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The Israel-Hamas war cuts deep into Germany’s soul

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

It’s as if one front in the Israel-Hamas war is playing out on the streets of Berlin.The main battleground has been an avenue lined with chicken and kebab restaurants in Neukölln, a neighborhood in the south-east of the city that’s home to many Middle Eastern immigrants. Some pro-Palestinian activists have called for demonstrators to turn out almost nightly, and, as one post put it, turn the area “into Gaza.”On October 18, hundreds of people, many of them teenagers, answered the call.“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” chanted many in the crowd as a phalanx of riot police closed in on them. Berlin public prosecutors say the slogan is a call for the erasure of Israel, and have moved to make its utterance a criminal offense.While similar scenes have played out across much of the world, for Germany’s leaders, they are profoundly embarrassing and strike at the heart of the nation’s identity, on account of the country’s Nazi past. Germany’s “history and our re...

Swiss election: 4 reasons you should care

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

Disclaimer: This article was written by a Swiss.Around five million Swiss voters will head to the polls on Sunday for a general election that will see them pick 246 lawmakers who will eventually elect a government. That government will have the difficult tasks of preserving Switzerland’s neutrality in a war-torn Europe; restoring confidence in the banking sector after the bailout of one of its largest institutions; fixing a damaged relationship with the European Union; and bringing health costs down. Sounds boring? We’re here to change your mind with four reasons you should be interested.It’s one more way to impress your Brussels friendsSwitzerland is the EU’s fourth-largest trading partner — and there’s some bad blood between Bern and Brussels, which was left bewildered by the 2021 Swiss decision to exit negotiations on a long-awaited cooperation agreement.But a quick look at domestic politics explains why: The right-wing SVP, the biggest party in the ...

Toyota’s electric cars will adopt Tesla’s charging standard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

(CNN) — Toyota has joined the growing list of automakers that have decided to switch to using Tesla’s charging standard. Beginning in 2025 all Toyota electric vehicles sold in the US will have charging ports designed to work with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), rather than the Combined Charging System plugs automakers in the US now use.Toyota’s announcement means that all of America’s best-selling automakers — Toyota ranks second only to General Motors in US sales — have agreed to switch to Tesla’s standard in the next few years.The switch, which is becoming nearly industry-wide, is happening quickly. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk announced in November of last year that he was inviting other automakers and charging companies to adopt Tesla’s NACS. Six months later, Ford announced it would switch to NACS, followed just a few weeks later by GM, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda and others. Earlier this month, Hyundai and Kia, two related South Ko...

United Auto Workers president to striking workers: ‘There’s more to be won’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

New York (CNN) — United Auto Workers union President Shawn Fain told members that all three automakers have now offered record contracts but that the union will continue its strike in a push for even better deals.“We’ve looked at the companies’ offers,” he told members on a Facebook Live negotiation update Friday afternoon. “In my opinion, and in the opinions of the vice presidents and in the opinion of your national negotiators, there is more to be won.”Fain did not announce an expansion of the strike, marking only the second week in the five weeks of the strike so far that the union has not expanded its reach. But he insisted the strike will continue until the union gets more for its members.“These are already record contracts,” he said about the offers from General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. “But they come at the end of decades of record decline. So it’s not enough to be the best ever.”Earlier on Friday, GM released the details of the latest offer it made to the UAW. ...

Westford woman raises money for the Jimmy Fund with elaborate Halloween display

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

A woman in Westford is raising money for the Jimmy Fund with an elaborate Halloween display. Melissa Krygowski calls her crew of more than 30 skeletons “the Funny Bone Bunch.” With the group currently making its annual appearance on the front lawn of her Acton Road home, Krygowski spoke to 7NEWS. “Usually, we put one display up and, every week, we’ll take all 30-plus skeletons down and do a new one,” Krygowski said. “But, because we surpassed our goal last year for donations, we decided to go much bigger, keep it up longer and add.”This year, Krygowski paid homage to the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, working with her husband, Bob Krygowski, to build a 74-foot ship in their yard. The ship features skeletons dumping tea as an unhappy King George skeleton looks on. So far, hundreds of visitors have come to see the display.“When they know it’s Funny Bone Bunch season, everybody starts asking, ‘What is it going to be? When is it going to be up?’ And they’re so supp...

