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Here’s Larry! Why Westminster’s political cats matter more than you think

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

LONDON — In the last 12 years Britain has cycled through five prime ministers, six home secretaries and seven chancellors — but only one chief mouser. Amid a flurry of elections, Brexit and a sizable dose of scandal, a cat called Larry has remained one of the few consistent figures in British political life. And his impressive staying power shows how Westminster’s cats have gone from essential pest controllers of crumbling buildings to useful PR tools for unpopular politicians.Brought in by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011, Larry’s unofficial Twitter account now boasts three times as many followers as the country’s top finance minister Jeremy Hunt. The 16-year-old mouser attracts attention from pundits all over the world, and is a familiar sight to global leaders heading through the famous 10 Downing Street door.Social media has undoubtedly thrust Larry — along with his Cabinet Office counterparts Eevie and Ossie, a mother and son mouse-catching duo — into th...

Everything Everywhere All at Arles

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

Mark Porter is a travel writer and publisher who lives in Cannes.Arles, FRANCE — Lying on the banks of the river Rhône, at the northern edge of wild and beautiful marshland, Arles — the sleepy capital of Caesar’s France — hosts what is arguably the world’s greatest photo exhibition every summer: Les Rencontres d’Arles. And with exhibits crammed into every available corner, even just a casual stroll around the sunbaked town offers more than anyone could wish for.Running until the end of September, Les Rencontres comprises 45 exhibitions — as well as a large space in the ancient vaults of the Eglise des Frères Prêcheurs that’s brimming with new discoveries — all spread across town, from its Roman crypts and churches to its fringe venues, and even a branch of the Monoprix supermarket chain.Arles has a long connection with the visual arts. Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh spent time here with French artist and close friend Paul Gauguin, and it was here that he lost his ear — as well as hi...

Pete Alonso, Jose Quintana lead the way as Mets grab series-opener against Cardinals

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

Pete Alonso continued his stretch of hero ball Thursday night in St. Louis. The slugger hit his third homer in the past three games to lead the way for the Mets to grab a 4-2 victory over the Cardinals.Alonso’s two-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Amazins the only offense necessary to add to the win column thanks to Jose Quintana’s tremendous performance.The southpaw tossed six innings allowing being charged two runs — one being a solo shot off the bat of Tyler O’Neill in the seventh. Quintana racked up five strikeouts while walking four.The veteran gave Buck Showalter much-needed length against his former team being short on options in the bullpen.Quintana’s counterpart, Adam Wainwright, was also somewhat effective. The right-hander has had an abysmal season entering the night with an 8.78 ERA, however, he kept the Cards in the ballgame. The 41-year-old allowed three runs over six innings of work with just two strikeouts. Thursday was the second...

Hurricane Hilary headed toward Southern California: What we know

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

All eyes are on Hurricane Hilary, which was upgraded from a tropical storm on Thursday as it churns off the Pacific coast of Mexico.The National Hurricane Center is forecasting Hilary will hit Southern California as a tropical storm or perhaps a Category 1 hurricane on Sunday into Monday.Satellite-radar composite showing Hurricane Hilary and the storm's projected path on Aug. 17, 2023. (KTLA) “This could develop into a major deal,” says KTLA meteorologist Henry DiCarlo. “It looks like it’s going to slide right through Southern California, so we’re going to get a couple of inches of rain out of this, if not more.” Track with interactive radarWhile the forecast models will likely change, the National Weather Service is currently predicting rainfall amounts of one to four inches along the Southern California coast, including San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.Heavier amounts, four to ten inches or more, are expected in the inland deserts.“Bor...

City of San Diego opens Emergency Operations Center ahead of Hilary

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO --The City of San Diego has opened its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) ahead of the potential rain from Hurricane Hilary. “Be aware that the storm is coming, take is seriously,” said Chris Heiser, the executive director for the City of San Diego Office of Emergency Services. The center is opened at a Level 3 status, which means the center is tracking the storm. "It's what we call command and general staff. It’s just four of five key positions,” Heiser said.  Inside the center, there are vests on empty chairs with the names of each command center position. The chairs could be filled if that specific support is needed.   Preparing for Hilary: Free sandbags at these locations For example, Heiser said if the city’s fire department requests the center’s help with shelter for flood evacuees. “We go to our care and shelter branch, reach out to park and rec who is a partner in that, and say ‘we are going to open up these two park and rec centers.’ We start facil...

