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EU leaders’ summit ends on a car cliffhanger

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

BRUSSELS — As European Union leaders exit their summit Friday, the future of the cars that’ll whisk them home is still very much at play, with a seemingly imminent deal between Berlin and Brussels delayed once again.That’s because resolving a row over the EU’s plan to ban new combustion engine car sales by 2035 hangs on whether the European Commission and Germany can agree on language that will satisfy both sides. Berlin, along with several allies, has held the previously agreed legislation hostage, demanding that the Commission carve out a loophole to allow sales of some traditional combustion-engine vehicles after 2035 as long as they run on synthetic fuels, or e-fuels — which are, in theory, carbon-neutral. On Thursday evening, the German government presented the Commission with a pre-written legal declaration in which the EU executive would promise to find a legal path for allowing the sale of these vehicles past 2035. And early Friday morning, the Co...

Woman accused of attacking Lynn police before rough arrest ordered held without bail

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

A woman who Lynn police said attacked and bit officers at a rooming house before being repeatedly punched in the face and pepper-sprayed appeared in court on Friday after officials released body camera video showing her violent arrest.Jessica Wagle, 39, is facing charges including assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, according to police.Wagle already made an appearance in court on Monday, at which point she was held on $1,000 bail and sent for medical attention. Her bail for this case was set for $500, but she is being held without bail on an outstanding case.After watching the entire incident on the police body camera video, though, Lynn’s police chief said an initial review found “the officers acted within the Lynn Police Use of Force Policy.”“I don’t think it’s fair to single out someone who is following our protocol,” Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson said.“[W]e know there are hard situations and I think it’s important for him and his colle...

Mets star Mookie Wilson, other past players taking to NYC locales with gifts for Amazins’ fans

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

It’s an Amazin’ offer.New York baseball fans will get their chance to step right up and greet the Mets live and in person Saturday, with a half-dozen stars from years gone by taking to the city streets with free gifts for anyone spotted wearing a team hat or other gear.The heroes of Flushing will visit six locations in Manhattan and Queens bearing free team merch or complimentary tickets for the 2023 games at CitiField — all courtesy of the one-time ballplayers.The grand prize for one fortunate fan: The chance to throw out the first pitch and mingle with the current Mets at a home game this season.“I don’t have a problem being recognized,” said Mookie Wilson, the hero of the Mets’ 1986 World Championship. “It’s amazing and people are very considerate. Except Red Sox fans — they still tell me I ruined their lives.”Wilson will be joined by ‘86 teammates Howard Johnson, Roger McDowell and Tim Teufel in visiting loc...

Storyteller follows Indigenous and queer people amid their journies to acceptance in new documentary

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

An Indigenous storyteller living at the intersection of both Indigeneity and queerness explores the past, present and future to help better understand her own queer identity in a new documentary.“VeraCity: Indigiqueer,” which is set to premier March 26 on Citytv, follows Sarain Fox who seeks out the stories from other queer Indigenous figures on how they have navigated their lives.Fox told CityNews it was important to feel like this story was told from an Indigenous lens and also portrayed alongside a lot of joy.“I was just so tired of only seeing content that only shares trauma … this real sort of focus on trauma and traumatic histories and that’s a part of who we are as Indigenous people as Indigenous queer people. But we’re so much more than that.“And so, I became really interested in this project and sharing these stories because I think they’re vital. But more in particular, I was really excited to share some joy mixed in with the...

Biden, Trudeau meet on migration, China and more

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (AP) — President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are set to announce an agreement aiming to stem the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings from the U.S. to Canada.The agreement on Friday comes as Biden makes his first visit to Canada as president. Wide-ranging Trudeau-Biden talks also were touching on the 13-month old war in Ukraine, military spending, shared concerns about China’s aggressiveness, and violence and political instability in Haiti.Biden and Trudeau met for private talks before the U.S. president was to deliver a speech to the Canadian Parliament. The leaders also were to hold a joint press conference, and Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, were to host Biden and first lady Jill Biden for a gala dinner before the visiting Americans were returning to the U.S.Biden in brief comments at the start of the Friday meeting said he often tells other world leaders the United States is lucky to have Canada as a...

Art duo Gilbert and George get their own gallery in London

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Artists, if they have really made a mark, might get a gallery dedicated to their work once they are gone.Gilbert and George don’t want to wait that long.The dapper duo, who have been creating beguiling and unsettling art together for over half a century, have poured their own time and money into the Gilbert and George Center, a permanent exhibition and research space devoted to their work. Located just off bustling Brick Lane in London’s East End, the building opens to the public April 1 with an exhibition of the big, bold photo assemblies for which the pair has become famous. Admission is free — and that, they say, is important.“We want to make art for people, not for collectors,” said Italy-born Gilbert Prousch, who met Englishman George Passmore at London’s St. Martin’s art college in 1967. They have been partners in art and in life ever since.“Our earliest slogan was ‘Art for all,’” added George in an interview Friday with The Associated Press.“We’re always being s...

Trudeau and Biden meet for bilateral talks on everything from migration to minerals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

OTTAWA — Clean energy, irregular migration and economic growth will top the agenda as U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meet for bilateral talks Friday.Biden arrived in Ottawa Thursday night and had dinner with Trudeau and his family at their home but the major part of his first official visit to Canada as president takes place on Friday afternoon.Biden and Trudeau are expected to have several announcements following their bilateral talks, including expanding the Safe Third Country Agreement and co-operation on clean energy and critical minerals.“I think we’re gonna get a lot done today,” Biden said, seated beside Trudeau in his Parliament Hill office, in a brief photo op before their private meeting.Biden’s lengthy motorcade arrived on Parliament Hill shortly before noon Friday amid a sea of security, media and red carpet pomp. Trudeau greeted him outside and ushered him into the West Block, which is serving as the temporary home of ...

US-Canada migration deal could end walk-around crossings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont (AP) — The immigration deal expected to be announced Friday by U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would end a process that has enabled tens of thousands of immigrants from across the world to move between the two countries along a back road between New York state and Quebec.Since early 2017, these migrants have entered Canada via Roxham Road outside Champlain, New York, where a reception center staffed by agents of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been set up to process them, about five miles (8 kilometers) from the official border crossing where they’d be returned to the United States.The Mounties warn that they’ll be arrested if they take one more step. Then they do — and without being handcuffed, they are processed and usually released to live in Canada while their asylum cases are pending, which can take years. Canada is expected to announce as part of the agreement that 15,000 migrants from the Western Hem...

CP NewsAlert: Airbnb to pull listings that don’t have proper permits in Quebec

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

MONTREAL — Short-term rental company Airbnb says it will pull listings that don’t have a proper permit from the Quebec government.The San Francisco-based company made the announcement eight days after a fatal fire destroyed an Old Montreal building that housed illegal rentals.Four bodies have so far been pulled from the rubble and three people remain missing.More coming.The Canadian Press

US sanctions Belarus’ election officials, president’s plane

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:11:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. imposed sanctions Friday on seven Belarusian elections officials, two state-owned automotive manufacturers and President Alexander Lukashenko’s aircraft. Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, intensified his repression after a wave of protests in 2020 following a presidential election that the West and Belarus’ opposition denounced as a sham. Lukashenko also has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has allowed him to station troops and weapons there to support his war in Ukraine. Those sanctioned Friday include a new slate of commissioners on Belarus’ Central Election Commission, which was originally sanctioned in December 2020. Lukashenko accused the opposition presidential candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, of plotting to overthrow the government. This month, a Belarusian court sentenced Tsikhanouskaya, now living in exile, to 15 years in prison. Lukashenko’s aircraft, a Boeing 737 that he uses for international ...