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UK by-elections: How the parties are spinning a something-for-everyone night

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

LONDON — A triple whammy of by-elections in the U.K. has given everyone in Westminster something to cheer — and someone to blame.Rishi Sunak’s Tories took a beating in two out of the three contests for House of Commons seats held Thursday, as Labour and the Liberal Democrats overturned huge majorities in the Yorkshire seat of Selby and Ainsty and in Somerset’s Somerton and Frome respectively.But an unexpected, if narrow, hold for the Conservatives in Uxbridge and South Ruislip — Boris Johnson’s old seat — complicates the narrative. And poses big questions for Labour’s own operation.Here’s how last night’s, er, three winners — Labour, Tories and Lib Dems — all tried to spin the by-elections as the dust settled Friday.Keir Starmer’s LabourThe thumping win in Selby has been put front and center by an opposition party eyeing a general election victory in 2024.It’s little wonder, since the new 25-year-old MP Keir Mather overturned a 20,000-plus majority in what was seen as a safe seat fo...

Column: Pat Hughes, longtime Chicago Cubs radio voice, is ready for his day in the sun — receiving the Frick Award

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

Pat Hughes considers himself one lucky guy.“When I was in college, if anyone would’ve said you’re going to have a long career and be in the big leagues for five years, I would’ve said, ‘Great, sign me up,’” Hughes said. “Now 41 years, it’s almost ridiculous. It’s so sublime it’s incomprehensible. How did I get here?”The answer to that question seems obvious to anyone who has followed his career. Hughes worked hard at his craft, was dedicated to learning everything he could about the game and its players, became a respected and beloved voice of the Chicago Cubs and performed his job long enough and well enough to earn the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting. Saturday afternoon at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, N.Y., a day before the National Baseball Hall of Fame inductions of Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff, Hughes will be honored by the Hall and receive his plaque, putting him in the company of Cub...

Inconsistent Chicago Cubs suffer a sloppy 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 4-game series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

The Chicago Cubs’ season has been mired in mediocrity.Consistency and positive momentum continues to elude a team needing to make up ground in their effort to get to .500 and climb back into the division race. Closing out their series win against the Washington Nationals with two victories and 25 runs scored didn’t carry over into their series opener Thursday versus the St. Louis Cardinals.The Cubs couldn’t get much going offensively with left-hander Steven Matz on the mound. They finished with six hits in a 7-2 loss to a Cardinals team that has won six straight and quickly pulled within 1 1/2 games of the third-place Cubs (45-51).Marcus Stroman struggled to get in a groove, and the infield defense didn’t help him. Third baseman Patrick Wisdom’s two-out fielding error in the first extended the inning, which set up Willson Contreras to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0 on a double. Stroman was able to work around a Wisdom throwing error in the second, getting ...

As Orioles exceed expectations, trade deadline gives front office the chance to do the same | ANALYSIS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

If it were up to Kyle Gibson, the Orioles would be all-in on 2023.The 35-year-old starting pitcher reached the World Series last year with the Philadelphia Phillies and would love a repeat with Baltimore after signing a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason. But Gibson also understands the front office will approach the Aug. 1 trade deadline with more than the following three months in mind.“They’re working with a vision that’s not just this year, but it’s this year and five years, right?” Gibson said. “They have a lot different job. For me, it’s like, yeah, I would worry about this year and that’s it, and then when you hit the next year, worry about next year. But obviously, that’s not how a Major League Baseball team is able to operate.”Fueled by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias’ “liftoff from here” comment in the wake of last year’s deadline — in which the Orioles ...

Patriots training camp countdown No. 5: Who will make a Year 2 leap?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

Welcome to 7 Patriots training camp questions!Each day leading up to the start of camp, the Herald will explore one of the biggest questions facing the Pats this summer. Several pertain to the offense, which welcomed back Bill O’Brien this offseason and added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Other questions cover the defense and special teams, units that might rely heavily on rookies and must overcome the loss of longtime captain Devin McCourty.Once the Patriots hit the practice field, here’s what they must learn before the season kicks off versus Philadelphia on Sept. 10.No. 7: Can Mac Jones return to form?No. 6: How will the Patriots replace Devin McCourty?No. 5: Who will make a Year 2 leap?Picture the Patriots’ top needs.Offensive line, wide receiver and – pending Jack Jones’ availability given his legal trouble – cornerback.How can the team possibly solve them all? By asking more of their 2022 draft class.Cole Strange, stabilize the left ...

