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Cringe alert as Treasury mocks Matt Hancock’s WhatsApp leaks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

LONDON — It’s official: Matt Hancock isn’t funny anymore.The always-beleaguered former U.K. health secretary found himself back in the spotlight Wednesday as the British government unveiled its budget — and found time to made a couple of jibes about the leak of tens of thousands of Hancock’s private messages while it was at it. Westminster’s journalists looked on in horror.Over 100,000 WhatsApps from Hancock’s mobile were leaked last month by a reporter who had helped him to write his memoirs on handling the coronavirus pandemic. Hancock called the resulting stories — some of which have raised major questions about government decision-making — “partial” and “agenda-driven,” and hit out at the “betrayal.”That didn’t stop the U.K.’s Treasury mocking up a group chat to sell its budget Wednesday with the promise: “BREAKING NEWS: Spring Budget WhatsApp Files leaked.”The department even offered a lin...

EU Commission refuses to back transport chief who took free flights to Qatar

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

The European Commission refused to back its top transport official, who faces an internal probe for breaching the EU’s rules when he signed off on his own free flights to Qatar. A Commission spokesperson was asked whether the EU executive retained confidence in the director general of the transport department, Henrik Hololei, after disclosing that he personally decided that there was no conflict of interest when he took free Qatar Airways tickets while his team negotiated an open skies deal with Doha. Speaking at a daily briefing for journalists, the spokesperson declined to say whether the Commission still had confidence in Hololei, replying: “We cannot jump to any conclusions before having the facts established.” The Commission launched an internal probe into Hololei following revelations from POLITICO that he accepted free flights from the Qatari government while his team was negotiating a major aviation deal vital to the Gulf state’s own airline.The Estonian official flew ...

Residents evacuated after gas leak at Newbury Court senior living facility in Concord

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

Two residents were evaluated Wednesday morning following a gas leak at Newbury Court senior living facility in Concord, according to fire officials.Crews responding to Deaconess Abundant Life Communities just after 7:30 a.m. found alarms sounding and “elevated levels” of carbon monoxide in the basement of the north building. Coordinating with the facility’s staff, first responders evacuated residents and transported them to another location on site. Fire officials say a total of 70 residents have been temporarily relocated. Two contractors working at the site and two residents of the facility were transported to an area hospital to be evaluated as a precaution. The Concord Police Department has closed Old Road to Nine Acre Corner except for emergency vehicles and Emerson Hospital visitors.Officials say some windows in the Newbury Court building remain open as firefighters vent out parts of the building.The cause of the leak remains under investigation by the town’s...

Rescue crews save young skiers lost in ‘extremely remote’ area behind Wachusett Mountain ski resort

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

Two young skiers lost on the back side of Wachusett Mountain were rescued Tuesday night as nor’easter snow continued to bear down on the area, according to officials.The Princeton Fire Department said its crews were called in after two boys became lost while exploring outside the ski area’s boundaries.According to the department’s Facebook page, Princeton Fire/EMS worked with Wachusett Mountain’s ski patrol and snow grooming department to get to the skiers, using dispatch technology that used cell phone signals to lock in GPS coordinates.Authorities said the skiers, whose phones only had a remaining charge of around 9%, were approximately “2 miles from any civilization.”“Personnel battled the elements, darkness and dangerous snow pack,” the department stated. “This could have ended tragically but these boys are very lucky and used their heads and shared body heat to survive.”According to snow total observations from the Nat...

Nets approaching season-defining stretch of games

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

The Nets found success through an arduous road trip. The upcoming homestand, however, projects as less than kind.After wrapping their five-game road trip in Oklahoma City on Tuesday — a stretch that also featured pit stops in Houston, Milwaukee, Minnesota and Denver — the Nets now welcome the NBA’s elite to Barclays Center for a four-game stretch sure to test the bounds of their newfound No. 1 defense.The Nets host the Western Conference’s No. 3 Sacramento Kings on Thursday; host Nikola Jokic and the West’s No. 1 seeded Nuggets in a matinee game on Sunday; then welcome Donovan Mitchell and the Eastern Conference’s fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in back-to-back games.The Nets just defeated the Nuggets in Denver in one of their best games of the season, but the Nuggets believe they got caught sleeping. Expect that team to make a statement in Brooklyn.The stretch then continues on the road in Miami against a Heat team that may have turned a corner...

