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Healthy and happy: LeBron James, Anthony Davis lead Lakers back to conference finals

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After every twist and turn in the soap opera saga of LeBron James’ four seasons alongside Anthony Davis with the Los Angeles Lakers, one truth remains perfectly clear.This is a championship-caliber partnership when James and Davis are both healthy.One or both superstars have been injured for long stretches of the three seasons since their 2020 bubble championship, and the Lakers’ road back to contention has been incredibly rocky because of it. The entire roster around them has been completely changed since that ring, but James and Davis are still here, still fighting.Now they’re both healthy at the same time again, and the rest of the NBA has been reminded what happens when this dynamic duo can fly at full strength.James and Davis were at their best while the Lakers eliminated the defending champion Golden State Warriors in six games, capping a masterful effort with a 122-101 victory Friday night.When asked why the seventh-seeded Lakers find them...

Heat embracing challenge, find way to return to the Eastern Conference finals

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Inside the Miami Heat locker room, now officially halfway to the season’s ultimate goal, Erik Spoelstra stepped onto the NBA championship logo on the center of the floor and gathered his team around him.His message was simple.“There’s been nothing about this season that’s been easy,” Spoelstra said.He’s right, and the Heat aren’t complaining about that, either — since this anything-but-easy season is still going.They were a No. 1 seed last year and got to the Eastern Conference finals, and this year, they were a No. 8 seed and still got to the Eastern Conference finals. It took six games to get past New York — the revival of a playoff rivalry from the late 1990s and early 2000s — but the job is done, the clincher coming in a 96-92 win in Game 6 of their East semifinal matchup Friday night.“It’s a crazy story being written,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “Through all the ups and downs of the season, a lot of people counted us out. We weren’t even going to make it past th...

Warm again, cooling down into tomorrow

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

7Weather- It’s a great weekend for us across Southern New England! As of this writing, temperatures are already in the 60s. We’ll get plenty of sunshine to boost temperatures into the upper 70s/near 80 this afternoon. A cold front has dropped in across New England. We won’t feel the cooler air until overnight into tomorrow. Highs tomorrow will be more seasonable. It’ll stay dry with plenty of sunshine too.We’re waking up to sunshine mixed with clouds. Overnight a couple showers moved in across the region. The thickest cloud cover is to the south. Clouds will continue to clear to mostly sunshine from north to south. The South Coast, Buzzards Bay, Cape and the Islands will hold on to clouds a little bit longer.It’s tank top weather for the Sox game! Just grab the shades and the sunscreen.Mainly clear with light wind overnight. The cooler air above us will work in and temperatures will fall into the upper 40s/low 50s by tomorrow morning. It’ll ...

Toronto council votes on motion to allow alcohol consumption in some parks this summer

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

Toronto’s city council has voted to approve the development of a pilot program that would allow residents to drink alcohol in some public parks this summer.The motion calling for the pilot was introduced by city councillors Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North) and Chris Moise (Toronto Centre) and directs city staff to work with other interested councillors interested in hosting a pilot in their ward.A city spokesperson said the proposed pilot is slated to run from August 5 to October 9 in parks where the local councillor has opted into the program.Staff members will consult with councillors once a list of suitable parks is provided and will report back on July 6, 2023, in time for the council meeting.“Toronto’s parks are one of the many things that make our city great. I want to thank Councillor Carroll, Councillor Moise and council for moving this pilot forward in a responsible and reasonable way,” said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie.No tickets issued in 2022,...

Poland detects object in its airspace that flew from Belarus, likely observation balloon

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s Defense Ministry said Saturday that it has detected an object in Polish airspace that flew in from the direction of Belarus, and that it’s probably an observation balloon.The ministry tweeted that radar contact with the object was lost near Rypin, a town in central Poland 143 kilometers (89) northwest of the capital, Warsaw.A search was launched in the vicinity of Rypin involving a helicopter, a drone and ground groups from the Territorial Defense Forces, a press officer with the Operational Command of the Armed Forces, Capt. Ewa Złotnicka, told the television broadcaster TVN24.The object was spotted Friday around 8:30 p.m. local time near Białowieża, which is near Poland’s border with Belarus. Radar monitoring was carried out, but at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, the object ceased to be visible, Złotnicka said in a phone interview with the private TV station.The development reported Saturday follows two other known incursions into Pola...

