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Dissed by Saudi Arabia, lectured by Egypt: US diplomacy meets Mideast reality

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

America’s intense war-time diplomacy is so far failing to sway Arab countries in the Middle East — and President Joe Biden’s expected visit to the region may not help.In recent days, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been nearly ghosted by Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and given a bizarre history lesson by Egypt’s ruler. U.S. officials have been unable to get most Arab leaders to denounce Hamas for the Palestinian militant group’s brutal attack on Israel or make statements supporting Israel’s military response.The diplomatic struggle suggests that U.S. influence is receding in the region, where governments’ interests often diverge from that of Washington and both Russia and China are vying for sway. And unequivocal U.S. support for Israel — as opposed to the more nuanced positions it often takes in Middle East flare-ups — may be one of the biggest barriers to better relations.“Given the fact that we are at the very early stages of this situation, U.S. diplomacy is succeeding as mu...

Council president calls for investigation into toddler found at Boston’s Mass and Cass

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

City Council President Ed Flynn is calling for the Boston Public Health Commission to conduct an investigation, after authorities discovered a 2-year-old boy spent a night in the violent, drug-ridden Mass and Cass zone.The toddler was seen inside a car parked in a lot on Massachusetts Avenue last Thursday night, with his mother asleep behind the wheel, but it wasn’t until past 8 a.m. the following morning that a street outreach worker alerted authorities about a woman with a “baby” on Southampton Street, a Boston Police report states.Southampton and its surrounding areas, the report notes, “are known for the avid use of drugs, illegal drug sales, human trafficking and violence.”“I think it’s a troubling development,” Flynn told the Herald Monday. “I want to first acknowledge the professionalism of our first responders, but having a child in the Mass and Cass zone is horrific, and it’s certainly child endangerment.”Flynn sent an email to Dr. Bisola Ojikuto, executiv...

Battenfeld: Maura Healey pushes panic button on migrants and tries to dodge responsibility

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is now pushing the panic button, and gently trying to extricate herself from a crisis she helped create.Healey’s claim that the state will soon reach a limit and will not be able to house more than 7,500 migrant and homeless families raises more questions than it settles.What will they do with the rest of the migrants that continue to pour into the state? Because it’s not going to stop just because Healey says we can’t take any more.Will they live on the streets? In homeless shelters? Police stations? Hospital emergency rooms? College campuses?Are they going to stay here indefinitely? Will we house them forever and pay for their services?All Healey said was that the state will help families “move into more permanent housing.” But what if they can’t find it?Healey said by the beginning of next month, the state will not add any more shelter units and those who aren’t placed into housing will be on a waiting list. Where exactly will that waiting list liv...

Harvard suffers major loss as ‘stunned and sickened’ Wexner Foundation pulls $2M+ support

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

A “stunned and sickened” Wexner Foundation, a leading voice for the Jewish faith, is pulling its support for Harvard in the latest rebuke of the university’s handling of the Hamas terror attack in Israel.The foundation is cutting ties with Harvard’s Kennedy School and pulling its support.In an open letter addressed to Harvard’s Board of Overseers on Monday, the foundation said, “We have observed that this cherished tolerance for diverse perspectives has slowly but perceptibly narrowed over the years,” the Jerusalem Post wrote, adding that the “Wexner Israel Fellows are increasingly marginalized, their voices and views even shouted down.”The Post adds that the open letter states, “We are stunned and sickened at the dismal failure of Harvard’s leadership to take a clear and unequivocal stand against the barbaric murders of innocent Israeli civilians by terrorists.”The nonprofit was founded by former Victoria’s Secret billionaire Leslie Wexner and his wife...

Woman hit, killed by car in East County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- A pedestrian died Monday in a crash in El Cajon, authorities said.The collision occurred around 6:21 a.m. at the intersection of East Main Street and Roanoke Road, Lt. Darrin Forster with the El Cajon Police Department said in a news release.When first responders arrived on scene, they found an unresponsive 28-year-old woman who had been struck by a car. The unidentified victim was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police confirmed. Barricaded stabbing suspect prompts SWAT standoff in Spring Valley The driver of the 2016 black Kia Soul that hit the woman cooperated with investigators at the crash location. Authorities do not suspect driving under the influence as a factor in the collision."We would also like to remind those who walk to obey all traffic control devices, only cross the street at designated, controlled intersections, and wear bright or light-colored clothing for visibility," Forster said.El Cajon police is asking anyone with...

