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Sunak investigated in UK over possible undeclared interest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under investigation over allegations he failed to disclose shares his wife owns in a child care business that stands to benefit from his government’s budget, a parliamentary watchdog disclosed.Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg opened an inquiry last week for possible violations of the code of conduct that calls on members to be “open and frank” in declaring relevant financial interests, according to an update given to members of Parliament who returned Monday from Easter break. Parliament requires members to disclose financial interests within four weeks of something they said or actions they took that may have been influenced by a financial interest. A Sunak spokesperson says he did not make a declaration as a member of parliament but had recorded a “ministerial interest,” the equivalent disclosure for government ministers. The government’s budget announced last month includes a massive expansion o...

New US tax credit rules narrow the list of eligible EVs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Ten electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will be eligible for a $7,500 U.S. tax credit, while another seven could get $3,750 under new federal rules that go into effect on Tuesday.But under the Treasury Department rules and other provisions of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, most of the more than 60 electric or plug-in hybrids on sale in the U.S. won’t get any tax credits. That could slow acceptance of electric vehicles and could delay reaching President Joe Biden’s ambitious goal that half of new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. run on electricity by 2030.The new rules, which govern how much battery minerals and parts can come from countries that don’t have free trade agreements with the U.S., bumped nine vehicles off the tax credit eligibility list that went into effect Jan. 1.The 10 vehicles eligible for the full $7,500 credit are Tesla’s Model 3 Performance model, the Tesla Model Y, Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup, the Chry...

Grains higher, Livestock mixed.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Grain futures higher Monday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for May was up 13 cents at $6.8450 a bushel; May corn gained 6.75 cents at $6.6475 a bushel; May oats rose 5 cents at $3.40 a bushel; while May soybeans gained 15 cents at $15.0925 a bushel.Beef higher and pork unchanged on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.Apr. live cattle rose .15 cent at $1.7515 a pound; Apr. feeder cattle advanced 2.93 cents at $2.0565 a pound; Apr. lean hogs was unchanged at $.7182 a pound.Source

Rangers, Devils to renew Stanley Cup playoff river rivalry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — During the last two months, anticipation grew for hockey fans on the New York and New Jersey sides of the Hudson River ahead of the Stanley Cup playoffs.The first-round series between the Rangers and Devils that’s been on the horizon is now a reality. The best-of-seven river rivalry will get underway on Tuesday at the Prudential Center. If it’s anything like most of their other six postseason matchups, it will be a joy to watch.Two in the series have gone to a seventh game, with the most memorable the 1994 Eastern Conference final decided in double overtime on a wraparound goal by New York’s Stephane Matteau.While the Rangers have a 4-2 record in the series, the Devils won the last one, beating the Rangers in six games in the 2012 conference final on a goal in overtime by Adam Henrique. New Jersey was then denied a fourth Stanley Cup by the Los Angeles Kings.“At the end of the day, it’s hockey,” Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton said. “It&...

Starbucks to test reusable cup program in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Starbucks' latest test pilot program will take place in Colorado and it will give customers the opportunity to use a personal cup in the drive-thru.The popular coffee chain announced that the testing would take place in 184 stores throughout the state.According to Starbucks, the program is part of its efforts to be "resource positive." During the pilot, customers in the drive-thru can order a beverage like normal and then let the barista know they brought their own personal cup. Customers will save 10 cents on their purchase when they bring a cup. 1st Quiznos location in Denver closed for unpaid taxes Starbucks said it chose Colorado as the ideal market for this pilot because Coloradans already bring in personal cups more frequently than the national average. The chain has allowed customers to bring in a personal cup for use inside the cafe for a couple of years and said it's all part of their commitment to reducing their waste by 50% by 2030.If the pilot succeeds,...

