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New project aims to dispel 'myths' about Brits abroad - and boost reform drive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

A major project has been launched which partly aims to “bust some of the myths” about Britons who live abroad, writes Martin Banks.Another objective of the exercise is to garner support for the creation of overseas constituencies in the UK parliament.It is argued that being able to vote for an MP in the British parliament, who represents a constituency outside the UK, would help support Britons who live and work in mainland Europe and beyond. As well as promote the UK abroad.Organizers say that many still cling on to an outdated image of British nationals who reside abroad.Else Kvist, head of communications for New Europeans UK, one of the two campaign groups behind the project, says they want to hear from British people who live abroad.It is hoped the initiative will “help bust some of the common myths about retired Brits lounging about in the Mediterranean, soaking up the sun with a drink in their hand," she said."University research from one of our board members, Michaela Benson,...

East Bay police chase ends in Marin County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

A police pursuit that began in Oakland ended in the suspects’ capture in San Rafael.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Woman sought in connection with two East Bay bank robberies Crime and Public Safety | East Bay couple get decades in federal prison for documenting their sexual abuse of two girls Crime and Public Safety | Former Fremont city manager pleads not guilty to theft by false pretenses charge Crime and Public Safety | Images released of suspect, vehicle in fatal Oakland hit-and-run crash Crime and Public Safety | Woman, man robbed at Oakland ATMs after police issue warning The incident began around 4 p.m. Monday as police and California Highway Patrol officers chased armed robbery suspects from East 12th Street in Oakland to Vallejo and across Highway 37 into Novato.Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle on Highway 101 near the North San Pedro Road exit in San Rafael. The suspects turned...

Nostalgia, parades dominate Santa Cruz County’s 4th of July schedule

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — All throughout the U.S. Tuesday, the colors of red, white and blue will be out in full force, parades will celebrate communities and patriotic songs will be sung, all to celebrate America’s 247th birthday.All of that is true for Santa Cruz County as well, which will have no shortage of Independence Day-related events. Below is a sample of festivities all throughout the county. All events are Tuesday unless noted otherwise.Roaring Camp Railroads will get a two-day head start on the fun and continue through the Fourth of July. The forest will play host to a variety of ’50s-style activities including a sock hop, hula hoop contest, games, music and a barbecue. Poodle skirts and leather jackets are not required, but it does not hurt to set the mood. The fun takes place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday at 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton.For those who want to burn some calories before spending the rest of the day gorging on hot dogs and ice cream, the Rotary Club of Santa...

Caltech’s win in Apple Inc. patent case is upheld after U.S. Supreme Court declines appeal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Apple Inc’s. appeal in the potentially $1 billion patent infringement case brought and won against the tech giant by the California Institute of Technology.In 2016, Caltech filed a lawsuit alleging that Apple and its major chip supplier Broadcom infringed on its patents for signal encoding systems in millions of Apple iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, watches and TVs that relied on Broadcom WiFi components.Four years later, a U.S. District Court jury found Caltech’s patents were in fact infringed, awarding the school more than $1.1 billion in damages, including interest, with Broadcom ordered to pay $288 million and Apple paying $885 million.The decision was appealed and mostly upheld but due to faulty jury instructions in Feb. 2022 the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated the verdict in one of the school’s three patent infringement claims and ordered a new trial on that count. The court further found Caltech’s “two-tier damages” theory — which used diff...

Camp Pendleton identifies 3 Marines who died in fiery crash on Southern California freeway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

Camp Pendleton officials on Tuesday identified three Marines who served in units belonging to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force among the four people who died in a fiery car crash on the 5 Freeway over the weekend.Two of the Marines, Sgt. Daniel Nichols and Cpl. Rodrigo Zermeno Gomez Jr., were assigned to Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. Staff Sgt. Joshua Moore Jr., was assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I Marine Expeditionary Force.“These U.S. Marines will truly be missed,” said a statement from the command. “Our thoughts are with the friends and families who are grieving this loss.”Nichols, 26, of Texas, was an ammunition specialist who enlisted in April 2017. His service medals include the National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Certificate of Co...

