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NATO backs Israel and warns Iran to stay away

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

BRUSSELS — Ukraine’s allies have spent the past 18 months very carefully calibrating what weapons they’ll send to Kyiv and putting restrictions on their use, but NATO defense ministers on Thursday showed no such reservations about Israel as they promised to send arms needed to combat Hamas.U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended Israel’s use of American arms amid concerns about its tactics against Gaza, including cutting off fuel, water and electricity.“In terms of conditions that we would place on the security assistance that we’re providing to Israel, we have not placed any conditions on the provision of this equipment,” Austin said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.However, as the group’s defense ministers wrapped up a two-day meeting on Thursday, there were concerns that Israel’s use of force as it retaliates against terror attacks by Hamas may be disproportionate — amid fears that Iran could benefit.NATO Secretary-General Jens...

T Official Promises Report On Narrow Tracks Investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

Full-speed service resumed this week, but T officials don’t have a timeline for wrapping up an investigation into why Green Line Extension tracks became so narrow that they had to slow trains down to 3 miles per hour.A day after the MBTA announced it had lifted slow zones on more than a mile of its newest tracks, the agency’s top safety official told overseers work is still taking place to figure out the source of the baffling problem. The slow speeds began in mid-September and the narrow tracks news broke on Sept. 26.“That is still under investigation and once that investigation is complete, we will provide a report on that,” MBTA Chief Safety Officer Tim Lesniak said at a subcommittee meeting.Asked by MBTA Board of Directors member Tom McGee for a timeline, Lesniak replied, “It’s an ongoing investigation. We’re still trying to collect data, so we don’t necessarily have a full timeline put together yet.”The T suddenly imposed dr...

Are grants for minority business owners in jeopardy?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

Kristina Byas | Bankrate.com (TNS)Historically, Black female entrepreneurs and minority business owners have faced significant hurdles in securing business capital.Amid these challenges, the Fearless Fund emerged as a beacon of hope. Since 2018, the organization offered business grants for Black women through its Fearless Strivers Grant Contest and provided much-needed financial support. But a recent lawsuit has cast a shadow of uncertainty over these efforts, jeopardizing progress thus far.What is the Fearless Fund?Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons founded Fearless Fund in 2018. The Atlanta-based organization addresses the lack of access to venture capital for women of color entrepreneurs, offering grants, mentorship and resources.Over the years, its Fearless Strivers Grant Contest has supported numerous Black women entrepreneurs in their journey toward success. This program awards $20,000 grants four times a year, contributing to the growth and development of these black women-led bu...

No timeline yet for details on Green Line Extension defective track investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

The MBTA does not yet have a timeline for when it will release findings from an investigation into defective Green Line Extensions tracks that forced trains to slow down to walking speeds, the agency’s top safety official said at a Thursday meeting.MBTA Chief Safety Officer Tim Lesniak said a regularly scheduled inspection showed tracks were too narrow to safely run trains and over the past few weeks, “GLX constructors” performed repairs.An investigation into why the tracks narrowed — which MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng described last month as “unusual” — is “still under investigation,” Lesniak said, repeating what Eng said the day before during a press conference.“That is still under investigation and once that investigation is complete, we will provide a report on that,” Lesniak said. “It’s an ongoing investigation. We’re still trying to collect data so we don’t necessarily have a full timeline put together yet.”But it is still not clear what the root cause of...

Two Patriots wide receivers trending toward missing Sunday’s game at Las Vegas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

Patriots wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas missed a second straight practice Thursday with the concussions they sustained last weekend against the Saints.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Inside Mac Jones’ Patriots downfall from promising rookie to lost QB New England Patriots | Patriots-Raiders injury report: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas out Wednesday, 11 limited New England Patriots | Mac Jones bringing new attitude after two straight Patriots losses? New England Patriots | Patriots offense gets good news at practice ahead of Week 6 matchup vs. Raiders New England Patriots | Bill Belichick insists re-signing Jakobi Meyers was priority for Patriots Smith-Schuster, Douglas and outside linebacker Matt Judon (bicep) were the only players absent. The Pats held a non-padded practice after conducting a walkthrough Tuesday and padded practice Wednesday. The team listed a...

