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To wrap, or not to wrap? Hungarian bookstores face fines over closed packaging for LGBTQ+ books

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — In a snug, wood-paneled Jewish bookstore in Hungary’s capital, Eva Redai carefully climbed the rungs of a ladder to arrange titles on the shelves. Among the books were volumes bound in plastic wrapping — titles containing LGBTQ+ content that the country’s right-wing government has deemed unsuitable for minors under 18. The 76-year-old has run the Láng Téka bookstore in central Budapest for nearly 35 years, since just before Hungary’s democratic transition from state socialism. But never, until now, has she needed to segregate the books she sells to avoid violating a government ban. “I consider this such a level of discrimination. This law is an act of force that can hardly be made sense of,” Redai said. “As someone who’s been in this business for such a long time, even I cannot decide which books fall under the ban.” Hungary’s government under populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has in recent years taken a hard line on LG...

Single-family house sells for $2.2 million in San Jose

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

5359 Keene Drive – Google Street ViewA house located in the 5300 block of Keene Drive in San Jose has new owners. The 1,421-square-foot property, built in 1958, was sold on July 10, 2023, for $2,200,000, or $1,548 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. On the exterior, the home features wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, there is a fireplace. Additionally, the house features a one-car garage. The lot of the property is substantial, measuring 6,100 square feet, and boasts a pool for relaxation and recreation.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Keene Drive, San Jose, in July 2022, a 1,550-square-foot home was sold for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $1,194. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In June 2023, a 2,037-square-foot home on Taft Drive in San Jose sold for $2,561,000, a price per square foot of $1,257. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.A 3,280-square-foot home on the 5400 block...

Taylor Swift concert breaks Levi’s Stadium curfew

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Will the city of Santa Clara shake it off?On Friday, Taylor Swift’s concert at Levi’s Stadium ran past the venue’s 11 p.m. curfew. The ramifications were not immediately clear. She performed until 11:38 p.m.Curfews at Levi’s Stadium have been a source of controversy for years. But most of the fuss has centered on the 10 p.m. curfew in effect for weeknights, Sunday through Thursday.In 2017, Coldplay famously blew past the 10 p.m. curfew, which became a bone of contention between the city of Santa Clara and the 49ers, which manage the stadium. Team officials argued the 10 p.m. curfew was unreasonable. That same year, singer Ed Sheeran dropped Levi’s Stadium from his tour reportedly because of the 10 p.m. curfew.In 2021, the City Council voted 4-3 to allow weeknight curfew extensions until 11 p.m. for five non-NFL events a year. The curfew for Friday and Saturday events remained at 11 p.m.There have been no reports of the 11 p.m. Levi’s curfew being brok...

Savannah DeMelo’s ability to speak Portuguese may help US in critical Women’s World Cup match

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — United States midfielder Savannah DeMelo can speak some Portuguese and may be able to put it to use in the Women’s World Cup.The U.S. plays Portugal on Tuesday to wrap up the tournament’s group stage, and a fter a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Netherlands, the Americans needs a win. At stake is both the top spot in Group E and also a much-needed boost to team confidence. That’s where DeMelo can help. The 25-year-old’s dad, Robert, is from Portugal and had a successful career as a player in that country before becoming a coach. DeMelo has dual citizenship and understands Portuguese. “I’ll definitely be listening for it,” she laughed.DeMelo made her first international start for the United States against Vietnam in the group opener, a 3-0 victory for the Americans. Prior to the World Cup, DeMelo had played in only one other match for the United States: she was a substitute in the team’s send-off match against Wales in San...

Opera for the public: Spain’s Teatro Real opera house offers free broadcast to towns and cities

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

MADRID (AP) — On a night in the middle of July, tenors, sopranos and a choir delighted the crowd in Madrid’s luxurious Teatro Real opera house with Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, “Turandot.”After the curtain came down, the audience filed from their plush seats and left the theater’s state-of-the-art air conditioning for the summer swelter outside — only to be met again by the voices of Calaf and Princess Turandot.The performance they had just seen was being replayed on a giant television screen in the big square at the back of the theater.Here, the spectators sat on hundreds of plastic chairs. Many wore shorts and sandals. Others, tourists included, sat on the low walls and benches in the square or leaned on the barriers and the nearby subway station’s railings.Some chewed on rolls of Spanish jam, others played cards. But most were absorbed with the show on the 9- by 5-meter (30- by 16-foot) screen.The night was part of Teatro Real’s “opera week,” which for eight years has been prov...

