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Geert Wilders is the EU’s worst nightmare

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

THE HAGUE — One line in Geert Wilders’ inflammatory pitch to Dutch voters will haunt Brussels more than any other: a referendum on leaving the EU. Seven years after the British voted for Brexit, a so-called Nexit ballot was a core plank of the far-right leader’s ultimately successful offer in the Netherlands. And while Wilders softened his anti-Islam rhetoric in recent weeks, there are no signs he wants to water down his Euroskepticism after his shock election victory. Even if Dutch voters are not persuaded to follow the Brits out of the EU — polling suggests it’s unlikely — there’s every indication that a Wilders-led government in The Hague will still be a nightmare for Brussels.A seat for Wilders around the EU summit table would transform the dynamic, alongside other far-right and nationalist leaders already in post. Suddenly, policies ranging from climate action, to EU reform and even weapons for Ukraine will be up for debate, and even reversal. Since the ex...

Trump looms over EU-Canada summit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

When the EU and Canada meet for talks this week, their encounter will be calm, pleasant and even, in the words of one EU diplomat, “just plain boring.” But both sides will be contending with a looming problem — Donald J. Trump.  The prospect of another Trump presidency in the U.S. is spooking both Brussels and Ottawa as leaders plan to meet in St. John’s, a remote Canadian harbor city symbolic of their bilateral relationship: historically rooted, pleasant and friendly.The U.S. is key to the economies of both sides. As the EU, especially, struggles to cope with the trade legacy of the previous Trump term, the unpredictability of another Trump presidency is sending shivers through Brussels. POLITICO spoke to several officials briefed on the summit who said next year’s U.S. elections will overshadow the talks. After the recent visit of EU leaders to the White House, the bloc’s relationship with the U.S. will be discussed with Canadian Prime Minister Jus...

It’s the moment of truth for EU fiscal reform

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

Mujtaba Rahmanis the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice. He tweets at @Mij_Europe. The moment of truth is almost upon us, as we will soon learn whether the European Union will be able to agree to a new, more sensible set of fiscal rules.  Doom and gloom have surrounded the prospect of a deal on this matter for some time, and Germany’s opposition to the European Commission’s proposed far-reaching changes has been the biggest reason for pessimism. It’s possible, however, that the tide may finally be turning. A two-day retreat between the French and German governments last month in Hamburg has been key in unleashing some of the positive momentum that can currently be found behind negotiations. Senior French and German officials said the bilateral between President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Olaf Scholz was a particularly “huge atmospheric success”  — which, given the current state of the two countries’ relationship, is important. According to...

David Cameron downplayed Chinese role in controversial $1.4B port project

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

LONDON — U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron will be grilled in parliament over new footage showing he sought to downplay China’s role in a controversial port development in Sri Lanka. The newly-unearthed video shows Cameron — who unexpectedly returned to the U.K. Cabinet last week — telling would-be-investors he wanted to correct “misapprehensions” about China’s role in the Port City Colombo scheme.POLITICO previously reported how on September 26 — less than two months before becoming U.K. foreign secretary — Cameron was paid thousands of pounds to fly to the UAE to drum up investment in the project, which critics say is part of a global power grab by Beijing and could one day become a permanent Chinese outpost. The opposition Labour Party said the case now raises serious questions for Cameron. Peers plan to grill him on the issue in the House of Lords next month.The extended video footage — uploaded to YouTube last month by the Sri Lankan channel Newsfirst — shows Cameron strivin...

Rishi Sunak unveils tax cuts. Liz Truss’ allies see the irony

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

LONDON — Liz Truss did not show up to hear Rishi Sunak’s tax-cutting plans in person. But that doesn’t mean fans of the former prime minister had nothing to say,Within hours of Sunak’s top finance minister, Jeremy Hunt, unveiling his autumn fiscal statement in the House of Commons Wednesday, the Conservative Party’s low-tax, small-state wing was out in force.And Truss’ allies saw plenty of irony in Hunt — brought in during the dying days of her short-lived premiership to rip up her own tax-cutting plans — suddenly painting himself as a low-tax warrior. One Truss-era Cabinet minister, granted anonymity to speak frankly about internal party matters, questioned the “credibility” of a Downing Street operation which spent “a year criticizing people trying to reduce tax, then going — ‘we can reduce tax now.’ It does make it look a bit like that was always just a political argument.”Many also heard distinct echoes of Truss’ favorite mantra in the chancel...

