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Unite the right? Cordon sanitaire holds back EU-wide right-wing alliance, for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

Italian and French right-wing leaders Matteo Salvini and Marine Le Pen hoped to lay the groundwork for a right-to-far-right majority for the European Union in a meeting Monday. But mainstream conservatives in Brussels had other ideas.With less than a year to go until the European elections, speculation is mounting that the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) could build new alliances with fledgling right-wing groups in the newly formed European Parliament. This could potentially end its decades-old coalition with the center-left Socialists and Democrats.Salvini, who leads Italy’s populist League party, offered to act as a middleman between the EPP and the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) grouping, to which his party belongs. “Salvini reiterated his determination to build a common home for the center-right alternative to socialists, without vetoes,” wrote the League in a readout of the meeting with Le Pen. “I want to unite the whole center-right, the unity of our po...

Lupica: Leon Rose opened the Knicks’ window; now he’s on the clock before it closes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

Leon Rose became president of the basketball operation at Madison Square Garden a little over three years ago, March of 2020. In that time, Rose has done a lot, mostly because the Knicks have come back from being on the wrong side of the clown line in the NBA. They have finished fourth in the Eastern Conference and finished fifth, and won just the team’s second playoff series – wait for it – in this century. It’s a lot. Just not enough.There has to be some urgency now for Rose, as patient an executive as he obviously likes being, if not as much as he likes being the New York City sports executive that the media can’t find. As crazy as this sounds, just because of the joke the Knicks had become over the two decades before Rose got to the Garden, getting the Knicks this far is the easy part compared to what comes next:Moving up from the middle of the pack in the conference to the top of it.To do that, Rose still needs a star. You keep hearing that the sta...

Israel launches most intense military operation in West Bank in years; at least 8 Palestinians dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

By NASSER NASSER and JOSEF FEDERMAN (Associated Press)JENIN, West Bank (AP) — Israel on Monday launched its most intense military operation in the occupied West Bank in nearly two decades, carrying out a series of drone strikes and sending hundreds of troops on an open-ended mission into a militant stronghold. At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded.The crackdown was reminiscent of Israeli military tactics during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s and came at a time of growing domestic pressure for a tough response to recent attacks on Israeli settlers, including a shooting last month that killed four Israelis.The operation took place in the Jenin refugee camp — an area in the northern West Bank that has long been known as a bastion of militants. The fighting, which began shortly after midnight, continued past nightfall.Throughout the day, black smoke rose from the crowded streets of the camp, a densely populated neighborhood that is ho...

Massachusetts State Police seize 64 packages of fireworks, arrest Springfield man ahead of 4th of July

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

The crackdown on fireworks ahead of the Fourth of July continued over the weekend, as Massachusetts State Police seized a massive amount of fireworks and arrested a Springfield man.On Sunday evening, a trooper in western Massachusetts stopped a 2019 Infiniti QX80 SUV on Route 91 south in Hatfield. That highway stop led to an arrest and the seizure of a large amount of fireworks.The trooper stopped the car because the vehicle’s insurance had been canceled. Then when the trooper approached the SUV, the statie saw the fireworks in plain view inside.The driver, a 22-year-old Springfield man, was operating with a suspended driver’s license, and was charged with various motor vehicle offenses and unlawful fireworks possession.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | US forest managers urge Silly String instead of fireworks, but some environmentalists say not so fast Crime & Public Safety | Mayo Clinic Minute: Fireworks safety tips Crime &...

ThunderShirts, dance parties and anxiety meds can help ease dogs’ July Fourth dread

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

By TERRY TANG (Associated Press)PHOENIX (AP) — On the Friday before the Fourth of July, more than a dozen dog owners waited in triple-digit temperatures in south Phoenix to get into a microchipping event inside a shelter.It didn’t hurt that Maricopa County was offering a discount. But, several were there because they knew having a microchip with their contact information implanted in their pups would increase the likelihood of their pet being returned if the worst happens on Independence Day. “Ava’s a scaredy-cat of any loud noises,” said Rori Chang, who was there with her golden retriever. “Her immediate reaction is to hide in corners and after that, she will literally paw at you wanting you to pet her the whole time.” Most of the U.S. may be looking forward to Tuesday for dazzling displays of fireworks or setting off firecrackers and poppers with their neighbors. Those with furry, four-legged family members — maybe not so much. They&...

