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The great cryptophone hack: Drug gangs on trial in ‘historic’ Belgian case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

BRUSSELS — Call it the mother of modern drug trials.The Belgian court on Monday started hearing cases of more than 120 people charged with drug and arms trafficking, extortion, acts of torture and attempted murder. It’s one of the country’s biggest trials ever — not just due to its scale but also because it’ll test investigators’ daredevilish methods of hacking encrypted communications services and siphoning off droves of data that were then used as evidence to charge drug networks spanning the European continent.“This is a trial that will make history,” said Eric Van Duyse, spokesperson of the Belgian prosecutor’s office. Law enforcement’s operations to compromise and unlock datasets of two secure communications platforms, Sky ECC and EncroChat, were “a revolution,” Van Duyse said.Three hearings per week will take place in former NATO headquarters premises, which have been turned into the brand new ‘Justitia’ courtroom to host big trials like those related to the Brussels terr...

Germany puts its troops in the line of fire if Putin attacks NATO

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is prompting Germany to do something unprecedented — to permanently base thousands of troops only about 100 kilometers from the border with Russia and right in the line of fire if the Kremlin ever launches an attack on NATO territory.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was in Vilnius on Monday to sign a deal with his Lithuanian counterpart Arvydas Anušauskas firming up the conditions on which 4,800 German troops plus 200 civilians will be based in the Baltic country.“With this war-ready brigade, we are assuming a leadership responsibility here in the alliance and on NATO’s eastern flank,” Pistorius said, adding: “The speed of the project clearly shows that Germany understood the new security reality.” The war in Ukraine has upended military thinking in Berlin — pressing generals and politicians to move with unaccustomed speed.In a sign of the escalating demands on the Bundeswehr, one of the units making up the new brigad...

More than 285,000 without power in MA, all Logan flights grounded due to wind

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Residents woke up to a stormy start of their weeks Monday, with heavy rains and strong winds blasting southern New England. Gusts of as fast as 60 to 70 miles per hour were forecast for Monday morning, with peak intensity expected from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded all flights departing Logan Airport in Boston until 1 p.m., with a probability of extension of 30 to 60 percent. There is the potential for both inland flooding from the rain and minor coastal flooding from the wind, as well as possible power outages from downed trees and tree limbs.“Once the storm arrives if you are traveling please stay as far away from our crews as possible if you see them out so they have the space they need to safely do their work and make repairs,” said William Hinkle of Eversource Energy. “If you come across any downed lines, always stay as far away from those as possible as well and report them immediately to 911 and give us a call....

Debris crashes down at MassArt building in Boston

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Police in Boston taped off a stretch of road by Huntington Avenue after what appeared to be debris from the MassArt building fell across the area.Large chunks of insulation and other items were scattered along part of Evans Way and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design campus after some sort of ceiling structure hanging over an entrance collapsed, leaving a large hole in the structure and debris closing off an entranceway.Details on what may have caused the collapse or if anyone was present when the debris came down have not yet been released.7NEWS has contacted Massachusetts College of Art and Design for more information and will provide updates as they become available.https://twitter.com/KimberlyBookman/status/1736801387026297111?s=20

Sandra Day O’Connor remembered as ‘the glue of this court’ by Sotomayor in ceremony

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

(CNN) — The late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was honored Monday morning at the Supreme Court during a ceremony in which she was lauded for her collegiality on the bench, role as a moderate jurist and status as the first woman to serve on the court.Justice Sonia Sotomayor drew on past statements by various justices who often spoke glowingly about O’Connor.“My friend Clarence once described Sandra as the ‘glue of this court.’ I agree. She brought us all together,” Sotomayor said, referring to Justice Clarence Thomas.“For many years, the way Sandra went, the court followed and that was for a simple reason,” she added later, a nod to O’Connor’s role as a moderate swing vote on the court. “The nation was well served by the steady hand and intellect of a justice who never lost sight of how the law affected ordinary people.”O’Connor, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, died earlier this month at the age of 93.The ceremony, held at the court Monday morning, was...

Braintree PD: Avoid Five Corners intersection

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

Braintree Police are asking drivers to avoid the Five Corners intersection where Granite, West, and Franklin streets intersect. A truck knocked down the intersection’s overhead traffic lights and due to the wind from Monday’s storm, repair can not be done immediately. https://twitter.com/BraintreePolice/status/1736735525761945736

Source: Chargers signing Patriots’ backup QB for rest of the season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

The Chargers are signing quarterback Will Grier off of the Patriots’ practice squad to their 53-man roster Monday, a source confirmed to the Herald.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick responds to whether Robert Kraft has his back amid job status reports New England Patriots | Callahan: Patriots’ loss to Chiefs clarifies harsh reality of upcoming rebuild New England Patriots | Patriots rookie Marte Mapu not satisfied after first career interception New England Patriots | Bill Belichick uses Patriots’ injuries to explain lack of late-game tempo New England Patriots | Patriots have no answers after J.C. Jackson’s lack of playing time in loss Grier first joined the Patriots in September when he was signed off of the Bengals’ practice squad onto the 53-man roster. He was cut late last month and rejoined the Patriots’ practice squad after clearing waivers. ...

US defense secretary, Israeli leaders discuss more targeted approach in Gaza

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

By TARA COPP, MELANIE LIDMAN and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with Israeli leaders Monday ways to scale back major combat operations in Gaza but said Washington was not imposing a timetable despite international calls for a cease-fire.Austin and other U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about the large number of civilian deaths in Gaza, even while underscoring American backing for Israel’s campaign aimed at crushing Hamas. Neither side elaborated Monday on what needed to change on the ground for a shift to more precise operations after weeks of devastating bombardment and a ground offensive. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Canada and the European Union.At a press conference alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Austin said, “This is Israel’s operation. I’m not here to dictate timelines or terms.” The U.S. has vetoed calls for a cease-fire at...

UW-Madison launches program to cover Indigenous students’ full costs, including tuition and housing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Indigenous students from any of Wisconsin’s 11 tribes will be able to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison for free beginning next fall, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced Monday.The Wisconsin Tribal Education Promise program will use private donations and other internal funding to cover tuition, fees, housing, meals, books and other expenses for undergraduate students who can prove they’re members of one of Wisconsin’s tribes, Mnookin said at a news conference.Confirmed tribal members who pursue a law or medical degree will get their tuition and fees covered as well. The program will begin with the fall 2024 semester. The program is similar to Bucky’s Tuition Promise and Bucky’s Pell Pathway programs. Bucky’s Tuition Promise guarantees the university will cover tuition and fees for students from low-income households. Bucky’s Pell Pathway program covers the full financial needs of students from low-income families through grants, scho...

Judge issues order keeping Confederate memorial at Arlington Cemetery for now

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:48:25 GMT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order barring removal of a memorial to Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.A group called Defend Arlington, affiliated with a group called Save Southern Heritage Florida, filed a lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, seeking the restraining order. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday. Work to remove the memorial had begun Monday before the restraining order was issued, but the memorial remains in place on cemetery grounds. The cemetery had said on Friday that it expected to complete the removal this week. It said the removal was required by Congress, and that it was complying with environmental and historic-preservation regulations. But the lawsuit accused the Army, which runs the cemetery, of violating regulations in seeking a hasty removal of the memorial. “The removal will desecrate, damage, and likely destroy the Memorial longstanding at ANC as a grave marke...