Fantasy Fixer: Week 12

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

7’s Morey Hershgordon has the inside scoop on who to start and sit this week in Fantasy Fixer. Go set your lineups!

Solve It 7: Payment Pushback

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

A Boston man never thought simply mailing a check would cost him nearly $10,000. And he needed that money back, so he decided to “check” out Solve It 7. Brandon Gunnoe has the story. Back in January, Eric wrote a check to pay his accountant.“I addressed it, put it in the envelope,” Eric said.  His wife dropped it in this South End mailbox.Soon after Eric got a call from his accountant.“He called maybe four or five days later, very worried that he hadn’t gotten the check,” Eric said. So, Eric logged into his bank account and was stunned: nearly ten thousand dollars was gone.“I just, I couldn’t believe it,” Eric said.Someone had stolen the check, changed the name of the person being paid, and altered the amount from $1500 to $9500.“He made a made a nine out of one and then, using a mobile app, deposited the money. It was like a cold sweat. I just was in disbelief. That was just a crazy amount of money just to disappe...

Shoppers rush to local grocery stores for last-minute Thanksgiving ingredients 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

It was a mad dash on the night before Thanksgiving Wednesday at the Market Basket in Chelsea as shoppers scrambled to get final ingredients for their Thanksgiving feasts.After messy weather earlier in the day, the store was as stuffed as the shopping carts in the parking lot. “It was pretty messy inside,” said last minute shopper Ariana Nichols. “Insane,” said fellow last minute shopper Mark Perrault. “This is like Black Friday times 10. Many in Chelsea were hoping to gobble up deals on holiday staples. Perrault, though, wasn’t so lucky. “We got 99% except for the one main thing — the turkey,” he said. Turning to plan B, he said he now hopes to get a turkey from the VA.“We’re actually down to like a plan F right now,” he said. A pre-Thanksgiving storm this week ultimately dropped a mix of snow and rain across part of the region beginning Tuesday night. Clearer skies are now expected to linger through the weekend. While many may be stayin...

Ravens WRs Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay appear to suffer injuries during practice Wednesday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was running a drill in practice Wednesday afternoon in Owings Mills when he suddenly tumbled to the ground.Bateman stayed down as trainers examined his left foot for a few moments. He then sat out the remainder of the drill and walked off under his own power before heading inside at the end of the 30-minute portion of practice that was open to the media. Bateman was flexing his foot before running the route on which he fell.He wasn’t the only Ravens player to leave the field.Devin Duvernay, who is Baltimore’s top kick and punt returner, also left the field as the part of practice open to the media came to an end.Losing either for any length of time would be a significant blow. The Ravens are already without tight end Mark Andrews after he suffered a likely season-ending ankle injury in the first quarter of Baltimore’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night.Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also suffered a shoulder injury in t...

Celtics take first round against Bucks in battle of East’s best teams

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:15:08 GMT

Jrue Holiday insisted Wednesday night’s showdown with the Bucks was just any other game, even though they just traded him less than two months ago. Joe Mazzulla echoed those sentiments. Though he recognized the hype of the Eastern Conference’s top two teams squaring off, he wants the Celtics to treat every game the same. And after a lackluster end to their road trip that concluded with an awful overtime loss to the Hornets, he was more worried about his team growing.But even if they’re not interested in making any early-season statements, the Celtics sent a message with their actions on Wednesday at TD Garden, and it’s that they’re the frontrunners in the East until proven otherwise.In a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, in the first of what could be many matchups this season, the Celtics drew first blood. In a battle of new-look rosters, Boston’s roster showed to be ahead of Milwaukee’s in the early stages of the season. The Celtics did not make things easy on themselves...