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Ticker: Germany’s leader vows to fix a spending crisis in struggling economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised quick action to fix a budget crisis after a court decision blew a large hole in the almost-finished plan for next year. It also threatens to disrupt spending on efforts to fight climate change and cushion the impact of high energy prices caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Scholz said in a video Friday that the government is “firm” in its push to modernize Germany so there’s strong industry and good-paying jobs when the economy is climate neutral. But the budget crisis threatens to exacerbate problems in the world’s worst-performing major developed economy. New figures show that Germany’s economy shrank in recent months, and business confidence is still in the dumps.Wall Street marks fourth straight winning weekStocks drifted to a mixed finish Friday after a half-day trading session capped a holiday shortened week that left the major indexes with their fourth straight winning week.The S&P 500 inched up 0.1% after wavering...

Howie Carr: Let’s give state-run media more ‘awards’ for Biden bias

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

We need a new prize to commemorate journalistic malpractice above and beyond the usual Democrat hackery of the Pulitzer Prizes.The Pulitzer used to be somewhat prestigious. Now it’s the set-up to a joke with the punchline, “Russian collusion hoax!”As their generalissimo Dementia Joe Biden continues plummeting in the polls, state-run media ramp up their fake-news hysteria ever more. Hillary’s bogus Steele dossier was just spring training compared to the Big Lies they’re peddling now.The British satirical magazine Private Eye has long bestowed its own prizes on shameless Fleet Street hacks for open and gross bum-kissing of corrupt politicians.Private Eye calls their awards The Order of the Brown Nose — O.B.N.The U.S. needs its own O.B.N. awards. And I believe I have a worthy recipient for the first American O.B.N. — Comrade Matt Viser of the Washington Post, which was once a real newspaper. Its motto is “Democracy Dies in Duplicity” … er, “Darkness.”Viser...

Hoodmaps San Diego: This crowdsourced map stereotypes cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Figuring out the "local scene" in a city can take time. Bustling metros like San Diego are sure to have touristy areas, college areas, areas that feel more low-key, and more.So how do you figure out which spots are "happening" for the crowd you are looking for? Well, a developer from Amsterdam -- Pieter Levels -- created a crowdsource map that invites users to collectively categorize areas within a city based on the type of crowd that they believe tends to dominate it.As explained in a blog post by Levels outlining the creation of Hoodmaps, he said, "The problem is that every time I travel to a new place it’s hard to figure out which parts of the city to go. I very often end up in the tourist center." Optical phenomenon: Sundog spotted above San Diego County mountain range Levels said he wanted to create a way to "get a quick overview of what a city is about." He posed the questions: What are the cool “hip” areas? Where’s the wealthier areas? What areas are more subur...

Pedestrian dies following being struck by vehicle in Caledon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

Caledon OPP are currently on scene at Tim Manley Drive where a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and later died.Police said they responded to reports of a collision just after 7:30 a.m. Saturday. A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle, and was located by police and transported to a Toronto-area trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.The victim was later pronounced dead.The roadway remains closed as the investigation continues between Chinuacousy Road and Neil Promenade.

Montrealer vows to continue hunger strike for ‘X’ gender on Quebec health card

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

QUEBEC — Non-binary Montrealer Alexe Frédéric Migneault is on day six of a hunger strike to pressure Quebec’s public health insurance board to add a third gender option to its health cards.Migneault, who uses they/them pronouns, says they’ve been trying for years to get an ‘X’ gender marker on the health cards, which currently only display the traditional ‘M’ and ‘F’ identifiers for male and female.Migneault says they’re doing well on day six of the strike and relying on vegetable broth, water and the occasional hot chocolate to maintain hydration and keep up their blood sugar levels.They’re vowing to continue their protest despite a call to end the strike from the provincial minister overseeing government efforts to expand inclusive gender marker options on official identity documents.Minister Martine Biron, speaking to reporters in Quebec City on Friday, said the government is making progress and asked Migneault to be pat...

