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Israel signals wider offensive in Gaza’s south, where hundreds of thousands have fled

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces dropped leaflets warning Palestinians to flee parts of southern Gaza, residents said Thursday, signaling a possible expansion of their offensive to areas where hundreds of thousands of people who heeded earlier evacuation orders are crowded into U.N.-run shelters and family homes.Meanwhile, soldiers continued searching Shifa Hospital in the north, in a raid that began early Wednesday. They displayed guns they say were found hidden in one building, but have yet to release any evidence of the central Hamas command center that Israel has said is concealed beneath the complex. Hamas and staff at the hospital, Gaza’s largest, deny the allegations.Broadening operations to the south — where Israel already carries out daily air raids — threatens to worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory. Over 1.5 million people have been internally displaced in Gaza, with most having fled to the south, where food, water and ...

Crossroads of a Crisis: Spies use global chaos as cover

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

Declining Western support for Ukraine. A massacre in Israel followed by war in Gaza. The disarray in the U.S. Congress. In his new series “Crossroads of a Crisis,” WTOP’s National Security Correspondent J.J. Green’s delves into the three weeks in October when the world changed dramatically. And while many have been distracted by the chaos, Russian spies have launched a secret espionage operation in the U.S. For years, Robert Baer lived in the trendy Dupont Circle neighborhood. After a long career as a clandestine CIA operative abroad, he understood what the signs of intelligence activity were. He also knew his own neighborhood was a hotbed of foreign activity. Much of it, he believed, was connected to the Russian government.“The FSB is known to run operations out of the Russian Cultural Center,” according to Baer, who said he knows this, because “I used to live right around the corner from it.”Read Part 1 of “Crossroads of a Crisis”: The storm no one saw comingThe ...

Stock market today: World shares are mixed and oil prices fell after Biden’s meeting with China’s Xi

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mixed Thursday in Europe and Asia after a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping that yielded no big breakthroughs, though both sides said it was constructive. Any lift in sentiment from a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping appeared to fade after Biden, pressed by a reporter on whether he trusted Xi, said he believed in trusting but verifying and conceded that China’s leader is a dictator.“He is a dictator in a sense,” Biden said. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said, “Such a remark is extremely wrong and is irresponsible political manipulation.” Biden and Xi emerged from their first face-to-face meeting in a year vowing to stabilize the fraught relationship between the world’s two biggest economies. They showcased modest agreements to combat illicit fentanyl and re-establish military communications. Rifts on economic competition and global security threats persist...

Australia has South Africa in deep trouble on 44-4 before rain in Cricket World Cup semifinal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

KOLKATA, India (AP) — Australia had South Africa in deep trouble on 44-4 when rain stopped play in the second semifinal match at the Cricket World Cup on Thursday.The players came off with 14 overs having been bowled at Eden Gardens and the Proteas experiencing more last-four pain as they seek to reach the final for the first time.Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood took advantage of helpful overhead conditions to rip through the top order, leaving the South Africans on 24-4 in the 12th over after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.Temba Bavuma (0) fell in the first over and a frustrated Quinton De Kock was out for just 3 off 14 balls when he skied Hazlewood to a backpedaling Pat Cummins.Aiden Markram got a thick outside edge off Starc to David Warner for 10 and Rassie van der Dussen (6) edged Hazlewood to Steve Smith at second slip.The close-in fielding by Australia — the five-time champion — was excellent, backing up pinpoint bowling as the ball seamed and swung around.Heinr...

Allot Communications: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

HOD-HASHARON, Israel (AP) — HOD-HASHARON, Israel (AP) — Allot Communications Ltd. (ALLT) on Thursday reported a loss of $12.4 million in its third quarter.The Hod-Hasharon, Israel-based company said it had a loss of 32 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 28 cents per share.The internet protocol services company posted revenue of $22.6 million in the period.For the current quarter ending in December, Allot Communications said it expects revenue in the range of $20 million to $25 million.The company’s shares closed at $1.69. A year ago, they were trading at $4.34._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on ALLT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/ALLTSource

Aurora Mobile: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

SHENZHEN, China (AP) — SHENZHEN, China (AP) — Aurora Mobile Ltd. (JG) on Thursday reported a loss of $928,000 in its third quarter.The Shenzhen, China-based company said it had a loss of 1 cent per share. Earnings, adjusted for asset impairment costs and stock option expense, were less than 1 cent on a per-share basis.The provider of mobile data services posted revenue of $10.2 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on JG at https://www.zacks.com/ap/JGSource

NetEase: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

HANGZHOU, China (AP) — HANGZHOU, China (AP) — NetEase Inc. (NTES) on Thursday reported earnings of $1.07 billion in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Hangzhou, China-based company said it had profit of $1.65. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense, came to $1.82 per share.The internet technology company posted revenue of $3.74 billion in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on NTES at https://www.zacks.com/ap/NTESSource

National Cherry Blossom Festival holds 2024 launch event

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

While many are enjoying the reds and golds of fall foliage, some people are already thinking about cherry blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival held its 2024 launch event Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan building in downtown D.C.“Look around this room. We have cherry blossoms in the room, everything’s pink. We’re ready to go with a less than four month countdown until the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Diana Mayhew, president and CEO of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.The launch provided festival organizers the opportunity to unveil the official artwork of the 2024 festival — D.C. artist Nicholas Shi’s painting of pink cherry blossoms filling a blue sky above the monuments on the Mall. The artwork will adorn posters and other festival merchandise.The National Cherry Blossom Festival will be held March 20 (the first day of spring) to April 14, 2024.Mayhew said during the four anchoring weekends of the festival, “major even...

'Red Cup Rebellion': Colorado Starbucks workers expected to strike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

Thousands of workers at more than 200 U.S. Starbucks stores plan to walk off the job Thursday in what organizers say is the largest strike yet in the two-year-old effort to unionize the company’s stores.The Workers United union chose Starbucks' annual Red Cup Day to stage the walkout since it’s usually one of the busiest days of the year. Starbucks expects to give away thousands of reusable cups Thursday to customers who order holiday drinks.Starbucks employees and supporters link arms during a union election watch party Dec. 9, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. Thousands of U.S. Starbucks workers plan to walk off the job Thursday -- one of the chain's busiest days of the year -- to protest the company's anti-union stance. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex, File)The union said it was expecting more than 5,000 workers to take part in its “Red Cup Rebellion.” Around 30 stores also staged walkouts on Wednesday.According to an organizer with Workers United, five Colorado Starbucks locations will participate...

South Florida braces for ongoing rain rounds; advisories and closures remain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:59 GMT

MIAMI-DADE/BROWARD COUNTIES, Fla. (WSVN) — South Florida faced a relentless storm, unleashing heavy rain, thunderstorms, and whipping winds throughout Wednesday. The aftermath reveals a region grappling with the impact of widespread flooding and record-breaking gusts. The widespread flooding has left many cars stranded across Miami-Dade County and Broward County. The aftermath of Wednesday’s heavy rainfall has resulted in road closures and has led Broward County Public Schools and Broward College to cancel classes on Thursday.A sinkhole opened at the intersection of Northwest 186th Street and 68th Avenue, leaving two cars submerged. Officials have not yet determined what led to the sinkhole, but the rain could be a factor.Miami Beach experienced gusts reaching 74 miles per hour, indicative of the intensity of the storm. Rainfall totals across South Florida are substantial, with a notable peak of 9.57 inches in Coral Gables from Tuesday morning through Thursday. In Aven...