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Rishi Sunak’s secret weapon: A land where UK Labour is already in power

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

PEMBROKESHIRE, Wales — If the polls are right, Britain’s Labour Party is on track to win its first general election since 2005. Helpfully, there’s already a corner of Britain where voters can see what that might mean.Since 1999 Labour has led the devolved government in Wales, a nation of 3 million people who have offered majority-support for Labour for the past 101 years — the longest winning streak in the democratic world. Labour leader Keir Starmer last year called Cardiff’s administration “a blueprint for what Labour could do across the U.K.” But with Welsh public services creaking— as they are in other parts of Britain —it’s the Tories who will be shouting loudest about Labour’s record in Wales come election time next year.On the National Health Service, education and housing, Conservative campaign headquarters (CCHQ) is already accelerating its attacks on the performance of what it relentlessly dubs “Labour-run Wales.” Last week CCHQ issued three se...

A Viking funeral? Dwindling Nordics in Brussels blame the EU 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

We’re becoming extinct in Brussels.That’s the existential exhortation from countries like Denmark, Sweden and Finland, which say the European Union has to change its hiring habits or risk virtually eliminating Nordic officials from the European Commission, the powerful EU executive that writes the legislation governing an entire Continent. While these countries are currently relatively well represented among the higher ranks of Brussels bureaucrats, their fear is that the younger generation isn’t coming to Brussels — a concern reflected in the Commission’s own statistics, according to a POLITICO analysis.  The reason, they say: The Commission has a drawn-out recruitment process, an entrance exam poorly designed for certain countries, and jobs that are, well, not that attractive to young Scandinavians. “The Nordics are almost wiped out. They call us the pandas because there are so few of us in the Commission,” said a diplomat from a Nordic country who works to get...

UK urged to give clarity on potential delay to Brexit border checks

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

LONDON — The British government is being told to spell out whether new Brexit border checks will still be introduced in October.Gareth Thomas, shadow trade minister for the opposition Labour Party, said the government’s handling of the issue had been “absolutely shambolic,” while business groups told POLITICO that firms desperately need guidance about whether the planned changes will go ahead in six weeks’ time.Britain was planning to roll out the first stage of the new post-Brexit border model from October, with further stages implemented throughout 2024 that would see more checks on food and animal products entering the country from the European Union.It was first reported by the Financial Times earlier this month that the government would delay the rollout of the Target Operating Model (TOM) amid fears that the new red tape will further fuel inflation.The Cabinet Office, the government department leading on the plan, has said for the past three weeks that guidanc...

Deepening the new US-Japan-Korea trilateral partnership

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO, is CEO of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and host of the weekly podcast “World Review with Ivo Daalder.”Russia’s war on Ukraine has reverberated around the world, with profound implications for global peace and prosperity. The latest example of this impact occurred just last week, far from the battlefield, in the mountains of western Maryland, where the leaders of three Asia Pacific allied nations met to consolidate a new partnership.Without the war in Ukraine, the leaders of South Korea and Japan would have found it much more difficult to overcome their historical divisions. But this war has crystalized thinking in both Seoul and Tokyo regarding the need to overcome divides and find new ways to cooperate. And United States President Joe Biden convening the first stand-alone trilateral summit with Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at Camp David was truly historic.At the summit, the three leade...

1 person dead, 2 in custody after stabbing at convenience store in Lynn

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

One person died and two people were taken into custody after a stabbing in Lynn Tuesday, the Essex County District attorney’s office announced. The DA’s office said the stabbing happened at the Alpha Convenience Store in the area of Union Street and Baldwin Street around 6 p.m. The victim, the DA’s office said, was taken to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.While an investigation was ongoing as of Tuesday night, the DA’s office said investigators believe there is no broader threat to the general public. Investigators were spotted still on scene as of around 10 p.m. going in and out of the Alpha Convenience Store. Crime scene tape was in place around the area. No further information was immediately available.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Man killed in crash involving bus in Barnstable

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

A man died Tuesday after a crash involving a bus in Barnstable, police said. Barnstable police said officers first responded to the scene on Old Stage Road near Carleton Lane around 4:50 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. On scene, police said, officers found three vehicles involved, including a Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority bus. Police said the 39-year-old driver of one of the vehicles was not breathing when emergency crews arrived. The man was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police. Police said two other people were taken to Cape Cod Hospital. The crash remained under investigation as of Tuesday night.

