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Menendez defends attending classified Ukraine briefing despite being accused of improperly assisting a foreign government

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

(CNN) — Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been indicted on federal corruption charges including allegations of improperly assisting the government of Egypt, attended a classified briefing on Ukraine Wednesday morning, raising concerns among some of his colleagues who believe that he should no longer be a senator or have security credentials.The New Jersey Democrat grew defensive when approached by CNN on why he attended this briefing amid concerns about his continued service in the chamber and after he previously did not attend an Israel briefing, following a conversation he had with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.He denied that Schumer barred him from the previous briefing, and insisted that he had a right to get the classified information as he pushed back on the accusations of aiding the government of Egypt.“First of all, you’re wrong about that. He didn’t say ‘You can’t go’ and he didn’t not let me,” he said.Asked why he attended this briefing, he told C...

PHOTOS: Inside Heidi Klum’s 2023 Halloween Party

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

By Joanna Tavares, New York Daily NewsFrom peacocks and astronauts to artists and comic book characters, get a glimpse inside Heidi Klum’s 22nd annual Halloween Party presented by Patron El Alto at Marquee on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023, in New York City.NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Tucker Halpern and Sofi Tukker attend Heidi Klum’s 22nd Annual Halloween Party presented by Patron El Alto at Marquee on October 31, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Heidi Klum)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: A view of the venue during Heidi Klum’s 22nd Annual Halloween Party presented by Patron El Alto at Marquee on October 31, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Markus Hintze and Bambi Mercury attend Heidi Klum’s 22nd Annual Halloween Party presented by Patron El Alto at Marquee on October 31, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images fo...

Chicago Bears dismiss running backs coach David Walker — the 2nd assistant to exit since the regular season began

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

The Chicago Bears have dismissed running backs coach David Walker, a league source told the Tribune on Wednesday morning.It is the latest sign of tumult for a 2-6 team that has yet to win consecutive games under the two-season watch of general manager Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus.It is unclear yet what precipitated Walker’s removal.He is the second assistant coach from Eberflus’ staff to exit since the regular season began. In September, defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned from the organization for what the Tribune learned from multiple sources was a conduct-related departure.The Bears remain in last place in the NFC North and are coming off a 30-13 blowout loss on “Sunday Night Football” to the Los Angeles Chargers. On Tuesday, just ahead of the league’s trade deadline, Poles sent the team’s 2024 second-round draft pick to the Washington Commanders in exchange for defensive end Montez Sweat.After leading the NFL in rushing a year ago ...

Bruins bring up top prospect Mason Lohrei from Providence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

In the wake of Charlie McAvoy’s four-game suspension and Matt Grzelcyk’s upper body injury, it appears one of the Bruins’ prized prospects is poised to make his NHL debut.The B’s brought up from Providence first-year pro Mason Lohrei as well as fellow defensemen Ian Mitchell and Parker Wotherspoon.Grzelcyk was placed in long-term injured reserve and Jakub Lauko, currently out with an eye injury, was placed in IR.Lohrei, the B’s second round pick in 2020 who left Ohio State early to join the organization, had four assists in seven games with the P-Bruins.The B’s get back in action Thursday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Garden.

Salem State University basketball player shot and killed in car near campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

Authorities say they are investigating a shooting that killed an 18-year-old student at Salem State University early today, hours after Halloween festivities had concluded.Salem Police found Carl-Hens Beliard, a freshman listed on the men’s basketball team, inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds on Forest Avenue, several blocks away from campus.Beliard, of Worcester, was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Authorities responded to the scene of 22 Forest Ave. after receiving a report of the shooting at about 1:24 a.m. The incident does not appear to be a random act of violence or that there is any threat to the Salem State community, according to a preliminary investigation.“This senseless gun violence is tragic not only for the victim’s family but for the SSU community and beyond,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said in a statement.“State Police detectives assigned to my office are working closely with the Salem Police Department and Salem State...

