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Las Vegas’ Sphere venue debuted this weekend with concerts by U2. Here’s what it was like

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

Las Vegas (CNN) — For several years a mysterious spherical structure has been rising on the skyline of this desert playground, teasing visitors in recent months with its wraparound LED screen transforming the giant orb into a planet, a basketball, or — most distractingly — a blinking eyeball.Now, finally, we get to go inside.Sphere, the $2.3 billion venture being billed as the entertainment venue of the future, made its public debut this weekend with two concerts by U2.Does Sphere live up to the hype? Are the interior visuals as eye-popping as the ones outside? Is U2, the beloved Irish band now in the latter stage of their career, the right act to christen this massive bauble of an arena?Yes, yes, and yes – with a few caveats.Courtesy Rich Fury/Handout/ReutersDescribing the Sphere concert experience is a challenge, because there’s nothing quite like it. The effect is a little like being in a giant planetarium or a juiced-up IMAX theater, inside a giant spaceship.Built by Madiso...

Excitement grows around rising star Mackie Samoskevich as Panthers’ pre-season progresses

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

As the regular season looms closer, one name continues to shine brightly among the Florida Panthers’ roster – Mackie Samoskevich. The 2021 first-round pick has been making waves during the Panthers’ pre-season games, leaving a strong impression on fans and coaches alike. “I thought I played good, but some things clean up for sure so, I’m happy with that,” said Samoskevich.In his first three pre-season match-ups, Samoskevich has already netted three goals and provided an assist, showcasing his impressive skills on the ice. Panther Head Coach Paul Maurice has taken note of Samoskevich’s exceptional hand skills and pro-level puck handling, praising his performance. “Guys battling for the open positions are legitimate hockey players,” said Maurice. With the Panthers aiming to finalize their roster with 28 players by Monday, Samoskevich is making a compelling case for a spot. Coach Maurice acknowledges the competition among players vying fo...

Kosovo attack: Who benefits?

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. The European Union and the United States have been trying to persuade Serbia and Kosovo to end their enmity and normalize relations for more than a decade.There were finally signs of promise in April, when Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti finally gave tacit, if begrudging, approval to an EU-brokered plan that would see the two finally sprinkle some soil over the hatchet. But despite all the cajoling and coaxing, it wasn’t to be.U.S. and European officials have insinuated that Kurti was more to blame here, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell drawing attention to the failure to establish an association of municipalities in northern Kosovo, which would have allowed Kosovo’s Serbs some autonomy in an enclave where they’re a majority.Behind the scenes, U.S. and European officials have also quietly praised Vučić for a slow and halting tilt toward the West, secretly supplying some arms...

EU should ban spyware, Russian exiled journalist says

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

 The European Union should issue a complete ban on spyware, given that it is continually used to violate human rights, the editor-in-chief of independent Russian news site Meduza told POLITICO.Ivan Kolpakov, who’s based in Latvia, said that following the revelations of hacking on his colleague Galina Timichenko by an as-yet-unconfirmed EU country, it was clear that Europeans should be extremely concerned about Pegasus.“If they can use it against an exiled journalist there are no guarantees they cannot use it against local journalists as well,” said Kolpakov. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of fans in Europe, and we are not only talking about Poland and Hungary, but Western European countries as well.”POLITICO first reported that since last month the European Commission has been working on guidance for how governments could use surveillance tools such as spyware within EU data protection and national security laws. Despite national security being a competence of member cou...

Leaked US strategy on Ukraine sees corruption as the real threat

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

Biden administration officials are far more worried about corruption in Ukraine than they publicly admit, a confidential U.S. strategy document obtained by POLITICO suggests.The “sensitive but unclassified” version of the long-term U.S. plan lays out numerous steps Washington is taking to help Kyiv root out malfeasance and otherwise reform an array of Ukrainian sectors. It stresses that corruption could cause Western allies to abandon Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, and that Kyiv cannot put off the anti-graft effort.“Perceptions of high-level corruption” the confidential version of the document warns, could “undermine the Ukrainian public’s and foreign leaders’ confidence in the war-time government.”That’s starker than the analysis available in the little-noticed public version of the 22-page document, which the State Department appears to have posted on its website with no fanfare about a month ago.The confidential version of the “Integrated Country Strategy” is abo...

