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Von der Leyen hints at opening EU door for Ukraine, but challenges remain

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

KYIV — In a surprise visit to Ukraine over the weekend, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the EU will continue supporting Kyiv amid fears that the Israel-Hamas conflict is shifting attention away from the war in Ukraine. Von der Leyen’s visit to the Ukrainian capital came ahead of a key announcement on November 8, when Brussels is set to publish its report card on the progress of Ukraine and other aspiring EU candidates. Von der Leyen strongly hinted that Brussels will recommend that EU countries open accession negotiations with Ukraine. “I am confident that you can reach your ambitious goal: That is, for the historic decision to open the process of accession negotiations to be taken already this year,” von der Leyen said in a speech to Ukraine’s parliament on Saturday. Earlier in the day, she applauded Kyiv’s “excellent progress.”In order to start accession talks, Ukraine is legally required t...

Blinken’s Mideast tour to seek support for postwar Gaza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying to build support among Israel’s Middle Eastern neighbors to plan a postwar future for Gaza, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu rejected the U.S.’s calls for a humanitarian pause.Blinken’s first stop was Lebanon, which hosts Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Shiite Islamist militant group that has seen mounting tensions with Israel on the border with Lebanon, the Associated Press reported. Hezbollah’s leader on Friday threw his backing behind Palestinian militants in Gaza in his first major speech since the Hamas attacks.Blinken thanked Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati for his leadership “in preventing Lebanon from being pulled into a war that the Lebanese people do not want,” the U.S. State Department said.After a meeting with the head of the U.N. agency in charge of assisting Palestinian refugees — which has seen about 70 staffers killed — Blinken thanked Phillipe Lazzarini for his group’s “extraordinar...

Howie Carr: The profound strangeness of Mitt Romney

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

We’ve always known Willard Mitt Romney was weird, but until now we never understood just how profoundly strange he really is.Here is just one quote from the new hagiography, er biography about Pierre Delecto’s alter ego:“I was accused of being inauthentic. But in reality that’s just who I am… I’m the authentic person who seems inauthentic.”You see what I mean about weird?The new book is entitled “Romney: A Reckoning.” It’s by McKay Coppins, like Mitt a Mormon who strangely works for one of state-run media’s furthest-left purveyors of fake news, The Atlantic.Like you, I haven’t read the book, have no intention of doing so. But I did check the index, to see if I made the cut. As expected, I didn’t, because Mitt’s gone national, and we’re all local yokels. I did, however, read the excerpts and the reviews, so you don’t have to.One lesson from the book that is clear, even if unmentioned: Romney’s rather sad political career proves again that the governorship of Massachusetts never turns...

Epigram Brew Co. opens in Tyngsboro, brings in crowds with craft beer and bar pizza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

Sometimes the thing you need to get everything right is just time itself, though, according to the owner of the region’s newest brewery, a small bit of selfishness helps too.Nearly two years after they asked the town of Tyngsboro to give them license to do so, the owners and brewers of Epigram Brew Co. have finally opened the doors on their new restaurant and craft brewery.Located along Middlesex Street just south of the New Hampshire border, the independent brewery currently offers nine varieties of beer, all made in house, and brings South Shore-style bar pizza north of Boston and into the Merrimack Valley.Epigram owner Jeff White told the Herald that a few years ago he noticed a “hole in the market,” in that many of the breweries he visited had excellent beer or really good food or a great atmosphere, but never all three at the same time.Plus, none were anywhere near close enough to his house.“I was, selfishly, thinking I wanted a brewery in my neighborhood, and I noticed a lot o...

These San Diego spots are among 'top hidden gem cities for snowbirds'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It's that time of year again: the snowbirds are returning to coastal San Diego County, and for good reason.For those unfamiliar with the term, "snowbirds" refers to people who travel to warmer climates during the winter months. In order to escape the bone-chilling temperatures of places that go dark and white for several weeks, some look to sunnier spots to migrate instead of hibernate.As it turns out, there are three San Diego areas considered to be among the best hidden gem cities for those looking for a warm escape without the crowd. Pack your bags: Southwest Airlines is offering new nonstop flights from San Diego Architectural Digest, a magazine that focuses on interior design and landscaping, conducted a study to determine the hot-spots -- no pun intended -- for snowbirds in the U.S. Researchers with the magazine synthesized data from various sources to determine the best winter escape cities, while focusing on specific criteria that would appeal to snowbirds.For...

