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Watch out, Nicola: Scotland’s COVID inquiry wants ministers’ WhatsApps too

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

LONDON — The Scottish government has been told to hand over WhatsApp messages and other communications between its top decision-makers to the country’s coronavirus inquiry.The official Scottish probe into the way the pandemic was handled — separate from the wider U.K. coronavirus inquiry — confirmed to POLITICO Wednesday that it has asked the devolved government at Holyrood to hand over “communications between ministers, officials and advisers relevant to the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference.”The inquiry said this also includes WhatsApp messages — raising the prospect of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her successor Humza Yousaf, the health minister for a period during the pandemic, being ordered to hand over private texts to the team at a time they already face intense scrutiny over a campaign funding probe.The Scottish government is required by law to offer up the material, which could then be published by the inquiry.In its statement, the inquiry also alluded...

What the debt ceiling deal could mean for student loan borrowers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

Washington (CNN) — If passed into law, the bipartisan debt ceiling deal will dash any hope borrowers might have that the federal student loan payment pause would be extended for a ninth time.The Biden administration has repeatedly said the pandemic pause on federal student loan payments would end later this year, but officials have said that before and gone on to extend the pause again.This time, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona may not be able to do so. The agreement to address the debt limit includes a provision that specifically prevents him from extending the pause on payments again, according to the bill text.The pause “shall cease to be effective” 60 days after June 30, the bill reads.That’s roughly in line with the Biden administration’s plan to resume payments either 60 days after June 30 or 60 days after the Supreme Court rules on the separate student loan forgiveness program – whichever comes first. The justices are expected to rul...

UK castle could be yours for $37,000, but there’s a catch

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

(CNN) — A sprawling Scottish castle is on sale for offers over £30,000 ($37,000), but there is a catch; its current owners estimate that it requires an additional £12 million ($14.8 million) for restoration.Situated on Fetlar, the fourth largest of the Shetland Islands, Brough Lodge is in one of the most remote parts of the UK.It’s accessible via ferry from the Shetland mainland, which itself is an hour and a half flight from Edinburgh or a three-and-a-half-hour flight from London.The island is home to around 69 people, according to the Fetlar Community Association website – an increase from its lowest population of 48 in early 2009.Nestled into the hillside, the castle overlooks Fetlar’s grassland and rugged cliffs stretching down to the sea, as well as the surrounding islands.Brough Lodge was built in 1825 by local merchant Arthur Nicolson in a Gothic style, said to be influenced by his European tours.It has been empty since the 1970s, although it was...

Jets don’t appear interested in signing free agent DeAndre Hopkins: ‘We love our current group’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

After their pursuit of Odell Beckham Jr. earlier this, there was thought that the Jets would be interested in free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins.However, if coach Robert Saleh’s comments on Wednesday are any indication, it doesn’t appear Gang Green is interested in the 30-year-old receiver.“We love our current group,” Saleh said. “I know it was some stuff with Odell, but we love our group.”Last week, the Cardinals released Hopkins after three seasons with the team. Now the veteran is free to sign with any team.Several teams will likely consider signing Hopkins, but according to Sports Illustrated, only the Bills and Chiefs engaged in “substantive talks” with the Cardinals. Teams were hesitant to trade for Hopkins, but he was interested in restructuring his contract — which had a cap hit of $30.75 million.The Jets were front runners to sign Beckham at the start of free agency. However, Beckham signed a one-year, $15 million guara...

As House debt ceiling vote nears, Biden shores up Democrats and McCarthy confident of GOP support

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

By LISA MASCARO, KEVIN FREKING, STEPHEN GROVES and FARNOUSH AMIRI (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-fought to the end, the big debt ceiling and budget cuts package headed toward a crucial House vote Wednesday as President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy assembled a coalition of centrist Democrats and Republicans for passage over fierce conservative blowback and progressive dissent.Biden sent top White House officials to the Capitol to shore up support ahead of voting. McCarthy worked to sell skeptical fellow Republicans, even fending off challenges to his leadership, in the rush to avert a potentially disastrous U.S. default.“Everybody has a right to their own opinion, but on history, I’d want to be here with this bill today,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said as he arrived at the Capitol.Despite deep disappointment from right-flank Republicans that the compromise falls short of the spending cuts they demanded, McCarthy insisted he would have the votes nee...