Women’s World Cup co-host New Zealand tries to avoid elimination in match against Switzerland

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand went from Women’s World Cup darlings to the brink of elimination in a five-day span and its shot at advancing into the knockout round hinges on its Sunday match against Switzerland. Switzerland sits comfortably atop Group A following a win over the Philippines and a draw against Norway, and anything but a loss to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland would push La Nati through to the next round. New Zealand’s trek is far more perilous after the Football Ferns lost 1-0 to the Philippines, a tournament-newcomer. It was a massive letdown for New Zealand, which opened the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Norway that captivated its nation.New Zealand and the Philippines are tied for second in Group A headed into Sunday’s games that determine which two teams advance. The Philippines play Norway at the same time New Zealand tries to advance to the knockout round for the first time in tournament history. It’s the fourth meeting be...

Colombia coach says Caicedo OK to play in Women’s World Cup match despite fall at training

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Colombia head coach Nelson Abadía said forward Linda Caicedo is healthy ahead of Sunday’s Women’s World Cup match against Germany despite a training session video showing her voluntarily dropping to the ground while holding her chest.“It was just an episode,” Abadía said Saturday. “It’s finished. It’s over. We’re happy about this. No problem.”Caicedo, an 18-year-old cancer survivor, scored in Colombia’s opening 2-0 win over South Korea last week and is among the best young players in the world.Asked to confirm that Caicedo will play Sunday, Abadía said: “We still have 24 hours to make a decision. But Linda is fine.”A win against Germany would guarantee Colombia a spot in the knockout round. If Colombia plays to a draw or loses to the two-time World Cup champions, the team’s fate would be unresolved until the last day of the group stage.Abadía said that Caicedo’s fall, shown in a video posted to social media on Thursday by Colombian media outlet DSPORTS, was due t...

Musgrove sharp and Tatis homers to lead the Padres to a 7-1 win over the Rangers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Joe Musgrove pitched six strong innings on the night his boyhood hero, Jake Peavy, was inducted into the Padres’ Hall of Fame, Fernando Tatis Jr. homered and San Diego beat the AL West-leading Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night.Musgrove (10-3) was facing the Rangers for the first time since throwing the first no-hitter in Padres history, in just his second start with his hometown team, on April 9, 2021, at Texas. Musgrove won for the ninth time in 10 decisions by holding Texas to four hits while striking out five and walking two. Musgrove grew up a Padres fan in suburban El Cajon and idolized Peavy, who won the 2007 NL Cy Young Award. Musgrove began wearing Peavy’s No. 44 after he was traded to the Padres before the 2021 season. The Rangers, managed by former Padres skipper Bruce Bochy, lost for the fifth time in seven games but kept a two-game lead over Houston.“I was excited, man,” Musgrove said. “A lot of adrenaline. Obviously Peavy’s...

Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $1.05 billion after another drawing without a big winner

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

By The Associated PressThe Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $1.05 billion after no one managed to beat the massive odds and match the lottery game’s six numbers drawn Friday night.The numbers drawn Friday night were: 5, 10, 28, 52, 63 and the gold ball 18.The lack of a winner of Friday’s $940 million jackpot means there have been 29 straight draws without a winner. The last time someone won a Mega Millions jackpot was April 18.The $1.05 billion prize up for grabs in the next drawing Tuesday night would be for a sole winner choosing to be paid through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Tuesday’s drawing would be an estimated $527.9 million.While no one won the Mega Millions jackpot, it has been less than two weeks since someone in Los Angeles won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. The winner of the prize is still a mystery.Lott...

Pete Alonso mashes 2 homers as Mets roll past Nationals

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 06:26:24 GMT

The Mets might be gearing up to become a trade deadline seller, but they didn’t play like it Friday night at Citi Field. However, a 5-1 win over the Washington Nationals has left the team with more questions than answers after ace Max Scherzer showed contending teams what he can do at his best.Pete Alonso’s two home runs and Max Scherzer’s seven-inning gem helped the Mets defeat the Washington Nationals 5-1 in the second game of a four-game series. The Mets (49-54) lead the series 2-0 heading into what could be an eventful weekend ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline. Scherzer, who has a player option for next year and a full no-trade clause, will talk with the front office before Tuesday about their plans for the trade deadline and their vision for the future. He has remained steadfast in his commitment to the Mets, but a rebuild might have him reconsidering his own future.“The front office has decisions to make,” Scherzer said. “[Owner Steve Cohe...