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Jens Stoltenberg to continue as NATO chief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

NATO allies on Tuesday formally extended Jens Stoltenberg’s term as secretary-general by a year. “Honoured by NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024,” Stoltenberg tweeted. “The transatlantic bond between Europe & North America has ensured our freedom & security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” he added. The decision, ahead of a summit of NATO leaders in Vilnius next week, is seen as a reflection of how politically sensitive the current moment is for the alliance, as well as how difficult it is for allies to find a high-profile candidate who is both available and acceptable to all alliance members. The former Norwegian prime minister has served as the defensive alliance’s chief since 2014, earning widespread respect for his calm demeanor under pressure and ability to navigate the sensitivities of a large and diverse alliance. I...

Balls to AUKUS! English and Aussie leaders fight over the cricket

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

LONDON — They might be besties on the world stage — but don’t get England and Australia started on the cricket. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Britain’s Rishi Sunak are locked in a war of words as accusations of Aussie cheating in the Ashes tournament fly. It’s a far cry from their chumminess over the AUKUS nuclear alliance and much-vaunted new trade ties.The row centers on England and Australia’s Ashes clash at Lords cricket ground Sunday.In highly contentious scenes that riled up English fans, England’s Jonny Bairstow was dismissed after Australia’s Alex Carey “stumped” him out while Bairstow believed the ball wasn’t in play.Under the rules of cricket, the ball is live if either side considers it to be so — meaning Bairstow’s pleas to the umpire fell on deaf ears. The dismissal proved crucial for Australia, who ran out winners. England’s captain Ben Stokes made clear after the match that he would not...

Revelers keeping an eye on the weather ahead of Fourth of July festivities on the Esplanade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

Revelers are keeping their eyes on the sky as the city of Boston prepares to ring in the Fourth of July with its annual festivities on the Esplanade.Performers took the stage at the Hatch Shell Monday for the final dress rehearsal ahead of this year’s Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular.  “We have plans in place to make sure we get a show together at some point,” said Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. “This is my 28th time and we’ve only have one total rainout, so let’s just have collective energy toward fair weather.”“I love this city, it’s one of our favorite cities, it’s one of our biggest fan bases right here in Boston and we’re here for our men and women in uniform,” said Chris Lucas of the Grammy-winning country duo LoCash. “It’s the Fourth of July, we’re celebrating the greatest country in the world.”Special guests performing in this year’s Fireworks Spectacular will include LoCash, Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez and 90s R&B group En Vogue.Speaking on Monday, Lucas said he had a...

Police investigating shooting in Chelsea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

Police are investigating a shooting overnight in Chelsea that left a man hospitalized.Officers responding to a reported shooting in the area of Spring Street found the victim suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to police.Police could be seen focusing on a vehicle with a smashed out window and bullet holes in the side.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Battenfeld: Kendra Lara car crash just latest bizarre mishap by Boston City Council members

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara smashing her car into a Jamaica Plain house is the latest bizarre mishap on a council historically full of embarrassments and legal trouble.Lara was behind the wheel in a Friday car crash that left her child, Zaire, with a laceration on the left eyebrow and a home on Jamaica Plain’s Centre Street damaged, according to police.The city councilor is due in West Roxbury Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle after suspension, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.The Herald has reported that Lara’s driving record features multiple violations and sanctions, including failing to appear in court in Connecticut.A spokesperson for Lara did not respond to a request for comment Saturday afternoon but her office said in a Friday statement that the crash was a “scary situation for everyone involved.”“Thankfully Councilor Lara and Zaire are expected to make a full recovery. She asks for privacy at this time,” the ...

Orioles minor league report: After demotion, infield prospect Joey Ortiz is back to tearing up Triple-A

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

No hitting prospect under the Orioles’ current regime has put up better numbers in Triple-A than Joey Ortiz.In 63 games at the highest minor league level, Ortiz is slashing .350/.403/.579 with 35 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and stellar defense. Those numbers are better than any prospect who has played at least 40 games for Norfolk since Mike Elias took over as executive vice president and general manager before the 2019 season.That fact is almost hard to believe considering the Orioles have the sport’s No. 1 farm system and that Baltimore barely played Ortiz, who was demoted last week in favor of fellow infield prospect Jordan Westburg, during his time in the majors this year. Ortiz, the club’s No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, was once seen as a weak-hitting prospect with defensive prowess, but he’s now paired his slick glove with offensive success in three straight seasons.His .982 OPS is better than Westburg’s career Triple-A mark of...

Biden admin’s ‘frames and receivers’ gun control rule halted by federal judge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

A controversial rule issued by the Biden Administration’s ATF targeting components of so-called ghost guns has been struck down by a Texas judge who has ordered the agency not to enforce the policy.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives “Final Rule” redefining which partial components of a firearm legally constitute a full weapon, which went into effect last August, has been overturned after U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas Reed O’Connor said the agency overstepped its authority in issuing it.“This case presents the question of whether the federal government may lawfully regulate partially manufactured firearm components, related firearm products, and other tools and materials in keeping with the Gun Control Act of 1968,” the judge wrote in his ruling.“Because the Court concludes that the government cannot regulate those items without violating federal law, the Court holds that the government’s recently enacted Final Rule…is unlawful agen...

Outrage erupts in South Africa over video of deputy president’s security officers stomping on man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A group of armed plainclothes officers assigned to protect South Africa’s deputy president were caught on video dragging a man out of a car and then stomping on his head until he lies motionless, sparking outrage and drawing more attention to the country’s problems with police brutality.The officers are part of the police security team protecting South Africa Deputy President Paul Mashatile, his office confirmed on Tuesday. There are no indications that Mashatile was present during the incident. His spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking further comment.The video of the weekend incident shows the officers, some of whom are holding rifles, dragging the man across the road and then kicking him and stomping on his head and body. The man appears to be kicked unconcious and lies motionless on his back after the attack. The officers are also seen kicking another man, who holds his hands over his head to protect himse...

NATO again extends Stoltenberg’s mandate, happy with a safe pair of hands as the war drags on

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will stay in office for another year, the 31-nation military alliance decided on Tuesday.Stoltenberg said in a tweet that he is “honoured by NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024.”“The transatlantic bond between Europe and North America has ensured our freedom and security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” he said.Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATO’s top civilian official since 2014. His term had been due to expire last year but was extended then to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts had been due to name a successor when they meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. But the world’s biggest security organization makes decisions by consensus, and no agreement could be found on a new candida...

Taliban ban women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:23 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban are banning women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan, a government spokesman said Tuesday. It’s the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment.A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar, didn’t give details of the ban. He only confirmed the contents of a letter circulating on social media.The ministry-issued letter, dated June 24, says it conveys a verbal order from the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The ban targets the capital, Kabul, and all provinces, and gives salons throughout the country a month’s notice to wind down their businesses. After that period, they must close and submit a report about their closure. The letter doesn’t give reasons for the ban.Its release comes days after Akhundzada claimed that his government has taken the necessary steps for the better...