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Biden deems Ukraine NATO membership ‘premature’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

President Joe Biden said this week that Ukraine is not yet ready to join NATO, calling the prospect of its membership in the international alliance “premature” amid its war with Russia.“I don’t think it’s ready for membership in NATO,” Biden said in an interview with CNN that aired Sunday. “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war.”Biden added that Ukraine still has work to do to meet all of the qualifications for membership, cautioning the process is “going to take a while.” But he reiterated his pledge to provide the country with security guarantees in the interim, stressing that the U.S. would ensure Ukraine has the weaponry it needs to defend itself against Russia.Biden’s vow came shortly after he agreed to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, overriding humanitarian concerns about the bombs by arguing that it was crucial to provide Kyiv with more artillery. The president on Sund...

New jungle-themed restaurant brings 'vibrant Mexican' to Old Town San Diego

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- There's a new vibe in Old Town San Diego that's bringing "vibrant Mexican" to the eclectic mix of food and drink options in the historic neighborhood. Business partners Pietro Busalacchi and Gustavo Rios are living "the dream" after opening the doors to El Sueño, a jungle-themed restaurant and cocktail lounge located at 2836 Juan St. inSan Diego.The menu, according to the creators of El Sueño, reflects their travels through Mexico as well as Rios’ La Huasteca heritage. This cultural region is located partially along the Gulf of Mexico. 5 rooftop bars in San Diego shaking up tiki drinks "We enjoy offering guests our version of 'vibe dining' born of time spent in Europe and Mexico, and my time working for Lisa Vanderpump at Tom Tom Restaurant & Bar," said Busalacchi. "El Sueño features some of her Huasteca recipes. Our group --The Vibrant Group -- is growing, with quality of service, ingredient and experience at the forefront. Our family to yours." Don’t you dare...

Grievers protest months-long cemetery standoff that’s left 300-plus bodies unburied

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

MONTREAL — Grievers are gathering in Montreal to protest the months-long standoff between workers and management at Canada’s largest cemetery.A strike by more than 100 maintenance and office workers has kept the Notre-Dames-des-Neiges Cemetery’s wrought-iron gates shut to the public since mid-January, with the exception of a few days in the spring.The labour dispute has left more than 300 bodies unburied, with the remains stored at freezing temperatures in an on-site repository.Enza Lucifero says her father died on Jan. 13, and her family has been unable to find closure since.She is calling on the Quebec government to resolve the impasse and says the situation is unacceptable and devoid of dignity for the dead.Labour Minister Jean Boulet says the parties will meet with him separately on Monday, weeks after a tentative deal fell through.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2023.The Canadian Press

Stymied by the Supreme Court, Biden wants voters to have the final say on his agenda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After major blows to his agenda by the Supreme Court, President Joe Biden is intent on making sure voters will have the final say.When the court’s conservative majority effectively killed his plan to cancel or reduce federal student loan debts for millions of people, Biden said, “Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given.” When the justices ended race-based affirmative action in college admissions, he said, “This is not a normal court.” When they overturned Roe v. Wade and a national right to abortion last year, the president said, “Voters need to make their voices heard.”As Biden heads into the 2024 election, he is running not only against the Republicans who control one-half of Congress but also against the conservative bloc that dominates the nation’s highest court. It’s a subtle but significant shift in approach toward the Supreme Court, treating it more like a political entity even as Biden stops short of calling for an overhaul...

Man sought in Nebraska homicide, armed carjacking shot and killed by police in Iowa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A man sought in connection with a fatal shooting and an armed carjacking in Nebraska was shot and killed by police officers in Iowa following a chase.Police in Omaha, Nebraska, responded to a domestic assault call before 6 a.m. Saturday and learned that 41-year-old Matthew Briggs had broken into a home and assaulted a woman, police said in a news release. She was able to escape.Minutes later, police learned that Briggs drove his car through the garage door of a home nearby. The woman who lived there wasn’t home but Briggs shot at a neighbor who came over to check on him, police said. The neighbor was unhurt.Around 7 a.m., police were called to a third home and found 52-year-old Steven Donsbach shot to death. Briggs was named as a person of interest.On Saturday afternoon, a Toyota Camry was carjacked in suburban Omaha by a man matching Briggs’ description. Officers spotted the car and a pursuit began.The chase crossed into Iowa. In Council Bluf...

