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‘Shocked’: EU Parliament removes Women’s Day video featuring anti-abortion rally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

BRUSSELS — The European Parliament removed a video it posted online to mark International Women’s Day Wednesday that contained images of a rally against abortion.For a few seconds, the video showed an image of an anti-abortion protest in Croatia featuring a man holding a placard with the slogan: “Nine weeks from conception, it already sucks its thumb.” Directly overlaid on the footage of the pro-life rally was the phrase: “And this European Parliament is fighting hard for women’s rights.” Green Finnish MEP Alviina Alametsä wrote to POLITICO: “I am actually shocked. That is a such an embarrassing mistake from the European Parliament. Anti-abortion is definitely not the political line of this Parliament.”“There is no intention to support any of this content, and it was a mistake,” said a spokesperson for the European Parliament. Many European lawmakers have taken strong pro-choice stances on abortion. Malta is the only EU cou...

Where’s the evidence? Italy wants more before extraditing Qatargate-linked accountant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

MILAN — Here we go again.Milan judges on Thursday postponed — yet again — a ruling on Belgium’s request to extradite Monica Bellini, an Italian accountant linked to the alleged bribery ring rocking the European Parliament.Their reason, according to Bellini’s lawyer: Belgium still hasn’t sent over enough evidence and they want to see more.“The judges reiterated their request for the Belgian authorities to send the relevant documents,” the lawyer, Franca De Candia, told POLITICO following the closed-door hearing, which only lasted a few minutes.It’s the second time Milan judges have kicked the can down the road, prompting raised eyebrows, sighs and disappointment among those eager for more intel about whether alleged bribes were laundered through Milan to Brussels. Bellini served as a Milan-based accountant for former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, the alleged ringleader of the Brussels bribery network. De Candia expressed her own frustration at the del...

New Hampshire Senate backs Medicaid expansion bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A unanimous New Hampshire Senate gave preliminary approval Thursday to continuing the state’s expanded Medicaid program and making it permanent.The 24-0 vote to send the bill to the Finance Committee highlighted the Legislature’s evolution on what initially was a tough sell when lawmakers first considered expanding health care coverage for low-income residents. Though it eventually passed with bipartisan support in 2014 and was reauthorized in subsequent years, Republicans were not always on board.Several senators acknowledged their changes of heart Thursday, saying they were wrong to believe the program would discourage participants from working. Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, described hearing from a woman who used the program temporarily when she was laid off during cancer treatment and a man who went on to start his own business after getting coverage for substance use disorder treatment.“This what I thought in the past: It was a program that would be di...

Amid Deluge, Some Sports Betting Ads May Be Breaking Rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

In addition to illegal bets that were accepted at all three in-person sportsbooks, investigators at the Mass. Gaming Commission are also reviewing advertisements from one of the mobile betting companies expected to launch Friday for potentially violating regulations.Three ads for FanDuel were flagged by Commissioner Eileen O’Brien for potential violations of advertising regulations and were reviewed by the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. One ad referenced iGaming, another suggested bettors could get “free bets,” and a third promoted the use of credit cards or prepaid cards to bet, which is illegal in Massachusetts. The Gaming Commission’s regulations also prohibit ads that imply sports betting is “free of risk.” “I want this brought up in front of us for some sort of action. To me, right out of the gates to have ‘free bets,’ iGaming, and implying you could use a credit or prepaid card, to me you have myriad of violations a...

T Checks Its First Item Off FTA’s Long To-Do List

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

One corrective action plan down, 37 to go. MBTA officials announced Thursday that the Federal Transit Administration last week approved the closeout of one of the 38 corrective action plans required to address the widespread problems investigators flagged, marking the first time that has happened since the FTA launched its safety management inspection last year. Federal overseers closed the book on the T’s failure to keep a Green Line “work train” used for power and track maintenance functional now that two such trains are back in action, said MBTA Chief of Quality, Compliance and Oversight Katie Choe. “Maintenance of way uses these trains to efficiently complete track and power repairs on the Green Line, and they have successfully put them back into maintenance service, so we are using these work trains now,” Choe said. Both trains are “at the end of their service life,” Choe said, and will be replaced by new vehicles that have already been...

