Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Tony Bennett, masterful stylist of American musical standards, dies at 96 NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett's death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2016.The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create "a hit catalog rather than hit records." He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys — all but two after he reached his 60s — and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists.Bennett didn’t tell his own story when performing; he let the music speak instead — the Gershwins and Cole Porter, Ir...

Young boy meets BSO deputies who saved his life after bike accident

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Young boy meets BSO deputies who saved his life after bike accident Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies came face-to-face with eight-year-old Joey, whom they heroically rescued from underneath an SUV following a bike accident back in May.The incident occurred when Joey was riding his bike and was struck by the vehicle, leaving him trapped underneath it. Witnesses struggled to lift the heavy SUV off him, but their efforts were not enough. When the deputies arrived, they sprang into action to rescue Joey.Sergeant Dimitri French from the Broward Sheriff’s Office described the scene. “When he was underneath the vehicle, it was a scream like you could tell that he was in pain,” he said. “He’s almost like being tortured; he’s underneath a running vehicle, so you can just imagine that the exhaust is running, the temperatures are very high. It was a very hot day, so he’s sandwiched between the asphalt and a hot car.”Over two months since that fateful day, Joey and his family visited the team of deputies wh...

DJ Khaled and celebrity friends unite for inauguration of charity golf tournament benefiting ‘We The Best’ foundation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

DJ Khaled and celebrity friends unite for inauguration of charity golf tournament benefiting ‘We The Best’ foundation DJ Khaled, the world-renowned DJ and music producer from South Florida, is set to bring his philanthropic vision to life with the first annual charity golf tournament, aimed at supporting his foundation, ‘We The Best.’ The tournament is for the contribution to the well-being of the youth. The multi-time Grammy winner rallied numerous celebrity friends for the star-studded event, held at the Miami Beach Golf Club, all swinging their clubs for a worthy cause.Among the distinguished celebrity guests were Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Super Bowl champion Odell Beckham Jr., and music sensation Fat Joe. Notably, professional golfer Bubba Watson was also among the participants.“I put a call out, and we’re all out here giving back,” DJ Khaled said.The ‘We The Best’ Foundation, helmed by DJ Khaled himself, is committed to empowering and uplifting young lives by providing resources and opportunities to underprivileged children in need.

Margate animal adoption center seeks ‘fur-ever’ home for dog left tied to their door

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Margate animal adoption center seeks ‘fur-ever’ home for dog left tied to their door A dog was left abandoned and alone outside a South Florida animal adoption center. Employees are now hoping he finds his ‘fur-ever’ home. On May 31, a woman was seen tying him up to the door and driving away on surveillance video in front of the United for Animals adoption center on State Road 7 in Margate, well after closing time and 14 hours before it was to open for business the next day. “A female came out of her car with Edward and tied him to the door,” said Nicoda Hall with the United for Animals Rescue, “And in tying him to the door, she was very aggressive towards Edward. She was shouting, but unfortunately, we could not hear what was being said.”After a few minutes, the dog watched as the woman walked away and drove off. “To see a beloved family member, because we don’t really call them pets, left like that — it breaks your heart,” said Hall. Fortunately for Edward, a staff member had to stop by that night. They n...

Zelenskyy fires Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Zelenskyy fires Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK KYIV – Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired Vadym Prystaiko as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, after the envoy criticized the Ukrainian president in public. Zelenskyy’s decree, announcing the dismissal of the ambassador, does not give a reason for his decision. But it comes after Prystaiko criticized Zelenskyy’s punchy response to U.K. Defense Minister Ben Wallace, who suggested that Ukraine should show more gratitude to its allies. Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in Vilnius earlier this month, Wallace said that the U.S. is heading for a presidential election next year, and lawmakers from countries making big military donations to Kyiv could face a political problem if they are met with Ukrainian anger. There is concern across much of Europe that NATO-skeptic Donald Trump could return as U.S. president.Zelenskyy responded with an ironic remark during the press briefing in Vilnius, saying he does not understand how much more he should express his thanks, in r...

