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Missing EU: Scotland’s nationalists make fresh pitch to undo Brexit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

LONDON — Scotland can “regain what has been lost because of Brexit” by rejoining the EU as an independent nation, the Scottish government argued Friday. But it’s got plenty of big hurdles to clear first.A new paper — written by senior officials working for the pro-independence government led by the Scottish National Party — sets out how an independent Scotland, no longer shackled to the U.K., could rejoin the bloc years after it was wrenched out by the Brexit referendum.The paper comes, however, at a difficult time for the Scottish independence movement. After losing a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014, the prospect of a second one appears more distant than ever. Declining polling numbers for the SNP, and the Westminster government’s long-running refusal to play ball both play a part. Thanks to the chaos that followed Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation as Scottish first minister and the steady revival of the Scottish Labour Party, the SNP is also w...

Scotland shares the EU’s values. Here’s how we’d seek to rejoin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Humza Yousaf is the first minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party.Scotland, like all European countries, is wrestling with huge challenges, while trying to build a better society and a stronger economy for our citizens. It’s been my job since I became first minister in March this year to lead Scotland through these challenging times and create those opportunities. To a large extent, my politics have been defined by the principle of solidarity: the sense that there is much more that unites us than divides us.The motto of the EU — “united in diversity” —  for me is much more than a nice phrase. The idea of working, as the EU says, for peace and prosperity, while recognizing that we are all enriched by different cultures, traditions and languages, goes to the very heart of my political beliefs.Seven years ago, people in Scotland voted decisively to remain inside the EU. They were driven, of course, by the economic advantages that come from b...

Boston Fire crews respond to two-alarm fire in Mattapan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

The Boston Fire Department was called to a heavy fire in Mattapan Friday morning, successfully knocking down the blaze.Crews arrived at the two-and-a-half story building on Rector Street to find billowing smoke and flames shooting through the roof and upper level walls.“Heavy fire [through] the roof as companies continue to chase the fire through the building,” officials posted to X. “Companies have to work around the wires to reach the roof as the fire is traveling in the eaves.”https://twitter.com/BostonFire/status/1725541917033701572The department reported that the fire had been knocked down shortly after 11 a.m.Six adults were displaced by the fire, but no injuries were reported.

Former Sen. Tran Indicted Again, This Time For COVID Fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

Former Sen. Dean Tran’s legal troubles expanded Friday when he was arrested and charged in federal court for allegedly collecting fraudulent unemployment benefits and failing to disclose income to the IRS.Federal prosecutors announced a 28-count indictment against the Fitchburg resident alleging that after he departed the Massachusetts Senate in 2021, he collected $30,120 in pandemic unemployment benefits while also working as a paid consultant for a New Hampshire automotive parts company.Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy’s office also alleged that Tran failed to disclose more than $50,000 he earned from consulting for the company — which prosecutors did not identify — on his 2021 federal tax return as well as rental income he collected from tenants of a Fitchburg property.Tran, who in September was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on two counts of violating state ethics laws, now also faces 25 counts of wire fraud and three counts of filing false tax r...

Chicago Bears Week 11 storylines: Dan Campbell’s magic touch, Cairo Santos’ reliability and a new power in the NFC North

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

The Chicago Bears are hoping to build on last week’s 16-13 win against the Carolina Panthers and see Sunday’s test against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions as a measuring stick. The Bears have shown encouraging improvement on defense over the last month and a half and will get starting quarterback Justin Fields back as well.Now comes the task of competing with — and perhaps upsetting — a high-quality opponent in the Lions. With kickoff approaching, here’s the inside slant on three notable storylines.‘Be ready to roll’The Lions were staring at a potential go-ahead 44-yard field-goal attempt in the final minutes Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Fourth-and-2 from the Chargers 26-yard line and well within range for kicker Riley Patterson. But their coach, Dan Campbell, was staring up at the clock — 1:47 remaining — then across at the opposing sideline, where quarterback Justin Herbert and his offense were waiting for one more opportunity a...