Prosecutors decry stabbing of ex-officer Derek Chauvin while incarcerated in George Floyd’s killing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, is expected to survive serious injury after being stabbed by another inmate at a federal prison in Arizona, the Minnesota attorney general’s office said Saturday while denouncing the attack.The stabbing took place Friday at the Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson, a medium-security prison that has been plagued by security lapses and staffing shortages. It was confirmed by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss the attack and spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.“We have heard that he is expected to survive,” Brian Evans, spokesperson for the Minnesota attorney general’s office, told The Associated Press about Chauvin.The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has confirmed an assault at the facility and said employees performed “life-saving measures” before the inmate was taken to a hospital for further treatment and eva...

Hamas delays second hostage release, claiming Israel violated agreement  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

(The Hill) — Palestinian militant group Hamas announced it is delaying the release of the second group of hostages Saturday.“The Al-Qassam Brigades decide to delay the release of the second batch of prisoners until the occupation adheres to the terms of the agreement related to the entry of relief trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, and due to failure to adhere to the agreed-upon standards for releasing prisoners,” a translated post by the military wing of Hamas on Telegram read.Hamas was set to release 14 hostages on Saturday in exchange for 42 Palestinian prisoners. The release was set to follow Friday’s release of around two dozen hostages in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners. Dean Phillips says ‘it’s delusional’ to think Biden can beat Trump Under a deal between Israel and Hamas amid the ongoing conflict between the two, the Palestinian militant group agreed to release 50 hostages out of the around 240 it took in its attack on Israel last month. The Hamas attack on O...

When will the sun start setting later?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — For the last couple of weeks, the sun has been setting earlier and earlier. While daylight saving time is largely to blame (it did move sunset times up by a whole hour), where we are in our orbit also has an impact. So when will the sun stop setting so early?It ultimately depends on where you live. Let’s explain. The Earth is on a tilt, as you probably know. That means there is a time when we’re tilted toward the sun, during summer, and a time when we’re tilted away from the sun, during winter. This gives us more hours of sunlight in summer and fewer in winter (in case you haven’t noticed).We’re only a few weeks away from the “shortest” day of the year, December 22. Here in the U.S., we’ll experience the least amount of daylight hours on that day.  Daylight saving: Why these two states didn’t change their clocks this year While it may be a little depressing to think about being shrouded in even more darkness, early and mid-December mark a big turning poi...

Holiday Arts Guide: Celebrate with everyone from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to the Blenders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

The holidays are about tradition, and holiday concerts are a big draw for those looking to celebrate. This season’s concert calendar is filled with familiar locals (Lorie Line, the New Standards, Trailer Trash) and touring favorites (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael W Smith, Mannheim Steamroller) eager to provide a little jingle bell swing for fans. Here’s a look at what’s on tap.The DakotaJose James is a Minnesota native living in New York. He’s one of the headliners at the 21st Twin Cities Jazz Festival. (Jazz Fest)George Maurer Group Annual Holiday Show (7 p.m. Nov. 27; $30-$20); T. Mychael Rambo and the Dakota Present: Hands and Hearts for the Arts (7 p.m. Dec. 3; $30-$20); Travis Anderson Trio’s Charlie Brown Christmas (7 p.m. Dec. 4; $20-$15); Jake Shimabukuro: Holidays in Hawaii (7 p.m. Dec. 5; $65-$55); Nicholas David’s 10th Annual St. Nick’s Day Show (7 p.m. Dec. 6; $40-$35); Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor: Home for the Holidays (7 p.m. Dec. 7-8; $75-$65); Holida...

Perhaps Troy Brown Jr. can give Timberwolves’ struggling bench a spark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:17 GMT

A bright spot amid Minnesota’s struggles in its first home loss of the season Friday against Sacramento, which all but extinguished the Timberwolves’ in-season tournament hopes, was the play of Troy Brown Jr.The veteran wing, signed at the start of free agency in July, played 25 minutes, scoring 10 points and, more importantly, grabbing seven rebounds. He was all over the floor, making a slew of hustle plays at pivotal points.“I was proud of Troy tonight. He did a great job of immediately coming in the game and changing the way we were playing just from his effort alone,” veteran Timberwolves guard Mike Conley said. “He didn’t have to score a bucket, he didn’t have to do anything other than be on the floor and be himself, and him getting offensive rebounds, extra possessions just picked up our whole energy as a team. We need more of that. We need more guys to come and do that, especially on nights like tonight.”Frankly, Minnesota needs more of any...