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Le Maire doubles down on reform plans after Fitch cuts France’s credit rating

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire vowed that the government will push ahead with structural reforms after Fitch Ratings pointed to social unrest over the planned pension reforms in lowering its assessment of France’s credit rating.“I believe that the facts invalidate the assessment by the Fitch agency,” Le Maire told AFP on Saturday.Citing the government’s reform plans for pension and unemployment benefits, Le Maire added that “we are in a position to pass structural reforms for the country … And we will continue to pass structural reforms for the country.”Le Maire said the government of French President Emmanuel Macron is planning a “whole series of reforms” that will speed up “the transformation of France’s economic model.” A green industry plan, which the government will present “in a few days,” will allow France to “open new industrial sites and create new jobs,” he said.Fitch on...

Ukraine will need another €18B in 2024, Kyiv says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

STOCKHOLM — Ukraine’s budget needs for next year will remain as high as for this year, Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said on Saturday before joining a meeting of EU finance ministers where support for Ukraine will be discussed.The European Union is providing Kyiv with €18 billion in loans this year to help fill a budget hole estimated at around $3 billion to $4 billion per month. Grants from the U.S. and loans from the International Monetary Fund, as well as minor bilateral contributions, make up for the rest.“Concerning possible financing needs for 2024, this also will be huge,” Marchenko said, adding: “I think that it will not be an easy task for us to decrease drastically our expenses. Of course it depends on the military campaign, but I think it could be no less than the €18 billion as we [had] for this year.”Asked whether the EU was ready to repeat that level of support for next year, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said that ...

Battenfeld: House Judiciary Chair says GOP 2024 playbook leads with Trump, immigration reform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

The GOP playbook for 2024 includes immigration reform, school culture wars and Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, a leading Republican congressman tells the Herald.House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) says he expects Trump to lead the party back to the White House with issues like restricting asylum seekers, finishing the wall with Mexico and “common sense” school reform.Jordan, who has been one of the most outspoken GOP leaders in Congress, said in an interview with the Herald that he expects Trump to win the nomination over his Republican rivals despite an all-out effort by Democrats to investigate and prosecute him.“That’s who I want to win. I think he’s going to be the nominee and I think that’s good,” said Jordan, who will be making a political trip to Massachusetts in a few weeks.“I think (Trump) is in a very strong position,” Jordan added, despite challenges from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and several others, and an indictment from the Manhattan DA’s office. ...

Feds raise environmental concerns about proposed gun range on Cape Cod, but National Guard says it lacks other options

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

Despite new concerns raised by the feds around a proposed machine gun training range at Joint Base Cape Cod, the National Guard says the location remains best suited for the facility.The Environmental Protection Agency has just issued a draft determination that the 138-acre gun range, featuring eight firing lanes with automated targets, could harm the Cape’s drinking water and create a public health hazard for more than 220,000 year-round residents.There are no reasonably available alternative drinking water sources for residents should the Cape Cod aquifer become contaminated, the EPA said.The Massachusetts National Guard wants to set up a machine gun training range at JBCC’s Camp Edwards because there’s nowhere in the state that allows guardsmen to meet Army training requirements.Guardsmen currently have to travel to northern Vermont or Fort Drum, N.Y. for training.Ammunition used on the range would be limited to copper, and no lead bullets would be fired, according to a web...

Ravens draft pick Zay Flowers always felt like an ‘underdog.’ His journey from South Florida shows why.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

The NFL draft and Lamar Jackson’s long-term extension with the Ravens were still a few months away when general manager Eric DeCosta visited Jackson in South Florida in January. One of the topics of discussion was the upcoming class of wide receivers — a major position of need and perhaps an overture to the star quarterback about providing him with another playmaker.“If you’re from South Florida, he’s going to know who you are,” DeCosta said of Jackson on Friday. “He gave me a full breakdown of every receiver in the draft from South Florida.”Jackson had strong opinions on all of them, including Zay Flowers, who grew up in Fort Lauderdale, one town over from where Jackson starred in Pompano Beach in high school. “He was very, very excited that we got him last night,” DeCosta said of the Ravens’ selection of Flowers with the 22nd overall pick on Thursday night. Indeed, Flowers was a star long before becoming the first B...

