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Labour urges ‘realism’ on UK’s Indo-Pacific military ambitions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

LONDON — A Labour government would be more realistic about the role Britain can play in the Indo-Pacific, according to the party’s shadow defense secretary.In an interview with POLITICO, John Healey — who could become Britain’s next defense chief if polls continue in Labour’s favor ahead of a likely 2024 election — said the U.K. under the leadership of his boss Keir Starmer would remain a strong ally of countries such as Australia and New Zealand.But, he argued, Britain can’t be a strong military force in the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic simultaneously, and said the country needed to fill a “Europe-shaped hole” in its foreign and defense policy.“Alliances with like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific are important. We can contribute strongly with technology, capability, diplomacy, to the Indo-Pacific, but there needs to be a realism about military commitments into the Indo-Pacific,” he said. “Our armed forces are ill-served by leaders who pretend that Britain can do everyt...

WhatsApp boss to UK, EU: Don’t break encryption

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

LONDON — Western democracies are becoming increasingly autocratic and are threatening people’s fundamental rights, according to Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp, the encrypted-messaging service.The longtime Meta executive on Thursday said new online content proposals in both the United Kingdom and the European Union represented an existential threat to how people communicated privately online. That includes London’s Online Safety Bill and Brussels’ proposals linked to combating child sexual abuse material, including requirements for platforms to proactively search and remove that material, even on encrypted services. If passed, the collective rules could set an unhealthy precedent, after which more authoritarian regimes could copy such proposals in ways that would undermine people’s ability to speak freely worldwide.Cathcart specifically called out the U.K.’s Online Safety Bill — an upcoming online-content proposal that may require encrypted services l...

BU brings Boston landmark to the stage with ‘Make Way For Ducklings’ musical

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

Boston University’s Wheelock Family Theatre is bringing one of the city’s most popular landmarks to the stage with “Make Way For Ducklings the Musical.”The musical, based on the children’s book by Robert McCloskey, had a lot of setbacks because of the pandemic. However, it finally made its world premiere last month. “A classic story for all ages, this New England premiere musical celebrates family, Boston, children and the beings who make an unfamiliar place a home,” the show description says. “Make Way For Ducklings” runs through March 12. To purchase tickets, click here.

Uber is making it easier to find your ride at the airport

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

(CNN) — Uber on Tuesday unveiled some new product features that aim to make it easier for you to find your ride at the airport.The ride-hailing company said it was adding step-by-step instructions in the app to guide people through the airport and get them smoothly from the gate to their Uber pick-up location. The new instructions, which are available at over 30 airports around the world to start, feature photos that display what you will be seeing in the airport as you navigate to your ride.In addition to helping riders and drivers find each other at the right place, the update also aims to reduce traffic congestion and idle time for drivers at the curb. Some of the US airports where this feature will be available include all three of New York City’s main airports (John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty), as well as Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Miami Internatio...

FTC says it’s conducting an investigation into Twitter’s privacy practices

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

(CNN) — The Federal Trade Commission has acknowledged a wide-ranging investigation into Twitter’s privacy practices after a House subcommittee on Tuesday disclosed a dozen letters from the agency to the company seeking information about its operations under new CEO Elon Musk.The acknowledgment marks a rare public confirmation of a probe linked to alleged violations of an FTC settlement, which Twitter first signed in 2011, and which was designed to force the company to improve its protection of user data. It also highlights the intense scrutiny surrounding both Twitter and its regulator as officials try to determine whether violations of the settlement may have occurred under Twitter’s new management — which could broaden the company’s already vast legal exposure.The probe could have huge repercussions for Twitter’s business at a time when Musk is slashing staff and rushing out new paid features to offset sharp losses in ad ...

