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PMQs scorecard: Starmer gloats over election results as the dad jokes keep on coming

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.What they sparred about: Keir Starmer used the opportunity to gloat after last week’s local elections drubbing for the Conservatives. The Labour leader claimed Rishi Sunak intends “ignore the message” he was sent by the voters — and that the prime minister thinks the troubled U.K. economy is doing just fine. Sunak dusted off some PMQs classics — pointing to Starmer’s habit of U-turns, his previous support for extra coronavirus lockdowns, historic anti-monarchy views … and (deep sigh) that Liam Byrne note from 2010. It’s all in the delivery: Starmer came armed with some jokes of, well, questionable quality. How about these classics from the Labour leader? “Sunak lost a beauty contest to [Liz Truss], who then lost to a lettuce.” … “He said he&...

‘I’m never going hiking with her again:’ Townsend Police rescue sisters lost in the woods

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

A Townsend mom thanked police officers for rescuing her two daughters after they got lost hiking. Police were dispatched after the two girls, ages 8 and 16, called their mom and told her they were lost. Officers were able to ping the girls’ phones to Barker Hill Road and use the sound of their horns to guide them back. The girls were located approximately 20 minutes from time of dispatch, according to police. When asked if they were alright, the 8-year-old sister said, “I’m never going hiking with her again.”

Remains of Sober Grid app founder, Mass. native identified in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Human remains found last month in Southern California have been identified as those of the Sober Grid app founder who disappeared in 2021, authorities said.The remains of Beau Mann were found on April 25 in the courtyard of an abandoned property in Santa Monica and were identified by the Los Angeles County coroner on May 6, the Santa Monica Police Department said in a statement Monday.The coroner’s office was trying to determine the cause of death, police said.Sober Grid is a social media-style app that provides peer support coaching, an online community and other resources to people in recovery from addition. It was founded in 2015.“Simply put — Beau was our light,” Sober Grid said in a statement. “After an experience in his early years with drugs and addiction, he turned his focus and passion towards helping others.”Mann was 39 when he was last heard from on Nov. 30, 2021, after he got into an Uber near Sober Grid’s Los Angeles office, ...

Video appears to show father hitting school employee on bus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

A Florida father is accused of hitting an employee from his son’s school. The alleged incident happened on a school bus and was caught on camera by another student. The sheriff’s office report said 50-year-old Esdras Burges-Crus went to his son’s bus stop last week “unhappy with his son being suspended from the bus.” He had been told he couldn’t get on, but did anyway, according to the report. The report says Burges-Cruz “struck the victim in the chest.” However, he denied touching the victim and only grabbed a paper out of their hand.

‘He’s been our horse’: Lucas Giolito pitches the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 win after a 2-hour rain delay in Kansas City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

Lucas Giolito walked MJ Melendez to load the bases for the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning Tuesday.There was one out and the Chicago White Sox were clinging to a one-run lead.Giolito fell behind in the count 2-0 to the next batter Hunter Dozier. The training staff checked on Giolito for a callus, but he got the OK to continue and rebounded to get Dozier to popout to shortstop Elvis Andrus on the next pitch.Giolito escaped the jam, getting Freddy Fermin to bounce into a fielder’s choice.“Two walks, 2-0 to (Dozier) with the bases loaded, really, just trying to trust myself to execute a fastball at the top of the zone,” Giolito said. “Got the popout.“From there, really get that focus on each individual pitch, execute this pitch. Whether I did or didn’t, forget about it. Move on to the next one. It’s so huge in those moments.”The Sox added an insurance run in the next inning on a Seby Zavala RBI single and held on for a 4-2 victory ...

Sources: US Rep. George Santos facing federal charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

By MICHAEL BALSAMO, FARNOUSH AMIRI and JAKE OFFENHARTZ (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Rep. George Santos, who faced outrage and mockery over a litany of fabrications about his heritage, education and professional pedigree, has been charged with federal criminal offenses, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The charges against Santos, filed in the Eastern District of New York, remain under seal.The people could not publicly discuss specific details of the case until it is unsealed and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. The unsealing would happen when Santos appears in court, which could come as soon as Wednesday.Reached on Tuesday, Santos said, “This is news to me.”“You’re the first to call me about this,” he said in a brief phone interview.A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office declined to comment. The charges were first reported by CNN.The New York Republican has admitted to lying about having Jewish ancestry, a Wall Street background, ...

Patriots 2023 schedule: NFL announces opponent, date and time for Germany game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

The Patriots will play the Colts in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 12 in a Week 10 matchup, the NFL announced Wednesday.Kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET. The Patriots will be the designated home team, as one of the few franchises that owns marketing rights in Germany. The rest of the team’s schedule will be released Thursday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | New Patriots free-agent addition explains team ‘really wanted’ him New England Patriots | Patriots linebacker reacts to Aaron Rodgers joining the Jets New England Patriots | NFL notes: Patriots great Kevin Faulk is bullish on LSU receiver Kayshon Boutte New England Patriots | Patriots TE Mike Gesicki connecting with Mac Jones, old friends in New England New England Patriots | Ex-Patriots scout, Senior Bowl executive Jim Nagy reviews Patriots’ 2023 draft class “Germany has some of the most passionate sports fans in the world a...

Palestinian militants fire rockets after Israel strikes Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Wednesday, in a first response to ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have killed 17 Palestinians, including three senior militants and at least 10 civilians.The rocket fire set off air-raid sirens throughout southern Israel and as far away as the Tel Aviv area, on the Mediterranean Sea, 80 kilometers (50 miles) away. Residents had been bracing for an attack since Israel carried out its first airstrikes early Tuesday. Israeli TV stations showed air defense systems intercepting rockets above the skies of Tel Aviv. In the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, people lay face-down on the ground as they took cover during one attack.In a move that could further raise tensions, Israeli police said they would permit a Jewish ultranationalist parade to take place next week. The parade, meant to celebrate Israel’s capture of east Jerusalem and its Jewish holy sites, marches through the hea...

US prices pick up, showing inflation pressures persist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer prices in the United States accelerated in April after months of declines, with measures of underlying inflation suggesting that rising costs could persist for months to come.Prices rose 0.4% from March to April, the government said Wednesday, up from 0.1% from February to March. Compared with a year earlier, prices climbed 4.9%, down just slightly from March’s year-over-year increase. The nation’s inflation rate has steadily cooled since peaking at 9.1% last June but remains far above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target rate.The Fed is paying particular attention to so-called core prices, which exclude volatile food and energy costs and are regarded as a better gauge of longer-term inflation trends. Core prices rose 0.4% from March to April, the same as from February to March. It was the fifth straight month that core prices have risen by 0.4% or more. Increases at that pace are far above the Fed’s 2% target.Compared with a year ago, core prices r...

Children among 15 dead in north Nigeria boat capsizing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:47:21 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A boat capsized in northwestern Nigeria, killing 15 people, police said Wednesday.The boat was heading to the village of Dundeji in Sokoto state on Tuesday when it capsized in the middle of a river, local police spokesman Sanusi Abubakar told The Associated PressThere were 36 passengers on board the boat, with 21 of them rescued alive. Thirteen females and two males died. Abubakar said. Some of the fatalities were children. It was the latest in a series of boat capsizings in Nigeria’s river communities.The villagers on Wednesday gathered at the local square with their families as they mourned the victims, who were on their way to fetch firewood, local media reported. Umar Yabo, a local representative, described the deaths as a great loss to the community, which is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from the state capital, Sokoto.Authorities on Wednesday launched an investigation into the tragedy, the police official said. Such capsizings are common in many river co...