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Jeremy Corbyn urges left-wing Labour MPs to ‘speak up’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

LONDON — Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has urged left-wing Labour MPs to “speak up” on issues of conscience, even if they risk being kicked out of the party.The Islington North MP, who had the party whip suspended in 2020 for his response to a report into antisemitism, told former colleagues that “staying silent is never an option.” “Speak up,” Corbyn advised. “Speak out. Life is full of opportunities, and full of risks — and full of surprises.”Corbyn was speaking on a new episode of POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast which explores the future of the Labour left under the centrist leadership of Keir Starmer. Left-wing Labour MPs Clive Lewis and Ian Lavery, both of whom served in Corbyn’s shadow Cabinet, told the podcast they now feel they have to be ultra-careful about what they say. “Anybody who has got a modicum of interest and knowledge of political parties can clearly see there’s been a purge against the left,” L...

Thursday’s high school roundup/scores: Watertown sets national record with 33rd straight shutout

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

With a 33rd straight shutout, Watertown (12-0) set a new national field hockey record by blanking Melrose 7-0 in Middlesex League play. Molly Driscoll had four goals in the win.Mackenzie Clark finished off two goals before Lola Rocci delivered the game-winner with 1:38 to go, capping off a tremendous defensive effort from Belmont (11-2) to edge league power Winchester, 3-2. … Rose Bonner stood out in goal while Luci Romanowski and Olivia Scally each scored, lifting Stoneham over Burlington, 2-0. … Danielle Bowers scored a pair while Gabby Sabatino added a goal and an assist as Reading blanked Woburn, 6-0.In the Catholic Central League, Jordi Higgins scored twice as Bishop Feehan (9-2-1) blanked St. Mary’s of Lynn 4-0.Haylen Wilson had a hat trick as Hingham (8-2-1) took down Silver Lake 4-0 in a Patriot League tilt.In South Coast Conference action, Addie Taylor finished with two goals and an assist to lead Apponequet to a 4-1 win over Fairhaven. … Bobbi Serino and Gabby Griffi...

San Marcos couple among US citizens trying to get out of Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A couple from San Marcos took a trip to Israel on Sept. 27 and just six days into their trip, Hamas attacked Israel. “Saturday morning, we woke up to sirens going off and we went into the bomb shelter," Patty Kolb said to FOX 5. She and her husband are with a group of people who traveled to Israel. Now, they are among the many United States citizens awaiting a flight out of Israel.“I have cried more in these last five days more than I have in a while, because of just the pure evil," Kolb said. “When the sirens go off, you can see the flashes, you can see the Iron Dome intercept.” Blinken in Israel: At least 25 Americans killed in ‘heinous’ Hamas attacks While they were scheduled to have been home by now, they are taking this as an opportunity to support the people of Israel in a way they said they wouldn't have been able to from their home.“This is not the trip that we expected but if we are going to support Israel, if we can support them here, that just seems like we...

China’s exports, imports fell 6.2% in September as global demand faltered

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — China’s exports and imports both fell in September from a year earlier, though they contracted at a slower pace even as global demand remained muted.Customs data released Friday showed exports for September slid 6.2% to $299.13 billion in the fifth straight month of decline. Imports also slid 6.2% to $221.43 billion.China posted a trade surplus of $77.71 billion, up from $68.36 billion in August.The Associated Press

Japan’s government asks a court to revoke the legal religious status of the Unification Church

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government asked a court Friday to revoke the legal status of the Unification Church after an Education Ministry investigation concluded the group for decades has systematically manipulated its followers into donating money, sowing fear and harming their families.The request submitted to the Tokyo District Court asks for it to issue a dissolution order revoking the church’s status as a religious organization. Education Ministry officials submitted 5,000 pieces of documents and evidence in cardboard boxes to the court to support its request. The process involves hearings and appeals from both sides and would take a while. If the order is approved and its legal status is stripped, the church could still operate but would lose its tax exemption privilege as a religious organization and would face financial setbacks.The request was made a day after Education Minister Masahito Moriyama announced a panel of experts had endorsed the revocation request based on th...

