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Rishi Sunak declares victory as fall in UK inflation rate meets his pledge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak now has at least one promise he can tell voters has been delivered: halving inflation.Figures released Wednesday morning by the Office for National Statistics show that the rate of price growth in the U.K., as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, fell to 4.6 percent in the year to October.That’s down from 6.7 percent in September. More significant politically, it meets the embattled U.K. prime minister’s goal set at the start of 2023 — when the CPI inflation rate topped 10 percent — of “halving inflation.”It’s one of the five big pledges he’s asked voters to hold him accountable for in the run-up to a tough election next year.Hitting the target — even as economists question just how much impact the government itself has had on prices — is a boost for Sunak, who has struggled to close the large polling lead the opposition Labour Party has over his governing Conservative Party.In a statement issued just as the figures dropped,...

San Diego events honor Padres owner Peter Seidler

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres community on Tuesday felt the impact of team chairman and owner Peter Seidler's death.Multiple events were put together in honor of the 63-year-old who died Tuesday. The news came following an announcement from the team in September claiming the two-time cancer survivor underwent an unidentified medical procedure and was on the road to recovery.Outside of Petco Park, fans laid out flowers in front of a portrait of Seidler. Padres pitcher Yu Darvish also stopped by to pay his respects at the makeshift memorial and expressed his grief on social media. Smart Streetlights, license plate readers coming to San Diego "My heart hurts with the unfortunate news of Peter Seidler’s passing. I’m sure everyone that knew him would agree with me when I say Peter was a truly wonderful human being, and being in his presence was always a blessing. He was a teacher of life, and taught me countless lessons form the all the interactions we had. May his beautiful soul rest in pea...

China and the US pledge to step up climate efforts ahead of Biden-Xi summit and UN meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China and the U.S. have pledged to accelerate their efforts to address climate change ahead of a major U.N. meeting on the issue, making a commitment to take steps to reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases besides carbon dioxide.The joint announcement came on the eve of a summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping that is aimed at stabilizing the rocky U.S.-China relationship.Cooperation between the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases is considered vital to the success of the U.N. climate talks opening in two weeks in Dubai. It wasn’t clear earlier this year whether the two governments would cooperate, given a sharp deterioration in ties over other issues including technology, Taiwan and Russia’s war in Ukraine.Both countries “are aware of the important role they play” and “will work together … to rise up to one of the greatest challenges of our time,” they said in a statement released Wednesday in Beijing a...

No Canadians appear in today’s list of approved names for Rafah border crossing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

No more Canadians have been approved to leave the Gaza Strip on Wednesday via the Rafah border crossing into Egypt, as hundreds of people connected to Canada continue to wait for help to leave.A total of 356 Canadians, permanent residents and family members have been able to leave the besieged Palestinian territory so far.No one connected to Canada had been cleared to leave on Tuesday, and the last group of 10 people made it across on Monday. Israel continues to wage war on Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for militants’ attacks on Israeli civilians on Oct. 7.Global Affairs Canada said in a statement to media late Tuesday afternoon that the Canadian government is in touch with 390 people who are still in Gaza.People who cross over are allowed to stay in Egypt for a maximum of three days, and Canadian officials are waiting on the Egyptian side of the border to help with travel, accommodation, food and basic necessities. This report by The Canadian Press was ...

Nuggets rally in fourth quarter to escape Clippers in in-season tournament after Paul George’s excellent game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

In a building where nobody seems to defeat Nikola Jokic, much less outplay him, Paul George and the new-look Clippers came as close as anyone has this young season.In one of the most physical, intense games so far of their title defense, the Nuggets escaped the Clippers, 111-108, with a 17-5 run to erase a seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter.Jokic finished with 32 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists but was contained to those numbers on 8-of-23 shooting thanks to a variety of coverages Los Angeles threw at him, culminating in smaller matchups down the stretch such as P.J. Tucker. The constant was physicality — the Clippers seemed content to send Jokic to the line if necessary in order to prevent him from having his way in the post. He didn’t score a field goal in the second half until midway through the fourth quarter, and he committed a costly turnover in the last 30 seconds that allowed Los Angeles to cut the lead to 109-108.George wedgied a would-be tying 3-poi...

