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How to stop Ukraine’s NATO bid from derailing Washington summit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

John R. Deni is a research professor at the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. He’s the author of “NATO and Article 5.” The views expressed are his own.Marking the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding, the alliance’s next summit in Washington is just months away, and allies are eagerly preparing the agenda.This time around, several member countries are keen to avoid the kind of divisive discussions over Ukraine’s path to membership that publicly played out at last year’s summit in Vilnius — and none more so than hosting nation the United States.Along these lines, at last week’s meeting of NATO foreign ministers, allies provided Ukraine with recommendations for priority reforms, which would be necessary to meet before the country can join the alliance. However, it’s unclear whether this will be enough to convince Central and Eastern Europeans — the most ardent supporters of pulling Ukraine into NATO — that they should drop any additional efforts in the run-up to the ...

The Qatargate Files: Hundreds of leaked documents reveal scale of EU corruption scandal 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

The Qatargate Files: Hundreds of leaked documents reveal scale of EU corruption scandal Evidence from the European Parliament’s graft investigation provides a record of more than 300 alleged attempts to manipulate EU democracy.Elisa Braun, Gian Volpicelli and Eddy WaxIllustration by Dato ParulavaBRUSSELS — Call them the Qatargate annual reports. A vast cache of leaked documents from the police investigation into the biggest corruption case to hit the EU in decades — seen by POLITICO — uncovers the full extent of the European Parliament’s money-for-influence scandal. Over four years the files suggest that key suspects, including former Member of the European Parliament Pier Antonio Panzeri and his aide Francesco Giorgi, meticulously recorded alleged attempts to manipulate the Parliament, the EU’s foremost democratic body, and wider policy debates. Their suspected paymasters in Qatar, Morocco and Mauritania spent around €4 million for the work, according to c...

Denial, grief, acceptance: Inside the Qatargate police interrogations 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

Denial, grief, acceptance: Inside the Qatargate police interrogations In the dramatic first few hours after they were arrested, the EU corruption suspects tried to explain themselves to police. Here’s what they said.Gian Volpicelli, Eddy Wax and Elisa BraunIllustration by Dato ParulavaBRUSSELS — On December 9 last year, the weather in Brussels turned freezing. As a blanket of icy fog engulfed the city, police began a series of raids, rounding up key suspects in a corruption scandal that would rock the European Union to its core. The suspects, who included the Parliament’s glamorous vice-president, Eva Kaili, were interrogated in custody in the hours and days that followed. Later, some received preliminary charges of membership of a criminal organization, corruption and money laundering. A cache of police documents, seen by POLITICO, includes transcripts of the initial police interviews with four of the individuals suspected of being at the center of the cas...

Brad Marchand gets natural hat trick in 3rd period; Bruins beat Blue Jackets, 3-1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Brad Marchand recorded a natural hat trick in the third period to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.Facing each other for the second time in six days, the Bruins got some payback for a 5-2 loss in Columbus with their third straight victory.“They don’t come often,” Marchand said of his first career natural hat trick. “It’s just sometimes how it goes. Sometimes you get the bounces, sometimes you don’t.”Jeremy Swayman, pulled in the loss at Columbus in the second period, made 24 saves.“He’s a world-class player,” Swayman said of Marchand. “He’s going to keep goalies guessing.”Boone Jenner scored for the Blue Jackets, who lost for the third time in five games, and Spencer Martin stopped 25 shots.Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy blocked a shot in the closing minute and skated to the bench slowly.Trailing 1-0, the Bruins tied it 1:56 into the third when Marchand’s shot from the right circle defl...

Patriots defender sounds off on offense, losing streak: ‘It’s f—ing frustrating’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

FOXBORO — After Sunday’s shutout loss to the Chargers, the Patriots became the first NFL team in 85 years to lose three straight games while allowing 10 or fewer points in each outing.The Pats have reached historic levels of offensive futility, despite a recent change at quarterback. Backup Bailey Zappe went 13-of-25 for 141 yards Sunday in place of Mac Jones, while the offense went scoreless. Naturally, frustration has simmered in the locker room.Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux gave voice to that frustration in a long post-game interview with the Herald.“It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating. I’m not gonna sit up here and say, ‘You know, I still believe.’ It’s f—ing frustrating. Anybody can tell you that,” Godchaux said. “You know, I thought Zappe made some good throws today. I thought there was a couple balls we could’ve caught as receivers, and those guys would tell you the same thing, too. They can take acco...