911 calls from deadly Lahaina wildfire show residents’ terror and panic in a desperate bid to escape

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Audio of 911 calls from a deadly August wildfire released late Thursday by Maui County authorities reveal a terrifying and chaotic scene as the inferno swept through the historic town of Lahaina and residents called for help as they desperately tried to escape burning homes and gridlocked traffic as flames approached.The 911 calls were released to The Associated Press in response to a public record request. They cover a two-hour period from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the afternoon of Aug. 8 as the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, whipped by powerful winds, bore down on the town. At least 98 people died in the blaze and more than 2,000 structures were destroyed, most of them homes. The pleas for help came one right after another, people calling because they were stuck in cars on Front Street, trapped by fallen trees blocking evacuation routes or worried about loved ones who were home alone. Again and again, overwhelmed dispatchers apologized to ca...

Castellanos hits 2 homers, powers Phillies past Braves 3-1 and into NLCS for 2nd straight season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Castellanos became the first player to hit multiple homers in consecutive postseason games, sending the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory in Game 4 of their NL Division Series on Thursday night that knocked the 104-win Atlanta Braves out of the playoffs for the second straight year.Matt Strahm struck out pinch-hitter Vaughn Grissom with runners at the corners to clinch the series and send the Phillies rushing the field in wild celebration. The Phillies set off fireworks, the Liberty Bell rang and the reigning National League champions were ready to pop bubbly again.Bryce Harper gave the Phillies a scare when he clutched his surgically repaired right elbow after a collision in the eighth inning. Matt Olson’s left knee clipped Harper’s elbow on a play at first base that ended the inning. Harper, the two-time NL MVP, flexed his elbow after a quick examination from the medical staff. He stayed in the game in the ninth.“Just hit my funny bone,” H...

Mahomes throws TD pass, Kelce has big game with Swift watching again as Chiefs beat Broncos 19-8

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs held off the Denver Broncos 19-8 on Thursday night for their 16th straight win over their longtime AFC West rivals.Travis Kelce had nine catches for 124 yards for Kansas City with Taylor Swift again cheering him on from an Arrowhead Stadium suite. But the Chiefs (5-1) leaned more heavily on their defense to shut down erratic Russell Wilson and the Broncos (1-5).Wilson was held to 95 yards passing with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions, and woebegone Denver finished with just 197 yards of total offense.Still, the Chiefs’ inability to turn red-zone trips into touchdowns nearly cost them.Butker’s first three field goals helped them to a 16-0 lead, but Wilson’s touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton — ruled incomplete but overturned upon review — with about six minutes remaining kept the Broncos alive. And when Javonte Willi...

‘Shame on you’: GTA woman’s message to feds after fleeing Israel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

It was an emotional reunion at Pearson Airport for Antonella Barrasso as she embraced her family and friends after 30 hours of travel which included two flights and six days of desperately trying to flee Israel in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas over the weekend.“Every time I wanted to go to the airport, something would happen and I couldn’t go,” she tells CityNews, recounting one instance where air-raid sirens began to wail just as she was getting into a taxi, forcing her to seek shelter in a nearby stairwell.Her friends back home encouraged her to get to the airport where they found her a flight home.“We had booked her on several different flights because so many were getting canceled,” said Nilab Jafarzadeh. “So at one point we had a personal flight booked for her to Athens. She missed the flight to Athens. So we booked her another flight while she was in line.”Barasso’s arrival comes as the first Canadian evacuation flights were completed Thursday with two Can...

Project Dynamo helping rescue people stuck in Israel - Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:02:26 GMT

CHICAGO — The number of Americans confirmed dead in the Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 25 and another 17 are unaccounted for. Many more remain trapped in the region. Blinken in Israel: At least 25 Americans killed in ‘heinous’ Hamas attacks Major airlines stopped operations from Israel earlier this week. Since then, travelers have been scrambling to get out of the war-torn country.The Biden administration said the US will begin sending flights out of Israel starting Friday. But a non-profit group is on the ground now working to get Americans to safety. Israeli officials said air strikes and a possible ground invasion would continue until Hamas militants freed some 150 hostages. "This is the fourth war zone that Project Dynamo has been deployed to in 24 months," Bryan Stern said. "So far, we haven't seen the State Department do that well if at all in the other four war zones that we have worked in."Stern, the co-found of Project Dynamo, said the non-profit works to rescue a...