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US pumps the brakes on EU clean car deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

Washington and Brussels are at odds over a deal to make European automakers eligible for U.S. electric vehicle tax credits.The European Union has been pressing for a more flexible agreement on the critical minerals used in electric car batteries that won’t require the time-consuming approval of its 27 member countries.But that doesn’t work for the Biden administration, which is under immense pressure from lawmakers to broker a binding pact. The U.S. wants Europe to make commitments that boost the supply of those minerals in exchange for the tax perks, which were part of the historic climate law Democrats passed last year.The impasse, described to POLITICO by a dozen officials on both sides of the Atlantic, is likely to drag out negotiations into the summer, leaving European automakers at a disadvantage in the U.S. car market in the meantime. And it threatens to exacerbate the rift over U.S. efforts to promote domestic EV manufacturing at a time when the longtime allies aim to presen...

Ireland signs law requiring cancer warnings on all alcoholic beverages

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

DUBLIN – Ireland will become the first country in the world to require alcoholic beverages to display health warnings that they could potentially cause cancer, a long-awaited decision welcomed by health advocates but vociferously opposed by drinks producers worldwide.Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on Monday signed into law the Public Health (Alcohol) (Labelling) Regulations 2023 and confirmed that the new rules would come into effect three years from now — May 22, 2026.Ireland moved once its plans cleared two key hurdles at the European Union and World Trade Organization, which fielded complaints from winemakers, brewers and distillers worldwide but declined to block the proposed measure on competition or other grounds.“I welcome that we are the first country in the world to take this step and introduce comprehensive health labelling of alcohol products,” Donnelly said in a written statement, noting that Ireland was also the first nation to ban smoking in enclosed public...

Rishi Sunak mulls ethics probe over top minister’s handling of speeding fine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak is considering whether to launch an ethics probe amid pressure on Home Secretary Suella Braverman over her handling of a speeding offense.According to reports in the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday this weekend, Braverman — while attorney general in 2022 — asked civil servants to try and arrange a one-on-one driving awareness course after she was caught speeding. In the U.K., people who have broken the speed limit can opt to attend a course rather than pay a fine — but these are usually run as group sessions. A private course could therefore have reduced the likelihood of other motorists recognizing the senior minister in a public session.The officials reportedly refused to pursue the idea on advice from the Cabinet Office, with Braverman instead accepting a fine and points on her license. In her first public comments on the row Monday, Braverman said she was “confident that nothing untoward happened” — but stressed that she regretted breaking the sp...

Get to know Noah Sewell: Q&A with the new Chicago Bears linebacker’s college coordinator

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

Rookie Noah Sewell joins the Chicago Bears at an intriguing time in the linebackers room.Before the Bears drafted Sewell out of Oregon in the fifth round, general manager Ryan Poles signed free agents Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards to join second-year linebacker Jack Sanborn. Now Sewell arrives to add depth to the position.Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi worked with Sewell for his final season with the Ducks as he wrapped up a three-year career that included 215 tackles, 20½ tackles for a loss, 7½ sacks, two interceptions, 11 passes defended and three forced fumbles.Lupoi spoke recently with the Tribune about Sewell’s strengths and potential. Here’s that interview, edited for clarity.Note: This is part of a series of conversations with the college coaches of this year’s Bears draft picks.What type of player are the Bears getting in Noah?He’s an extremely hard-working, committed player. He really has a unique skill set of versatility. A gu...

Chicago baseball report: Cubs’ new late-inning options — and Jake Burger on a heater at home for the White Sox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

May continues to be a drag for the Chicago Cubs.They limp into Monday’s day off and an upcoming nine-game homestand looking for momentum before their record — 20-26 after Sunday’s 2-1 loss in Philadelphia — puts them in catch-up mode the rest of the summer.The White Sox, meanwhile, finished their first winning homestand of the season (6-3) on the strength of starting pitching. After Sunday’s 5-2 victory in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Sox starters have a 2.06 ERA — allowing nine earned runs in 39⅓ innings — over the last six games.Every Monday throughout the season, Tribune baseball writers will provide an update on what happened — and what’s ahead for the Cubs and Sox.High-leverage opportunities in Cubs bullpenPrepare to see Cubs manager David Ross try other relief options in high-leverage spots in the near future.With Brad Boxberger on the injured list, Keegan Thompson in Triple A and Michael Fulmer s...

