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Boris Johnson’s former top aide is withering about UK government during COVID-19 pandemic inquiry

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The former top aide to ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday painted a picture of widespread chaos and dysfunction in the U.K. government during the coronavirus pandemic. In keenly awaited testimony to the country’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, Dominic Cummings, a self-styled political disruptor, was withering about many of the people dealing with the situation, including his former boss.“I would say, overall, it’s widespread failure, but pockets of excellent people and pockets of excellent teams doing excellent work within an overall dysfunctional system,” he said. He added that it was “crackers” that he had been appointed by Johnson to such a senior political position in government, using a British slang term for something that is ridiculous.In emails and WhatsApp messages that were handed to the inquiry, Cummings also slammed many ministers in expletive-ridden terms.“My appalling language has always been my own but my judgment of a l...

Commanders Corner: Deja vu right before the trading deadline

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

Wide receiver Jahan Dotson enjoyed his biggest game of the season — will this be the start of something special?(AP/Daniel Kucin Jr.) Wide receiver Jahan Dotson enjoyed his biggest game of the season — will this be the start of something special?(AP/Daniel Kucin Jr.) Sunday’s 38-31 loss to Philadelphia delivered equal parts encouragement and aggravation to the Washington Commanders fan base.For the second time in five weeks, they played the reigning NFC champs to a one-possession game, but for the second time this fall, they let a double-digit first-half lead evaporate.We saw last year’s first round pick Jahan Dotson emerge for his best game of the season while this year’s first-rounder Emmanuel ...

Biden’s Cabinet secretaries pushing a divided Congress to send aid to Israel and Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Blinken will make the case Tuesday that the United States should immediately send aid to Israel and Ukraine, testifying at a Senate hearing as the administration’s massive $105 billion emergency aid request for conflicts in those countries and others has already hit roadblocks in the divided Congress. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(AP/Alex Brandon) Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Blinken will make the case Tuesday that the United States should immediately send aid to Israel and Ukraine, testifying at a Senate hearing as the admin...

US closes investigations into problems with 2 Jeep SUVs without seeking recalls

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators have closed two investigations into problems with Jeep SUVs without finding seeking recalls.In July of 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration o pened a probe into over 1,600 complaints of the electronic parking brakes activating inadvertently on 2014 to 2016 Jeep Cherokee small SUVs.But the agency found that in most cases the brakes came on when the vehicles weren’t moving, and a small number happened when the SUVs were moving at low speeds. In September of 2019 the agency began investigating complaints of frame weld problems on 2018 and 2019 Jeep Wrangler SUVs. The agency said at the time over 3,500 owners complained about weld problems or steering issues including a shimmy or wobble. No crashes or injuries were reported.The agency said Stellantis has addressed steering concerns with a 2018 recall as well as design changes and other repairs. Source

Chiefs and Patriots compete for fans and influence in Germany ahead of games in Frankfurt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

The Patriots have the history. The Chiefs have the juice.New England is bringing its six Super Bowl trophies. How about a yacht? Kansas City has that, not to mention the star quarterback and tight end.They’re all headed to Frankfurt to take part in two weeks of American football because beyond the games, there are German fans to win over. A lot of them.“Most Germans don’t have a team yet,” said Alexander Steinforth, the NFL’s general manager for Germany.The fandom is in the millions — a barely tapped gold mine for teams and a league which have mostly maxed out domestically. The league says it has 18 million casual fans — that would be roughly one in five residents of Germany — and 3.6 million “avid” ones.“We are reaching that state of maturity where you see fans are actively seeking out teams and are looking for teams that they can follow,” Steinforth said. “That’s why the market is so exciting for franchises to be active in because right now they have a massive opportun...

