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Rishi Sunak’s nightmare before Christmas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

LONDON — It’s every Conservative leader’s nightmare. Rishi Sunak is trapped in a Brexit-style battle with his mutinous party — and is running out of options fast.With less than a year to go until an expected general election, the British prime minister is locked in a death spiral with his own backbenchers over the totemic issue of immigration. At best, the struggle looks set to tie up Sunak’s ailing government for months to come. At worst, it could bring down his premiership.“Rishi wouldn’t be here if there was a viable alternative,” said a former party aide with links to the Tory right. (The aide, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal party matters.)Ominously for Sunak, the bitter row which has erupted between prime minister and backbenchers has strong echoes of the Brexit struggles of 2018 and 2019 which consumed — and ultimately destroyed — Theresa May.While May’s impossible task was to find a way to leave the E...

Relaunch the Polish-Ukrainian relationship

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

Marcin Zaborowski is the policy directory of the Future Security Programme at GLOBSEC.Recent strains in Ukraine’s relations with its biggest Western neighbor, Poland, are hurting both nations — and benefiting Russia. In order to avoid further disagreements, however, a major relaunch of the relationship will be needed. And here, the election of a new Polish government could be an opportunity for a fresh start.Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland became a sanctuary for millions of refugees. The country was the first port of call for over 10 million Ukrainians in the first months of the war, with 1.5 million of them deciding to stay — adding to the more than 1.5 million Ukrainians who already lived there.At the time, most Poles were engaged in helping war refugees, who were immediately granted status akin to citizenship, with full access to healthcare and education. Poland also provided Ukraine with essential weapons — including howitzers, tanks and even aircraft —...

Sanctions aren’t working: How the West enables Russia’s war on Ukraine

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

BERLIN — At its summit this week, the European Union is threatening to name and shame more than a dozen Chinese companies that, it claims, are supplying critical technology to equip Russia’s war machine.But what about the Western companies that make dual-use and other advanced gear that is subject to sanctions and yet, according to an analysis of wreckage found on the Ukrainian battlefield, is used in Russian Kalibr missiles, Orlan drones and Ka-52 “Alligator” helicopters?Radio silence.So here’s a trivia question for you: Which company is the leading maker of the so-called “high-priority battlefield items” trafficked to Russia that the Western coalition wants to interdict?If you said Intel, then go to the top of the class: According to the sanctions team at the Kyiv School of Economics, the U.S. semiconductor giant again leads the pack this year. It’s followed by Huawei of China. Then come Analog Devices, AMD, Texas Instruments and IBM — all of which are American.Russian i...

Toy drive gets underway to benefit Olivia Knighton Foundation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

A week-long toy drive got underway Monday to benefit the foundation named in honor of, Olivia Knighton the 11-year-old daughter of former New England Revolution goaltender Brad Knighton.Olivia was killed in a boating accident this past summer. Speaking on Monday, Brad Knighton said his daughter “loved everything about Christmas.” “She loved life,” he continued. “She loved helping others.” Months after her death, the Knighton family is now hoping Olivia’s legacy will live on through the spirit of giving. “When we started this foundation, it was ‘What can we do to carry on her legacy and her memory and give to others?’” Brad Knighton said. “We started this foundation because we wanted to help people,” he separately said. “She was always a giver. She would do anything for anybody at the drop of a hat.”With the Olivia Knighton Foundation, Brad said the organization will be giving scholarships to Attleboro High School seniors to help them attend college. The...

Burglary suspect arrested after standoff

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

LA MESA, Calif. -- A man suspected of breaking into a vacant apartment Monday in La Mesa and barricading himself in it was arrested, authorities said.Authorities received a call around 8:45 a.m. about a burglary in the 8500 block of Chloe Ave., Lt. Katy Lynch with the La Mesa Police Department (LMPD) said in a news release.When officers arrived on scene, they attempted to talk to the suspect, but he refused to leave the apartment. The suspect, who had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for a theft-related charge, claimed to have a hostage inside, per LMPD. Suspect identified in 4S Ranch shootout that injured SDPD sergeant Police evacuated residents while negotiating with the suspect for over five hours until he finally surrendered and was taken into custody.Dnico Hooks, 37, of La Mesa, was booked at county jail on suspicion of an outstanding warrant and an additional burglary charge, Lynch said.Authorities determined there were no hostages or victims inside the apartment. No inj...

