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State Department official resigns over Biden administration’s handling of Israel-Hamas conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

By Sharif Paget | CNNA State Department official has resigned from the agency over the Biden administration’s approach to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the official announced on LinkedIn Wednesday.Josh Paul, who said he has worked in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for more than 11 years, said in his LinkedIn post that he resigned “due to a policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel.”“Let me be clear,” Paul wrote. “Hamas’ attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people ...

California has 11 of largest housing shortages in US, study says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

Buzz: California is home to 11 of 25 US metropolitan areas with the largest housing shortages.Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a study of housing underproduction by Up For Growth that looked at construction from 2012 through 2021 for 193 US metropolitan areas – including 23 from California.ToplineThe Golden State’s high housing costs are often tied to construction failing to keep pace with population and economic growth.Here’s the 11 biggest homebuilding deficits in the state, ranked by their shortfall’s share of local housing supply …Ventura County: Home construction has run 12.5% short of local needs (a gap that ranks No. 1 in the US). The deficit translates to the underproduction of 36,161 residential units.Inland Empire: 10.7% short (No. 3 nationally) – or 160,841 units.Madera: 8.8% short (No. 5) – or 4,251 units.Salinas: 8.3% short (No. 7) – or 9,868 units.Merced: 7.9% short (No. 9) – or 7,053 units.Stockton: 7.9% short (No. 9) – or 19,957 units.Visalia: 7.6% short ...

Pac-12 football: Our 15 bold predictions for the second half of an epic season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

Earlier this week, the Hotline offered our midseason review, a look at the best and worst of the Pac-12 at the halfway point of fall like no other.Now, let’s cast an eye to what should be a riveting stretch run.The conference has six ranked teams, three Heisman Trophy contenders, a handful of playoff hopefuls and loads of high-profile games on the schedule.Presenting our predictions for the second half, in rough chronological order.1. Utah quarterback Cam Rising doesn’t set foot on the field this season due to a prolonged recovery from knee surgery. But in their ongoing attempt to keep opponents guessing, the Utes release blurry drone footage of what appears to be Rising in full uniform, working with the first team. Closer inspection reveals it’s actually 305-pound backup right guard Falcon Kaumatule wearing No. 7 and a knee brace. Even without Rising, the Utes win nine games in one of Kyle Whittingham’s finest coaching jobs.2. Oregon State and Washington Sta...

1 person fatally struck by Muni bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – One person was fatally struck by a Muni bus on Van Ness Avenue near San Francisco's Tenderloin District around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday.The victim’s name has not yet been released.Both directions of Van Ness Avenue were reopened around 5:20 a.m. along O'Farrell Street after being closed off for up to four hours Thursday morning.This is a developing story. 

SF man charged with attempted murder for allegedly attacking victim with hammer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

(BCN) -- A 38-year-old man could face 13 years to life in prison after he allegedly attacked someone with a hammer in San Francisco, prosecutors said Wednesday.Christopher Redinger allegedly attacked his victim with a hammer in an unprovoked assault in the 700 block of Ellis Street in the Tenderloin neighborhood, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Officers gave first aid to the victim, who was then transported to a hospital for further treatment. Redinger pleaded not guilty to one count of attempted murder on Tuesday. The criminal complaint against him alleges that he personally used a deadly weapon in the commission of this crime and that he inflicted great bodily injury on the victim, prosecutors said in a statement.Redinger's next court date is on Oct. 26 for the preliminary hearing on his case. Prosecutors said they moved to detain him while he faces trial due to the public safety risk he poses. Those with relevant information about the case are urged ...

Europe’s Largest News Aggregator Orders Editors to Play Down Palestinian Deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

As Israeli bombing raids virtually eliminated internet access in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, one of the largest media companies in Europe was pushing its own initiative to limit online news about civilian casualties in Palestine.Upday, the largest news aggregator app in Europe, handed down directives to color the company’s coverage of the war in Gaza with pro-Israel sentiment, according to interviews with employees and internal documents obtained by The Intercept. Leadership at Upday, a subsidiary of the Germany-based publishing giant Axel Springer, gave instructions to prioritize the Israeli perspective and minimize Palestinian civilian deaths in coverage, according to the employees.“We can’t push anything involving Palestinian death tolls or casualties without information about Israel coming higher up in the story.”“We can’t push anything involving Palestinian death tolls or casualties without information about Israel coming higher up in the story,” an employee told The Inter...

Rite Aid lays out plan to close 154 stores initially as it seeks bankruptcy protection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

Rite Aid plans to plans to close about 7% of its stores initially, as the drugstore chain makes its way through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.The company submitted a list of 154 stores in a court filing. Most of the chain’s stores are on the East and West Coasts, and the list reflects that.Several locations in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California and Washington made the list. The company also plans to close some stores in Michigan and Ohio as well.Rite Aid said in a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing that it has more than 2,200 locations in 17 states.That filing also noted that the company lost about $1.3 billion in the first half of its fiscal year. That’s more than double the $441 million it lost in the same period during the previous fiscal year.Rite Aid said in its Tuesday bankruptcy court filing that it also may close additional stores.The company said earlier this week that going through its voluntary Chapter 11 process will help significantly cut t...

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts after 10-year yield nears 5% and oil prices ease back

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street isn’t moving much Thursday, but a swirl of competing forces are pushing and pulling on financial markets under the seemingly calm surface.The S&P 500 was 0.3% lower in morning trading following a mixed set of profit reports from Tesla and other influential stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 135 points, or 0.4%, as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.The bond market was also shifting back and forth. Rising yields there have been the main force pushing stocks lower in recent months, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury ticked up to 4.94% from 4.91% late Wednesday. Earlier in the morning, though, it jumped above 4.98% to touch its highest level since 2007.Crude oil prices, meanwhile, gave back some of their big jump from a day before, which was launched by worries that war in the Middle East could lead to disruptions of supplies.With so many moving parts, much of the focus has been on Treasurys, which act a...

French officials suspect pranksters in a rash of fake bomb threats and warn of heavy punishments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The sumptuous Palace of Versailles was forced to evacuate visitors on Thursday for the fourth time in less than a week for a security check after a bomb alert. Airports and schools around France also fell victim to bomb alerts and forced evacuations after a similar rash of warnings a day earlier. Even a nuclear research institute received a threat on Thursday.Pranksters or plotters?No bombs have been found, but authorities can’t take risks with the lives of travelers, students or workers. Still, the government is growing impatient, threatening prison terms and heavy fines for those making fake bomb threats. A rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights, as well as shutting the doors to the Palace of Versailles repeatedly since last Saturday.French officials suggested that pranksters, perhaps youths, may be responsible. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed “little jokers, little clowns” and vowed, “They will be found; ...

Arteta has transformed Arsenal. It is too soon to know if Pochettino will turn Chelsea around

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:27:28 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The tables have turned in London. Chelsea, backed by Russian billions, spent the best part of 20 years looking down on its local rivals in England’s capital city, but no more. Now it is Tottenham and Arsenal leading the way in the Premier League, while Chelsea treads an uncomfortable and uncertain path under new owners and yet another new manager. On Saturday, the club that won the Champions League as recently as 2021 hosts Arsenal at Stamford Bridge aiming to build on a recent upturn in results, following a calamitous first season under the ownership of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, and a troubled start to this campaign. It is too soon to say if manager Mauricio Pochettino is on the way to turning Chelsea’s fortunes around after three straight wins in all competitions, and the game against Arsenal has the potential to be a sobering reminder of the gap that exists between the teams. Arsenal is a prime example of how clear-thinking and trus...