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Macron digs in despite protests, stands by ‘no-alternative’ pensions reform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron stood by his deeply unpopular pensions reform in his first TV appearance since a controversial decision last week to force through the legislation.“Some don’t want to face reality, it’s not a luxury, it’s not a pleasure, [the reform] is a necessity for our country. Some gloss over it and don’t want to face the constraints of reality,” he told France 2 and TF1 TV channels Wednesday.The French president also lashed out at opposition parties who he said would rather create more deficits as a “magic formula” to avoid taking tough decisions. Macron wants to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62, and extend contributions to get a full pension, in a bid to balance the books. According to projections from France’s Council of Pensions Planning, the finances of the pensions system are balanced in the short term but will go into deficit in the long term.The French government is under fire from opposition parties, trad...

And the cocaine consumption capital of Europe is … Antwerp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Antwerp is flush with cocaine — at least, according to its toilet water. People living in Belgium’s second city top the table for cocaine consumption in Europe, according to an analysis published on Wednesday by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) and SCORE group, which evaluated wastewater from around 54 million people last year in over 100 participating European cities.The volume of cocaine residue was highest on Mondays, reflecting that — in Antwerp at least — the drug is most heavily used on Sundays and Mondays. Since 2018, cocaine use has shown a steep upward trend in the city, only interrupted by a slight dip in 2020, and more than doubling in the last two years.And, at an average of 2,381 milligrams detected per 1,000 people per day, it far outstrips the next two heaviest-use cities: Tarragona, at 1,610 mg and Amsterdam, at 1,142 mg.But in Antwerp, cocaine is an issue both in what’s left in its port-a-potties and in its port. Last year, Belgian authorities seized a ...

Normally bustling Brussels stills to mark terrorist attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

BRUSSELS — Silence fell over the typically noisy and crowded European quarter.Replacing the usual routine of busy Eurocrats rushing to and fro through the Schuman neighborhood, a litany of chrysanthemums, black hats and plastic umbrellas formed a solemn procession for about half and hour, laying wreaths on the memorial of the 32 victims of the Brussels terror attacks. Silence during the ceremony was punctuated by the drab sound of a boiler in a nearby garage and an accompanying orchestra playing classical symphonies, including the Belgian anthem and the European one.On Tuesday, Brussels commemorated the victims of the coordinated terror attacks at the Zaventem international airport and the Maelbeek metro station, which claimed 32 lives on March 22, 2016.To mark the seventh anniversary, the Belgian government brought together those who will never forget that day.“I try not to think about that day, in my mind it is like a closed drawer which I rarely open,” said a firefighter who was ...

MPs pass key part of Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland Brexit deal amid Tory rebellion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

LONDON — A key part of Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland Brexit deal has sailed through the House of Commons despite a small Conservative rebellion.The House of Commons voted 515 to 29 in favor of the plan, after the opposition Labour, Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats also voted to support the so-called Stormont Brake — a part of the U.K.-EU Windsor Framework that aims to fix issues with the post-Brexit Northern Ireland protocol.Twenty-two Conservative MPs — including former prime ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson — voted against the proposal. However, Commons records show 48 other Tories either abstained or were excused from the vote.The Stormont Brake is intended to allow the currently-deadlocked Northern Ireland Assembly to object to new EU regulations set to apply in the region — a key concern for Northern Irish unionists who do not want to be separated further from the rest of the U.K.The eight MPs from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) also...

Two people taken to hospital after fire in senior housing complex in Maynard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

At least two people were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a fire broke out in a senior public housing complex in Maynard.Officials said approximately eight residents were also displaced.The fire started at the complex on Powder Mill Road around 6:30 a.m., according to a statement from Maynard Fire Chief Angela Lawless.Lawless said crews soon arrived at the scene to find heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor of the complex. The fire eventually grew to three alarms, prompting mutual aid from multiple area emergency departments.Firefighters were able to confine the fire to one side of the building, Lawless said, before bringing it under control around 7:40 a.m.Police initially asked drivers to avoid nearby Powder Mill Road. Police later announced the road had reopened just after 9 a.m.Lawless said one resident was taken to an area hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. A Maynard firefighter was also taken to the hospital, according to Lawless,...

