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Robbins: Donald Trump is deep in a legal cauldron

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

If there’s anyone who embraces the strategy “The best defense is a good offense” more fiercely and more relentlessly than Donald Trump, it would be surprising.After news broke of his extortionate telephone call to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky conditioning American release of Congressionally-mandated military assistance to our embattled ally on a phony announcement of a phony investigation into Joe Biden, Trump boasted that his was “a perfect call.”When it was revealed that after losing Georgia in the 2020 presidential election Trump telephoned Georgia’s Secretary of State and exhorted him to commit election fraud on his behalf, Trump insisted that this, too, was “a perfect call.”So after Trump is arraigned on Tuesday on approximately 30 criminal charges arising from his attempts to launder $130,000 in hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, expect him to tell the media throng outside the New York Supreme Court that he is being unfairly persecuted for making the perfect porn...

Former FSU safety Jammie Robinson looks forward to fulfilling NFL dream

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

For Jammie Robinson, playing in the NFL would fulfill a dream.Even though he’s thought about it throughout his life, the former Florida State safety isn’t sure how he’ll react when it finally happens.“I honestly don’t know,” said Robinson. “Once my dream comes true, all I’m going to be able to do is live in the moment. I’m going to cry like a baby and I’m going to take care of my mom. After that, I’m returning to the drawing board to start with a new chapter.”Robinson was among a group participating in FSU’s Pro Day on Friday, including offensive linemen Dillan Gibbons and Jazston Turnetine, tight ends Camren McDonald and Wyatt Rector, defensive lineman Robert Cooper, defensive end Leonard Warner III, defensive backs Jarques McClellion and wide receivers Ontaria Wilson and Mike Roussos. The event occurred in front of 43 NFL scouts and personnel in the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility.The 5-foot-...

After hitless opening series, Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson breaks out with ‘loud’ opposite-field homer vs. Rangers

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

Before the Orioles’ series-opening game against the Texas Rangers on Monday, manager Brandon Hyde said he wasn’t worried about Gunnar Henderson after his hitless weekend against the Boston Red Sox.After all, Henderson did walk six times in the first three games, tied for the most in the American League in that span.“The hits haven’t come yet, but they will,” Hyde said. “He’s trying to get that first one. Once he gets that first one, he’ll be able to relax a little bit. His at-bats have been good so far.”Hyde’s prediction turned out to be right in multiple ways. Not only did Henderson, the consensus No. 1 prospect in baseball, record multiple hits in the Orioles’ 2-0 win Monday, but it was also the first knock — a second-inning single — that calmed his nerves and led to his first home run of the season.“It’s awesome being able to get the first hit out the way, especially at the big leagues,̶...

Quincy’s Orlagh Gormley to play for Irish under-18 women’s national team

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

With over 1,000 career points already, Dexter Southfield junior Orlagh Gormley established herself as one of the most talented point guards in Massachusetts well before being selected to join the Ireland under-18 women’s national team.The 5-foot-7 Quincy native seems quiet by nature, but her passion for basketball is apparent. In addition to using her speed to drive to the basket, she can knock down three-pointers, provide accurate passes to her teammates, and haul in rebounds. She credits her work ethic to her family.“Both of my siblings played,” said Gormley. “Watching them, I got it at a young age. So, I just followed in their footsteps pretty much. They were always playing basketball in the backyard, so I was always playing with them. I make sure that no matter what team I’m on, I give the same effort as I always do.”Her sister Aoibhe, a senior at Thayer Academy, plans to play at Boston University. Brother Eoin played at Catholic Memorial and is a student at Boston College.At No...

World shares higher as inflation shows signs of abating

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares were mostly higher in Europe and Asia on Tuesday as investors watched for the latest moves by central banks, given signs that inflation is abating in many regions. The OECD reported inflation in leading economies fell to 8.8% in February from 9.2% in January. Inflation rates remained above 20% in Hungary, Latvia and Turkey, but overall, inflation fell in 23 of the 38 OECD economies. Easing energy prices were a major factor, though oil prices have surged after producing countries announced Sunday they will cut output from May 1 through the end of the year. That could potentially slow broader efforts to tame inflation. Germany’s DAX gained 0.6% to 15,684.77 and the CAC 40 in Paris was 0.5% higher, at 7,379.09. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.1% higher, to 7,681.11. The future for the S&P 500 was up less than 0.1% and that for the Dow industrials was unchanged. The S&P/ASX 200 in Sydney edged 0.2% higher to 7,236.00 after Australia’s central b...

