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Thomas Friedman: The rescuers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

RAHAT, Israel — I confess that as a longtime observer of the Arab-Israeli conflict, I aggressively avoid both the “From the river to the sea” activists on the pro-Palestinian left and the similarly partisan zealots on the “Greater Israel” Zionist right — not just because I find their exclusivist visions for the future abhorrent but also because the reporter in me finds them so blind to the complexities of the present.They aren’t thinking about the Jewish mother in Jerusalem who told me in one breath how she just got a gun license to protect her kids from Hamas, and in the next about how much she trusted her kids’ Palestinian Arab teacher, who rushed her children to the school bomb shelter during a recent Hamas air raid. They aren’t thinking about Alaa Amara, the Israeli Arab shop owner from Taibe, who donated 50 bicycles to Jewish kids who survived the Hamas attack on their border communities on Oct. 7, only to see his shop torched, apparently by hard-line nationalist Israeli Arab y...

Readers share why they are thankful for their pets — and why their pets are thankful for them

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

Every weekday in the Morning Report, our free newsletter, we summarize the local news of the day and sign off with photos of our readers’ pets.While the photos are mostly of cats and dogs, we also have shared pictures and stories of bunnies, guinea pigs, parakeets, Betta fish, miniature donkeys and many other creatures great and small.Recently, as Thanksgiving approached, we asked newsletter readers to tell us why they are thankful for their pets — and to consider why their pets might be thankful for them.Sarah and Eric Walburg with their dog Penny, a terrier mix, while on a walk in their Como Park neighborhood in St. Paul on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. Adopted from Happy Tails Rescue in Fridley, Sarah writes “I am thankful for Penny because she helps my husband and I get outside every day for walks, which has led to meeting lots of wonderful people around the neighborhood.” (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Sarah Walburg of St. Paul responded with a shoutout to Penny, the dog s...

Qatar says Gaza cease-fire will begin Friday morning, with aid to follow ‘as soon as possible’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

By WAFAA SHURAFA and KAREEM CHEHAYEB (Associated Press)DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A four-day cease-fire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas will began Friday morning, Qatar said, a day later than originally announced, as negotiators worked out final details of the deal, which is to lead to the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.The diplomatic breakthrough promised some relief for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of their loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war.The deal appeared to hit a last-minute snag when Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced a one-day delay late Wednesday, without providing a reason. The cease-fire was originally set to begin Thursday morning.On Thursday, Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which played a key role in media...

Police patrols to increase over Thanksgiving weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Police patrols are on the rise this Thanksgiving weekend, for what many departments consider one of the busiest weekends of the year for revelry. Colonie Police Department has announced that extra officers will be deployed around Colonie this weekend - as other departments will do across the state. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In a release on Thursday, the department said extra care will be taken to spot impaired drivers this holiday weekend, Nov. 23-26, and get them off the streets safely. The patrols support Albany County's STOP-DWI initiative, as well as state efforts to curb the number of crashes, injuries, and deaths stemming from impaired driving."The night before Thanksgiving has become an especially popular night for revelry as so many people return home for the holiday and renew old acquaintances. Police caution those going out to celebrate throughout the weekend have a plan for returning ho...

Tips to avoid food-related illnesses this Thanksgiving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

As many Americans look forward to sharing a meal with their loved ones this holiday season, the chances of getting sick increase, especially from a foodborne illness.Commonly known as food poisoning, a foodborne illness can occur when you eat something contaminated by disease-causing germs like bacteria, parasites or viruses.Food contamination usually happens when food isn’t cooked or reheated thoroughly, stored correctly or mishandled, along with other causes. Here’s where to get a Thanksgiving meal if you don’t feel like cooking According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year, about one in six Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from foodborne diseases.The CDC has compiled a list of tips to help ensure Thanksgiving meals are cooked correctly and won’t get anyone sick.Store the turkey properly If you purchased a frozen turkey, it should be stored in a freezer at zero degrees or below. The turkey should re...