Former NBA star Shawn Kemp arrested on drive-by shooting charge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

Shawn Kemp, a retired six-time NBA All-Star, was arrested in Washington state on a felony drive-by shooting charge, jail records show.Kemp, who played eight of his 14 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, was booked at a Pierce County jail just before 6 p.m. local time Wednesday, hours after police say they responded to a report of shots fired at the Tacoma Mall in Tacoma, Wash.“Responding officers determined an altercation had occurred between two parties in vehicles,” the Tacoma Police Department said. “One of the drivers fired off several rounds at the occupants of the other vehicle. The victim vehicle fled the area.”No injuries were reported.“Officers located the suspect who had fired off the shots on Tacoma Mall property and detained him without incident,” police said. “A firearm was recovered from the scene.”Kemp, 53, has not publicly commented, but sources close to him claim he fired a gun in self-defense, according to the Tacom...

Jets becoming more optimistic about landing Aaron Rodgers: report

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

On Tuesday, the Jets brass flew out to California to meet with Aaron Rodgers after receiving permission from the Packers. Jets owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett traveled with the hopes of acquiring the former four-time MVP.Now it appears Gang Green is closer to landing the 39-year-old quarterback.According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Jets are “optimistic” that they will land Rodgers in a trade.Rodgers is scheduled to male $59.5 million guaranteed if he plays in 2023, as that is part of the three-year, $150 million contract extension he signed last year. It carries a salary-cap charge of $31.6 million next season.While the Packers and Jets will continue to engage in trade compensation conversations, they could also restructure Rodgers’ contract to allow for an easier cap hit. But Rodgers’ salary cap hit is only $15.8 million in 2023 and 32.5 million in 2024.Currently, the Je...

Two Canadian authors compete for Baillie Gifford non-fiction ‘winner of winners’ prize

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Two Canadian books are competing to be named the best-ever winner of Britain’s leading non-fiction book prize.The Baillie Gifford Prize is marking its 25th year with a Winner of Winners prize, in which six of the 24 past winners of the award are up against each other. The books by Canadians on the list are Wade Davis’ mountaineering odyssey “Into the Silence” and Margaret MacMillan’s history of the post-First World War peace talks, “Paris 1919.”Also on the short list announced Thursday vying for the 25,000-pound (CAD$40,000) purse are three books from the U.S. and one from Britain.The prize was launched in 1999 to reward English-language books from any country in current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts.The winner will be announced April 27 at a ceremony in Edinburgh, Scotland.The eclectic short list also includes cultural kaleidoscope “One Two Three Four: The Beatles in Time” by Craig Brown.The U.S. finalists ar...

US stocks rise modestly as worries linger on interest rates

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose modestly on Wall Street Thursday as markets remain anxious about the prospect of more aggressive action by the Federal Reserve to fight inflation. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% as of 10:16 a.m. Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 66 points, or 0.2% to 32,864 and the Nasdaq rose 0.3%.Energy stocks were among the biggest gainers as U.S. crude oil prices rose 1%. Exxon Mobil rose 1.5%.The gains follow two days of testimony before Congress by Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who said the central bank was prepared to continue making big interest rate increases if necessary. Fears about a persistently aggressive Fed have been weighing on major indexes, all of which are on track for weekly losses.The Fed’s inflation-fighting policies risk slowing the economy too much and pushing it into a recession, while also going too far in softening a strong labor market and putting many people out of work.A government report on Thursday showed that the number of Americ...

Europe struggles to make progress in migration quagmire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:17:21 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe continued its decade-old struggle Thursday to devise a migration system that would both better protect its extensive borders and avoid tragedies like last month’s shipwreck off Italy, which killed at least 70 migrants.Interior ministers from the European Union’s 27 members remained mired in technical talks that aim to revamp the bloc’s migration and asylum system by spring 2024 — at the earliest.“As you can see, this is not moving fast enough when we look at the tragic events in Italy a few days ago,” said Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.In Europe, humanitarian tragedies and the plight of people fleeing persecution in countries like Afghanistan and Syria often take second seat to populist rhetoric about overcrowding, loss of national identity and the cost of housing migrants. Every now and then though, a disaster like the Feb. 26 sinking off southern Italy’s Cutro beach briefly focuses minds again. Italy’s government is even having ...