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Can he fix it? Rishi Sunak the problem-solver, rated

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak is having a good 2023 — so far.Since taking office late last year, the British prime minister has been wading through the intimidating in-tray he inherited from his predecessors Liz Truss and Boris Johnson.After the chaos of Johnson’s scandal-stuffed time in office and the nightmare Truss weeks in Downing Street, Sunak’s No. 10 operation has attempted to emphasize the new leader’s competence and apparent capacity for problem-solving. So how does he stack up? Let POLITICO guide you — ably assisted by the refrain from classic kids’ TV show Bob the Builder, natch.Brexit, done?The vast majority of Sunak’s Tory MPs greeted his Windsor Framework deal on post-Brexit trading arrangements in Northern Ireland with glee, seeing it as salving one of the remaining running sores left by the U.K.’s exit from the EU. The striking of the deal in February even saw the British PM appear in a pally joint press conference with the EU’s Ursul...

ICC issues arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over child deportations from Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant Friday for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the forced transfer of children to Russia after the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.Ukrainians accuse Russia of attempting genocide against them and seeking to destroy their identity — partly through deporting children to Russia. Putin is “allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children)” and that of “unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation,” the Hague-based court said in a statement Friday.“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr. Putin bears individual criminal responsibility” for these crimes, the statement read.The Russian president, the court argued, failed “to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts” and who were “under his effective authority and ...

‘Shitshow’: Key UN climate report was delayed by scientist strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

The global body drafting the U.N.’s biggest climate science report faces intense criticism ahead of the publication of its latest landmark report, with one author describing a “total shitshow” following a strike by scientists.The final instalment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth major assessment of the state of the climate — due to be released Monday — was originally scheduled to land in October 2022. But the report’s publication was delayed, a move the IPCC at the time blamed on “operational reasons.” The delay upset countries, scientists and green campaigners who had counted on having the report in hand going into global U.N. climate talks in Egypt in November.Now, minutes from a meeting in September recently uploaded to the IPCC website, detail how scientists “paused” their work on the report in protest over an “abrupt change” in support personnel.Former Swiss government scientist Jose Rome...

Building declared total loss after raging fire burns through Lawrence liquor store, bakery

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

Crews battled a raging fire at Sweeney’s Package Store on Essex Street in Lawrence Friday morning. Firefighters responded to the scene around 4 a.m. and stayed on scene for hours to extinguish the blaze. Witnesses saw the roof cave in and flames burst out from the liquor store and a cake shop next door. The fire caused the back of the building to collapse. Firefighters could only fight the flames from the outside. According to the Chief Brian Moriarty, fighting the fire was especially difficult because there were no sprinklers in the liquor store. “We had pretty heavy smoke conditions in not only the cake factory, but the package store behind us,” Moriarty said. “As it turns out, we think the majority of the fire was in the package store, but it’s just that the alarms in the cake factory are what notified us.”Officials say no injuries were reported, but the building is a total loss. The owner of Sweet Grace Heavenly Cakes spoke with 7NEWS on scene...

Silicon Valley Bank’s former parent company has filed for bankruptcy protection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

(CNN) — SVB Financial Group, the company that owned the failed Silicon Valley Bank until the US government took it over last week, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.Silicon Valley Bank was not included in the bankruptcy filing in New York on Friday. Also not included in the Chapter 11 process are venture capital company SVB Capital and broker-dealer business SVB Securities, which will remain operational.Trading of the company’s stock has been halted since Thursday, and a bankruptcy was largely expected.“The Chapter 11 process will allow SVB Financial Group to preserve value as it evaluates strategic alternatives for its prized businesses and assets, especially SVB Capital and SVB Securities,” said William Kosturos, chief restructuring officer for SVB Financial Group, in a statement.“SVB Capital and SVB Securities continue to operate and serve clients, led by their longstanding and independent leadership teams,” he added.SVB Financial ...

