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EU Parliament aims to tighten access for Qatari, Moroccan diplomats

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

The European Parliament is moving to make it harder for representatives of Qatar and Morocco to influence MEPs, after the two countries were embroiled in a bribes-for-influence scandal dubbed Qatargate.According to a new set of guidelines approved by leading MEPs in a behind-closed-doors meeting Thursday and seen by POLITICO, MEPs and staffers are urged to request the Parliament’s permission to invite the countries’ diplomats onto the premises, and the lawmakers also have to inform Parliament President Roberta Metsola whenever they meet them.The guidelines, however, are not binding — meaning that MEPs will not be sanctioned if they fail to adhere to them. They are designed primarily to clarify the state of play for MEPs, and give Metsola and top civil servants better oversight about who is meeting who, amid an ongoing criminal investigation in Belgium into whether MEPs took bribes from Qatar and Morocco. The move is separate from an ongoing transparency and ethics reform...

Tune in to LIV Golf Adelaide – April 22-23

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

Crews battle brush fires in Northborough, near Mass. Pike

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

NORTHBOROUGH, MASS. (WHDH) – A large brush fire in Northborough sent smoke rising into the sky and drew an emergency response Friday. Later Friday afternoon, state police announced troopers were on scene at another fire in Hopkinton. Crews were in Northborough as of around 2:30 p.m. in the Mount Pisgah area, according to police, who asked community members to avoid the area in a message on Twitter. https://twitter.com/NorthboroughPD/status/1646943516327550976Overhead, SKY7-HD captured video of flames as fire crews could be seen nearby. Elsewhere, Massachusetts State Police said its personnel were on scene at a brush fire affecting traffic on the Mass. Pike in Hopkinton as of around 4 p.m. Police asked motorists to avoid the area, warning of “significant delays.”Crews could be seen pouring water off the Pike onto smoke and flames in Hopkinton shortly before 4 p.m. Though some traffic was getting by, heavy backups could be seen in the area.Officials have cont...

Boston-area COVID data keeps falling, Massachusetts virus cases down 15%

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

Boston-area’s COVID cases and the region’s wastewater continues to fall, as state health officials this week also reported a drop in new virus cases and hospitalizations.In the city, the number of new COVID cases has decreased 20% over the past week. The seven-day average of new virus cases is now 2.4 cases per 100,000.Both of the wastewater counts for the south-of-Boston and north-of-Boston regions are plunging. The south-of-Boston seven-day average is now 219 RNA copies per milliliter, which is down from 463 copies last month. The north-of-Boston average is now 247 copies, a drop from 450 copies.Data from the Boston Public Health Commission’s wastewater surveillance program shows that the number of COVID particles in the wastewater did go up over the past week, but the data remains 38% down over the last two weeks.Related ArticlesHealth | Howie Carr: Panic ends with a whimper Health | Battenfeld: Biden declaration that COVID emergency o...

DeSantis’ signing of abortion law could hurt his White House chances, experts say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

Steven Lemongello and Jeffrey Schweers | Orlando SentinelGov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to sign one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country could cost him voters if he runs for president, political operatives said Friday, and doing it in a private event late at night suggests he’s well aware of that.“DeSantis or any other [presidential] nominee signing a six-week ban is starting with a losing hand,” said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from St. Petersburg and co-founder of the Forward Party.The governor “knows this is a double-edged sword,” added Mac Stipanovich, a Tallahassee consultant. “He wouldn’t have signed it in private if he didn’t know the consequences.”The bill bans most abortions after six weeks before most women even know they’re pregnant. It provides exceptions for victims of rape or incest for up to 15 weeks but requires they prove it by providing a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other documents.DeSantis’ office se...

