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Royal Caribbean takes ownership of the world’s biggest cruise ship; Inaugural voyage set to depart from Miami

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

(CNN) — The world’s biggest cruise ship is now in­­ the hands of its new owner, with Royal Caribbean accepting delivery of the 1,198-foot Icon of the Seas this week.The 20-deck, 250,800-tonne ship was officially handed over to the cruise company at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland, on November 27. Its inaugural voyage is set to depart from Miami, Florida on January 27, 2024 and will tour the Caribbean for seven days.According to a news release issued by Royal Caribbean, it took 900 days to build Icon of the Seas, which has the capacity to hold a whopping 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members. That’s nearly 10,000 people – the population of a small town.“Today, we are celebrating more than a new ship; it’s also the celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation and dreaming at Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation experience,” said Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty during a ceremony at the shipyard on Monday.Photo Cr...

Ukrainian spy chief’s wife poisoned, Kyiv says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov’s wife is being treated in hospital for heavy metals poisoning, according to Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson at the GUR military intelligence agency.“Marianna Budanova was indeed poisoned by heavy metals. She is now undergoing a course of treatment, which is already coming to an end,” Yusov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Ukrainian Service in an interview, confirming earlier media reports that the spy chief’s wife had been the victim of an attack.Ukrainian media also reported that several military intelligence officials had been poisoned, along with Budanova. POLITICO could not independently verify the reports.Earlier this year a Russian court issued an arrest warrant for Budanov, with media reporting it was linked to an attack on the Kerch Bridge which links Russia to annexed Crimea. Yusov previously said the high-profile spy chief had been the target of at least 10 assassination attempts.Bu...

Finland shuts border with Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Finland will completely close its border with Russia for two weeks after a surge of asylum seekers crossing the frontier, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo announced Tuesday.“This is Russia’s influence activity, and we do not accept that,” Orpo said at a press conference, according to Finnish news outlet Helsingin Sanomat. The two-week border closure will take effect between Wednesday and Thursday night and will end on December 13, the paper reported.Helsinki’s move follows a decision by the European border agency Frontex last week to deploy border guards and other staff, along with equipment, to bolster Finland’s border control activities amid accusations by Finland that Moscow is stoking the migrant influx. Tension between the two countries has escalated since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, prompting Finland to join the NATO military alliance.On Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of using m...

Zemmour dans le viseur des experts modération de Meta pour ses allusions au “grand remplacement”    

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Le Meta Oversight Board va examiner la décision de Meta de ne pas supprimer une vidéo de l’ancien candidat à la présidentielle Eric Zemmour. Cette vidéo consiste en un extrait d’une interview où le patron du parti d’extrême droite Reconquête! dit s’inquiéter d’un basculement démographique, faisant indirectement référence à la théorie du “grand remplacement”. Dans l’extrait visé posté sur son compte officiel, Eric Zemmour affirme que “quand il y avait quatre Européens pour un Africain, nous avons colonisé l’Afrique”. Or selon lui, désormais, “il y a quatre Africains pour un Européen et l’Afrique colonise l’Europe”.Joint par POLITICO, Samuel Lafont, directeur de la stratégie numérique de Reconquête!, indique attendre de recevoir une notification de cette procédure pour échanger avec Meta.Dans son communiqué de presse, le Meta Oversight Board indique qu’il examinera la décision de Meta de laisser la vidéo sur le site malgré les signalements des utilisateurs. Pour rappel, le Meta O...

UK COVID inquiry: Jenny Harries grilled after controversial calls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

LONDON — Britain’s coronavirus inquiry is in full swing — and it’s not just the top political players squirming.U.K. Health Security Agency chief Jenny Harries — England’s deputy chief medical officer at the height of the pandemic — is slated to appear Tuesday through Wednesday and could face awkward questions of her own.Harries burst into the public consciousness as the virus spread in 2020, with a host of utterances that were meant to reassure worried Brits — but ended up sowing more confusion.POLITICO rounds up Harries’ most controversial comments — plus her Whitehall promotion at the end of it all.Mass gatherings? Don’t sweat it!Back in the hyper weird moments of early 2020, Harries took part in a video Q&A on coronavirus with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, came into Downing Street to answer some of the most commonly asked questions on coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/jByRhFFfat— Boris Johnson...

