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Germany’s Habeck sees ‘no pressure from US’ to curb China economic ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

BERLIN — German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Thursday that the United States isn’t pressuring his government to curtail economic links with China in sensitive areas and that Germany has its own reasons to reduce its reliance on Beijing.U.S. officials’ efforts to charm and cajole Europe into confronting China have apparently born some results with the Dutch government’s Wednesday move to impose export controls on sales of some chip manufacturing equipment to China. Germany is also preparing to remove components by Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE from critical parts of its 5G telecoms infrastructure.Habeck argued that these initiatives aren’t just following U.S. orders.“I do not feel or know of any pressure from the United States,” Habeck said. “I believe it is in Germany’s own well-understood interest to have and build up its own sovereignty in areas of critical infrastructure.”The Green politician, who is also Ger...

Russia strikes Ukraine with biggest missile barrage in weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

KYIV — Russia on Thursday launched a massive attack against Ukraine, using kamikaze drones and a barrage of missiles, in the first major assault against Ukrainian energy and civil infrastructure in weeks.Authorities in several regions across the Ukraine reported casualties and damage. Authorities reported emergency power shutdowns in several regions. Trains are delayed across the country.The largest nuclear power plant in Europe — the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region — was completely cut off from the power grid after the attack, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a statement sent to the press.As a result, officials say, the power station is de-energized and has been put into blackout mode for the sixth time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion last February.“Units five and six are being put into cold shutdown and 18 diesel generators have started operating to supply the plant’s in-house loads,” state atomic...

Leominster man accused of attempted attack on flight to Boston to appear in court as lawmakers probe airline safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

A 33-year-old Leominster man who is facing charges after an attempted attack aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston is set to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors say Francisco Severo Torres tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon and unlock an emergency exit door. Torres was arrested Sunday after passengers tackled him and the flight landed safely at Logan Airport. He is charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. Officials say Torres could face up to life in prison. Boston’s aviation issues are now in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Texas Senator Ted Cruz brought up two issues this week at Logan Airport during a hearing on airline safety, including Torres’ threatening outburst and another incident on the same day when two United Airlines planes clipped wings on the tarmac. “What the heck is going on in air travel?” Cruz ...

Massachusetts is facing a ‘relentless barrage’ of sports betting ads, restrictions are needed now: Advocates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

It’s nearly impossible these days to turn on the TV or scroll on social media without seeing a “relentless barrage” of sports betting ads before mobile gambling launches, as advocates call for the state to put in ad restrictions like for tobacco products.The avalanche of sports betting ads comes with enticing promos from the companies — which are offering hundreds of dollars in bonus bets if the user signs up before mobile betting goes live on Friday.“It has been a relentless barrage of sports gambling advertising,” said Les Bernal, the national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, who lives in Massachusetts. “It’s unrelenting, and this is a product that’s highly dangerous and addictive.”All of this advertising lures in people to gamble from anywhere in the state, especially those who are under 35 years old, Bernal said.“We need to restrict commercialized sports gambling ads, just like with the restrictions for tobacc...

OBF: For bettors in Massachusetts, Friday is the Super Bowl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

Seven months to the day that NCAA President Charlie Baker signed the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act, those over 21 located inside the Bay State will be able to legally bet online or via their phones Friday starting at 10 a.m. across six different websites.The Bay State Six are: FanDuel, DraftKings, Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, and WynnBET. They should receive their certificates of operation today.Jake Paul’s bet was to be the seventh. But it will not go live Massachusetts this week, MGC chair Cathy Stein said Wednesday.The journey through Oz is a stroll compared to this ride.Single-game parlays replace ruby red shoes. The Cowardly Lion’s cousins are +2500 to win the Super Bowl. And Toto is just another underdog.And who needs a brainless Scarecrow when some state gaming regulators cannot define a point spread or money line?Thanks to opening meeting laws, the Wizard had no curtain.In my other life as a senior betting analyst for bookies.com (shameless plug alert), I was tasked with o...

