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Lithuania asks EU not to drop ammo refunds for Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

BRUSSELS — Small EU countries would encounter financial difficulty in helping Ukraine if the bloc were to halt a funding scheme that pays for arms and ammunition, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told POLITICO.The future of the fund is in limbo, as the attempt to carve out a new Ukraine assistance package worth €20 billion over four years from the European Peace Facility (EPF) remains unsettled thanks to opposition from Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is threatening to hijack a December summit of EU leaders over the issue. That’s prompting some countries to contemplate ways to work around Budapest and keep aid flowing to Kyiv, including by sending direct financial aid via bilateral arrangements rather than EU structures like EPF.“The problem is, if EPF is no longer continued … small countries like mine, we would be less able to assist Ukraine with the resources that we have,” Landsbergis said.He warned th...

Security guard fatally shot at New Hampshire hospital remembered for dedication to community, family

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

TILTON, N.H. (AP) — A security guard who was shot to death at New Hampshire Hospital is being remembered for his dedication to his community and family.Law enforcement from multiple departments joined state officials and family members on Monday for a celebration of life service for Bradley Haas, 63, who died following the shooting on Nov. 17. A police escort brought his remains through the city of Franklin, where he grew up and served as police chief, on its way to Winnisquam High School in Tilton, WMUR-TV reported.“Behind every badge is a person, and in our law enforcement community, there are a lot of genuinely good people, and Brad was one of them,” said Stephen Houten, an Army veteran and former Sanbornton police officer.Haas, also an Army veteran, served with the Franklin Police Department for 28 years before retiring in 2008. He then became a security guard at the psychiatric hospital in Concord.“He was known as a quiet professional, and I knew him that way,” s...

Wolverines receive protection under Endangered Species Act as climate change threatens their habitat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

(CNN) — The North American wolverine has officially been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and will receive long-anticipated federal protections, US officials announced Wednesday, as the climate crisis melts away their snowy mountain habitats.The US Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the wolverines as threatened in the contiguous US comes as scientists warn that warming temperatures are rapidly diminishing the mountain snowpack that the species rely on for food, reproduction and ultimate survival.“Current and increasing impacts of climate change and associated habitat degradation and fragmentation are imperiling the North American wolverine,” Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Regional Director Hugh Morrison said in a statement. “Based on the best available science, this listing determination will help to stem the long-term impact and enhance the viability of wolverines in the contiguous United States.”Adding wolverines to t...

Maine offers free university tuition to Lewiston shooting victims, families

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine’s public university system is offering free tuition to family members of those who died and to those who were injured in the deadliest mass shooting in state history, officials said Wednesday.The Lewiston Strong Tuition Waiver program covers more than 80 people. It also creates a fund that the public can donate to that will cover other post-secondary educational expenses. The Oct. 25 shootings left 18 people dead after a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley and a restaurant.The program was announced by Gov. Janet Mills, University of Maine System Chancellor Dannel Malloy and trustees. It expanded on a call from Mills to create a scholarship fund for people affected by the shootings.“Through their boundless generosity, Maine people are demonstrating that our state will stand by those who were injured and the families of those who were killed in the months, years and decades to come,” said Mills, a Democrat.The people covered by the ...

‘This Is Spinal Tap’ sequel will feature Sir Paul McCartney and Elton John

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

(CNN) — Rob Reiner said that Elton John and Paul McCartney are going to be in the upcoming “This is Spinal Tap” sequel.Reiner, who directed the original film, said on the “RHLSTP with Richard Herring” podcast that the mocumentary movie sequel is officially happening.“We’re making a sequel. We’re going to start shooting at the end of February and everybody is back,” Reiner said.The director revealed he will reprise his role as filmmaker Marty DiBergi. Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer are all set to return as members of the fictional English heavy metal band Spinal Tap.In addition to John and McCartney, Reiner teased a few more surprises, including an appearance in the sequel by Garth Brooks.“You don’t want to just do it, to do it. You want to honor the first one and push it a little further with the story,” Reiner told Deadline in 2022 about moving forward with a sequel.“This is Spinal Tap” debuted in March 1984, so the seque...

