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Husband of former Tory peer admits making millions from COVID-era contracts

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

LONDON — A former Conservative peer’s husband admitted Sunday that he made millions of pounds from government contracts for personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Michelle Mone, an entrepreneur who was ennobled by former Prime Minister David Cameron, admitted she lied to the media about her involvement with her husband Doug Barrowman’s company PPE Medpro because she wanted to protect her family from press intrusion. Mone is currently taking a leave of absence from parliament, which means she does not attend sittings or debates, and cannot claim an allowance.Barrowman admitted he led the PPE Medpro consortium, despite no record of his connection being recorded on Companies House.The U.K. government revealed in 2021 that Mone had been the “source of referral” for PPE Medpro to a so-called “VIP lane,” set up to allow referrals of potential suppliers from MPs, peers, ministers and senior...

Red Sox shut out of All-MLB honors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

Major League Baseball announced its All-MLB teams late Saturday night, and no Red Sox players were among those selected as the best in baseball this season.The Red Sox had three finalists, including Rafael Devers at third base, Justin Turner at designated hitter and Chris Martin at relief pitcher, but none made the final cut.Atlanta’s Austin Riley and Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez were the First and Second Team picks at third base respectively, and Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez were honored at designated hitter. Baltimore’s Felix Bautista and San Diego’s Josh Hader were the First Team picks for relief pitcher and Milwaukee’s Devin Williams and Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase were the Second Team relievers.Established in 2019, the All-MLB teams factor in the totality of the season across both leagues and are determined half by fan vote and half by a panel of experts. The honors are divided between First and Second Team a...

Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns: Everything you need to know about the Week 15 game before kickoff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

The 5-8 Chicago Bears will play the 8-5 Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in a Week 15 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, FOX).5 things to watch — plus our predictionsThe last time Bears quarterback Justin Fields played the Browns in the regular season was his first career start on Sept. 26, 2021. It’s an impossible one to forget.Browns defensive end Myles Garrett recorded 4 1/2 of the Browns’ nine sacks against Fields, who completed just 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards under then-coach Matt Nagy. Fields lost 67 yards to the sacks.As the Bears return to Cleveland, Garrett, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, still is wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. He ranks seventh in the NFL with 13 sacks and is tied for fourth with 26 quarterback hits. Read more here.Bears Q&A: When would a potential Justin Fields trade take place? How realistic are their playoff chances?‘Nothing was given to him. He had to earn every...

How much gerrymandering is too much? In New York, the answer could make or break Dems’ House hopes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s highest court last week gave Democrats a chance to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a major victory as the party tries to win control of the U.S. House next year.Now the question is how far the state’s Democrat-dominated Legislature will try to push the boundaries in crucial battleground districts to give their party an advantage, and how far the courts will let them.The process will be closely watched for any sign of partisan gerrymandering — drawing lines that give one party an unfair advantage — which is forbidden by state law. And Republicans are expected to challenge the results in court as they try to retain their slim House majority.But experts say it’s unclear where the state’s highest court will land on determining what’s too partisan. “There’s no hard and fast definition or bright line to define partisan gerrymandering,” said New York Law School professor Jeffrey Wice, who focuses on redistrictin...

3-vehicle crash closes QEW at Burlington Skyway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

A three-vehicle crash has forced the closure of the Niagara-bound Queen Elizabeth Way at the Burlington Skyway on Sunday morning.Provincial police say two people were taken to hospital, one with serious injuries while another suffered minor injuries. A third person did not report any injuries.Police did not provide any further details as to what may have led up to the crash except to say that a tractor-trailer and two other vehicles were involved.The highway remains closed as police work to wrap up their investigation.

Russia’s ruling party backs Putin’s reelection bid while a pro-peace candidate clears first hurdle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Delegates from Russia’s ruling party unanimously backed President Vladimir Putin ’s bid for reelection at a party conference in Moscow on Sunday, state agencies reported, just a day after the Kremlin leader’s supporters formally nominated him to run in the 2024 presidential election as an independent.A little-known Russian presidential hopeful who calls for peace in Ukraine also inched closer towards formally registering as a candidate, securing a nomination from a group of more than 500 supporters in the Russian capital.Dmitry Medvedev, United Russia’s chairman and a former Russian president and prime minister, called on fellow party members to “mobilize all activists and supporters” in support of Putin before the vote, scheduled for March 15-17, according to reports by Russian state agencies. In a speech at the conference, Medvedev referred to Putin as “our candidate,” and asserted that his reelection for a fifth term as head of state “should be absolutely logical, l...

North Korea fires a ballistic missile toward the sea as South Korea and US step up deterrence plans

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday fired a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters, South Korea said, in a possible display of defiance against the latest steps by Washington and Seoul to tighten their nuclear deterrence plans against North Korean threats.South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang at around 10:38 p.m. and that it presumes the weapon to be short-range. It said the South Korean military was sharing the launch information with the United States and Japan while maintaining readiness against the possibility of further North Korean military activities.Japan’s coast guard, citing the Defense Ministry, said the weapon was believed to have already landed, but it didn’t immediately provide more details.Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in years, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accelerating the expansion of his nuclear and missile program, and flaunting an esca...

Weekend Break: Jack Frost Christmas Pop-Up Market

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

Join Weekend Break with Courtney Spinelli where she visits the outdoor Jack Frost Christmas pop-up Market in Fulton Market.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Winter White Wines

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

If you're looking for the perfect wine pairing look no further than Winter White Wines.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Sunday Brunch: Seasonal peppermint mocha cheesecake, cinnamon swirl pancakes with The Cheesecake Factory

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:22:49 GMT

The Cheesecake Factory joins WGN Weekend Morning News' Sunday Brunch to share a special recipe of their classic cinnamon swirl pancakes and their seasonal peppermint mocha cheesecake.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.