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Israel-Hamas truce takes effect, with hostage release expected in coming hours

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

(CNN) — A truce between Israel and Hamas is believed to have come into effect at 7 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET) on Friday, with civilian hostages held captive by militants expected to be released in the coming hours as part of a breakthrough diplomatic deal following an uneasy day-long delay.The pause in fighting, part of the carefully negotiated agreement announced Wednesday, appeared to be taking effect despite what sounded like sporadic Israeli artillery fire and sirens warning of rockets from Gaza in the minutes after it was due to begin.CNN journalists in the southern Israel city of Sderot said the sounds of heavy weapons fire stopped around 7:18 a.m. local time (12:18 a.m. ET).They heard what sounded like small arms fire inside Gaza about 20 minutes later, but artillery fire, airstrikes and rockets appear to have stopped.At least 90 aid trucks have so far entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Friday, an Egyptian official at the border told CNN, carrying desperately...

Upzoning overhaul near UC Berkeley campus aims to alleviate housing crisis on the Southside

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

BERKELEY — Roughly three years ago, Councilmember Rigel Robinson and his team conceptualized a vision to legalize 1,000 new residential housing units in the city’s Southside.“But I didn’t think that that met the severity of the housing crisis or the urgency of the moment,” Rigel said, reflecting on how he wagered that his policy staff could successfully develop even more ambitious zoning changes for his district, which encompasses UC Berkeley’s campus. “And they said, ‘Bet.’”On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council approved the subsequent planning overhaul, which may allow an additional 2,650 residential units to be built near Telegraph Avenue — known for decades as the bustling, spiritual hub of Berkeley.This upzoning plan allows developers to construct up to 12 or more stories in one of the Southside’s busiest, densest neighborhoods — bounded by Bancroft Way, Prospect Street, Dwight Way and Fulton Street.Building heights along some portions of those streets were cap...

SF library releases most popular book titles checked out in 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

(BCN) -- The San Francisco Public Library has released a list of its most popular book titles checked out so far in 2023.Fiction titles that were among the top circulating in each of the print, e-book and audiobook formats were the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Demon Copperhead" by Barbara Kingsolver, "Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin, "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus and "Happy Place" by Emily Henry.Memoirs made up eight of the top 10 titles in the print nonfiction category, with Prince Harry's "Spare" topping the list for nonfiction print and e-books and being the library system's top audiobook of the year. Amazon driver was not kidnapped, San Ramon police say For children's books, "Dog Man" author Dav Pilkey had six spots on the top 10 by himself, while "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever" by Jeff Kinney and two "Elephant and Piggie" books by Mo Willems making up the other four titles.Young adult f...

Police identify victims of fatal Rainbow Bridge crash at US-Canada border

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Niagara Falls police have identified Grand Island residents Kurt Villani, 53, and his wife, Monica Villani, 53, as the victims of Wednesday's fatal crash at the Rainbow Bridge.The crash, which took place just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, shut down the four-vehicle bridges which cross the U.S. and Canada border in western New York and also left one border patrol officer with minor injuries. Three of the bridges re-opened Wednesday evening, while the Rainbow Bridge re-opened Thursday night around 6:30 p.m. Niagara Falls Police Superintendent: Rainbow Bridge investigation will be ‘long’ Video shows the car going at a high rate of speed before appearing to hit something, going airborne, and landing on a structure near the border inspection booths. The car then exploded, bursting into flames and killing both occupants.Nexstar's WIVB reports the incident remains under investigation and no further details, including a cause, have been released by police. Ne...

What’s streaming now: ‘Oppenheimer,’ Adam Sandler as a lizard and celebs dancing to Taylor Swift

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

“Ted Lasso” star Hannah Waddingham’s Christmas special and this week’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars” promising celebrities swaying to the music of Taylor Swift are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.Also among the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists is a collection of 55 Tina Turner singles from 1975-2023, Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is finally available to watch in your living room and Adam Sandler voices a 74-year-old lizard in Netflix’s animated “Leo.”NEW MOVIES TO STREAM— Are you and your home entertainment system prepared? After making nearly $950 million at the box office, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour “Oppenheimer” is finally available to watch in your living room. There’s a streaming version available to purchase for $19.99 on Amazon and Apple platforms, as well as 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray options with over 3 hours of extras, with everything oversee...

