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Actor Michael Gambon, who played Dumbledore in the later Harry Potter films, has died at age 82, his publicist says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

LONDON — Veteran actor Michael Gambon, who was known to many for his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight “Harry Potter” films, has died, his publicist said Thursday. He was 82.A statement by his family, issued by his publicist, said he died following “a bout of pneumonia.”“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside,” his family said.No matter what role he took on in a career that lasted more than five decades, Gambon was always instantly recognizable by the deep and drawling tones of his voice. He was cast as the much-loved Dumbledore after the death of his predecessor, Richard Harris, in 2002.He once acknowledged not having read any of J. K. Rowling’s best-selling books, arguing that it was safer to follow the script rather than be too influenced by the books. That didn’t prevent him from embodying the spirit of ...

Freedom Holding Expands Its Ecosystems by Adding a Telecom Company to It

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

Freedom Holding is a well-known brand for investors. Headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the holding provides investment services throughout the CIS region (and some other markets). The company is listed on an American stock exchange and has a market value of roughly $5.2 billion. Freedom Holding is constantly evolving and several interesting events have occurred just over the last few months. What should we know about Freedom’s business, its outlooks and its performance?1. Freedom Finance has had its headquarters in Kazakhstan for years and is currently working on its ecosystem. The company used to operate in Russia, but it left the Russian market in 2022. In early 2023, a deal was approved by the Russian regulator and the holding’s brokerage and banking business in Russia was successfully sold. Upon leaving the Russian market, the holding reported losses of $104.2 million. Later, these losses decreased by $12.4 million, according to the company’s financial statements.  ...

Marijuana grow found by LAFD crews battling Northridge house fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

Police are investigating a marijuana grow operation discovered as firefighters were battling a house fire in Northridge Thursday morning. Los Angeles Fire Department crews responded to the single-story home in the 16900 block of West Tupper Street around 4:30 a.m.Fire was showing when the first responders arrived, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Margaret Stewart stated in a news alert.At one point, the flames extended into the attic, prompting firefighters to conduct an extensive ventilation operation on the roof. Thirty firefighters managed to extinguish the fire in just over half an hour. "The contents of the home indicate a marijuana grow operation," Stewart stated.Los Angeles Police Department investigators were called to the scene to investigate the operation. The cause of the fire was also under investigation.

Can Customers Safely Use Expired CBD Items?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

Everyone knows they “shouldn’t” eat supplements after expiration…but what if you have a container of CBD capsulesthat just passed the manufacturer’s expiration date? Would it be unsafe to use CBD extracts if they’ve expired? How long does CBD last anyway?If you’re staring at a CBD product that has passed its posted shelf-life, you need to know the risks associated with using an expired supplement. It’s also crucial for customers to understand how to store their CBD to guarantee their hemp stays fresh for the longest time possible.Wait, Doesn’t CBD Last For A Really Long Time?Although CBD has a long shelf-life, it won’t stay fresh forever. Over time, the CBD in your oils, capsules, or edibles will steadily degrade, thus reducing the potency of your chosen product. On average, it appears CBD can remain shelf-stable for about one year. Some argue CBD may remain bioavailable for two years if you store your product in the fridge.Please remember this doesn’t mean a CBD item has a shelf-li...

San Jose leaders OK $400,000 settlement with ex officer who alleged anti-Muslim harassment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

SAN JOSE – A former San Jose police officer will receive a $400,000 payout to settle a lawsuit that claimed his colleagues subjected him to constant Islamophobic harassment.The San Jose City Council approved the pre-trial settlement with Nabil Haidar on Tuesday.The Lebanese-American officer sued the department in 2018, alleging he was the target of anti-Muslim remarks and insults that ramped up following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He claimed the comments associated him with radical organizations and car bombings, and that he was referred to with slurs attacking his background.The city, for its part, argued Haidar was a willing participant and responded to the remarks in kind.“Officer Haidar is a hero for taking on powers that be within the department, including the top command staff, in order to expose racism and Islamophobia,” Haidar’s Oakland-based attorney, Randall Strauss, said in a statement. “He fought this case for years in the face of intense pressure that ultima...