Mike Gesicki leaves Dolphins in free agency, signs with rival Patriots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

The expectation with tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason is now reality. His time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an end.Gesicki is departing in free agency to join the New England Patriots, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday morning. The talented 6-foot-6 pass-catcher’s new contract is for one year and $9 million.That was a price the Dolphins were unlikely to pay after Gesicki and coach Mike McDaniel’s offense, in which blocking at the tight end position is paramount, did not mesh.“We always say, ‘Never say never,’ around anything,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said weeks ago of Gesicki, when speaking at the NFL scouting combine, “but he’s earned the right [to be a free agent] and I’m sure he’s excited to see what his free agency options are.“I don’t know what his price range would be, but he’s been a good player in the league. He’s been a productive player, and I’m...

ASK IRA: Are Heat now banking on Kyle Lowry as their missing piece?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

Q: Is Erik Spoelstra seeing a good 20 to 30 minutes per playoff game out of Kyle Lowry where he’s close to old form (dictating tempo, getting 12 points, including a couple of threes, low turnovers, a steal or two, and maybe six assists)? And the question for you: Would he be right in thinking that? Do you believe a healthy and effective Lowry would be enough to at least get us to and into a competitive second-round series? – Phillip, San Francisco.A: I’m not sure that Erik Spoelstra has a definitive read on Kyle Lowry just three games back after a month out. You will know the confidence has reached the next level when Kyle is back in the starting lineup. But, yes, Spoelstra certainly is hoping for something similar to what you postulate, if only because there really is not a Plan B. In other words, if you shuffle out Kyle because of ongoing injury concern, who do you shuffle into the equation at point guard along with Gabe Vincent? And, yes, if Kyle takes a step ba...

As Ravens QB Lamar Jackson explores options, those who dealt with NFL franchise tag offer insight into unique process

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

Wally Williams knows the feelings Lamar Jackson might be experiencing.In the Ravens’ 28-year history, seven players have received the franchise tag. Williams, who spent 10 years in the NFL, including three in Baltimore from 1996 to 1998 before retiring after the 2002 season, was the first.“The part that every player ends up having a problem with is, no matter who it is, with the negotiation process and trying to find a number that’s good for you for that long-term contract,” the former offensive lineman said from his home in Florida. “It’s great to have a home; you just wanna know it’s there for more than a year. I was no different. I wanted to call Baltimore home. I was not intending to leave there.”But after starting 13 games in 1998 under the tag, Williams signed a five-year, $18 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. Two seasons later, the Ravens won their first Super Bowl.“New Orleans had a number that Baltimore, which ha...

Silicon Valley Bank parent company files for bankruptcy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

The parent of Silicon Valley Bank filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a week after the tech-focused bank failed and was seized by the U.S. government.The filing from SVB Financial Group on Friday is not a surprise, with much of the company now under the control of U.S. banking regulators. During the 2008 financial crisis, the parent companies of failed banks Washington Mutual and IndyMac — filed for bankruptcy protection in the days after their banking operations failed.Also, Silicon Valley Bank along with its CEO and its chief financial officer were targeted this week in a class action lawsuit that claims the company didn’t disclose the risks that future interest rate increases would have on its business.SVB Financial Group is no longer affiliated with Silicon Valley Bank after its seizure by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The bank’s successor, Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, is being run under the jurisdiction of the FDIC and is not included in the Chapter 11 filin...

Man suspected of shooting at police helicopter arrested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:06 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was arrested after allegedly firing a shot at a police helicopter that was flying above the Rolando neighborhood on Thursday, authorities said.The suspect reportedly made a call to the San Diego Police Department shortly after 3:20 p.m. and stated that his boat and vehicle were towed without warning, officials explained. Authorities say the man threatened to start shooting people and then hung up the phone. Man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping; police find dead woman in home According to SDPD, the address of the call was in the 6100 block of Tarragona Drive. A short time later at 3:50 p.m., police say a nearby neighbor called to report hearing multiple gunshots near the original address.At that time, a SDPD helicopter was dispatched to the address with three police officers, a pilot and two tactical flight officers on board. Officials say a man was seen in the front yard of the residence. As the helicopter circled overhead, the man fired what authorities desc...