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#BelgianGate: Investigation at risk as Qatargate suspects turn the tables on prosecution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

BRUSSELS — A year into the biggest scandal ever to hit the European Parliament, two of the highest-profile suspects in the corruption probe have launched an all-out assault to bring down the investigation.They may very well succeed.In media interviews and court filings, Eva Kaili, a Greek lawmaker, and Francesco Giorgi, her partner and a former parliamentary assistant, have accused prosecutors of mishandling the investigation into allegations that lawmakers and their accomplices accepted money from Qatar, Morocco and Mauritania in exchange for influencing decisions in the European Parliament.Kaili, who denies any wrongdoing, maintains her advocacy for Qatar was part of her job as a representative of the European Union and that the investigation into her actions breached the parliamentary immunity enjoyed by sitting MEPs. Her lawyers have argued that the testimony provided by the operation’s alleged ringleader, Pier Antonio Panzeri, as part of a deal with investigators, cannot b...

Europe’s true beliefs on Ukraine are put to the test

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

BRUSSELS — As long as it takes? Or as long as we feel like it? For nearly two years, the EU has promised to support “Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes” — taking in millions of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war of aggression, supporting Kyiv with financial and military aid, rallying diplomatic support across the world, and shrinking its economic and energy ties with Russia.  But the bloc’s 27 member states are now struggling to agree unanimously on a longer-term €50 billion aid package for Kyiv, as well as on opening the door to future membership as this week’s European Council summit commences. At a time when $60 billion in military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine is stuck in the U.S. Congress, support from Brussels is essential to Kyiv’s continuing fight against Russia. The decision to open the EU’s door to Ukraine could also be existential to the future of the bloc, as it means incorporating a country of nearly 40 million peo...

Meet the Tory mafia trying to blow up Rishi Sunak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

LONDON — Rishi Sunak just survived the most dangerous moment of his premiership. That doesn’t mean his Tory enemies are waving the white flag.The British prime minister was handed an 11th-hour reprieve on Tuesday night when Tory rebels threatening to vote down his flagship immigration laws chose to sit on their hands, allowing the bill to clear its first House of Commons hurdle.But already, a so-called “five families” of mafia-style Tory MP gangs who want the laws toughened up are gearing up for the next fight. “The threat remains,” said one potential rebel MP, who wants the legislation rewritten before a final Commons vote — known as the bill’s third reading — early next year.“If too many people are dissatisfied they could vote against at third reading,” the MP warned, claiming the five-strong union of rebel factions “absolutely can bring it down, easily” if it chooses to do so.The battle has been triggered by Sunak’s pledge to stop undocumented migrant...

US House votes to formalize impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

House Republicans on Wednesday formally greenlit an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, their biggest step to date toward trying to remove the president from office.Every Republican supported the 221-212 vote, which legally will further empower House GOP subpoenas. It comes at a critical juncture: The conference is preparing to make a decision as soon as January about whether or not to draft articles of impeachment.It’s a win for Speaker Mike Johnson, who managed to unify his conference after battleground-district Republicans spent months resisting a formal inquiry — leading his predecessor to backtrack and start the investigation unilaterally.“This is an important step. The impeachment power resides solely with the House of Representatives. If a majority of the House now says we’re in an official impeachment inquiry … that carries weight. That’s going to help us get these witnesses in,” Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said ahead of the vote.Republicans are months into their imp...

White House adviser Jake Sullivan and Saudi crown prince MBS meet over Gaza crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to two U.S. officials.The meeting came as the Biden administration works to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader conflict within the Middle East, said the U.S. officials, both of whom were granted anonymity to speak about the visit. The trip also comes as international ships in the Red Sea have come under increasing attacks by Houthis in nearby Yemen.The U.S. views Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the region in managing those tensions, and had previously worked with the nation on efforts to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians, the U.S. officials said.Saudi Arabia had been in talks to normalize relations with Israel prior to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, a process that Biden officials have since said they are eager to eventually resume.“Before Oct. 7 our team was working very hard on normalization between Israel an...