SWAT surrounds Midway apartment complex after shooting; suspect at large

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police are searching for a man who allegedly shot at his roommate Monday morning, prompting SWAT officers to surround a Midway District apartment complex.Around 11:20 a.m., authorities were alerted to the incident in the 3100 block of Midway Drive after the victim called 9-1-1 to report that his roommate shot at him during a dispute.Fortunately, he did not sustain any injuries in the shooting. Barricaded stabbing suspect prompts SWAT standoff in Spring Valley According to SDPD, the victim was barricaded in the bathroom when he made the call. The suspect was believed to still be inside the apartment when officers arrived on scene.After several hours, the roommate was able to exit the apartment. Authorities are still working to locate the gunman.No additional details were immediately available about the incident.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

San Diego home sales fell sharply last month with prices sticking around $1M

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The number of home sales in San Diego continued a downward trend in September as average prices hovered around seven digits, according to newly released data from the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR).Sales of single-family detached properties totaled 1,036 in the county last month, falling nearly 23% from August. Compared to September 2022, the number of sales came in roughly 30% lower, the trade association found.Rancho Bernardo East, Oceanside North, Fallbrook, Valley Center, Oceanside East and Ramona were among the areas with the most single-family home sales last month, according to SDAR. New home construction to be accelerated in San Diego with SANDAG funds Similarly, townhomes and condos have also saw a roughly 20% decrease in sales between August and September this year, hitting a six-month low in the county. According to realtors, sales of these properties totaled about 620 last month.This comes as the number of active listings on the market in...

Rite Aid to close only location in Ramona

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

RAMONA, Calif. -- Rite Aid is permanently closing its pharmacy location in Ramona on Thursday, officials with the drug store retailer confirmed. In a statement to FOX 5, Rite Aid said that the decision to close the Ramona location on 1670 Main Street was made in the course of regular reviews "to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business."With its shuttering, only four pharmacies will remain available to serve the rural East County town and surrounding mountain communities."A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance," the statement continued. What the Rite Aid bankruptcy filing means for customers, prescriptions According to the drug store, customers' prescriptions will be transferred to nearby pharmacies in the coming days to prevent disruptions to healthcare access. E...

Venezuela and opposition reach deal on electoral conditions. They plan to sign Tuesday in Barbados

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Venezuela’s government and opposition have reached an agreement on new electoral conditions that once signed Tuesday will trigger relief from U.S. energy sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, according to a person familiar with the outline of deal.Venezuela’s government agreed to open up the electoral process, including allowing European Union observers and creating a process for lifting bans that have blocked his top opponents from running for president, to level what is widely seen as an unfair playing field, the person said Monday. If Maduro doesn’t live up to his end of the bargain, the sanctions will be imposed again, according to the person, who insisted on not being quoted by name as a condition to discuss the agreement before it was signed.Venezuela’s government and opposition were scheduled to resume their Norway-mediated dialogue in Barbados on Tuesday, the Norwegian Embassy in Mexico said. But it appeared an agreement wa...

Sports, internet bets near-record levels in New Jersey, but 5 of 9 casinos trail pre-pandemic levels

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:28:24 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., (AP) — Sports betting and internet gambling were at near-record levels in New Jersey in September, and nearly half of the Atlantic City casinos won more money from in-person gamblers than they did in September 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.But the encouraging numbers released Monday by the state Division of Gaming Enforcement did not change a fundamental concern of this seaside gambling resort: that its core business — money won from people on the casino floor — is still not back to pre-pandemic levels at five of the nine casinos.The amount of money collectively won from on-premises gamblers was higher this September ($246 million) than it was in September 2019 ($224 million.)Four of the nine casinos (Caesars, Hard Rock, Ocean and Resorts) reported higher in-person winnings last month than they did in September 2019, before the coronavirus outbreak. That’s a slight improvement from the usual two or sometimes three casinos that exceed that level most m...