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US House speaker in Knesset amid fraught US-Israel ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. House speaker addressed Israel’s parliament on Monday, a rare honor awarded to the highest-ranking Republican in U.S. politics at a time of fraught relations between Israel’s government and Democratic President Joe Biden.Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu portrayed the speech as a nod to bipartisan U.S. support for Israel as it marks 75 years since its creation. Critics say the platform given to McCarthy — he’s only the second House speaker to address the Knesset, after Newt Gingrich in 1998 — is a pointed jab at Biden.McCarthy spoke to the Knesset, greeted by frequent applause and a standing ovation, as lawmakers returned from a month-long recess. They are expected to resume the fight over a contentious plan, promoted by the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, to overhaul the judiciary. The plan has split Israelis and drawn a rare public rebuke from Biden. Amid the tensions, Biden has so far denied Netany...

Missouri judge temporarily blocks rule that would limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender kids and adults

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri judge temporarily blocks rule that would limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender kids and adults.Source

Golden Beach Police officer released from hospital after being shot during Hollywood car theft chase

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

A Golden Beach Police officer was released from the hospital Monday after he was shot during a car theft chase. The recovery process continues for Golden Beach Police Sgt. Joseph Bautista after he came under fire over the weekend.The suspects were caught and appeared in court Sunday.Jordan Christophe is facing several charges, which includes attempted felony murder.This all started early Saturday morning when police picked up on a stolen car.“Eastbound Sunny Isles Boulevard and Collins, units looking for a 2015 grey Nissan Altima,” an officer said on Broadcastify police scanner.A chase then started, with backup coming from different agencies that were involved.“The suspects bailed out of the car, and it was during that foot pursuit, that a Golden Beach sergeant was shot twice in the arm,” said Hollywood Police Spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi.Police eventually captured the shooting suspect, Christophe, and another man, Marvens DeClasse, who’s being charge...

Growing search for Texas gunman who killed 5 enters 3rd day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) — The search in Texas for a gunman who fatally shot five neighbors with an AR-style rifle entered a third day Monday after authorities over the weekend widened a dragnet near Houston and appealed to the public for tips on the killer’s whereabouts.On Monday afternoon, authorities in neighboring Montgomery County told residents to stay inside “out of an abundance of caution” near an area that had a heavy police presence following a possible sighting of the suspect. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said they had no confirmation the person was 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza.Oropeza, has been at large since the shooting just before midnight Friday in the rural town of Cleveland. By Sunday evening, authorities said more than 250 officers from multiple jurisdictions had joined the manhunt, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott put up $50,000 in reward money for tips leading to Oropeza’s capture.“I can tell you right now, we have zero leads,” James Sm...

State police wrangle two equines horsing around on Route 88 in Westport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

A pair of horses are back home after taking a trot onto Route 88 in Westport Monday morning, according to Massachusetts State Police.On social media, the MSP said it just before 8 a.m. when two horses were able to get loose from their stable and make their way onto the roadway.Authorities said the State Police Troop D Community Action Team, members of the Dartmouth Barracks, and an MSP Mounted Unit responded and were able to wrangle the animals.Several photos of the operation were shared on Facebook and Twitter, including a shot of Trooper Alex Boswell, who authorities said was able to get a rope onto one of the horses and helped escort them back home with their owner.

Vanessa Bryant shares sweet posts on Gigi’s 17th birthday: ‘Love you and miss you so much’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

Vanessa Bryant shared several sweet photos of her and Kobe Bryant’s daughter Gianna, who would have turned 17 on Monday.The Instagram images showed Gianna with family members including her mother and two of her sisters. One photo showed a smiling Gianna riding a merry-go-round.“Happy 17th birthday, baby girl,” Vanessa captioned her first post. “I love you and miss you so much, sweet Angel.”Gianna — whose nickname was Gigi — was 13 when she and Kobe Bryant were killed in a January 2020 helicopter crash on their way to her basketball game. Seven others also died in the crash in Calabasas, Calif.Gigi was the second eldest of Kobe and Vanessa’s four daughters.“We love you to the moon and back infinity +1,” Vanessa captioned another post Monday. “Forever & Always.”Kobe, who was 41, married Vanessa in 2001. He won five championships in 20 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 2008 NBA MVP made 18 All-Star t...

Ravens decline linebacker Patrick Queen’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent after 2023 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta declined to discuss linebacker Patrick Queen’s fifth-year option during the NFL last week, but by Monday the team had made up its mind.Baltimore is declining Queen’s option, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun, meaning that the 23-year-old will be a free agent after this season.The Ravens had until Tuesday to make a decision on the option, which would have cost $12.77 million.With $100 million already tied up in fellow linebacker Roquan Smith, who will carry a $9 million cap hit this year, $13.5 million in 2024, $22.5 million in 2025 and $27.5 million in 2026 and 2027, that would have tied up a lot of money for two linebackers.“Patrick is, in my mind, one of the better [inside] linebackers in the league,” DeCosta said Friday. “He’s smart, he works his butt off, he has a bright future. I think he’s a Pro Bowl linebacker in the making.”It just won’t be with the Ravens beyond this season.The ...

Bruins beat: Coaching decisions come into question after epic failure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

The Bruins’ depth was a good problem to have, we all thought. But good problems are still problems that require solutions.And in the end, the Bruins had so much depth that they didn’t know what to do with it. Literally.As we sit here on the Day After, sifting through the wreckage of the B’s shattered dreams and first-round series loss to what — according to the league standings — was the worst team in the playoffs, that’s what comes to mind.The B’s team that would eventually win a record 65 games was buoyed by some strong additions at the trade deadline by GM Don Sweeney, but coach Jim Montgomery never figured out what his best lineup and line combinations were.As late as Game 7, Montgomery was still experimenting with his combos, trying out a line of Tyler Bertuzzi with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand for the first time in the playoffs after they played a total of 7:06 together in the regular season. Sadly but yet fittingly, that unit was on the ice...

Alleged Chinese police stations still open in Quebec, despite minister’s claims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

MONTREAL — Two Montreal-area community groups under investigation for allegedly hosting secret Chinese government police stations say they are operating normally.Their comments contradict claims made last week by federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, who told a parliamentary committee that the RCMP had closed all the alleged secret police stations in the country.The RCMP say their investigation into the suspected police stations in Montreal and its South Shore suburb Brossard, Que., is ongoing.But the two Chinese groups — Service à la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montréal and Centre Sino-Québec de la Rive-Sud — say they haven’t been asked to close by the federal police force.The said Friday in a joint statement that they have co-operated with the investigation but that communication between them and the RCMP had ceased. The alleged police stations are described as overseas outposts that harass people on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, but the  Chinese government ...

Vancouver port traffic dips in 2022, hinting at economic slowdown to come

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:32:24 GMT

MONTREAL — Cargo volumes at Canada’s largest port fell by three per cent last year as the global economy began to show signs of a slowdown.Though grain and fertilizer exports surged in the second half of 2022, the gains were not enough to offset a sputtering start to the year caused by a weak 2021 harvest and lingering supply chain problems, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority said Monday.After more than a year of rising container traffic, imports also fell by four per cent amid softer consumer demand and overstocked inventories, port authority CEO Robin Silvester said in a phone interview.Despite the decrease, he stressed that more capacity is “desperately needed” due to rising trade and population forecasts down the line. A new container terminal that would boost that capacity by nearly 50 per cent, dubbed the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, received federal cabinet approval last month — a critical step — but still requires various permits to proceed.A green lig...