VIDEO: Bioluminescent waves spotted at these San Diego beaches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Bioluminescence -- It's like electric waves rolling along the coastline, and it has been spotted in San Diego, once again. San Diego photographer Vishwas Lokesh, known as @shotbyvish on Instagram, took his Canon camera down to the coast after dark this week to capture some illuminating moments on two particular beaches.As seen in the video at the top of this article, bioluminescent waves were seen rolling along La Jolla Shores both Monday and Tuesday night. The waters at Torrey Pines State Beach also became a light show for onlookers post-twilight Tuesday. Atmospheric river may bring isolated showers to San Diego County "This famed glowing phenomenon is triggered by dinoflagellates, often referred to as 'fire plants' for their ability to emit light. Essentially, these are chemicals generated by marine organisms when agitated," Lokesh explained to his viewers. In essence, he's referring to microalgae that's associated with what's known as a red tide, or a discolorati...

Allison Russell, Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane set for Gordon Lightfoot charity show

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

TORONTO — A packed lineup of Canadian musicians is headed to Massey Hall for a concert tribute to late folk legend Gordon Lightfoot next year.Grammy nominee Allison Russell, the Guess Who’s Burton Cummings and rocker Tom Cochrane are among a dozen names set to appear at Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot on May 23.The evening will pay tribute to Lightfoot’s music and legacy at his favourite venue in Toronto, with Blue Rodeo and members of Lightfoot’s longtime band serving as dual house bands.Some other artists set to appear include folkie Sylvia Tyson, country singer William Prince and rising Oji-Cree musician Aysanabee, with more names to be added ahead of the show.The “Sundown” and “If You Could Read My Mind” singer died in May after a series of health problems, leading to tributes from across the world.Tickets for Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot go on sale Thursday through Massey Hall’s website and by calling the venue’s box office.Pro...

6 Colorado officers charged with failing to intervene during fatal standoff

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Six Colorado law enforcement officers have been charged with failing to intervene during a standoff that ended with the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man suffering a mental health crisis last year, prosecutors said Friday.The announcement came a day after a former sergeant who was previously charged in the killing of Christian Glass pleaded guilty to failing to intervene, a misdemeanor crime created by state lawmakers in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd. Kyle Gould was the supervisor of the sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed Glass, Andrew Buen, after Glass called for help when his SUV got stuck on June 11, 2022.Both Gould and Buen were indicted by a grand jury last year, after a grand jury found they needlessly escalated the standoff. Buen has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, official misconduct, and reckless endangerment. The six other officers from various agencies who are now being prosecuted were all present at the scene an...

Remember Shere Hite? A new documentary jogs our cultural memory of the pioneering sex researcher

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

The 1976 book “The Hite Report” was a bestseller from the beginning. Its intimate anecdotes about love, sex, orgasms and masturbation, drawn from anonymous survey responses from about 3,000 women across the U.S., challenged male assumptions about heterosexual intercourse. And it made its author, Shere Hite, a deeply polarizing public figure.A glamorous figure who had once paid the bills by modeling, Hite quickly became a fixture on talk shows and news programs in the 1970s and 80s after the publication of her report. Playboy called it “The Hate Report.” Erica Jong, in The New York Times, wrote that what the women “have to say is utterly fascinating and often surprising” and to read it, “if you want to know how sex really is right now.” Everyone seemed to have something to say about it, and her.But cultural memory can be short, especially when it comes to pioneering feminists — even ones who have sold 50 million books. When she died in 2020, at age 77, it seemed as though she’d been ...

More than 2,400 Ukrainian children taken to Belarus, a Yale study finds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:27 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — More than 2,400 Ukrainian children aged 6-17 have been taken to Belarus from four regions of Ukraine that are partially occupied by Russian forces, a study by Yale University has found.The study, released Thursday by the Humanitarian Research Lab of the Yale School of Public Health, which receives funding from the U.S. State Department, found that “Russia’s systematic effort to identify, collect, transport, and re-educate Ukraine’s children has been facilitated by Belarus,” and is “ultimately coordinated” between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko.“Belarus’ direct involvement in Russia’s forced deportation of children represents a collaboration” between the two, “with various pro-Russia and pro-regime organizations facilitating the deportation of children from Ukraine,” the research said. According to the study, at least 2,442 children, including those with disabilities, were taken to Bel...