Author: admin@primenews

US Vice-President Kamala Harris says people in Gaza “are starving” and has urged Israel to “significantly increase the flow of aid” there. She said “there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks”, which would “get the [Israeli] hostages out”. Earlier, Israel did not attend truce talks in Egypt, saying Hamas was not giving a list of hostages still alive. Hamas told the BBC it was unable to do so because of the Israeli bombing. “Practically it is impossible to know who is still alive,” said Dr Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official. Hamas’s team and…

A high-profile lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s X targeting hate speech researchers appeared to stumble on Thursday as a federal judge sounded a skeptical note on many of the lawsuit’s allegations, suggesting that the company formerly known as Twitter hasn’t done enough to establish its claims. The judge in the case signaled he may toss out X’s claims but appeared undecided on whether to let the company amend and refile the suit. The lawsuit by X against the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), a nonprofit watchdog group, has been viewed as a bellwether for third parties’ ability to study…

China’s vast manufacturing industry sent mixed signals last month about the health of the economy, fueling calls for Beijing to do more to boost growth just days before a key meeting of the country’s leaders. The National Bureau of Statistics reported Friday that the official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of activity at mainly large, state-owned manufacturers dropped to 49.1 last month, down from 49.2 in January. It was the fifth consecutive month the index has shown a reading below 50, indicating contraction in the sector. But the Caixin manufacturing PMI — which focuses on smaller, private companies — rose to 50.9 in…

Tour operators and a company which owns the New Zealand island where a volcanic eruption killed 22 people and wounded many others have been fined $1.6 million (NZ$2.6 million), and ordered to pay victims and surviving families $6.2 million (NZ$10.2 million) in compensation. The District Court in Auckland handed down its sentence on Friday, ending a criminal prosecution brought by WorkSafe, New Zealand’s health and safety regulators, to seek justice for 47 tourists who were on Whakaari or White Island on December 9, 2019. The island, 48 kilometers (30 miles) off New Zealand’s North Island, was once a popular tourist destination for those wanting to…

Eleven people have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a five-storey building in London. About 160 people were evacuated from Emperor’s Gate, in South Kensington, after the fire spread from a ground-floor flat just after midnight. London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the blaze, which had spread to the roof of the building, was now under control. It said the people taken to hospital were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation. ‘Incredibly challenging’ Fifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters arrived at the scene to find half of the ground floor of the building was alight,…

Amy Dowden has said she is desperate to return to Strictly following her treatment for breast cancer. The dancer, 33, from Caerphilly, said she was grateful to “see another St David’s Day”, after being told she had grade three breast cancer last year. She was diagnosed shortly after filming started on the second series of her TV show Dare to Dance, where she travels across Wales teaching dance routines. After a mastectomy and chemotherapy, there is now “no evidence of disease”. Amy returns to screens on Dare to Dance on Friday, saying: “Basically, it’s like a people’s Strictly and, for me,…

A former government adviser on faith has urged Rishi Sunak to apologise to London Mayor Sadiq Khan after ex-Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson said he was under the control of Islamists. Colin Bloom told the BBC the comments about Mr Khan were “disgusting”.Mr Anderson was suspended from the Conservative Party in Parliament after refusing to apologise. The government said it was “clear there must be zero tolerance for any form of extremism, racism or hatred”. A spokesperson said earlier this month ministers had announced they would introduce “new powers to crack down on intimidatory and aggressive behaviour at protests, and…we…

People age 65 and older should get an additional dose of the current Covid-19 vaccine, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. The agency’s independent vaccine advisers voted Wednesday to recommend the additional shot, and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen endorsed the recommendation. The vote of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was 11 yes and one no, with one person abstaining. Under the new recommendation, people 65 and older can receive an additional dose of any updated Covid-19 vaccine at least four months after the previous shot. The current Covid-19 vaccine, which was updated last fall, is considered highly…

Parts of the UK including East Anglia, the Midlands and areas of South Wales have had their wettest February on record, the Met Office is expected to confirm on Friday. This winter’s statistics from the UK’s national weather service will also likely show it’s been a mild winter with fewer frosty nights than normal. Data is expected on Friday afternoon. Farmers say they are losing crops to floods while less frost hurts the growth of trees like apples and pears., If confirmed, the weather statistics will be in line with long-term projections of warmer, wetter winters due to climate change.…

George Galloway is back in Parliament with a resounding win in the Rochdale by-election after a campaign in which the Gaza war was a running theme. “Keir Starmer – this is for Gaza,” the former Labour MP said, after polling 12,335 votes, nearly 6,000 more than any other candidate. Labour, which had a 10,000 majority, had withdrawn support for candidate Azhar Ali over antisemitic comments. Mr Galloway will take his Commons seat for the Workers Party of Britain. He has previously been an MP for Labour until 2003, then in the Commons as an independent and Respect Party MP for…