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McCarthy sends Republican debt limit negotiators to White House, but sides are ‘far apart’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, STEPHEN GROVES and SEUNG MIN KIM (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Wednesday he was sending Republican negotiators to the White House to finish out debt limit talks, but warned that the two sides are “still far apart” as they try to reach a budget deal with President Joe Biden.McCarthy said he remained optimistic they could make progress in hopes of an agreement before a deadline as soon as next week, when the Treasury Department could run out of cash to pay its bills. “We’re not going to default,” said McCarthy, R-Calif.Defiant, the speaker said “it’s not my fault” that Washington was careening toward a crisis, pushing blame onto the White House for Biden’s refusal to negotiate earlier as Republicans acted to slash spending.“I’m hoping we can make progress,” McCarthy said.Debt ceiling negotiations are locked on a classic problem that has vexed, divided ...

Think a safari can’t be romantic? Kenya’s tented camp resorts add splendor to a honeymoon adventure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

The moment was dreamlike and mesmerizing. An enormous pride of golden lions slumbered, snored and groaned in the afternoon sun, their long tails thumping against one another and then on the ground in a series of nonstop feline movements. A couple from Sweden sat next to me in the Land Rover on safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara, and the husband started counting them off one by one until he announced a total of 16 of the cats, just a big pile of lion love.The simple idea of safari is a romantic notion, and with summer upcoming and June brides galore, the idea of an unhurried honeymoon in Kenya, with its magnificent lion prides, starlit nights and endless, windswept savannas is the perfect, if not adventurous way to begin a marriage.With a nod to romance and love, take your pick of the following camps and lodges that range from thatched roofs to tented luxury and will leave you with starry-eyed memories of your new life together.The tented suites of Finch Hattons Luxury Tented Camp in Kenya...

Matt Araiza to join NY Jets for a workout: ESPN

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Former San Diego State University football player and short-stinted Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza is joining the New York Jets for a midweek workout, according to ESPN.Araiza's agent reportedly confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter that the free agent will be participating in a workout with the team on Wednesday. UCSD ranked 7th best public university in US: CWUR This comes after the kicker was released by the Bills in August of 2022 after a lawsuit was filed against him and other former SDSU football players alleging the gang rape of a then-17-year-old girl.Araiza has denied the allegations asserting that he was involved, but has admitted to having consensual sex with the accuser. A civil lawsuit against Araiza is still working its way through the legal system.In the meantime, Araiza appears to be keeping his eyes on the ball while navigating his sports career amid the controversy. He confirmed to FOX 5 that he’s still in training and said his agent has bee...

Surveillance video shows armed man run from downtown shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Police are on the hunt for a gunman who opened fire on two victims outside of the San Diego Central Library in downtown Tuesday, killing one of them. FOX 5 got access to surveillance video showing a man with a gun running from the scene moments after the shooting.Surveillance footage from Hob Coffee shows customers running from their seats. Moments later, an individual wearing a ski mask with a gun in hand is seen running away.“There was some sort of interaction right in the foyer of the library, right at the entrance, during which our suspect produced a firearm, began firing at the people over there,” said San Diego Police Homicide Unit Lieutenant Jud Campbell. “Obviously striking two of them.”The shooting took place in broad daylight just after noon right outside the library near Petco Park. Neighbors captured cell phone footage showing officers rendering first aid to save the victims’ lives. Sadly, one man died at the scene. Carlsbad High assistant principal shares...

DeSantis files to run against Trump in 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has filed paperwork for his long-anticipated bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, offering himself up to GOP voters as an uncompromisingly conservative, yet still electable, alternative to former President Trump as the party grapples with recent electoral disappointments.DeSantis, who filed with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, had been floated for years as a prospective presidential candidate, but his ambitions began to take on a more concrete form over the past several months. He already has the backing of a well-funded super PAC, Never Back Down, as well as a vast war chest that can be transferred to a federal entity, though not directly to a campaign. In launching a White House bid, the Florida governor is hoping to sell himself to Republican voters as a low-drama, winning substitute for Trump, a one-time political ally who has attacked DeSantis relentlessly in recent months over his presidential aspirations. Early...

