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UK’s human rights watchdog slams Rishi Sunak’s small boats bill

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak’s flagship bill aimed at curbing cross-Channel migration risks breaching international human rights law, the U.K.’s official rights watchdog warned Monday.In a sharply critical statement ahead of fresh parliamentary scrutiny of the Illegal Migration Bill, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it was “seriously concerned” the plan risks placing the U.K. in breach of its obligations.Sunak unveiled the plan in March as part of efforts to cut the number of people using small boats to make the dangerous crossing from French to British shores. The proposed law effectively bans those arriving in the U.K. on small boats from claiming asylum altogether, and sharply curtails routes to challenge U.K. asylum decisions.Ahead of the bill’s report stage in the House of Commons Tuesday, the EHRC spelled out several “key areas of concern,” including reduced protections for victims of trafficking and modern slavery and the pote...

Neighbors on edge after Hyde Park shooting that left 2 men dead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

Neighbors are on edge after a shooting in Hyde Park that left two men dead Saturday night. Officers responding to a reported shooting in the area of 36 Dedham St. around 9:30 p.m. found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside a vehicle, according to Boston police. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His name has not been released.While on scene, officers learned of another victim who had walked into Milton Hospital with a gunshot wound and also died of his injuries. A preliminary investigation suggests that death is likely related to the Hyde Park incident, police said.The second victim’s name has also not been released.Joseph Baggs, who was nearby at the time of the shooting, said he heard what he thought was banging on the window.“I got really nervous,” he said. Baggs said he looked out the window and saw two cars involved. “Then I see a car hit that pole and a car drive off that way, cop cars show up and the...

Beer brewed 86 years ago for Edward VIII’s canceled coronation goes on sale

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

(CNN) — Bottles of beer brewed 86 years ago for the coronation of Edward VIII, but which were left unopened upon the event’s cancellation, will go on sale next month.Edward VIII ascended to the British throne in January 1936 following the death of his father, George V. But he abdicated in December of that year ahead of his coronation so that he could marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.The “Coronation Ale” made to celebrate his crowning was therefore never sold — and only discovered 75 years later when work was being carried out in 2011 in the cellars of the Greene King brewery in the southeastern English town of Bury St Edmunds.Several crates of the beer will be auctioned by the pub company on May 5, the day before the coronation of King Charles III, commemorating the occasion, Greene King said in a press release Tuesday.The proceeds from the sale will go to The Prince’s Trust charity, which was founded by the King to support yo...

Zendaya and Sia join Labrinth on stage for surprise Coachella performance

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

(CNN) — They’re doing it all for us.“Euphoria” star Zendaya surprised festival-goers on Saturday night during Labrinth’s Coachella Weekend 2 set to sing two songs they collaborated on from the hit HBO show. (HBO is owned by CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)Clad in a pink corseted dress, Zendaya joined Labrinth to perform “I’m Tired,” a song they co-wrote that was featured in Season 2 of “Euphoria,” and “All For Us,” their Emmy-winning hit song that was featured in Season 1. “I’m Tired” was nominated for an Emmy in 2022.Following the performance, the “Dune” actor expressed her gratitude for the experience Instagram.“I just wanted to say thank you again for such a magical beautiful night,” she said on her Instagram story, going on to thank Labrinth for the “last minute” invitation. She continued to than...

Chicago baseball report: White Sox walk the walk — for 1 inning, anyway — and the Go-Go Cubs?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

It might be early, but it’s never really too early to jump to conclusions about our favorite teams.The Chicago Cubs and White Sox continue to confound the experts in the early going, with the Cubs among the major-league leaders Sunday in runs per game (third) and batting average (second) and the Sox near the bottom in ERA (29th) and walks allowed (29th).Every Monday throughout the season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead for the Cubs and Sox.A walk — or 6 — to rememberAndrew Vaughn walked on four pitches leading off the third inning Friday against Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jalen Beeks.It began an inning the likes the Sox hadn’t seen since 1959.Yasmani Grandal drew a one-out walk and Oscar Colás walked with two outs. Beeks walked Elvis Andrus and Lenyn Sosa with the bases loaded.Cooper Criswell replaced Beeks, but the erratic pitching continued with a wild pitch that brought home a run with Andr...

Are Jalen Carter or Peter Skoronski options for the Chicago Bears at No. 9 in the NFL draft? 4 questions facing GM Ryan Poles.

