In Other News: Putin: will ‘take into account’ NATO’s nuclear capability; Casinos and consulting? Pandemic spurs tribes to diversify

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Putin: will ‘take into account’ NATO’s nuclear capability

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that after Russia suspended its participation in the New START treaty, it would “take into account” the nuclear weapons capabilities not only of the United States but of other NATO countries such as France and Britain. Putin had said in a speech suspending Russia’s role in the 2010 treaty earlier this week that France and Britain, not parties to the agreement, had joined the United States in targeting Russia with nuclear weapons. In an interview with Russian TV that was recorded Wednesday and broadcast Sunday, he said he took the action to “preserve our country, ensure security and strategic stability.” U.S. President Joe Biden has said the U.S. wants Ukraine to win, but does not seek to control or destroy Russia.

Casinos and consulting? Pandemic spurs tribes to diversifyHit hard by COVID-19 shutdowns, Native American tribes with casinos are taking a closer look at diversifying their portfolios to help keep their sovereign nations economically strong for future generations. The Mashantucket Pequots own the Foxwood Resort Casino complex in southeastern Connecticut. The tribe announced last summer that its investment arm acquired a Florida-based management consulting firm that works with various federal agencies. The acquisition marked the tribe’s latest foray into federal government contracting. Other Native American tribes also are looking beyond the casino business after the coronavirus crisis. Some are involved in a wide range of non-gambling businesses, such as trucking, construction, health care and marketing.

‘Cocaine Bear’ gets high with $23.1M, ‘Ant-Man’ sinks fast

The gonzo R-rated horror comedy “Cocaine Bear” sniffed up $23.1 million in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, while Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” shrank unusually quickly in its second weekend. “Quantumania” was still No. 1 with an estimated $32.2 million in ticket sales in U.S. and Canadian theaters. But the “Ant-Man” sequel, hit with some of the worst reviews and audience scores of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, dropped a steep 69.7% in its second weekend. That’s the worst decline for an MCU film, falling faster than “Black Widow” (67.8%), a pandemic release that debuted simultaneously in homes. Instead, Universal Pictures’ “Cocaine Bear” rampaged through multiplexes, scoring notably above expectations. Made for about $35 million and directed by Elizabeth Banks, “Cocaine Bear” stirred up plenty of buzz just from its title and its made-to-go-viral trailer.