Judge orders psychological evaluation for Francisco Torres, accused of terrorizing flight to Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

Francisco Torres, the man accused of attempting to open a door on a plane from L.A. 45 minutes before it was scheduled to land in Boston, will undergo a psychological evaluation ahead of any further proceedings against his own wishes.U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith Dein ordered the psychological evaluation, and a commitment of a minimum of 30 days in an appropriate psychological facility, over Torres’ objection to any such evaluation. She also “strongly” urged him against his wishes to make a statement at his hearing in federal court in Boston’s Seaport Thursday afternoon.“The God, the Son and the Holy Spirit say that I should,” Torres said from his seat, adding that because such powerful forces wished it, that he must. But, after a quick conference with his attorney, he said that he would leave it up to Dein to make the decision for him to make a statement.“If it’s up to me then I will defer and not have you make a stateme...

Mike Pouncey fulfills dream, retires as a Miami Dolphin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

Mike Pouncey has retired from the NFL, but the 33-year-old ex-Miami Dolphins center is still living the dream.Pouncey, who has lost 70 pounds in the last year and now weighs 228, signed a one-day contract with the Dolphins on Thursday for the purpose of retiring as a Dolphins player.“It means the world,” said Pouncey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his seven seasons (2011-17) with the Dolphins.“I always said I was going to be a Dolphin for life, and I meant that.”Pouncey, the Dolphins’ 2011 first-round pick whose career ended after the 2020 season, wore an aqua Dolphins alumni sports jacket while speaking Thursday. His son, Kayden, and Kayden’s mom, Chrissy, were there along with his twin brother, Maurkice.In the locker room, Pouncey was often smiling, upbeat and in good spirits.He was a go-to guy for the media because of his knowledge, talent, candor and sense of humor.He was a hole-opening beast as a center, leading the way for 1,000-yar...

Jets will release Braxton Berrios, agree to deal for Ravens safety Chuck Clark: source

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

As Aaron Rodgers watch rolls on Thursday, the Jets made a transaction to generate more salary cap space while also acquiring a much-needed veteran safety.The Jets will release wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios after four seasons.Gang Green also agreed to send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Ravens for safety Chuck Clark. Both transactions will be processed at the start of the new league year on March 15, according to sources.After having a career year in 2021, last season was anything but for Berrios. He struggled with drops, missed assignments and muffed returns.Berrios caught 18 passes for 145 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns for the Jets last season. He also averaged 11.4 per punt return and 23.1 per kick return.In 2021, Berrios had a career-high 46 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged career-highs in punt (13.4) and kick returning (30.4) as he was a first-team All-Pro returner.Cutting Berrios will save the Jets $5 million in salary cap sp...

Bruins notebook: Matt Grzelcyk sees new pairing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

The Bruins defensive rotation continued to turn on Thursday and the roulette wheel produced a new pairing for the matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.Connor Clifton came out of the lineup and Matt Grzelcyk took his spot on the third pairing with Derek Forbort. The duo had one practice under their belt.“I’ve never played with him, but I know his game, obviously, over the last year and half from watching him,” said Grzelcyk after an optional morning skate on Thursday. “It’s a little bit tougher just seeing the ice on your off side but I’ve had a few games there in the past so I just have to rely on those past experiences. I know he’s an unbelievable defender and he’s really good at closing plays off the rush, so when he’s on his game, I have to be ready to skate over and defend the middle if we’re going to squash and slide. We’ve only had one practice so we’ll see how it works.”Grzelcyk is not completely inexperienced at playing th...

For FSU’s Jared Verse, improvement the catalyst for a return to Seminoles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:32 GMT

Jared Verse spent last week watching the NFL Scouting Combine, not as a participant but as an observer.It wasn’t exactly the way many assumed the talented Florida State edge rusher would make his presence known. At one point, the 6-foot-4, 253-pound defensive end was projected as a possible first-round selection after a stellar first season in which he led the team in tackles for loss (16.5), sacks (9) and blocked kicks (1).He received an 81.2 grade from Pro Football Focus which is better than most of the edge rushers projected in the first-and-second rounds of the NFL draft outside of Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. (83.6) and USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu (82.1).But despite the lure of the NFL and a multimillion contract, Verse decided to return to the Seminoles in 2023.“I always wanted him to feel like he was doing what was best for himself,” said defensive ends coach John Papuchis. “So when it came time for him to make that decision, I made a conscious eff...