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Oprah reflects upon book club as she announces 100th pick

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — For her 100th book club pick, Oprah Winfrey relied on the same instincts she has drawn upon from the start: Does the story move her? Does she think about it for days after? In a work of fiction, do the characters seem real to her?“When I don’t move on, that’s always a sign to me there’s something powerful and moving,” Winfrey told The Associated Press in a recent telephone interview. On Tuesday, she announced that she had chosen Ann Napolitano’s “Hello Beautiful,” a modern-day homage to “Little Women” from the author of the bestselling “Dear Edward.” The novel was published Tuesday by Dial Press, a Penguin Random House imprint, and Winfrey believes its themes of family, resilience and perspective give “Hello Beautiful” a “universal appeal” that makes it a proper milestone.A Winfrey pick no longer ensures blockbuster sales, but it retains a special status within the industry; for authors, a call from Winfrey still feels like being told they’ve won an Oscar...

Netanyahu critics urge Germany, Britain to cancel his visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Hundreds of Israeli writers, artists and intellectuals on Tuesday called on Germany and Britain to cancel upcoming visits by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his plan to overhaul Israel’s judicial system has put the country on a destructive course.Netanyahu’s coalition, a collection of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, has barreled ahead with legislation that aims to weaken Israel’s Supreme Court and give them control over the appointment of the nation’s judges. They say the plan is a long-overdue measure to curb what they see as outsize influence by unelected judges. But critics say the plan will destroy Israel’s fragile system of checks and balances by concentrating power in the hands of Netanyahu and his parliamentary majority. They also say it is attempt by Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, to escape justice.Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets over the past two months to protest the sweeping overhaul. Prot...

New poll says majority of Canadians want elections inquiry: In The News for March 14

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

In The News is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to kickstart your day. Here is what’s on the radar of our editors for the morning of March 14 …What we are watching in Canada …New polling suggests the majority of Canadians want the federal government to call an independent inquiry into foreign interference in the last two federal elections, but still feel the country’s electoral system is safe.Market research firm Leger surveyed 1,544 people between March 10 and 12, asking a range of questions about Canada’s electoral system and allegations of foreign interference.The results suggest 71 per cent of Canadians feel the electoral system is safe, while 29 per cent feel it is not.And the majority, 69 per cent of respondents, said they generally trust the results of elections in Canada. One in five said they do not trust the results, and another 11 per cent said they don’t know.The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because on...

Foreign interference and Canadian intelligence: An FAQ

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

For the past month, headlines have been dominated by leaked CSIS documents, intelligence sources, fears of foreign interference in Canadian elections and the political fallout of all that. But most Canadians don’t know much about how our intelligence community operates. Which agencies do what? Who do they report to? Who can access their information? Why would they release it to the press?Stephanie Carvin is an associate professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the author of Stand on Guard: Reassessing threats to Canada’s National Security. She joins us to demystify the world of Canadian intelligence.“Why have we been gathering this information but seemingly not acting on it? It is my hope that in the next couple of months well get some answers to that, as well as—hopefully—some paths forward,” she said.Because this is already shaping up to be the political story of the year in Canada, we wanted to lay out the basics. Here’s what you need...

Dutch set to vote in local elections with national impact

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch voters go to the polls Wednesday in local elections with a national impact, with campaign themes ranging from local bugbears like dwindling public transport in remote villages to global issues such as migration and the environment.It is also a test of strength for Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s four-party center-right coalition, especially since newly elected provincial lawmakers also pick a new upper house of the national parliament in May. A big shift could affect Rutte’s ability to pass legislation for the remainder of his coalition’s term in office.After increasingly populist campaigning, the vote for the country’s 12 provincial parliaments is expected to highlight a simmering discontent with Rutte’s government and the continuing rise of a party representing farmers angry at moves to contain their output in an attempt to rein in pollution.Across the nation of nearly 18 million people, dozens of parties take part in the elections, many...

Infantino holds FIFA power as voters share World Cup wealth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — FIFA president Gianni Infantino will be re-elected this week to lead a richer-than-ever soccer body with an ambition to add new and bigger competitions despite growing wariness of him in Europe.FIFA’s wealth after the World Cup in Qatar — $4 billion in reserves to be shared among the 211 member federations and lots more to come from the expanded 104-game edition in 2026 in North America — is a big reason why Infantino has no opponent on Thursday in Rwanda for four more years in office.Since Infantino’s first re-election in 2019, two of soccer’s biggest issues were FIFA wanting biennial World Cups and storied clubs wanting a European Super League. Both plans failed.Infantino pushed hard for more World Cups, a prospect that would directly challenge the European Championship and Copa América and also unsettle the Olympic world. While not publicly backing the Super League, he spoke with rebel clubs and seemed at least sympathetic to them despite the intended disruption of ...

Northeast winter storm shuts schools, knocks out power

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

The start of a winter storm with heavy, wet snow led to hundreds of school closings, canceled flights and some power outages in parts of the Northeast on Tuesday.The storm’s path included parts of New England, upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey. Snow totals by the time it winds up Wednesday were expected to range from a few inches to a few feet, depending on the area.“This is shaping up to be a unique winter storm for our small state in that there will be big differences in snowfall amounts depending on where you are located,” said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who ordered all executive branch state office buildings closed. “Some towns may receive a significant snowfall total, while others may receive a fraction of that amount or maybe even just rain.”The airport in Albany, New York, which began clearing snow on Monday night, was open, but canceled 16 morning departures early Tuesday. Bradley International Airport in Connecticut also was open an...

18-year-old fatally shot while riding in vehicle on Southwest Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

CHICAGO — An 18-year-old man has died after being shot while riding in a vehicle on the city's Southwest Side.Police said the shooting happened around 11:15 a.m. Monday in the 5800 block of South Western in Gage Park. The 18-year-old was a passenger in a vehicle when another car approached and someone inside opened fire.He was shot in the upper back and transported to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.The medical examiner has identified the 18-year-old as Robert Santos. 16-year-old boy dies after South Side shooting No other injuries were reported.No one is in custody. Area One detectives are investigating.

Man accused of battering 50-year-old CTA driver on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was arrested Monday after allegedly battering a woman working as a CTA driver on the South Side.Just after 8:50 a.m., Anthony James, 20, was arrested in the 1100 block of 63rd Street.Moments earlier, police said he battered the bus driver in the same block. 2 vehicles wanted after man dies in suburban hit-and-run James was charged with aggravated battery against a transit employee.He is due in bond court on Tuesday.

Florida 8-year-old accused of cutting another child's throat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:32 GMT

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – An 8-year-old boy accused of attacking another child at a Lake County home Saturday has been arrested.According to WESH, the 8-year-old is accused of choking a foster child at the residence. The boy then reportedly let the child go when he said he couldn't breathe.The report cited an affidavit stating that the boy allegedly then grabbed a knife and swung it a the victim, cutting the child's throat when the victim approached him.The knife was taken away from the boy by the victim's friend. While the 8-year-old was looking for the weapon, he allegedly threatened to "kill everyone," according to the affidavit. Seaweed blob visible from space takes aim at Florida Gulf coast The 8-year-old then allegedly went to grab a stick to try and hit the victim, the affidavit said. However, other children standing nearby reportedly stopped the boy.According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the 8-year-old boy was arrested and taken to the Lake County Detention Cent...