Mike Preston: Year away from the game might have given Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. a new perspective | COMMENTARY

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

There was talk of Odell Beckham Jr. arriving in Baltimore on Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti’s private jet, and that his motorcade to The Castle would rival that of any president.But there was a different side of Beckham at his introductory news conference Thursday. He was calm, secure, engaging and at times humorous, a far cry from what we’ve seen on TV or in recent body cam footage.That Beckham was loud, obnoxious, selfish and fined several times by the NFL for touchdown celebrations, improper game attire and various unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.But maybe Beckham, at age 30, has matured, and could become a leader on offense. Middle linebacker Roquan Smith was quickly anointed the leader of the defense soon after he arrived in a trade from the Chicago Bears on Oct. 31 because of his past performance.Can they get that from Beckham? Who knows, but the first step is acknowledging past mistakes, which Beckham did Thursday.“I’ll be honest, I’ve made mista...

Home Showcase: Live large in Osterville

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

Picture it: a perfectly symmetrical Cape Cod Colonial on more than an acre of pristine grounds in Osterville’s exclusive Oyster Harbors community.With its tree-lined lot and dramatic, long driveway, 320 Seapuit River Road in Osterville brings all the seaside charm sprinkled with modern updates where they’re called for. Call it a relaxed formality, a home that honors its traditional Royal Barry Wills roots that’s also easy to live in.The marks of a good house on the Cape include lots of nooks and crannies for guests and loved ones to spread out to — a fireplace to cozy up next to, a sunroom for curling up with a beach read, or the perfectly spaced pair of trees for a backyard hammock. Buyers will find all this and more, including lavish outdoor space with a terrace, gardens, and a large Gunite pool to splash around in when you’re not exploring the beach or hitting the links at the tony Oyster Harbors Club.Another calling card of a great Cape retreat is the room where everyone lingers...

New MBTA leader took the job to ‘dig down deeper into safety’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

The derailments, near-misses, and speed restrictions that accompanied MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng’s first week on the job weren’t a deterrent, but rather a reminder of why he was interested in a post that scared off other transit leaders.It’s been a “whirlwind” of a week at the T, Eng told the Herald, “but it’s been one that reminds me and reinforces why I took on this challenge.”“The issues just reiterate that we need to really dig down deeper into safety, how our workforce (policies) work, because at the end of the day, we want everyone to go home to their families,” Eng said. “And at the same time, getting the work done safely and efficiently is important to the public that we serve.”Eng’s first day on Monday was particularly busy. The fourth “near-miss,” involving track employees who were almost struck by trains in the past 30 days, occurred on April 7, but wasn’t reported until Monday. And the first of two derailments involving work equipment took place late that night, wi...

Healing starts in the lobby at this hospital, where volunteer musicians play their passion

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

Darcel Rockett | Chicago TribuneIf you happen to walk through the front doors of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, near Chicago, and think you hear the Windows startup music, or the themes for Universal Studios or Warner Bros. being played on the piano, don’t second guess it. Odds are it is Guido Calcagno, registered nurse, warming up to play melodies for patients, staff and visitors.Calcagno is one of the volunteer musicians who play live music for visitors in Good Shepherd’s lobby Monday through Saturday.When volunteer pianist Renee Mullaney is working the 88 keys in the lobby, she has a tendency to keep her eye on the entryway. If she spots a child coming into the hospital, she may play a Disney song or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” If a veteran walks in, she will play a patriotic song. Her reasoning: Hospitals can be scary and intimidating, and if the people recognize a familiar ditty in the air, maybe that one little thing will put them at ease.“Since we’re in th...

Suspicious person with gun report prompts lockdown at Naval Medical Center

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:24:02 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Naval Medical Center San Diego near Balboa Park was placed on lockdown after a a suspicious person with a gun was reported inside the hospital, San Diego police confirmed.Initial reports indicated that there was a possible active shooter, however, authorities said that there was no gunfire and no injuries.According to Navy spokesperson Brian O'Rouke, one individual was taken into custody, but no gun was found on their person when they were apprehended. There are no additional suspects at this time, O'Rouke said.SDPD said that they were working with the Navy to clear the campus in response to the suspicious person, but it is unclear what buildings were evacuated.SkyFOX aerial footage showed a heavy police presence around the hospital in response to the incident, with vehicles blocking off Bob Wilson Drive into the medical center.As of 12:30 p.m., the FOX 5 crew on the scene said that authorities have begun letting people back onto the Naval Medical Center campus.Nearby S...