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Germany aims to swerve European Parliament in car engine deal

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

The German government wants to avoid having to seek approval from the European Parliament or EU ministers for last-minute additions to car emissions legislation targeted at saving the combustion engine, according to a letter obtained by POLITICO.Berlin has staged a late intervention calling on the European Commission to make room for e-fuels in legislation that would otherwise mandate a zero emissions-only sales policy for new cars and vans from 2035. The car emissions legislation was agreed in negotiations between EU countries and the Parliament last year, and was set to go into law pending final approval from member country ministers at a vote earlier this month; the rubber-stamp process was delayed as a result of the stand-off with Germany and its pro-engine allies.In a letter to the Commission dated March 15, Germany suggests resolving the blockade by carving out an approval process for vehicles running solely on e-fuels in standing Euro 6 pollutant rules. It adds that this shou...

Hundreds detained in fiery protests after French government forces through higher retirement age

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

(CNN) — At least 310 people have been detained across France as the embattled government faces backlash for forcing through pension reforms that will see the country’s retirement age raised by two years.Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told French radio RTL that most of the arrests made on Thursday night — 258 — were in Paris. Although calm had returned to the capital’s streets by Friday morning, government ministers were on the defensive following Thursday night’s impromptu protests.The French government on Thursday forced through controversial plans to raise the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64, a move that has inflamed the country’s weeks-long protest movement.Government spokesperson Olivier Veran and Budget Minister Gabriel Attal both repeated President Emmanuel Macron’s claim that the government hadn’t wanted to use its constitutional power to push through the law. They were speaking to French outlets,...

3 men indicted on federal charges in Martha’s Vineyard armed bank robbery

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

Three men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a bank robbery on Martha’s Vineyard last year, according to U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins.Miquel Antonio Jones, 39, of Edgartown, and Omar Odion Johnson, 32 of Canterbury, NH, were indicted on one count each of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting, Rollins said. Romane Andre Clayton, 21, of Jamaica, was indicted on one count of being an accessory after the fact to armed bank robbery.Jones, Johnson and Clayton will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Following the defendants’ initial arrest and charge by criminal complaint in December 2022, Jones and Johnson have remained in custody and Clayton was released on conditions.According to court documents, on the morning of Nov. 17, 2022, three masked and armed individuals forced their way into the rear door of the Rockland Trust Bank in Tisbury. All three individuals were wearing dark colored clothing and white masks resembling an ...

Boston city leaders release safety tips ahead of St. Patrick’s Day festivities

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

Boston city leaders are advising people on how to stay safe during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.The city’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade returns to its full route this year for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The parade is scheduled to step off from the Broadway T stop at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Bars and restaurants are preparing for a busy weekend. City officials are also gearing up, working to keep everyone safe on parade day as Saint Patrick’s Day festivities look to simultaneously honor Evacuation Day. The parade, back on its traditional longer route, will pass many historic sites in South Boston where Revolutionary War soldiers forced the British to retreat in 1776. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says the city is working hard to make sure this will be a safe celebration.  “There’s going to be a lot of people in Boston,” Wu said. “We encourage everyone to every to enjoy, be aware, be kind, and keep an eye out for those ar...

Patriots signing Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki to 1-year deal in free agency

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

The Patriots are signing former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki to a free-agent deal, a source confirmed to the Herald.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-sign LS Joe Cardona to 4-year deal New England Patriots | Patriots host Trey Flowers and an ex-Lions LB on free-agent visits New England Patriots | Patriots reportedly hosting 3 free-agent veterans on visits Thursday New England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-signing LB Mack Wilson to 1-year deal New England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing veteran RB James Robinson to 2-year deal It’s a 1-year, $9 million, per reports.Gesicki played on the franchise tag last season in Miami, a down year when his numbers fell to 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns under new coach Mike McDaniel. In each of the previous two seasons, Gesicki topped 700 receiving yards. The 27-year-old is a receiving tight end who can run routes out...

St. Patrick's Day DUI checkpoint to be held in East County

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

El Cajon, Calif. -- St. Patrick's Day celebrations will commence Friday and authorities are reminding the public to travel responsibly. The El Cajon Police Department on Thursday said it will be holding a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoint on March 17 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the 300 block of W Chase Avenue in El Cajon.  Irish pubs in San Diego hosting St. Patrick’s Day celebrations Police say checkpoint locations are chosen based on areas with a history of DUI crashes and arrests.During the checkpoint in El Cajon, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The department said drivers charged with DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties. On top of that, their license is suspended which may effect their ability to travel to and from work.Police also reminded the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. The department stated, "Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may in...

Wall Street points toward losses to wrap a tumultuous week

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

BANGKOK — Wall Street pointed lower early Friday as a wobbly banking sector continued to be the focus in the U.S. and abroad.Futures for the Dow Jones industrials fell 0.5% and futures for the S&P slipped 0.3%. Despite a tumultuous week of wild swings spurred by the failure two U.S. banks, markets are still on track to finish with gains for the week.The past few days, markets’ focus has turned Switzerland’s Credit Suisse and San Francisco’s First Republic. First Republic tumbled 13% in premarket Friday, wiping out gains triggered Thursday after a group of 11 big banks offered a $30 billion lifeline to the latest troubled U.S. lender. First Republic Bank rose 10% Thursday after slumping as much as 36% early in the day.The S&P 500 jumped 1.8% Thursday, erasing earlier losses following the reports that First Republic Bank could get help or sell itself to another bank. Markets have gyrated this week on concerns over the toll on banks from the fastest set of int...

Germany detains 42 in effort to prevent attacks on ATMs

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German police detained 42 people as part of a crackdown on gangs suspected of blowing up cash machines, authorities said Friday.Incidents in which thieves blow up ATMs and then make off with the cash, usually during the night, have become increasingly common in Germany in recent years. There were a record 496 cases last year, a 27% increase over 2021, according to the Interior Ministry.Over the past three days, police in seven of Germany’s 16 states conducted searches on more than 5,300 vehicles and 8,000 people, the ministry said in a statement. It said 42 people were detained, but didn’t specify what they are accused of.The aim was to raise the pressure on perpetrators active across regional and international borders, the ministry said. “Anyone who blows up cash machines risks the life of people who aren’t involved,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said.She added that further incidents can be foiled only by effective and wide-ranging preventati...

Parent of Silicon Valley Bank seeks bankruptcy protection

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The parent of Silicon Valley Bank, seized last week by the U.S., is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.SVB Financial Group, along with its CEO and its chief financial officer, were targeted this week in a class action lawsuit that claims the company didn’t disclose the risks that future interest rate increases would have on its business.SVB Financial Group is no longer affiliated with Silicon Valley Bank after its seizure by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The bank’s successor, Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, is being run under the jurisdiction of the FDIC and is not included in the Chapter 11 filing.SVB Financial Group believes it has approximately $2.2 billion of liquidity.Associated Press, The Associated Press

Finland’s president in Turkey for talks on NATO bid

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:50:08 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting his Finnish counterpart in Ankara on Friday, raising hopes that the talks will lead to Turkey’s approval of Finland’s NATO membership bid.Despite the rain, Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Erdogan reviewed military honor guard at the presidential palace in the Turkish capital’s Bestepe district.The leaders’ talks will focus on Helsinki’s application to join the military alliance.Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in May last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, abandoning decades of nonalignment.The expansion of the 30-nation bloc has been held up by Turkey and Hungary, the only two countries not to have yet ratified the Nordic states’ bids, which the parliaments of each NATO member must approve.Erdogan has raised specific objections to the countries — especially Sweden — joining NATO. In June last year Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed an agreement designed to smooth the pa...