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Boris Johnson’s aide-turned-enemy Dominic Cummings set to testify at UK COVID-19 inquiry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A former top aide who has accused ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson of being unfit for office is scheduled to testify Tuesday at Britain’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic.Dominic Cummings, who was the prime minister’s chief adviser during the first months of the pandemic in 2020, follows other aides who have painted a picture of Johnson as a leader who was distracted and indecisive during the country’s biggest peacetime crisis.On Monday, former principal private secretary Martin Reynolds acknowledged there had been a “systemic failure” to prepare for the pandemic and said Johnson blew ”hot and cold” on key issues and hesitated to make important decisions.Another ex-aide, Imran Shafi, alleged that Johnson had asked at a meeting before lockdown was imposed in March 2020, why the economy was being destroyed “for people who will die anyway soon.”Cummings has also claimed Johnson was reluctant to impose lockdowns because he said the virus was primarily killing...

Victorious Springboks arrive back to a heroes’ welcome in South Africa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — World rugby champions South Africa arrived back in the country on Tuesday to a heroes’ welcome following a feat that saw them defend their title after beating New Zealand 11-12 in France over the weekend.Thousands of Springboks supporters braved the cold and wet weather to gather at O.R. Tambo International Airport to welcome the squad, the first nation to lift the World Cup on four occasions.The crowds went into a frenzy as captain Siya Kolisi entered the arrivals terminal hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy surrounded by the rest of his teammates.It was a colourful affair, with many donning their green and gold Springboks jerseys, waving South African flags and holding up placards bearing congratulatory messages for the squad.Supporters wearing Springbok jerseys or any South African colours were allowed to travel for free on the Gautrain train service to the airport, where traffic leading to the main terminals was jammed throughout the morning.A South African Police...

Biden administration takes on JetBlue as its fight against industry consolidation goes to court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

The Biden administration’s fight against consolidation in the airline industry will be tested Tuesday with lawyers for JetBlue Airways and the Justice Department squaring off in court Tuesday.The administration is suing to block JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines. The trial in federal district court in Boston could reshape the market for low-cost airlines — Spirit is by far the nation’s biggest budget carrier, and it will disappear if JetBlue wins the case.The Justice Department is fresh off victory in a previous lawsuit that killed a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines. JetBlue isn’t exactly the sort of behemoth that comes to mind when imagining a defendant in an antitrust case. It is the sixth-largest U.S. airline by revenue, and it is trying to buy the seventh-biggest. If it swallows Spirit, JetBlue will leapfrog Alaska Airlines but still control less than 10% of the U.S. air-travel market. It would remain far smaller than American,...

Costumes, candy and a chilly forecast: Halloween is here

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

Halloween is here and there’s a chill in the air with low single-digit temperatures in store in time for trick-or-treating.Here in the GTA, kids and their adult companions will may need to add some extra layers to their costumes as they head out for candy this evening. CityNews 680 meteorologist Jill Taylor says the trick-or-treat time forecast will see temperatures hovering around 3 C, while the wind could make it feel as cold as -4.“Dress warm,” Taylor said. “It’s just a very light wind, but enough to give us that raw kind of feeling as you’re heading out with the kids. You will definitely need the extra layers under, or over top of your costume.”Things will likely stay dry but there is the outside chance of a flew furries during the evening hours. More on the Toronto forecast can be found here. Half of Canadian households plan to participate in Halloween this year, according to a new poll. The Maru Public Opinion survey said th...

Germany’s highest court overturns a reform that allowed for new trials after acquittals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s highest court on Tuesday overturned a reform to the country’s criminal code that allowed for people who have been acquitted to be put on trial again for the same crime if new evidence emerged that could secure their conviction for murder or other serious crimes.The Federal Constitutional Court declared the change, which took effect in December 2021, null and void after considering a challenge by a man who was acquitted of raping and killing a 17-year-old girl in the 1980s and faced new proceedings after an examination of DNA traces.It found that the provision violated both a constitutional clause that precludes anyone being “punished for the same crime more than once” and a ban on applying the law retroactively.The 2021 provision stated that proceedings already closed with a final judgement can be reopened “if new facts or evidence are produced which, independently or in connection with evidence which was previously taken, establish cogent reasons...

