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Peeing in cups and smoking in carriages: On board the Eurostar from hell

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

ABOARD THE EUROSTAR, OUTSIDE THE CHANNEL TUNNEL, England — It’s been more than eight hours since our Eurostar train departed London St. Pancras on a journey that was abruptly halted outside the Channel Tunnel amidst sparks and bangs.  It’s a trip I’ve taken many times as head of POLITICO’s office in Brussels. But this one isn’t going to plan.Shortly before 9 a.m. local time, an electrical cable snaps and falls on the train, which had been heading to Amsterdam via Brussels. Passengers are initially phlegmatic at their predicament, but the ensuing hours quickly change that.With toilets overflowing, people increasingly hungry and thirsty, and minimal communication from train staff, goodwill soon evaporates. At first, passengers are told over the speakers that a rescue train is on its way. Shortly after, however, the lack of electricity kiboshes the announcement system. After that, rare updates are provided by increasingly scarce staff. ...

German government’s meeting with Iranian dissident ends in acrimony

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

A planned meeting between prominent Iranian dissident, Masih Alinejad, and senior German officials collapsed in acrimony on Thursday over the government’s alleged insistence that the meeting be kept confidential.Alinejad, an exiled campaigner for democracy and women’s rights in Iran, said she confronted German officials over the condition that the meeting be kept secret.“The German government publicly and openly meets with our oppressors, but they want to hide us?” Alinejad said in an interview with POLITICO. “I have nothing to shy away from. I have to stand by my people because I am proud of them. I can’t have a meeting behind closed doors. If German policy is all about feminism, then I want to see actions.”Alinejad appeared to be referring to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s “feminist foreign policy,” a set of guidelines her ministry says are aimed at achieving equality for women worldwide.“We integrate the perspectives of women and margina...

Boston PD officers credited with stopping suspect armed with machete and axe from attacking teens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

The Boston Police Department is crediting several of its officers with de-escalating a situation that involved a man allegedly threatening a group of teens while he was armed with an axe and machete.The police department said members of its A-1 Drug Control Unit had been working in the area of Temple Place on Monday, Nov. 27, when they heard a disturbance nearby.According to a news release, as they responded, the officers saw a suspect “brandishing a large machete and threatening to attack a group of teens while simultaneously approaching them and challenging them to fight.”Boston PD said the suspect later stopped as police approached, but then allegedly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small axe.Police said the group of teens ran away in fear of the suspect, who had continued to approach and challenge them. De-escalating the situation, officers were able to handcuff the suspect, taking Roxbury resident Israel Silva, 51, into custody on weapons and drug charges.&...

Police in Woburn and Lowell on alert following suspicious encounters at local schools

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

A string of suspicious, separate incidents involving individuals trying to enter local schools has police in several Mass. communities on alert and has even attracted the attention of federal law enforcement.The most recent cases occurred this week when school officials in Lowell notified parents that three “unauthorized individuals” attempted to enter two schools on Tuesday, but were turned away by staff and reported to police.Police described how in one case involving Moody Elementary School, two unidentified men approached the building, claiming to be with a cleaning crew. Meanwhile, at the Shaughnessy Elementary School, unidentified men approached and inquired about childcare, but were not able to get into the building.In a statement, Lowell Public Schools said that it was their understanding that police had “recently been involved in similar incidents in other districts throughout the Commonwealth.”Meanwhile, in Woburn, a separate incident occurred on No...

QVC helped pioneer shopping from home. Here’s how the company is changing — and competing against TikTok

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

By Joseph N. DiStefano, The Philadelphia InquirerFrom its sprawling, 1,500-worker studio headquarters in Chester County, Pennsylvania, QVC and its affiliates developed home-shopping TV, packing channels for more than 30 years with live hosts and celebrities pitching clothing, kitchen goods, electronics, jewelry, and many other products to millions of viewers and filling their orders from suppliers and warehouses.Today QVC, the West Chester-based core of Qurate Retail Inc., which includes clothing brands and small U.S., Western European and Japanese shopping channels, is struggling to cover its costs. It’s competing in a new world where it can be surprisingly cheap for energetic individuals working from home to reach millions of consumers through fast, slick product posts on TikTok (which QVC also uses) and other smartphone-based media.Qurate’s CEO of the past two years, David L. Rawlinson II, who earlier ran industrial supplier W.W. Grainger and then consumer analytics giant Nielsen...