Navy vet in Ocala offers motorcycles to fellow veterans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (WSVN) — Navy veteran Parish Tanner, in partnership with American Hometown Veteran Assist, is offering two motorcycles to deserving veterans as part of his ongoing commitment to make a positive impact. His mission is backed by a local group dedicated to suicide prevention in Marion County.Each year, the organizers accept nominations for veterans who would benefit from this kind gesture. The recipients will be handed the keys to these motorcycles by mid-November.Tanner, the owner of Ocala Car Audio, initiated this giveaway with a simple yet powerful message: “We wanted to give you something because you matter to us.”As a Navy veteran who has personally experienced the loss of loved ones to suicide, Tanner’s endeavor is driven by the desire to show veterans that they are cared for and valued. He has conducted similar giveaways in the past, leaving recipients deeply moved by the act of kindness.This year’s vehicles available for donation are a 2007 H...

Antetokounmpo, Lillard help Bucks build big lead, hold off Heat in playoff rematch

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo showed up for his postgame press conference dressed as The Incredible Hulk to celebrate Halloween following Milwaukee’s win over Miami.Pretty appropriate, considering he had just helped the Bucks survive a late scare.Antetokounmpo and the Bucks built a 25-point lead and then saw most of it wither away against Miami’s reserves before they held off the Heat 122-114 Monday night.“Once you’re up 20, you’ve got to put them away,” said Antetokounmpo, who scored 33 points. “You’ve got to put them away. We weren’t able to do that tonight. Hopefully we can learn from this.”After trailing 103-78 with less than 10 1/2 minutes remaining, Miami got the margin down to single digits over the next seven minutes. A jumper by Duncan Robinson cut the lead to 115-109 with 1:22 left, but Antetokounmpo converted a three-point play six seconds later.The Bucks’ lead didn’t drop below six the rest of the way.“We earned that 25-point deficit,” Heat coach Erik Spoe...

Bam Adebayo sitting out Heat’s game against the Bucks due to hip bruise

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo won’t play in Monday night’s game at Milwaukee after bruising his hip two nights earlier.Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said at his pregame media session that Adebayo wouldn’t be available. The two-time All-Star had been listed as questionable on the injury report.Spoelstra said Adebayo got hurt during the Heat’s 106-90 loss at Minnesota on Saturday.“He took that hard spill, and then when we got into town yesterday, it was pretty sore,” Spoelstra said. “It didn’t get much better today.”Monday marks the first time the teams have faced off since the Heat stunned the top-seeded Bucks 4-1 in the first round of last season’s playoffs. Adebayo averaged 17.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5 assists in that series.

Pilot rescued hours after Everglades plane crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

SOUTHWEST BROWARD, Fla. (WSVN) — A pilot was rescued hours after crashing his plane in the Everglades.Authorities responded to the scene of the crash just after 10 a.m. in the area of Mack’s Fish Camp, located at 18599 Krome Avenue, Tuesday morning. According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials, upon arrival, units discovered the pilot, an adult male, sitting on the wing of the downed aircraft suffering from a leg injury. The aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, is believed to be based out of a flight school in Miami-Dade County, officials said. Around 10:30 a.m., video from 7Skyforce showed the man sitting on the partially submerged plane in an isolated area of the Everglades. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded, performed a hoist operation, and safely extracted the man from the aircraft. He has since been transported to Memoria Regional Hospital in Hollywood. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane crashed around 2:20 a.m. Only the pilot was on board. The ...

New Kids on the Block announce ‘Magic Summer 2024 Tour’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:53:09 GMT

(CNN) — New Kids on the Block have announced they are going on tour.The group will head out on the Magic Summer 2024 Tour, reimagined from their 1990 tour of the same name.Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood will all join. Also appearing for some stops will be special guests Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff. They will perform their greatest hits, plus unexpected fan favorites.The tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off on June 14 and hit over 40 cities, including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.“The true ‘magic’ of this tour is in the music, the moments and the memories that we get to create – and recreate – with our amazing fans each night,” Wahlberg said in a statement. “Feeling all the nostalgic feels of the original Magic Summer, with the bond that we’ve shared throughout the years, will make for a most magical time indeed.”NKOTB’s 1990 Magic Summer Tour sold out and included performances at Dodger Stadium, Giants ...