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New Zealand leader says he favors nation becoming a republic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said Monday he personally favors his country becoming a republic, but it’s not a change he intends to push for as leader.Hipkins made the comments to reporters hours before he was due to depart for this week’s coronation of King Charles III in London.New Zealand, a former British colony, is self-governing but Charles retains a largely ceremonial role as head of state and king. Charles is represented in New Zealand by a governor-general.Like many former British colonies, New Zealand continues to wrestle with what — if any — constitutional role the British monarchy should play in modern times. Barbados chose to become a republic in 2021. Jamaica last year said it plans to pursue independence. And Australia in February decided to remove the British monarch from the last of its banknotes, although an image of Charles is expected to feature on coins.“Ideally, in time, New Zealand will become a fully independent...

Operator in limo crash that killed 20 goes on trial in NY

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

SCHOHARIE, N.Y. (AP) — Nearly five years after a stretch limousine packed with birthday revelers careened down a hill and off a road in rural upstate New York, killing 20 people, the operator of the company that rented out the vehicle is going on trial.Nauman Hussain, who ran Prestige Limousine, is charged with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the Oct. 6, 2018 crash — one of the deadliest U.S. road wrecks of the past two decades — in Schoharie, a village west of Albany. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in Schoharie County Court.Seventeen people using the limo for a birthday celebration were killed, along with the driver and two bystanders outside a country store where the vehicle crashed.The victims’ relatives have been on an emotional rollercoaster ever since. After pandemic-related delays in the criminal case, they were exasperated by a 2021 announcement of a plea deal that would have spared Hussain prison time. A sur...

First Republic in limbo as US regulators juggle bank’s fate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Regulators searched for a solution to First Republic Bank’s woes over the weekend, hoping to find a way forward before U.S. stock markets opened Monday. San Francisco-based First Republic has struggled since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in early March, as investors and depositors grew increasingly worried the bank may not survive as an independent entity. The bank’s stock closed at $3.51 on Friday, a fraction of the roughly $170 a share it traded for a year ago. It fell further in afterhours trading.World markets have periodically been shaken by worries over turmoil in the banking industry since Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. On Monday markets in many parts of the world were closed for May 1 holidays. The two markets in Asia that were open, in Tokyo and Sydney, rose on Monday while U.S. futures were little changed, with the contract for the S&P 500 up nearly 0.1%. First Republic has been seen as the bank most likely to collapse ne...

Emanuel Reynoso’s absence comes roaring back amid Loons draw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

Minnesota United and FC Dallas played to a scoreless first half on Sunday, but there was one firework during the opening 45 minutes at Allianz Field.Apple TV commentator Taylor Twellman shared Emanuel Reynoso nearly got on a flight from Argentina to Minnesota.The Pioneer Press can confirm the MLS All-Star gave MNUFC tangible belief he was going to end his months-long holdout in mid-April after Loons technical director Mark Watson had a one-on-one meeting with Reynoso in Cordoba. They discussed Reynoso’s personal issues — the reason for his absence — and a flight was booked for Reynoso to travel north within the next day. The talented midfielder, of course, did not follow through.After not initially reporting to preseason camp in January and being suspended by MLS in February, what ended up being a tease from Reynoso two weeks ago deflated hope among club officials and didn’t help mend an already strained relationship.The prolonged absence of the Loons creativ...

PHOTOS: Colorado Avalanche knocked off by Seattle Kraken in Game 7, NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of their NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs series at Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday night, April 30, 2023. The defending Stanley Cup champions fell 2-1 to the underdog Kraken.Related ArticlesColorado Avalanche | Avalanche’s Stanley Cup defense sputters to end in Game 7 of first round vs. underdog Seattle Kraken Colorado Avalanche | With Andrew Cogliano out for rest of Stanley Cup Playoffs, Kraken’s Jordan Eberle discusses hit that fractured Cogliano’s neck Colorado Avalanche | Keeler: Chris Paul got dirty. Kevin Durant moped. Devin Booker sulked. It’s official: Jamal Murray, Nuggets are in Phoenix’s heads now. Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche vs. Kraken Game 7: Three keys for Avs to advance to second round vs. Stars Colorado Avalanche | Grading the Week: Cale Makar’s big hit, Coach Prime’s roster overhaul and optics vs....

