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US diplomats slam Israel policy in leaked memo

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

State Department staffers offered a blistering critique of the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war in a dissent memo obtained by POLITICO, arguing that, among other things, the U.S. should be willing to publicly criticize the Israelis.The message suggests a growing loss of confidence among U.S. diplomats in President Joe Biden’s approach to the Middle East crisis. It reflects the sentiments of many U.S. diplomats, especially at mid-level and lower ranks, according to conversations with several department staffers as well as other reports. If such internal disagreements intensify, it could make it harder for the Biden administration to craft policy toward the region.The memo has two key requests: that the U.S. support a ceasefire, and that it balance its private and public messaging toward Israel, including airing criticisms of Israeli military tactics and treatment of Palestinians that the U.S. generally prefers to keep private.The gap between America’s priv...

Shoe stores targeted in overnight burglaries

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Several San Diego shoe stores were targeted in a series of overnight burglaries, police said Monday.At 2:20 a.m., thieves broke into Kick Stock at Westfield Mission Valley and got away with "a significant amount of merchandise," Lt. Adam Sharki told FOX 5 in an email.Then, shortly before 4 a.m., an attempted burglary was reported at City Kicks at Westfield UTC, Sharki said. Nothing was taken. Police investigate shooting outside Home Depot Less than an hour later, around 4:45 a.m., Fire Kicks in Hillcrest was burglarized. Thieves stole an undisclosed amount of merchandise, but Sharki described the loss from the University Avenue shop as "significant."Investigators were working to gather evidence, review surveillance video and find witnesses. Anyone with information about the burglaries were asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-580-8477.

‘The Family Chantel’ star Pedro Jimeno breaks his silence on divorce and the show’s ending

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The marriage between the stars of “The Family Chantel” has come to an end, but the hit reality show will have a fifth and final season. The split has been unsurprising for faithful fans of the show who’ve watched the couple’s downward spiral. “The damage is done already,” said Pedro Jimeno, of the divorce. “It’s not going to be any reconciliation in the future.”Jimeno, a native of the Dominican Republic, and Chantel Everett were standouts on TLC’s popular “90 Day Fiancé” reality TV show, which has become an almost cult-like followed franchise. The original series, which debuted in 2014, follows couples navigating America’s K-1 visa process, which allows foreign citizens who are engaged to Americans to move to the U.S. and marry within 90 days. After marriage, they can apply to become a permanent U.S. resident.After their initial season four debut and appearances on other “90 Day Fiancé’” shows, Jimeno and Everett earned their own series, the first s...

1 person shot at Scarborough apartment building

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

Toronto police say one person has been shot at an apartment building in Scarborough.Emergency crews were called to the area of Kingston and Galloway roads, near Lawrence Avenue East and Morningside Avenue, around 12:30 p.m. on Monday for the sounds of gunshots.Police say they located one person at the scene with gunshot wounds.The extent of their injuries is not yet known.More to come. Developing story.

What we know about how Canada is supporting citizens trapped in the Gaza Strip

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

Canadians in Gaza are still waiting to be allowed to leave the besieged Palestinian territory via a border crossing with Egypt as the Israel-Hamas war continues. Here is what we know about how Canada is supporting its citizens in Gaza: How many Canadians are trapped in Gaza? Four days after the war began on Oct. 7, government officials in Canada said 70 Canadians in Gaza had asked for consular help. Global Affairs Canada says that number has since grown to more than 400 citizens. Global Affairs has also said “Canada has one of the largest contingents of nationals in Gaza.”What is Canada doing to help citizens leave Gaza? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been publicly calling for Canadian citizens to be let out of the Gaza Strip and has been involved in negotiations with other countries that the public is not privy to.“We’re pushing on our friends in Israel, our friends in Egypt, working with the Americans and others to make sure that Canadian families get on...

