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Biden policy allowing migrants from 4 countries into the US is praised, criticized at Texas trial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — During a trial Thursday on the fate of an immigration program focused on people from Central America and the Caribbean, lawyers for Texas and 20 other Republican-leaning states suing to stop it accused the federal initiative of being outside the law. But an American sponsoring one of the migrants — a 34-year-old friend from Nicaragua named Oldrys and who’s now in the U.S. thanks to the program — praised its economic benefits and credited it for letting him reciprocate kindness to someone in need.“We really see this as an opportunity to welcome Oldrys into our family …. in a time of need for him,” said Eric Sype. Under the humanitarian parole program, up to 30,000 people are being allowed each month to enter the U.S. from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The federal government and immigrant rights groups are defending the program, saying it’s been successful at reducing migration and a humanitarian crisis on the southern border and has provided a safe ...

Trump arrives at Atlanta jail to surrender on charges he tried to overturn 2020 election loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

Former President Donald Trump arrived Thursday at a jail in Atlanta to surrender on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.The booking is expected to yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.Trump and 18 others were indicted last week, accused of participating in a sprawling conspiracy to overturn his presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.The Fulton County prosecution is the fourth criminal case against Trump since March when he became the first former president in U.S. history to be indicted.Trump’s surrender, coming amid an abrupt shake-up of his legal team, follows the presidential debate in Milwaukee the night before featuring his leading rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination — a contest in which he remains the leading candidate despite accelerating legal troubles.His Atlanta appearance will be different from others, though, requiring him to surrender at a problem-plagued jail — but wit...

New York governor urges Biden to help state with migrant surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday implored President Joe Biden to take urgent action to help her state absorb a surge of international migrants who have strained resources and filled homeless shelters — putting some Democrats in a vulnerable position in a state usually seen as immigrant-friendly.In a rare public address, Hochul said she had sent the president a letter asking him to expedite work permits for migrants and provide financial resources to help care for the estimated 100,000 asylum seekers who have come to the state in the last year, mostly to New York City.“The reality is that we’ve managed thus far without substantive support from Washington, and despite the fact that this is a national, and indeed an inherently federal issue,” Hochul said in speech delivered in Albany. “But New York has shouldered this burden for far too long.”The public plea comes after months of private requests to the White House. The central request of the governor’s let...

US sanctions 11 Russians and 2 re-education facilities involved in forced transfer of Ukrainian kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against 11 Russians and two re-education facilities reportedly involved in the forced transfer of thousands of Ukrainian children, accusing Moscow of war crimes and crimes against humanity.U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the announcement at a U.N. Security Council meeting that the U.S. organized on Ukraine’s national day to put a spotlight on the transfer or deportation of its children as young as four months old, not only to Russia but to its ally Belarus and Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine’s east.“Children are literally being ripped from their homes in the year 2023,” she said. “Russia and its proxies have detained children fleeing violence. They have forced children out of schools and orphanages. And local proxies have tricked or coerced parents into sending their children to so-called `summer camps’ only to be cut off from communication and refused to have their children returned to them...

Ontario city voted as the rudest in Canada. Here’s the full list

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

A Greater Toronto Area (GTA) city scored the rudest in Canada in a new public opinion poll from Preply, a U.S.-based language learning app and platform.“Canadians have garnered the stereotype of being exceedingly polite. Known for their welcoming attitude and over-apologizing, politeness is seen as a cultural norm,” wrote Preply contributor Adam Volz. “But is this representation just a myth?”Preply surveyed more than 1,500 Canadians across 44 cities. The respondents were asked how often they witness rude behaviours where they live, and unfortunately for Vaughan, it may not have the best reputation.Cities were ranked out of 10 from rudest (10) to most polite (1). The unofficial survey found that the top three rudest cities in Canada are Vaughan (Ont.), Coquitlam (B.C.) and Brampton (Ont.).CityNews asked locals how they feel about Vaughan being considered the rudest city in Canada.“Well, we’re not from Vaughan. We’re from up north in cottage c...