Stolen vehicle suspect on the loose after multi-car crash in San Bernardino; 9 injured, 2 critically 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

A driver in a stolen vehicle ran a red light Sunday afternoon in San Bernardino causing a multi-vehicle crash that injured nine people, two of them critically, authorities said.  The stolen vehicle suspect, who fled the scene and remains on the loose, crashed their vehicle and hit seven other cars after running a red light at the intersection of Del Rosa and Highland avenues at around 2:30 p.m., according to the San Bernardino Police Department. Witnesses at the scene told an independent news agency that the driver who caused the crash had been traveling southbound on Del Rosa Avenue when the crash occurred. At the crash site, firefighters found multiple patients, several of whom had to be extricated from their vehicles, which were severely damaged during the collision, officials with the San Bernardino County Fire Department told KTLA. Two people that suffered critical injuries were rushed to a nearby trauma center. Seven other people suffered moderate injuries, some of whom were a...

WGA members prep for strike as early as Tuesday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

A majority of members in the Writers Guild of America voted to authorize a strike if labor negotiations between WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down. This would be the first WGA strike in more than 10 years. More than 11,000 WGA members are requesting nearly $600 million dollars in wage increases with hopes to prevent a strike. If a deal is not agreed on by Monday night, the strike could likely start Tuesday morning. “We have the power to protect our economic security,” said member Angelina Burnett.  “Because lower and mid-level writers deserve to be able to earn a living in this career,” member Gina Ippolito added. “We have to stand up for writers and have to make writing a viable career for everyone,” said member Justin Alpern.If a strike ensues, it would halt the production of scripted network programs and late-night talk shows including “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” It would also stop writing work for movies, TV, an...

Photos: Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry becomes first player to shoot 50 points in an NBA Game 7 to defeat Kings in playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

Stephen Curry poured in 50 points, the most scored in a Game 7 in NBA history, to go with his eight rebounds and six assists as he powered the Warriors to 120-100 victory.Curry’s 50 points was a playoff career high. knocked down seven 3-pointers, the most made in a Game 7 in league history.The Kings had outplayed the Warriors for most of the first half, taking a two-point lead into the break, and were looking to win their first playoff series since 2004. But Curry and the crew had other plans.Kevon Looney pulled down seven offensive boards in the third quarter alone and finished the day with 21 total rebounds, including 10 on the offensive glass, becoming just the ninth player in NBA history to grab double-digit offensive rebounds in a Game 7. He also had 11 points, making this his fourth career playoff double-double.The Warriors now advance to the Western Conference semifinals to face Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State won’t have too much time to relish in its ha...

Verhaeghe scores in OT, Panthers oust league-best Bruins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Brandon Montour tied it with 1 minute left in regulation, and Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winner at 8:35 of overtime to lead the Florida Panthers to a 4-3 victory in Game 7 on Sunday night and eliminate the record-setting Boston Bruins from the playoffs.Sam Reinhart also scored and Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves as the Panthers won three in a row after falling behind 3-1 in the series to advance in the postseason for just the second time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1996. They will open the second round against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday night.Boston rallied from a two-goal deficit to take a 3-2 lead, but Florida pulled Bobrovsky for one final push and Montour tied it with his second of the game. Verhaeghe won it on a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that just made it under the crossbar.That eliminated the Bruins, who set NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points in the regular season but become the second Presidents’ Trophy winner in f...

ANÁLISIS | ¿Qué tan mal está Ron DeSantis? Se ubica en las encuestas al nivel de Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:13:41 GMT

(CNN) — El gobernador de Florida, Ron DeSantis, ha pasado los últimos meses moviéndose hacia la derecha antes de su esperado ingreso a la campaña de las primarias presidenciales republicanas de 2024. Desde promulgar una ley que prohíbe el aborto durante seis semanas hasta pelear con Disney, el gobernador se ha centrado en satisfacer a la base conservadora de su partido.Al menos hasta ahora, esos esfuerzos no han valido la pena en las encuestas primarias republicanas, y DeSantis se quedó aún más atrás del actual favorito, el expresidente Donald Trump.El activista antivacunas Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presentará su candidatura presidencial para 2024Las cosas se pusieron tan mal para DeSantis que una encuesta reciente de Fox News lo muestra con un 21%, comparable con el 19% que Robert F. Kennedy Jr., quien ha impulsado teorías de conspiración desacreditadas sobre la seguridad de las vacunas, recibe del lado demócrata.DeSantis estaba en 28% en la encuesta de febrero de Fox, 15 puntos ...