As Ravens bet on a limited market for Lamar Jackson, one question looms: Who wants the star quarterback?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

An odd trend developed Tuesday in the hours immediately after the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson.Instead of reports trumpeting the teams that might concoct offers for one of the NFL’s most dazzling talents, every news item seemed to reveal another franchise that would not pursue Jackson.The Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders, the Carolina Panthers — all thought to be hungry for a franchise quarterback, all ruled out quickly by leaks to various reporters.Current and former players cried foul, with the term collusion taking center stage in a hurry. “Why are all of these teams so publicly ‘out’ on Lamar Jackson, an MVP winner in his prime at the most important position in the entire NFL?” recently retired defensive superstar J.J. Watt asked on Twitter. “What am I missing here?”By placing the nonexclusive tag, worth about $32.4 million, on Jackson instead of the more costly exclusive tag, ...

Hong Kong security police arrest veteran labor activist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong national security police on Thursday arrested a veteran labor activist who is also the wife of an organizer of annual vigils commemorating China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, two people close to her said. Officers arrested Elizabeth Tang, the wife of Lee Cheuk-yan, outside Stanley Prison but it was still unclear for what reason, said the people, who declined to be identified for fear of government retribution.The move was seen as part of a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy camp following massive anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists have been jailed or silenced under a sweeping National Security Law imposed by Beijing.Tang is currently the general secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation.She was a former leader of the now-defunct Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the city’s largest pro-democracy trade organization. Before the group’s disbandment, it had been on a list of activist gro...

Egypt’s inflation spikes again, hiking prices of basic food

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Inflation in Egypt again hit a new high in February, the government said Thursday, with prices rising most steeply for food. The country is in the midst of an economic crisis and a currency depreciation. Annual inflation rose to 32.9% in February, the government statistics agency said, up from 26.5% in January. Grains, meat, poultry, fish and fruit were among the products with the biggest price spikes. The statement added that food prices have increased 61.5% since the same time last year. Egyptians, a nearly a third of whom live in poverty according to official figures, have been striving to keep up with increasing prices since last year, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked worldwide inflation. The country is the world’s largest wheat importer, with most of its imports having traditionally come from eastern Europe. The war erupted after years of government austerity, the coronavirus pandemic and more than a decade of disruptions to Egypt’s economy. I...

Pakistani police probe officers over women’s march violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police are investigating officers after violence at a march to mark International Women’s Day in Islamabad, a spokesman said Thursday. Three constables have been suspended from duty for misusing their authority.Hundreds of people gathered in a central area of the city to mark the occasion on Wednesday, amid tight security. Organizers said the event was aimed at seeking rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Some conservative groups last year threatened to stop similar marches by force.The demonstrators faced strong resistance from police, who charged at them with batons as they tried to enter the rally area, which was blocked off by shipping containers.“The constables involved in the baton charge have been suspended from their duties on charges of misuse of authority,” Islamabad police spokesman Taqi Jawad said.There was no official order to use force against rally-goers, and the officers involved in the violence “acted in the heat of the moment,” he...

EU legal advisor: Homegrown player quotas clash with EU law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:52 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — A senior legal adviser said Thursday that UEFA quotas on homegrown players are partially incompatible with the European Union’s free movement rules, although they might be legitimate in order to develop and recruit youngsters.Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said UEFA-backed homegrown player quotas are “likely to create indirect discrimination” against players from other EU countries.Advocate generals routinely provide legal guidance to the European Court of Justice. Their opinions aren’t binding on the Luxembourg-based court, but are followed in most cases.“It is a fact of life that the younger a player is, the more likely it is that that player resides in his place of origin. It is therefore necessarily players from other member states who will be adversely affected by the contested rules,” the court said in a statement. “Though neutral in wording, the contested provisions place local players at an advantage over players from other member states.”A judge in Be...