Is the housing market about to crash? Here’s what experts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

Jeff Ostrowski | (TNS) BankrateAfter a record-breaking run that saw mortgage rates plunge to all-time lows and home prices soar to new highs, the U.S. housing market finally started slowing in late 2022. Mortgage companies engaged in mass layoffs, real estate economists lamented a “housing recession” and home prices seemed poised for a correction.But a strange thing happened on the way to the housing crash: Home values started rising again. In fact, housing prices have increased for three months in a row, according to the latest Case-Shiller home price index.“The U.S. housing market continued to strengthen in April 2023,” Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in a June 27 statement about the latest Case-Shiller reading. “Home prices peaked in June 2022, declined until January 2023, and then began to recover.”Yes, home values were down compared to April 2022 — but only by a mere 0.2 percent. In other words, the housing boom might be over, but this pau...

Police confirm two more Wichita club shooting victims, bringing total to 11 hurt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

By The Associated PressWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two additional gunshot victims have emerged from a weekend shooting at a Kansas nightclub, bringing the total number of injured people to 11, Wichita police said Monday.Meanwhile, a St. Louis-area man was arrested in connection with the shooting, and police are working to “identify all individuals involved in the shooting and hold them accountable,” according to a news release.Several shooters opened fire just before 1 a.m. Sunday inside the City Nightz club in downtown Wichita, according to police. Seven people were initially listed as injured by gunfire, and two others were trampled in the rush to escape.Two additional shooting victims arrived at hospitals later Sunday with minor injuries, Officer Juan Rebolledo said. All of the victims are expected to survive, he said.One suspect, a 31-year-old man from Florissant, Missouri, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal battery. He had not been formally charged as o...

Four ways to accommodate special diets at your Fourth of July celebrations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

The Fourth of July is an occasion to celebrate the birthday of the United States. It’s also a time for gathering with friends and family, grilling and enjoying good food and cool drinks.Unfortunately, those with special dietary needs face unique challenges when eating away from home.Nearly one in five adults report following a special diet. Special diets are sometimes needed to help manage medical concerns or food allergies, requiring limiting or avoiding certain ingredients or foods such as sugar, salt, dairy, nuts or gluten, for example. They may also involve adhering to a dietary pattern such as vegan or vegetarian for ethical or environmental concerns.Regardless of the reason for special diets, it’s important for guests to have safe, healthy and satisfying food options. While it may not be realistic to serve a menu that 100% accommodates all guests with and without food restrictions, it’s important to offer safe alternatives when able. Whether you are hosting the barbeque or bri...

What we know so far about the mass shooting in Baltimore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

Dan Belson | The Baltimore SunA mass shooting at a block party early Sunday morning in South Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighborhood killed two people and wounded 28 others — a victim tally that rivals any act of gun violence in the city in at least several decades.What happened?The gunfire erupted on the 800 block of Gretna Court in the Brooklyn Homes complex after midnight Sunday morning during the community’s “Brooklyn Day” celebration — an annual toast to the South Baltimore neighborhood with grilled foods, pony rides, face painting, dance competitions, music from a DJ, and appearances by Baltimore rappers Roddy Rackzz and OTR Chaz. Parents in the crowd before the shooting had babies strapped to their backs, residents said.Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Sunday that the event was “unpermitted,” meaning police were not told about it in advance. He said he would be looking into what officers did once it was determined there was a large party.While there has been...

Venus Williams falls early in her first match at her 24th Wimbledon and loses to Elina Svitolina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:52 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — As Venus Williams entered Centre Court for her 24th Wimbledon appearance at age 43, greeted by a standing ovation, she held a green exercise band overhead with both hands and stretched it while striding to her sideline seat.Once her first-round match against Elina Svitolina began, Williams played like a throwback version of herself. Those big serves. Those crisp strokes. Quickly, she was a point from a 3-0 lead on Monday.And then, moving forward to attempt a volley, Williams slipped on the green grass. Her right foot gave way. She collapsed to the ground. She shrieked and clutched at her right knee, which already was covered by a beige sleeve. Williams twice was treated by a trainer — including getting that knee taped up during a medical timeout after the first set — and although the American kept playing, she could not manage to overcome 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Svitolina in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat.Williams was the oldest player in this year’s field and the f...