4 injured after argument leads to shooting in Brainerd

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

CHICAGO — Four people, including the alleged shooter, were injured after a shooting inside a home on the Far South Side on Monday afternoon.According to Chicago police, the shooting happened just after 7 p.m. on the second floor of a residence in the 9300 block of South Racine Avenue in Brainerd. Missing Carpentersville teen’s car pulled from pond in Vernon Hills Police say four people were gathered in the home when an argument broke out between them. Officers say that is when a 16-year-old boy allegedly pulled out a pistol and opened fire.Police say a 15-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man suffered critical injuries in the shooting and another 15-year-old boy was transported to the hospital in fair condition. Gage Park jewelry store robbery captured on surveillance video The 16-year-old who allegedly opened fire was also injured in the shooting and was taken to the hospital in fair condition.Police say an investigation by Area Two detectives is underway and officers have not pro...

Texas Supreme Court rules against pregnant woman seeking abortion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Texas Supreme Court has ruled against a lower court order allowing an abortion for a pregnant woman whose fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition.In a seven-page ruling on Monday, the state Supreme Court said that ​​Travis County District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble’s decision to issue a temporary restraining order last week to allow Kate Cox to have the abortion was a mistake. Gamble’s decision on Cox’s medical emergency was put on hold by Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who asked the state Supreme Court to intervene in the matter. The Supreme Court temporarily blocked the lower court’s ruling on Friday.  Texas woman fighting for legal abortion flees the state “A woman who meets the medical-necessity exception need not seek a court order to obtain an abortion,” the court ruling says. “Under the law, it is a doctor who must decide that a woman is suffering from a life-threatening condition during a pregnancy, raising the necessity for an abortion to ...

A multiday warm-up gets underway Tuesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

Much of the coming two weeks to feature above normal temperatures with prospects for a White Christmas (defined as 1"+ snow on the ground) looking grim right nowWGN WEATHER HEADLINESMuch of the country to experience above normal overall temperatures the next two weeks leading up to ChristmasFORECAST HIGHS — HOW MUCH ABOVE NORMAL?Following a chilly Monday, daytime highs forecast to surge above normal the remainder of the weekMuch of the lower 48 off to a remarkably mild open to December, the U.S. average temperature is running a surplus of 5.5 degreesAMONG MILDEST 10% OPENS SINCE RECORDS BEGAN IN 1871December 2023 off to a mild open — each day this month has been at or above normalFORECAST TEMPERATURE DEPARTURES FROM NORMALProspects for a White Christmas looking quite low across the Chicagoland area as a warmer than normal temperature regime, by and large, is expected to dominate the next two weeksHEAVY RAINFALL ACROSS SECTIONS OF THE NORTHEASTWidespread 3-5” totals across parts of C...

Austin defense attorney running against DA Jose Garza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A former Travis County assistant defense attorney told KXAN he is running against Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza.Jeremy Sylestine is currently a defense attorney in Austin and surrounding areas, according to the Sylestine Law website. DA Garza ‘stands by’ dropping police indictments, asking for federal review of APD protest actions Monday was the last day for potential candidates to file, and Sylestine said he is running as a Democrat.Garza announced his 2024 reelection campaign in August. We have reached out to Garza and his campaign for a statement and will update this article once it has been received.

Timberwolves’ six-game winning streak snapped in New Orleans

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:07 GMT

There have been many times already this season where Minnesota has taken down good teams who were playing sans a star.New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) slam dunks in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)Including a couple previous matchups against New Orleans in which the Pelicans did not have Zion Williamson.The roles were reversed Monday, as New Orleans was at full strength and Minnesota did not have Anthony Edwards, who missed his third game out of the team’s last four contests with a hip pointer.And the end result was a 121-107 Timberwolves loss in New Orleans.Minnesota struggled to impose its will at any point in the night as the Pelicans felt like the team in control from start to finish.Jaden McDaniels returned from a three-week absence with an ankle sprain and played 27 minutes, but he struggled to find a rhythm on either end. He finished with 12 points...