5 storylines to watch as the Chicago Bears begin OTAs today, including rookie Darnell Wright’s development

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

The Chicago Bears begin organized team activities this week with a revamped roster at several positions.Many of the old and new players have been around Halas Hall for the offseason program, but their training will kick up a notch with nine OTA sessions over the next three weeks followed by veteran minicamp June 13-15.Here are five storylines for the Bears as they enter the next phase of their offseason program.1. Offensive line shake-upThe only offensive line starter to stay in his place from last season is left tackle Braxton Jones. The rest of the line has been shuffled with offseason moves.The Bears added free agent Nate Davis, who will be at right guard, and No. 10 draft pick Darnell Wright, who should start at right tackle. Teven Jenkins will move from right guard to left, and Cody Whitehair will move from left guard to center, where he will compete with Lucas Patrick.So the Bears have a lot of work to do settling into their new roles. The development of Wright and continued g...

Financial charges cast cloud over Man City’s dominance in English soccer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City’s ruthless run to the Premier League title can be traced back to the morning of Feb. 6, when the club was hit with more than 100 charges of financial wrongdoing.City has not lost a game in any competition since then and is on track to win three trophies, having also advanced to the finals of the Champions League and the FA Cup.But even if the accusations made by the Premier League appear to have marked a turning point in potentially the most successful season in the club’s history, they continue to cast a cloud over City’s years of dominance in English soccer.City has been England’s leading club for more than a decade thanks to the lavish backing of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family. The club was bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008.The latest title triumph was the club’s fifth in six years and seventh in the past 11.On Sunday, as City celebrated with its fans at Etihad Stadium — named for a sponsor deal with the s...

New Madrid museum set to unveil five centuries of Spain’s royal collections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

MADRID (AP) — It’s not as if Madrid was short on world-ranking galleries with the likes of the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía, among others.But next month, Spain is set to unveil what is touted as one of Europe’s cultural highlights of the year with the opening in the Spanish capital of The Royal Collections Gallery. The swanky new museum will feature master paintings, tapestries, sculptures, decorative art pieces, armory and sumptuous royal furniture collected by Spanish monarchs over five centuries, spanning the empire’s Hapsburg and Bourbon dynasties.“This is the biggest museum project in Spain in decades, and also in Europe”, says Ana de la Cueva, President of the Patrimonio Nacional, a government body that runs the Gallery.Unlike many other monarchies, Spain’s Royal Collections do not belong to the crown but to the public, thanks to a historical twist nearly a century ago. Now, Patrimonio Nacional oversees palaces, monasteries, convents, an...

Belarusian dissident who was pulled off forced-down plane says he has been pardoned

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The Belarusian state news agency on Monday reported that a dissident journalist who was pulled off a flight that was forced to land in the country and was later sentenced to eight years in prison says he has received a presidential pardon.“I literally just signed all the relevant documents that I was pardoned. This, of course, is just great news,” Raman Pratasevich was quoted as saying by the news agency Belta.Pratasevich was convicted and sentenced May 3 for organizing unrest and plotting to seize power.He ran a Telegram messaging app channel that was widely used by participants in mass protests against the disputed August 2020 election that gave authoritarian Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office.The protests, which lasted for months, were the longest and largest demonstration of opposition to Lukashenko since he took power in 1994. Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a brutal crackdown that saw more ...

Vinícius Júnior gains more support as Spanish soccer again embroiled in racism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:54 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish soccer is again embroiled in racism, with the support for Vinícius Júnior growing rapidly after yet another case of abuse against the Brazil forward this weekend.Officials, players and former players showed solidarity with Vinícius, who on Sunday considered leaving the field after being insulted by fans during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Valencia in the Spanish league.Vinícius said after the match the Spanish league “now belongs to racists” and that Spain “is seen as a racist country.”“Full solidarity to Vinicius,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. “There is no place for racism in football or in society and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. Events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid show that this needs to be the case.”The support for Vinícius, who is Black and as been subjected to racist abuse since he arrived to play in Spain five years ago, came from former players and current stars.“You’re not alone,” ...