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UK’s Matt Hancock told to say sorry after lobbying MP watchdog

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

LONDON — Matt Hancock has been ordered to apologize to the House of Commons after writing an “unsolicited letter” in support of a fellow MP under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog.A report by the Commons’ committee on standards found that the former U.K. health secretary — more recently found eating animal appendages on a popular reality show — committed a “minor” breach of the code of conduct for MPs.He has been told to apologize to the House and the watchdog with a personal statement in parliament — and attend a “briefing on his obligations” as an MP. Hancock will make the statement in parliament later Monday.The finding concerned a separate lobbying investigation by the parliamentary commissioner on standards into the Tory MP and former Health Minister Steve Brine.In March this year, Hancock “sent the commissioner an unsolicited letter” about Brine’s case, the committee said. But paragraph 14 of the ...

EU extends import curbs on Ukrainian grain, diplomats say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

The EU executive is set to announce the extension until mid-September of temporary import curbs on Ukrainian grain and oilseeds that were due to expire Monday, three EU diplomats said on Monday. “The Commission has informed Member States of their proposal to that effect this morning,” one of the diplomats said. “Since the Commission has the authority to do so, effectively this will be in place from tomorrow.”The bans were imposed in April by a group of frontline EU countries, led by Poland, in an attempt to clear a supply glut that has built up in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year and subsequent blockade of its Black Sea ports. Brussels retroactively ratified the curbs last month. ”It’s completely understandable that the Commission does not want to jeopardize the possibilities for grain exports from Ukraine at this stage. At the same time one wonders about the precedent it’s set by rewarding a unilateral trade blockade by some member states with...

Unsettled Pattern… For Now

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

Back to back chilly days won out over the weekend as mostly cloudy skies and occasional drizzle/showers backed in off the ocean. With afternoon temps stuck near 50, it was about as chilly as it gets for early June with even the heat in the house kicking on for some. Baby steps improvements today, but improvements none-the-less. Not necessarily this morning, but by this afternoon, the weather will turn a bit better. Morning light rain lingers through lunch before dry breaks and even some peeks of sun show up this afternoon. As that happens, temps bump up from the low 50s early today to the low 60s this afternoon. While winds aren’t strong, the ocean storm is still kicking up a lot of big waves at the coast as large waves, 5-8feet, break. The rip current risk is high and expect some minor coastal flooding and beach erosion around high tide (early this afternoon). Tomorrow, we take a bigger step in the right direction weather-wise as temps warm into the low to mid 70s under a par...

Kowloon owners looking for photos, videos for upcoming documentary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

The owners of the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus are turning to patrons for videos and photos as they work on a documentary about the eatery.Anyone with photos and videos is asked to share them to the iconic Route 1 restaurant.

Bar from Cheers sold at auction for $675K

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

The iconic bar from the sitcom Cheers has been sold at auction for a staggering $675,000 almost 30 years after the last episode hit the airwavesThe bar features several autographs, including John Ratzenberger, who carved his name into the wood decades ago. Kirstie Alley, who played Rebecca, also left her name on the bar.The “Cheers” bar was part of a larger group of items up for auction that also includes memorabilia from “The Tonight Show,” “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad.”Cheers premiered on TV in 1982, drawing inspiration from what was then known as the Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Hill in Boston. 

Chicago Bears storylines for June: Trevis Gipson’s big challenge, Jaylon Johnson’s return and the new look of NFL kickoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

The Chicago Bears will hold their final organized team activities this week before mandatory minicamp June 13-15 at Halas Hall. Coach Matt Eberflus is eager to continue pushing his team in the right direction with a new-look roster and a lengthy list of questions they need answered.As the Bears grind through June, here’s the inside slant on three notable storylines.‘This is about me’Trevis Gipson looked toward a ceiling at Halas Hall, replaying in his mind the reel of near-misses he had throughout the 2022 season. So many times Gipson felt as if he was on the verge of a momentum-changing sack only to be left empty-handed.A half-step slow. A quarter-second late. A bit too eager.He can envision them all in vivid detail.“Every single one of them,” Gipson said. “Miami Dolphins, I had an open one waiting for me on Tua (Tagavailoa). Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen, I missed two. Against Philadelphia I missed one. Shoot, even against the Lions the second time ...

Chicago baseball report: The Cubs’ emerging back-end bullpen tandem — and how will the White Sox divide time at 2nd base?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

The Chicago White Sox head to New York with some momentum after sweeping the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field.The final two games were won in very different walk-off fashions. Saturday’s winning run scored on a wild pitch. Sunday’s game ended on a Jake Burger grand slam.Behind Marcus Stroman’s 11th quality start and three home runs, the Cubs took control quickly in Sunday’s 7-1 win against the San Diego Padres.This week will be one of those rare instances when both teams are out of town to start the week, with the Cubs still out west. The Sox return home for a weekend series against the Miami Marlins.Every Monday throughout the season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead for the Cubs and Sox.White Sox have options at 2BWhen Elvis Andrus returned from the injured list Friday, it gave the Sox a full complement of infielders for the first time in a while.It also brought up the question of how the...

Germany, Indonesia agree to strengthen defense ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Germany and Indonesia agreed on Monday to strengthen their defense cooperation and plan a joint military exercise with other countries in the region. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius discussed the growing ties in a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta. “We talked about the possibility of having a deal about some submarines. We were talking about the two minesweepers, which are already on the way to Indonesia,” Pistorius said.Germany and Indonesia are also planning a joint military exercise with other regional partners, but no details have been disclosed. Both ministers attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s annual defense and security forum, where U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday criticized China’s “bullying or coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region, including tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. China’s Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu said at the conference that the U...

‘Very last warning’ for 82-year-old German convicted of dealing drugs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A German court says it is giving an 82-year-old man a “last warning” to avoid jail after he was found guilty of drug dealing, despite 24 previous convictions.The retired seaman, who said he wanted to improve his meagre 800-euro ($855) monthly pension by selling marijuana, was handed a suspended sentence by a court in the northern town of Aurich on Monday.German news agency dpa reported that prosecutors had asked the court to impose a prison term of 34 months in view of the man’s lengthy criminal record and an existing suspended sentence.But judges said they would make an exception and classify the latest crimes as “less serious offenses” due to the man’s particular circumstances and recent health problems.Dpa quoted the presiding judge telling the defendant that it was his “very last warning.”The Associated Press

Palestinian toddler shot by Israeli troops in West Bank dies of wounds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:43 GMT

A 3-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank last week died of his wounds, Israeli hospital officials said Monday.Mohammed al-Tamimi was shot in the head last Thursday near his village of Nebi Saleh while riding in a car with his father. He was airlifted to Israel’s Sheba Hospital, which announced the boy’s death.The Israeli military has said it opened fire after gunmen in the area shot at an Israeli guard post at a nearby Jewish settlement.But the boy’s father, Haitham al-Tamimi, told The Associated Press that he had just buckled up his son in the car and they were driving to visit an uncle when the bullet struck. The father was also shot and treated at a Palestinian hospital.The Israeli military has opened an investigation into the incident.Rights groups, however, say that such investigations rarely lead to prosecution or disciplinary action against soldiers.The shooting was the latest bloodshed in a more than yearlong sur...