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North Korea vows strong response to Pentagon report that calls it a ‘persistent’ threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea slammed the United States over a recent Pentagon report that labeled it a “persistent” threat because of weapons of mass destruction, saying Wednesday that it will counter any U.S. aggression or provocations with “the most overwhelming and sustained response strategy.”Last week, the Pentagon released the unclassified version of its “2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction” describing WMD challenges and methods to address them. The report stated that while China and Russia present “the principal WMD challenges,” North Korea, Iran and violent extremist organizations remain “persistent regional threats” that must also be addressed.Such U.S. descriptions of North Korea and the North’s angry response aren’t unusual. But the latest exchange comes as concerns grow that North Korea is pushing for a weapons transfer deal with Russia in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. “The U.S. has just revealed its dangerous intention for...

Mike Pence says he is ‘deeply disappointed’ in vote to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — GOP presidential candidate Mike Pence, the former vice president, chastised a group of hard-right Republicans who ousted Kevin McCarthy from his role as House speaker Tuesday, saying that “chaos is never America’s friend.”Pence was onstage at a national security and foreign policy event at Washington’s Georgetown University co-hosted by The Associated Press when the news broke. When told of the historic vote, Pence waited several seconds before he responded. He then described it as a distraction from the issues that matter to Americans.“Well let me say that chaos is never America’s friend. And it’s never a friend of American families that are struggling,” he said. “And I’m deeply disappointed that a handful of Republicans would partner with all the Democrats in the House of Representatives to out the Speaker of the House.”There was no clear path forward Tuesday night after the vote to dislodge McCarthy, a first in American history. Pence said that he expected addit...

North Dakota lawmaker killed in Utah plane crash had recently earned commercial pilot’s license

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota lawmaker who had recently received his commercial pilot’s license was flying his own small plane home from a family celebration in Arizona when it crashed in Utah, killing him, his wife and their two young sons, family members said Tuesday.It was the first time state Sen. Doug Larsen of Mandan, and his family had flown his single-engine Piper Cherokee to visit his sister in Scottsdale, Arizona. Peggy Steimel said he made the trip so he could be part of her sendoff before she deployed for about a year overseas with the Arizona National Guard.Larsen had been a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the North Dakota National Guard, and Steimel recalled how he gave her some good advice about how to cope. “He gave me a hug and we said we loved each other — and said, ‘Stay safe.’”Larsen, his wife, Amy, and the two boys died later Sunday when his plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a refueling stop at Canyonlands Airfield near the desert recreation town of...

Colombia’s government issues long awaited apology for extrajudicial killings during armed conflict

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia’s government issued a long awaited public apology on Tuesday for the extrajudicial killings of 19 civilians who were slain by the military and registered as rebel fighters during one of the most violent periods of the nation’s civil war.The apology comes as Colombia’s government attempts to make amends with communities affected by decades of armed conflict and broker peace deals with rebel groups that are still fighting the military in rural areas despite a 2016 peace deal between the government and the nation’s largest rebel group.“These (killings) should have never happened,” Defense Minister Iván Velásquez said at an event in front of the nation’s congress attended by the victims’ relatives.“We ask you to forgive us for these crimes that embarrass us in front of the world,” Velásquez said in a speech. The killings took place between 2004 and 2008 as Colombia’s military intensified its campaign against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colomb...

Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina is the leader of the House, at least for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — As Kevin McCarthy got pushed out of his job as House speaker, in part by colleagues who helped put him on the dais nine months ago, one of his top lieutenants stepped in to preside — at least temporarily.North Carolina GOP Rep. Patrick McHenry took the gavel after Tuesday’s vote to oust McCarthy – a historic first for a House speaker. According to House rules, McHenry was picked from a list McCarthy was required to keep and will serve essentially as the acting speaker — known as speaker pro tempore — until the chamber figures out who will be the next leader. For McHenry, who stands out with his signature bow ties, the interim job marks his most public position to date during his 10 terms in the House. But he had already risen in stature and prominence within the House. McHenry was one of McCarthy’s closest allies, and helped him win the speaker’s contest in January and negotiate the debt limit deal that McCarthy made with President Joe Biden earlier this year. H...

