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Italy’s government approves reform boosting prime minister’s powers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

The Italian government on Friday approved plans for a constitutional reform that would significantly boost the prime minister’s powers — a major overhaul in a country with a traditionally weak head of government.The proposal from Giorgia Meloni’s government, which still requires approval from both houses of parliament and could lead to a referendum, would allow the prime minister to be directly elected by the Italian people for a five-year term, instead of being nominated by the president.“This is the mother of all reforms,” Prime Minister Meloni said in a press conference.The proposed bill, Meloni added, aims to ensure “stability” and “guarantee that those who govern are chosen by the people.”Italy’s prime minister has a traditionally weak role by design. After the Second World War, the country’s modern founding fathers instituted a series of checks and balances aimed at preventing the concentration of power into the hands...

Israel will keep bombing Gaza with ‘all of its power,’ Netanyahu says after Blinken calls for pause

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu rejected Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s calls for a humanitarian pause shortly after the latter’s press conference on Friday, saying Israel will continue to bombard the Gaza Strip with “all of its power.”Blinken told reporters in Israel that during a meeting with Netanyahu earlier that day, he urged Israel to pursue a pause in fighting and gave advice about how to minimize Palestinian civilian deaths while targeting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.Netanyahu soon after said, during his own press conference, that Israel “refuses a temporary cease-fire that doesn’t include a return of our hostages.” Over 200 hostages were taken by Hamas following the militant group’s surprise attack on Israeli soil on Oct. 7 that killed 1,400 people.It’s the latest sign of stark disagreement between the two allies, as the Biden administration has in recent weeks called for restraint from Israel as it continues a massive airstrike campaign on the Gaza Stri...

Hamas is fighting ‘sacred’ war with Israel, says Hezbollah chief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

The leader of the Hezbollah militant group has thrown his backing behind Palestinian militants and praised the attacks that killed more than a thousand Israeli civilians, in his first public appearance since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last month.In a televised speech broadcast on Friday from an unknown location, Hassan Nasrallah praised the “martyrs” who have died fighting Israeli troops, denied the Hamas attacks had been coordinated by Iran, and said fighters loyal to him were “prepared to make unlimited sacrifices” in supporting their cause.“This operation is great; this sacred operation was 100 percent Palestinian, and was implemented by Palestinians,” he said. However, he stopped short of explicitly declaring war on Israel and opening a second front in the conflict, despite predictions that he could seek to escalate tensions dramatically.Nasrallah has led Hezbollah since 1992, when his predecessor was killed by Israeli ...

US surveillance drones flying over Gaza to help with hostage search

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

(CNN) — The US military is flying surveillance drones over Gaza as part of American efforts to help Israel locate the more than 240 hostages still held by the terror group Hamas, according to multiple US officials familiar with the matter.The drones are part of a surge of intelligence assets sent to the region in the days and weeks following the October 7 attack on Israel, which caught both Israeli and US intelligence services by surprise.Two other US drones — both MQ-9 Reapers, one of the US’s most sophisticated drones primarily used for surveillance — were also flying off the coast of Lebanon over the weekend, according to one source familiar with the effort and flight tracker data reviewed by CNN. The US is closely monitoring for any signs that Lebanese Hezbollah — or any other Iranian proxy force — may seek to escalate the simmering tensions rippling across the region.The New York Times first reported on the use of US drones in the region....

Apollo astronaut Ken Mattingly, who helped save the crew of Apollo 13, has died

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

(CNN) — Apollo astronaut Thomas Kenneth Mattingly II, known for helping the crew of Apollo 13 safely return to Earth after an explosion doomed their lunar mission, has died at the age of 87, NASA announced.“Mattingly was key to the success of our Apollo Program, and his shining personality will ensure he is remembered throughout history,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement, calling Mattingly “one of our country’s heroes.”Mattingly died Tuesday, the statement said. A cause of death wasn’t provided.Born in Chicago on March 17, 1936, Mattingly would go on to graduate high school in Miami and earn a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Auburn University in 1958, according to his NASA biography.Astronaut Thomas Mattingly II celebrates the successful rescue of the Apollo 13 spacecraft and crew with a box of cigars at the Mission Control of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston. Credit: Space Frontiers/Archive Photos/Getty ImagesStarting his career ...

