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Every bill in the King’s Speech, reviewed and rated

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

LONDON – This is the list of new laws Rishi Sunak hopes will save his skin come election-time.Tuesday’s King’s Speech — in which King Charles III read out the British government’s legislative agenda for the crucial pre-election term ahead — was packed with promises from Sunak’s Conservative Party.With the clock ticking down to an election which must be held before the end of January 2025, the King’s Speech was a chance for Sunak to set out his priorities and draw dividing lines with the opposition Labour Party, who are ascendant in the polls. The speech was divided under three headers — “strengthening society,” “growing the economy” and “keeping people safe.” Beyond that boilerplate, there was plenty to get stuck into. Here’s POLITICO’s bill-by-bill guide to what’s just been announced, what it all means — and how likely it is to trigger a political bunfight.‘Growing the economy’WPA pool photo by Joe Gidens/Getty ImagesOffshore Petroleum Licens...

Portuguese police raid Prime Minister António Costa’s residence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

Portuguese police raided Prime Minister António Costa’s official residence on Tuesday and detained his chief of staff, Vítor Escária, as part of a corruption investigation. The probe is linked to lithium exploration schemes in the north of Portugal and a green hydrogen mega-project in Sines. Police searches of the prime minister’s residence and the Ministries of Environment and Infrastructure are ongoing.This story is being updated.

Voters heading to polls to voice their choice in races across Mass.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

Bay State voters will be heading to the polls Tuesday to decide several key races, including who will occupy four Boston City Council seats, some big mayoral elections, and an open state Senate seat.Polls open at 7 a.m., elections are being held in 80 Massachusetts communities. In Boston, at least four city councilors will be replaced. Worcester, Revere, and Waltham are among the communities with mayoral elections, and there is a Special Election for the Worcester and Hampshire Senate district.Most polls close at 8 p.m.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest Election Day results.

Medway family back home in Mass. after being trapped in Gaza for weeks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

A family from Medway is back home in Massachusetts after weeks of uncertainty stuck in Gaza. The Okal family had been visiting relatives when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7. The family was subsequently stranded in the area with limited power, food, and water. On Tuesday, a representative of the Okal family told 7NEWS Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son Yousef had finally landed at Logan Airport. At one point in recent weeks, the Okal family had been staying in a single-family house with 40 other people, including 10 Americans.After several failed attempts to escape, the family managed to safely cross into Egypt last week.The family representative said the family was incredibly thankful to be back in Medway.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Showers to Sun, Mild Today

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

Early morning showers continue to zip through southern New England this morning as the steadiest rain is across Southeast Mass, through 9am. Near and north of the Mass Pike, showers are more isolated in nature to start the day. By 9am, most of the rain is offshore, with the exception of a lingering shower across the Cape. Even there, we’ll dry out late morning/afternoon. As we dry out, clouds break for some sun by midday. Temps jump up, spiking into the mid to upper 60s. The winds jump up too, gusting 25-35mph out of the southwest. Winds shift to the northwest tomorrow as colder air starts to pour in tonight. We stay chillier for the rest of the 7 day forecast as highs generally run below average as highs top off in the 40s to near 50. In fact, it’ll be cold enough Thursday morning that some sleet/snow will be in the mix across the interior, especially the higher terrain. Accumulations are minor, less than an inch, but certainly a sign of the seasons changing. For most ...

Rhode Island could elect its first Black representative to Congress

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

Rhode Island voters could make history Tuesday by electing the state’s first Black representative to Congress or return the seat last held by Republicans in the 1990s to a GOP candidate.Democrat Gabe Amo and Republican Gerry Leonard are vying for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District seat. The winner will fill the office left vacant when former Democratic Rep. David Cicilline stepped down this summer to become president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation.Amo, 35, grew up in Pawtucket as the son of Ghanaian and Liberian immigrants. He emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic field in the September primary, claiming more than 32% of the vote.The former White House aide served in the Obama and Biden administrations, most recently as deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He also served in the administration of former Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo.Amo, who went to Wheaton College and studied public policy at Oxford Univers...

Edwards scores 38, Wolves hand Celtics 1st loss with 114-109 OT victory

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored eight of his 38 points in overtime, and the Minnesota Timberwolves sent the Boston Celtics to their first loss of the season with a 114-109 win on Monday night.Jaden McDaniels added 20 points, and Rudy Gobert added 14 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota improved to 4-0 at home in a third consecutive victory.Naz Reid scored 10 of his 14 points in the first quarter and helped the Timberwolves overcome foul trouble for Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with seven points in just 28 minutes before fouling out in overtime.“They’re a championship-level team,” Gobert said. “They find ways to always stay in the game, always never giving up. We did the same. A lot of things didn’t go our way, but whoever came on the floor was ready to do what we do, was ready to bring us something.”Jayson Tatum had 32 points and Jaylen Brown added 26 for the Celtics. Boston’s 6-0 start was its best since 2009-10.Kristaps Porzingis, who was questionable before the...

Governors’ races, abortion in Ohio and Virginia’s legislature are on the ballot. Follow live updates

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

Off-year elections held Tuesday will decide governors in Kentucky and Mississippi, the fate of abortion and marijuana amendments in Ohio, legislative control in Virginia and mayoral races in two of the nation’s biggest cities. Follow along for the latest updates.What to knowThe Kentucky governor’s race nears the finish line after a hard-fought campaignMississippi voters weigh whether to replace the GOP governor with Elvis’ cousinVirginia’s governor calls the state’s legislative races the ‘most important elections in America’ Ohio voters will decide whether to enshrine abortion rights in their state’s constitution Polls begin to open on Election DayPolls have begun to open in a few states for off-year elections that could give hints of voter sentiment ahead of next year’s critical presidential contest.In Kentucky, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear is hoping that his support of abortion rights will persuade voters in his Republican-leaning state to look ...

German federal court denies 2 seriously ill men direct access to lethal drug dose

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A German federal court on Tuesday denied two seriously ill men direct access to a lethal dose of a drug, arguing that the country’s narcotics law stands in the way and that they could turn to assisted suicide to end their lives.The two men, one of whom has advanced multiple sclerosis and the other of whom has been through cancer, sought permission to acquire lethal doses of natrium-pentobarbital. Their applications were rejected, as were appeals to lower courts. The Federal Administrative Court agreed, citing a clause in the narcotics law which states that permission will be refused if an application doesn’t comply with the legislation’s purpose “to ensure the required medical care of the population” and prevent the abuse of drugs. It said that the refusal can be reconciled with the constitutional right to a “self-determined death” because there are “other reasonable possibilities to fulfill their wish to die.”The court pointed to a “realistic possibi...

UBS reports pre-tax loss in 3Q but says benefits of Credit Suisse merger gather steam

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:11 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — UBS reported Tuesday a $255 million pre-tax loss as the giant Swiss bank shed some 4,000 jobs globally, cut costs faster than expected, and reaped billions in asset inflows in the third quarter while moving forward with its government-orchestrated merger with rival Credit Suisse.The Zurich-based bank said underlying profit before taxes came in at $884 million in the first full quarter since the merger was completed in June. Government authorities in Bern shepherded through the deal with bank chiefs to stave off a collapse of Credit Suisse and avert a financial crisis.UBS, which is striving to rid of overlap between the two former rival banks, said underlying operating expenses of $1.2 billion in non-core, legacy operation stemmed from efforts to reduce headcount and outsourcing costs. The bank said it was one quarter ahead of schedule in reaping savings from the restructuring operations, and the headcount was down more than 4,000 during the third quarter. UBS tallied $...