Nevada governor’s support for ambitious bills is uncertain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — At the end of a hearing for a bill that would further expand coverage for gender-affirming medical care, transgender rights advocate Brooke Maylath shifted her focus from the majority-Democratic senators before her to the Republican governor who likely will decide the bill’s fate.“This bipartisan support has been described as ‘The Nevada Way,’” Maylath said, repeating Gov. Joe Lombardo’s mantra coined during his January inaugural address. In the speech, Lombardo vowed broadly to push conservative tenets like school choice and bolster criminal penalties while working with the Democratic-controlled Legislature.Five months later, little more is known about how Lombardo will respond to several ambitious policy proposals advancing in the Legislature. He has declined to comment publicly on most bills, setting the stage for last-minute deals and conflicts as the final month of the session nears.The stakes are high in one of the few Legislatures meeting every other ...

Ukraine welcomes EU deal on continued farm exports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukraine on Saturday welcomed the European Union’s hard-fought deal to keep farm exports flowing into and through the bloc to world markets, saying that the Middle East and Africa would specifically stand to benefit from it. Late Friday, the 27-nation EU ended a damaging internal standoff over a destabilizing glut of Ukraine farm imports by granting five eastern member countries the right to temporarily ban the most problematic produce while allowing all farm products to transit onward.Resolving the issue allows the EU to maintain a unified stance in the face of Russia’s invasion of its neighbor. “We welcome that we resolved this issue,” Ukrainian Finance Minister Sergii Marchenko said at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Stockholm.Under the deal, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania can keep four farm products that make up the overwhelming mass of exports from Ukraine out of their local markets but must guarantee unfettered access to the rest of the blo...

First statewide gun buyback event today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The first-ever statewide gun buyback event will be held on Saturday, April 29. This is a one-day, statewide initiative that will feature nine simultaneous gun buyback events across New York. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Unloaded firearms, working and non-working, will be accepted for compensation on-site with no questions asked. There is no limit to the number of firearms each person can bring. All guns must be unloaded and placed in a bag or a box.Each event will be working with local law enforcement agencies and will be present at the following locations:Family Life Academy in the Bronx – 14 West 170th St, Bronx, NY 10452. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn – 115 Throop Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.OAG Suffolk Regional Office in Suffolk County – 300 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Watervliet Dome in...

Horoscopes April 29, 2023: Uma Thurman, don’t let what others say or do blind you

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Andre Agassi, 53; Uma Thurman, 53; Michelle Pfeiffer, 65; Jerry Seinfeld, 69.Michelle Pfeiffer (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Happy Birthday: Emotions will be close to the surface. Recognize your motives before you make a move. Having a clear-cut strategy will help you avoid making a hasty decision. Opportunities are apparent, but doing your homework is a necessity. Don’t let what others say or do blind you. Facts and truth matter and will protect you from making mistakes this year. Your numbers are 8, 12, 17, 25, 36, 38, 41.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Deal with sensitive issues first and clear the way for progress. Pick up the pace, and what you accomplish will put your mind at ease. Your insight will help filter through the possibilities and downfalls. Romance is favored. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t go overboard. Restraint will be necessary if you are with indulgent people or those trying to convince you to do somethin...

Ask Amy: They lied to me about their wedding. Should I confront them?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

Dear Amy: We learned that my long-divorced nephew — my brother’s son — had gotten engaged to his girlfriend, whom we have not met.In a congratulatory card we asked them to inform us when they set the wedding date so we could book the flights.A month ago, my nephew informed me they were planning to elope. I told him we would love to meet them for dinner on a trip we plan for later this year, and they agreed.This month, invitations were received by my many siblings for a summer wedding. We did not receive one – and I doubt it was lost in the mail.Knowing that I am not a favorite of this nephew’s mom (since her developing early dementia), it was not a surprise – except for his story about eloping.While I am prepared to send $1,000 like we gave to a niece on my wife’s side, my wife disagrees because we were invited to and attended her niece’s wedding.Should I contact my nephew or his dad? I am inclined to just let it go and send the gift, but what’s your take?Disappoin...