HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

Efforts by President Joe Biden and other world leaders for a “humanitarian pause” in the war between Israel and Hamas has not been greeted warmly by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met Friday with Netanyahu to ask for several “pauses” to allow food, water, medicine and other materials to alleviate suffering of civilians caught between the two sides.

The Israeli response was that a cease-fire would depend on the willingness of Hamas to release about 200 hostages — civilians as well as military – now held by Hamas.

Combat on Friday included an air strike on the front of a hospital which the Israeli military claimed was being used as a “terrorist cell.” An ambulance was attacked for the same suspected cause.

Earthquake rocks Nepal

A strong earthquake struck northwestern Nepal on Friday, killing at least 128 people and hurting “dozens more.”

The mountainous regions of the country wedged between China and India can be difficult to reach, and the government has dispatched soldiers and helicopters to provide relief to the affected areas.

They have been involved in clearing roads and trails blocked in landslides caused by the tremors.

A practice of building with masonry that is not reinforced with steel contributes to the damage and death.

The death toll was the worst in the Jajarkot area, where 92 people have died.

Weather: Partly cloudy still hanging on

If you look up in the sky in our West Orange County area, you’ll find that the skies are looking pretty familiar from day to day: partly cloudy. Saturday will have a daytime high of 79 with an overnight low of 55. Sunday will cool a bit to 75 (57) and change little on Monday at 75 (59). Tuesday will be a bit cooler with a high pf 72 and a low of 53.