Meloni opens talks on constitutional reform, long a mirage in Italy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday (9 May) began meetings with opposition parties to discuss her plans to reform the constitution and end chronic political instability in the eurozone's third largest nation.Although Italy has had almost 70 governments since World War Two, more than twice the number in Britain and Germany, repeated attempts to produce a more robust system have always floundered amid myriad, competing visions.There is little optimism that this time will be any different, but Meloni said it was important to try to find broad support for change as she headed into talks with the main parliamentary parties."We consider this to be an important confrontation for our democracy to approve measures that cannot be put off," she said.Italy introduced numerous checks and balances in its 1948 constitution to try to prevent another dictator like Benito Mussolini from grabbing power.But critics say the system has resulted in revolving door coalitions that have weighed ...

Suspect in deadly 2022 California church shooting indicted on 98 federal counts, including hate-crime charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

By Laura Studley and Jason Hanna | CNNA man accused of killing one person and injuring five others in a 2022 shooting at a church in California’s Orange County has been indicted by a grand jury on federal charges, including those alleging hate crimes and obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs.The 98-count indictment against David Wenwei Chou, accused of opening fire at the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna Woods on May 15, 2022, was filed Wednesday in US District Court in California’s central district.Chou, now 69, “allegedly acted because of the victims’ national origin and religion, and he intentionally obstructed the victims’ religious exercise,” the US Justice Department said.Chou arrived at a church lunch banquet, attempted to lock the doors from the inside with chains and super glue and then opened fire at elderly churchgoers, officials have said. Chou also had a bag of Molotov cocktails and a bag of extra ammunition, according...

Three-bedroom home sells in Saratoga for $2.7 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

13821 Ravenwood Drive – Google Street ViewA 2,124-square-foot house built in 1955 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 13800 block of Ravenwood Drive in Saratoga was sold on April 24, 2023, for $2,684,000, or $1,264 per square foot. The property features three bedrooms, two baths, a garage, and one parking space. The unit sits on an 8,540-square-foot lot.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:In October 2022, a 3,230-square-foot home on Quito Road in Saratoga sold for $3,150,000, a price per square foot of $975. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 1,854-square-foot home on the 1600 block of Hyde Drive in Los Gatos sold in November 2022, for $1,700,000, a price per square foot of $917. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Allendale Avenue, Saratoga, in March 2023, a 2,571-square-foot home was sold for $3,800,000, a price per square foot of $1,478. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Horoscopes May 12, 2023: Domhnall Gleeson, promote an energetic disposition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Emily VanCamp, 37; Domhnall Gleeson, 40; Tony Hawk, 55; Ving Rhames, 64.Emily VanCamp (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Your motives will determine what you do next. Be sure to align yourself with like-minded people who will increase your chances of getting what you want. Keep your emotions hidden from those capable of turning the tables on your plans. A change at home will make your life easier and promote an energetic disposition that will enforce what you are trying to achieve. Your numbers are 9, 11, 21, 24, 33, 35, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll get the help you need if you ask, but you’ll falter if you do everything yourself. Keep the peace and focus on what you do best; everything else will fall into place. Give others the freedom to carry out their duties without interference. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Discipline, coupled with charm, will help you make your case. Summon the best people to he...

Bridge: May 12, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

My friend the English professor can’t tolerate poor grammar. He also has no use for poor partners — except when he partners his wife, a dear lady who abides his eccentricities.“She played at four hearts in this deal,” the prof said, showing today’s layout. “West led a spade, and East won and returned a spade. My wife promptly cashed the Q-K of trumps. When East discarded, she took the ace and then started the diamonds. West ruffed the second diamond, and the defense took the jack of spades and ace of clubs. Down one.”“You were upset?” I asked.“No. I commiserated with my wife like a good English professor. I said ‘there, their, they’re’.”BAD BREAKSThere is an easy way South can guard against bad breaks and prevent the defense from getting their four tricks. After South wins the second spade, she leads a club from dummy to set up communication with her hand. She can ruff her last spade in dummy.As for ...

Word Game: May 12, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — FASTIDIOUS (FASTIDIOUS: fas-TID-ee-us: Reflecting a meticulous, sensitive or demanding attitude.)Average mark 26 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 35 or more words in FASTIDIOUS? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — THEATER tare tart tear teat teeth tether tetra that thee there theta threat three treat tree hare hate hater hatter hear heart heat heater here earth eater ether arete rate reheatTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game cr...

Around the World Update: Turkey, Pakistan, and Palestine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

On Sunday, Turkey’s presidential election could unseat Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This week on Deconstructed, Ryan Grim has a wide-ranging conversation with guests, covering Turkey’s election, the arrest of the former prime minister of Pakistan, and ongoing struggles in Palestine. Selim Koru, an analyst at the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey talks about the political climate in the country ahead of the election. Pakistani journalist Waqas Ahmed breaks down the arrest of Imran Khan, the cricket star turned politician. The Intercept’s Alice Speri discusses the one-year anniversary of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing and recent developments in the West Bank.Transcript coming soon. The post Around the World Update: Turkey, Pakistan, and Palestine appeared first on The Intercept.

Teen killed, man injured in District Heights shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, are investigating a “domestic-related” shooting that killed a teenage girl and sent her father to the hospital.The shooting happened Wednesday night at around 9:35 p.m. on Tanow Place in District Heights.Police say Nia Johnson, 17, of District Heights, was killed in the shooting. Her father was was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.When officers arrived at the scene, they found Johnson and her father inside of the home with gunshot wounds.Police say that the shooting appears to be domestic and that detectives are working to determine motive as well as who was the shooter.They said there are not believed to be any outstanding suspects.Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince George’s County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477.Below is a map of where the shooting occurred. Source

Erling Haaland, Sam Kerr win Football Writers’ Association awards

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:49:10 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Erling Haaland was voted “Footballer of the Year” in England for his prolific debut season with Manchester City, and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr became the first back-to-back winner of the women’s award on Friday.The Football Writers’ Association said Haaland took 82% of the vote, ahead of Arsenal teammates Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.The 22-year-old Norway international has scored 51 goals in all competitions to help put City in contention for titles in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. He set a record for most goals (35) in a Premier League season.Kerr beat out Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly and Chelsea teammate Lauren James for her second straight FWA award.The 29-year-old Australia international has scored 26 goals in 34 club appearances this season at Chelsea, which faces Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Sunday. The team also reached the Champions League semifinals, losing to Barcelona.The women’s award was introduced in 2018.The awards ar...