Phoenix finishes clearing downtown homeless encampment after finding shelter for more than 500

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The city of Phoenix has successfully cleared out a massive downtown homeless encampment by Saturday’s court ordered deadline by helping more than 500 people find beds in shelters and motels.The hundreds of tents that once lined blocks of streets in the area are now gone, with just a few people milling about or pushing shopping carts filled with their belongings.“I was staying with a friend in a tent but he’s now gone to a shelter,” said Lily Bitsui, 33, who looked a bit lost. Bitsui said she was not around when city workers were offering to help people find a place to stay inside.“They’ve really cleaned up things, and there’s a lot less crime around here now,” said Rudy Soliz, the operations director at the area’s Justa Center, which provides daytime services for older homeless people, including meals and housing assistance. “I’m glad that a lot of those people have gone to shelters.”Soliz said the move had also cut down on neighbor...

Chiefs want to be ‘world’s team’ by going global with star power and Super Bowl success

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Patrick Mahomes circled the Frankfurt game on his calendar when the NFL schedule was announced.“It’s really cool just to be on this stage, the world stage, in Germany,” the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said Friday. “I’m excited to be able to play out here.”The Chiefs are excited, too, because the game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday at Deutsche Bank Park is a big step for an organization with global ambitions to become the “world’s team.”The blueprint is simple enough. They have won two of the past four Super Bowls, they have dynamic stars in reigning MVP Mahomes and All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, and the NFL has prioritized international growth. Taylor Swift just adds to their good timing.“We feel like this is our era,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said. “Based on the timing, the success and the stars, it’s a responsibility to take advantage of this. If we don’t aggressively take advantage of this, that’s a failure.”The Chiefs have com...

Police investigating 2nd report of needle in Halloween chocolate bar in Mississauga

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

Peel Regional Police are investigating a second report of a needle found lodged in a chocolate bar that was handed out while trick-or-treating in Mississauga.Authorities said they believe that this “Aero” chocolate bar is from the Lorne Park area neighbourhood in the area of Indian Road and Indian Grove. On November 1, a needle was found in a different “Oh Henry!” chocolate bar that investigators believe was handed out on Halloween in the area south of Mississauga Road between Portway Avenue and Gatley Road, now marking two reported incidents. Peel police said a needle was found in a second chocolate bar (left) in the Mississauga area. The first incident was reported on November 1. Photo: Peel Regional Police.Police said it is unknown at this time if both incidents have any connection. No one was injured or harmed, and the chocolate bars were not consumed. In a news release, a police spokesperson said officers are reminding parents and children to check throu...

Tens of thousands of ancient coins have been found off Sardinia. They may be spoils of a shipwreck

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

ROME (AP) — A diver who spotted something metallic not far from Sardinia’s coast has led to the discovery of tens of thousands of ancient bronze coins.Italy’s culture ministry said Saturday that the diver alerted authorities, who sent divers assigned to an art protection squad along with others from the ministry’s undersea archaeology department. The coins dating from the first half of the fourth century were found in sea grass, not far from the northeast shore of the Mediterranean island. The ministry didn’t say exactly when the first diver caught a glimpse of something metallic just off shore Sardinia, not far from the town of Arzachena.Exactly how many coins have been retrieved hasn’t been determined yet, as they are being sorted. A ministry statement estimated that there are at least about 30,000 and possibly as many as 50,000, given their collective weight.“All the coins were in an excellent and rare state of preservation,” the ministry said. The few coins that were...

Report: Bears ink Montez Sweat to massive extension

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:38:07 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago bears have signed newly-acquired defensive end Montez Sweat to a massive multi-year extension, making him the sixth highest paid defender in football.According to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the extension is a four year deal worth $98 million in new money, averaging out to $24.5 million a year over the life of the contract. Sweat netted $72,865,360 in guaranteed money, and incentives could push the total deal up to $105 million.With the new contract, Sweat is now the sixth-highest paid defensive player in football, just ahead of New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams ($24 million per year) and just behind Cleveland Browns' defensive end Myles Garrett ($25 million per year). How does Jaylon Johnson feel about not being traded by the Bears? Before arriving in Chicago, Sweat notched 6.5 sacks with the Washington Commanders this year, which is as many sacks as the Bears' entire defensive line has accumulated on the season.The Chicago Bears travel dow...