Head of Egypt’s state information service says 12 Thai nationals to be freed from Gaza Friday, with 13 Israeli captives

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Head of Egypt’s state information service says 12 Thai nationals to be freed from Gaza Friday, with 13 Israeli captives.Source

Worries over high rent, discrimination kill bill to limit cannabis dispensary locations in Prince George’s Co.

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

In Maryland, the Prince George’s County Council couldn’t agree on tightening the rules for cannabis dispensaries on Wednesday.A bill was in front of the council that would have limited where cannabis dispensaries could be located in the county to industrial areas and business parks.The bill needed six votes to pass, but only got five. One council member voted against it and two council members abstained.The majority of the residents who spoke at the meeting were in favor of the bill.“Think of the youth and teenagers, the effect on their brain functioning,” said resident Julia Baltimore. “Cannabis is destroying our youth and teenagers.”“The locations that will be most effected in our county are not the neighborhoods with sprawling one acre and half acre lots,” Abdullah Hijazi said. “But it will be in our more dense and low income communities inside the beltway, in commercial centers, closer to our homes where we already have a pro...

Mike McDaniel started as an intern with the Denver Broncos – now he is the mastermind behind the NFL’s most exciting offense

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

(CNN) — Back in September, the Miami Dolphins put up a historic scoreline. The franchise that Don Shula and Dan Marino built racked up 70 points, only three shy of the all-time NFL record, as it annihilated the Denver Broncos, the very same team that Miami head coach Mike McDaniel got his start at.The Dolphins scoring spree resulted in a franchise record for points, as well as an NFL record for total yards in a game at 726, as they became the highest-scoring team in a single game since Washington in 1966.Miami has become one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the league thanks to its high-flying offense and is often labelled as the ‘neutral’s favorite.’After years of being known as a defensive squad, the appointment of McDaniel has seen a marked improvement for the ‘Fins on the more glamorous side of the ball.“The Dolphins offense has underperformed and been in the shadow of the clubs’ defense for decades,” Joe Schad, a Dolphins journalist for the Palm Beach Post, ...

Dublin riots: Varadkar vows to punish racists responsible as immigrants fear more attacks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

DUBLIN — Prime Minister Leo Varadkar vowed Friday to crack down on racist extremists who fought street battles with riot police — a “Rubicon moment” for a state ill-equipped to combat rising working-class animosity to immigrants.Thursday night’s unprecedented anti-immigration riots were triggered by the stabbing of three young children and an adult carer outside their school in the heart of Dublin, critically wounding a 5-year-old girl. Onlookers quickly wrestled a knife-wielding man to the ground – and social media accounts run by anti-immigrant campaigners almost as speedily branded the suspect a foreigner.Online chat groups directed militants to the crime scene, where outnumbered police scrambled for reinforcements as the growing mob hurled fireworks and chanted slogans demanding that immigrants leave Ireland. Hundreds fanned out into nearby streets. Some burned police cars, three buses and a light-rail train. Others looted more than a dozen shops. Police said they arrested 34 pe...

Hamas releases 13 Israeli hostages from Gaza, Israeli prime minister’s office says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:38:46 GMT

(CNN) — Thirteen Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since October 7 have been handed to the Red Cross, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, as part of a deal struck between Israel and the militant group.A group of 12 Thai nationals was also released, the Thai prime minister said.Israel is due to release 39 Palestinian prisoners in return on Friday.The Israeli group is the first to be released through a deal between the two sides, brokered in part by Qatar, that was finalized after weeks of tense negotiations and what represents the first major diplomatic breakthrough of the conflict.The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas began at 7 a.m. local time (12 a.m. ET) Friday, and is believed to be holding – the first sustained break in hostilities after nearly seven weeks of conflict.This is a breaking story. More details soon…