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Rockets fired from Gaza raise tension as Passover begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets early Thursday, setting off air raid sirens in southern Israel, as violence erupted for the second day in a row during a sensitive period of overlapping holidays.The barrage came after another tense night at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshippers attempting to stay overnight, in defiance of long-standing compromises about management of the compound. The Israeli military said seven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip all exploded in midair. No group claimed responsibility for the barrage.Unrest in the region was less intense than the previous days, but the rocket fire raised fears of a wider conflagration as Jews began the week-long Passover holiday, hundreds of Christians in the Old City gathered for Holy Thursday at the Holy Sepulcher to mark the Last Supper, and Muslims marked the Ramadan holy month.Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam an...

Hail, wind and lightning to threaten the DC region on Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

Strong to severe storms could impact the D.C. area on Thursday afternoon with potential gusty winds, hail and lightning. Here’s what you need to know to prepare.Wednesday’s record warmth gives way to a very mild, but somewhat muggy overnight, ahead of the next weather maker on Thursday.The extent of anything more severe than wind, hail and lightning is uncertain at this time, according to 7News First Alert meteorologist Steve Rudin.Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastClosings and DelaysSign up for WTOP alerts“With the front moving to the east during the late afternoon and early evening, the greatest risk will be experienced during these times” on Thursday, Rudin said.Heavy rain is likely to fall at some point during the afternoon and into the evening 7News First Alert meteorologist Veronica Johnson said.“Storms could pack a punch with some high winds, even some hail. And well, we’...

Los críticos de Chris Pratt en ‘Super Mario Bros. La película’ oirán poco el acento italiano del actor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

(CNN) — Después de mucha expectación y un aluvión de críticas, “Super Mario Bros. La película” ya está en los cines. Este miércoles se estrenó con Chris Pratt en el papel del fontanero que viaja por las tuberías de la clásica franquicia de videojuegos de Nintendo.Desde que se anunció el casting de Pratt en septiembre de 2021, hubo cierta disconformidad en Internet, principalmente por parte de los puristas de los videojuegos, que consideraban que la voz oficial de Mario en los juegos –proporcionada por el actor Charles Martinet– debería haber sido la elegida. Otros querían que el papel del fontanero italiano recayera en un italiano.Los críticos de Chris Pratt en ‘Super Mario Bros. La película’ oirán muy poco el acento italiano del actor.Super Mario Bros. La película: cuándo se estrena, reparto y qué saber de ellaAl final, la voz de Pratt es una de las partes menos notables de la nueva película… pero al principio, los espectadores podrían pensar lo ...

Report: Saudis, Iranians to reopen embassies, ease travel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Iran’s semiofficial news agency ISNA reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reopen diplomatic missions in their respective capitals and in additional cities. There was no immediate official confirmation of the report.As part of the reported deal, the two sides would also study the prospects of resuming flights between the two nations and facilitating the visa process for the citizens of both countries. Saudi Arabia and Iran are longtime regional rivals, but have moved toward reconciliation as part of a deal brokered by China last month.If confirmed, the agreement would represent a new step toward reconciliation after seven years of tension. The rapprochement, which was initiated last month, lowers the chance of armed conflict between the Mideast rivals – both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.The initial reconciliation agreement was brokered by Beijing in March.It represents a major diplomatic victory for the Chinese as Gulf Arab states...

China vows ‘forceful’ measures after US-Taiwan meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China vowed reprisals against Taiwan Thursday after a meeting between the U.S. House Speaker and the island’s President, saying the U.S. was on a “wrong and dangerous road.”Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday in a show of U.S. support for the self-ruled island, which China claims as its own, along with a bi-partisan delegation of more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers. The Biden administration has said there is nothing provocative about the visit by Tsai, which is the latest of a half-dozen to the U.S. Yet, it comes as as the U.S.-China relationship has fallen to historic lows, with U.S. support for Taiwan becoming one of the main points of difference between the two powers.But the formal trappings of the meeting, and the senior rank of some of the elected officials in the delegation from Congress, could lead China to view it as an escalation. No speaker is known to have met with a Taiwan president on U.S. soil since the U.S...

