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NATO chief heading to Turkey this weekend in fresh push on Swedish membership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other senior Turkish officials this weekend as pressure mounts on Turkey to lift its objections to Sweden joining the military organization.In a statement on Friday, NATO headquarters said Stoltenberg would attend Erdogan’s inauguration, after the long-term Turkish leader won an election runoff last weekend. The former Norwegian prime minister will also take part in meetings in Turkey on Sunday. No details were provided.NATO wants to bring Sweden into the fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12, but Turkey and Hungary have yet to endorse the move. All 31 member countries must ratify a candidate’s accession protocol for it to join.Turkey’s government accuses Sweden of being too lenient on “terrorist organizations” and security threats, including militant Kurdish groups and people associated with a 2016 coup attempt. Hungary has also delayed its appro...

Why you never see an original movie anymore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

In today’s Big Story, right now, reboots, remakes, and familiar characters dominate the silver screen. Last week it was The Little Mermaid, then the 10th Fast and Furious movie. Soon, it will be Spider-Man, followed by the Barbie movie. It can feel like the only things on screen right now are leaving little room for fresh stories. They’re not, of course, but they do receive much of the marketing money.Jacob Oller, movies editor at Paste Magazine, says that movie directors and writers often have limited artistic freedom because large movie companies want to avoid taking investment risks.“It’s a not matter of people now not being artists, but instead being shepherds of these brands,” says Oller.What initially started as profitable niches for Hollywood has come to consume the entire industry in a search for intellectual property. The issue doesn’t stem from a shortage of ideas but rather one thing: the hunger for more. This is the story of how the venture capital ment...

Rastafari gain sacramental rights to marijuana in Antigua and Barbuda, celebrate freedom of worship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

LIBERTA, Antigua (AP) — On the same ground where their enslaved ancestors were forced to plant sugar cane, Rastafari in this small island nation are now legally growing and ritualistically smoking marijuana.For Rastafari, the practice brings them closer to the divine. But for decades, many have been jailed and endured racial and religious profiling by law enforcement because of their marijuana use.The government of Antigua and Barbuda has sought to right that wrong. The twin islands recently became one of the first Caribbean nations to grant Rastafari authorization to grow and smoke their sacramental herb.“We’re more free now,” said Ras Tashi, a member of the Ras Freeman Foundation for the Unification of Rastafari, who was arrested for growing cannabis.On a recent Sunday, he led chants in the tabernacle on the foundation’s farm located in Liberta’s lush agricultural district. Tashi puffed on a corn husk-wrapped joint while others passed chalice pipes and waved Rastafari flags in gre...

Why Rastafari smoke marijuana for sacramental reasons and the faith’s other beliefs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

Members of the Rastafari religion and political movement have for decades been persecuted and imprisoned for their ritualistic use of marijuana. But the tiny islands of Antigua and Barbuda recently became one of the first Caribbean nations to grant Rastafari official sacramental authorization to grow and smoke the herb that they deem sacred. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told The Associated Press in an interview that his government took this step to try to end the persecution and bring respect to the Rastafari faith. Rastafari elsewhere are pushing for similar religious protections. Experts and stakeholders think the Antigua and Barbuda law could give a boost to these efforts worldwide at a time when public opinion and policy are continuing to shift in favor of medical and recreational marijuana use.Here is a quick look at the faith’s beliefs and history:ORIGINSThe Rastafari faith is rooted in 1930s Jamaica, growing as a response by Black people to white colonial ...

Dean's Reviews: 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

Check out Dean's Review on 'Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse' that is now in theaters.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

When will you need to start repaying your student loans? Here's what to know

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - As if the ongoing legal debate over President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan wasn’t enough, federal borrowers have been thrown for another loop with the debt ceiling deal. As part of the bill, the pause on student loan payments will have a firm end date. Federal student loan borrowers haven’t been required to make regular payments on their debt since March 2020 when then-President Trump started the freeze in response to the COVID pandemic. It’s been extended multiple times since, including the most recent extension issued by Biden in November, which he called the final such move. Per the current extension, payments would resume 60 days after the Supreme Court makes its decision, or 60 days after June 30, whichever happens first.  Senate passes measure to halt Biden’s student debt forgiveness But, it appears payments will resume even sooner. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that, as part of the debt ceiling deal he and Biden announced la...

No charges after man shoots Indianapolis child's service dog

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – A service dog was shot to death in southeast Indianapolis last week, and the shooter is not expected to face charges due to local animal control ordinances. The dog was a 10-year black Labrador Retriever named Clyde. The Mills family got the registered service dog primarily for their son, Mason, who has autism.“He goes everywhere with him. Whether he’s riding a bike, playing with his hoverboard, playing with his friends — the dog’s right there," said Heather Mills, Mason’s mother. "Dog even gets on the trampoline at 10 years old.” Ohio man charged after claiming dog shot itself in face Late in the afternoon of May 25, Mason and Clyde were playing in front of the family's home. On surveillance video, Mason can be seen kneeling on a hoverboard in the driveway, going in circles. Clyde is visible in the front yard beyond the driveway.Photos of Clyde and Mason provided by familyPhotos of Clyde and Mason provided by familyPhotos of Clyde and Mason provided by fami...

Austin ISD holding career fair Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Independent School District is hosting a career fair Saturday for several positions.The district is looking to hire for the following positions: Counselors (K-12) NursesLSSPSLPEd Diagnostician, OT/PTBilingual teachersCareer & Technical Education teachersSpecial ED teachersSecondary Math/Science teachersLibrarianLicensed Mental HealthThe district said it would also offer sign-on bonuses for qualified applicants as well as bilingual and special ed stipends.Arnoldo Gutierrez, Assistant Superintendent of Human Capital at Austin ISD, told KXAN Friday morning the district offers a three-year mentoring program for new teachers. The career fair is Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the AISD Central Office on 4000 S I-35 Frontage Rd.Saturday's career fair follows one for teachers on April 15 where the district was looking to fill nearly 225 openings. AISD said more than 360 people attended the April 15 event and more than 120 were recommended for jobs...

Austin man pleads guilty in fentanyl case; could get life in prison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – An Austin man pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to distribution of fentanyl causing death, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Texas, David Lee Jr., 46, was identified as a supplier of counterfeit oxycodone tablets and other counterfeit prescription pills in the investigation of the overdose death of an 18-year-old Coupland man.  The office said as part of the investigation, a Williamson County Sheriff’s Office investigator purchased eight oxycodone tablets from Lee. A laboratory analysis determined the tablets contained fentanyl, tramadol and florofentanyl.  Lee then initiated a subsequent sale of 1,000 oxycodone tablets to the investigator, according to the attorney's office. The lab analysis from that controlled-buy revealed the tablets contained fentanyl.  Lee faced a penalty of 20 years to life in prison, according to Thursday's announcement. A federal d...

Cedar Park man gets 20 years in prison for fentanyl distribution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Department of Justice said Thursday that a Cedar Park man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin last Friday to 20 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl causing death.According to court documents cited by the U.S. Attorney's Office Western Division of Texas, Jean Claude Meama-Kajue, 29, sold counterfeit Oxycodone containing fentanyl to a male subject in December 2020, coordinating the transaction over a social media app.  The documents said Emergency Medical Service personnel found the victim unresponsive in his vehicle on Dec. 13, 2020.  An autopsy revealed the cause of death to be fentanyl toxicity.  Thursday's announcement said the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pflugerville Police Department investigated the case.