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Free-market ex-UK Treasury chief Nigel Lawson dies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Nigel Lawson, the tax-cutting U.K. Treasury chief under the late Margaret Thatcher and a lion of Conservative politics in the late 20th century has died. He was 91.Lawson, who led the Treasury from 1983 to 1989, spearheaded the drive to place key public sector companies into private control. He also modernized financial markets in what became known as the Big Bang of deregulation, which strengthened London’s position as a global financial hub.Conservative Party politicians rushed to offer tributes, a reflection of the fact that his policies remain revered. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson described him as a “fearless and original flame of free-market Conservatism.”“He was a tax-cutter and simplifier who helped transform the economic landscape and helped millions of British people achieve their dreams…he was a giant,” Johnson said.Lawson, who also worked on the Financial Times and the Sunday Telegraph, had six children, including celebrity food writer Nig...

Kevin McCarthy se reunirá con la presidente de Taiwán en California este miércoles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

(CNN) — El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Kevin McCarthy, se reunirá este miércoles con la presidenta de Taiwán, Tsai Ing-wen, un evento histórico que se produce en medio de advertencias de China.La oficina de McCarthy compartió detalles de la reunión en un comunicado este lunes por la mañana, indicando que el republicano de California organizará una reunión bipartidista con Tsai en la Biblioteca Presidencial Ronald Reagan en California. El grupo bipartidista incluirá al representante Pete Aguilar de California, quien es miembro del liderazgo demócrata, y los líderes del comité selecto sobre China, entre otros, según una copia de la lista de invitados obtenida por CNN.La Agencia Central de Noticias oficial de Taiwán también informó este lunes que Tsai se reuniría con McCarthy, citando a la oficina presidencial de la isla.La reunión se esperaba desde hace mucho tiempo y está casi garantizado que sacudirá la tensa relación entre EE.UU. y China, que se volvió aún más ...

U.S. women’s national soccer team unveils World Cup uniforms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Watch Video: Soccer star Ali Krieger announces retirement from professional soccerThe FIFA Women’s World Cup is set to take place this summer in Australia and New Zealand, which means it is once again time for the debut of new uniforms. U.S. Soccer and Nike debuted the new looks on Wednesday, showing off designs meant for “highlighting the energy” of the four-time Women’s World Cup champions.The two new designs are for both home and away jerseys. The former is a white base with shades of blue splattered all over like paint, and will first be seen in the upcoming match against Ireland on April 8 in Austin, Texas. Unlike previous years that saw a clean white variation, U.S. soccer said that year’s design “reflects an unexpected take on tradition.”USWNT Forward Alex Morgan, 13, shows off the team’s new home jersey ahead of the women’s World Cup. (U.S. Soccer)“Highlighting the energy of the USWNT and how they are diverse playe...

The Artemis II crew will become the first to fly to the moon in over 50 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Monday’s announcement by NASA and its Administrator Bill Nelson of the four moon-bound crew members of the Artemis II mission had all the trappings one would expect for such a momentous and historic event.The astronaut corps — besides the two currently on the International Space Station — a signature blue and white NASA T-38 jet trainer used by the astronauts, a press-media-NASA audience and a very impressive array of backdrop pictures with inspirational music set the remarkable scene.More Science NewsThe Space PlaceThe event reminded me of the famous scene in the 1983 Academy Award winning movie, “The Right Stuff,” when the seven Mercury astronauts are first introduced to the world but with a 21st Century update to the visuals and sounds, as well as a much larger and more diverse Astronaut Corps.This will be the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in December 1972.The Artemis II crew, consisting of pilot Victor Glover, commander Reid Wiseman, mission ...

ANÁLISIS | Trump está perdiendo su capacidad de controlar su destino con amenazas legales

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

(CNN) — Un expresidente que siempre está al ataque ya no será el único orquestador de su destino.Cuando Donald Trump se convierta oficialmente en acusado penal este martes, estará sujeto a un sistema legal que no puede controlar.Durante mucho tiempo, Trump ha conjurado tormentas políticas, realidades alternativas, embrollos legales y espectáculos mediáticos para desdibujar la verdad o desacreditar a las instituciones que han limitado su comportamiento antirreglamentario. Pero perderá esa habilidad cuando comparezca ante el tribunal en su lectura de cargos en un caso relacionado con un presunto pago de dinero por silencio a una actriz de cine para adultos.Y hay cada vez más señales de que esta nueva realidad, que vendrá con fuertes compromisos financieros en honorarios legales y bloqueos en el calendario de Trump, podría multiplicarse en un momento en que ya enfrenta las intensas demandas de otra candidatura a la Casa Blanca.Eso se debe a que el expresidente, el primero en enfr...

