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Not just the China spy scandal: 7 flashpoints for Britain’s Tory hawks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

LONDON — Claims a Chinese spy may have been working at the heart of British democracy have the country’s MPs spooked. But it’s not the only China issue riling up Conservative lawmakers.From artificial intelligence to Xinjiang, hawkish MPs on the governing party’s benches want Rishi Sunak’s government to take a much tougher line against Beijing. Much of Sunak’s time in Number 10 has, however, been characterized by careful management of the U.K.’s relationship with China. Let POLITICO walk you through the big China issues that have been getting Tory MPs animated.The spy claimsThis weekend’s bombshell Sunday Times report — claiming that a parliamentary aide to senior Conservative MPs was arrested in a China-linked espionage investigation in March — alarmed lawmakers across the house.It’s prompted a flurry of questions from Tory MPs, who want to know why they weren’t informed about the arrest sooner and just how many people may have been im...

Britain wants to loosen rules and boost its arms exports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

LONDON — Call it Global Britain, with a bang.The U.K. government wants to make it easier for arms-makers to export weapons and security systems around the world by easing access to financing and contracts for smaller firms, the country’s minister of state for defense procurement, James Cartlidge, told defense executives on Tuesday.Speaking at the DSEI arms fair in London’s Docklands — a key event in the calendar for military contractors — Cartlidge said too many restrictions were being placed on defense firms, especially smaller operators, even on access to basic banking facilities.“Environmental, social and governance rules. ESG, as we call it, ESG rules aren’t bad, per say, but have been applied wholly, misguidedly in relation to defense,” Cartlidge said. “You only need to look around to appreciate that defense isn’t the enemy.”Instead of “penalizing” contractors, the government wants to make selling munitions and missiles easier with the goal of incre...

WATCH: Flooding, torrential downpours in Leominster leave vehicles dangling from driveways, car lot caving into river

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

Crews in Leominster spent Tuesday morning rushing to make repairs and clear debris after receding waters revealed widespread damage in multiple neighborhoods, following Monday night’s torrential downpours and flooding.Lancaster Street alone was the scene of sinkholes, caved-in driveways and even a vehicle dangling from the foundation of a property’s garage as residents waded through inches of mud to retrieve their belongings.The area was inundated with rain Monday evening, with at least seven inches falling in the area and what was believed to be ten inches in some pockets, prompting a state of emergency declaration from city leaders.Other sites with major weather damage included Durand Buick GMC Cadillac on Main Street, where a section of the dealership’s lot caved in and sent several SUVs below street level and towards the neighboring Nashua River.Surveying the damage, the dealership’s owner told 7NEWS he was grateful no one was hurt and that no customer ca...

Patriots coaches react to Jets QB Aaron Rodgers’ ‘unfortunate’ season-ending injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

The AFC East picture – and potentially the Patriots’ path to the playoffs – took a sudden turn on Monday night.On the fourth play of his Jets career, Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury, and didn’t return. On Tuesday, Rodgers and the Jets’ worst fear was confirmed – the 39-year-old quarterback suffered a torn Achilles tendon and will miss the rest of the season.The Jets had Super Bowl aspirations with the addition of Rodgers this offseason, but just like that, their chances at even making the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade took a catastrophic blow.Rodgers’ injury creates an obvious domino effect for the Patriots, who play the Jets twice in the division, including in Week 3 in New York. And while they’re certainly focused on this Sunday night’s matchup against the Dolphins, Patriots assistant coaches took a moment to react to the Rodgers ‘ news on Tuesday.“You never want to see anybody get hurt,” Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino said. “I didn’t s...

Hundreds of Bahrain prisoners suspend hunger strike as crown prince to visit United States

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Hundreds of prisoners suspended their monthlong hunger strike in Bahrain on Tuesday, an advocacy group said, just ahead of a visit of the island nation’s crown prince to the United States. The strike will pause until Sept. 30 as some prisoners suffered health problems and to see if promised changes by Bahrain’s government at the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center will materialize, according to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, an advocacy group.The promised changes include limiting isolation, expanding visitor rights, extending the hours of daylight inmates have and improving health care at the prison, the group said. If the changes are not implemented, the strike will resume. The group linked the decision to Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa’s visit to Washington this week. Bahrain’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. The monthlong hunger strike had been of ...

