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UK autumn statement: Jeremy Hunt cuts tax in bid to cheer gloomy Tories

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

LONDON — Britain’s Chancellor Jeremy Hunt offered voters a tax cut — with one eye on a general election.The U.K.’s top finance minister — whose boss Rishi Sunak is trying to defy dire polling for his governing Conservative Party ahead of an expected election next year — announced a two percentage point cut to the main rate of National Insurance as the final flourish in an “autumn statement for growth” unveiled Wednesday.Hunt’s Treasury is betting the personal tax cut — coupled with a boost to the national living wage — will be felt widely, in a move the Conservatives hope will boost the pay packets of ordinary workers and ease voter concerns about the cost of living.He said: “If we want people to get up early in the morning, if we want them to work nights, if we want an economy where people go the extra mile and work hard, then we need to recognize that their hard work benefits us all.”National Insurance is paid by all employees earning more...

Lowell elementary school teacher surprised with proposal during school assembly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

An elementary school teacher in Lowell got the surprise of a lifetime Wednesday when her fiancé proposed to her while dressed as their school’s mascot during an assembly. The school community at Dr. Gertrude Bailey Elementary School was gathered for their Thanksgiving Trot assembly. Later speaking with 7NEWS, Heather DeLucia described her response after she was initially told she had won a raffle and called up to the stage.“When I went up to get my prize, our principal Ms. Kimberly Clements said ‘Bailey Bulldog, our school mascot, has a special surprise for Ms. DeLucia today,’” DeLucia said.When she turned around, the mascot had appeared on stage carrying a wrapped present.Inside the costume, DeLucia’s soon-to-be fiance Nick Hoar was ready to propose.“I was like, ‘No way!’” DeLucia said. “‘This is not happening right now.’” Hoar and the entire school came together to help make the proposal happen. A team effort, Hoar said the process was not entirely without challenges. On...

Former Penthouse magazine model sues Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses, saying he raped her in 1989

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — A former Penthouse magazine model sued Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose on Wednesday, saying he raped her in a 1989 attack at a New York City hotel that left her with anxiety and depression and harmed her career.Sheila Kennedy, 61, filed the lawsuit in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for physical injury, pain and suffering, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety and economic harm.The lawsuit was filed against Rose, 61, of Malibu, California, under a temporary New York law, the Adult Survivors Act, that lets adult victims sue over attacks that occurred even decades ago. The law expires after Thursday.Attorney Alan S. Gutman said in a statement on behalf of Rose: “Simply put, this incident never happened. Notably, these fictional claims were filed the day before the New York State filing deadline expires.”He added: &...

Is November becoming the new ‘shoulder season’ in Europe?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

Scott Hartbeck | (TNS) TravelPulseOver the last few years, the shifting patterns of the European shoulder season have garnered much attention in the travel world.For those unfamiliar with the term, “shoulder season” is the name traditionally given to small sections of the travel calendar — typically late spring and early autumn — viewed as a sweet spot for travel.For decades, these little chunks of time showcased European destinations at their finest while featuring significantly fewer crowds and lower prices.And since shoulder season also possessed “goldilocks zone” temperatures (not too hot or too cold) and the full range of tourism facilities being open, it was a win-win.And it was kind-of, sort-of a secret.Until it wasn’t.The truth is the writing has been on the wall for a while. Back in 2019, European travel guru Rick Steves warned that he was seeing sufficient evidence to start considering April and October as the true shoulder seasons.And that wa...

‘Wish’ review: Disney pays homage to itself with lovely animated tale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

As Disney celebrates its 100th year, its Walt Disney Animation Studios borrows its past for its latest film, “Wish,” its 62nd, making references to at least a few of the 61 that came before it.Most notably, “Wish” leans into the idea of wishing upon a star, giving viewers a few bars of the melody from “When You Wish Upon a Star” — from 1940’s “Pinocchio” — before the movie even actually begins.And visually, it uses state-of-the-art digital tech to execute what the film’s production notes refer to as a “watercolor storybook style” meant to evoke the watercolor paintings that inspired early Disney films including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and, yes, “Pinocchio.”Fortunately, “Wish” is more than a walk down Memory Lane. While not an instant classic, the music-filled adventure is a wholly enjoyable, perfectly pleasant cinematic experience — one with a message about holding on to and working toward one’s dreams.As with many a good Disney movie, an appealing young...

