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FBI: Crew member confesses to molesting multiple children aboard Celebrity Silhouette

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

A man was taken into custody in connection to multiple cases of molestation involving children on board a Celebrity Cruises ship.According to the FBI, Cris Castor, a crew member aboard the Celebrity Silhouette, confessed to molesting molesting multiple children.The confession comes after, FBI agents said, the parents of a 6-year-old girl came forward and alleged Castor fondled their daughter.Wednesday night, a spokesperson for Celebrity Cruises released a statement that reads, “We have zero tolerance for this behavior. We reported this to law enforcement and terminated the crew member, and we will continue to fully cooperate with authorities.”Castor, a Philippine national who worked in the ship’s youth center, remains behind bars in Broward County.

Dolphins, Miami Gardens councilman donate ‘gently used’ TVs to 6 Miami Gardens schools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

The season of gift giving is upon us, and several Miami Garden schools received a huge gift from the Miami Dolphins. The Miami Dolphins, in collaboration with City of Miami Gardens Councilman Reggie Leon, donated 300 gently used TVs to six Miami Gardens schools, all in an effort to enrich learning experiences for students. “This shows that we are one,” said Leon. “We are in the same neighborhood and it shows the kids that once you make it, continue to give back”Christina McDermott, a student at Carol City Senior High School, expressed her gratitude about the generous donations.“Greatness recognizes greatness, and it’s a great day when the Chiefs and the Dolphins come together,” she said.The flat-screens were delivered to the sound of music and plenty of Dolphins spirit.“In the season that we’re in right now, the gift-giving season, we are very appreciative, said Kimaury Mcgregor, a student at Carol City Senior High School.One of ...

How Donald Tusk can get around Poland’s president

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

Mujtaba Rahman is the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice. He tweets at @Mij_Europe.Heading up a pro-European Union liberal government intent on re-establishing rule of law, former European Council President Donald Tusk’s return to power in Warsaw has been met with relief and enthusiasm in Brussels and most other EU capitals. But that’s where the good news ends.While Tusk’s government will inject positive momentum into relations between Warsaw, Brussels and other European capitals, the major political challenge that now awaits is whether Poland, under Tusk, will be able to access its roughly €59 billion tied up in the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) — the EU’s post-pandemic vehicle designed to facilitate economic recovery after COVID-19.Given Brussels’ concerns — largely over rule of law, and specifically over judicial independence — under the outgoing Conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government, the facility has yet to disburse any money to Poland at all.In theory...

The mystery of the untouched lawmaker at the heart of Qatargate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

The mystery of the untouched lawmaker at the heart of QatargateBelgian police place Maria Arena at the heart of the corruption ring in the European Parliament — but have not questioned her.By EDDY WAXin BrusselsBRUSSELS — A few months before confessing to the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the European Parliament, Pier Antonio Panzeri had some advice for a friend.“Don’t put yourself out of the game,” Panzeri told the Belgian MEP Maria Arena in August 2022 during a meal at the now-defunct Salvarino pizzeria in Brussels. “Because if you are in the game, then I am going to amass more money.”Unbeknownst to the pair, Belgian spies were taping their conversation as part of an investigation into what would become known as Qatargate, according to a police summary of a declassified secret services report seen by POLITICO.Four months later, Panzeri, a former MEP, was arrested and accused of being at the center of a bribery ring pushing the interests of Morocco, Qatar and Maurita...

Macron takes on Orbán in bid to avoid disastrous Ukraine summit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

The EU is in panic mode, a week before a key summit where it will discuss major decisions for the future of Ukraine. The reason is by now a familiar one: Viktor Orbán. The Hungarian prime minister has such an entrenched position on Ukraine — and a lot more besides — that EU diplomats and officials struggle to see what, or who, can change his mind. Enter French President Emmanuel Macron, never a man to shy from a diplomatic challenge.Macron hosts Orbán for dinner on Thursday evening and will attempt to forge a compromise ahead of next week’s summit in Brussels. There, EU leaders are set to make a historic decision on bringing Ukraine into the 27-nation club and seal a key budget deal that would throw a €50 billion lifeline to Kyiv’s flailing war economy.“We have no time for games at this moment,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said earlier this week. “If we are in a situation where peace in Europe is under attack, then we must do everything we can every day and e...

‘Wingless birds’: life aboard Britain’s controversial asylum barge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

LONDON – “You can’t understand my state, I’m going crazy, nothing can calm me down.” That’s how life feels to one of the 50 asylum seekers who have spent the past three months living on a 222 room barge moored off Portland, Dorset in England while British authorities mull their fate.The Bibby Stockholm vessel was billed a symbol of the U.K.’s tough stance on asylum, as the governing Conservative Party seeks to show it’s got a grip on migration — with a slew of activity which this week included announcing a host of measures aimed at curbing visas and beefing up a deal to send people seeking refuge to Rwanda.Ministers argue the barge will cut the mounting cost of housing in expensive hotels asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute while their claims are processed, and will deter people from making dangerous crossings to the U.K. in the first place.But its rollout has already been controversial — and some of those aboard say they feel stuck in limbo.In texts shown to POLITI...

Fantasy Fixer: Week 14

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

7’s Morey Hershgordon has the inside scoop on who to start and sit this week in Fantasy Fixer. Go set your lineups!

Solve It 7: Fine Fight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

A Massachusetts family was seeing red! They received a letter saying their car was caught on camera running a red light in Illinois–but they had never been to the state, and neither had their car. They emailed Solve It 7, and we gave their case the green light.  Brandon Gunnoe has the story.Kendra drives around New England in her sporty station wagon.“My car really stays within New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine,” Kendra said. That’s why she and her husband were so surprised in August…“My husband went to the mail and opened a letter from Illinois, and it was a red-light violation with a $100 fine. My car’s never seen Illinois, nor have I,” Kendra said.  “And I’m like, this doesn’t sound right. This sounds like a scam, basically,” Marty said.  So Marty tossed it in the garbage.But a month later another letter arrived.“What is this? Maybe this is actually then true or something,̶...

Chicago Cubs aren’t taking a star-or-bust approach: ‘Winning the offseason is probably more a curse than blessing’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

If the Chicago Cubs want to add a star player after falling one win short of the postseason, they have a variety of options to pursue in the coming weeks.A big-market team such as the Cubs should be involved when top players reach free agency or are available in a trade. Those pursuits ultimately could end with the Cubs failing to acquire an elite player this offseason, however, for a team that needs much more reliable production in key spots.Shohei Ohtani’s hush-hush courtship continued Wednesday, the final day of the winter meetings. The Cubs remain among the teams in the mix for the superstar. Japanese right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected to fetch a long-term deal worth more than $200 million as part of a pitching market that features National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell, standout reliever Josh Hader and lefty starters Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez, while outfielder Cody Bellinger remains the best slugger on the market behind Ohtani. Third baseman Ma...

Waltham police officer, utility worker killed after wild crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:25 GMT

A Waltham police officer and National Grid worker have died from injuries they suffered when a suspect crashed into them while working a construction detail, according to officials.Two other utility workers were injured in the crash on Totten Pond Road, Wednesday evening, officials said.After crashing into the officer and utility workers at the detail site, the suspect stole a Waltham police cruiser and fled the scene before crashing, Massachusetts State Police said in a social media post around 6:40 p.m.“The suspect was then apprehended after a foot pursuit and is currently in custody,” the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “This is a very active investigation and updates will be provided as they become available.”No other information has been released on the victims and suspect.The utility workers were taken to a hospital after the crash, National Grid said. “Our thoughts are with the crew members, their families and loved ones,” the company said in a state...