Mexican military to take over airports as president takes aim at corruption, mismanagement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s armed forces are taking control of the capital’s main airport, and the government plans to give the military control of nearly a dozen more across the country as the president takes aim at corruption and mismanagement.President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been setting the armed forces to a wide range of nontraditional tasks since he was elected in 2018, creating concerns about the separation of the military from civilian life.A new airport was built by the army outside Mexico City a year ago at a cost of $4.1 billion. It is run by the military but little used. López Obrador says the old airport, the country’s busiest, will be run by the navy.The navy took charge of security at Mexico City International Airport, or Benito Juárez, more than a year ago. It will soon have control of everything else, from customs and immigration to handling luggage and cleaning bathrooms, with the imminent publication of a presidential order to make that ...

‘Insidious 5’ topples ‘Indiana Jones’ before ‘Mission: Impossible’ launches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

Indiana Jones’ reign atop the box office was short-lived. In its second weekend in theaters, the Disney release was usurped by another franchise fifth – “ Insidious: The Red Door.” The horror film starring and directed by Patrick Wilson scared up $32.7 million in ticket sales from 3,188 theaters, according to studio estimates on Sunday. It did better than the last installment, “Insidious: The Last Key,” from 2018 and is the most any PG-13 horror movie has earned in its debut in the past two years. “Insidious 5” was not well reviewed — but modestly budgeted scary movies are often critic-proof when it comes to the box office. This Blumhouse-produced franchise starring Wilson and Rose Byrne began in 2011 under the direction of James Wan and has been responsible for over $570 million in global box office returns — and none of the films have cost more than $16 million to produce. Only the first movie received a “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes; The “Insidious” films more often garner su...

The FDA is being asked to look into Logan Paul’s energy drink, which has the caffeine of 6 Coke cans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — An influencer-backed energy drink that has earned viral popularity among children is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and health experts over its potentially dangerous levels of caffeine.On Sunday, Sen. Charles Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate PRIME, a beverage brand founded by the YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI that has become something of an obsession among the influencers’ legions of young followers.“One of the summer’s hottest status symbols for kids is not an outfit, or a toy—it’s a beverage,” said Schumer, a Democrat from New York. “But buyer and parents beware because it’s a serious health concern for the kids it so feverishly targets.”Backed by two of YouTube’s best known stars, PRIME was an immediate sensation when it launched last year, prompting long lines in grocery stores and reports of school yard resale markets.Advertising itself as zero sugar and vegan, the neon-colored cans are among a growing number of energy d...

US drone strike kills an Islamic State group leader in Syria, the Defense Department says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. drone strike killed an Islamic State group leader in Syria hours after the same MQ-9 Reaper drones were harassed by Russian military jets over the western part of the country, according to the Defense Department.Three Reapers had been flying overhead searching for the militant on Friday, a U.S. defense official said, when they were harassed for about two hours by Russian aircraft. Shortly after that, the drones struck and killed Usamah al-Muhajir, who was riding a motorcycle in the Aleppo region, said the official, who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity to describe details of the military operation. The official said al-Muhajir was in northwest Syria at the time of the strike, but that he usually operated in the east.It was not immediately clear how the U.S. military confirmed that the person killed was al-Muhajir; no other details were provided.In a statement Sunday, U.S. Central Command said there are no i...

Takeaways from AP’s investigation into cities leaving lead pipe in the ground

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:31 GMT

There are 9.2 million lead pipes in the U.S. They contaminate drinking water with lead, which damages brain development in children. But around the country, utilities have been ignoring the opportunity to remove lead pipe when they uncover it during work on water mains. They’ve often removed a short pipe section, reburied the connection and left the rest. Research shows this method can actually spike, rather than reduce, lead levels.The sections of pipe that remain can contaminate tap water until they’re removed. The practice is also more expensive in the long run, since crews presumably will have to return someday.Here are some takeaways from The Associated Press investigation:LEAD IS HARMFULLead is a health threat and the practice of leaving sections of the old pipe behind should have stopped a long time ago, according to Yanna Lambrinidou, a medical anthropologist at Virginia Tech and co-founder of the Campaign for Lead Free Water. Lead is especially dangerous to young chil...