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PMQs scorecard: Rishi Sunak tests a new nickname for Keir Starmer amid crime clash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s session in POLITICO U.K.’s weekly run-through.What they sparred about: After a brief — and somewhat half-hearted — grilling on the state of other public services, Labour’s Keir Starmer neatly segued on to the key focus of controversial attack ads his party has been pushing: crime. Taking aim at the prime minister on sentencing laws and court backlogs, Starmer accused Rishi Sunak of “letting violent criminals go free.”New nickname alert: A prepared Sunak had clearly workshopped a new nickname for Starmer. “That’s why they call him Sir Softie — soft on crime, soft on criminals,” Sunak said, pointing out that Labour voted against the government’s sentencing reforms. Jury’s out on whether that one survives to next week. Biggest elephant in the room: The standards commissioner ethics probe into Sun...

Brussels to propose tariffs on some Ukrainian farm products

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

The European Commission looks set to give in to some demands from Eastern EU member countries and introduce tariffs on imports of Ukrainian wheat, maize, sunflower and rapeseed, it said Wednesday.The announcement comes as Brussels scrutinizes restrictions imposed by Poland, Hungary and Slovakia on Ukrainian produce in response to a supply glut resulting from Russia’s war of aggression and delays to exports through the Black Sea. Bulgaria also imposed restrictions Wednesday and Romania is considering following suit.In a letter to the five countries, the Commission has proposed “preventative measures” on imports of Ukrainian maize, wheat, sunflower and rapeseed, spokesperson Dana Spinant told a daily briefing. The EU executive envisages imposing customs duties on these products, according to spokesperson Miriam Garcia Ferrer.The Commission proposal will be discussed during a meeting of Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis and ...

Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith dies aged 31

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

(CNN) — Former NFL defensive end Chris Smith has died, his former agent said on Tuesday. Smith was 31. The cause of his death is not yet known.Drew Rosenhaus of RSR Sports tweeted, “Rest in Peace Chris. Condolences to all his family, friends and loved ones. We will miss you.”Smith’s high school alma mater also posted about his passing. “Rest in Peace to a West Rowan Legend!,” West Rowan Football’s account wrote on Twitter. “Chris was a better person than he was player! The impact he had on those around him will be remembered forever!”Smith played in the XFL, a professional football league, as recently as Sunday when his Seattle Sea Dragons team defeated the St. Louis Battlehawks 30-12 in St. Louis.“Chris was a powerful presence in the locker room,” the XFL said in a statement to CNN. “Loved and admired by his teammates and the coaching staff. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire...

Vermont man convicted by jury of kidnapping woman and son

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A 45-year-old man was convicted by a jury Tuesday of kidnapping a woman and her 4-year-old son by forcing them into her car outside a New Hampshire mall and bringing them to Vermont while he was searching for his estranged wife.The Vermont office of the United States Attorney said the federal court jury returned the guilty verdicts against Everett Simpson on two counts of kidnapping and two counts of interstate car theft. The case went to the jury earlier Tuesday.“Although the harms suffered by Everett Simpson’s victims are indelible, today’s across-the-board guilty verdict represents a significant step in holding Everett Simpson responsible for the heinous crimes he committed on Jan. 5, 2019,” the statement said.Simpson faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and could be sentenced to life. Sentencing will come at a later date.Simpson admitted before the jury on Monday that he left a Vermont drug treatment center shortly after he was dropped off there on ...

New Hampshire lawmakers debate parents’ rights, trans youth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Parents seeking more control over schools and those trying to protect transgender youth converged at the New Hampshire Statehouse on Tuesday as lawmakers again took up what has become a national debate.Both the New Hampshire Senate and the U.S. House passed legislation last month to create a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” similar to those that already have been enacted in multiple states.While the federal bill has little chance in the Democrat-run U.S. Senate, the New Hampshire version could prevail. Republicans hold a thin majority in the House, and, according to the state GOP chairman, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu supports it.Much of the debate has focused on provisions to require school officials — when asked by parents — to disclose that a child is using a different name or being referred to as being a different gender. Ahead of a public hearing on the bill Tuesday, supporters attending an outdoor rally held signs reading “PRO PARENT ANTI SECRETS” and “...