Commission receives Finland's first payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

Finland's first payment request relates to 20 milestones, for a total amount of €198 million in grants.They cover several reforms related to the green transition, continuous learning and social, health care and rescue services, as well as calls for investments on green transition, research, development and investment (RDI), and the cultural and creative sectors. Payments under the RRF are performance-based and contingent on Finland implementing the investments and reforms outlined in its recovery and resilience plan.The Commission will now assess the request, and will then send its preliminary assessment of Finland's fulfilment of the milestones required for this payment to the Council's Economic and Financial Committee. More information on the process of the payment requests under the RRF is available in this Q&A. More information on the Finnish recovery and resilience plan is available here. 

Globe Theater Cancels Upcoming Events, May Be Closing Permanently

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

The Globe Theater in downtown Los Angeles has abruptly canceled its upcoming shows and is believed to be closing permanently.Wrestle Prestige, an independent professional wrestling promotion that hosts events regularly at the Globe, let its fans know there would be a change in its December “Combat Princess” show, citing the theater’s sudden and possibly permanent closure.“We were notified today that the Globe Theater in Los Angeles will be closing for good, immediately,” Wrestle Prestige wrote in an online post. “Over the next few days, we will work on moving the event and will update everyone accordingly.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prestige Wrestling (@wrestleprestige)Similarly, the theater was slated to host the “Electroton Rave” on Friday, Nov. 17, but the event’s coordinators announced it would be moved to The Catch One on West Pico Boulevard.The Globe Theater domain is no longer in service,...

San Jose Sharks’ third-period lead disappears before sparse SAP Center crowd

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

SAN JOSE – Like a game of whack-a-mole, as soon as the San Jose Sharks take steps to address one problem, another one always seems to pop up.The Sharks have spent hours — on the ice and in the video room — trying to squeeze some more production out of their often lifeless power play, which had become one of the least effective units in the NHL.The Sharks made strides in that area Tuesday against Florida, but their penalty kill was once again problematic, allowing two goals in what became a 5-3 loss to the Panthers before another sparse mid-week crowd at SAP Center.Tomas Hertl and Luke Kunin scored third-period goals 70 seconds apart, one on a power play and the other on a delayed penalty, to take a 4-3 lead with 12:39 left in regulation time.But a Marc-Edouard Vlasic tripping penalty preceded a Carter Verhaeghe power-play goal with 9:54 left in regulation time. Kevin Stenlund then scored just 63 seconds later at even strength on a shot from the point as the Panthers took...

Thomas, Sobel spark Sacred Heart over Holy Cross 84-77

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Tanner Thomas scored 21 points, Alex Sobel added a double-double and Sacred Heart beat Holy Cross 84-77 on Tuesday night.Thomas hit 7 of 14 shots with four 3-pointers for the Pioneers (2-1). Sobel finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Kyle McGee had 11 points and four assists, while Joey Reilly scored 10 with three steals.Caleb Kenny and Joe Octave both totaled 20 points and seven rebounds to lead the Crusaders (1-2). Will Batchelder added 18 points and four assists. Freshman Joe Nugent pitched in with 11 points and six boards.___Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here___AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballSource

Green ejected for headlock, Thompson, McDaniels tossed after scuffle in Timberwolves-Warriors game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:28 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Draymond Green was ejected after putting Rudy Gobert in a headlock and two other players were thrown out after an altercation early in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 104-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night.“Not much to say,” Gobert said. “That’s just clown behavior.”The game was still scoreless and not even two minutes had elapsed when Golden State’s Klay Thompson and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels got in a shoving match near midcourt following a Timberwolves possession. Gobert stepped in and grabbed hold of Thompson before Green rushed in and pulled Gobert away from behind with his arm around the center’s neck.Thompson’s jersey was ripped during the scuffle, which led to Green’s second ejection of the season and two free throws for Gobert.Golden State coach Steve Kerr said McDaniels instigated the altercation and Thompson should not have been ejected.“He’s running up the floor, and the guy grabs his jersey...