7 Investigates: Coyote Concern

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

Residents in Plymouth are scared for the health and safety of their pets as at least one sick coyote has been wandering a neighborhood for months. 7 Investigates took their concerns to MassWildlife and got some answers. With coyotes crossing through yards, sleeping on front lawns and prowling through neighborhoods, coyote advocate Selin Nacar said things “should never have got to the point where they are now.” Photos show one coyote who experts say has a sickly appearance caused by mange, a condition caused by parasitic mites burrowing under the animal’s skin. The condition causes severe pain.   “It’s something that should be taken care of,” Nacar said. “ At this point, the whole pack could have it.”For weeks, residents near Atlantic Avenue in Plymouth say they’ve alerted MassWildlife and other wildlife rehabbers to help the coyotes before they spread the disease.“Someone’s pet could eventually get it,” Nacar said. 7’s Dave Puglisi has recent...

Mike Baumann gives up 3 runs in 10th as Orioles fall to Blue Jays, 6-3, despite another Grayson Rodriguez quality start

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

The Orioles had their chance to win Tuesday night’s game in the ninth inning and squandered it.Ryan McKenna led off the inning with a ground ball single to represent the winning run, but the Toronto Blue Jays outperformed the Orioles in the next four plate appearances to send the game to extras. Baltimore reliever Mike Baumann was then jumped on by the middle of Toronto’s order in the 10th, allowing three runs en route to a 6-3 loss. The Orioles couldn’t score in the bottom half off Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano, who retired Austin Hays, Jordan Westburg and Ryan O’Hearn in order.During McKenna’s at-bat, manager Brandon Hyde brought slugger Anthony Santander onto the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for Jorge Mateo, but once McKenna reached base, he stuck with Mateo to sacrifice bunt. Mateo, who has struggled bunting all season, did so again Tuesday, failing to lay down either of his attempts, eventually popping out in foul territory.Adley Rutschman then app...

Nationals spoil Carlos Rodón’s return, Everson Pereira’s debut as Yankees lose 9th straight

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

All eyes were on Everson Pereira on Tuesday, but another 22-year-old spoiled the outfielder’s major league debut.With the game knotted at one in the eighth, the Nationals’ CJ Abrams lined a Tommy Kahnle changeup off the right field foul pole. The home run paved the way for a 2-1 Washington win — and the Yankees’ ninth straight loss.The Yankees had hoped that the promotions of Pereira and Oswald Peraza, 23, would inject some life into the team, but that didn’t come to fruition in the series-opener. The two youngsters went 0-for-7 on the night. Pereira drew a walk while his more-seasoned peers accumulated just two hits.While the spotlight shined on Pereira, it was Ben Rortvedt who got the Yankees on the board with a solo home run in the third inning. The shot, the catcher’s first in pinstripes, provided an answer to Carter Kieboom’s own solo shot off Carlos Rodón in the top of the frame.Rodón, fresh off the injured list following a h...

Tylor Megill coughs up 2 homers as Mets fall to Braves

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:50:22 GMT

After getting punched in the mouth on Monday, the Braves reminded the Mets who the top team in baseball is on Tuesday night. Atlanta slugged two homers off of Mets’ starter Tylor Megill to hand Buck Showalter’s squad a 3-2 loss.Eddie Rosario blasted a two-run shot in the second and Marcell Ozuna added a solo shot in the fifth providing all the offense necessary for the Braves to even up the series.Megill bended but didn’t break keeping the Amazins in the ballgame. The right-hander surrendered eight hits but only allowed three runs to cross while striking out five.The Mets only offense came off of the bat of Daniel Vogelbach who blasted a two-run homer of his own in the sixth to bring his squad to within a run. The Amazins did have an opportunity to give themselves the lead in the eighth with Pete Alonso at the plate with a runner on and he promptly flew out to end the inning.Showalter again saw a solid performance from his stable. Adam Kolarek, Reed Garrett and Bro...