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Top MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld quits Dutch D66 party to join federalist Volt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

Longserving Dutch liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld announced Friday she quit her national party Democrats 66 in frustration at its stance on Europe and joined the pan-EU federalist party Volt. In a post online, in ‘t Veld, who has been an MEP since 2004, accused D66 of having an increasingly narrow focus on Dutch domestic politics at the expense of EU politics and took a swipe at the party for failing to root out “transgressive behavior” in its ranks.“Volt’s social-liberal, progressive, radically pro-European vision fits seamlessly with the vision I have,” wrote in ‘t Veld who has fought hard against the use of illegal spyware by EU governments, been critical of Hungary’s leader Viktor Orbán, and advocated a stronger role for the European Parliament against the European Commission and Council of the EU.Volt has two MPs in the Dutch parliament, one in Bulgaria and one MEP in Europe — the German lawmaker Damian Boeselager — who described hi...

Ukraine readies for waterborne disease outbreak from dam floodwaters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

KYIV — Ukraine’s health ministry is preparing for an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera following the huge release of water caused by the destruction of the Nova Kakhovaka dam in the country’s Kherson region, Ukraine’s Health Minister Viktor Lyashko has told POLITICO.Ten days since the dam of the Kakhovka hydroelectric plant was destroyed, floodwaters are receding and people who did not leave their homes have started to clean up the surrounding areas.But the health threat is not over.In a speech on June 8, two days after the dam’s destruction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that water could be contaminated by the flooding of fuel storage facilities, warehouses with chemicals and fertilizers, and animal burial grounds — including two where the animals had died from anthrax. Sewage in the water is also a concern.“We inform people that it is now dangerous to swim or take animals to rivers and lakes,” Lyashko said. “These all are effectiv...

After George Floyd’s killing, DOJ probe finds Minneapolis police show pattern of violating rights

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department accused Minneapolis police Friday of engaging in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discriminating against Black and Native American people following an investigation prompted by the killing of George Floyd.The sweeping two-year civil rights investigation concluded that systemic problems in the Minneapolis Police Department “made what happened to George Floyd possible.”The investigation found that Minneapolis officers used excessive force, including “unjustified deadly force,” and violated the rights of people engaged in constitutionally protected speech.The probe also found that both Minneapolis police and the city discriminated against people with “behavioral health disabilities” when officers are called for help.As a result, the city and the police department agreed to a deal known as a federal consent decree, which will require reforms to be overseen by an independent monitor and approved by a federal judge. That arra...

Michael Jordan reaches agreement to sell majority stake in NBA’s Charlotte Hornets

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

(CNN) — Michael Jordan has reached an agreement to sell his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets to a group led by Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall, it was announced Friday.Jordan will retain a minority ownership stake in the NBA team.The NBA legend became majority owner of the North Carolina franchise in March 2010, when the team was called the Charlotte Bobcats, and after four years as part of the franchise’s ownership group. He was the first former player to become the majority owner of an NBA franchise.The transaction is subject to the approval of the NBA Board of Governors.

Pair convicted for roles in online romance scams, pandemic unemployment relief fraud

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — A federal jury has convicted two people of playing a role in what prosecutors called “expansive online fraud schemes” that included romance scams and coronavirus pandemic unemployment assistance fraud.Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 37, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 36, were convicted in U.S. District Court this week after an eight-day trial of bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.The men, Nigerian citizens who lived in the Boston suburb of Canton, opened multiple bank accounts in the names of fake people using fraudulent foreign passports, prosecutors said. Their accomplices then sent the proceeds from romance scams, pandemic relief fraud and other illegal online schemes to those bank accounts, authorities said.The defendants took in more than $1.7 million in fraudulently obtained money from 2019 until 2021 and transferred most of it overseas, prosecutors said.Both men are being held pending...

