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Britain to start free trade with New Zealand and Australia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Britain’s free trade agreements with New Zealand and Australia will come into force by the end of this month, the leaders from the three nations said Friday.The announcement came while the prime ministers from the two Southern Hemisphere nations are in London for the coronation of King Charles III.The deals are part of Britain’s efforts to expand its economic ties after it left the European Union. Both deals were first agreed to in 2021.New Zealand officials say its deal will help boost sales of products like wine, butter, beef and honey, and will increase the size of its economy by up to 1 billion New Zealand dollars ($629 million).New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said it was a gold-standard agreement.“The market access outcomes are among the very best New Zealand has secured in any trade deal,” Hipkins said in a statement.British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal with New Zealand reflected the close relationship betwe...

Horse racing poised for new antidoping, medication rules

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Horse racing’s new antidoping and medication control program has stumbled out of the starting gate, delayed multiple times for nearly a year amid lawsuits by those opposing the new rules and frustration from those eager for national uniform standards in the sport.The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) took effect on July 1, 2022, with two major components: racetrack safety and antidoping and medication control.The safety rules, including limits on how many times a jockey can whip a horse, began last year. Still, they have not prevented horse deaths. Four horses died in five days at Churchill Downs in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.The Antidoping and Medication Control (ADMC) program was supposed to start at the same time as the safety program.Instead, it was pushed back to Jan. 1. Then that date got scrapped when the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees HISA, didn’t give clearance because of legal issues. The FTC eventually ...

Trudeau blasts Poilievre as angry and unserious at Liberal party convention

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Canadians chose hope over fear and anger in 2015 and they will be faced with that choice again the next time they go to the polls, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday as he delivered an opening night keynote speech to Liberal faithful at the party’s policy convention in Ottawa.The next election could still be more than two years away but Trudeau left no doubt   that we are already hurtling toward it, that he intends to run in it, and that he knows who poses the biggest threat to his hold on power.“Pierre Poilievre’s populism, his slogans and buzzwords, are not serious solutions to the serious challenges we’re facing,” Trudeau said.Conservatives, he said, call Liberals “too woke” for investing in people, in economic growth, in families and in climate change.“Too woke?” Trudeau hissed. “Hey, Pierre Poilievre, it’s time for you to wake up.”And the crowd roared to life, leaping to their feet, chanting his name.Then h...

GOP analyst running for US House in Nevada swing district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A conservative policy analyst announced Thursday that he will run in 2024 for the highly competitive congressional seat in Nevada currently held by U.S. Rep. Susie Lee, a third-term Democrat.Drew Johnson, a senior fellow at the National Center for Public Policy Research, said in a statement that his bid for the U.S. House in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District marks an effort “to help restore the basic, fundamental role of government for our citizens.”Lee won reelection in November by 4 percentage points. Her swing district has long been considered the state’s most competitive, although more Democratic voters were added to the district in 2021, when the Nevada Legislature redrew state and congressional districts.The district includes a large swath of Spring Valley, a diverse area in Las Vegas, as well as portions of rural Clark County.Johnson’s bid for Congress comes after a close race in November for a seat on the Clark County Commission. He lost ...

Democratic US Sen. Martin Heinrich seeks 3rd term in NM seat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich announced Thursday that he will run for a third term next year as he champions causes from gun safety to abortion access to a transition toward cleaner energy in New Mexico, a major oil-producing state.A win by the state’s senior senator would extend Democratic domination of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation. Heinrich won a second term in 2018 in a three-way race against a Republican political newcomer and former Gov. Gary Johnson, who ran as a Libertarian.Heinrich announced his candidacy in an online video that also highlighted federal spending on roads, bridges and wildfire relief.Heinrich’s initial campaign pitch to voters touches on his advocacy for expanding early childhood education, as well as 2022 federal legislation toughening background checks for younger gun buyers and keeping firearms from more domestic violence offenders.“We have to continue the transition to clean energy, and we have to build upon our hist...

