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Britain’s COVID-19 response inquiry enters a second phase with political decisions in the spotlight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s inquiry into the response to the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the nation entered its second phase Tuesday, with political decision-making around major developments, such as the timing of lockdowns, set to take center stage. Families whose loved ones died during the pandemic held a silent protest outside the inquiry in London, and claimed the new stage of the investigation — the so-called Module 2, the second of four planned phases — is ignoring how they were failed by politicians and policymakers. Many were holding portraits of their deceased loved ones, and stood beside a banner which read “Stop silencing the bereaved.” “I hope the inquiry has access to evidence it needs which includes evidence from the bereaved,” said Lorelei King, 69, who lost her actor husband Vincent Marzello, 72, in March 2020. “They have taken impact statements, but we have much more to provide. Many of us were eyewitnesses to what went on during that time.”Chair ...

Donald Trump returns to court as his fraud trial gets down to business after a fiery first day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump returned to a New York court Tuesday after a fiery start to his business fraud lawsuit trial.After Monday’s opening statements, Tuesday’s court action is expected to center on the more plodding task of going through years of his financial documents. An accountant who prepared Trump’s financial statements for years is expected to be back on the witness stand for a second day.Trump spent a full day Monday as an angry spectator at the civil trial. It’s the culmination of a lawsuit in which New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, has accused the Republican former president and current 2024 GOP front-runner of deceiving banks, insurers and others for years by giving them papers that misstated the value of his assets.Judge Arthur Engoron delivered an early victory to James last week, ruling that Trump committed fraud by exaggerating the size of his penthouse at Trump Tower, claiming his Mar-a-Lago estate in Flori...

Driver arrested after cutting off motorcyclist on Hwy. 410, seriously injuring rider: OPP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

A 24-year-old motorcyclist is in hospital and the driver of another vehicle is in custody following a crash on Highway 410 in Mississauga.The crash happened in the southbound HOV lane of the 410 near Highway 401 just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday.“A motorcyclist was travelling southbound in the HOV lane when a white vehicle from the through lanes moved across the double white solid lines directly in front of the path of the motorcyclist, causing a serious collision,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said on X, formerly known as Twitter.The motorcycle rider, from Brampton, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.The driver of the other vehicle, a 59-year-old from Brampton, was arrested for careless driving causing bodily harm.Schmidt said the driver of the white vehicle was travelling alone so shouldn’t have been in the HOV lane.“Crossing those HOV lanes is an offence, and cutting in front of a motorcyclist like this can cause significant, serious and even tragic result...

Tunisia rejects European funds and says they fall short of a deal for migration and financial aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

Tunisia on Monday announced it would reject an installment of funds sent by Europe to help the debt-ridden country patrol the Mediterranean Sea as migrant boat crossings spike to levels not seen in several years.President Kais Saied on Monday accused the European Union of not following through on agreements made earlier this year to help Tunisia patrol its border, curb smuggling and balance its federal budget. Though he called the disbursement “a small amount,” Saied said the decision was less about its size and more about how it “lacks respect.”“The treasures of the world are not equal to a single grain of our sovereignty in the eyes of our people,” Saied said in a statement published on TAP, the country’s official press arm. “Tunisia, which accepts cooperation, does not accept anything that resembles charity or handouts.”European representatives have not commented on Tunisia’s rejection. The funds are one component of a broad agreement that the EU and Saied brokered in...

Book Review: ‘Differ We Must’ illustrates Abraham Lincoln’s political skills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

In “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded In a Divided America,” Steve Inskeep is taking on one of the most challenging tasks for a biographer by profiling the nation’s 16th president.There’s little new to be said or explored about Lincoln that’s not already covered in the massive pile of biographies already out there. But Inskeep, co-host of NPR’s “Morning Edition,” tries an approach that illuminates Lincoln’s political skill.From the opening pages of the biography, Inskeep details how much Lincoln’s political skill was a part of the late president’s legacy and character. As Inskeep puts it, “Lincoln preserved the country and took part in a social revolution because he engaged in politics.”Inskeep illustrates that political skill by focusing on 16 encounters Lincoln had throughout his lifetime. They include well-known and well-chronicled figures in Lincoln’s political upbringing, such as William Seward, George McClellan and Frederick ...