Earth is ‘really quite sick now’ and in danger zone in nearly all ecological ways, study says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

By SETH BORENSTEIN (AP Science Writer)Earth has pushed past seven out of eight scientifically established safety limits and into “the danger zone,” not just for an overheating planet that’s losing its natural areas, but for well-being of people living on it, according to a new study.The study looks not just at guardrails for the planetary ecosystem but for the first time it includes measures of “justice,” which is mostly about preventing harm for countries, ethnicities and genders. The study by the international scientist group Earth Commission published in Wednesday’s journal Nature looks at climate, air pollution, phosphorus and nitrogen contamination of water from fertilizer overuse, groundwater supplies, fresh surface water, the unbuilt natural environment and the overall natural and human-built environment. Only air pollution wasn’t quite at the danger point globally.Air pollution is dangerous at local and regional levels, while climate...

US safety agency to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles and set tougher standards

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government’s auto safety agency plans to require that all new passenger cars and light trucks include potentially life-saving automatic emergency braking and meet stricter safety standards within three years.Wednesday’s announcement by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration represents the agency’s latest move toward regulating electronic systems that take on certain tasks that drivers themselves have normally done. NHTSA has been reluctant in the past to impose regulations, saying the technology will change during the time it takes to enact new rules.Ann Carlson, the safety agency’s chief counsel, says 90% of new passenger vehicles already include the braking technology under a voluntary program that automakers have approved. But she says NHTSA wants to make the braking systems more effective at higher speeds and better at avoiding pedestrians.The regulation proposed by NHTSA will require, for example, that the systems allow v...

Theodoros Pangalos, outspoken Greek former foreign minister, dies at 84

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Theodoros Pangalos, a former Greek foreign minister known for his undiplomatic outbursts and on whose watch Greece suffered one of its most embarrassing foreign policy debacles in 1999, has died. He was 84.Pangalos’ family said on Twitter that he died on Wednesday “peacefully at home, surrounded by his family and close associates.”Caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas’ office expressed condolences, as did other leading Greek politicians. A statement from Sarmas’ office praised the “dynamic and decisive” former minister who stood out for his “sharp and substantial intellect.”Born on Aug, 17, 1938, Pangalos was the grandson of a former Greek military dictator. He studied law in Athens and economics in Paris, was involved in left-wing politics and actively opposed the new military regime of 1967-1974. He became a senior official in the Socialist Pasok party, founded by Andreas Papandreou, that dominated the political scene in most of the 1980s ...

At 83, Al Pacino is expecting a baby with 29-year-old Noor Alfallah

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Al Pacino, 83, and 29-year-old Noor Alfallah are expecting a baby, the actor’s representative confirmed Wednesday.Pacino’s publicist, Stan Rosenfield, verified the news first published by TMZ, but said there would be no statement at this time. The baby would be Pacino’s fourth child. He has a 33-year-old daughter, Julie Marie, with acting coach Jan Tarrant and 22-year-old twins Anton and Olivia with actor Beverly D’Angelo.Pacino and Alfallah reportedly began dating last year. She describes herself as a “raconteur” on her Instagram page and her IMDB page notes that she’s a producer on two movies currently in post-production, including the Pacino-starrer “Billy Knight.”Pacino’s baby news follows close on the heels of longtime friend and fellow actor Robert De Niro’s own. A representative for the 79-year-old actor confirmed earlier this month that De Niro had become a father for the seventh time, but few other details — includin...

FBI seeking photos, videos to identify suspects in Florida Memorial Day beach shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:50:19 GMT

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — The FBI is looking for any photos and videos that could help identify suspects in a Memorial Day shooting at a popular Florida beach promenade in which nine people were wounded, including a 1-year-old child.The FBI issued a statement Wednesday asking for people to upload any visual evidence from the shooting to a page on their website.“When the FBI has established digital media tip lines in the past, the public responded with a tremendous volume of information that is then reviewed by investigators,” the bureau statement said.Authorities are searching for three suspects in the shooting, which police said began as a group of people fought in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk around 7 p.m. Monday.Two 18-year-old men involved in the altercation have been arrested on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, including one that was reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said. The sho...