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UK Labour Party spent 3 years investigating sexual harassment case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. Labour Party took three years to investigate a complaint of sexual harassment against a senior party aide, by a woman 20 years his junior. The man has been allowed to keep his job advising a Labour frontbencher, despite the groping complaint being upheld by two separate investigations.The woman told POLITICO she felt “let down” by the process, and hit out at the party for its inaction.A Labour spokesperson insisted the party “treats all complaints of sexual misconduct very seriously,” and that all complaints are “fully investigated.” The man is alleged to have groped the woman, a former intern, when she was in her early 20s — a complaint which was judged proven twice, by parliamentary investigators and, separately, by the Labour Party. The woman first launched a complaint using the internal process available to parliamentary staff at the time. The complaint was upheld. The man was instructed to write a letter of apology, and no ...

The need for European ‘strategic reconciliation’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

Mathieu Droin is a visiting fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. James Joye Townsend Jr. is an adjunct senior fellow in the CNAS Transatlantic Security Program and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy.y.French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments to POLITICO on his way back from China recently prompted outrage across the transatlantic community. And the fiercest backlash came from Central and Eastern Europe.The uproar was a symptom of nervousness. Most European governments fear doing any harm to the relationship with the United States, as its commitment to the defense of Europe has proved more vital than ever with the war in Ukraine. But there may be some delusion in thinking that this American commitment can be relied on indefinitely.So, to make sure this relationship stays strong, there’s now an urgent need for “strategic reconciliation” among Europeans, which requires putting away toxic conceptual debates and ac...

Turkey’s Erdogan risks alienating conservative women voters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

ISTANBUL — How did a popular soap opera called “Cranberry Sherbet” suddenly become one of the most heated discussion points before Turkey’s crucial elections on Sunday? It’s all to do with a character called Nursema, and her shocking fate is pushing viewers to pose a tricky question: Who would she vote for? The answers are not comforting for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is seeking to extend his 20-year rule in the impending vote. Nursema is a strong, bright and devout Muslim in the show, and millions of Turkish women can easily identify with her. Turkey’s legions of soap addicts were stunned by a brutal plot twist in which she is married off to an abusive husband by her conservative family. He attempts to rape her, then shoves her out of a window when she resists, almost killing her. In early April, Turkey’s media watchdog reacted harshly to the harrowing storyline, doling out a fine to the makers of the series and slapping the drama with a ...

Paris tempts EU Parliament to commit to Strasbourg HQ with €700K office offer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

STRASBOURG — Senior MEPs are considering an offer from French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to rent a new office block for €700,000 per year that would solidify her country’s grip on the European Parliament’s controversial second home. In a letter that Borne sent to Parliament’s President Roberta Metsola on May 3, seen by POLITICO, the French government offered to rent out a brand new Osmose office block to the European Parliament after buying it in an elaborate scheme that could cost French taxpayers tens of millions of euros. The French letter frames the proposal as “for the benefit of the European Parliament” and an “advantageous offer,” but whether or not that is true, if accepted, it would be a major win for the French government, as it would cement the EU chamber’s presence in the city. The so-called Osmose building is a state-of-the-art office block that boasts 15,000m2 of space, not far from the Parliament’s hemicycle in Strasbourg. Hundreds of MEPs fl...

Police chase ends with crash in Westford

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

A police chase ended with a crash in Westford Tuesday, leaving a pickup truck damaged and smashing up a Westford police cruiser in front of the Cornerstone Square Shopping Mall. SKY7-HD was over the scene Tuesday afternoon, where the damaged vehicles were seen and where Littleton Road was partially shut down. “It looked like it was a high speed chase and the truck went into the pole and the cop car just looked like it hit the back of the truck,” said Nathan Lowe who works in the area.Westford police wouldn’t specify whether the pickup truck was part of the chase. Witnesses in the area, meanwhile, said another car may have been involved. One officer was taken to a hospital to get checked out. Witnesses reacted Wednesday afternoon, with one saying he was shocked to hear this crash was the result of a chase. “I think it’s very interesting but scary at the same time,” Lowe said. Shards of glass were still visible around the crash site Tuesday night.&n...

Sudden resignations by Uxbridge School Committee members leave town with questions, concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

A mass exodus from the Uxbridge School Committee has left the town with questions and concerns after six out of school committee members recently stepped down. Uxbridge schools Superintendent Michael Baldassarre confirmed in a letter to families last week that the school committee members had all resigned within a matter of days. On Tuesday, residents turned out at Uxbridge’s Annual Town Meeting. Though the school committee controversy wasn’t on the agenda, some shared their thoughts. “We have not been given any answers as to why the School Committee left,” concerned parent Tina Ryan told 7NEWS. “I’ve been in town leadership,” said former Select Board member Susan Franz. “I’ve seen serious things. I’ve seen the circus that you sometimes see in town government. I consider this a serious issue.” The school district has hired former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis to conduct a third-party review of the School Committee departures. Speaking on Tuesday, ...

Investigation underway after laser flashed at plane flying into Logan Airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

State police launched an investigation Tuesday after they said someone flashed a laser at a plane headed into Logan Airport. Police said they received word of the incident around 9:30 p.m. The green laser, police said, may have come from an area around the Marshfield shoreline. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Teen injured explosion outside Stoneham home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

A 14-year-old boy was taken to a Boston hospital Tuesday with serious burn injuries after an explosion outside a home in Stoneham, officials said. Fire officials said they were first called to the home on Pine Street just after 8:30 p.m. following a report of an explosion.The fire was out by the time first responders arrived, though crews did find a burned yellow fuel container near the site of the explosion, officials said.The incident remained under investigation as of around 10:30 p.m.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

With rotation crunch coming, Nick Pivetta struggles in 9-3 loss to Braves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

With James Paxton set to return and Garrett Whitlock potentially not far behind, the Red Sox have some decisions to make over who will comprise the starting rotation going forward.Knowing his spot could be on the line, Nick Pivetta didn’t exactly help his case.The Red Sox veteran got crushed Tuesday night, allowing seven runs over four innings in an ugly 9-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Pivetta allowed four runs in the bottom of the first, including a towering two-run shot by Braves slugger Matt Olson right out of the chute, and allowed 12 baserunners in total after giving up eight hits, three walks and hitting a batter.“I didn’t have my best day, I wasn’t executing pitches early, got behind a lot of hitters, they’re a good hitting club,” Pivetta said. “Just one of those days.”Though Alex Cora confirmed Pivetta will make his next start against Seattle on Tuesday, the underwhelming performance will intensify speculation he could soon mov...

Pittsburgh blanks Revs 1-0 in Open Cup match

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:42:50 GMT

FOXBORO – The New England Revolution’s bid to advance to the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament amounted to nil.The Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC of the United Soccer League scored late in the first half and held on to beat the Revolution 1-0 on Tuesday night at Gillette Stadium.The Revolution won their opening round match 2-1 over Hartford Athletic at Gillette on April 25. The Revolution were handed their first home loss of the season in all competitions. They are now 7-4-1 in U.S. Cup matches played at home and 10-4-3 against USL opponents.The Revolution resume MLS play riding an eight-game league unbeaten streak against Inter Miami at DRV PNK Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.“I think you have to give Pittsburgh a lot of credit, they played real hard,” said Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena. “But it was a poor performance on our part and there are no excuses.”Arena primarily employed veteran back-ups in his Starting XI against Pittsburgh, a gla...