What to do on the roads if you have to drive during Hilary

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- With Hurricane Hilary aimed to make its way toward San Diego County this weekend, expect the roads to be hazardous while driving.If you can't stay at home, you should stay alert and take precautions on the roads, according to county officials. Hilary upgraded to hurricane: What does this mean for San Diego? County Emergency Services and Public Works provided the following tips for driving in heavy rain conditions:Slow down and allow yourself extra time to arrive at your destination to adjust for slower traffic.Turn on your headlights for better visibility and for others on the road to see you.Try to stay in the middle lanes as the outside lanes tend to gather water.Defog your windows and check your windshield wipers before it rains to see if they need replacing.Avoid driving in flooded roadways if you cannot see the pavement because the water can impact your breaks, so be sure to test them after if you do end up driving through the water.Give yourself extra distance ...

Justice Department seeks 33 years in prison for ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio in Jan. 6 case

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

The Justice Department is seeking 33 years in prison for Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases to emerge from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to court documents filed Thursday. The sentence, if imposed, would be by far the longest punishment that has been handed down in the massive Jan. 6 prosecution. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy in a separate case, has the received the longest sentence to date — 18 years. Tarrio, who once served as national chairman of the far-right extremist group, and three lieutenants were convicted by a Washington jury in May of conspiring to block the transfer of presidential power in the hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election. Tarrio, who was not at the Capitol riot itself, was a top target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in Ameri...

Taekwondo athletes appear to be North Korea’s first delegation to travel since border closed in 2020

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — North Korean taekwondo athletes and officials were traveling through Beijing on Friday morning, apparently the country’s first delegation to travel abroad since the nation closed its borders in early 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group of around 80 men and women wearing white track suits with “Taekwondo-Do” printed on the back and the North Korean flag on the front were in the departure hall of Beijing’s international airport checking in and walking to customs. They reportedly arrived Wednesday or Thursday. The group was expected to take an Air Astana flight to Kazakhstan to compete at the International Taekwon-do Federation World Championships, according to Japanese and South Korean media. The competition is being held in Astana through Aug. 30.North Korea has extremely limited air connections at the best of times and travel all but ended when Pyongyang closed the national borders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. How badly North Koreans were...

Utilities begin loading radioactive fuel into a second new reactor at Georgia nuclear plant

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Workers have begun loading radioactive fuel into a second new nuclear reactor in Georgia, utilities said Thursday, putting the reactor on a path to begin generating electricity in the coming months.Georgia Power Co. says workers will transfer 157 fuel assemblies into the reactor core at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, in the next few days. There are already three reactors operating at the plant. Two reactors have been operating for decades, while the third reactor entered commercial operation on July 31, becoming the first new nuclear unit built from scratch in the United States in decades.It’s a key step toward completing the two-reactor project, which is seven years late and $17 billion over budget.Once fuel is loaded, operators will conduct tests and begin splitting atoms, which creates the high temperatures that boil steam that drives turbines, which generates electricity. The company says unit 4 is supposed to reach commercial operation by March 2024.Th...

1959 Chicago Little League champs reunite, share memories 

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:25:28 GMT

CHICAGO — A barrier-breaking part of Chicago baseball history is reunited and sharing their memories. In August of 1959, the Tuley Park Comets finished an undefeated season becoming the first Black team to win the Chicago Park District Little League Championship. SEE ALSO: MORE STORIES FROM WGN'S GAYNOR HALL“It was magical. It was exciting,” said Robert Collins. “It was all you could dream for as a 12-year-old.” Former teammates and lifelong friends recently reunited at the park to celebrate the anniversary of their win. “There’s nothing like what we had. What we had and what we still have,” said Edward Thompson III, whose father coached the team. “We’ve been bonded for life.” 19592023Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesGaynor Hall, photojournalists Bradley Piper and Ted Parra report in this WGN-TV Cover Story.