Stock market today: Wall Street slips, part of worldwide swoon for stocks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is slipping Wednesday, part of a worldwide swoon for stocks as worries about the economy pile higher.The S&P 500 was 0.4% lower in late trading after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Republicans and Democrats remain “far apart” in their efforts to prevent a potentially disastrous default on the U.S. government’s debt. The main U.S. stock index is on track for its worst week in more than two months as the once-unthinkable creeps closer to possibility. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 139 points, or 0.4%, at 32,916 with 30 minutes left in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% lower.Other markets around the world were hit even harder as discouraging figures piled up on the economy. Stock indexes tumbled 1.7% in London, 1.9% in Frankfurt and 1.6% in Hong Kong.Inflation in the United Kingdom remains worse than expected, raising worries that the Bank of England may keep hiking interest rates and squeezing its economy. In Germany, busi...

Canada Day party back on at Nathan Phillips Square after City reverses decision

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

A day after saying “resource constraints” forced the City of Toronto to nix its Canada Day celebration plans at Nathan Phillips Square, the Big Smoke has reserved course and says it is now planning a big party at the prime location.In a release Wednesday, the City said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie met with officials “to understand why the decision was taken to not proceed with Canada Day programming in Nathan Phillips Square.”After the meeting, a new decision was made — party on!“Officials agreed to revisit their decision and proceed with Canada Day celebrations in the Square along with Canada Day celebrations in Mel Lastman Square and countless other Canada Day events across the city,” the release states.Details on the first Canada Day celebration at Nathan Phillips Square since 2017 will be released in the coming weeks.“There will be dozens of Canada Day celebrations across the city on July 1, including in Nathan Phillips Square an...

Prominent Egyptian rights activist briefly detained in Lebanon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese authorities Wednesday briefly detained a prominent Egyptian blogger and human rights activist, his lawyer and sister said, but the reason for his arrest was not immediately clear. The first word about the arrest of Abdul-Rahman Tarek, also known by his nickname Moka, came from his sister, Sara Tarek. She posted on her Facebook page that her brother was detained by plainclothes policemen Wednesday afternoon from his apartment. She called for his release saying he had spent seven years in jail in Egypt until his release last year.Tarek was taken to police intelligence headquarters in Beirut where he spent about five hours and was later released, his lawyer, Farouk Moghrabi. The reason behind the arrest was not immediately clear, Moghrabi said.Sara Tarek later wrote that her brother was released and he is at home.Security officials did not immediately confirm Tarek’s arrest and later release.Mary Lawlor, the U.N.’s independent expert on human rights defenders, tw...

Missouri attorney general urges Kansas City police to enforce transgender care restrictions law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Wednesday vowed to take “any legal action necessary” against Kansas City if its police department does not enforce a law banning transgender transition procedures for minors.Bailey, a Republican, said in a letter to the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners that the board has a constitutional duty to enforce the law, which was passed by the Missouri Legislature this month. Republican Gov. Mike Parson has not yet signed the bill but is expected to do so.The letter comes after the Kansas City Council on May 11 approved a resolution designating the city as an LGBTQ+ sanctuary city. The resolution said the city will not prosecute or fine any person or organization that seeks, provides, receives or helps someone receive gender-affirming care such as as puberty blockers, hormones or surgery.The city also said if the state passes a law imposing criminal or civil punishments, fines, or professional sanctions in such case...

Target has been a leader in catering to LGBTQ+ shoppers – now it’s on the defensive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:40:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Target once distinguished itself as being boldly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community.It risked losing that status on Wednesday after removing some LGBTQ+-themed products, and hiding Pride Month displays in certain Southern locations, to address online complaints and in-store confrontations that it says were a threat to employees’ well-being.Target now faces a potential second backlash from customers who are upset by the discount retailer’s reaction to aggressive, anti-LGBTQ+ activism, which has also been sweeping through Republican state legislatures. Civil rights groups chided the company for caving to anti-LGBTQ+ customers who tipped over displays and expressed outrage over gender-fluid bathing suits.“Target should put the products back on the shelves and ensure their Pride displays are visible on the floors, not pushed into the proverbial closet,” Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said in a statement. “That’s what the bullies want.”The uproar over Tar...