Spain’s king calls on acting Socialist Prime Minister Sánchez to try to from the government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s King Felipe VI on Tuesday called on acting Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to try to form a new government following a new round of talks with political party leaders to see which party has the best chance of mustering up majority support in Parliament.Speaker of the House Francina Armengol made the announcement after she was summoned by the king once the two days of talks had finished.The decision comes after Alberto Núñez Feijóo, head of the conservative opposition Popular Party, failed to win sufficient parliamentary support last week after the king initially designated him to try to from a government.Sánchez’s party finished second behind the Popular Party in July 23 elections. The elections produced a splintered parliament made up of 350 legislators from 11 parties, making the path to power difficult for any party.“I have accepted the king’s petition,” Sánchez said at a press conference on Tuesday and promised to work for a progressive governm...

Chesterton teacher terminated, charged after former student alleges inappropriate relationship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

CHESTERTON, Ind. — A teacher at Chesterton High School has been terminated from his position and arrested on charges of child seduction after allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student.Dakota McCoy, 30, of Valparaiso, was arrested Monday and faces three counts of child seduction and one count of obstruction of justice, according to the Chesterton Police Department.McCoy was a former instructional assistant and teacher at the high school. Police said his arrest follows two separate investigations initiated on Sept. 14 — both a criminal and an internal school investigation — after a former Chesterton High School student alleged an inappropriate relationship with McCoy while she was still enrolled at the school.The Times of Northwest Indiana reports the former student alleges they first had sex when she was 16 or 17 and estimated they continued having sex about 50 times in all in his car and at his mother's house.According to Dunelane School Supt. Dr. Chip Pettit, th...

15-year-old, 44-year-old man shot in Uptown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old boy and a 44-year-old man were shot Monday morning in Uptown.The two were outside in the 1000 block of West Argyle just after 11:10 a.m. when an unknown suspect approached from an alley. He then shot the victims, according to police.The 15-year-old boy sustained a gunshot wound to the lower leg and was dropped off at Thorek Memorial Hospital in stable condition. The 44-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the foot and self-transported to Illinois Masonic. Police search for suspects in Near West Side armed robberies No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

A Bears' starter is getting closer to a return to the lineup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — In what was a pretty miserable 24 hours for the Bears after a crushing loss to the Broncos Sunday, the team actually got a little good news to start their short week. That concerned Teven Jenkins, who is inching closer to a return to the lineup.At least the Bears got good news on guard Teven Jenkins, who has been designated to return from IR after going on before the season..His 21-day window to return opens..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/xsQxKqbZsh— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 2, 2023The guard has been designated to return from injured reserve for the Bears ahead of their Thursday night game against the Commanders at FedEx Field on Thursday. Jenkins, who is slated at left guard, suffered a leg injury late in training camp and was put on IR before the season opener against the Packers. Since then, Cody Whitehair has been moved to left guard with Lucas Patrick taking the center spot for the first four games. A second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jen...

Robin Williams' daughter denounces AI recreations of him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:50 GMT

(The Hill) - Zelda Williams, the daughter of late actor and comedian Robin Williams, is speaking out against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate her father’s voice, calling it “disturbing.”Williams wrote a social media post weighing in on AI amid the ongoing actors strike. The Hollywood union, SAG-AFTRA, has voiced concerns surrounding AI usage.“I am not an impartial voice in SAG’s fight against AI. I’ve witnessed for YEARS how many people want to train these models to create/re-create actors who cannot consent, like Dad,” Williams wrote in a story post on her Instagram page Sunday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. “This isn’t theoretical, it is very very real. I’ve already heard AI used to get his ‘voice’ to say whatever people want and while I find it personally disturbing, the ramifications go far beyond my own feelings,” she reportedly added.The SAG-AFTRA launched its strike earlier this year seeking better pay and working conditions. The union, which re...