Bruins notebook: Jim Montgomery clears the air with Jeremy Swayman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

There are plenty of issues that are ailing the Bruins right now, but the relationship between coach Jim Montgomery and goalie Jeremy Swayman isn’t one of them.With another game slipping away from them on Monday in Columbus, Montgomery took the aggressive step of yanking Swayman after just two goals against. As he explained after the game, he was simply trying to spark his team that was in a tailspin. The NESN cameras caught the coach and goalie having what looked like a contentious, if brief, conversation about it.But on Wednesday, Montgomery and Swayman talked it out and all is good between the two former Maine Black Bears.“I had a good meeting with him this morning,” said Montgomery. “Sway’s a competitor. Our goaltenders are our number one reason why we’re (14-4-3). And the number two reason is distant (from the goalies). I gave him my thoughts. I always trust my gut behind the bench and my gut said the team needed a a spark and that was the way to get it. In New...

Quincy, Taunton duo indicted in luxury car theft scheme, alleged murder attempt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

Two men were indicted by a statewide grand jury on several counts of larceny and violence — including attempted murder — arising from an alleged million dollar luxury car fraud scheme.Dyllan Lopes, 21, of Quincy, was indicted for 31 crimes in six counties — Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex, Bristol, Plymouth, and Worcester — and alleged crime partner Angelo Henderson, 19, of Taunton, was indicted for nine crimes in two of those counties, according to a statement by Attorney General Andrea Campbell.The indictments allege that the two men stole luxury cars and then sold, or attempted to sell, those cars through Facebook Marketplace. The AG’s office alleges the total value of the cars involved in the scheme to be more than $1 million.The scheme moved from fraud to violence, however, on March 10 of this year, according to the AG’s office, when the two men were allegedly spotted on surveillance camera exiting one of their stolen cars in Dorchester and walking in the direction of a man they ...

Sources: Patriots adding wide receiver depth amid injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

The Patriots filled a spot on their practice squad Wednesday by signing wide receiver Mathew Sexton.Sexton, who was released from the Falcons’ practice squad in September, adds depth after rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas suffered his second head injury of the season in Sunday’s loss to the Giants. Sexton was among a group of kickers, punters and wide receivers who worked out for the Patriots on Tuesday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham’s lack of QB reps New England Patriots | Bill Belichick ‘not prepared’ to announce Patriots’ starting quarterback New England Patriots | Will Patriots change kickers after missed game-tying field goal? Bill Belichick answers New England Patriots | OBF: These Patriots among worst 5 units New England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-signing QB Will Grier to practice squad after re...

Indian official plotted to assassinate Sikh separatist leader in New York, US prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

By LARRY NEUMEISTER and ASHOK SHARMA (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — An Indian government official directed a $100,000 plot to assassinate a prominent Sikh separatist leader in New York City after the man advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, U.S. authorities announced Wednesday as they unsealed charges brought against a man from India who they say was part of the murder plot.Last spring, U.S. officials became aware of the plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is considered a terrorist by the Indian government. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration stopped the plot when the foreign government employee recruited an international narcotics trafficker to commit the murder, DEA administrator Anne Milgram said. The government official was only described as “CC-1” in an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court that charged Nikhil Gupta, 52, an Indian national who had lived in India, with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit mu...

US Air Force Osprey crashes off Japan during training, killing at least one of the eight on board

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:39 GMT

By MARI YAMAGUCHI and TARA COPP (Associated Press)TOKYO (AP) — A U.S. Air Force Osprey based in Japan crashed during a training mission Wednesday off of the country’s southern coast, killing at least one of the eight crew members, the Japanese coast guard said.The cause of the crash and the status of the seven others on board were not immediately known, Japanese coast guard spokesperson Kazuo Ogawa said.The Osprey is a hybrid aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter, but during flight it can rotate its propellers forward and cruise much faster like an airplane.Ospreys have had a number of accidents in the past, including in Japan, where they are deployed at U.S. and Japanese military bases. In Okinawa, where about half of the 50,000 American troops are based, Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters Wednesday that he would ask the U.S. military to suspend all Osprey flights in Japan. Ogawa said the coast guard received an emergency call Wednesday afternoon from a fish...