Coal capacity climbs worldwide despite promises to slash it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

The capacity to burn coal for power went up in 2022 despite global promises to phase down the fuel that’s the biggest source of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere, a report Wednesday found.The coal fleet grew by 19.5 gigawatts last year, enough to light up around 15 million homes, with nearly all newly commissioned coal projects in China, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor, an organization that tracks a variety of energy projects around the globe. That 1% increase comes at a time when the world needs to retire its coal fleet four and a half times faster to meet climate goals, the report said. In 2021, countries around the world promised to phase down the use of coal to help achieve the goal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit). “The more new coal projects come online, the steeper the cuts and commitments need to be in the future,” said Flora Champenois, the report’s lead author and the project manager for GEM’s Global Coal Plant Tracke...

Between 'reset' and 'de-risk', EU leaders pay rare visit to China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

European Union executive head Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron were to land in China on Wednesday (5 April) seeking to "reset" ties with an important economic partner while broaching thorny issues like Ukraine and trade risks.Macron last visited China in 2019 while it will be von der Leyen's first trip since becoming European Commission president that year.Since then, China's strict pandemic controls forced all diplomatic meetings online as relations with Europe soured: first due to a stalled investment pact in 2021 and then Beijing's refusal to condemn Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.For Macron, facing embarrassing pension protests at home, the trip offers a chance to land some economic wins as he travels with a 50-strong business delegation, including Airbus (AIR.PA), which is negotiating a big plane order, Alstom (ALSO.PA) and nuclear giant EDF (EDF.PA).However, some analysts said ostentatious deal-signing would appear opportunistic at a time of heigh...

Detached house sells for $1.9 million in San Jose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

933 Portswood Circle – Google Street ViewA 1,797-square-foot house built in 1977 has changed hands. The new owners acquired the property in the 900 block of Portswood Circle on March 14, 2023. A 1,797-square-foot house built in 1977 has changed hands. The property located in the 900 block of Portswood Circle in San Jose was sold on March 14, 2023, for $1,885,000, or $1,049 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, two baths, a garage, and two parking spaces. There’s also a pool in the backyard. The unit sits on a 6,572-square-foot lot.Additional houses have recently changed hands nearby:In October 2022, a 1,780-square-foot home on Martwood Way in San Jose sold for $1,630,000, a price per square foot of $916. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 2,257-square-foot home on the 800 block of Portswood Circle in San Jose sold in February 2023, for $1,800,000, a price per square foot of $798. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Micro Court, San Jose, in September 20...

Diamondbacks open 4-game series at home against the Dodgers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (3-3)Phoenix; Thursday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Dustin May (0-0); Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -153, Diamondbacks +130; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Los Angeles Dodgers to start a four-game series.Arizona had a 74-88 record overall and a 40-41 record in home games last season. The Diamondbacks batted .230 as a team in the 2022 season with a .689 OPS.Los Angeles went 111-51 overall and 54-27 on the road last season. The Dodgers scored 5.2 runs per game while giving up 3.2 in the 2022 season.INJURIES: Diamondbacks: Corbin Martin: 60-Day IL (lat), Carson Kelly: 10-Day IL (forearm), Mark Melancon: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Joe Mantiply: 15-Day IL (shoulder)Dodgers: Mookie Betts: day-to-day (ankle), Miguel Rojas: day-to-day (groin), Miguel Vargas: day-to-day (thumb), Alex Reyes: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (oblique), Jimmy N...

Braves host the Padres to open 4-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:42:54 GMT

San Diego Padres (3-3) vs. Atlanta Braves (5-1)Atlanta; Thursday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Blake Snell (0-0); Braves: Spencer Strider (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -165, Padres +140; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres to open a four-game series.Atlanta had a 101-61 record overall and a 55-26 record in home games last season. The Braves slugged .443 with a .761 OPS as a team in the 2022 season.San Diego had an 89-73 record overall and a 45-36 record in road games last season. The Padres averaged 8.1 hits per game in the 2022 season with 2.8 extra base hits per game.INJURIES: Braves: Max Fried: 15-Day IL (left hamstring), Huascar Ynoa: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kolby Allard: 60-Day IL (oblique), Tyler Matzek: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Wright: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Raisel Iglesias: 15-Day IL (shoulder)Padres: Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Adrian Morejon...