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

Ryan Poles is just four days from his second draft as Chicago Bears general manager. The three-day event is crucial for the Bears as they continue rebuilding their roster, starting with the No. 9 pick.As Thursday night’s first round approaches, our team of writers weighs in on four key topics.1. The possibility of the Bears drafting Jalen Carter at No. 9 is ____.Brad Biggs: Intriguing — if he’s on the board.That likely would mean a handful of teams ahead of them removed the Georgia defensive tackle from their board. Personnel men have said all along that based on tape, Carter is potentially the most dominant player in the draft. They also have said it’s easy to see the difference between plays where Carter is at 100% and when he’s, in essence, taking plays off. As one former GM told me, throw on tape of the elite interior linemen in the NFL today and you don’t have to look too hard for examples of them not necessarily playing at maximum effort. Bu...

Chris Perkins’ final NFL mock draft: Who will be Miami Dolphins’ selection at No. 51?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

The Sun Sentinel’s third and final 2023 NFL Mock draft has Dolphins columnist Chris Perkins going until pick No. 51, the Dolphins’ first selection this year. Trades, which are sure to happen, are factored into this mock draft, similar to Dolphins writer David Furones’ mock draft but unlike Perkins’ initial mock draft. The NFL draft is Thursday-Saturday in Kansas City.1. Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, AlabamaThis remains a tough choice between Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, but I’ll give the Panthers the guy believed to have the higher football IQ.Top needs: QB, Edge rusher, ILB2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio StateStroud likely remains the No. 2 selection here even though there’s talk that the Texans like Kentucky’s Will Levis.Top needs: QB, Edge, WR3. Tennessee Titans (mock trade with Arizona): Anthony Richardson, QB, FloridaThere’s chatter that veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill is on the tradin...

4 fake Patriots draft trades, featuring Jerry Jeudy, a new cornerback and top-10 pick

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

The surest bet during the NFL Draft does not involve a player, pick or position.It’s a coach, Bill Belichick, picking up the phone and finalizing a trade.The Patriots are annually among the most active teams in the league come draft weekend, moving up and, often, down the board to maximize what they believe to be the best possible value from each class. Belichick has often traded back in the first round, but it’s been five straight years he’s moved up on Day 2. What will the Patriots do next?Weighing their current needs and 11 scheduled draft picks, here are four potential Patriots trades heading into the draft:Trade upPatriots receive: 10th overall pick, third-round pick (No. 94)Eagles receive: 14th overall pick, third-round pick (No. 76), fourth-round pick (No. 117)If the Patriots move up in the first round, it will be more of a hop than a jump.Here, Belichick is motivated to leap the offensive line-needy Titans and Jets, who could nab an elite tackle at 11th or ...

Probe ordered after shots fired at errant Instacart driver

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida prosecutor has ordered an investigation after a homeowner fired shots into a couple’s car when they mistakenly turned onto his property while making a late-night Instacart delivery. Police closed the case without consulting the state attorney’s office.No one was injured by the gunfire in an upscale Fort Lauderdale suburb, but it is the latest in a spate of similar shootings across the U.S. where people have mistakenly turned onto the wrong property or gotten in the wrong car. One person has been killed and others seriously wounded. In this case, the shooter told police the car was being driven erratically, struck his leg, and made him fear for himself and his son. Broward County State Attorney Harold Pryor issued a statement saying police investigators never contacted his office about the April 15 shooting in Southwest Ranches that put at least two bullets into the car driven by 19-year-old Waldes Thomas Jr., who was with his 18-year-old ...

Watchdog: World military spending up to an all-time high

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:11:54 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Global military spending grew for the eighth consecutive year in 2022 to an all-time high of $2.24 trillion, with a sharp rise in Europe, chiefly due to Russian and Ukrainian expenditure, a Swedish think tank said Monday.Spending globally increased by 3.7% in real terms, but military expenditure in Europe was up 13% — its steepest year-on-year increase in at least 30 years, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI, said in a report. Military aid to Ukraine and concerns about a heightened threat from Russia “strongly influenced many other states’ spending decisions.”The independent Swedish watchdog said that last year, the three largest arms spenders were the United States, China and Russia, who between them accounted for 56% of global expenditure.‘The rise “is a sign that we are living in an increasingly insecure world,” said Nan Tian, a researcher with SIPRI’s Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program. Several states significantly incre...