How Giancarlo Stanton’s absence could impact Anthony Volpe, DJ LeMahieu

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

Life without Giancarlo Stanton means different looks for the Yankees lineup.With the designated hitter/outfielder suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain over the weekend, Aaron Boone said that he’s more open to configurations that feature Anthony Volpe in the leadoff spot and DJ LeMahieu in the middle of the order. Tuesday’s series-opener against the Angels had the rookie Volpe hitting first and playing shortstop, while LeMahieu batted fifth and manned third base.The Yankees also used the two in those slots on Sunday, the day after Stanton hurt his hammy.“You could see that some, yeah. That’s certainly possible,” Boone said Tuesday before the game. “I potentially like that.”Already accustomed to moving around defensively, the versatile LeMahieu has been the Bombers’ go-to leadoff man since his first season with the team in 2019. Volpe, meanwhile, has mostly hit ninth to begin his big league career, though the 21-year-old has led off...

How Dansby Swanson’s 5-minute routine helps the Chicago Cubs shortstop — and other infielders — stay ready on defense

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

Nearly three hours before first pitch, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson trekked from the outfield batting cages to the grass in front of the visitors dugout at Oakland Coliseum.He signaled to major-league coach Jonathan Mota, who already had two practice mitts ready for Swanson on top of a white towel, his blue Fungo bat laying adjacent.Over the next five minutes, Swanson progressed through a sequence of defensive drills and fielded roughly 55 hops off Mota’s Fungo. He incorporated a small tan glove and a black flat mitt to force precision, centering the ball to field it cleanly. The smaller surface doesn’t leave much room for error. Movements must be short with clean footwork. The short hops simulate the last hop an infielder could see off ground balls in a game.The drills help create confidence for different types of plays an infielder could encounter. It turns in-game reads into second-nature adaptability when a ball takes a tough hop.“It really gets you in...

Clayton Kershaw reminds Buck Showalter of Orel Hershiser after Dodgers ace dominates Mets for win No. 200

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The Mets were on the wrong end of Clayton Kershaw’s masterpiece in a 5-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.It was a vintage performance from a future Hall of Fame pitcher.The win was No. 200 for the 35-year-old left-hander. Kershaw (3-1) may not have the velocity that he once had but his command, pitch selection and pace flummoxed the Mets on Tuesday, much the way he’s flummoxed the entire league since his rookie season in 2008.“He threw a lot of strikes and he was missing barrels,” said outfielder Brandon Nimmo. “He got a lot of outs very quickly. He did a very good job and there’s a reason he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. There’s a reason he’s still in the game.”It reminded Buck Showalter of another Dodgers great.“I was thinking about Orel Hershiser,” Showalter said. “If you have command of three you can dominate, if you have command of two you can wi...

Julius Randle says late flagrant foul by Jarrett Allen was ‘A little unnecessary’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

CLEVELAND — A hard contest in garbage time led to a flagrant foul for Jarrett Allen and a soft warning from Julius Randle that the next game isn’t too far away.“We’ll go back to the Garden,” Randle said, " and see him there.”Randle flew for a breakaway dunk with 2:22 remaining and the Knicks trailing Tuesday’s Game 2 by 23 points. Allen, the Cavs center, trailed and met Randle at the rim, sending the Knicks power forward falling to the court on his back.The referees reviewed the play and assessed a flagrant, and Randle yelled at both Allen and toward the Cavs bench after standing up.“I thought it was a little unnecessary,” Randle said. “I understand playoff basketball. You don’t give up on plays and I respect that. I’m somebody who doesn’t give up on plays. Typically when you make those type of plays, you go across their body, not through them. But it’s fine. It’s irrelevant.”Randle,...

Grocery retailer Metro reports Q2 profits up 10% from year ago, as sales rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:24:33 GMT

MONTREAL — Metro Inc. says its profits rose 10.4 per cent to $218.8 million in its latest quarter, up from $198.1 million in the same quarter last year, as its sales rose 6.6 per cent.The grocery and drugstore retailer said Wednesday the profit amounted to 93 cents per diluted share for the 12-week period ended March 11, up from 82 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Sales in what was the company’s second quarter totalled $4.55 billion, up from $4.27 billion in the same quarter last year.The increase in sales came as food same-store sales rose 5.8 per cent compared with a year earlier, while pharmacy same-store sales gained 7.3 per cent.On an adjusted basis, Metro said it earned 96 cents per diluted share, up from 84 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Analysts on average had expected an adjusted profit of 94 cents per share, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.“Our teams continued to deliver value to our customers in the current high food inflation ...