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Only one-third of NATO allies set to reach spending target, new data shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

Eleven out of NATO’s 31 allies are set to meet the alliance’s defense investment target this year, according to new data published Friday.It’s a bump up from 2022, when merely seven allies cleared the spending threshold, but still short of where NATO would like to be. The latest figures did show, however, that Europe and Canada are expected to spend over 8 percent more on defense compared to last year, the alliance said. The topic will be high on the agenda next week in Vilnius, where NATO leaders are gathering for their annual summit.In 2014, allies agreed to aim to move toward spending 2 percent of economic output on defense within a decade. In Vilnius, the heads of state and government are expected to decide to make 2 percent the minimum expectation.Western officials have underscored over the past weeks that many allies will have to spend more than 2 percent to meet the requirements of NATO’s new military plans and continue aiding Ukraine.Poland, the U.S., Greece, Estonia, L...

US Republicans declare war on … Barbie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

WASHINGTON — In a Barbie world, who controls the South China Sea?That’s the question a handful of Republican lawmakers — not to mention much of Southeast Asia — is asking thanks to a background detail in the upcoming “Barbie” movie due out later this month.The detail in question is a dashed line drawn on a map off the coast of Asia that critics have identified as the nine-dash line, a contested maritime boundary that Beijing draws more than a thousand miles off its own coast to claim the vast majority of the South China Sea as its territory.GOP lawmakers accuse filmmakers of pandering to Chinese censors. But Warner Bros. Film Group, which produced the movie, said Thursday the map is not intended to “make any type of statement.”Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who leads a select House panel aimed at countering the influence of China, said the map “illustrates the pressure that Hollywood is under to please CCP censors.”“While it may just be a Barbie map in a Barbie world, the fact that a...

Large police presence in Worcester as police say avoid Colby Ave. area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

Worcester police asked the public to stay away from the area around Colby Avenue Friday morning due to a large police presence in the area. Police shared the message shortly before 10 a.m. Emergency were seen still in the area around 10:30 a.m. Close to Colby Avenue, part of Trinity Avenue was blocked off as police directed drivers away from the area. In addition to Worcester police, fire engines and state police personnel were spotted also responding.While officials did not immediately provide any further information, 7NEWS spoke to one neighbor who said he heard sirens around 9 a.m. The neighbor, Abdul Bilal, said he’s concerned about what may have happened to prompt this response. “I didn’t know what was happening,” Bilal said of his reaction Friday morning.“I’ve been living here for 2 years and I’ve never seen anything like that,” he continued.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Police investigation underway in Saugus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

Police were on scene in Saugus Friday morning where an investigation was ongoing as of 10 a.m. Crime scene tape was in place around a house on Essex Street and investigators had been spotted working throughout the area. In addition to Saugus police, a spokesperson for the Essex County District Attorney’s office confirmed to 7NEWS that detectives working with its office were also on scene. One person was seen at one point coming out of the home to speak with officials.No further information was immediately available.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

With Ken Griffey Jr.’s help, MLB hosts HBCU All-Star Game hoping to create opportunity for Black players

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

Ken Griffey Jr. holds a plethora of titles, especially in this part of the country. Hall of Famer. Cultural icon. The guy who made baseball in the Pacific Northwest relevant. Arguably, the greatest of his generation.He even holds a title in association with Major League Baseball as a special adviser to Commissioner Rob Manfred.But what’s most meaningful to Griffey currently is his association with Friday’s HBCU Swingman All-Star Classic that serves as the first major event of All-Star Game festivities, featuring players from 17 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.The event was an idea generated by Griffey, fostered into reality with help from MLB and comes at a time when U.S.-born Black representation in the majors is at its lowest level since tracking began more than 30 years ago.“It’s all about trying to get seen. I mean, if I can give an opportunity for a kid, one kid, two kids, three kids to be seen, how many kids can that be over the next five, ...