Fiery crash kills 2 at Niagara Falls’ Rainbow border bridge. Officials say no sign of terrorism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

By CAROLYN THOMPSON, JOHN WAWROW and JENNIFER PELTZ (Associated Press)NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A vehicle speeding toward a U.S.-Canada bridge from the American side crashed and exploded at a checkpoint in Niagara Falls on Wednesday, killing two people and prompting the closing of multiple border crossings for hours. Authorities weren’t sure what spurred the wreck but said there were no signs it was a terror attack.Much remained unclear about the incident at the Rainbow Bridge, which stirred concerns on both sides of the border as the U.S. headed into the Thanksgiving holiday. Both U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were briefed soon afterward, and Trudeau excused himself from Question Period in the House of Commons to get further information, saying officials were “taking this extraordinarily seriously.” A few hours later, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and western New York’s U.S. attorney, Trini Ross, both sought to ease ...

Driver of stolen truck dies in head-on crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A driver of a stolen pickup truck died Tuesday night in a head-on crash in Ramona, authorities said.Around 7 p.m., a 35-year-old El Cajon man was traveling westbound on state Route 78 near Barnett Drive when the Ford F-250 he was driving crossed into the eastbound lanes, California Highway Patrol said in a news release. The truck crashed head-on into a Subaru Outback, overturned and crashed into a tree before coming to a stop down an embankment. Passengers ejected in rollover crash in La Jolla, driver fled on foot The F-250 driver died at the scene. The 45-year-old woman driving the Outback had minor injuries and was not hospitalized.The truck was stolen out of Ramona shortly before the crash, CHP told FOX 5.

Inmate dies after being attacked by other prisoners at California max-security lockup, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

TEHACHAPI, Calif. (AP) — An inmate at a California maximum-security prison died Wednesday after being stabbed several times by two other prisoners, authorities said. David Moreno, 38, was attacked shortly before 9 a.m. at the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, according to a statement from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.Guards used chemical agents to quickly break up the attack, but Moreno died on the way to a hospital less than an hour later, authorities said.Three inmate-made weapons were seized, and two prisoners, Carlos Cervantes and Armando Taylor, have been moved to restricted housing while Moreno’s death is under investigation.Moreno was sent to the maximum-security prison in 2004 to serve a life sentence with the possibility of parole. He was convicted in Los Angeles County of two counts of attempted murder using a gun. In 2015, he was given an additional three years for battery on a non-prisoner while behind bars, authorities sai...

Utah Tech women’s hoops coach suspended for 2 games after investigation based on player complaints

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — Utah Tech has suspended women’s basketball coach JD Gustin for two games following an investigation into allegations of misconduct by players.A private investigator hired by parents of Utah Tech players submitted a report to the university in May alleging that Gustin bullied, physically intimidated and retaliated against players dating back to 2018, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. Players also spoke with the Tribune about their allegations and said the athletic department had ignored their complaints.Utah Tech hired a consulting firm that does workplace investigations to review the complaints.University spokesperson Jyl Hall confirmed Tuesday that the investigation has been completed and that Gustin has been suspended for two games. She declined to say if there were any other components to Gustin’s punishment, citing private personnel matters.Gustin will remain as head coach, the university said in a statement, while the findings of the investigation will be ...

Mexico arrests alleged security chief for the ‘Chapitos’ wing of the Sinaloa drug cartel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:40:17 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s National Guard officers on Wednesday arrested the hyper violent, alleged security chief for the “Chapitos” wing of the Sinaloa drug cartel. The Public Safety Department’s arrest registry says Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas was detained around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at a walled property in the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan. The department listed his alias as “El Nini.” The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in April had posted a $3 million reward for his capture. Pérez Salas is wanted on U.S. charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl in the United States. But he also allegedly left a trail of murder and torture behind him in Mexico.He allegedly protected the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The sons lead a faction of the cartel known as the little Chapos, or “Chapitos” that has been identified as one of the main exporters of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, to the U.S. market.Fentanyl has been blamed for about 70,000 ...