Trump denounces fraud case as a ‘scam’ as he arrives for New York trial over his business practices

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump denounced the civil fraud case over his business practices as a politically motivated “scam” as he arrived defiantly for a trial in the lawsuit, which could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties.“This is a continuation of the single greatest witch hunt of all time,” he said as he made a voluntary trip to a New York court for a trial that has high stakes for him.“It’s a scam. It’s a sham,” the Republican said, reiterating claims that New York Attorney General Letitia James’ suit is a politically motivated attempt to thwart his return to the White House.“What we have here is an attempt to hurt me in an election,” he charged, adding: “I don’t think the people of this country are going to stand for it.”He looked away from James, a Democrat, as he passed her on the way into court, with a disgusted look on his face.The suit accuses Trump and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually...

Lucas: Hey Red Sox, why not open up Fenway Park for addicted, homeless

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

Forget Widett Circle.If Boston Mayor Michelle Wu wants “a temporary new approach” to alleviate the Mass and Cass drug and homeless nightmare, she should consider utilizing Fenway Park.The ballpark is empty and will remain empty until the spring when the hapless Boston Red Sox return for another dismal season. The last placed hometown team’s last 2023 game was Sunday in Baltimore.Not that relocating the tent dwelling for down and out drug addicted souls from Mass and Cass is a solution to the problem. But relocating them to Fenway Park for the winter would give Wu time to come up with a better idea.It would also bring the homeless in from the cold.  It would end the practice of tearing down the tents only to have them shortly reappear and give Boston time to clean up the crime-ridden area.Pitching their tents in the enclosed structure of Fenway Park would at least provide some relief from winter storms as well as a sense of security. Crime and violence at Mass and Cass has been an on...

Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts backs manager David Ross as team finishes 83-79: ‘He’s our guy’

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

The Chicago Cubs will have plenty of time to ponder the “what ifs” of a season that fell short of their postseason goal.Adding to the sting of finishing one game out of playoff position: the Cubs received the help they had needed coming into the weekend with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting swept by the Houston Astros. The Cubs, though, didn’t take care of business by dropping two of three games to the Milwaukee Brewers, including a 4-0 loss in Sunday’s season finale.They closed the season by losing 15 of their last 22 games. Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts described the up-and-down 83-79 year as “four different seasons” from getting off to an OK start and the subsequent slump that nearly derailed the season to rallying back over .500 and the rough final three weeks in September.“It’s tough to not achieve your goal,” Ricketts said Sunday. “It’s tough when you’re just a couple of games away from making the...

Man killed in Vista

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- Authorities on Monday were investigating a homicide in Vista that left a man dead.Around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, deputies received a call about a fight near North Santa Fe and East California avenues, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. When deputies arrived, they found a man with trauma to his upper body.Paramedics arrived and took the man to a hospital, where he died. Suspect barricaded in home in South Bay Authorities were not yet able to provide a description of the assailant.Deputies were assisting residents who needed to leave the investigation area.Check back for updates on this developing story.FOX 5's Elizabeth Alvarez contributed to this report.

A second UK police force is looking into allegations of sexual offenses committed by Russell Brand

Published Fri, 14 Feb 2025 00:16:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A second British police force is looking into sexual offenses allegedly committed by actor and comedian Russell Brand, British media reported Monday.Thames Valley Police is taking a fresh look at harassment and stalking allegations previously made by a woman against Brand between 2018 and 2022, the BBC and PA news agency said. The police force declined to name Brand — as is usual in the U.K. for people who have not been charged — but issued a statement when asked about the news reports. “Thames Valley Police in the past two weeks, received new information in relation to harassment and stalking allegations dating back to 2018,” it said. “This information is being investigated; as such it would be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.”London’s Metropolitan Police said last week it was examining “a number of allegations of sexual offenses” relating to Brand following a television documentary and newspaper investigations. Brand, 48, denies...