Larry Magid: Using ChatGPT for holiday gift ideas and cards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

This is the week when I typically write a column about how to shop for holiday gifts. I wrote previous holiday gift columns based on my personal experiences and a bit of online searching. This year, I’m getting a little help from ChatGPT, which is able to recommend gifts, create holiday cards and help you decide what products to buy.Related ArticlesBusiness | Larry Magid: Survey sheds light on parent, teen feelings about Generative AI Business | Magid: White House order provides guidance on AI safety Business | Magid: Beware of ‘smishing’ scams Business | Magid: Smartphone essentials for traveling abroad Purchase recommendationMy first use of ChatGPT to recommend a purchase was a Thanksgiving present for myself and my wife. Many years ago, we had a George Foreman grill. I wanted to see what was new in that type of appliance, so I asked ChatGPT to recommend indoor grills. It came up with a relatively long lis...

San Jose State-UNLV is a premier matchup of turnaround stories

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

SAN JOSE — San Jose State’s turnaround from a 1-5 start to contention for a berth in the Mountain West championship game is surprising, but perhaps even more unexpected is the team that stands in the way of the Spartans’ conference championship hopes.First-year coach Barry Odom has taken UNLV (9-2, 6-1 Mountain West) to its first nine-win season since 1984 and can put the Rebels in the conference title game with a home win on Saturday against the Spartans (12 p.m., Mountain West Network). It’s an unexpected accomplishment for a team that was picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West preseason poll.Don’t count SJSU coach Brent Brennan among those surprised, though.“They’ve done a really good job putting the right pieces of the puzzle together,” Brennan said. “When you watch them play, you can tell that they’re well coached and they’re doing all the right things.”Odom’s tenure at UNLV didn’t have the best start. When he was hired last ...

Bay Area high school football 2023: NCS, Oakland championship weekend preview

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

Seven championships are on the line this weekend in the North Coast Section, including five that have teams from the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area.San Ramon Valley fell shot last week in the Open Division championship game against De La Salle, losing 17-7.De La Salle has this weekend off before moving on to a regional next weekend.SRV, as the Open runner-up, slides into the Division I final against undefeated Pittsburg, which lost to De La Salle in Open title games the past two years before winning D-I crowns.Pittsburg is seeded third, SRV second.El Cerrito and Acalanes face North Bay teams in their championship games, both on Friday. El Cerrito will play Windsor for the D-II championship and Acalanes will face San Marin for the D-IV title.We preview the games here:NCS Division I: No. 3 Pittsburg vs. No. 2 San Ramon ValleyRecords: Pittsburg 12-0; SRV 10-2Kickoff: Friday at Dublin High School, 7 p.m.Series history: The teams have met five times in the MaxPreps era (2004 t...

Petaluma police arrest six suspected DUI drivers on Thanksgiving Eve

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

(BCN) -- Petaluma officers arrested six motorists suspected of driving under the influence on Thanksgiving Eve, police said Thursday.Patrol officers conducted more than 70 traffic stops from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Thursday at downtown Petaluma that led to the arrests, police said.Officers also issued 25 other infraction citations during the night, known as Blackout Wednesday due to the prevalence of buzzed driving. Antioch man arrested for hit and run that killed pedestrian on Hwy 4 Motorists are reminded that those who are caught driving impaired and charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 to $20,000 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Sports on TV for Friday, November 24

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:41 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsFriday, November 24AUTO RACING3:30 a.m.FS1 — FIM World Supercross: Championship, Melbourne, Australia4:25 a.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates7:55 a.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates5:25 a.m. (Saturday)ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates3:30 a.m. (Saturday)FS1 — FIM World Supercross: Championship, Melbourne, AustraliaCOLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)11 a.m.ESPN2 — ESPN Events Invitational: TBD, Semifinal, Orlando, Fla.12 p.m.FS1 — Bryant at Xavier1 p.m.ESPN2 — Battle 4 Atlantis: TBD, Third-Place Game, Nassau, Bahamas2 p.m.FS1 — Manhattan at UConn3 p.m.ESPN2 — NIT Season Tip-Off: TBD, Third-Place Game, Brooklyn, N.Y.3:30 p.m.ESPN — Battle 4 Atlantis: TBD, Championship, Nassau, BahamasFOX — Rady Children’s Invitational: TBD, Third-Place Game, San Diego4 p.m.PAC-12N — Utah Tech at Washington ...