U.K. regulator reviewing plan to address concerns with Uni-Select-LKQ deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

MONTREAL — The competition regulator in Britain has raised concerns about LKQ Corp.’s agreement to buy Canadian company Uni-Select Inc. and is reviewing a plan put forth by the companies to address its issues.The Competition and Markets Authority says its investigation found that the merger could reduce competition in the supply of car parts, as well as garage equipment, to independent garages and workshops in 145 local areas and the supply of car parts to national and multi-regional customers.It says it will now consider a proposal put forward by LKQ and Uni-Select, which the companies believe could address the regulator’s concerns, before deciding on the next step.U.S. company LKQ announced a deal in February to buy Quebec-based Uni-Select in a roughly $2.8-billion agreement.In connection with the acquisition, LKQ said at the time that it would undertake a process to sell GSF Car Parts U.K., Uni-Select’s U.K. based mechanical parts distribution business. LKQ, through E...

He killed his ailing wife. A Cyprus court ruled it was manslaughter, not murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

PAPHOS, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus court on Friday found a British man who killed his ailing wife in their home guilty of manslaughter, saying that the prosecution didn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that the 76-year-old man committed premeditated murder. In a unanimous decision, the three-judge bench said that David Hunter’s decision to suffocate his 74-year-old wife Janice as she was sitting in a recliner in December 2021 was a spur-of-the-moment decision: he snapped as he could no longer stand seeing her weeping in pain. The court accepted witness testimony that Janice feared her blood ailment would develop into full-blown leukemia and had repeatedly pleaded with her husband to take her life because she didn’t want to share the fate of her sister who died of the disease. Hunter attempted to take his own life by consuming a large amount of pills after doing something “he never before thought possible – closing his hands over his wife’s mouth and nose,” the court heard, but medi...

Amsterdam wants ships to moor less, votes to move terminal out of city in latest hit to tourism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Amsterdam wants to move a cruise liner terminal out of the heart of the historic capital city as the latest step in its ongoing battle against pollution and hordes of tourists clogging its narrow, cobbled streets.The Dutch capital is one of the many picturesque European cities — from Rome to Venice to Paris — grappling with how to manage visitor numbers that are again soaring in the aftermath of shutdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.Aldermen at Amsterdam’s municipality voted Thursday in favor of a motion calling on the city to move the terminal away from its current location close to the central rail station.“A clear decision has been made by the council that the cruise (terminal) should leave the city,” Ilana Rooderkerk, leader of the centrist D66 party in Amsterdam, told The Associated Press in an email on Friday. “The municipal executive of Amsterdam is now going to work on how to implement it. In any case, as far as we are concerned, large ships no lon...

Nina Simone’s lost set at the 1966 Newport Jazz Festival released as an album

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Nina Simone fans have a reason for feeling good.: A previously unreleased recording of the legendary artist’s set at the Newport Jazz Festival in July 1966 is being released.Verve Records and UMe on Friday are issuing “You’ve Got to Learn,” a six-song set that includes a different take on Simone’s celebrated protest song “Mississippi Goddam.”The songs also include “You’ve Got to Learn, ”‘I Loves You, Porgy,” “Blues For Mama,” “Be My Husband” and ”Music for Lovers.” Simone, who also plays piano, is joined by guitar, bass and drums. There are sound issues throughout — as they are sorted out before the final song, the encore “Music for Lovers,” she screams “Shut Up! “Shut Up!” to a heckler — but Simone’s power and mastery are clearly potent. “Her performance is not fiery so much as passionate, not critical so much as coaxing,” writes Simone scholar Shana L. Redmond in the liner notes. “These are love songs and each captured something ...

Man found fatally shot inside vehicle after armed robbery on South Side: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:14:33 GMT

CHICAGO —A deadly shooting is under investigation on the city's South Side.According to police, a 41-year-old man was shot and killed during an armed robbery around 2:30 a.m. Friday in the 7800 block of South Laflin. The man was found inside a vehicle in an alleyway with gunshot wounds to the back and face, according to investigators. He was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The man's name has not yet been released. St. Charles police arrest 5 in human trafficking case in suburbs, Chicago No one is in custody. Area detectives are investigating. Anyone with information is urged to call Chicago police.