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EU, Mercosur give up on finalizing trade pact next week: Report

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

Mercosur and the European Union have given up on reaching a free-trade agreement next week, CNN Brasil reported.The EU had hoped to finalize a trade deal with the Mercosur countries — Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina — in time for a December 7 summit of South American leaders in Brazil.But Argentina has notified Brazil, the current president of Mercosur, that it will not be able to make new commitments in the negotiations and that it intends to leave decisions to Javier Milei, an anarcho-capitalist outsider who won Argentina’s presidential election in November, according to the CNN Brasil report. The December 7 summit comes days before Milei’s inauguration.As a result of Argentina’s decision, a potential round of negotiations set for Rio de Janeiro during the Mercosur meeting was canceled, according to the report. A visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the Mercosur gathering was also scrubbed, the report said. Milei’s vic...

Howie Carr: If it were anybody but Shannon O’Brien, I might feel a little sympathy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

Is this all there is?That was my first thought when I read about the bitter dispute between those two ditzy Democrat dowagers, Treasurer Deb Goldberg and former Treasurer Shannon O’Brien.It’s always sad, a hack-on-hack attack. It’s even worse when it’s two old ladies approaching the checkout counter trying to rip each other’s eyes out.For the record, Goldberg turns 70 in May, and Shannon will be 65 a month earlier.In their dotage, they should be playing canasta together, showing one another pictures of their grandchildren, complaining about the upcoming paltry COLA increases in their Social Security checks and making plans to meet for lunch at the Golden Corral in Delray Beach after New Year’s.Instead, they’re battling it out in court. In case you haven’t been following their antics, Goldberg appointed her predecessor to a $181,722-a-year sinecure at the Cannabis Control Commission.As one Internet wag observed yesterday:“Would it be inappropriate to call this a catfight? Asking for ...

Swing state Muslims outraged by president’s war stance vow to ditch Biden in 2024

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Muslim community leaders from several swing states pledged to withdraw support for U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday at a conference in suburban Detroit, citing his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.Democrats in Michigan have warned the White House that Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war could cost him enough support within the Arab American community to sway the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.Leaders from Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, Wisconsin, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania gathered behind a lectern that read “Abandon Biden, ceasefire now” in Dearborn, Michigan, the city with the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States.More than 13,300 Palestinians — roughly two-thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza — have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war. Some 1,200 Israelis have been killed, mostly during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war.Biden’s unwill...

Harris focuses on shaping a post-conflict Gaza during a diplomatic blitz in Dubai with Arab leaders

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris engaged in a speed round of diplomatic talks with Arab leaders on Saturday where she focused on shaping the outlook for a post-conflict Gaza while calling on Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians from the “devastating” bombardment. She made a hastily planned trip to the United Arab Emirates as the top American representative at the U.N. climate conference but the Israel-Hamas war was a main objective of her visit. She met with leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan and spoke by phone with Qatar’s emir. Her efforts to focus on what Gaza will look like once the fighting ends played out against the backdrop of an overpowering attack that Israel has unleashed on the crowded southern area of the territory since fighting resumed Friday morning after a weeklong truce.“As Israel defends itself, it matters how. The United States is unequivocal: International humanitarian law must be respected,” Harris...

Police investigating homicide at Orillia long-term care facility

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

Police say a man who lived at a central Ontario long-term care home has died after an alleged homicide at the facility. Provincial police say they were called to the unspecified home on Nov. 13 after receiving reports of a serious assault involving two residents. They said at the time an 88-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious injuries after the incident. On Saturday police said Kevin Elmes died on Nov. 24 due to injuries sustained during the original assault.No charges have yet been laid, and police say they do not believe there is any risk to the public.

Hyde Park School of Dance Presents 'The Nutcracker'

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

Hyde Park School of Dance Presents 'The Nutcracker'Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

APD investigating shooting; police involved in incident

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department said it was investigating a shooting that involved police in south Austin.APD said the shooting occurred Saturday in the 1100 block of Brecon Lane. Delays are expected in the area, according to police.Officials are expected to hold a briefing to provide more details surrounding the incident.This is a developing story. Check back with KXAN for more details.

Boot wars on South Congress Avenue? Local boot shop posts 'friendly' signs in window about competition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Not quite “boots on the ground,” but some friendly competition on South Congress Avenue, for certain. Allens Boots, a prominent Austin cowboy boot provider since the 1970s, recently opened a pop-up shop for clearance merchandise a few doors down from its flagship location. But next door to the pop-up is another Austin-born boot western apparel store – Tecovas. Allens Boots posts signs in its new pop up's window acknowledging its close proximity to the competition next door. (KXAN Photo)Allens Boots posts signs in its new pop up's window acknowledging its close proximity to the competition next door. (KXAN Photo)Allens Boots posts signs in its new pop up's window acknowledging its close proximity to the competition next door. (KXAN Photo)Allens Boots posts signs in its new pop up's window acknowledging its close proximity to the competition next door. (KXAN Photo)Allens Boots posts signs in its new pop up's window acknowledging its close proximity to the com...

Leander ISD will create district police department in response to House Bill 3

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Leander ISD will create its own police department to comply with a new state law. The district's board of trustees approved the decision Thursday. The initial department will include a chief, an assistant chief and 10 marshals. PREVIOUS: Leander ISD board considers district police department The Leander ISD Police Department is the district's response to House Bill 3, a law that went into effect Sept. 1 and requires armed security officers at every school campus in Texas. The district said the vote will let the district "take initial steps in immediately bolstering on-campus security presence with the marshals." LISD currently has school resource offices at each high school through partnerships with the Cedar Park Police Department, Leander Police Department and Travis County Sheriff's Office. The board also approved a $1.1 million budget amendment to fund the department. It will be paid for in the general operating fund of the 2023-24 budget, according to...

Man carjacked while warming up his car in St. Louis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:42:25 GMT

ST. LOUIS - An armed suspect carjacked a man while he was warming up his car early Friday morning in north St. Louis. Police say the reported carjacking happened around 3:20 a.m. Friday, right outside the victim's home in the 4100 block of East Carter Avenue in the O'Fallon neighborhood. Three men charged in St. Charles County trafficking case plead not guilty Investigators say the victim, a 28-year-old man, was sitting in his parked and running vehicle outside as he waited for it to warm up. While looking at his phone, he heard a tap on his window. At that point, the victim noticed a suspect in dark clothing who pointed a handgun at him. The suspect demanded the victim to get out of the car, and he complied. The suspect took off in an unknown direction in the victim's black 2014 Dodge Challenger. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is handling the investigation and has not yet disclosed any potential arrests.