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Biden to meet with hostage families at White House Wednesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday will meet with families of American hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel, a White House official told CNN.The meeting will take place at the White House. A number of families of hostages are in Washington, DC this week to make a personal case for the Biden administration and Israeli government to work harder and more creatively for their loved ones’ release.There are still seven American men and one woman missing since the war began, according to the White House. Four Americans – a 4-year-old girl and three women – have been released so far. Biden previously met over Zoom with several relatives.Several family members had asked to attend a Hanukkah reception held at the White House on Monday, but did not receive an invite. But Biden referenced the hostages while speaking at the reception, vowing his administration was “not going to stop ‘till we get every ...

Comfort Inn’s owner doubles down on its hostile takeover bid for the company that owns Days Inn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

New York (CNN) — Choice Hotels, which owns a number of budget lodging brands, including Comfort Inn, is getting more aggressive in its attempt to acquire its rival Wyndham Hotels.On Tuesday, Choice said it will expand its several monthslong hostile takeover bid of the Days Inn owner by taking its offer directly to shareholders. In October, Choice offered to buy Wyndham’s stock for around $8 billion.To further pressure Wyndham into accepting the bid, Choice said it plans to nominate a slate of directors to Wyndham’s board.Choice said in a press release that a merger with Wyndham is “pro-competitive and would generate value for both Wyndham and Choice shareholders as well as deliver significant benefits to franchisees, guests and associates of both companies.”But Wyndham has refused to engage with Choice thus far.“While we would have preferred to come to a negotiated agreement, the Wyndham board’s refusal to explore a transaction has left us with no choice but to take our proposa...

A National League Central youth infusion means a 2024 division title won’t come easily for the Chicago Cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

The Chicago Cubs’ window of contention has been built around a core that can remain intact for the next three years.If properly supplemented by their top prospects coming through the system, in addition to whichever impact talent the front office brings in this offseason through free agency or trades, the Cubs have an opportunity to reestablish dominance in the National League Central Division.The Cubs need to add more power in the middle of their lineup and continue to bolster their pitching staff. A path exists on both fronts, and the market should start to see more movement following Friday’s news of Shohei Ohtani’s record deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers that reportedly defers $680 million of the $700 million contract to be paid out from 2034-43.However, the timing of the Cubs’ expected rise coincides with the division as a whole getting stronger. While the Milwaukee Brewers were the only team to make the postseason in 2023 behind a 92-win division title...

US announces new sanctions on Russia’s weapons suppliers as Zelenskyy visits Washington

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

By FATIMA HUSSEIN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration hit hundreds of people and firms, from Russia to China to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, with economic and diplomatic sanctions Tuesday as the U.S. targets third-country contributors that are equipping Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The latest round of sanctions landed as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is visiting Washington to make an appeal for more financial support as his nation fights off the Russian invasion that will enter its third year in February.The financial penalties have made Russia the most sanctioned country in the world but have yet to deliver a knockout punch to Russia’s economy.Tuesday’s sanctions package targets a multinational weapons procurement network led by Chinese national Hu Xiaoxun, his China-based private defense company Jarvis HK Co., and a network of associates that coordinate the sale of Chinese-manufactured weapons and components to Russia.A representative fro...

Minister mum on confidence in CBC head, says work to find successor begins next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

OTTAWA — Heritage Minister Pascale St. Onge says the government will convene a committee early in the new year to begin searching for a new head of CBC/Radio-Canada.The mandate of the public broadcaster’s current president and CEO Catherine Tait, who was first appointed in 2018 and saw her contract renewed in June, is set to expire in January 2025. St. Onge wouldn’t directly answer reporters’ questions today about whether she still has confidence in Tait, saying the government’s focus is finding the “right person” to lead once she is no longer in the role. Tait’s tenure has fallen under heightened scrutiny after she announced plans last week to cut 600 jobs and not fill 200 vacancies over the next year to manage a $125-million shortfall.Tait received heavy criticism for telling host Adrienne Arsenault on CBC’s The National, the same day as that announcement, that it was “too early” to say whether executives would receive bo...