Patriots RB Ty Montgomery returns, new kicker spotted at practice

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

New England Patriots running back Ty Montgomery returned to the practice field Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with an illness. He was joined by a new kicker who is expected to compete with rookie Chad Ryland for the starting job going forward.Kicker Matthew Wright, who was reported to have signed with the practice squad earlier this week, was spotted wearing No. 47 during the portion of warmups open to reporters. That number was previously worn by practice squad wide receiver Matthew Sexton.Wright was cut from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on Tuesday and has yet to attempt a field goal this season, but through four years in the league he has gone 40 for 46 on field goal attempts for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs. He could start for the Patriots Sunday after Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal for the second consecutive game this past weekend.In addition, rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) ...

How to set good money examples for kids

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

By Sara Rathner | NerdWalletKids notice everything, whether you think they’re paying attention or not. They repeat the curse words you blurt out when you step on a toy, and spill your embarrassing family secrets to their friends.From a surprisingly early age, the kids in your life also notice money: who has it, who doesn’t, and how your household handles it compared to other people. They overhear arguments and pick up on stress. With every financial decision, you set an example. “You are a mirror and your kid is a sponge,” says Jordan Wexler, co-founder and CEO of EarlyBird, a registered investment advisory company where parents can open custodial and college savings accounts for their kids.So, no pressure, but modeling positive money behavior for all the kids in your life is important, whether you’re a parent, relative or close family friend. It starts with figuring out your own approach to money, and then providing age-appropriate lessons.Establish your household valuesIt’s hard t...

Bruins notebook: Danton Heinen earns opportunity in top six

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

Danton Heinen arrived in camp with nothing but a tryout agreement, some institutional knowledge of how the Bruins tick and a good relationship with coach Jim Montgomery from their days at the University of Denver.But he soon turned his no-guarantee situation into an NHL minimum contract. Now he’s become a quietly indispensable member of the team. As Montgomery searches for the right line combinations, he had bumped up Heinen to a top-six role on a line with Brad Marchand and rookie center Matt Poitras for Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. Whether it’s a combo that clicks remains to be seen, but at least Montgomery knows what he’ll get from Heinen.“”What we’ve seen from him is a guy who’s playing the right way,”said Montgomery. “He’s reloading well. We keep track of 50-50 battles and he’s winning at a 64% level. We’re getting the puck and he’s ending plays and we’re going the other way, or he’s keeping...

Senate Democrats authorize subpoenas in the Supreme Court ethics probe as Republicans stage walkout

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

By STEPHEN GROVES and MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to authorize subpoenas for two prominent conservatives who arranged luxury travel and other benefits for Supreme Court justices, but Republicans planned to object to the legitimacy of the action.The committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., pushed through the vote in the meeting’s final moments after Republicans had walked out. The vote from the 11 Democrats would authorize subpoenas for Republican megadonor Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo. Yet Durbin acknowledged that ultimately enforcement of the subpoenas may hinge on a 60-vote threshold in the closely divided Senate.South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the committee’s top Republican, invoked a rule to limit the session to two hours, but Durbin proceeded with a vote on the subpoena authorization.“They think we’re gonna roll over and come back sometime ...

More Israeli hostages freed by Hamas as truce in Gaza lasts another day

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:25:01 GMT

By MELANIE LIDMAN, NAJIB JOBAIN and KAREEM CHEHAYEB (Associated Press)DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas began freeing Israeli hostages Thursday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of a last-minute deal to extend their cease-fire in Gaza by another day. But any further renewal of the truce, now in its seventh day, could prove more daunting since Hamas is expected to set a higher price for many of the remaining hostages.Hamas freed two Israeli women Thursday afternoon and more hostage releases were expected to follow, the Israeli military said. At least 10 Israelis a day, along with other nationals, have been released during the truce, in return for Israel’s release of at least 30 Palestinian prisoners.International pressure has mounted for the truce to continue as long as possible after weeks of Israeli bombardment and a ground campaign following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war. Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza ha...