Santa, Mrs. Claus visit patients at Shriners Children’s in Boston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

The holidays were in full swing at Shriners Children’s in Boston Wednesday as, for the 21st, year, the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation brought Santa and Mrs. Claus to visit patients at the hospital. The burn foundation is a nonprofit group made up of Boston firefighters. On Wednesday, firefighters were on hand to help as Santa and Mrs. Claud arrived in a ladder truck before traveling up the side of the Shriners building to kick off their visit.“Especially where most of our patients are burn survivors, having this positive relationship with firefighters and this community helps the kids to really find resilience,” said Jacqueline Raferty of Shriners Children’s Boston.“We see all the joy that they bring to the kids when they come here,” Raferty continued. “So, we’re really grateful.” With kids getting to spend some time with Santa and Mrs. Claud, the staff at Shriners Children’s said they’re just happy they can help bring some holiday happiness to children who need it.&n...

Senate passes defense policy bill with 5.2% pay raise for troops, the biggest boost in decades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

By KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a defense policy bill Wednesday that authorizes the biggest pay raise for troops in more than two decades, but also leaves behind many of the policy priorities that social conservatives were clamoring for, making for an unusually divisive debate over what is traditionally a strongly bipartisan effort.Lawmakers have been negotiating a final bill for months after each chamber passed strikingly different versions in July. Some of the priorities championed by social conservatives were a no-go for Democrats, so negotiators dropped them from the final product to get it over the finish line. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 87-13 It now heads to the House, where opponents have been more vocal about their concerns.Most notably, the bill does not include language blocking the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy and restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender service members and dependents. Re...

98.5’s Fred Toucher responds to Hardy morning show speculation; Paul Perillo gives insight into Taylor Swift at Patriots game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

98.5 The Sports Hub’s Fred Toucher on Wednesday commented on the speculation that Rob “Hardy” Poole will be his co-host on “Toucher and Rich,” while a 98.5 guest gave some insight into whether Taylor Swift will be at the Patriots game this weekend.Toucher during Wednesday’s show read the Herald’s story about Hardy filling in on the morning show earlier this week. Hardy, the third chair on the midday show “Zolak and Bertrand” who is key for show production, has been rumored as the replacement for Rich Shertenlieb on the morning show.In the Herald’s report, midday host Scott Zolak poured some cold water on how the morning show went with Toucher and Hardy earlier this week. Zolak called Toucher and Hardy “very similar,” like “vinegar and vinegar” on a salad.Toucher responded to Zolak’s comments, emphasizing that it would be a promotion for Hardy if he got the morning show position.“Don’...

Australian court overturns woman’s 2-decade-old convictions in deaths of her 4 children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian appeals court on Thursday overturned all convictions against a woman 20 years after a jury found her guilty of her killing her four children.Kathleen Folbigg already was pardoned by the New South Wales state government and released from prison in June based on new scientific evidence that her four children died from natural causes as she had insisted.The pardon was seen as the quickest way of getting the 56-year-old woman out of prison before an inquiry into the new evidence recommended the New South Wales Court of Appeals consider quashing her convictions.Applause filled the courtroom and Folbigg wept as Chief Justice Andrew Bell quashed three convictions of murder and one of manslaughter.Her children died over a decade ending 1999 aged between 19 days and 19 months.Prosecutors argued she smothered them, and she was convicted in 2003 and sentenced to 30 years in prison.The Associated Press

Pennsylvania is in its Taylor Swift era, her home state decides

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:48 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — She’s Time magazine’s person of the year. She’s the most-played artist globally on Spotify. She’s helmed the first tour to gross more than $1 billion and then the highest-grossing concert film of all time. And now Taylor Swift can add one more accolade: A state House of Representatives resolution is recognizing 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in her home state of Pennsylvania. Lawmakers approved the resolution on Swift’s 34th birthday.Pennsylvania (Taylor’s Version) has benefited from her Midas touch over the past year, sponsors say. The frenzy for tickets to her tour prompted legislative action in the state — and elsewhere, albeit slowly — to address Ticketmaster’s shortcomings. Swift buoyed the local economy on her tour stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and donated proceeds to hunger relief organizations as she blazed through. Nationally, she’s encouraged thousands of people to register to vote, particularly young people. The pure heft of the Pe...