Rams get 4th down stop, you get free nachos

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The Los Angeles Rams defense stopped the opposing team on the 4th down, so Southern California fans win free nachos at El Torito. The deal is redeemable at all Southern California El Torito locations, including the one on Baltimore Drive in La Mesa. You can get your free nachos after 2 p.m. on Sunday, and for two days following game day. DIRECTV Holiday Bowl: Watch Louisville vs USC live from Petco Park Just tell your server "free nachos" to get one free order of Rampage Nachos per table, per visit. The LA Rams won against the Cleveland Browns 19-36 Sunday afternoon.

11 bodies recovered after volcanic eruption in Indonesia, and 22 climbers are still missing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

PADANG, Indonesia (AP) — The bodies of 11 climbers were recovered Monday after a furious eruption of the Mount Marapi volcano as Indonesian rescuers searched for at least 22 others reportedly missing.Mount Marapi in Agam district in West Sumatra province spewed thick columns of ash as high as 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) into the sky in a sudden eruption Sunday and hot ash clouds spread several miles (kilometers). Villages and nearby towns were blanketed by tons of volcanic debris.About 75 climbers started their way up the nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) mountain on Saturday and became stranded. Eight of those rescued Sunday were rushed to hospitals with burn wounds and one also had a broken limb, said Hari Agustian, an official at the local Search and Rescue Agency in Padang, the provincial capital.West Sumatra’s Search and Rescue Agency head Abdul Malik said rescuers on Monday morning found 11 bodies of climbers as they searched for those who still missing and rescued three others.“T...

Law enforcement, public safety experts take part in kid's safety seminar in Norwood Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

CHICAGO — On a soggy morning in Norwood Park, scenarios mimicking active shooter situations and kidnappings took place over and over again to help teach kids about how to spot danger and react appropriately. Law enforcement and public safety experts volunteered for the children's safety seminar that was hosted by Lifetough Kids Boxing Club on Sunday"You got to tell them what to do, what they are allowed to do and just practice it and roleplay," Steve Linder from Lifetough Kids Boxing Club said.  Arson investigation underway after fire at historic Swift Mansion in Chicago For 10 years, public safety experts like Linder have congregated kids for workshops that look to help them learn how to react in moments of crisis. "What we’re afraid of is that they’re going to freeze and not do anything. And we’ve seen that with some of them and we work through that. This is a training environment, if they’re going to make mistakes, they’re going to do them here." Linder said.  Li...

How much does it cost to see Texas Longhorns play in the Sugar Bowl?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's a great day to be a Texas Longhorn: The University of Texas at Austin will head to the College Football Playoff Semifinals in New Orleans to face off against the Washington Huskies on January 1. There's no doubt UT fans will be in the crowd. But how much could it end up costing?Plane ticket costsKaty Nastro is a travel expert with Going.com, a travel deal-finding service. "It is a free service, but we also have paid service for, if you want first class deals, business class deals, premium, or just international deals," Nastro said. "We exist so we can send you great deals at all times of the year."Nastro said because the game is on New Years Day, it's during a peak travel time. "When you're looking at going from Austin over to New Orleans, typically we see deals out about $150 and below," Nastro said. "We are seeing nearly three times that amount. So somewhere in the $300 to $400 range of current ticket prices."She recommended getting a plane ticket as soon as p...

Big Stone County photographer captures image for 2024 state park permit sticker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:17:32 GMT

The new Minnesota state park sticker celebrating Big Stone Lake State Park will be available at the start of the new year. The image was captured by John White. (Contributed)It’s one of western Minnesota’s most popular destinations for anglers, the birthplace of the Minnesota River, and it is appreciated by many for the beauty of its prairie and woodlands nestled along the waters of Big Stone Lake.Big Stone Lake State Park will be known by many more this coming year, as it is the park chosen to be featured on the annual state park permit sticker available at the start of 2024.Fittingly, the image that will celebrate the park was captured by a passionate nature photographer who knows this park intimately. Since moving to a home in rural Big Stone County just a few miles from the park in 2013, photographer John White has been visiting the park two and three times a week, camera in hand.He had only an instant to capture the image of a variegated meadowhawk dragonfly atop the seeded hea...