions between the U.S. and China.“I’m here in expectation, as you suggest, of turning the page, of renewing our friendship and reengaging (on) foundational and fundamental issues that will determine our collective faith in the future,” Newsom said in brief opening remarks ahead of his meeting with Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat earlier in the day.Though Newsom is here to push a climate cooperation agenda, Chinese officials took the opportunity in welcome speeches ahead of the...

Single-family home in Oakland sells for $2.3 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

563 63rd Street – Google Street ViewThe historic property located in the 500 block of 63rd Street in Oakland was sold on Sept. 19, 2023 for $2,275,000, or $1,758 per square foot. The house, built in 1910, has an interior space of 1,294 square feet. The layout of this two-story house consists of two bedrooms and one bath. In addition, the home includes a garage.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:On Alcatraz Avenue, Oakland, in June 2023, a 2,834-square-foot home was sold for $1,655,000, a price per square foot of $584. The home has 6 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In October 2022, a 1,127-square-foot home on 62nd Street in Oakland sold for $1,640,000, a price per square foot of $1,455. The home has 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom.A 2,174-square-foot home on the 600 block of 63rd Street in Oakland sold in October 2022, for $2,000,000, a price per square foot of $920. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Inside the Campaign That Put an Oil Boss in Charge of a Climate Summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

John Kerry looked on from the front row as Sultan Al Jaber of the United Arab Emirates took to the stage in Abu Dhabi in January. Next to Kerry on the plush white chairs reserved for VIPs were senior figures from the Emirati, British, and U.S. governments. It was Al Jaber’s first public appearance since being appointed president of this year’s Conference of the Parties, COP28, the United Nations annual climate summit.Al Jaber wore a sage green kandura, round glasses, and a white headdress. He spoke slowly and deliberately, laying out his vision for COP28, which will be held in the UAE in December. But his assured manner belied the barrage of criticism he was facing in the press.Al Jaber is not just this year’s COP president. He also heads the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, known as Adnoc. It is the first time any CEO, let alone one from the fossil fuel industry, has been COP president. The announcement was met with fury from climate activists. Kerry, meanwhile, the U.S. special pre...

Japan’s top court strikes down required sterilization surgery to officially change gender

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a law requiring transgender people to undergo sterilization surgery in order to officially change their gender is unconstitutional.The decision by the top court’s 15-judge Grand Bench was its first on the constitutionality of Japan’s 2003 law requiring the removal of sex organs for a state-recognized gender change, a practice long criticized by international rights and medical groups.The decision, which requires the government to reconsider the law, is a first step toward allowing transgender people to change their identity in official documents without getting sterilized. But it was not a full victory because the Supreme Court sent the case back to the high court to further examine the requirement for gender-affirmation surgery.The case was filed in 2020 by a claimant whose request for a gender change in her family registry — to female from assigned male at birth — was turned down by lower courts.The decision comes at a tim...

Blackstone Mortgage: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Blackstone Mortgage Trust Inc. (BXMT) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $29.5 million.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had profit of 17 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and stock option expense, were 78 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 72 cents per share.The real estate finance company posted revenue of $519.3 million in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $165.4 million.Blackstone Mortgage shares have declined 5% since the beginning of the year. The stock has dropped 11% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on BXMT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/BXMTSource

Alkermes: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

DUBLIN (AP) — DUBLIN (AP) — Alkermes PLC (ALKS) on Wednesday reported third-quarter net income of $47.8 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.On a per-share basis, the Dublin-based company said it had profit of 28 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and stock option expense, were 64 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 44 cents per share.The drugmaker posted revenue of $380.9 million in the period, also topping Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $366.2 million.Alkermes shares have fallen 3% since the beginning of the year. The stock has increased 14% in the last 12 months._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ALKS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ALKSSource

Penske: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:35 GMT

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) — BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Penske Automotive Group Inc. (PAG) on Wednesday reported third-quarter earnings of $263.4 million.The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan-based company said it had net income of $3.92 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to $3.90 per share.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $4.04 per share.The auto dealership chain posted revenue of $7.45 billion in the period, meeting Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PAG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PAGSource