Tories brought in double the money that Liberals donors contributed in third quarter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives continue to hold a sizable fundraising advantage over the Liberals, collecting twice as much money from donors as the governing party did in this year’s third quarter. The Tories raised just over $7 million in donations from around 42,000 contributors between July and September, a drop from the first two quarters in 2023. Figures from Elections Canada show the party had raised about $8.3 million from January to March and nearly $8 million between April and June.   Data show the Liberals brought in just over $3 million from over 29,500 contributors in the third quarter, a slight drop from the $3.2 million they had raised in the previous three months. The NDP raised more money than they did in the previous quarter, bringing in over $1.5 million from more than 16,000 donors. The Green party raised almost $344,000, while the Bloc Québécois brought in under $250,000. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 1, 2023. The Canadian ...

Quebec increases immigration target by 10,000, imposes French requirement for workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

MONTREAL — The Quebec government is increasing its immigration target to about 60,000 people next year and imposing new French-language requirements for newcomers.Premier François Legault says the official target will remain steady at 50,000 people a year — but a document his government released today shows that number will rise by 10,000 when immigrants admitted through other programs are factored in.The premier told reporters today his government will require all economic immigrants, who are chosen by the province, not Ottawa, to pass a French test before they are admitted.Quebec will also begin requiring all temporary foreign workers — except those who work on farms — to pass a French test if they want to stay in the province longer than three years.As well, the premier says the province will ask Ottawa to reduce the number of asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees who settle in Quebec.Quebec’s new immigration targets will be in place for two years. This report by The Canadi...

As vacancies grow, Senate Democrats work to circumvent Tuberville’s blockade on military nominees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are trying a new workaround to confirm hundreds of military officers blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, ten months after the Alabama Republican first said he would object to the nominations over a Pentagon abortion policy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor Wednesday that the Senate will consider a resolution in the near future that would allow the quick confirmation of the more than 300 officers up for promotion. The Senate is currently at a stalemate on the nominations because Tuberville is objecting to the routine process of confirming the nominations all at once by unanimous consent, and voting on them individually could monopolize weeks or months of the Senate’s time. Schumer separately moved to hold votes as soon as this week on three top Pentagon officers affected by the holds — Adm. Lisa Franchetti to be the chief of naval operations, Gen. David Allvin to be chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force and Lt. Gen. Christo...

Mexico to give interest subsidies, but no loans, to Acapulco hotels destroyed by Hurricane Otis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government said Wednesday it will assume half of the interest rates on bank loans to help rebuild the 377 hotels destroyed or heavily damaged after Hurricane Otis slammed into the resort city last week.But President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will not provide government loans to the hotels, the backbone of the local economy.The hotels currently have no cash flow — and face months of work to repair windows and walls blown out by the Category 5 hurricane — so it is unclear how many private banks would be willing to lend them money.López Obrador announced a package of $3.4 billion in aid for the resort. Much of that will be spent on payments of between $2,000 and $3,000 per damaged home, on temporary job programs and free electricity for residents for several months.He also said his government would build dozens of barracks to station National Guard troops in Acapulco, despite the fact Guard officers were already present in the port, but were unable to p...

State is paying fired Tennessee vaccine chief $150K in lawsuit settlement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:15:26 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state of Tennessee has agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal lawsuit by its former vaccine leader over her firing during the COVID-19 pandemic.The agreement in the case brought by Michelle Fiscus includes provisions that limit what each of the parties can say about each other, according to a copy provided by the Tennessee Department of Health in response to a public records request.The current and former health commissioners, and the state’s chief medical officer agreed that they will not “disparage” Fiscus. Fiscus, meanwhile, must reply “no comment” if she is asked about the lawsuit, negotiations and the settlement. Additionally, Fiscus or anyone on her behalf can’t “disparage” the defendants, the Tennessee Department of Health, the governor or his administration, or other former or current state officials and workers about her firing.Both the Department of Health and Fiscus declined to comment on the settlement.Fiscus was fired in the s...