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Alcohol a ‘frequent factor’ in rule-breaching behavior in Westminster, complaints body finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

LONDON — The drinking culture in Westminster has come under attack in a report from a parliamentary watchdog.In its fifth annual report summarizing the last year, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme — the U.K. parliament’s official complaints system — said that the “culture of drinking in Westminster” was a “frequent factor” in conduct-breaching incidents in the parliamentary bars, at external events, and in post-work socializing.The report also said that alcohol added to issues of “intimidating behavior like shouting and swearing.”The report, published Tuesday, added that alcohol has meant some investigations have been made difficult, with poor witness recall one example of the problems faced.Alcohol has long been a feature of the culture in Westminster, but has recently come into the spotlight as a string of drunken incidents have made headlines.Labour MP Neil Coyle had the Labour whip temporarily suspended, and he later faced a a five-day suspension from the...

Orbán meets Putin: Russian president shakes hand of first EU leader since start of Ukraine invasion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in China on Tuesday — the first handshake between the Russian president and an EU leader since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.According to Russian state-run news outlet TASS, Orbán told Putin that, “Hungary has never sought to confront Russia. Rather, the opposite is true: Hungary has always pursued the goal of building and expanding the best communication.”Putin said, “it is very important to have a chance to exchange views not only on bilateral relations, but also on the situation in the world and in Europe with one of the EU countries — with Hungary in this case,” adding, “we know that our positions do not always coincide, but an opportunity to exchange views, in my opinion, is always extremely important.”The meeting took place at a two-day forum on Tuesday marking the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s brainchild, the...

Orioles retail workers leaflet customers during union contract talks with Fanatics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

Hats and shirts celebrating the Orioles’ American League East title are still for sale in the B&O Warehouse.Meanwhile, the union workers who stock and sell the team merchandise at Camden Yards have been passing out leaflets to customers during the first round of collective bargaining negotiations with Fanatics since the company took over the Orioles Team Store ahead of the 2023 season.The Orioles contracted with Delaware North for both concession and merchandise sales from 2010 until 2022. Effective this season, the team contracted with Levy, a Chicago-based hospitality company, to manage concessions, and Fanatics, a licensed sports merchandise company co-headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and San Mateo, California. Fanatics has made Major League Baseball’s uniforms and official merchandise since 2017, when it bought Majestic for around $225 million.This season, merchandise workers did not have a union contract as Fanatics, unlike Levy, did not assume the unio...

Flag football is now an Olympic sport — and the Chicago Bears hope local outreach continues to grow the game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

On the eve of the second girls flag football state championship in Illinois, it was announced that the sport will be played by women and men at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Added with four other sports — baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse and squash — by the International Olympic Committee on Monday, the news was received enthusiastically by Gustavo Silva, the Chicago Bears manager of youth football and community programs.“This is a big moment for all of us,” Silva said. “Anybody that loves the game of football, this is a good day. The bar has been raised. It’s exciting to think that governments and corporate sponsors are going to now support it more because everything has to be multiplied to the next level. That’s the challenge ahead of us. But it is a challenge that we welcome.”Silva has been a big proponent of girls flag football in Illinois. Last fall, he was at the Walter Payton Center, along with Bears Care, ho...

True or false: It’s an opportune time for the Chicago Bears to take a longer look at Tyson Bagent

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

Another week, another loss and yet another twist in the Chicago Bears’ always-confusing quarterback journey.Welcome to Week 7 for a last-place team that still can’t find consistency or generate much meaningful momentum. The Bears, now 1-5 and 22 months removed from their last two-game winning streak, are again attempting to turn the page this week with the Las Vegas Raiders headed to town Sunday.But with starting quarterback Justin Fields doubtful to play after dislocating the thumb on this throwing hand, it’s yet another week of flux for a team that could really use a prolonged period of normalcy soon.Tribune writers Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane survey the scene from Halas Hall with a handful of true-or-false conversations.Wiederer: Let’s start with the quarterback situation. True or false? This is now an opportune time for the Bears to take a longer look at rookie Tyson Bagent.Kane: False. This one has some tricky semantics in it. It might be necessary...

