Author: THE CONNECTING NEWSPAPER

Three people have been arrested in connection with a brazen heist at a museum in the Netherlands over the weekend in which thieves stole ancient artifacts, including a prized golden helmet on loan from Romania, the authorities said on Wednesday.The three people were arrested in Heerhugowaard, a city about 30 miles north of Amsterdam and more than 100 miles west of the Drents Museum in Assen, where the theft took place. The police identified two of them as Douglas Chesley Wendersteyt and Bernhard Zeeman, both from Heerhugowaard. The police identified the third person who was arrested as a woman, also…

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It was reported Wednesday that Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady had “zero interest in hiring” Bill Belichick as the club’s next head coach even though the two spoke at some point after Belichick became the head coach of the North Carolina football program and before Las Vegas hired Pete Carroll.On Thursday, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared how Belichick allegedly feels about not being seriously considered for the Raiders opening. “The talk in league circles is that Belichick wasn’t pleased, to say the least, that Brady’s Raiders went with Carroll,” Florio explained. “…Belichick can never say that because it conflicts with the narrative…

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that, if the United States imposes tariffs on his country, he will respond in kind. Speaking at a news conference in the capital Brasilia, on Thursday, Lula said his country seeks a relationship based on mutual respect. His comments came in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat of heightened tariffs. “It is very simple: If he taxes Brazilian products, there will be reciprocity,” Lula told reporters. “Trump was elected to run the US, and I was elected to run Brazil. I will respect the US and want Trump to respect…

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This article is adapted from our Jan. 30 edition of RANKED CHOICES, THE CITY’s weekly election newsletter. Click here to sign up.Dear New Yorkers,Hello and welcome to the first edition of RANKED CHOICES, THE CITY’s weekly election newsletter! I’m excited to take you all along as we embark on covering local elections in 2025, when so many significant seats are up for grabs. Among them: the mayor. It’s been a weird week for Mayor Eric Adams, who kept a low profile while his team said he “hasn’t been feeling his best.” He made public appearances Thursday after allegedly working from Gracie…

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The expansion of the East African regional energy sector is happening right now and is set for future growth. This was the clear message from the East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit (EA-ECS) as the two-day summit kicked off in Arusha.   Africa’s energy IPPs, EPCF stakeholders, investors and policy makers were welcomed to a summit set to shape the future of East Africa’s energy landscape by Jean-Baptiste Havugimana, Director Productive Sectors, East African Community (EAC).  Speaking at the opening ceremony, he noted that the access to electricity in the East African region is currently below 50 percent on average, although countries…

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An official release date for Black Sherif’s highly anticipated album, ‘Iron Boy’ has been confirmed in an official announcement. Ghanaian music sensation Black Sherif has officially announced the release date for his highly anticipated album, “Iron Boy.” The album is set to drop on April 3, 2025, and will feature 15 tracks, including three lead singles and a collaboration with Nigerian superstar Fireboy DML.The announcement has generated significant buzz and excitement among fans and music enthusiasts, who have been eagerly awaiting new music from the artist. Black Sherif’s previous album, “The Villain I Never Was,” released in October 2022, received…

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The newly appointed president of Syria, Ahmed al-Shara, pledged in a speech on Thursday to create an inclusive transitional government that reflects Syria’s diversity and that will lead the country until it can hold “free and fair elections.” The speech was Mr. al-Shara’s first public address since his rebel coalition toppled the country’s longtime dictator, Bashar al-Assad, last month and came amid growing unease among some Syrians over his coalition’s plans for leading the country.“Building the nation is our collective responsibility,” Mr. al-Shara said in the five-minute video address broadcast by Syrian state media. “This is a call to all…

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Justin Tucker might have attempted his last field goal with the Ravens. But considering the league’s history of pathetic responses to misconduct towards women, it likely won’t have anything to do with Thursday’s troubling allegations. The Baltimore Banner published a detailed account of Tucker’s alleged inappropriate behavior at Baltimore-area massage parlors, which the Banner noted led to him being banned from two establishments.Per The Banner, “Tucker’s attorneys denied that he was banned … claiming neither establishment informed him that he could not return,” pointing to a promotional, generic e-mail Tucker received in 2018 from one business as proof.In his response,…

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Washington, DC – Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, has faced tough questions from United States lawmakers over her past positions, including her support for whistleblower Edward Snowden. At a confirmation hearing on Thursday, senators also grilled Gabbard over a 2017 visit to Syria, where she met with then-President Bashar al-Assad. A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has been outspoken against interventionist foreign policy. She unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, and two years later, she quit the Democratic Party, decrying it as an “elitist cabal of warmongers”. She subsequently started campaigning for Republican…

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Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks finished their confirmation hearings on Thursday. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel were questioned by Democratic senators.  Thursday’s confirmation hearings highlights Republican senator wants to know: Would Tulsi Gabbard give Russia a pass? Republicans as well as Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s pick for national intelligence director, condemning Tulsi Gabbard for previous comments sympathetic to Russia, for meeting with Syria’s now-deposed leader and for supporting government leaker Edward Snowden, the Associated Press reported.  Gabbard said years of failures by America’s intelligence services require big changes. She said false or politicized…

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