Officials: Oakland can’t solve its “pirate” problem unless it fixes its homeless crisis first

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

In one of the first public meetings since the Alameda boating community raised the alarm over a “pirate” crime wave in the Oakland Estuary, the state agency in charge of ensuring the wellbeing of bay waterways agreed the situation was unacceptable.But it offered no imminent solution to a crime spree that reached a fever pitch a month ago when dozens of small boats and dinghies were stolen, stripped for parts and often sunk, and 70-year-old and 80-year-old boaters were embarking on vigilante-style missions to retrieve them. Boaters talked of “hand-to-hand combat,” and it seemed only a matter of time before someone got hurt.“I understand the frustration of the people who actually live on the water because it’s impacting them and their daily lives,” said Marie Gilmore, the chair of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.In the meeting this week, members of the boating community again expressed their concerns about crime and “anchor-outs”– ...

What SF Giants are losing in Brian Bannister: ‘A miracle worker’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Almost always shading his stoic expression behind a pair of dark-lensed aviators, Brian Bannister often looked as much like a secret agent as a pitching coach. But his role with the San Francisco Giants would be more aptly represented by a lab coat.Reliever John Brebbia described him as a “miracle worker,” a term other pitchers surveyed by this news organization agreed with unanimously.“I look to him as like a scientist with a baseball,” reliever Scott Alexander said.“He’s the think tank behind it all,” said starter Alex Cobb, who counts himself as one of the Giants’ many reclamation projects who benefitted from Bannister’s input.All things considered, then, the news of Bannister’s departure last week sent ripples through the Giants’ pitching staff. After operating the past four seasons as the Giants’ director of pitching, Bannister accepted a new position in the White Sox’s front office. He will...

49ers’ Javon Hargrave set to face the man who helped him shine in Philly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

SANTA CLARA — There was a time during the preseason when speculation was rampant the Arizona Cardinals were tanking the season under rookie head coach Jonathan Gannon.Why else would general manager Monti Ossenfort release five-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and release quarterback Colt McCoy, giving the job to untested Josh Dobbs, and make other roster moves that were deemed dubious by the general public?No one knows when or if quarterback Kyler Murray will play this season. But when the Cardinals could have (and should have) beat Washington and the New York Giants in Weeks 1 and 2 and then rose up and smacked the Dallas Cowboys 28-16, 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave wasn’t surprised.Nor will Hargrave be shocked if Arizona gives the 49ers all they can handle Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.“I know he’s highly motivated so he’s going to have them boys ready to play,” Hargrave said Wednesday. “They’re going to play good ball....

Michael Gambon, Dumbledore actor in ‘Harry Potter,’ dies age 82

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

By Zahid Mahmood | CNNActor Michael Gambon, best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in most of the “Harry Potter” movies, has died at 82 following a “bout of pneumonia,” a statement issued on behalf of his family said on Thursday, PA Media news agency reported.“We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon,” the statement issued by his publicist Clair Dobbs said, according to PA.Actor Michael Gambon, pictured here in 2016, has died at 82 after a “bout of pneumonia,” a statement issued on behalf of his family said on Thursday, PA Media news agency reported.(Roger Askew/Shutterstock via CNN) “Beloved husband and father, Michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife Anne and son Fergus at his bedside, following a bout of pneumonia. Michael was 82.”“We ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time and thank you for your messages of support and love.”Gambon was known for his extensive catalog of work across TV, film and radio, with another of his biggest r...

Opinion: What billionaires planning Bay Area city can teach us about housing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:30 GMT

A cadre of Silicon Valley elites is drawing fierce criticism from local residents and environmentalists for planning a new city on the outskirts of the Bay Area, a project dubbed “California Forever.” But the effort should be applauded for revealing a truth about California’s failed housing policies.This group of California’s most influential wants to build one or more new towns on the urban fringes, having spent about $900 million to buy an area roughly twice the size of San Francisco some 60 miles east of the city. The project breaks with the philosophy of the state’s housing policy, which has long been focused on urban densification.Despite the state’s efforts to encourage residential development, California’s housing markets remain among the least affordable in the country. The homeownership rate is near the nation’s lowest. To afford a house at the median price today in Southern California, a family needs an annual income of $180,000, twice the region’s median.Some housing advo...