MP Michael Chong urges U.S. lawmakers to work with Canada to combat Chinese meddling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Conservative MP at the centre of Canada’s foreign interference saga is urging Capitol Hill lawmakers to work with their northern neighbour to battle Beijing.  Michael Chong, whose tale of Chinese meddling has been a political headache for the federal Liberal government, told his tale to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.The commission was established in 2000 to keep tabs on Beijing’s human rights record, and is a bipartisan committee of U.S. senators, House members and administration officials. Chong says one of his main goals was to make clear just how widespread Chinese foreign interference is, both in North America and around the world. Several members of the commission, including New Jersey Rep. Chris Smith and Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, both Republicans, pressed Chong on how the U.S. and Canada could work more closely together. One of Chong’s ideas is to expose the conduct with “sunlight and transparency” — publicizing...

Supporters of Native activist Leonard Peltier hold White House rally, urging Biden to grant clemency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hundreds of activists and Indigenous leaders rallied outside the White House on Tuesday in support of Leonard Peltier on the imprisoned activist’s 79th birthday, holding signs and chanting slogans urging President Joe Biden to grant clemency to the Native American leader.Peltier is serving life in prison for the killing of two FBI agents during a 1975 standoff on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He was convicted in 1977. Key figures involved in Peltier’s prosecution have stepped forward over the years to urge his release, rally organizers said, including the judge who presided over Peltier’s 1986 appeal and the former U.S. attorney whose office handled the prosecution and appeal of Peltier’s case. The rally kicked off Tuesday with chanting and drum beats. Organizers delivered impassioned speeches about Peltier’s life and his importance as a Native leader, punctuated by shouts of “Free Peltier! Free Peltier!”“Forty-eight years is long ...

A Connecticut couple rescues a baby shark caught in a work glove

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

GLASTONBURY, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut couple’s scuba diving trip in Rhode Island on Monday turned into a mission to rescue a baby shark.Deb and Steve Dauphinais, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, were diving on the sand flats off Jamestown, Rhode Island, when Deb Dauphinais spotted the 16-inch (41-centimeter) juvenile shark with its head stuck inside a work glove at the bottom of about 35 feet (10 meters) of water. Deb Dauphinais, a dive instructor, said she thought the shark was dead, but when it twitched she motioned for her husband to come over and help.“He came over and did his own little double-take,” she said. She said her husband tugged on the glove, which seemed to be suctioned to the shark’s head, but it eventually popped free.Deb Dauphinais said they were not afraid of being attacked by what appeared to be a juvenile Dogfish shark, but were cautious, in case it snapped at them.“It kind of looked at both of us, didn’t look at all injured, got its equilibrium ...

Family of slain Ontario woman offer $50K reward for info into her murder

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

The family of an Ontario woman and mother of three who was murdered just over a year ago is hoping a $50,000 reward will lead provincial police to track down those responsible for her death.Investigators with Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say 38-year-old Sibel Duzguner was shot while she was getting into her car to leave for work on the morning of August 26, 2022, in Alliston, Ont.Authorities say a vehicle drove up to Duzguner’s residence while she was outside, firing several rounds. The suspect vehicle’s driver then fled the area after fatally wounding the woman.The shooting is believed to have been targeted and not a case of mistaken identity, OPP noted.Police are attempting to locate the vehicle of interest, described as a grey 2011-2012 Volkswagen Jetta, observed in the Kidd Crescent area shortly before the shooting.Mother of three has close ties to local Turkish, Muslim communitiesDuzunger’s family says the 38-year-old woman immigrated to Canada from Turkey ...

It will take 20 years for feds to break even with Volkswagen, Stellantis deals: PBO

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:26 GMT

OTTAWA — The parliamentary budget officer says it will take the federal and Ontario governments until 2043 to break even on their electric-vehicle battery deals with two automotive giants.The governments announced subsidies for Volkswagen and Stellantis-LG Energy Solution this year to entice them to build electric vehicle battery plants in Canada.A report released by the PBO on Tuesday says it will take 20 years for government revenues generated from the production of both plants to equal the production subsidies, which will total $28.2 billion by the end of 2032. In March, Canada reached a deal that will see Volkswagen get up to $13.2 billion in production subsidies for batteries they produce at a plant planned for St. Thomas, Ont.Stellantis later asked for a similar deal for a plant it’s constructing in Windsor, Ont., and ultimately secured a $15-billion agreement.The production subsidies for both plants are supposed to mirror incentives offered by the U.S. through the Infla...