Ukraine: Russia hits apartments and dorm, killing civilians

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

By HANNA ARHIROVA (Associated Press)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia stepped up its missile and drone attacks against Ukraine on Wednesday, killing students and other civilians, in a violent follow-up to dueling high-level diplomatic missions aimed at bringing peace after 13 months of war.“Russia is shelling the city with bestial savagery,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a Telegram post accompanying video showing what he said was a Russian missile striking a nine-story apartment building on a busy road in the southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia. “Residential areas where ordinary people and children live are being fired at.”At least one person was killed in the attack shown in the Zaporizhzhia video, apparently recorded by closed circuit TV cameras. Elsewhere, Moscow’s forces launched exploding drones before dawn, killing seven people in or near a student dormitory near Kyiv.Ukrainian media showed charred apartments and flames billowing on several...

Mets option top prospect Francisco Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse to start season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — Francisco Alvarez will start the season in Syracuse.The Mets optioned their top overall prospect to Triple-A on Wednesday morning as well as sent catcher Nick Meyer to minor league camp. Brett Baty, the club’s second-ranked prospect, remains in Major League camp to compete for a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster.The 21-year-old catcher showed flashes of the power tool he has long been known for but he didn’t exactly put up monster numbers in Grapefruit League play, going 3-for-28 (.107) with two walks, one RBI and 10 strikeouts. He hit no home runs.After undergoing surgery on his right ankle in October, Alvarez was worked into Grapefruit League games somewhat slowly, but playing time behind the plate opened up for him when Omar Narvaez left for the World Baseball Classic. Now that Narvaez is back in camp, the Mets want him to catch their regulars for the rest of the week.There was some offseason speculation that Alvarez would be used as a ...

Source: Patriots re-signing DB Jalen Mills after surprise release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

The Patriots are re-signing defensive back Jalen Mills, a source confirmed to the Herald.According to ESPN, Mills’ new deal is a 1-year pact worth up to $6.1 million. Mills was cut last week in a surprise move that reduced the Pats’ already questionable cornerback depth. However next season, he plans to play safety, per The Score.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Guregian: Patriots’ dynastic defense ends without McCourty, Hightower New England Patriots | Former Patriots LB Dont’a Hightower announces retirement New England Patriots | Patriots honor retired S Devin McCourty with family-style send-off New England Patriots | Guregian: Forget it — Lamar Jackson to the Patriots is a pipe dream New England Patriots | Patriots releasing veteran CB in surprising move, per reports Mills enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career playing safety with the Eagles in 2020, his last year ...

Man killed in rollover crash on 1-15

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was killed Wednesday morning in a rollover crash on Interstate 15, said the California Highway Patrol.The incident occurred around 5:10 a.m. when a 48-year-old man from Riverside was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck in the southbound lanes of I-15, just north of Gopher Canyon Road, authorities said. Roads closed around San Diego County as crews prepare for more flooding For reasons unknown, CHP says the pickup truck veered from the southbound lanes of traffic, went off the roadway and overturned. A 24-year-old passenger, a man from Moreno Valley, was pronounced dead at the scene by responding paramedics. Authorities say the driver of the pickup truck did not report any injuries. The identity of the deceased individual has not been released at this time.CHP says drugs or alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors to the fatal collision.An investigation into the crash is ongoing. CHP is asking anyone who has information or may have witnessed this incident t...

San Diego rainfall totals: These San Diego areas received the most rain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A storm system with moisture from an atmospheric river swept over the region this week, dumping rain across the county.A flood watch was in effect for the coast, inland and mountain areas until 9 p.m. Wednesday, along with a winter weather advisory for the mountains that will remain in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday. Wind gusts reached speeds over 80 mph in this San Diego area The National Weather Service predicted widely scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms into Wednesday morning with some areas receiving heavy downpours.Three-day precipitation totals are in and NWS data shows rainfalls levels almost reaching 5 inches in the Henshaw Dam area, located at the southeast base of Palomar Mountain. This marks the highest recorded level for the week.Here’s a breakdown of the highest accumulating precipitation levels in San Diego’s coastal areas, valleys, mountains and desert lands. The data reflects three-day totals as of 5:04 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to calc...