Pothole blitz in process across Toronto today

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

City of Toronto crews are on local streets for another 12-hour pothole blitz on Saturday.Workers will be fanned out across Toronto from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as they work to repair as many pesky potholes as possible on expressways, major roads, and neighbourhood streets.So far, more than 75,000 road craters have been filled in since the start of the year.A city spokesperson said Saturday’s pothole blitz caps a week-long effort where city crews worked extended hours to prioritize repairing the pesky potholes.Those driving or cycling are advised to expect what the city called minor delays around pothole crews. The public is asked to be safe by respecting work zones and giving crews space while they make repairs.The city’s budget has allocated more than $4 and a half million for pothole repairs in 2023.

Zelenskyy meets in Rome with Italy’s premier before talks with pope

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday for talks with Italian officials and Pope Francis, who has said the Vatican has launched a behind-the-scenes initiative to try to end the war launched last year by Russia.“Today in Rome,″ Zelenskyy tweeted. ”I’m meeting with President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister of Italy @GiorgiaMeloni and the Pope @Pontifex. An important visit for approaching victory of Ukraine! ”When Zelenskyy arrived at a military airfield at Rome’s Ciampino airport, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani was on hand to greet him. Tajani told reporters that Italy will continue to support Ukraine “360 degrees” and press for a just peace, one that safeguards Ukraine’s independence. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni staunchly backs military and other aid for Ukraine. But while her far-right Brothers of Italy party fiercely champions the principle of national sovereignty, Meloni has had to contend with leaders of ...

Pakistani army says raid on militants in southwest leaves 7 troops, 6 militants, civilian dead

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — A raid on militants in Pakistan’s southwest in response to an earlier attack on soldiers left seven troops, six militants and a civilian dead, the army said Saturday. The operation continued for two days after a group of militants attacked a camp of soldiers in the Qila Saifullah district of northern Balochistan province early Friday. The militants also held hostage three families, including women and children, at the residential area of the army camp, the army said.No group immediately claimed responsibility for that attack. A statement by the military’s media wing said seven soldiers, six militants and a civilian were killed in the ensuing raid. A woman was also wounded during the operation.“The … operation involved a hostage rescue operation as well to save three families on a residential block. The terrorists did not even spare children of their horrendous approach,” it said.The army said intelligence follow-up was in progress to trace the...

How this era of the Toronto Maple Leafs came to an end

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

This is how it ends.With four straight home losses in Toronto and controversy-sharing shifts with uncertainty.With Coke bottles and rally towels littering the ice and cuss words cutting the air.With John Tavares and Auston Matthews — $22.64 million worth of all-star centremen — combining for 50 shots and zero goals in the most important playoff series of their lives.With Matthew Tkachuk (who didn’t score either) walking tall to the winners’ podium, holding a jalapeno salmon roll in one hand and a game sheet in the other. With Tkachuk chirping the Maple Leafs fans who chanted “We want Florida!” only to eat their words like a Sam Bennett shoulder. And with the Florida Panthers’ team shop dropping a mock T-shirt after Nick Cousins freezes the clock in a 3-2 overtime win.This is how it ends, the first Toronto Maple Leafs’ second-round appearance in 19 years.With Matt Murray, Kyle Dubas’s boldest off-season swing, wearing the ballcap, then walking quie...

Campaigning in Turkey’s pivotal elections nearing end

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 19:45:56 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish politicians were holding final rallies in the last hours of campaigning on Saturday, the eve of pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections that could significantly shape the NATO member’s future.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is facing the toughest challenge ever in his two decades of power, was speaking at neighborhood rallies in Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city.His challenger — Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the pro-secular, center-left Republican People’s Party who is the joint candidate of six opposition parties — held his final rally in the capital, Ankara, on Friday under pouring rain.On Friday, Erdogan dismissed speculation that he wouldn’t cede power if he lost by calling the question “very ridiculous.” In an interview with a dozen Turkish broadcasters, Erdogan said he came to power through democracy and would act in line with the democratic process. “If our nation decides to make such a different decision, we will do exactly what’s requi...