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Israeli government gives settler minister control over West Bank settlement planning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s government on Sunday granted a pro-settlement firebrand authority over planning in the occupied West Bank and lifted red tape on the settlement housing approval process, Israeli media reported. The changes make it easier for Israel to expand its settlements on land the Palestinians seek as the heartland of their future state, at a time when hopes for peace are more distant than ever.The measure was approved by the government on Sunday as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, who is in charge of Middle East affairs, was set to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders during a weeklong visit to the region.The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli government’s decision and called upon the international community to pressure Israel “to take the necessary practical steps to force the Israeli government to stop its illegal unilateral measures.” The government gave Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich control over planning in West Bank s...

Hovercraft suffers gash, beaches itself in New Hampshire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

HAMPTON BEACH, N.H. (AP) — A hovercraft traveling from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia became a beachside attraction when it was deliberately run aground after suffering a 3-foot tear in its rubber skirt.The private owner of the retired Canadian Coast Guard vessel told officials that it was not safe to operate the damaged craft, so the decision was made to land on Hampton Beach on Saturday. No one was hurt.The massive craft, an air-cushioned vessel powered by twin fan-like propellers, was a curiosity for passers-by as it rested on the beach on a rainy afternoon. Because of the bad weather, few people were on the beach, which is usually swarmed by sunbathers during better weather, when the vessel came aground, said Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno. The craft landed near some piping plover nests, but the endangered seabirds were not disturbed by the activity, he said.By Sunday morning, the vessel had been repaired, and the vessel departed for Portland, Maine. From there, it was to continue to N...

Finland’s conservative party picks ministers for right-wing coalition government

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s conservative National Coalition Party, the winner of April’s general election, on Sunday unveiled its picks for key Cabinet posts in the upcoming government that observers say is set to be the most right-wing in the Nordic country’s recent history.Following lengthy talks over seven weeks, NCP announced Friday a deal with three other parties for a governing coalition that includes the far-right, eurosceptic Finns Party, which runs largely on a nationalist and anti-immigration agenda. There will be a total of 19 ministerial posts in the new Cabinet, including prime minister-designate and NCP leader Petteri Orpo. The 53-year veteran politician is a former finance and interior minister among other posts and has been heading NCP, Finland’s main conservative party, since 2016. NCP is set to get eight ministerial portfolios in total.The party’s vice chair Elina Valtonen, who is the also the vice chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee, is s...

Bus driver arrested on DUI charge while driving Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A bus driver was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence while transporting the Pittsburgh Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee for their weekend series with the Brewers.Illinois State Police said the driver was traveling away from officers seeking to escort the bus on its trip to Milwaukee late Thursday night. Troopers said they observed more erratic driving and eventually stopped the bus on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 in Chicago.Police said the driver was arrested after they observed “multiple signs of impairment.” The driver isn’t a Pirates employee but was contracted to drive the team to Milwaukee after the completion of their series with the Chicago Cubs.Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement that “we are deeply concerned” about what took place.“The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely,” Warecki said. “Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consisten...

Milan Fashion: Prada animates male form with 1940s tailoring that aims to liberate, not constrict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

MILAN (AP) — The architecture at Prada’s showroom shifts with every season, but never so fluidly as for Spring-Summer 2024 menswear. The collection was viewed through a wall of clear falling slime — a form of fluid architecture — that gathered on the metallic grate runway in piles of green foam. The moving architecture was a metaphor for a collection that was meant to express the fluidity of menswear. Some highlights from the third day of Milan Fashion Week of mostly menswear runway shows for next spring and summer: PRADA EXPLORES FLUIDITYPrada explores the fluidity of menswear, through a 1940s workwear tailored silhouette that is at the same time liberating.Co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons said they were experimenting with the idea of a fluid architecture that animates the male form, never constricting.The collection’s building blocks are the white shirt, mid-thigh shorts, black socks and thick-soled shiny loafers. Clothes for real men, the collection also i...

Bus driver arrested on DUI charge while driving MLB team to Milwaukee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A bus driver was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence while transporting the Pittsburgh Pirates from Chicago to Milwaukee for their weekend series with the Brewers.Illinois State Police said the driver was traveling away from officers seeking to escort the bus on its trip to Milwaukee late Thursday night. Troopers said they observed more erratic driving and eventually stopped the bus on the right shoulder of Interstate 94 in Chicago.Police said the driver was arrested after they observed “multiple signs of impairment.” The driver isn’t a Pirates employee but was contracted to drive the team to Milwaukee after the completion of their series with the Chicago Cubs.Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement that “we are deeply concerned” about what took place.“The important thing is that all of our personnel arrived in Milwaukee safely,” Warecki said. “Buses are contracted out to a local provider, which was consisten...

Real Housewives of Motown coming to the Black Ensemble Theater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

Associate director of the Black Ensemble Theater, Michelle Renee Bester, joined WGN Weekend Morning News to share more on the Real Housewives of Motown now playing.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Weekend Break: Sonny Acres farm pro rodeo and bull riding

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

Join WGN Weekend Morning News for Sonny Acres Farm pro rodeo and bull riding with Marcella.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Sunday Brunch with 'Jones Soda'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

Join Sunday Brunch with 'Jones Soda' to see some of your favorite WGN anchors on soda bottles.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Traffic Alert: Northbound I-35 near Round Rock reopened following fatal crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:55 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) — Northbound lanes of Interstate 35 near Round Rock were temporarily shut down Sunday morning following a traffic fatality, according to Round Rock Police.The roadways have since reopened, according to RRPD.RRPD originally said the northbound I-35 frontage road by IKEA would be closed, and drivers should seek alternate routes.Earlier Sunday morning, the Texas Department of Transportation initially said all lanes of northbound I-35 at Ranch-to-Market 1431 were closed due to the crash.TxDOT said traffic was diverting to the frontage road at Westinghouse Road.