In battle of unbeatens, King Philip gets past Milford, 23-14

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

WRENTHAM — With two unbeaten teams squaring off Friday night between Milford and King Philip, it felt like the playoffs were starting early.And the way it has been lately, that’s just how the host Warriors like it.In a back-and-forth affair, King Philip provided the finishing touches in the second half of a 23-14 win.With the victory, KP improves to 7-0, and Milford drops to 6-1, and the former clinches at least a share of the Hockomock League Kelley-Rex title with a 3-0 mark.“It was nice to see everyone, in all things, contributing,” KP coach Brian Lee said.True to form for KP, the Warriors came through with maybe their biggest plays on defense. Brandon Nicastro made two interceptions, including a pick six, and Hayden Schmitz made another in the first quarter.Offensively, the running game again proved critical for the Warriors. Andrew Laplante rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Sophomore Tallan King had 52 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.La...

Dominic Papa, Andover nip rival Central Catholic, 22-20

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

LAWRENCE — Despite only holding the starting quarterback job for two weeks, Dominic Papa looks like a natural.Papa totaled three second-half touchdowns while Sean Napolitano had 3.5 sacks as part of an Andover defense that forced a pair of turnovers as the Golden Warriors defeated Central Catholic, 22-20, on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.It is the second straight victory for Andover over Central Catholic and it awards them the inaugural ‘Captain’s Cup.’“The defense was the MVP of this game. They put me in the best positions possible,” Papa said. “My line played amazing and allowed me the cushion to get the ball to our best players.”Central Catholic (2-5) held a 6-0 lead at the half and a chance to double its lead early in the third quarter, but Papa led his team on a seven-play drive that culminated in his 11-yard scramble for a touchdown to put the visitors on top 7-6.The Golden Warriors then recovered the ensuing squib kick, al...

Former lawmaker says family members killed in Israel-Hamas airstrikes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

(The Hill) — Former Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.), the first Palestinian-American to serve in Congress, posted online that his family members were killed in Gaza amid the ongoing airstrikes between Israel and militant group Hamas.“With great sadness, I have now confirmed that several of my relatives (including Viola and Yara pictured here) were killed at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where they had been sheltering, when part of the complex was destroyed as the result of an Israeli airstrike,” Amash posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Geico to lay off 6 percent of workforce nationwide, internal letter confirms The explosion struck the Greek Orthodox church that was housing hundreds of displaced Palestinians late Thursday, resulting in a wall toppling down. Aby Selmia, the Shifa Hospital director general, initially said dozens were hurt at the church but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were buried under the rubble, the Associated Press r...

Paul Lisnek on fight for Speaker of the House, Biden's Oval Office address and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.The topics include the latest on the ongoing fight for Speaker of the House, President Biden's Oval Office address, the White House's request for Ukraine funding, and more.  Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesTune in on Sundays for WGN-TV Political Report with Paul Lisnek.

House Republicans look for reset after Jordan loses Speaker fight: recap

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:56:38 GMT

House Republicans are looking for a reset after Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) once again fell short of the Speakership Friday, continuing the two-week-long stalemate that has plunged the chamber into chaos.Following Jordan's third failed attempt at the gavel, the GOP conference voted to no longer back the Ohio Republican for Speaker in a secret ballot vote. Several GOP members have since announced that they are running for the role, while others are making calls about Speaker bids or mulling entering the race.The Republican conference will hold a candidate forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday evening and vote on a new Speaker-designate Tuesday morning. Candidates must submit their names by noon on Sunday.The conference previously swatted down a proposal on Thursday to temporarily empower Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), which was viewed by many as a last-ditch way to resume business in the House as the Speaker race continues behind the scenes.Follow along for live updates below.