9-year-old struck by vehicle in Auburn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Police in Auburn say a 9-year-old child is expected to recover after being hit by a vehicle Tuesday morning.The Auburn Police Department announced at 9 a.m. that an investigation was underway at Oxford Street North and Inwood Drive after a child suffered what were believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.On their social media accounts, the police department said Oxford Street was closed to traffic as a crash reconstruction team went over the scene, with a drone unit also called in to assist.Details on who was driving when the child was struck or whether they face any charges have not yet been released.“This accident happened as kids were headed to school. Thankfully this time the child will be physically okay… please let this be a reminder to pay extra attention while driving,” Auburn PD said on Facebook.

Influential Koch network backs Nikki Haley in GOP presidential primary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

(CNN) — The influential network associated with billionaire Charles Koch will throw its money and influence behind former South Caroline Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary, the group announced Tuesday.Earlier this year, AFP Action – a political arm of Koch’s network – pledged to back a single contender in the GOP presidential primary for the first time in its history. And it made clear that it would bypass former President Donald Trump in its quest to find what Emily Seidel, a top AFP official, called a president “who represents a new chapter.”“When we announced our decision to engage in our first ever Republican presidential primary, we made it clear that we’d be looking for a candidate who can turn the page on our political dysfunction – and win. It’s clear that candidate is Nikki Haley,” Siedel said Tuesday. “We can’t keep looking to the politicians of the past to fix the problems of today. Nikki Haley represents a new generation of leadership ...

State looks to hire ‘chief coastal resilience officer’ to respond to rising sea levels, extreme storms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

A new employee within the state’s Office of Coastal Zone Management will be tasked with identifying the strategies, funding sources, and regulatory framework to address the impacts of climate change along Massachusetts’ 1,500-plus mile coastline, Gov. Maura Healey announced Tuesday.Warning that climate change “poses a very real threat to our coastal way of life,” Healey said a state planning initiative dubbed “ResilientCoasts” led by the chief coastal resilience officer will help prepare communities for rising sea levels and more extreme storms.“This is a matter of fiscal responsibility. Our coastal cities and towns have been weathering erosion, sea level rise, and extreme storms without a holistic state strategy,” Healey said in a statement. “Homeowners, small businesses, and municipal governments deserve a regional approach to this problem.”A job posting said the chief coastal resilience officer is responsible for implementing the policies and program of the Office of Coasta...

Column: Andre Dawson fighting the odds to get his Hall of Fame plaque’s cap changed. ‘My preference all along was as a Cub.’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Andre Dawson never has let the odds bother him.The former Chicago Cubs slugger overcame 12 knee surgeries during his 21-year, Hall of Fame career, and he famously offered the Cubs a blank contract as a free agent in spring training of 1987, telling the team to fill in the blanks with however much they felt comfortable paying him.When Cubs President Dallas Green persuade his Tribune Co. bosses to give Dawson a guaranteed $500,000, with a potential $150,000 bonus, they got one of baseball’s best players at a bargain-basement price.“Andre and (agent Dick Moss) were willing to sacrifice salary and principle in 1987 to play in Wrigley Field for the Cubs,” Green said that day in a statement. “He was willing to bet that his production on the field would better his salary for 1988 and the future — something rather unusual in itself in these wild days of free agency.“Our baseball people were able to convince Tribune Co. that we as an organization could ove...

Two Patriots legends named Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists for 2024 Class

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:13 GMT

Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork were named modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Tuesday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots-Giants film review: Bill Belichick is out of options on offense New England Patriots | Mac Jones currently focused on ‘process’ of becoming Patriots starting QB New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Devin McCourty says he would want new quarterback for Patriots defense New England Patriots | Bill Belichick won’t rule out Patriots signing QB, kicker help New England Patriots | Bill Belichick responds to ESPN rumor he’s already picked his next team This is the third time Harrison and Wilfork have been named semifinalists. Harrison was nominated in 2021 and each of the past two years, while Wilfork reached his third straight semifinal round. Neither playe...