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Israel advocacy groups outspend pro-Palestinian groups on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

Advocacy organizations supporting Israel in its war with Hamas have spent roughly 100 times more on advertising via Meta’s social media platforms in the last month compared to groups aligned with Palestinians and Arabs, according to an analysis by POLITICO.The combined spending of more than $2 million on Facebook and Instagram, though not coordinated, shows how pro-Israel groups are trying to shape public opinion among Americans, especially younger generations who are increasingly skeptical of Israel.“It’s very asymmetric,” said Sam Jeffers, executive director of Who Targets Me, a nonprofit organization that tracks political social media advertising campaigns. “That’s true on the ground as much as it’s true in the information space.”The digital full court press — including one group that spent nearly half a million dollars on Meta’s platforms during that period — comes as U.S. and international lawmakers weigh adding conditions to additional...

GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California is resigning, 2 months after his ouster as House speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two months after his historic ouster as House speaker, Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy announced Wednesday that he is resigning from his congressional seat in California.His announcement capped a stunning end for the one-time deli owner from Bakersfield, who ascended through state and national politics to become second in line to the presidency before a contingent of hard-right conservatives engineered his removal in October.McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of the job.“No matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing,” McCarthy wrote in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, announcing his decision.“It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways,” he wrote.His toppling from the chamber’s top post was fueled by grievances from his party’s hard-right flank, including over his decision to work with Democrats to keep the federal government ...

US charges Russian soldiers with war crimes against an American in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

(CNN) — Four Russian soldiers have been charged with war crimes against an American who was living in Ukraine during the Russian invasion, according to a historic indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court in Virginia.The case against the Russian soldiers marks the first time the US government has used a decades-old law aimed to prosecute those who commit war crimes against American citizens.The four Russian soldiers – identified as Suren Seiranovich Mkrtchyan, Dmitry Budnik, V Alerii Lnu and Nazar Lnu – have been charged with four counts, including unlawful confinement, conspiracy to commit war crimes, inhuman treatment and torture.Attorney General Merrick Garland called the charges “an important step towards accountability for the illegal war in Ukraine.”“As the world has witnessed the horrors of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, so has the United States Department of Justice,” Garland said at a press conference Wednesday. “That is why the Justice Department ...

Winthrop Probing “Hateful Outburst” At Council Meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

Police and town officials are actively investigating a “hateful outburst” incident during a Winthrop Town Council meeting.According to the town, a Zoom-based participant in Tuesday night’s meeting “shouted an antisemitic slur, displayed a swastika on their screen and appeared to give a nazi salute during a discussion regarding the town’s flag flying policy.”“During a civic discussion on the flying of flags on town property, an individual seized the meeting to use it as a platform for hate speech and to display symbols of hate, intimidation and nazism,” Town Council President Letterie said. “We condemn this act and all acts of hatred in or around our community, and we will always call out and condemn hatred in all its forms. There is no place for it here in Winthrop.”Town officials said they are reviewing their public meeting videoconferencing procedures and policies. The Winthrop police have also reached out to state and fe...

Pitching prospect acquired in Alex Verdugo deal already ranks among Red Sox best

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

NASHVILLE — Recently the Red Sox minor league pitching pipeline has slowed to a trickle, and coming into the offseason only two of Boston’s top 15 prospects according to MLB Pipeline were pitchers.New chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has vowed to change that, and late Tuesday night he brought in some pretty significant reinforcements.By shipping Alex Verdugo off to the New York Yankees, Breslow got back three right-handed pitchers in return. Greg Weissert, a 28-year-old reliever who made 17 appearances in the majors last season; Richard Fitts, a former sixth-round pick out of Auburn in 2021 and the Yankees’ No. 12 prospect; and Nicholas Judice, a 6-foot-8 mountain of a man who was an eighth round pick this past summer and has yet to make his professional debut.One in particular could become a real difference maker.Fitts, the most notable return in the deal, is the reigning Eastern League (Double-A) Pitcher of the Year and a guy who should immediately slot in as one o...