On her 18th birthday, Spain’s Princess Leonor takes another step towards eventually becoming queen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor, is to swear allegiance to the Constitution on her 18th birthday Tuesday, in a gala event that lays the groundwork for her eventual succession as queen when the time comes. The nationally televised ceremony in the lower house of Parliament is understood to symbolize the continuity of Spain’s parliamentary monarchy and the institution’s allegiance to the chamber.She is expected to use the same oath as her father did when, as prince, he turned 18 in 1986. Leonor de Borbón Ortiz became crown princess when Felipe VI was proclaimed king on June 19, 2014. Her face has been in the media a lot lately and already the term “Leonormania” is being used, underlining her growing popularity as the modern face of the future monarchy.The ceremony Tuesday was necessary for her to be able to succeed to the crown and become queen, if and when needs be.Banners with her picture decorated lampposts along several of Madrid’s main str...

Surge in interest rates and a cloudier economic picture to keep Federal Reserve on sidelines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is poised to leave its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday at a time when the Fed faces an economy that has proved resilient but is nevertheless under pressure from surging interest rates, overseas turmoil and anxious investors.U.S. economic growth surged in the July-September quarter on the back of robust consumer spending, and inflation showed signs last month of staying uncomfortably high. Chair Jerome Powell will want to make sure that the economy cools and that inflation resumes its descent before signaling any let-up in the Fed’s drive to slow inflation to its 2% target level. At the same time, turbulent financial markets have pushed up longer-term rates on U.S. Treasurys, driven stock prices lower and raised corporate borrowing costs. Powell and other Fed policymakers have said they think those trends may contribute to an economic slowdown — and, in process, ease inflation pressures — without the need for further rate hikes. Since...

Singapore defense minister calls on China to take the lead in reducing regional tensions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Singapore’s defense minister urged China as a dominant power in Asia to take the lead in reducing tensions in the region, warning that a military conflict like the one in Ukraine or the Israel-Hamas war would be devastating for the continent and its future. Speaking Tuesday on the third and final day of an annual defense conference held by China, Ng Eng Hen stressed the importance of military-to-military communication to manage crises, expressing hope that the United States and China would resume the use of their military hotline.Peace is precarious and never a given anywhere in the world, Ng said. “What has happened in Europe and the Middle East must never occur here. … We must do all we can to avoid it.”The Xiangshan Forum brought together defense officials from dozens of countries and organizations. China, which recently sacked its defense minister, was represented by Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.Russian Defense Ministe...

A gunman holed up at a Japanese post office may be linked to an earlier shooting at a hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese police on Tuesday surrounded a post office where a man with a gun was holed up, and said the case may be linked to an earlier apparent shooting at a nearby hospital in which two people were wounded. One post office employee is still believed to be inside the building.Hundreds of police were reportedly mobilized to surround the building housing the post office. Television footage showed police officers wearing bulletproof vests squatting behind the doors of a patrol vehicle parked outside. Television footage also showed an older man wearing a cap at the entrance. Earlier Tuesday, Saitama Prefectural Police said two men — a doctor in his 40s and a patient in his 60s — were wounded after blasts resembling gunfire were heard at a general hospital in the city of Toda, just north of Tokyo. Police did not give details of how exactly the two people were injured. The victims are both conscious and their wounds are not life-threatening, police said. Kyodo News agency sai...

Bud Light brewer is still struggling to sell the beer in North America over trans promotion backlash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:51:24 GMT

Anheuser-Busch Inbev said Tuesday that revenue growth in most of its global regions was offset by a drop in North American sales, in a sign of continuing fallout from a promotion with a transgender influencer that cost it sales.The world’s largest brewer and parent company of Bud Light said adjusted earnings for the latest quarter rose 4.1% to $5.4 billion on revenues that climbed 5% to $15.6 billion. Revenue in the United States for the July-September period, however, tumbled 13.5%. AB InBev, based in Leuven, Belgium, noted that sales to retailers were down “primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light.” Bud Light sales plunged amid a conservative backlash after the brand sent a commemorative can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in early April.The controversy toppled Bud Light from its position as America’s best-selling beer for more than two decades. In June, it dropped to second place in U.S. retail sales behind Modelo Especial. Modelo – which is own...