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Rishi Sunak to face COVID-19 inquiry grilling next week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to face a grilling by the country’s official COVID-19 inquiry next week.Sunak, who was chancellor during the pandemic, will appear on Monday morning for a day-long hearing on his handling of the crisis.While many of the most uncomfortable questions at the inquiry have focused on his predecessor and former boss, Boris Johnson, Sunak is unlikely to face an easy ride. The COVID-19 inquiry has already heard claims that Sunak, then running the finance ministry, fought hard to lift restrictions at crucial stages.Diary entries from former Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said Sunak used “pure dogma” and scant evidence to argue against curbs to deal with a resurgence of COVID cases in October 2021.His flagship scheme to reopen the British economy during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic — dubbed “Eat Out To Help Out” — was described as “highly likely” to have led to increased deaths.

Restaurant review: Los Chiringuitos

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

Place de la Liberté 9What’s hot: From the warm welcome, to the choice of music and serving sizes, Los Chiringuitos does not disappoint. According to the owner, Xavier, tapas-style dishes from around the world are the inspiration, so you can be sure to find a range of options. On the menu are well-executed Spanish classics such as patatas bravas, but also more unexpected dishes like Camembert à la truffe, an addictive baked cheese dish with truffle, or a tasty pulled pork. The star of our evening was the Artichauts à l’ail, garlicky baked artichokes with crispy outer leaves and a juicy interior which was bursting with flavor. The cocktails were beautiful, tasty and not too strong. What’s not: Service is generally fast, but this can also make you feel a little rushed, as they try to make room for the next diners.Vibe: Great music, decoration and very friendly and accommodating staff make for a pleasant experience. Tables fill up quickly in this small...

Takeaways from the fourth Republican presidential debate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

(CNN) — The explosive fourth Republican presidential debate Wednesday night made plain why former President Donald Trump has so far skipped the 2024 primary debate circuit.The four contenders onstage — former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy — spent most of the two-hour debate hammering each other.Amid the smallest debate field so far and facing mounting pressure with Iowa’s caucuses less than six weeks away, the candidates were able to showcase their policy beliefs and explore major differences. There were also a series of memorable personal shots.Ramaswamy referred to Haley as “lipstick on a Dick Cheney.” Christie mocked Ramaswamy’s “smartass mouth.” DeSantis said Haley “caves every time the left comes after her.”“I love the attention, fellas. Thank you for that,” Haley shot back.What their clash in Alabama, hosted by NewsNation, made plain...

US military grounds Osprey fleet after crash off coast of Japan kills 8 US airmen

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

(CNN) — The US military is grounding its entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys, a week after an Air Force CV-22 crashed off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, resulting in the deaths of all eight airmen aboard the aircraft.Air Force Special Operations Command said in a release Wednesday evening that Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, commander of AFSOC, directed an “operational standdown” of the Air Force’s CV-22 fleet “to mitigate risk while the investigation continues” into last week’s crash. Naval Air Systems Command also said Wednesday it was grounding the Navy and Marine Corps’ V-22s out of “an abundance of caution” as the CV-22 crash is investigated.“Preliminary investigation information indicates a potential materiel failure caused the mishap, but the underlying cause of the failure is unknown at this time,” a Navy news release said.Immediately following the crash last week, the government of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture requested that all Ospreys on the island chain be g...

Azerbaijan to hold snap presidential election on February 7, shortly before Russia’s vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

President Ilham Aliyev has ordered Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission to prepare for an early presidential election on Feb. 7, shortly ahead of Russia’s presidential election on March 17.The order was published on the presidential website but did not explain why Aliyev had called an early vote. The next presidential election had been scheduled to be held in 2025. Aliyev’s popularity in Azerbaijan has recently increased after the government took full control of the Karabakh region following a lightning rout of ethnic Armenian forces.In November, he presided over a military parade through Khankendi, the capital of the Karabakh region, telling spectators that “we showed the whole world the strength, determination and indomitable spirit of the Azerbaijani people.”Khankendi, which Armenians called Stepanakert, was the headquarters of the self-declared separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh. The region and sizable surrounding territory came under control of ethnic Arm...