Ohtani to keep playing, his future and impending free agency murky after elbow ligament injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani already knew he had a career-altering tear in his elbow ligament when he roped a double to right in the fifth inning of the Angels’ doubleheader nightcap on Wednesday.After he hustled to second base, he was greeted by Elly De La Cruz. Cincinnati’s 21-year-old rookie shortstop jokingly poked at the smiling Ohtani, essentially asking the two-way superstar, “Are you real?”That’s the question all of baseball has been asking about Ohtani for the past three seasons, ever since he returned from Tommy John surgery and redefined what’s possible in this sport.But the new injury to his ulnar collateral ligament is a merciless reminder that the 29-year-old Ohtani is, in fact, real — a baseball unicorn, but also an athlete challenging the limit of human potential and physiology.Ohtani hit that limit earlier Wednesday when he abruptly left the mound after just 26 pitches in the doubleheader opener. Tests revealed a ligament tear t...

‘Dune: Part 2’ release postponed to 2024 as actors strike lingers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The release of “Dune: Part Two,” one of the fall’s most anticipated films, has been postponed from November until next near, Warner Bros. confirmed Thursday. Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction sequel had been set to open Nov. 3, but will instead land in theaters March 15 next year. With the actors strike entering its second month, “Dune: Part Two” had been rumored to be eyeing a move. Variety earlier this month reported Warner Bros.’ was mulling the delay. Warner Bros. is opting to wait until its starry cast can promote the follow-up to the 2021 Oscar-winning “Dune.” “Part Two” stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgård, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux. “Dune: Part II” is one of the biggest 2023 films yet postponed due to the ongoing strikes by actors and screenwriters. Recent releases have mostly opted to go ahead, despite lacking their stars on red carpets or on magazine covers....

Panama eyes new measures as flow of migrants through Darien Gap hits 300,000 so far this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — The government of Panama said Thursday it will launch a new campaign to stem the flow of migrants through the dangerous, jungle-clad Darien Gap, after crossings hit 300,000 so far this year.In comparison, less than 250,000 migrants crossed in all of 2022.The plan, named “Darien is a jungle, not a road,” will be launched next week, officials said, but they could barely hide their frustration with neighboring Colombia’s inability to stop migrants from coming to the two countries’ roadless border.“Despite all the efforts, meetings with other countries involved have not managed to stop (the flow of migrants),” Panama’s Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino told a news conference.Officials said the massive trekking of migrants through the gap — now running between 2,500 and 3,000 per day — has polluted and damaged the jungle, as well as exposed people to risks and rights abuses.Samira Gozaine, Panama’s top immigration official, said “don’t tell me the bo...

Trump surrenders at Georgia jail on charges he sought to overturn his 2020 election loss

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump arrived in Georgia Thursday evening to turn himself in on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in that state, a county jail booking expected to yield a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president.Trump's surrender to law enforcement authorities has become by now a familiar routine in a way that belies the history-making drama of a former president being booked on felony criminal charges. But his visit to Atlanta is notably different than the three past surrenders, requiring him to visit a jail — rather than a courthouse — and unfolding not in a liberal bastion like New York or Washington but rather the heart of a battleground state vital to the 2024 presidential election. Trump supporters gather outside Georgia jail where he is expected to surrender Trump landed in Atlanta shortly after 7 p.m. and was to be driven, through the city's rush-hour traffic, to jail for the booking process. Wearing his s...

Windham Rotunda, known as WWE star Bray Wyatt, dead at 36

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star Windham Rotunda., known to wrestling fans worldwide as Bray Wyatt, has died. He was 36. WWE's chief content officer Paul 'Triple H' Levesque confirmed the passing on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, "Just received a call from WWE Hall of Famer Mike Rotunda who informed us of the tragic news that our WWE family member for life Windham Rotunda - also known as Bray Wyatt - unexpectedly passed earlier today. Our thoughts are with his family and we ask that everyone respect their privacy at this time." Terry Funk, beloved hardcore wrestling icon, dead at 79 Released by the company in July 2021, Rotunda returned at WWE's Extreme Rules premium live event in October 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to much fanfare. He last wrestled for the company in March following reports that the former world champion was sidelined with an unknown illness. Rotunda, who also wrestled under the moniker 'The Fiend' first joined WWE in 2009. Born May 23, 198...