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North Korea fires cruise missiles into sea, stays mum on US soldier who crossed into country

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward its western sea Saturday, South Korea’s military said, marking the second launch event this week, apparently in protest of the docking of a nuclear-armed U.S. submarine in South Korea.While adding to its barrage of missile launches in recent months, North Korea remained publicly silent for a fifth day on the fate of an American soldier who bolted into the North across the heavily armed Korean border this week.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were detected beginning around 4 a.m. but did not immediately report how many missiles were fired or how far they flew. It said the United States and South Korean militaries were closely analyzing the launches.North Korea in recent years has been testing newly developed cruise missiles it describes as “strategic,” implying an intent to arm them with nuclear weapons. Experts say the main mission of those weapons would include striking naval assets and ...

As heat records fall, how hot is too hot for the human body?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

(The Conversation) - Extreme heat has been breaking records across Europe, Asia and North America, with millions of people sweltering in heat and humidity well above “normal” for days on end.Death Valley hit a temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit (53.3 degrees Celsius) on July 16, 2023 – not quite the world’s hottest day on record, but close. Phoenix broke a record heat streak with 19 straight days with temperatures above 110 F (43.3 C), and had more in the forecast, accompanied by several nights that never got below 90 F (32.2 C). Globally, Earth likely had its hottest week on modern record in early July.Heat waves are becoming supercharged as the climate changes – lasting longer, becoming more frequent and getting just plain hotter.One question a lot of people are asking is: “When will it get too hot for normal daily activity as we know it, even for young, healthy adults?”The answer goes beyond the temperature you see on...

Americans lukewarm on Biden, Trump as 2024 nears, but one has slight edge: poll

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

(The Hill) – A recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll showed Americans aren't enthusiastic about a potential 2024 matchup between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. When asked to choose between the two presidents in a hypothetical 2024 race, both politicians received support from less than 50% of registered U.S. voters surveyed, with Biden at 47% and Trump at 43%. People who said they were not sure or would not vote made up 6% and 4%, respectively, of the respondents. Despite his claims, Colorado says Joe Exotic isn’t on state’s presidential ballot The poll also asked all respondents if they “approved” of Biden’s “handling” of the presidency, with only 40% saying they “strongly” or “somewhat” did so. Only 38% said they had a “very” or “somewhat” favorable opinion of Trump.Both presidents also received low perceptions of fitness for the highest office in the U.S. Neither was deemed particularly "fit to serve another term as president," with 27% of respondents saying Bid...

Gov. Tim Walz gets a police perspective during Duluth ride-along

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

By Rick LubbersMinnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he didn’t see any action during his ride-along with Duluth police officer Jackie Groshens on Thursday afternoon. But he did learn her perspective on what she experiences during her more eventful shifts.“(She said) we’re seeing an uptick in opioid addictions, fentanyl,” Walz told the News Tribune later that afternoon during an editorial board meeting. “We’re seeing those things kind of escalate. And where you have the fentanyl and the drugs, you have guns.”Walz referenced gun violence — specifically the fatal shooting of Fargo, N.D., police officer Jake Wallin a week ago — when stressing that the ride-along he took wasn’t the same as the patrols many police officers make every day.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gets out of Duluth police officer Jackie Groshens’ vehicle after a ride-along on Thursday, July 20, 2023. (Jed Carlson / Forum News Service)“It’s tough work. Doing a ride-around in Duluth with the State Patrol right behind me is not what th...

Your Money: Student loan forgiveness: What’s next?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

Bruce Helmer and Peg WebbLate last month, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, struck down the Biden Administration’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in federal student-loan debt each for qualified borrowers.The majority of justices reasoned that the U.S. secretary of education did not have the authority to offer widespread debt cancellation. The Biden Administration immediately vowed to move forward with loan forgiveness under separate legal authorities.As a first step, the administration said it would forgive $39 million in federal loans for more than 800,000 eligible borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans such as Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans (Parent PLUS).The administration said it is also on a parallel track to forgive federal student loans using a separate legal authority, the Higher Education Act of 1965. This law would give the secretary of education the authority to “compromise, waive, or release any right, title, claim, lien or demand” in ...