Strikes on Gaza’s southern edge sow fear in one of the last areas to which people can flee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces struck the southern Gaza town of Rafah twice overnight, residents said Thursday, sowing fear in one of the last places where civilians could seek refuge after Israel widened its offensive against Hamas to areas already packed with displaced people. United Nations officials say there are no safe places in Gaza. Heavy fighting in and around the southern city of Khan Younis has displaced tens of thousands of people in a territory where over 80% of the population has already fled their homes, and cut most of Gaza off from deliveries of food, water and other vital aid.Two months into the war, the grinding offensive has set off renewed alarms internationally, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres using a rarely exercised power to warn the Security Council of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe” and urging members to demand a cease-fire.The United States has called on Israel to limit civilian deaths and displacement, saying too many Palesti...

UK leader Rishi Sunak faces a Conservative crisis over his blocked plan to send migrants to Rwanda

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was struggling to avert a leadership crisis on Thursday after his plan to revive a blocked asylum deal with Rwanda triggered turmoil in his party and the resignation of his immigration minister.Robert Jenrick quit the government late Wednesday, saying a bill designed to override a court block on the Rwanda plan “does not go far enough” and won’t work.He said the government had pledged to “stop the boats” bringing migrants to Britain across the English Channel and must do “whatever it takes to deliver this commitment.”The plan to send asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda is central to the U.K. government’s self-imposed goal of stopping unauthorized asylum-seekers crossing the Channel from France.Britain and Rwanda agreed on a deal in April 2022 under which migrants who cross the Channel would be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.Last month the U.K. Supreme Court ruled...

In the news for today: Ottawa oil and gas cap plans; AFN still looking for new Chief

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Feds to publish oil and gas cap plans todayThe federal Liberals will finally provide details on their long-promised oil and gas emissions cap today.The policy is a critical piece of Canada’s long-term emissions reduction plan but today’s framework will show the sector won’t be asked to cut emissions as deeply as previously thought.The 2022 emissions reduction plan anticipated regulating that emissions from oil and gas in 2030 fall more than 40 per cent from current levels.Industry balked at that demand, saying it could not cut that much in just seven years without also cutting production.The government compromised and lowered its expectations in a bid to make the cap feasible without affecting production.AFN assembly continues without new national chiefThe Assembly of First Nations’ special chiefs assembly continues in Ottawa Thursday wi...

Russian schoolgirl shoots several classmates, leaving 1 dead, before killing herself

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian schoolgirl shot several of her classmates with a gun on Thursday, killing one person and injuring five others, before killing herself, state news agencies and authorities said.The shooting happened at a school in Bryansk, in a region that borders Ukraine, Russia’s Investigative Committee said. Children were reportedly among the wounded.One of the people injured was in serious condition, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti said.Video shared by Ria Novosti showed children cowered in a classroom behind a door barricaded with upended desks and chairs during the attack.Preliminary investigations found that the 14-year-old girl had brought a pump-action shotgun to the school that she used to fire at her classmates, Russia’s Investigative Committee said. The girl’s father was taken for questioning as a witness, RIA Novosti said. Investigators also wanted to ask him how his daughter came into possession of the gun, the Telegram channel Shot reported.The presi...

Turkish President Erdogan visits Greece in an effort to mend strained relations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:53:36 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Greece on Thursday on a trip designed to mend strained relations between the two nations and with hopes of resetting ties with Western allies.Despite deep-rooted differences between the two neighboring NATO members, Erdogan promised to a “win-win” approach that could lay the foundation for broader cooperation.Security was tight in the Greek capital, with major roads shut to traffic in central Athens as the Turkish president headed to meetings with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Erdogan was accompanied on his trip by several ministers, with joint Cabinet talks with Greek ministers and the signing of several cooperation agreements on the agenda.The significance of improved relations extends beyond bilateral ties and could help Turkey mend rocky relationships with the European Union and other Western allies. One crucial agreement in Athens focuses on migration, esta...