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Legal veto threatens Macron’s pension reform. Is that good news for him?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

PARIS — French constitutional judges are expected to rule Friday on Emmanuel Macron’s contentious pensions reform in a much anticipated decision that could see parts of the text blocked on legal grounds. That could actually be good news for the French president.Macron’s decision to bypass parliament and impose his deeply unpopular pensions reform last month has left his government in a political dead end after months of prolonged crisis, with a gridlock parliament and continued protests against the plan to raise the retirement age from to 64 from 62 and increase the number of years of contributions required to receive a full pension.France’s Constitutional Council is set to decide whether the proposed pensions overhaul is in line with the constitution, especially when it comes to the adoption procedure, and to weigh in on a request by opposition lawmakers to hold a referendum on the bill.While the final ruling cannot be predicted, several constitutional lawyer...

The return of the (problematic) king and the end of the teenage hacker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

Welcome to Declassified, a weekly humor column.This week’s nonsense comes to you from the Picos de Europa mountain range in northern Spain, where the country’s royal family decamp every year with their minor entourage of soldiers, servants, helicopter pilots and enough medics to staff a field hospital. Spain’s royals are considerably less in the news since problematic old Juan Carlos decided to step away, hand over the throne to his son Felipe, and concentrate on shooting things that shouldn’t be shot and counting all the cash he was given by the Saudis. But Juan Carlos is reportedly flying to London in the coming days for a meeting with King Charles to talk about whatever it is that kings and ex-kings talk about. The cost-of-living crisis, what day the garbage gets collected, or something similar? The meeting might prove a touch awkward as randy Juan was once accused of making a pass at Princess Diana during a holiday she and the then-Prince Charles spent in...

State officials announce plans to repair Tobin Bridge after lead paint chips found in Chelsea neighborhood

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

State officials announced plans to repair the Tobin Bridge on Thursday amid concerns about lead paint chips from the bridge falling in a neighborhood in Chelsea. Crews have previously been working under the bridge, using vacuums to clean up the chips. At a standing room only meeting this week, officials promised to fix the bridge itself. “That’s structural repairs. That’s cleaning and removing the existing lead paint and repainting it,” MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said. Just last month, Chelsea residents learned testing had shown paint chips around their neighborhood contained lead. Speaking this week, concerned resident Katherinne Zabaleta-Alvarabo shared her reaction to the news.“[I was] shocked, angry because they also took forever to take action,” Zabaleta-Alvarabo said. “I’ve been here since I was five, why are they doing this now?”Thursday night’s meeting was spearheaded by GreenRoots, a Chelsea-based organization, which helped coordinat...

Park-9 Dog Bar welcomes dogs and dog owners at grand opening in Everett

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

A different kind of bar is now open in the Boston area in the form of the Park-9 Dog Bar in Everett. The dog bar marked its grand opening Thursday, welcoming canines and their companions with a leash cutting ceremony. “If you’re a dog owner and you wanna have a cocktail it’s a good place to come down with your dog,” Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said.Located on Waters Avenue, the bar’s slogan reads “Where dogs bring their humans.”“We are very excited to be here in the community,”  Co-Owner Emily Gusse said. “We are hoping to offer a gathering space for all dog parents and dog lovers to come and join and celebrate having man’s best friend.” The dog bar is the first of its kind in New England and features a large bar area and an even bigger park. “What’s really special and unique about this one is it’s mostly indoors,” Co-Owner Tess Kohanski said. “We’ve really tried to curate an experience that is an elevated bar experience, ...

Bruins pick up 65th victory, will face Panthers in first round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

The Bruins won their 65th hockey game on Thursday and finally found out who their first-round playoff opponent will be.And, oh, B’s fans have got another finger-crossing situation.By virtue of their loss to the Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers will face the Bruins in the opening round that will start at the Garden, presumably on Monday. The Cats own the distinction of being one of two teams to beat the B’s twice this year with both wins coming down in Sunrise. The B’s won both games in Boston.Meanwhile, captain Patrice Bergeron – quite possibly playing his last game in his home province – left the game after the first period for what was club termed as “precautionary” reasons with an upper body injury. Maybe so, but that’s not exactly what Bruins’ fans were hoping to see in the last game of the season. Add the captain to the list that includes Linus Ullmark and David Krejci of important players nursing injuries that they hope won’t keep them from ...