Don’t put that rhinestone emblem on your car’s steering wheel, US regulators say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. regulators are warning drivers to steer clear of aftermarket decals used to embellish a car’s logo on the center of its steering wheel.Such metal or plastic emblems — which are typically adorned with rhinestones or other decorations and attached to the steering wheel with an adhesive back — can cause serious injury if ejected when the airbag deploys in a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday.At least one driver lost sight in one eye after an aftermarket decal covered in rhinestones became dislodged from the wheel during a crash and hit them in the face, NHTSA added.“In a crash, the force of a deploying air bag can turn the product into a projectile, resulting in serious injury or death,” the federal agency wrote in a consumer alert. It noted that, “unlike the permanently affixed logo” on a car’s steering wheel, aftermarket decals can become easily dislodged.“Any alterations or changes to your air bag or its cover can a...

‘Doesn’t make sense’: Business leaders say halted trade talks harm India and Canada

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Business leaders continue to grapple with the economic uncertainty fostered by the rift between the Canadian and Indian governments, saying the suspension of free trade talks hurts both sides.The heads of several commercial groups say the souring relationship marks a major hurdle to boosting bilateral trade beyond last year’s $20.9 billion in goods and services and deters Indian students from studying in Canada.Relations between the two countries eroded after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament on Sept. 18 that New Delhi may have been involved in the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh independence activist.In response, the Indian government suspended visa services for Canadian citizens — partially restored last month — and revoked diplomatic immunity from Canadian diplomats, prompting two-thirds of them to leave the country.Canada India Foundation chairman Satish Thakkar says cancelling the trade talks — Canada halted them on Sept. 1 ...

Cadillac Fairview shifts Montreal development project to rentals from office space

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

MONTREAL — Cadillac Fairview Corp. Ltd. says it will build a project in downtown Montreal as rental apartments, rather than its original plan for office space. The developer says that 750 Peel, part of its much larger redevelopment in the city’s core, will have 510 rental units with a 2026 completion date.It had previously said the development would consist of two towers offering 1.2 million square feet of office space, but now only says that it will have some co-working and meeting spaces along with the rental units.The shift to rental construction comes as office vacancies hit all-time highs while housing options are critically short.In November last year, the developer announced a $4.7-billion residential construction plan that it says could deliver 7,000 rental units across 20 buildings. Cadillac Fairview, owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, recently started construction on its first rental building in CF Rideau Centre in Ottawa.This report by The Canadian P...

Trial opens for ex-top Baltimore prosecutor charged with perjury tied to property purchases

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A former top Baltimore prosecutor lied about her finances during the COVID-19 pandemic to improperly access retirement funds that she used to buy two homes in Florida, a federal prosecutor said Monday at the start of Marilyn Mosby’s perjury trial. “This case is about a lawyer and a public servant who placed her own selfish interests above the truth,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Delaney told jurors during the trial’s opening statements.A defense attorney countered that Mosby — who gained a national profile for prosecuting Baltimore police officers after Freddie Gray, a Black man, died in police custody — was legally entitled to withdraw the money and spend it however she wanted. Mosby told the truth when she certified on paperwork that the pandemic harmed a travel-related business that she formed, said the lawyer, Maggie Grace.“This case is about a three-page form and what was in Marilyn Mosby’s mind when she completed that form,” said Grace, an ass...

Hezbollah and Hamas’ military wings in Lebanon exchange fire with Israel. Tension rises along border

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:22:25 GMT

RMEISH, Lebanon (AP) — The military wing of Palestinian group Hamas said Monday it fired rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese side of the border. The Qassam Brigades said in a statement its militants fired 16 rockets on the town of Nahariya and the southern outskirts of the city of Haifa in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Gaza. Haifa is the furthest city targeted by rockets from the Lebanese side since the start of the Israel-Hamas war nearly a month ago.The Israeli army said approximately 30 rockets were fired from the Lebanese side targeting northern Israel, adding it was responding by shelling the origin points of rocket launches. The exchange lasted about half an hour and Israel’s Iron Dome could be clearly seen intercepting rockets from Lebanon. Relative clam prevailed afterward. About three hours later, Israel’s air force carried out airstrikes on “Hezbollah targets” inside Lebanon, Israeli military spokesman Avichay...