Speaker nominee Scalise tries to sway skeptical GOP colleagues as his chief rival urges party unity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nominated to be House speaker, Rep. Steve Scalise is heading straight into a familiar Republican problem: Skeptical GOP colleagues are reluctant to give their support, denying him the majority vote needed to win the gavel.The House opened its Thursday session at midday in anticipation of floor action to elect a speaker, but quickly gaveled to a recess. Scalise must peel off more than 100 votes, mostly from those who backed his chief rival, Rep. Jim Jordan, the Judiciary Committee chairman favored by hard-liners, as lawmakers dig in for a fight to replace Rep. Kevin McCarthy after his historic ouster from the job. No votes were scheduled.“Time is of the essence,” McCarthy said when he arrived at the Capitol.Asked if it was still possible for Scalise, R-La., to find enough support, McCarthy said: “It’s possible — it’s a big hill, though.” The House is entering its second week without a speaker and is essentially unable to function, so the pressure is on R...

US announces evacuation flights for Americans who want to leave Israel as war with Hamas rages

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House announced that the U.S. government will begin operating evacuation flights to help Americans leave Israel as Israel prepares to escalate retaliatory action against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.The evacuation flights are expected to begin Friday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. The U.S. government is arranging for at least four charter flights a day out of Israel, according to people familiar with the planning.The announcement came as the White House confirmed that the death toll in the fighting now includes at least 27 Americans. The war has claimed at least 2,600 lives on both sides since Hamas launched its attack on Israel last Saturday.Fourteen U.S. citizens in Israel remain unaccounted for. The White House has said a “handful” of Americans are among the dozens of people that Hamas took hostage.There are still some commercial carriers flying in and out of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, and ground routes...

Sen. Menendez is accused of being an unregistered agent of Egypt’s government in updated indictment

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey faced a new charge Thursday that he conspired to act as an agent of the Egyptian government, a remarkable accusation against a Democrat who had a powerful role in U.S. policy as head of the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.The superseding indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court, accuses Menendez of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires people to register with the U.S. government if they act as “an agent of a foreign principal.” As a member of Congress, Menendez was prohibited from being an agent of a foreign government.The new charge comes just weeks after Menendez and his wife were accused of accepting bribes of cash, gold bars and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen who wanted the senator’s help and influence over foreign affairs. The new indictment said the conspiracy occurred from January 2018 to June 2022, when Menendez was alleged to have “promised to take and took a series o...

Student ‘attacked and stabbed’ outside Scarborough high school: Police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

A Scarborough high school student was injured after being stabbed outside of school on Thursday. Toronto police were called to David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute in the Midland Avenue and Lawrence Avenue East area at 1:30 p.m. for reports of a stabbing.Authorities said a student was “attacked and stabbed” outside the school. Two suspects were arrested at the scene.It’s unclear how serious the injuries are. More to come

Wisconsin Republican leader won’t back down from impeachment threat against Supreme Court justice

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:12 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican leader of Wisconsin’s Assembly refused to back down on Thursday from possibly impeaching a newly elected liberal state Supreme Court justice over her refusal to step aside in a redistricting case, even after two former conservative justices advised him against the unprecedented move.“No, absolutely not,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said when asked at a news conference if impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz was off the table.“If they decide to inject their own political bias inside the process and not follow the law, we have the ability to go to the U.S. Supreme Court,” Vos said, “and we also have the ability to hold her accountable to the voters of Wisconsin.”The Wisconsin Democratic Party said the comments are a signal that Republicans are backing off from impeaching Protasiewicz “by moving the goalposts in an effort to save face.”Vos first floated the possibility of impeachment in August after Protasiewicz called the Republican-drawn legisl...