SDSU student becomes university's first-ever Truman scholar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State University on Thursday announced its first-ever student to receive the prestigious Harry S. Truman graduate scholarship, which is for those pursuing careers as public service leaders. Sandrien "Sandy" Mekany was selected from 199 finalists for the scholarship, an award of up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school studies only given to 62 outstanding college students from 60 institutions in the 2023 class, SDSU said in a press release. Born in San Diego to Arabic-speaking Chaldean refugees who fled Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime, Mekany says her experience with struggling to pick up the English language and enduring anti-immigrant hate was a powerful influence on her life path. NOAA issues El Niño watch: Here’s where and when we will feel the impact “I was too scared to speak up, because who’s going to defend me? I’m a little kid,” Mekany said. “I wanted to meet the idea of what was considered ‘American enough’ in the eyes of my peers and...

Snowmelt spurs flooding from Southwest to Rockies, 2 rescues

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A rapid spring snowmelt after an unusually wet winter is unleashing flooding from the Southwest to the Rockies, causing residents there and in the Upper Midwest to evacuate or stock up on sandbags amid surging creeks and rivers.In New Mexico, emergency crews rescued people from at least two vehicles from high water Thursday night in Jemez Pueblo north of Albuquerque, the National Weather Service said. But there were no immediate reports of any deaths of serious injuries. A flood warning was in effect for communities along the Jemez River into next week.In Flagstaff, Arizona, neighbors on one street have been working side by side since Tuesday with shovels to stave off floodwaters from their homes. Three creek-retention basins installed last year helped better navigate water that rushed down from burned mountains above the city, officials said. Still, water engulfed the shoulder of a local highway, and several roads and sidewalks were closed this week as the w...

Blackhawks say Toews will not return to team next season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews will not return to the team next season, ending a wildly successful run that included three Stanley Cup championships in 15 seasons.General manager Kyle Davidson said Thursday that the team will not re-sign its longtime center, who turns 35 on April 29. He is eligible for free agency after agreeing to an $84 million, eight-year contract extension in July 2014.“I think words fail to adequately summarize everything that Jonathan’s done for the organization, the amazing memories that he provided,” Davidson said. “He’ll be a Blackhawk forever.”Chicago hosted Philadelphia in its season finale on Thursday night. Toews won his first championship when the Blackhawks beat the Flyers in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.He heard loud, prolonged cheers when he was introduced with the starting lineup, and every time he was shown on the overhead videoboard. The reception reached another level when Toews scored a power-play goal in the...

G7 diplomats to grapple with Ukraine, China, N. Korea crises

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Russian threats to nuke Ukraine. China’s belligerent military moves around rival Taiwan. North Korea’s unprecedented run of missile testing. The top diplomats from some of the world’s most powerful democracies will have plenty to discuss when they gather in the hot spring resort town of Karuizawa on Sunday for the so-called Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting. Some believe that with the weakening of the United Nations, amid Russian and Chinese intransigence on the Security Council, global forums like the G7 are even more important. But there’s also considerable doubt that diplomats from mostly Western democracies can find ways to influence, let alone stop, authoritarian nations that are more and more willing to use violence, or its threat, to pursue their interests.Besides the global hotspots, foreign ministers from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and the European Union are expected to discuss wa...

AGCO proposes ban on athlete, celebrity ads for online gambling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:00:25 GMT

The agency that oversees online gambling in the province is proposing a ban on using athletes or celebrities in advertising those services. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) says the goal of the ban is to further minimize potential harm to youth and children.“The AGCO has identified advertising and marketing approaches that strongly appeal to persons who are under the legal gaming age through the use of celebrities and/or athletes,” the agency said in a statement on Thursday. “The AGCO is therefore proposing to prohibit the use of athletes as well as celebrities that can reasonably be expected to appeal to children and youth from internet gambling advertising and marketing in Ontario.”Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky are among the athletes currently in ads endorsing online gambling platforms. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky appea...