Missing girl’s rescue in upstate New York came as pivotal hours ticked by

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — An agonizing 34 hours had passed since 9-year-old Charlotte Sena disappeared from an upstate New York campground when police got the break they needed to bring the girl home safely.At 4:20 a.m. Monday, a vehicle pulled up to the family’s home a short drive away from the campground, and the driver exited in the darkness to place a ransom note in the mailbox. Law enforcement had been guarding the little girl’s home and watched the scene unfold.The officers rushed to the mailbox, investigators quickly isolated fingerprints, and within hours were running them through a New York state database. The first try turned up nothing. Then came a second, connecting the print to the suspect and his white camper parked next to a doublewide trailer two miles away.Some 20 officers from a state police special operations unit and FBI SWAT team descended on the camper, arresting suspect, 46-year-old Craig Ross Jr., and finding the girl in a cabinet.“The hit came at 2:30 in the after...

Kevin McCarthy is out as speaker of the House. Here's what's next.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House of Representatives is entering uncharted territory after a far-right effort to remove fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy from the speakership succeeded thanks to support from Democrats. A resolution — titled a motion to vacate — from Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., passed Tuesday with the support of eight Republicans and all the Democrats present and voting. The vote made McCarthy the first speaker in history to be removed from office, a bitter humiliation that came after less than nine months on the job. The California Republican told his conference shortly after that he would not run for the job again. It is a stunning outcome in the House that shocked lawmakers of both parties and left them wondering what the future will bring. McCarthy says he won’t run for Speaker again after being ousted: live coverage Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry, now the acting speaker, declared the House in recess until both parties can decide on a path forward. There is no obvious s...

National Taco Day 2023: Where to score free tacos, deals on Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It might be hard to imagine needing another reason to eat tacos, but on Wednesday, Oct. 4 restaurants across the nation will be rolling out deals for National Taco Day.To the chagrin of some, Oct. 4 is not a Tuesday, which is traditionally paired with tacos. According to the National Day Calendar, Oct. 3, however, is National Techies Day, National Boyfriend Day, National Fruit at Work Day and World Temperance Day. Taco Bell brings back Taco Lover’s Pass: 30 days of tacos While "taco Wednesday" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, these offers may make the day more appealing:Chuy'sAdd a ground beef taco for $1 to any entree or a $1 "floater" to any margarita. Show up dressed like a taco and you eat for free!Del TacoThe taco chain is kicking off a new promotion on National Taco Day called "Tacoberfest," during which customers can get new weekly offers and free delivery on orders of $20 or more during the month of October. To get the delivery deal, food must be ordered vi...

Woman sues Disney for $50K after 'painful wedgie' on water slide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

(NEXSTAR) -- A woman is suing Disney Parks and Resorts, claiming she sustained serious injuries from a "painful wedgie" while riding a giant water slide. Emma McGuinness said she traveled to the Orlando resort in October 2019 to celebrate her 30th birthday with family. While visiting Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, McGuinness, her mother and her young daughter decided to ride the Humunga Kowabunga water slide.As she neared the end of the 214-foot slide, the lawsuit claims her body lifted up and she became airborne before slamming back down.  Which is cheaper: Disney World or a Disney cruise? "The slide caused [her] clothing to be painfully forced between her legs and for water to be violently forced inside her," the lawsuit states. "She experienced immediate and severe pain internally and, as she stood up, blood began rushing from between her legs." McGuinness, who was wearing a one-piece swimsuit at the time, sustained severe lacerations and damage to her internal or...

Gingrich says House GOP should expel 'anti-Republican' Gaetz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:27 GMT

(The Hill) – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Tuesday called on House Republicans to expel Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and defeat his motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his post.In a scathing op-ed published in The Washington Post, Gingrich attacked the Florida Republican as “anti-Republican” and said Gaetz was engaging in “childish behavior” and “has become actively destructive to the conservative movement.”“Gaetz’s motion to remove McCarthy should be swiftly defeated, and then he should be expelled from the House Republican Conference. House Republicans have far more important things to do than entertain one member’s ego,” Gingrich wrote. “Gaetz has gone beyond regular drama. He is destroying the House GOP’s ability to govern and draw a sharp contrast with the policy disasters of the Biden administration,” he wrote.Gingrich ripped Gaetz for what he described as egocentric behavior and for distracting from issues that could be damaging to Democrats...