Police investigating after stabbing near Park Street station leaves woman with life-threatening injuries

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Police investigating after stabbing near Park Street station leaves woman with life-threatening injuries A large police presence gathered at the Park Street station entrance to Boston Common overnight after a nearby stabbing left a woman with life-threatening injuries, officials said.Officers responding to a reported stabbing near the station around 11:30 p.m. assisted in transporting the victim to the hospital, according to Boston police.No arrests have been made.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Tony Bennett dies at 96: ‘Best singer in the business’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Tony Bennett dies at 96: ‘Best singer in the business’ NEW YORK (AP) — Tony Bennett, the eminent and timeless stylist whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career that brought him admirers from Frank Sinatra to Lady Gaga, died Friday. He was 96, just two weeks short of his birthday.Publicist Sylvia Weiner confirmed Bennett’s death to The Associated Press, saying he died in his hometown of New York. There was no specific cause, but Bennett had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.The last of the great saloon singers of the mid-20th century, Bennett often said his lifelong ambition was to create “a hit catalog rather than hit records.” He released more than 70 albums, bringing him 19 competitive Grammys — all but two after he reached his 60s — and enjoyed deep and lasting affection from fans and fellow artists.Bennett didn’t tell his own story when performing; he let the music speak i...

Rescuers find more bodies in landslide-hit village in western India, bringing the death toll to 21

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Rescuers find more bodies in landslide-hit village in western India, bringing the death toll to 21 RAIGAD, India (AP) — Rescuers found five more bodies Friday in India’s western Maharashtra state, raising the death toll from a landslide triggered by torrential rains to at least 21 with many others feared trapped under the debris, officials said.Scores of rescuers and trekkers have been deployed to search for people trapped by the landslide, which occurred late Wednesday night, the state’s deputy chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, tweeted. Harsh weather conditions have hampered rescue efforts and authorities have sent in medical teams to help the injured, he said.Search operations were suspended Thursday night due to heavy rainfall plus the threat of further landslides in the dark, the National Disaster Response Force said. It said rescuers resumed search operations on Friday and found five bodies, raising the confirmed death toll to 21. Ten other rescued people have been hospitalized, it said. It didn’t say how many people were feared trapped under the rubble.An offic...

Thousands of Muslims take to the streets to express outrage over Quran desecration in Sweden

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Thousands of Muslims take to the streets to express outrage over Quran desecration in Sweden BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands of people took to the streets in a handful of Muslim-majority countries Friday to express their outrage at the desecration of a copy of the Quran in Sweden, a day after protesters stormed the country’s embassy in Iraq.The protests in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran that followed weekly prayers were controlled and peaceful, in contrast to scenes in Baghdad on Thursday, when demonstrators occupied the Swedish Embassy compound for several hours and set a small fire.The embassy staff had been evacuated before the storming, and Swedish news agency TT reported that they were relocated to Stockholm for security reasons.For Muslims, any desecration of the Quran, their holy text, is abhorrent. Under scorching heat Friday, thousands gathered in Baghdad’s Sadr City, a stronghold of influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, some of whose followers took part in the attack on the Swedish Embassy. They brandished Qurans, burned the Swedish flag and...

Opposition parties disrupt India’s Parliament for 2nd day to protest ethnic violence in northeast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:22:34 GMT

Opposition parties disrupt India’s Parliament for 2nd day to protest ethnic violence in northeast NEW DELHI (AP) — Deadly ethnic clashes in India’s northeast rocked the country’s Parliament for a second straight day Friday, with the opposition blocking proceedings and demanding the sacking of the top elected official of Manipur state, where more than 130 people have been killed since early May. The official, Biren Singh, belongs to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party.The opposition shouted slogans demanding that all other parliamentary business be postponed and that a debate be launched on the violence, starting with a statement by Modi.On Thursday, Modi broke more than two months of public silence over the ethnic clashes, telling reporters that mob assaults on two women as they were paraded naked were unforgivable, but he did not refer directly to the larger violence.The government refused the opposition demand that Modi participate in a debate, and presiding officer Rajendra Aggarwal adjourned the lower house of Parliament until Monday.The near-civil w...