Owner of car stolen on peer-to-peer rental app warns of risks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

A high-speed chase outside Detroit ends with a suspect in custody, driving a car stolen in Chicago. It’s a story that began Thanksgiving Day. Becky Barron had just listed her 2021 Nissan Rogue on the car sharing service called "Getaround."“I didn’t use my car very often, mostly to get to and from work so it would just sit in my parking garage on the weekends and I figured this is a great way to offset my expenses and maybe help someone else out in the meantime,” said Barron.Like an Airbnb for vehicles, Getaround is one of several online platforms like Turo and Hyre Car where consumers can book a short-term rental for errands or while on vacation and pay a fee based on the length of the reservation. Barron had two successful rentals, before she woke up to a strange alert.“I saw a notification on my phone somebody had instantly rented my car, picked it up at 4 a.m. and it was long gone at that point,” Barron said.A 62-year-old man from Michigan had booked the five hour rental, but the...

Crisis responders launch hotline to help others cope with loss due to gun violence in Chicago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

CHICAGO — Families impacted by senseless violence are using their pain to help others. Starting this weekend, people coping with the loss of a loved one from violence can call a new hotline for support. Friday classes canceled after fire at Glenbrook South High School Members of the group Purpose Over Pain are using their tragedies to help others. Beersheba Abernathy said her son was killed in 2018 and then she lost her niece to gun violence in 2020. "She was only 30 years old and my son was 23 years old," Abernathy said. On Thursday night, the group gathered at St. Sabina to share details about a new way they're using their heartache to build others up. 2 men accused of taking $1.1M during armored truck robbery tracked down using Apple AirTag "This weekend, Purpose Over Pain is starting our 24-hour survivor crisis hotline," Pamela Bosley said. The number for the hotline is 872-3-CRISIS."I'm just grateful to be on the other line to be of assistance," Abernathy said. Starting on ...

L.A. restaurant Pump, of Bravo's 'Vanderpump Rules,' to close

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

WEST HOLLYWOOD (KTLA/NEXSTAR) — After 10 years in West Hollywood, reality star Lisa Vanderpump's restaurant Pump, which was often featured in Bravo's hit show "Vanderpump Rules," will be closing its doors. Vanderpump, an alum of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" explained the eatery will close on July 5. The restaurant sits on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Roberston Boulevard. While Vanderpump's restaurants SUR and TomTom remain main locations for action in the long-running reality series, the construction and opening of Pump were featured in early seasons of both "VPR" and "RHOBH." RECALL: Advil sold at Family Dollar may have been improperly stored "It's with heavy hearts that we announce that the lease at Pump Restaurant is expiring, and we will be closing its doors on July 5th, after 10 years of beautiful evenings under our olive trees," read Vanderpump's statement obtained by PEOPLE magazine. The reality star revealed that the cause for the closure was t...

West Lake Hills services restored after Wednesday gas leak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Services were fully restored shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday after reports of a gas leak prompted evacuations and road closures in Westlake Hills Wednesday, Texas Gas Service told KXAN.At approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the gas leak was reported at Westbrook Drive and Bee Caves Road, the Westlake Fire Department said on Twitter. A small apartment complex was also evacuated due to the gas leak, Texas Gas Service said.According to Texas Gas Service, a third party hit the natural gas line, which resulted in businesses and residences having their gas shut off to make repairs. As of Thursday, a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trailer arrived to provide backup natural gas service to customers as repairs continue.Westbrook Drive was previously closed for safety reasons, and Texas Gas Service said that road was finally back open. Additionally, Texas Gas Service said the third party who hit the line was expected to face possible consequences.

UT president Hartzell says building relationships are priority in SEC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:42 GMT

AUSTIN. Texas (AP) — University of Texas President Jay Hartzell said Thursday he'll attend the Southeastern Conference's annual meeting later this month with a goal of building relationships, not immediately trying to flex Longhorns muscle in their new league.Texas and Oklahoma leave the Big 12 after the 2023-24 season and join the SEC next summer.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersHartzell said he'll be watching how the conference addresses its football scheduling dilemma — eight or nine conference games — and its potential impact on future media rights contracts. The SEC meets May 30 in Destin, Florida.“It's going to be weird. I'll be there with no voting rights. We're not officially in yet,” Hartzell said Thursday.“My impression is scheduling is tough for them, probably will be the topic of the day, and then figuring out what is the latest in terms of media discussions...