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Israel fights Hamas deep in Gaza City, foresees control of enclave’s security after war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

By Najib Jobain and Samy Magdy | Associated PressKHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel said Tuesday that its ground forces were battling Hamas fighters deep inside Gaza’s largest city, signaling a major new stage in the month-old conflict, and its leaders foresee controlling the enclave’s security after the war.The push into Gaza City guarantees that the already staggering death toll will rise further, while comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about controlling Gaza’s security for “an indefinite period” pointed to the uncertain endgame of a war that Israel says will be long and difficult.Israeli ground troops have battled Palestinian militants inside Gaza for over a week, cutting the territory in half and encircling Gaza City. The army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli ground forces “are located right now in a ground operation in the depths of Gaza City and putting great pressure on Hamas.”Israelis commemorated the 30th day — a mileston...

Nine arrested in sprawling Santa Clara County sex-trafficking ring

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

Santa Clara County prosecutors Tuesday announced nine arrests in what they said was a sprawling Bay Area sex-trafficking ring in which 18 prostitution victims from South America and Mexico were forced to work seven days a week in San Jose and East Bay hotel rooms.A criminal complaint identified those arrested as Jairo CardenasFonseca, 65, and Stella SalinasPena, 60, of San Jose; Michel Andreiw AyalaValdivieso, 33 and Angela Marlenn Ceuspinzon, 54, of Coalinga; Gladis Celis, 49, Jair Hernando OrtizSalinas, 48, and Kristhian OrtizCelis, 23, of Lake Elsinore; Juan Sebastian MoraMurrillo, 23, and Alexander LopezMachado, 18, of Gilroy.The suspects have been charged with crimes ranging from human trafficking and conspiracy to commit human trafficking to pimping, pandering, and money laundering in what prosecutors called one of the largest trafficking operations in the state and the first wiretap-based trafficking case in Santa Clara County.“Slavery was outlawed in this country in 18...

Hunter Biden case: Special counsel testifies that he was the ‘decision-maker’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

By Farnoush Amiri and Lindsay Whitehurst | Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — The prosecutor overseeing the Hunter Biden investigation testified Tuesday that he had the ultimate authority in the yearslong case as he made an unprecedented appearance before Congress to rebut Republicans’ explosive claims that the probe has been plagued with interference.David Weiss’ interview with the House Judiciary Committee marked the first time a special counsel has ever testified to lawmakers in the middle of a probe. He agreed to the unusual appearance under heavy pressure from House Republicans, who are looking to ramp up their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and his family.In his opening statement, Weiss told lawmakers he would not answer questions that could jeopardize the investigation and would only talk about the scope of his authority. “I am, and have been, the decision-maker on this case,” he told lawmakers. “I do not, however, make these decisions in a vacuum.”He...

Cal Bears coaches Wilcox, Spavital share updates on RB Thomas following frightening neck injury vs. Oregon

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

BERKELEY — Cal freshman running back Jaivian Thomas was unconscious on the field after being injured at Oregon on Saturday but remains at home and “is doing well, considering,” according to Bears coach Justin Wilcox.The Oakland product suffered a neck injury in the third quarter of Cal’s 63-19 loss to the No. 6 Ducks at Autzen Stadium and spent the night at a Eugene hospital before returning to the Bay Area.During a portion of the nearly 15 minutes he remained on the turf, the former McClymonds High star was unconscious, said Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital.California players take a knee as running back Jaivian Thomas (25) is tended to after an injury during the second half of an NCAA football game against Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 63-19.(AP Photo/Amanda Loman) “When you’re in the heat of the moment you don’t see the severity of it,” Spavital said. “After the game, watching it on the plane, it was a pretty scary situation for Jaivian to ...

A Meta engineer saw his own child face Instagram harassment. Now, he’s testifying before Congress

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

By BARBARA ORTUTAY | AP Technology WriterOn the same day whistleblower Frances Haugen was testifying before Congress about the harms of Facebook and Instagram to children in the fall of 2021, a former engineering director at the social media giant who had rejoined the company as a consultant sent an alarming email to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the same topic.Arturo Béjar, known for his expertise on curbing online harassment, recounted to Zuckerberg his own daughter’s troubling experiences with Instagram. But he said his concerns and warnings went unheeded. And on Tuesday, it was Béjar’s turn to testify to Congress.“I appear before you today as a dad with firsthand experience of a child who received unwanted sexual advances on Instagram,” he told a panel of U.S. senators.Béjar worked as an engineering director at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He thought things were getting better. But between leaving the company and re...

