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Von der Leyen’s Israel comments provoke Palestinian ire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has come under attack from Palestine, after praising Israeli democracy in comments to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel’s foundation.In a video message posted by the EU embassy in Israel, von der Leyen paid tribute to Israel as “a vibrant democracy in the heart of the Middle East.”“You have literally made the desert bloom,” she added — a comment that was denounced by the Palestinian foreign ministry.“The State of Palestine rejects the inappropriate, false and discriminatory remarks by the president of the European Commission, particularly the ‘make the desert bloom’ anti-Palestinian racist trope in relation to Israel’s 75 year colonial project,” a statement said, accusing von der Leyen of “propagandist discourse.”Von der Leyen, who visited Israel and the Palestinian territories last June, also praised the EU-Israel relationship.“We have more in common than geography would suggest, our shared culture, our values a...

The old guard: Joe Biden seems like a spring chicken compared to some of these guys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

When the U.S. president on Tuesday announced that he would seek reelection in 2024, attention quickly turned to his advanced age. If elected, Joe Biden would be 82 on inauguration day in 2025, and 86 on leaving the White House in January 2029. POLITICO took a look around the globe and back through history to meet some other elected world leaders who continued well into their octogenarian years, at a time when most people have settled for their dressing gown and slippers, some light gardening, and complaining about young people. Here are seven of the oldest — and yes, they’re all men.Paul BiyaPresident of Cameroon Paul Biya | Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesThe world’s oldest serving leader, Cameroon’s president has been in power since 1982, winning his (latest) reelection at the age of 85 with a North Korea-esque 71.28 percent of the vote. Spanning more than four decades and seven consecutive terms — in 2008, a constitutional reform lifted term limits — Biy...

Peacock escapes from Bronx Zoo, spends night roosting in tree

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

An escaped peacock who bit a man spent the night roosting in a tree in the Bronx. Despite all efforts to safely capture the bird, officials say “Raul” is still perched high up in the tree. The peacock flew from its coop at Bronx Zoo on Wednesday. Firefighters say it went on the attack, pecking a man who tried to trap it. The Zoo hasn’t said how it plans to get Raul back home.

Montana House Republicans ban Rep. Zooey Zephyr from House chamber for remainder of legislative session

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

(CNN) — Montana’s Republican-dominated House voted Wednesday to ban Rep. Zooey Zephyr, who had said GOP lawmakers would have “blood” on their hands for passing bills restricting transgender rights and rallied protesters Monday after Speaker Matt Regier blocked her from being recognized to speak, from the House chamber for the remainder of this year’s legislative session.Under the disciplinary measure approved on a 68-32 vote Wednesday, Zephyr — the 34-year-old Democrat from Missoula who last year became the first openly transgender woman elected to Montana’s legislature — will be allowed to retain her seat and cast votes remotely. But she will not be able to participate in debates. The session is scheduled to end next week.“We have a week and a half left of the session, and we’ll be covering important topics — housing bills, the state’s budget — and every bill that goes forward for the remainder of this session, ...

Transit Police: Man arrested after allegedly punching window of MBTA bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

A 50-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly punching the window of an MBTA bus, according to Transit Police. The incident happened around 5 p.m. in the 600 block of Broadway Street in Chelsea. Police say the man became violent when he was told the bus was at capacity and he could not board. The window was spider web cracked and the bus removed from service, officials say.The man’s name has not been released. https://twitter.com/MBTATransitPD/status/1651552741284622339

US economy grew at weak 1.1% rate in Q1 in sign of slowdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

By PAUL WISEMAN (AP Economics Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy slowed sharply from January through March, decelerating to just a 1.1% annual pace as higher interest rates hammered the housing market and businesses reduced inventories.Thursday’s estimate from the Commerce Department showed that the nation’s gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of economic output — weakened after growing 3.2% from July through September and 2.6% from October through November.But consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, remained resilient, growing at a 3.7% annual pace, the fastest quarterly pace in nearly two years.The slowdown reflects the impact of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive drive to tame inflation, with nine interest rate hikes over the past year. The surge in borrowing costs is expected to send the economy into a recession sometime this year. Though inflation has steadily eased from the four-decade high it ...

Dave Hyde: A double-header of 8th-seed delight as Heat stun Bucks, Panthers shock Bruins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

All right, you can pinch yourself now.It was real.Wednesday was one big playoff surprise from the Florida Panthers stacked on an even bigger one from the Miami Heat.Two unbelievable Game 5′s. Two overtime delights. Six double-decked hours of hoops and hockey hysteria that are unmatched in South Florida history with parallel endings that you never saw coming and rocked their respective sports.The eighth-seed Panthers really went into top-seed Boston and won in overtime, 4-3, to keep their season alive for a Game 6 on Friday in Sunrise.The eight-seed Heat really went into top-seed Milwaukee and won in overtime, 128-126, to close out that shocking series and advance to play the New York Knicks.Do you know how many times two teams from the same market had ever won playoff games on the road, in overtime, on the same night?Of course you don’t know. No one has ever had the need to research such a stat in a sports world where every stat is researched. But you can guess how often...

‘23 Mini Cooper Clubman S exceeds expectations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

MINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoMINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoMINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoMINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoMINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoMINI Clubman. Photo By Marc GrassoShow Caption of ExpandAs no history lesson is needed, Mini has really come a long way. With their original Cooper and Cooper S, their brand has expanded down multiple avenues while still staying in the sedan category. As a subsidiary of BMW of North America, MINI comes to Grasso’s Garage this week with their 2023 Clubman S All4.Wrapped in Sage Green with gold accents, our 2023 MINI Cooper S Clubman All4 is really a good looking sedan. Its all-wheel drive capability is nicely oriented in the winter months. Powering the Clubman S is the 2.0 liter MINI TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine producing 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Although these numbers seem low and entry level, this is the opposite. Its peppy-like 8-speed sport automatic transmission was quick and lag-less unlike ...

Releasing leak suspect Jack Teixeira a national security risk, feds say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

Federal prosecutors will urge a judge Thursday to keep behind bars a Massachusetts Air National guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents, arguing he may still have access to secret national defense information he could expose.In court papers filed late Wednesday, the Justice Department lawyers said releasing 21-year-old Jack Teixeira from jail while he awaits trial would be a grave threat to the U.S. national security. Investigators are still trying to determine whether he kept any physical or digital copies of classified information, including files that haven’t already surfaced publicly, they wrote.“There simply is no condition or combination of conditions that can ensure the Defendant will not further disclose additional information still in his knowledge or possession,” prosecutors wrote. “The damage the Defendant has already caused to the U.S. national security is immense. The damage the Defendant is still capable of causing is extraordinary.”A detentio...

San Francisco to repeal boycott of anti-LGBTQ+ states

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:28:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco is repealing a ban on city-funded travel to 30 states that it says restrict abortion, voting and LGBTQ+ rights after determining the boycott is doing more harm than good.The Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 on Tuesday to repeal a section of the city’s administrative code that prohibits staff from visiting and city departments from contracting with companies headquartered in the states, which include Texas, Florida and Ohio.California, meanwhile, is considering the repeal of a similar law.City supervisors will hold a second and final vote next Tuesday. Mayor London Breed is expected to sign the measure.The progressive city passed the boycott in 2016, after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. At first, the boycott applied only to states that it considered restricted the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Later, the list was expanded to include states that limit access to voting and abortion.The idea was to exert economic pressure...