Ravens vs. Seahawks staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s Week 9 game in Baltimore?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s Week 9 game between the Ravens (6-2) and the Seahawks (5-2) at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.Brian Wacker, reporterRavens 20, Seahawks 17: The last two times these teams met, in 2019 and 2015, the road team won handily. That included Lamar Jackson memorably telling coach John Harbaugh “hell yeah” he wanted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Seahawks’ 8-yard line and then running in for a score en route to a 30-16 victory in Seattle. This time, the Ravens are riding a three-game winning streak and come in averaging the sixth-most points (25.3) and second-most rushing yards (143) per game. There’s also a fun matchup of rookie receivers between the Ravens’ Zay Flowers and Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and of course the matchup of two strong defenses. The Seahawks do a lot of things well, ranking near the middle of the pack offensively, though quarterback Geno S...

What makes the Chicago Cubs’ Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner elite infielders? The Gold Glove finalists break each other down.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

When the Chicago Cubs signed shortstop Dansby Swanson to a seven-year deal last offseason, they envisioned an ideal double-play partner for second baseman Nico Hoerner.Year 1 of the Swanson-Hoerner tandem produced the elite play the Cubs needed after prioritizing their defense up the middle. The top defensive players have a knack for making difficult plays appear routine, something Swanson and Hoerner did often.Their performance did not go unrecognized. Both are finalists for the National League Gold Glove award at their positions, joining Cubs left fielder Ian Happ. Swanson and Happ are vying for their second consecutive Gold Glove, while Hoerner, also a finalist in 2020, is looking for his first. The winners will be announced Sunday (6:30 p.m., ESPN).Although Swanson and Hoerner got firsthand looks at each other’s defensive prowess from opposing dugouts when the Cubs and Atlanta Braves played the last few years, a different appreciation comes from playing alongside each othe...

Eric Trump testifies in civil fraud trial he relied on accountants for financial statements accuracy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

By JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Eric Trump testified Friday that he was relying on accountants to ensure the accuracy of financial statements that authorities say fraudulently exaggerated his father’s wealth and the value of his assets to deceive banks and insurers.On the witness stand for a second day in the civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, Eric Trump was pressed about what steps he took to verify information before signing documents certifying to lender Deutsche Bank that his father’s financial statements were correct. The son insisted he would never sign something that was inaccurate.“I relied on one of the biggest accounting firms in the country. And I relied on a great legal team. And when they gave me comfort that the statement was perfect, I was more than happy to execute,” he said. Eric Trump’s comments echoed those of his brother, Donald Trump Jr., whose testimony earlier this week appeare...

Pack your bags: Southwest Airlines is offering new nonstop flights from San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Traveling to some popular U.S. cities is about to be a lot easier for Southwest Airlines travelers headed out of San Diego. The San Diego International Airport (SAN) confirmed to FOX 5 Thursday that the airline is expanding its routes with seasonal service starting next summer. Alaska Airlines now offering nonstop flights from San Diego to these cities Nonstop flights can be booked to Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturdays only come June 2024. According to SAN, no other airline currently flies between America's Finest City and these two destinations. Nonstop service to Columbus and Pittsburgh may be a temporary add-on. SAN confirmed Southwest's schedule for these new direct routes has not been extended beyond Aug. 4, 2024 at this time. However, that could change based on demand. San Diego State University ranked ‘most fashionable’ college campus in US: study There are also three nonstop Southwest flights returning to SAN come June 2024...

Canadian business insolvencies rise almost 42 per cent from last year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:52 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadian business insolvencies were up 41.8 per cent from a year earlier in the third quarter, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy says 1,129 businesses filed for a bankruptcy or proposal in the third quarter, up 3.6 per cent from the second quarter.That’s compared with 827 filings in the third quarter of 2019.Consumer insolvency filings were up 17.8 per cent from last year, but down 2.4 per cent from the second quarter. They were still lower than pre-pandemic levels, however. The Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals says businesses are being hit by the withdrawal of COVID-19 support, higher interest rates and softening consumer spending. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2023.The Canadian Press