Airbnb ‘tenant from hell’ who reportedly lived rent-free in Oakland forced to move out of SoCal home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

(KTLA) -- Elizabeth Hirschhorn, referred to as the “tenant from hell," has been forced out of the Los Angeles Airbnb rental she has been staying in since 2021.Hirschhorn was escorted out of the guest house last Friday by police after she had been living there “rent-free” for 575 days, People magazine reported. Before moving out, Hirschhorn refused to leave unless she received $100,000 for relocation costs.A Daily Mail article claimed Hirschorn was also kicked out of a $2.6 million Oakland rental home after refusing to leave. This allegedly happened just two months before she moved into Jovanovic’s Brentwood neighborhood home.Sascha Jovanovic, the landlord in Brentwood, met Hirschhorn when she rented his guesthouse through Airbnb for six months at $105 per night. When her stay was over and she refused to leave, that’s when the trouble started.Hirschhorn’s attorney previously told the Los Angeles Times that “she was not required to pay rent because the city had never approved the unit...

U.S. Weapons Transfers to Israel Shrouded in Secrecy — but Not Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

One month since Hamas’s surprise attack, little is known about the weapons the U.S. has provided to Israel. Whereas the Biden administration released a three-page itemized list of weapons provided to Ukraine, down to the exact number of rounds, the information released about weapons sent to Israel could fit in a single sentence.National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby acknowledged the secrecy in an October 23 press briefing, saying that while U.S. security assistance “on a near-daily basis,” he continued, “We’re being careful not to quantify or get into too much detail about what they’re getting — for their own operational security purposes, of course.”“The notion that it would in any way harm the Israeli military’s operational security to provide more information is a cover story.”The argument that transparency would imperil Israel’s operational security — somehow not a concern with Ukraine — is misleading, experts told The Intercept.“The notion that it would i...

Shoals Technologies: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

PORTLAND, Tenn. (AP) — PORTLAND, Tenn. (AP) — Shoals Technologies Group Inc. (SHLS) on Tuesday reported a loss of $9.8 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Portland, Tennessee-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 20 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of seven analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 16 cents per share.The solar energy equipment supplier posted revenue of $134.2 million in the period, which missed Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $136.7 million.Shoals Technologies expects full-year revenue in the range of $485 million to $495 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SHLS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SHLSSource

Talisca’s hat trick powers Al-Nassr to 3-2 win over Al-Duhail in Asian Champions League

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Anderson Talisca’s hat trick gave Al-Nassr a 3-2 win over Al-Duhail in the Asian Champions League on Tuesday with Philippe Coutinho scoring both goals for the Qatari team.The victory puts the Saudi Arabian team, which rested Cristiano Ronaldo, in control of Group E with four wins from four and needing just a point from the two remaining games to reach knockout stage. Al-Duhail was eliminated.Coutinho, the former Liverpool and Barcelona star who joined Al-Duhail on loan in September, put the team ahead after eight minutes. Talisca leveled after 27 minutes and then added a second ten minutes later.Talisca completed his hat trick just after the hour to put Al-Nassr, still searching for a first continental championship, 3-1 ahead. Coutinho converted a late penalty.On Monday, Saudi Arabian title-holder Al-Ittihad lost 2-0 to Al Quwa Al Jawiya of Iraq. Despite the defeat, Al-Ittihad is still atop Group C with nine points from four games, two above Iranian team Sep...

Kansas coach Bill Self signs richest college basketball contract ever given by a public university

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:31:10 GMT

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self signed a lifetime contract Tuesday that will pay him $53 million over the first five years, easily surpassing Kentucky coach John Calipari for the richest deal ever given to a college basketball coach at a public university.Self will make more than $11 million this season in base pay, professional services and royalties along with a one-time signing bonus and retention payments, including some that were deferred amid the pandemic. At the conclusion of each year, another year is added to the deal, and Self will earn a one-time, $5 million retention bonus if he serves out the first five.The deal amends a similarly structured contract Self signed in 2021, and includes a provision allowing the renegotiation of terms after the 2025-26 season. Calipari’s deal with the Wildcats pays him $8.5 million this season.“Bill Self is undoubtedly the most consistent coach in college basketball, and a restructuring of his contract terms were long ove...