Kenyans sweep in Boston Marathon, but not favorite Kipchoge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Defending champion Evans Chebet of Kenya won the Boston Marathon again on Monday, surging to the front at Heartbreak Hill to spoil the much-anticipated debut of world record holder Eliud Kipchoge and win in 2 hours, 5 minutes, 54 seconds.Hellen Obiri, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000 meters, won the women's race in a sprint down Boylston Street to finish in an unofficial 2:21:38 and complete the Kenyan sweep.Chebet, 2021 winner Benson Kipruto of Kenya and Gabriel Geay of Tanzania dropped Kipchoge from the lead pack around Mile 20 and then ran together for the last three miles. Geay won a footrace for second, 10 seconds behind the winner and 2 seconds ahead of Kipruto.Kipchoge, a 12-time major marathon winner, was sixth. Scott Fauble was the top American, finishing seventh.Kipchoge had been hoping to add a Boston Marathon victory to his unprecedented running resume. The 38-year-old has won two Olympic gold medals and four of the six major marathons; Bosto...

Teen charged after speeding, going airborne, crashing into home’s roof; alcohol involved

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

YADKINVILLE, North Carolina (WXII) — A teenager has been charged after the car he was driving went airborne and crashed on top of a home in Yadkinville.According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, it happened around 2:30 a.m. on Friday at a home on Sugartown Road near Deep Creek Road.Court documents say the 17-year-old was speeding more than 70 miles per hour. Troopers say the driver, identified as Tyler Caudill, of Yadkinville, lost control, hit a tree stump, drove on top of the homeowner’s car that was parked in the driveway, and landed on top of the house. The car crashed into the living room and made the home unlivable.In the court’s copy of Caudill’s citation, he reportedly admitted to “consuming earlier” and had a blood alcohol concentration level of .02 roughly four hours after the crash.According to the Yadkinville Volunteer Fire Department, at the time of the crash, firefighters say a family of four was inside: two adults and two...

Broward County mayor updates public about gas problems

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

Drivers waited in long lines at local gas stations in South Florida after historic flooding affected fuel at the pump, but officials said there is no shortage. They did, however, ask the public for their patience. A news conference at Port Everglades took place Monday morning where Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher spoke on the matter.On Sunday, residents experienced the backup of fuel access as lines curved onto the streets outside of gas stations all across Miami-Dade and Broward. According to Fisher, fuel trucks were unable to access gas shipments due to the flooding. “We have terminals here that are privately owned by the gas facility folks,” he said. “So what’s happening is, their pumps were inundated with water. Now, they are trying to get these pumps back in working order to get the fuel out of their tanks to get a cord into the tankers so they can get the fuel in the gas stations.”He continued to say that there is no issue with the amount of gas...

Rishi Sunak facing ethics probe over wife’s stake in childcare firm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak is being investigated for a potential breach of the MP code of conduct amid scrutiny of his wife’s stake in a childcare firm that received a boost in last month’s Budget.The parliamentary standards commissioner — tasked with policing MP behavior — announced Monday that it had opened an investigation under paragraph six of the code, which says MPs “must always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest” they hold.Although the watchdog does not detail the specific interest under investigation, the prime minister has recently faced questions over his wife Akshata Murty’s stake in childcare business Koru Kids following a £4bn boost for the sector in last month’s Budget. A Downing Street spokesperson said Monday: “We are happy to assist the commissioner to clarify how this has been transparently declared as a ministerial interest.” Sunak wrote to the House of Commons liaison committee earlier this month saying his interest in th...

Bruins notebook: Bug hits B’s dressing room at wrong time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:28:11 GMT

Just when you thought things could not look any brighter for the prospects of a Stanley Cup run for the Bruins, a nasty bug has hit the dressing room to wreak havoc on the front-runners’ post-season lineup.On the morning of Monday’s Game 1 against the Florida Panthers, coach Jim Montgomery could not say whether his captain Patrice Bergeron would play or who his goaltender was going to be.Bergeron, who left Thursday’s regular season finale in Montreal with what was termed an upper body injury, did not take part in the Bruins’ two weekend practices, nor did he participate in the optional morning skate on Monday that saw a small group of players hit ice at Warrior Arena. Bergeron has not only been dealing with what Montgomery called a nagging injury, he was also battling the bug.Ullmark, who left last Tuesday’s home finale with a lower body injury, did go out on the ice briefly, as did Jeremy Swayman, who had missed Sunday’s practice with illness. Pr...