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The Week … of Dominic Cummings’ return

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Sky News On this episode, they look at where the UK’s response to the war in Gaza may go next, as more senior Labour figures call for a ceasefire between the two sides.Plus, Dominic Cummings returns to Whitehall this week, as he gives evidence to the COVID Inquiry. Jack and Sam take you through what Boris Johnson’s former adviser might say.And what exactly is Rishi Sunak trying to achieve with his much-heralded AI summit? POLITICO’s senior technology correspondent Vincent Manancourt joins Jack and Sam to discuss.Email with your thoughts and rate how their predictions play out:&nb...

14-year-old girl critically injured after being hit by tractor at Haunted Hayride in RI

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

A 14-year-old girl who was working as an actor on a Haunted Hayride in Smithtown, Rhode Island has been hospitalized with critical injuries after she got caught underneath a trailer on Saturday night.Dozens of people at Seven Cedars Farm helped get the girl out from under the trailer before she was rushed to the hospital.Smithfield High School, where the girl is enrolled as a student, is offering counseling services to its students.The farm says it is closing for the season.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Police: Witnesses rush to free pedestrian struck, seriously injured by repeat drunken driver Salem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

A Salem man is facing his third operating under the influence charge after striking and seriously injuring a pedestrian during the city’s Haunted Happenings festivities on Saturday night, police said.Officers responding to a reported pedestrian crash in the area of 318 Essex St around 7 p.m. found a 35-year-old woman who had been hit and dragged under at Toyota Rav4 and assisted in transporting her to the hospital with serious injuries, according to police.She was freed from under the vehicle by concerned citizens, police say.Vasiliy Orlov, 43, was arrested on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, 3rd offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage, according to police.Then, around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, officers were nearly struck by a black BMW 535XI that was speeding down Washington Street toward New Derby Street. The driver, Vincent Roub, 47, of Salem, was arrested on a charge of operati...

Mistakes doom Chicago Bears offense, rookie Tyson Bagent in loss to Los Angeles Chargers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

The Chicago Bears offense reached its high point on its first play of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent launched a pass down the right sideline, and Darnell Mooney reeled it in as he dived to the ground. Mooney said when the Bears went into their walk-through Sunday morning they knew they were going to take a deep shot to open the game, and they converted it into a 41-yard pass play.The rest of the night didn’t live up to that promise in a 30-13 Chargers victory.Three plays after the Mooney catch, on third-and-11, Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa sacked Bagent for a loss of 10 yards, and the Bears punted. On the next drive, the Bears got behind because of Lucas Patrick’s illegal use of hands penalty — one of seven Bears penalties — and went three-and-out. On the next drive, Bagent threw an interception. On the next possession, Velus Jones Jr. dropped a touchdown pass before the Bears eventuall...

China fetes American veterans of World War II known as ‘Flying Tigers’ in a bid to improve ties

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China on Monday feted two American veterans of World War II as Washington and Beijing look to past collaboration for inspiration on improving today’s strained ties.Mel McMullen, who is in his late 90s, and Harry Moyer, who turned 103 on Monday, are among the few surviving members of a U.S. Army Air Force command that helped China battle Japan and became popularly known as the Flying Tigers.Their visit is the latest in a small but expanding series of exchanges ahead of a possible meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping next month, as the United States and China try to repair a relationship that has deteriorated sharply over differences on trade, technology, security and human rights.McMullen recounted how Chinese farmers saved the lives of downed American pilots, hiding them by day and moving them from village to village by night, despite the risk of severe punishment by the Japanese.“I think that’s something we should all understand,” he said at a ce...

St. Lawrence Seaway traffic to start moving again after tentative deal ends strike

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

TORONTO — The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. says ships are expected to start moving this morning after it reached a tentative deal with Unifor to end a strike by workers that brought the system to a halt.The company says workers will be back on the job as of 7 a.m. The tentative agreement, which must still be ratified, ends a strike that began on Oct. 22. The job action by 360 workers represented by Unifor brought a stop to ships though the key trade corridor.Details of the settlement were not immediately available, but the union had been fighting for higher wages to keep up with the rising cost of living. The premiers of Ontario and Quebec had called on Ottawa to intervene if federally mediated talks failed to bring about a quick end to the walkout.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 30, 2023.The Canadian Press

Bangladesh top court commutes death sentences of 7 militants to life in prison for 2016 cafe attack

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s High Court on Monday commuted the death sentences of seven Islamic militants to life in prison for their role in a 2016 attack on a cafe in the capital, Dhaka, that killed 20 people, mostly foreigners.A special anti-terrorism tribunal in 2019 sentenced the seven members of a banned militant group to death in the attack that triggered a major crackdown on extremists. The group behind the attack on the Holey Artisan Cafe, the Jumatul Mujahedeen Bangladesh, wants to establish Sharia law in the secular Muslim-majority nation of more than 160 million. A two-member panel of High Court judges on Monday commuted the death sentences of the seven men after rejecting their appeals challenging the verdict, said defense lawyer Aminul Ehsan Zubayer.He said that the High Court found that the men were guilty of hatching conspiracy, provoking and abetting the militants who directly took part in the attack. The attack on the cafe began after the militants took ho...

US consumers keep spending despite high prices and their own gloomy outlook. Can it last?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A flow of recent data from the U.S. government has made one thing strikingly clear: A surge in consumer spending is fueling strong growth, demonstrating a resilience that has confounded economists, Federal Reserve officials and even the sour sentiments that Americans themselves have expressed in opinion polls.Spending by consumers rose by a brisk 0.4% in September the government said Friday — even after adjusting for inflation and even as Americans face ever-higher borrowing costs.Economists caution that such vigorous spending isn’t likely to continue in the coming months. Many households have been pulling money from a shrinking pool of savings. Others have been turning increasingly to credit cards. And the additional savings that tens of millions of households amassed during the pandemic — from stimulus aid and reduced opportunities to travel, dine out and visit entertainment venues — are nearly depleted, economists say.Still, the truth is no one knows where...

French government says 9 people detained after violent attack on Lyon soccer team buses

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

PARIS (AP) — French police have detained nine people and are searching for other suspects after a violent attack on buses carrying the Lyon soccer team and fans left coach Fabio Grosso with a head injury and forced the postponement of its game at Marseille, the interior minister said Monday.Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on BFM television that five police officers were also injured in the attack Sunday night, which drew nationwide attention amid concerns about soccer violence.“Shame and Disgust,” was the headline on L’Equipe newspaper’s front page, with a picture of Grosso’s bloodied face. However, it’s unlikely the attack will lead to disciplinary sanctions against the nine-time French champions.Since it took place outside the Velodrome stadium, responsibility lies with public authorities and not with the club. The case has been taken over by a French league committee in charge of scheduling competitions, and not by the discipline commission. The team bus ...

5 dead, others missing after scaffolding fell down a shaft at a building site in Germany

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:17 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — At least five construction workers died when scaffolding fell down a shaft at a building site in Hamburg on Monday, German authorities said. Several more people were missing.The fire service in Germany’s second-biggest city said that the building site was evacuated following the accident, German news agency dpa reported. Several hundred workers were gathered outside.The accident happened in the Ueberseequartier, part of the port city’s HafenCity district.HafenCity is a former port area on the Elbe river that is being redeveloped with office and residential buildings, hotels and shops.The Associated Press