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Lucas: Biden getting soft as Israel-Hamas war wears on

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

It’s a good thing Joe Biden was not around for World War II.Otherwise, you would be reading this column in German with a Japanese translation for West Coast readers.That is because Biden would have thrown in the towel shortly after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Hitler’s declaration of war against the U.S.Seeking peace in his time, like Neville Chamberlain, Biden would have agreed to turn over the U.S. West Coast to Japan and the East Coast to Germany to avoid a fight.But being the wise negotiator that he is, Biden would have insisted that the U.S. retain the middle part of the county where Americans would be allowed to hunt buffalo and live in between the two occupying powers.It would have been called the American Strip.But times change even though Biden doesn’t.And if he is allowed to linger in the White House much longer, he could oversee the country fall apart like it would have had he been at the helm during the Big One.This time, though, Biden could oversee the country...

Pakistan opens 3 new border crossings to deport Afghans in ongoing crackdown on migrants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan on Monday opened three new border crossings to expedite the deportation of Afghans living in the country illegally, officials said. Nearly 300,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in recent weeks since authorities started arresting and deporting foreign nationals without papers after the Oct. 31 deadline for migrants without legal status to leave the country voluntarily.The expulsions mostly affect Afghans, who make up the majority of foreigners in Pakistan. It has drawn criticism from the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan as well as human rights organizations. The number of border crossings used to deport thousands of Afghans rose to five after the new facilities were opened in southwestern Baluchistan province, said Jan Achakzai, the caretaker provincial information minister. Currently, about 15,000 Afghans have been crossing the border every day from Pakistan. Before the crackdown, around 300 people were crossing each day.International aid agencies ...

Dozens of migrants are missing after a boat capsized off Yemen, officials say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A migrant boat capsized off the coast of war-torn Yemen, leaving dozens of people, mostly from the Horn of Africa, missing, Yemeni officials said Monday.Khalid al-Subeihi, an official with the Yemeni coast guard in the coastal city of Mocha, said the boat with 75 migrants on board capsized Sunday.He told The Associated Press that 26 people survived but at least 49 others remain missing.Another coast guard official, Lt. Co. Olwan al-Qameri, said the search was still underway Monday.Citing an unnamed coast guard official, Yemen’s state-run SABA news agency reported that the boat capsized due to strong winds and that all those on board — including women and children — fell into the water.The shipwreck was the latest sea disaster involving African migrants seeking a better life in oil-rich Gulf countries.Thousands of people each year seek to make the perilous voyage from Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia to Yemen and on to richer Gulf countries as they flee poverty and ...

Family evacuated from home after fire in Scarborough

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

A family new to Canada needed to evacuate the home they are renting after a two-alarm house fire in Scarborough on Sunday evening.Emergency crews were called to a house near the intersection of Bellamy Road and Colonial Avenue, north of Kingston Road, around 10:45 p.m. for reports of a fire.Investigators believe the flames started in the basement of the home. One of the occupants tells CityNews he heard his dogs scratching at the basement door and when he opened the door he noticed the fire.Him and his family proceeded to go outside. He says the family is new to Canada and they were renting the property.Police confirmed the home was successfully evacuated. No injuries were reported.There is no word what caused the fire. The occupants say they did not hear a fire alarm.Roads were closed in the area for the investigation.

Trump believed fringe conspiracy he could be reinstated as president, book claims

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

Above: Trump joins media outlets in pushing his federal election interference case to be televised(The Hill) - A new book by ABC’s Jonathan Karl reveals that former President Trump seriously took to a fringe conspiracy that he could be reinstated as president after losing the 2020 election and well after leaving the White House.Karl’s new book, “Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Ole Party,” releasing Tuesday, includes details about how Trump came to believe the theory, which was supported by some of the former president’s staunchest allies. Among them was My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, who falsely peddled the notion that Trump could return to the White House on Aug. 13, 2021 — nearly seven months after the former president ended his first term on Inauguration Day.That groundless theory was linked to QAnon, which also falsely claimed President Biden was not actually the president and that the military was in power until Trump returned to office — which he neve...

'QAnon Shaman' appears interested in running for Arizona congressional seat as Libertarian

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

(The Hill) - Jacob Chansley, the Capitol rioter who came to be known as the "QAnon Shaman" appears to have filed paperwork indicating an interest in running for Congress in Arizona’s 8th district in 2024. The Arizona Republic reported that a candidate statement of interest was signed by Jacob Angeli-Chansley and was filed with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office Thursday, indicating he would seek to run as a libertarian. He has also been known to go by Jacob Angeli.Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), who currently represents the district, announced last month that she won't seek reelection.Chansley, 35, gained notoriety for his horned fur hat, bare chest and face paint that made him one of the more recognizable Capitol rioters on Jan. 6. He pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing an official proceeding and sentenced to 41 months in prison. Chansley, who grew up in Phoenix, served 27 of those months before being released to a halfway house this past March. The AP reported that while t...

1 dead in Sunday night shooting, APD says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said they are investigating a Sunday night shooting that left one adult dead in far north Austin. One adult was transported to the hospital, according to APD. Police said they responded to the shooting on Aspen Street near North Lamar Boulevard and Kramer Lane around 11:35 p.m.According to APD, no one was in custody in the shooting and no suspects were at large. APD said there was no danger to the public. APD said the shooting took place at a residence on the street.

Cool and cloudy with periods of light rain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- We'll start the new work week with intermittent rain and cool temperatures, but we won't hold on to the wet weather for long.Scattered light to moderate rain will continue through early afternoon before slowly tapering mid- to late day. Rainfall amounts are trending very light, with those who do see rain only favored for a few hundredths of an inch to a few tenths.Still, we'll continue to take what we can get.Tuesday begins a warm-up that should feature at least some sunshine. Wednesday has the sunniest weather of the week with more clouds, but warmer temperatures coming in late in the week and into next weekend. BLOG: Peak fall foliage in Central Texas coming soon We're seeing signs of our NEXT storm arriving either Sunday or the following Monday bringing us the potential for more beneficial rain. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date ...

SCSO: Customers detain masked man robbing Halfmoon restaurant

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

HALFMOON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Customers detained a man wearing a ski mask attempting to rob the Mi Mexico Lindo Tienda y Taqueria in Halfmoon Saturday around 4:25 p.m. Jesus Antonio Menendez-Flores (26, El Salvador) is charged with first-degree robbery. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Deputies initially said Menendez-Flores entered the grocery store/restaurant wearing a ski mask with a gun. He was physically detained by several customers. Through further investigation, it was found that Menendez-Flores did not have an actual firearm, he only implied he had one.Deputies say Menendez-Flores provided a fake name when he was arrested and was in the U.S. illegally. He was subjected to a previous deportation order issued in February 2017. He is currently held at the Saratoga County Jail without bail.

CPD: Pedestrian dies in Troy-Schenectady Road crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:24 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Colonie Police are currently investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian on Troy-Schenectady Road (State Route 7) that happened at 11:44 Sunday night. Police say Timothy Smith, 62, succumbed to his injuries at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say around 11:44 p.m. Sunday, a man was hit near British American Boulevard on Troy-Schenectady Road and suffered severe injuries. The driver of the car stopped immediately and called police. The pedestrian, identified as Smith, was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital by Colonie EMS and later succumbed to his injuries. Police say neither excessive speed nor driver impairment were factors in the crash. Police also say the pedestrian was mid-block not in the crosswalk at the time. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have footage is asked to contact investigators at (518) 782-2620.