S&P/TSX composite down as price of oil falls, U.S. stock markets higher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index was down more than 100 points in late-morning trading, led lower by losses in the energy stocks as the price of oil fell. The S&P/TSX composite index was down 122.18 points at 20,196.18.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 105.74 points at 36,510.67. The S&P 500 index was up 6.35 points at 4,628.79, while the Nasdaq composite was up 43.63 points at 14,476.12.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.48 cents US compared with 73.69 cents US on Monday.The January crude oil contract was down US$2.38 at US$68.94 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down six cents at US$2.37 per mmBTU.The February gold contract was up US$4.60 at US$1,998.30 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$3.80 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSDThe Canadian Press

Maná drummer Alex González shares big plans for 2024, including playing London for the first time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — During a career than spans over four decades, Grammy-winning Mexican rockers Maná have toured the world, yet for some reason never played London. That all changes next July when the foursome plays the OVO Arena Wembley, and drummer Alex González says the band is “freaking out.”“We grew up influenced by so many English bands that it was always a dream for us to play in London,” González said. He hopes that bringing Mexican rock to England leads to a long relationship with fans.Started in 1982, the Mexican rock quartet from Sombrero Verde has been compared to The Police, and Gonzalez says they’re big fans of Sting and Co.And while audiences can expect to hear classic tunes such as “Rayando el Sol” and “Oye Mi Amor,” there won’t be any new music just yet. The band hasn’t added much in that department since their last studio album, “Cama Incendiada” in 2015. But that will change when they get back into the studio late next year.In a recent interview with The Associ...

Son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai lobbies UK foreign secretary for his release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai will meet with Britain’s foreign secretary on Tuesday to lobby for the U.K.’s help in securing his release from prison.Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, an outspoken pro-democracy newspaper, faces a long-delayed trial next week over charges he violated sweeping national security laws that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong after anti-government protests.The 76-year-old British citizen has been in detention since 2020 over other offenses. He faces life in prison if convicted of the national security charges.His son Sebastien Lai, who leads an international campaign to call for his father’s release, said he was hopeful that the meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron will help raise the case’s profile and add to international pressure on Hong Kong’s government.“I’m optimistic that it would be very helpful in my father’s case,” Lai told reporter...

Busy Rhode Island bridge closed suddenly after structural problem found, and repair will take months

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities have found a critical structural failure in one of the busiest bridges in Rhode Island and have closed its westbound side to begin a repair job expected to take months.The Washington Bridge carries Interstate 195 over the Seekonk River from Providence to East Providence and serves as a key gateway to the state’s largest city. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said Monday evening that a “critical failure of some original 1960s bridge components” was located in the bridge.The repair work could take three months or more. All westbound lanes will be closed and traffic diverted at first, the agency said.RIDOT said it will redirect traffic to two lanes on the eastbound side in the next two to three weeks.The closures brought major traffic delays to the Providence area on Tuesday. The bridge carries close to 100,000 vehicles every day.The Associated Press

Thousands gather to honor Mexico’s Virgin of Guadalupe on anniversary of 1531 apparition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:39:57 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Thousands of people sang the traditional Mexican birthday song “Las mañanitas” at Mexico City’s Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday to honor the virgin on the 492th anniversary of her apparition in 1531.Authorities estimated that over five million faithful visited the Basilica during the days leading up to the annual celebration of the country’s patroness.Many had walked from distant villages, others had ridden bicycles or buses to reach the Basilica’s enormous patio, where a sea of tents held pilgrims who had slept overnight to greet the virgin in the morning.The journey was not without dangers and risks. Mexico City prosecutors said Tuesday that three pilgrims, who were among a group on motorcycles, had been run over and killed on a highway leading from Mexico City east toward the city of Puebla.Ten others were injured when a pickup truck ran into the group late Monday. The driver was arrested at the scene. Such groups of pilgrims walking or ri...