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Inside Britain’s ‘frantic’ bid to stop EU endorsing ‘Malvinas’ name for Falklands

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

BRUSSELS — Don’t mention the Malvinas!A leaked memo has revealed the “frantic” last-ditch efforts of the U.K. government and its highest-ranking diplomat to prevent the EU signing a declaration with Latin American nations which refers explicitly to the ‘Islas Malvinas’ — the Argentine name for the British-owned Falkland Islands.London and Buenos Aires fought a 10-week war over the islands in 1982. The remote archipelago, located less than 500 km off Argentina’s coast, remains a U.K. territory, though Argentina continues to claim it as its own.Britain took exception to the use of the ‘Islas Malvinas’ name in a new communiqué signed in Brussels this week by 60 EU and Latin American nations. It was the EU’s first summit with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) since Britain left the EU in 2020. Previously, the U.K. would have been able to veto language it did not agree with.In Britain’s self-enforced absence, Arge...

UK cuts King Charles’ funding — because he’s coining it from offshore wind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

The U.K. government has more than halved the rate of public funding it gives King Charles III — because the monarch is making such big profits through offshore wind projects on the Crown Estate.The Sovereign Grant — the yearly payment made by the government to the royal household — will be reduced to 12 percent of Crown Estate net profits in 2024/25, down from 25 percent.The actual payment will remain flat at £86 million, but the change means Charles III and his household will receive nearly £300 million less over the next three years than they would if the rate had stayed the same.Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the cut reflected “the unexpected significant increase in the Crown Estate’s net profits from offshore wind developments.”“For almost 300 years, kings and queens have surrendered the profits from the Crown Estate to the British people, and in return the government has provided a fraction of that to properly support the king in undertaking his official duties,” Hunt ad...

Second teen dies following crash in Randolph that also left victim’s younger brother dead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

A second teenager has died following a crash in Randolph that left another teen dead and two others injured Tuesday night.Both the Randolph Police Department and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office confirmed that 18-year-old Makhi Boston died as a result of a crash on North Main Street.Authorities said he was the older brother of Terry Boston Jr., who was pronounced dead at the scene when emergency crews responded to the crash around 10:30 p.m. on July 18.According to the DA’s office, Makhi was believed to be the driver of the Nissan Altima that authorities said was traveling southbound when it left the road and crashed into a tree near 701 North Main St.Two other teenagers, both females, were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash and taken to a hospital for treatment.“The investigation remains open and ongoing into the facts and circumstances of the crash,” a spokesperson for the Norfolk DA’s office said in a statement. “The Randolph Police a...

Drug shortages’ effects on cancer research may be felt for years to come

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

(CNN) — The United States is in the midst of some of the worst cancer drug shortages in history, affecting thousands of patients across the country who face delayed or cancelled chemotherapy appointments. But these shortages aren’t just bad for current patients, experts say; their effects on cancer research may be felt for years to come.The National Cancer Institute, the federal government’s main agency for cancer research and training, told CNN that at least 174 of its own trials may be affected by the shortages. However, that number can’t account for other trials that rely on these drugs or possible trials that researchers would like to start but can’t.For a mix of complex reasons, many cancer drugs have gone into and out of shortage for years, experts say, but at least 25 are now in shortage, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Two in particular — carboplatin and cisplatin — may be hurting research the most because they ar...

As Kyle Hendricks spins another great outing in win, his Chicago Cubs’ future remains an unknown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

As Kyle Hendricks entered the dugout, Chicago Cubs manager David Ross greeted the veteran with a handshake to punctuate his great outing Wednesday night.Hendricks delivered another vintage performance in an 8-3 victory, holding the Washington Nationals to one run in six innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five on 97 pitches.Right-hander Julian Merryweather couldn’t hold the lead, surrendering two runs in the eighth. The offense came through again late, though, behind a five-run eighth inning. Yan Gomes’ pinch-hit sacrifice fly with the bases loaded tied the game, and Nico Hoerner’s first career grand slam buried the Nationals.The series win sets up the Cubs (45-50) for a pivotal four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals to close out the homestand.So many unknowns surround the Cubs’ plans in the 12 days leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline. Hendricks’ future with the organization falls under that uncertainty.Based on how he is...

RFK Jr. to testify at a House hearing over online censorship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

WASHINGTON — House Republicans are delving into claims of government censorship of online speech at a public hearing, asking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify despite requests from outside groups to disinvite the Democratic presidential candidate after his recent antisemitic remarks.The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government was convening Thursday. Republicans claim conservatives are being unfairly targeted by technology companies that routinely work with the government to try to stem the spread of disinformation online.In announcing the hearing, the panel led by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said it would “examine the federal government’s role in censoring Americans” and “Big Tech’s collusion with out-of-control government agencies to silence speech.”The Big Tech companies have adamantly denied the GOP assertions and say they enforce their rules impartially for everyone regardless of ideology or political affi...

Passenger in Polaris Slingshot killed in crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A passenger riding in a 2021 Polaris Slingshot was killed in an East Village crash Wednesday night, authorities said.According to the San Diego Police Department, the incident occurred shortly before 11 p.m. when a 32-year-old man was driving the Polaris Slingshot southbound on 300 16th Street at a high rate of speed. Man, 20, killed in Carlsbad hit-and-run; suspect arrested Authorities say he hit a ditch in the road and lost control of the vehicle. The Polaris then collided with a parked 2019 Honda Civic and a parked 1998 Toyota Camry, according to SDPD.The passenger in the Polaris sustained fatal injuries and the driver of the Polaris sustained internal bleeding into the pelvis, police said.SDPD's Traffic Division is investigating the crash. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Little Italy Mercato named 4th best farmers market in US: USA Today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Southern California is known for its great weather and abundance of farmers markets, but there's one in San Diego that stood out in the eyes of a popular travel website.With the farm-to-table movement picking up steam, USA Today says there are over 8,600 farmers markets registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory as of July 2023. Popular night market returns to San Diego The publication asked a panel of experts to nominate their top picks nationwide and then asked their readers to vote on their favorites. After a four-week voting window, the results are in.Little Italy Mercato Farmers Market was nominated as the fourth best farmers markets in the country by USA Today. This is San Diego's largest farmers market. "Don't leave without checking out the olive oil, bread and sauces from local makers," USA Today wrote. "Patrons love the ambience, amazing cuisine and Italian American history in this downtown setting."Open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays fro...

Russia aims more retaliatory strikes at Odesa and other southern Ukraine cities for a third night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odesa in the Kremlin’s crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.The strikes killed at least two people in Odesa. In Mykolaiv, a city close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured, including a child, Ukrainian officials said.Russia has targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure since it vowed “retribution” this week for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats.The strikes on Ukraine’s grain export infrastructure have helped drive up food prices in countries facing hunger. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal would result in more human suffering, with potentially millions of people affe...

A diplomatic fight breaks out between Iraq and Sweden after a man desecrates the Quran

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:20:48 GMT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Protesters angered by the planned burning of a copy of the Quran by an Iraqi man in Sweden stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, overrunning the diplomatic compound and starting a fire Thursday. Hours later, Iraq’s prime minister cut diplomatic ties with Sweden in protest over the desecration of the Islamic holy book.Protesters stormed the diplomatic post early Thursday, waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and set a small fire. The attack on the embassy came ahead of a planned burning of the Quran in Stockholm by an Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Islamic holy book during a previous demonstration last month. Following the incident, the Swedish Embassy announced it had closed to visitors, without specifying when it would reopen. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement after meeting with security officials that Iraqi authorities would prosecute those responsible ...