Officials: US providing Ukraine $2.6 billion in military aid

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. will send Ukraine about $500 million in ammunition and equipment and will spend more than $2 billion to buy an array of munitions, radar and other weapons in the future, U.S. officials said, as the Ukrainian troops prepare for a spring offensive against Russian forces.The ammunition rounds, along with grenade launchers and vehicles, will be taken from military stockpiles so they can be in the war zone quickly, the officials said.The $2.1 billion in longer-term aid, which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will buy missiles for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, as well as radar and other weapons, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the aid had not yet been announced. An announcement is expected as soon as Tuesday.The new weapons and funding come as Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine with long-range missiles and the hotly contested battle for the easte...

Suspect in attack that killed military blogger to face court

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

A woman suspected of involvement in a bombing at a St. Petersburg cafe that killed a Russian military blogger is set to face a court hearing in the Russian capital Tuesday that will set terms for her pre-trial detention.Vladlen Tatarsky, 40, an ardent supporter of the war in Ukraine who filed daily reports on the fighting from the front lines, was killed Sunday as he led a discussion at the riverside cafe in the historic heart of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. Russian authorities described the bombing as an act of terrorism and blamed Ukrainian intelligence agencies for orchestrating the attack.Police arrested 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident Darya Trepova, who was seen on video moments before the blast presenting Tatarsky with a statuette that is believed to have contained explosives.The Interior Ministry released a video in which Trepova told a police officer that she brought the bust to the cafe. When asked who gave it to her, she said she would explain later. T...

As it turns 25, N Ireland’s Good Friday Agreement explained

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — It has been 25 years since the striking of the Good Friday Agreement, the landmark peace accord that ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland, a period known as “the Troubles.”The anniversary is being marked with celebration that peace has endured, but concern about entrenched divisions and political instability. And the specter of violence has not wholly disappeared – last month U.K. intelligence services raised the terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland from “substantial” to “severe.”Here’s a look at the accord and how it came about:WHAT WERE THE TROUBLES?When Ireland, long dominated by its bigger neighbor Britain, became a self-governing Roman Catholic-majority country a century ago, a six-county region in the north with a Protestant majority remained part of the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland was split between two main communities: nationalists — most of them Catholic — who desired union with the rest of Ireland, and largely Pro...

Biden to meet with experts on AI ‘risks and opportunities’

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday will meet with his council of advisers on science and technology about the “ risks and opportunities ” that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence development pose for individual users and national security.The White House said the Democratic president would use the AI meeting to “discuss the importance of protecting rights and safety to ensure responsible innovation and appropriate safeguards” and to reiterate his call for Congress to pass legislation to protect children and curtail data collection by technology companies.Artificial intelligence burst to the forefront in the national conversation after the release of the popular ChatGPT AI chatbot, which helped spark a race among tech giants to unveil similar tools, while raising ethical and societal concerns from the powerful technology. The council, known as PCAST, is composed of science, engineering, technology and medical experts and is co-chaired by the Cabinet-rank...

NY judge rules no video cameras in court during Trump's arraignment: reports

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:37:22 GMT

(The Hill) - New York Judge Juan Merchan ruled on Monday night that a handful of photographers will be allowed to take pictures in the courtroom where former President Trump will be arraigned on Tuesday, but he will not allow video cameras, according to reports. Merchan issued his ruling after Trump's legal team argued against having cameras in the court room, saying that it would create a "circus-like" atmosphere. The decision, reported by ABC News and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, said that five still photographers would be allowed in the courtroom for several minutes before being vacated from the room."That this indictment involves a matter of monumental significance cannot possibly be disputed. Never in the history of the United States has a sitting or past President been indicted on criminal charges," Merchan wrote in the decision, as reported by ABC. The decision also reportedly stated that no electronic devices would be allowed in the main or overflow courtrooms. Trump is expected ...