Hate crimes in California rose 20% in 2022, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

Hate crimes have risen in California, according to a new state Department of Justice report.California Attorney General Rob Bonta and community leaders gathered in front of the Central Library in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 27 to discuss the state’s latest report on hate crimes, and ongoing efforts to combat rising hate and extremism.Reported hate crimes increased roughly 20% last year, up from 1,763 in 2021, to 2,120 in 2022, the report said. Officials define hate crimes as a criminal offense against a person or property, motivated by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity.Key takeaways from the 2022 Hate Crime in California report include:Hate crimes against Black communities increased 27.1%, from 513 in 2021 to 652 in 2022.Anti-Hispanic hate crimes rose from 197 in 2021, to 210 in 2022.Anti-Asian hate crimes fell from 247 in 2021, to 140 in 2022; a decrease of 43.3%.Anti-Jewish hate crimes increa...

At least 3 of 5 dead in California freeway crash were teenagers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

Three of the five people who died in a single-car crash on the northbound 710 Freeway early Monday were identified as Long Beach teenagers by the coroner’s office on Tuesday, June 27.The three identified were: Angel Gabriel Sextos, 18; George Dobbs, 15; and Ariahh Slemaker, 15.The other two were not yet publicly identified. A sixth person remained hospitalized on Tuesday.California Highway Patrol officials were investigating what caused the crash, said Officer Angelia Gonzales, a CHP spokesperson. Investigators were looking into whether surveillance cameras captured the 2011 Hyundai as it entered the northbound lanes.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Images released of suspect, vehicle in fatal Oakland hit-and-run crash Crashes and Disasters | San Jose: Man dies from injuries in motorcycle crash Crashes and Disasters | 5 killed in single-car crash on California freeway Crashes and Disasters | Man dies after crashing ca...

Word Game: June 28, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — FESTAL (FESTAL: FEST-ul: Of or relating to a feast or festival.)Average mark 25 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 32 or more words in FESTAL? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — QUERULOUS user euro role rose roue rouse rule ruse lore lose loser louse lues lure ours sloe slue slur sole sore soul sour suer sureTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Horoscopes June 28, 2023: Kathy Bates, take an active role

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kellie Pickler, 37; John Cusack, 57; Kathy Bates, 75; Mel Brooks, 97.Happy Birthday: Use your downtime wisely. Participate in programs or activities that broaden your sense of awareness and your ability to turn something you enjoy doing into your routine. Changing how you handle your money may interest you, but don’t leave your best interests up to someone else. Take an active role in your financial investments, and you’ll advance. Avoid joint ventures and shared expenses. Your numbers are 6, 19, 21, 27, 35, 41, 46.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Avoid negative situations. Follow through with research, verify facts and protect against illness or injury. Say no to requests that are counterproductive. Stick to your game plan, and take care of yourself first. Don’t let anger take over when your actions get results. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Review your routine and schedule and adjust what isn’t running satisfactorily. By eliminati...

CIA Arms Dealer Was Actually DEA Target

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:53 GMT

In 2016, Flaviu Georgescu was found guilty and sentenced of attempting to traffic weapons to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, an insurgent group on the U.S. terror list. But when he was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents, he told the officials he was working for the CIA. This week on Intercepted, Trevor Aaronson, contributing writer with The Intercept, joins host Murtaza Hussain to discuss Georgescu’s case. In the second season of Aaronson’s podcast, “Alphabet Boys,” Aaronson tells the story of the DEA operation against Georgescu and how he was targeted by a paid DEA informant. Georgescu, however, had reported the attempted arms trafficking to the CIA and believed he was collecting intelligence for the agency. Aaronson and Hussain discuss their reporting on the case and how the U.S. government may be manufacturing the very crimes they claim to stop. The second season of “Alphabet Boys” is out now.Transcript coming soon.The post CI...