Former top aide to then-Md. Gov. Hogan dies during arrest in Tennessee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

A former Maryland political aide wanted on corruption charges died Monday in Tennessee after he was wounded during a confrontation with law enforcement.It was not immediately clear whether McGrath’s injury was self-inflicted or as a result of an exchange of gunfire.Roy McGrath was the former chief of staff to then-Gov. Larry Hogan. He had been on the run since March after failing to appear at trial on charges that included fraud, theft and falsifying records.In an email to WTOP News, McGrath’s lawyer Joseph Murtha said that the FBI has confirmed his client’s death.More Local NewsMore Maryland NewsWilliam Brennan, an attorney for McGrath’s wife, Laura Bruner, also confirmed the death and said she was “absolutely distraught,” The Associated Press reported.“It is a tragic ending of the past three weeks of uncertainty,” Murtha said. “I think it is important to stress that Roy never wavered about his innocence. ”A spokesperson with the FBI ...

‘Imagining the Indian’ documentary says what’s good for the Commanders is good for the Chiefs, Braves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Hear our full conversation on my podcast “Beyond the Fame.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley reports on 'Imagining the Indian' (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The Washington Commanders just completed a name change after protests by Native Americans, so why does the National Football League still allow the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs to do the “Tomahawk Chop?”The contrast was again on disp...

Rockies take on the Dodgers looking to end road skid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Colorado Rockies (2-2) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (2-2)Los Angeles; Tuesday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: German Marquez (0-0); Dodgers: Julio Urias (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -265, Rockies +215; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies hit the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to stop a three-game road slide.Los Angeles had a 111-51 record overall and a 57-24 record in home games last season. The Dodgers pitching staff averaged 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings while giving up 3.2 runs per game in the 2022 season.Colorado had a 68-94 record overall and a 27-54 record on the road last season. The Rockies slugged .397 with a .315 on-base percentage as a team in the 2022 season.INJURIES: Dodgers: Alex Reyes: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pepiot: 15-Day IL (oblique), Jimmy Nelson: 15-Day IL (elbow), Daniel Hudson: 15-Day IL (knee), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (knee), Tony Gonsolin: 15-Day IL (ankle), Walker Buehler: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Tre...

China hawks want to toughen proposed new UK procurement law

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

LONDON — Conservative MPs who take a hard line on China are pushing a series of amendments aimed at toughening up the U.K. government’s upcoming procurement bill, POLITICO’s London Playbook newsletter reported.The bill — which will be introduced as part of Britain’s post-Brexit reform of procurement policy — will introduce rules for firms competing for government contracts and strengthen ministers’ power to exclude companies that are deemed a national security risk.Some MPs in Rishi Sunak’s ruling Tory Party don’t think the legislation in its current form goes far enough. Alicia Kearns, the Tory chair of parliament’s influential foreign affairs committee, has put forward a series of amendments that would require the Cabinet Office to maintain a “high risk” list of companies that could only sell surveillance equipment to public authorities with explicit ministerial approval. The amendments are backed by three other select committee chairs — de...

Zelenskyy wants Putin to spend life in a basement pissing in a bucket

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to spend the rest of his days in a basement, using a bucket for a toilet.Zelenskyy made the remarks in a speech during a visit Monday to Yahidne — a village in the Chernihiv region of northern Ukraine where Russian troops kept Ukrainian civilians locked up in inhumane conditions in the early days of the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion. In April last year, when Ukrainian soldiers liberated the village from the Russians, they discovered a school basement where Russians kept almost 400 residents captured for 27 days. Eleven people died during the illegal imprisonment in the basement.On the anniversary of the liberation, Zelenskyy went down to the basement in Yahidne, spoke to the locals and thanked them for fighting bravely for their lives. “After seeing all of this I can only wish Russian President Putin to spend the rest of his life in a basement with [a] bucket for a toile...