Americans Prefer to Know Hotel Costs Upfront — Fees and All

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

Few things contribute to the end-of-vacation doldrums like checking out of your hotel and getting hit with a resort fee.Resort fees tend to run from $20 to $50, and they’re usually calculated per night instead of per stay. At some properties, these fees cover amenities like bikes, snorkels, yoga classes and cucumber-infused water. But other properties offer few resort-style amenities at all. Fees that cover menial amenities, like use of the room phone, can feel frustrating and wasteful.Resort fees have become a hot issue in travel. President Joe Biden went so far as to reference them in his 2023 State of the Union speech when he touted his administration’s Junk Fee Prevention Act, which is proposed legislation that would limit hidden fees and surcharges across a handful of industries, including travel.Those fees encompass surprise surcharges for families to sit together on airlines or service fees for buying tickets to concerts and sporting events. And, yes, the proposed legis...

Summer Travel Tips: Five Reasons to Book an Accessible Hotel Room with accessibleGO

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

AccessibleGOParalympic Gold Medalist Andrew Kurka Joins accessibleGO as Brand AmbassadorNEW YORK, N.Y., March 15, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — With three in four Americans hoping to travel this summer, the time to start planning is now. But those with disabilities often face challenges at every step of the travel-planning process and journey, resulting in fear, anxiety and frustration. Today, accessibleGO, the first hotel booking site for people with disabilities, is sharing solutions to common problems that people with disabilities face when they travel. The company is also proud to announce that two-time Paralympic medalist Andrew Kurka has joined as brand ambassador to inspire travelers that “Anything is Possible” when they book on accessibleGO.“After being disabled at a teenager, I built a new identity and adapted to all the possibilities that life had to offer. But when it came to travel, I still faced the same accessibility issues as anybody else,” said Andrew Kurka. “That’s w...

Patriots move to retain restricted free agent OT Yodny Cajutse on 1-year deal

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

The Patriots have tendered restricted free agent offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste at an original-round level, according to a source.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots reportedly signing veteran OT Riley Reiff, expect him to start New England Patriots | How Devin McCourty helped the Patriots create cap space in retirement New England Patriots | Patriots sit out initial days of NFL free agency despite ample cap room, lack of spending New England Patriots | Patriots re-signing S Jabrill Peppers to 2-year deal, per reports New England Patriots | Patriots reportedly signing Broncos O-lineman to 2-year deal Cajuste should return on a 1-year, $2.73 million deal, which is non-guaranteed, indicating he will have to fight for a roster spot this summer. Opposing teams can still approach Cajuste with an offer sheet, and if he signs, the Pats can either match or receive a third-round pick as compensation.C...

Officials identify 3 of 8 killed after suspected smuggling boats overturned

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Three of the eight people who died after two suspected smuggling boats overturned near Black’s Beach on Sunday have been identified by authorities. According to the San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, Eloy Hernandez-Baltazar, 48; Yecenia Lazcano-Soriano, 22; and Guillermo Suarez Gonzalez, 23 were three of the individuals killed while attempting to travel from Mexico to the U.S. on panga boats. San Diego River flooding in Mission Valley The cause of death for all three victims was noted as drowning. The boats capsized in the early morning hours, prompting calls to 911. The San Diego Police Department and San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Lifeguards responded to the incident. The medical examiner's office said lifeguards pulled victims from the ocean and pronounced them dead at the scene on Black's Beach.Meanwhile, seven of the eight people who died were presumed to be Mexican citizens, officials with the Consulate General of Mexico confirmed Monday.Anyone who wis...

Bicyclist fatally struck by driver suspected of DUI: police

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:02:11 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- A bicyclist was fatally struck by a vehicle in North County on Tuesday, authorities said.The Oceanside Police Department announced at 5:19 p.m. that all southbound lanes of Douglas Drive were shut down from El Camino Real to Mission Avenue due to a traffic accident. 18-year-old killed in East County crash Several hours later, the department tweeted that the lanes had been reopened following a fatal traffic collision. According to police, a preliminary investigation indicated that a bicyclist traveling on Douglas Drive, on or near the sidewalk, was struck by a motorist.Authorities say the male adult bicyclist is believed to be in his 50s. He was reported to have succumbed to his injuries at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.The department said the motorist remained at the scene of the crash and was arrested for suspicion of driving while under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. Anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to...