Guy Fieri best enjoys his ribs St. Louis-styled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

ST. LOUIS - How do you end up with the best barbecue ribs? According to Food Network star and “Flavortown” mayor Guy Fieri, it starts with ones that are cut St. Louis-style. Fieri recently shared his secrets to sensational ribs with The Daily Meal, a professional food writers' website. Giving the ribs the right amount of smoke and sauce is important, but having the meat prepared St. Louis-style makes the biggest difference for Fieri. Missouri & Illinois players win $1M in record Powerball jackpot What does it mean to order ribs St. Louis-style? Meat wholesaler Tender Belly states these kinds of ribs are meatier than most because they are "cut from the belly of the hog" and "trimmed down by cutting away the hard breastbone and chewy cartilage." Fieri says St. Louis-style ribs are easier to cook, slice and eat than other styles because they are flat rather than arched. When prepared correctly, the meat won't fall off the bone when you slice it or tear off when you immediately b...

MGK, Megan Fox involved in altercation at O.C. Fair 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

An altercation involving rapper Machine Gun Kelly, his wife Megan Fox, their bodyguard and an alleged attacker was captured on video on Thursday. The scuffle occurred outside of an amusement park ride at the Orange County Fair, and according to a video posted on TikTok, it was just “a regular day at [the] O.C. fair [when] some random guy punch[ed] MGK.” The video shows Fox among a group of people being violently pushed into a barricade at the fair by a man who appeared to be the couple’s bodyguard.  Jamie Foxx addresses health scare in Instagram video: ‘I went to hell and back’ According to TMZ, the couple were getting off a ride at the fair on Thursday when witnesses said that a man allegedly tried to punch MGK. The bodyguard took down the alleged attacker. Fans on social media were quick to point out that Fox was most likely caught in the middle of the scuffle, and that she was never meant to be pushed, but nonetheless was caught on the receiving end of a powerful...

Jill Biden to travel to Paris to commemorate US rejoining UNESCO after Trump exit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

(CNN) — First lady Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Paris next week to celebrate the U.S. rejoining UNESCO, according to senior administration officials, in a visit that will highlight the national security imperative of American involvement in such coalitions and emphasize the role of U.S. leadership in the world.President Joe Biden is deploying the first lady, a top surrogate, to commemorate the occasion that reverses a Trump-era decision as he seeks to reassure allies that “America’s back” and signal the White House’s reaffirmed commitment to the organization.The U.S. withdrew from UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – during the Trump administration, with the State Department at the time citing anti-Israel bias and mounting membership dues owed to the international body. The organization promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication, and also designates “world heritage” sites.Then-U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Hal...

Rahm back in contention after Royal Liverpool course record 63 at British Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — The hug Jon Rahm gave his parents after finishing his round at the British Open on Saturday felt a lot better than the one gave he gave them a day earlier.On Friday, he struggled just to make the cut. This time, he shot the lowest round ever at Royal Liverpool at the Open to put himself back in contention to win the claret jug.“Today it wasn’t a consolation hug,” Rahm said after an 8-under 63 that was his best ever round in any major. “Days like these are a lot of fun.”It was a stark contrast to the frustration over the first two days. Rahm left Hoylake upset with his misses, and complaining about the amount of people who got in his way while he played with Rory McIlroy.“I was playing good golf and I knew what I was capable of,” Rahm said. “I was frustrated because … of the mistakes that I made. I gave up the shots at major championships that are very costly, and that’s mainly it. That’s what I was feeling.”It was different on Saturday.Rahm began ...

Power wins pole position for both races of IndyCar doubleheader at Iowa Speedway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:27 GMT

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Will Power put together two fast laps Saturday to win both pole positions for this weekend’s IndyCar Series doubleheader at Iowa Speedway.The lineups for the series’ lone doubleheader were determined by individual lap speeds — the first lap determined the lineup for Saturday’s 250-lap race, with the second lap setting the lineup for Sunday’s 250-lap event.Power’s first lap was 181.426 mph, and then he followed that with a lap of 181.578 mph.“It is very cool this year, because I’m trying to win this race,” said Power, the defending series champion who has never won at Iowa. “I’ve been trying for a long time. I’m stoked to be starting up front. No better spot, obviously.”Power led a Team Penske sweep of the top three spots for Saturday’s race. Scott McLaughlin was second with a first lap of 180.334 mph, while Josef Newgarden, a four-time winner at Iowa, was third at 180.081. The three were the only drivers to average above 180 mp...