With Alex Verdugo gone, opportunity knocks for young Red Sox outfielders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

NASHVILLE — Alex Verdugo’s days with the Red Sox are done. The talented and at times controversial outfielder was dealt to the New York Yankees late Tuesday night, clearing Boston’s logjam at the position and opening a spot for someone new to step in.Though that may still wind up being an outside acquisition, Alex Cora and Craig Breslow each indicated they believe the answer could already be on the roster.“Obviously we lose a good player, a solid player, but we improve in another area and it opens a window for the guys to step up and be part of this,” Cora said.The guys Cora is referring to are rookies Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, who made a strong impression during their late-season call-up and are now in line to compete for a starting job. Breslow said between those two and Jarren Duran the Red Sox have an incredibly dynamic and athletic outfield, and they’re comfortable spreading out Verdugo’s at bats across that group.“We saw reall...

Shooting investigation underway in Ramona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

RAMONA, Calif. -- A homicide investigation was launched in Ramona Wednesday morning, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed to FOX 5.According to authorities, a call came in around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night reporting multiple gunshots in the area of the intersection of Highway 78 and Haverford Road. Fire erupts in North County hoarder home Responding deputies located a a red Ford F150 and a man with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities confirmed.SDSO said the victim, who has not been identified at this time, was taken to a local hospital by paramedics. He was later pronounced dead around 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.There were no other victims in connection to this incident.Homicide investigators remained at the scene for hours. The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation, and SDSO said there's no suspect information at this time.Evidence markers were seen surrounding the red Ford F150 and shell casings were seen on the road, FOX 5 confirmed at the scene W...

Howard Stern reveals death of close friend, frequent caller: 'Ralph was a trustworthy, dear friend'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

(WJW) – Ralph Cirella, Howard Stern's longtime friend and stylist, has died, Stern revealed on Wednesday's radio show.Cirella had been a close friend of Stern's for decades, and frequently contributed to the show as a caller or in-studio guest. Cirella had also previously hosted a show on one of Stern's SiriusXM stations.Stern told listeners that Cirella's heart "gave out" Tuesday morning during a medical procedure. He added that Cirella was being treated for a "rare lymphoma" that was "curable and treatable." Stern also admitted to being upset that Cirella waited too long to address the issue. "I just have been so sad and so angry." Norman Lear, ‘All in the Family’ producer, dies at 101 Stern said he had been friends with the 58-year-old for about 40 years, and both had shared similar senses of humor."He loved me," Stern said. "Ralph was a trustworthy, dear friend who made me laugh every time I was with him."Stern also credited Cirella with his marriage to Beth Ostrosky Stern. "H...

Maryland attorney general wants new hearing in gun licensing case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — After a federal appeals court struck down Maryland’s handgun licensing law last month, the state attorney general is requesting a new hearing where more judges would consider the case, which could have significant implications for gun rights across the country.On Nov. 21, a three-judge panel on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond issued a 2-1 ruling that found it was unconstitutionally restrictive for Maryland to require people to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun. The process of obtaining a license can take up to 30 days.In the majority opinion, the judges said they considered the case in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year that “effected a sea change in Second Amendment law.”The underlying lawsuit was filed in 2016 as a challenge to a Maryland law requiring people to obtain a special license before purchasing a handgun. The law, which was passed in 2013 in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, lai...

Michael Urie keeps the laughter going as he stars in a revival of Broadway ‘Spamalot’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Urie has a very hard job this winter: Not cracking up when he’s not supposed to on Broadway.The former “Ugly Betty” and current “Shrinking” star is in a revival of the madcap medieval musical “Spamalot” and that means regular silliness from his co-stars.“At some point, somebody will do something totally stupid and we’ll all crack up laughing,” he said. “I have to bite the inside of my cheek or turn upstage or just really think about my intention.” You can sympathize with Urie since “Spamalot” is built on shenanigans that includes a group of knights fond of shrubbery, a singing and dancing plague victim, flatulent Frenchmen and killer rabbits.“The wordplay is so clever and then you’ll get a fart joke or then a rabbit will bite someone’s head off,” said Urie. “I don’t know any other material that is highbrow and lowbrow at the same time or within seconds of each other, but they seem to pull it off.”He’s joined by a cast that includes theater stars C...