Chicago Bears training camp: 9 practices are open to the public. Here’s how to get free tickets.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

The Chicago Bears released their 2023 training camp schedule, which is open to the public for nine practices.Fans will need a free ticket to watch the action at Halas Hall. Tickets will be available at chicagobears.com/camp at 10 a.m. July 6 with a limit of four per date.As in previous years, fans are not allowed to park at Halas Hall and instead can take the free shuttle bus from nearby Hawthorn Mall with a valid training ticket. For more information about parking lot opening times and bus schedules, click here.Bears 2023 schedule: Here’s who they’ll play — and our predictions for each gameWhat to know about the Bears’ possible move from Soldier Field — and what other suburbs are vying for the stadiumSign up for our Bears alerts on all your devices2023 Bears training camp scheduleTuesday, July 25: Report dayWednesday, July 26: 10 a.m. practice (closed to public)Thursday, July 27: 10 a.m. practiceFriday, July 28: 10 a.m. practiceSaturday, July 29: 10 a....

Conor McGregor statement dismisses sexual assault allegation as ‘shakedown’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

Conor McGregor isn’t going down without a fight. The mixed martial arts fighter slammed new sexual assault allegations as a “shakedown.”The Dublin-born UFC champ, 34, was accused this week of sexually assaulting a woman on June 9, following the game 4 of the NBA finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat, TMZ reported Thursday. Video has been released showing McGregor and his accuser outside the bathroom at the Heat’s Kaseya Center, where the alleged victim claims McGregor attacked her.“After the video was released by TMZ, the claimant’s lawyer now has changed her story. Mr. McGregor welcomes the investigation, which he firmly believes will show the claims against him are false,” McGregor’s legal team told TMZ Sports.“After not responding to the demand for money made by claimant’s counsel, she turned to the media to apply pressure. This is no more than a shakedown.”The alleged victim’s attorney claims ...

Truck driver guilty of killing 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue in deadliest attack on Jews in US history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

By PETER SMITH (Associated Press)PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver who expressed hated of Jews was convicted Friday of barging into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die.The guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers’ own lawyers conceded at the trial’s outset that he attacked and killed worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Jurors must now decide whether the 50-year-old should be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison without parole as the federal trial shifts to a penalty phase expected to last several weeks.Bowers was tried on 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. His attorneys had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused, opt...

NBA suspends Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant 25 games for ‘conduct detrimental to the league’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

Ja Morant will sit out more than a quarter of next season as punishment for his second gun-related video incident.The NBA announced on Friday that the Memphis Grizzlies star has been suspended 25 games without pay for “conduct detrimental to the league.”“Ja Morant’s decision to once again wield a firearm on social media is alarming and disconcerting given his similar conduct in March for which he was already suspended eight games,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “The potential for other young people to emulate Ja’s conduct is particularly concerning. Under these circumstances, we believe a suspension of 25 games is appropriate and makes clear that engaging in reckless and irresponsible behavior with guns will not be tolerated.”Morant, 23, a two-time All-Star, was suspended eight games without pay in March after he flashed a gun “in an intoxicated state” during an Instagram live video at a Denver-area stri...

Lawrence Cager is Giant sleeper with ideal mentor in Darren Waller: ‘A little destiny’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:55:59 GMT

In January, after Lawrence Cager’s eight-catch, 69-yard game against the Eagles, Giants tight ends coach Andy Bischoff compared Cager’s unique skill set to a special player:Darren Waller.“Those types of guys — whether it’s a Darren Waller or whomever that is — are out there, that are a little bit of an untraditional guy,” Bischoff said then. “But if you can master enough of the position to draw a tie in some areas, you can really help your team. And Lawrence is on a journey, and he’s taken an upswing.”That name had come up before.The Jets’ GM called to re-sign Cager entering the 2022 offseason with an idea for the wide receiver who’d once walked his halls.“Joe Douglas calls my agent and tells me, ‘We want to make him like Darren Waller,’” Cager, 25, told the Daily News with a smile on Tuesday. “So I’m contemplating, because my whole career, even in college recruiting, a couple...