5 rooftop bars in San Diego shaking up tiki drinks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With warmer weather and longer days filled with sunshine, many would agree it's "tiki time" in San Diego.Summertime vibes have locals and tourists alike thirsty for drinks with Hawaiian backdrops and Polynesian flavors.The good news is there are several San Diego-area spots serving up rum concoctions and spiked punch, all while offering a breezy rooftop view. 10 of the best rooftop bars in San Diego Here are five rooftop bars in the county shaking up tiki drinks frothed with fruity flavors. CococabanaThis Caribbean-style cocktail bar is located in the coastal beach town of Oceanside. Guests can take in sights of the Pacific Ocean while trying one of their many tiki drinks. One option includes the Caribe Welcome, which is made with a house rum blend, coconut water, apricot brandy, coconut cream, coconut water and fresh lime. Or there's the Swedish Bikini Team, which is made with a house rum blend, strawberry, cucumber, coconut and lemon.Coco MayaThis Yucatan-inspired&...

Stock market today: Wall Street is mixed after jobs report comes in warm but hopefully not too hot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is holding relatively steady Friday after data suggested the U.S. job market is still warm enough to keep the economy growing but maybe not so hot that it stokes inflation much higher.The S&P 500 was 0.1% lower in morning trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 56 points, or 0.2%, at 33,865, as of 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher.A lot is riding on whether the economy can navigate the narrow pathway to avoid a long-predicted recession. It needs to keep growing despite much higher interest rates instituted by the Federal Reserve to bring down inflation. But it can’t grow so quickly that the Fed feels pressure to brake much harder on the economy to prevent inflation from spiraling.Friday’s report showed U.S. employers added 209,000 jobs last month, a slowdown from May’s hiring of 306,000. Perhaps more importantly, it wasn’t far off economists’ expectations. That’s unlike a report from Thursday, which sent stoc...

Woman arrested outside Taylor Swift’s beachfront Rhode Island home on trespassing charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

WESTERLY, R.I. (AP) — A woman who was previously warned to stay away from Taylor Swift’s home in Rhode Island was arrested this week outside the beachfront property, police said.The woman was discovered in front of the home and arrested on Monday, said Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella.TMZ published photos showing someone in handcuffs outside the home’s gates, which had multiple “No Trespassing” signs.Overzealous fans have been a problem for Swift over the years, with several arrests at her homes. In July 2019, an Iowa man who said he wanted to meet Swift was arrested near her beachfront mansion carrying a crowbar and lock picks, and a New Jersey man was caught inside the home months later. A Florida man who broke into Swift’s home in New York City in 2018 was sentenced to jail after pleading guilty to criminal contempt and attempted burglary.It’s unclear if Swift was home on Monday. She is in the middle of a 52-show stadium tour dubbed “Eras.” On Friday, she r...

UN nuclear agency seeks more access to plant that Kyiv, Moscow say is under threat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — The head of the United Nations nuclear agency said Friday he was pushing for access to the roof of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine after Ukraine and Russia accused each other anew of planning attacks. The plant was seized by Russia, in March 2022, in the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, raising fears of a nuclear accident. The Russians have granted only limited access to officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency, citing security.Wrapping up a four-day visit to Japan, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said his agency was making progress on access to Zaporizhzhia. “It’s like a conversation and I’m pushing to get as much access as possible,” Grossi said, in an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, adding that there was “marginal improvement.”“I’m optimistic that we are going to be able to go up and see,” Grossi said, referring to the plant’s rooftops.Citing intelligence reports, Ukrainian Preside...

Bank of Canada expected to raise rates next week, despite rise in unemployment rate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:13:38 GMT

OTTAWA — The Canadian labour market is showing some signs of softening as the unemployment rate rises and wage growth slows, but with another solid job gain last month, forecasters are still expecting a rate hike next week.Statistics Canada reported Friday the economy added 60,000 jobs in June, driven by gains in full-time work. But as more Canadians searched for work and the population continued to grow, the unemployment rate climbed higher to 5.4 per cent, the highest it’s been in a year. “The reason the unemployment rate can rise alongside historically strong employment growth is that population growth continues to set new records — including an 84k monthly increase in June,” wrote RBC assistant chief economist Nathan Janzen in a note to clients.June marked the second month in a row the unemployment rate has risen as economists watch for softening in the labour market amid high interest rates.Job gains were concentrated in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturi...