ALPHA MAG

By Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Members of the U.S. Make America Healthy Again movement that backs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. say an executive order this week to boost domestic production of the weedkiller glyphosate risks their support in November's midterm elections.

Kennedy ‌backers helped elect President Donald Trump in 2024, and he has installed MAHA priorities during his second term, such as reducing the number of recommended ‌childhood vaccines and promoting whole foods in the new dietary guidelines.

The administration drew criticism from MAHA activists last year for removing draft language on pesticides from an August report on children's health and ​for the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of new pesticides.

On Wednesday, Trump's executive order invoked the Defense Production Act to ensure the domestic supply of phosphorus and glyphosate, a widely used weedkiller at the center of tens of thousands of lawsuits by plaintiffs claiming it causes cancer.

MAHA activists said they saw Trump's executive order as a broken promise to their movement, which opposes the widespread use of glyphosate due to health concerns.

"I don't feel like there's much hope after this executive order in preserving the MAHA ‌vote," said Kelly Ryerson, co-executive director of American Regeneration ⁠and a critic of glyphosate use.

The order says glyphosate is "crucial to the national security and defense, including food-supply security."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Estimates vary widely on how many voters MAHA includes, but it represented a ⁠large part of Kennedy's support during his aborted presidential campaign.

TRUMP'S ORDER FOLLOWED BAYER

Trump's order came after Bayer, the only company that produces glyphosate in the U.S., proposed a $7.25 billion legal settlement this week to address tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming its glyphosate weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.

Advertisement

The German company said last August that it could be forced to ​stop ​U.S. production unless regulatory changes were made to stave off that litigation. The U.S. imports ​large volumes of glyphosate from China.

Bayer has maintained that glyphosate is ‌safe for human use. The science on glyphosate's safety is mixed, with some research showing it can affect the endocrine system or linking it to cancer.

Dave Murphy, founder and CEO of United We Eat and former finance manager on Kennedy's presidential campaign, called the executive order a "strategic mistake" that could serve as an election liability.

"Trump would not be in the White House this second time without those followers, and we expect him to live up to his word," Murphy said.

Kennedy, a longtime glyphosate critic who in a 2024 post on X called it "one of the likely culprits in America's chronic disease epidemic," said in a statement that ‌the executive order is necessary for national security.

"When hostile actors control critical inputs, they weaken ​our security," he said, without specifying to which countries he was referring. "By expanding domestic production, ​we close that gap and protect American families."

NOVEMBER ELECTION RISK

Republicans control the ​Senate and, more narrowly, the House of Representatives, but every seat in the House and a third in the Senate will ‌be contested in November.

Trump's aggressive approach to immigration and voter concerns ​about persistently high costs already show signs of ​liability to Republicans in the elections. Sitting presidents have lost House seats in every midterm election since George W. Bush in 2006.

MAHA supporters flooded social media with posts and comments about their disappointment, including images with the text, "we do not consent to being poisoned."

A petition to Trump being circulated ​by the MAHA group Moms Across America, whose founder ‌Zen Honeycutt is a longtime Kennedy ally, urges him to rescind the order.

"True national security is healthy families and the ability of the ​next generation to reproduce and thrive, which will not happen for as long as these pervasive, harmful herbicides are being used," the ​petition said.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; editing by Caroline Humer, Rod Nickel)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in the capital ofSri Lankaon Friday to protest alleged governmentdisrespect of their religionand disregard for a long-standing tradition that they be consulted in matters of state.

The protest passed without any reported violence.

The constitution of the island nation of around 22 million people states that Buddhism is the state religion, though freedom of religion is protected by law. The charter also states that the government has an obligation to protect and foster Buddhism.

More than 70% of the population is Buddhist and their clergy are influential in social, cultural and political affairs. There are also minority Hindus, Muslims and Christians living in Sri Lanka.

Advertisement

The monks at the protest in Colombo read out an appeal note they said would be sent to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The note said the responsibility of the government in the island nation is to base its values on the principles of Buddhism, which emerged in the 5th century B.C. in ancient India, and recognize the right of the clergy to counsel in the affairs of the state.

It also urged for excluding non-Buddhists from top office in Sri Lanka, incorporating Buddhist values in schools and the education system and protecting all archaeological sites connected to the religion.

The appeal is likely part of the efforts by the monks to pressure the government.

By Phil Noble, Kate Holton and Michael Holden

Aylsham Police Station amid a report of an arrest in Aylsham

SANDRINGHAM, England, Feb 20 (Reuters) - British police said on Friday they were contacting former protection officers who worked for King Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, urging anyone with allegations of sex offences relating to Jeffrey Epstein to come forward.

Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on Thursday, his 66th birthday, on suspicion of misconduct in public office over ‌allegations he sent confidential government documents to the disgraced financier when he was a trade envoy.

As part of a completely separate inquiry, London's Metropolitan Police said it was now identifying and contacting ‌former and serving officers who may have worked closely with the royal.

OFFICERS URGED TO SHARE INFORMATION

"They have been asked to consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard during that period of service may be relevant to our ongoing reviews and to share any information ​that could assist us," the police statement said.

"We continue to urge anyone with new or relevant information to come forward. All allegations will be taken seriously and, as with any matter, any information received will be assessed and investigated where appropriate."

Mountbatten-Windsor has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, a convicted sex offender whose death in a New York jail in 2019 was ruled a suicide, and said he regretted their friendship.

In 2022, the royal settled a civil lawsuit brought in the United States by the late Virginia Giuffre who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager at properties owned by Epstein or his associates.

British media reports have stated that Giuffre ‌received around 12 million pounds ($16.2 million) from Mountbatten-Windsor. He has denied ever meeting ⁠her.

London police had previously looked into allegations of trafficking for sexual exploitation relating to Epstein and decided in 2016 not to launch any criminal investigation. That decision has since been reviewed three times, and as it stands there is no current formal investigation.

Friday's statement said in light of the recent mass release of documents by the U.S. ⁠government relating to Epstein, police were also looking into whether London airports were used by him to facilitate human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

"We are assessing this information and are actively seeking further detail from law enforcement partners, including those in the United States," the statement said.

That echoed statements from three other police forces that are looking into private flight links to Epstein at other airports in Britain.

HELD FOR MORE THAN 10 HOURS

The latest development comes after Mountbatten-Windsor was released under investigation, ​having ​been held by detectives from Thames Valley police for more than 10 hours on suspicion of misconduct in a public office ​relating to his time as a trade envoy from 2001-2011.

Advertisement

He has not been charged ‌with any offence, but looked haunted in a Reuters photograph after his release, eyes red and slumped in the back of a Range Rover.

The photograph of a man who was once a dashing naval officer and reputed favourite son of the late Queen Elizabeth was carried on the front page of newspapers in Britain and around the world, accompanied by headlines such as "Downfall".

News of the arrest also made headlines around the world, including Australia, where Charles is head of state, Europe and the United States.

The recent release of Epstein files showed Mountbatten-Windsor had remained friends with Epstein long after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Those files suggested he had forwarded to Epstein British government reports about investment opportunities in Afghanistan and assessments of Vietnam, Singapore and other places he had visited as the government's Special Representative for Trade and Investment.

The arrest of ‌the senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times.

King Charles, who stripped his brother of ​his title of prince and forced him out of his Windsor home last year, said on Thursday he had learned about the ​arrest with "deepest concern".

"Let me state clearly: the law must take its course," the king said.

Julian Payne, ​Charles' former communications chief who is now at Edelman, said by putting the statement in the king's words, it was designed to show that he was taking the lead ‌on the matter, and he thought the public would be supportive.

"After all, how many ​other leaders around the world are judged through the actions ​of their relatives?" he told Reuters.

POLICE SEARCHES AT WINDSOR CONTINUE

As part of its investigation, Thames Valley Police have searched Wood Farm on the king's Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, where Mountbatten-Windsor now lives, and officers were still searching his former mansion in Windsor on Friday.

While being arrested means that police have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed and that the royal is suspected ​of involvement in an offence, it does not imply guilt.

A conviction for misconduct ‌in public office carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and cases must be dealt with in a Crown Court, which handle the most serious criminal offences.

Any investigation could take months ​as the police will likely have to work with the British government, and its embassies around the world, along with Buckingham Palace to establish what records remain.

($1 = 0.7403 pounds)

(Reporting by Phil ​Noble in Sandringham and Kate Holton and Michael Holden in London; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alex Richardson)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United coach Michael Carrick said the Premier League club was proud of its culture after co-owner Jim Ratcliffe triggered a storm of criticism forclaiming Britain had been "colonized"by immigrants.

Britain Premier League Soccer

The British billionaire owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS later apologized that his choice of language had "offended some people."

Ratcliffe's comments were condemned by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with a wide spectrum of political figures, as well as United fans proud of the diversity within the team and its supporter base.

Carrick, who washired as interim head coach, faced the media on Friday for the first time since Ratcliffe's remarks and he was asked for his response.

"Sir Jim has made a statement, and then the club's made a statement on the back of it so for me to add to that is not my place," he said. "What I can say is, as I've been around this club many, many years, we always make a huge impact globally.

Advertisement

"We're really proud of the environment and the culture that we've got at the club, and equality and diversity and respect for each other is something that we look to carry through every day."

Ratcliffe's comments touched a nerve in Britain, whereimmigration is a divisive issue.

Critics accused Ratcliffe of "hypocrisy," saying he has chosen to make his home in Monaco to reduce his U.K. tax bill.

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Foundation work on the Athletics' stadium is complete, according to the project director, and officials for the contractor and team told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Thursday they remain on target to open before the 2028 season.

Athletics Stadium Baseball

It was a similar message in theDecember meetingwith the Stadium Authority.

"We are excited we continue to be on schedule for the project," said Tyler Van Eeckhaut, project director for contractors Mortenson-McCarthy.

The Stadium Authority also approved the A's request to sell personal-seat licenses, and the Athletics vice chairman Sandy Dean said the team has spent $300 million on the $2 billion, 33,000-person domed ballpark and have yet to request public financing.

While construction takes place on the Las Vegas Strip, the A's are about to play the second of three scheduled seasons at a Triple-A stadiumin West Sacramento, California. They played theirprevious 57 seasonsin Oakland, California.

"It's good to be here on a day in which we have a lot of tangible progress to report," Dean told the Stadium Authority.

Van Eeckhaut provided a detailed update of where construction stands, noting two of the buttresses are finished and work is being done on the lower suite level and main concourse. He said all the buttress work should be completed by May and the vertical construction already in progress should continue.

"I feel great about the progress," Badain said. "You heard Tyler's comments in terms of where they are on the schedule, and we've pretty much hit every deadline. The county has been great to work with. I feel great about that."

Advertisement

Dean said the A's haven't decided when they would request public financing. Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A's have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Dean said after the meeting that the A's have attracted some outside investors.

As for the PCLs, A's President Marc Badain told the Stadium Authority they would be for only for "a select number of seats" mostly in the high-end areas. He noted five or six other MLB teams also sells PCLs.

"We researched the market," Badain said after the meeting. "We have a (season-ticket) deposit list of over 20,000. We reached out to people. The demand was there, so we're going to utilize that to help with the project."

Badain emphasized to the Stadium Authority there would be a number of seats in the $20 and $30 price range, and there likely will be tickets geared toward attracting families to the ballpark.

The A's are in spring training in Mesa, Arizona, but will play the Los Angeles Angels in two preseason games in Las Vegas on March 7-8. The club also will return to play six regular-season games at Las Vegas Ballpark — home of the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate — in June against the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies.

Badain said tickets for the regular-season games were first offered to those who put down deposits for Las Vegas A's season tickets and sold out in 24 hours. More tickets will be put on sale later, he said.

Ceremonialgroundbreaking on the stadiumlocated on the Las Vegas Strip occurred June 23. The A's Ballpark Experience Center in Las Vegas opened in December to give fans a chance to view the stadium in detail and take part in other immersive experiences.

AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Freddie Freeman is not taking his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers one season at a time.

The 2020 National League MVP and nine-time All-Star has longevity in mind when looking at the rest of his Dodgers career. Freeman has two years remaining onthe six-year, $162 million contracthe signed in 2022, but envisions remaining in Dodger Blue beyond that. The 2024 World Series MVP also sees himself in the lineup for every game the Dodgers play this season.

"I'm going to prepare to play 162 games," Freeman told reporters on Thursday, includingMLB.com's Sonja Chen. "Then when that day comes or the night comes where they say, 'We're going to give you tomorrow off,' I will fight that battle and most likely lose. But I want to play every game."

Freeman, 36, has played 147 games in each of the past two seasons. But he's played in at least 157 games in eight of his 16 MLB seasons, including his first two with the Dodgers. And he's appeared in all 162 games twice in his career, during the 2014 and 2018 seasons with the Atlanta Braves.

Playing two years beyond his current contract could create some nice round numbers for Freeman's career. Going through 2029 would give him 20 seasons in the major leagues. He would be 40 years old. And an extra two seasons could also give Freeman an opportunity to reach 3,000 career hits.

Freeman enters the 2026 season with 2,431 hits. At 569 hits short of 3,000, he would need to average 142 hits during the next four years. The veteran first baseman has surpassed that total in 11 different seasons, and topped 190 hits three times. He led the NL with 191 hits in 2018 and MLB with 199 hits in 2022. (Amazingly, his career-high 211 hits in 2023 finished second to NL MVP Ronald Acuña's 217.)

Advertisement

[Get more Dodgers news: Los Angeles team feed]

Is Freeman planting the seeds for an eventual contract extension?

"Four is just a number that's floated," Freeman said,via The Athletic. "Is it less? Is it more? I don't know. … I do love this game. I love playing it. But for me, if I can do four [more years], that'll be 20 years. I think that's enough."

However, it's possible that the Dodgers could have difficulty finding a position for Freeman by 2028.

If he can't play first base, designated hitter isn't an option with four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani manning that spotthrough 2033. Freeman may also face competition at first base if one of the organization's top prospects, Josue De Paula, has to move from the outfield (he finished 2025 in Double-A). Currently, many scouting reports believe that's in his future since he's not a good runner.

Yet if Freeman continues to hit above .300, as he's averaged during his Dodgers career (.310/.391/.516), the team will likely find a way to keep him in the lineup.

"I love being here. I'm from Southern California. I've had a great time with fans,"Freeman said. "I'm not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I have two years left.

"I'm just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back," he added. "But I think [Dodgers president of baseball operations] Andrew [Friedman] and everyone knows that I love being here. So whatever happens, happens."

Parents already have enough to worry about at meal time, but another baby food recall is adding to the stress. One baby food maker has recalled a popular fruit puree that's been sold nationwide, so it's up to parents to check their pantries for the affected product. Here's everything you need to know about the Tippy Toes baby food recall.

What's Wrong With the Baby Food?

The recalled baby food has elevated levels of patulin, according to therecall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Patulin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin that is produced by mold, including mold that can be found in fruit like apples.

"Long-term exposure resulting from ingestion of patulin can lead to various adverse health consequences, including a potential for immune suppression, nerve damage, headache, fever, and nausea," according to the FDA.

The contamination was found during testing for theTotal Diet Study, a nutrient and contaminant monitoring system started by the FDA in 1961. Thankfully, there have been no illnesses related to the patulin contamination so far.

Advertisement

Which Baby Food Was Recalled?

Initiative Foods, a private label baby food manufacturer located in California, is recalling one lot of Tippy Toes brand Apple Pear Banana baby food. It was packaged in a two-pack of plastic tubs with a cardboard sleeve holding them together.

Here is the identifying information of the recalled Tippy Toes Apple Pear Banana you should look for on the package.

• 8-ounce total weight

• UPCs: 036800 or 265783

• Lot # 07174

• Best By Date: "BB 07/17/2026"

• Package code identifier: INIA0120

The baby food was sold at various grocery stores in every state except Alaska. It may have also been distributed to Guam and Puerto Rico, according to the FDA.

What Should I Do if I Have the Recalled Tippy Toes Baby Food?

If you have any of the recalled packages of Tippy Toes Apple Pear Banana baby food, the FDA is advising you to not feed it to anyone and either dispose of it or return it to the store where you purchased it for a refund. You can contact your doctor if you have health concerns related to consumption of the baby food.

For more information, including any updates on the Tippy Toes recall, consumers can call 1-855-215-5730, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

More From Cheapism

• Costco Faces a Second Lawsuit Centered Around Its Rotisserie Chicken — Costco is now dealing with a second legal challenge — this time tied to allegations about salmonella at one of its poultry processing facilities.

• BJ's Wellsley Farms Salmon Recalled in 7 States Over Possible Listeria — The recall involves one specific lot of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold in late January and early February.

• Another Day, Another Scam: Fake Amazon Recall Texts Are Everywhere — Here's what the scam entails, and how you can avoid having your Amazon account password — and all your saved credit card information that goes with it — stolen.