District 4 supervisor candidates square off ahead of special election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The two candidates squaring off in San Diego County's District 4 election spoke Monday night at a public forum ahead of Nov. 7.Republican Amy Reichert and Democrat Monica Montgomery-Steppe are running to replace former County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher following his resignation amid a sexual harassment lawsuit. It's left residents without a supervisor since May. "Homelessness is a key thing. I would just like to hear the take from the [potential] supervisor on homelessness," District 4 resident Dennis Vincent said to FOX 5.It was that headliner that brought dozens of voters to the Kensington Community Church Monday night. “It’s a conundrum!" exclaimed Jan Peterson, who also lives in the area. It's something residents say is in dire need of a solution, asking the two lasting District 4 candidates for a fix. "What people seem to be most concerned about are the growing encampments -- and this can be just moms who are concerned about getting their kids to school," shared Re...

Israel bombs Gaza region where civilians were told to seek refuge, as mediators try to unlock aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel bombed areas of southern Gaza where it had told Palestinians to flee to ahead of an expected ground invasion, killing dozens of people on Tuesday in attacks it says are targeted at Hamas militants that rule the besieged territory.With no water, fuel or food being delivered to Gaza since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel last week, mediators struggled to break a deadlock over delivering supplies to increasingly desperate civilians, aid groups and hospitals.U.S. President Joe Biden prepared to head to the region as he and other world leaders tried to prevent the war from sparking a broader regional conflict. Violence flared Tuesday along Israel’s border with Lebanon, where Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants operate.In Gaza, dozens of injured were rushed to hospitals after heavy attacks outside the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, residents reported. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official and former health minister, reported 27 people were...

Stock market today: Wall Street opens lower as interest rate worries resurface

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

BANGKOK — Wall Street is slipping following the latest signal the U.S. economy may still be too strong for the Federal Reserve’s liking. The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in early trading Tuesday. The Dow slipped 61 points, and the Nasdaq composite was down 1.1%. A strong report on retail sales last month raised worries that the Fed may feel pressure to keep interest rates high. That would help bring down inflation, but would also knock down prices for stocks and other investments. Treasury yields rose after the report was released. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.84%.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.Wall Street pointed toward losses early Tuesday as corporate earnings roll in and worries about war in the Middle East hang over markets.Futures for the S&P 500 and Dow industrials slipped 0.2% before the bell. In addition to another heavy slate of quarterly earnings, the U.S. will release retail sales numbers from September. Consumer spen...

Polish election winner Donald Tusk appeals to president to move quickly to form a new government

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The opposition leader who won Poland’s parliamentary election, Donald Tusk, appealed to the nation’s president Tuesday for “energetic and fast decisions” so that a new government could be formed quickly. Three opposition parties that vowed to restore democratic standards in Poland together won over 54% of the votes in the nation’s weekend parliamentary election, putting them in a position to take power, according to a complete ballot count reported Tuesday.Poland’s constitution now requires President Andrzej Duda to assess the new political alignment of forces and to appoint a new prime minister who is tasked with forming a government that will need parliament’s approval, all within a set timeframe. In a video statement, Tusk appealed to Duda, saying, “I would like to ask for energetic and quick decisions” and stressing that “the winning democratic parties are ready to take over responsibility for governing the country any moment.”...

Retail sales rise solid 0.7% in September, reflecting US shoppers’ resilience despite higher prices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans showed their steadfast resilience and kept spending online, at restaurants and other outlets in September even as they grappled with higher prices, interest rates and a host of other headwinds piling up.Retail sales rose 0.7% in September, more than twice what economists had expected, and close to a revised 0.8% bump in August, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. Retail sales in August were inflated after gasoline prices spiked, however. That was not the case in September when gas prices began to ease.A closely watched category of retail sales that excludes auto dealers, gas stations and building materials and feeds into the gross domestic product jumped 0.6% last month compared to the prior month.Spending at restaurants was up 0.9%, while spending online rose 1.1% last month, according to the report. Sales at general merchandise stores rose 0.4%. Business at grocery stores was up 0.4%. Sales at home furnishings and furniture stores were flat, while e...