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Parliament’s Metsola slams Germany’s bid to resolve car ban standoff

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

The European Parliament doesn’t like the look of Germany’s proposed backroom deal with Brussels to save the combustion engine. Roberta Metsola, the Parliament’s president, will write in a letter to EU capitals — read, Berlin and its allies — to “respect” the deal that was agreed last year to effectively ban the sale of new polluting cars and vans by 2035, two Parliament officials who were not permitted to discuss the issue publicly told POLITICO.The intervention was agreed during a meeting of parliamentary political leaders on Thursday.Germany — along with Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic — has threatened to blow up the agreement, insisting that it should allow for vehicles running only on synthetic fuels made from captured CO2 and hydrogen past 2035. Germany’s Transport Minister Volker Wissing, from the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), on Wednesday sent a list of detailed demands to the EU executive amid negotiations o...

Fighter jets coming ASAP, Poland tells Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

Poland will deliver four Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine “in the next few days,” President Andrzej Duda said Thursday.Poland is the first country to formally commit to sending combat planes to Ukraine, which Kyiv says it urgently needs to repel the Russian invasion, which has become a brutal war of attrition in the eastern Donbas region.“We will be handing over four fully operational planes,” Duda said at a joint press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel, according to French newswire AFP.Additional planes which are “currently under maintenance” will be “handed over gradually,” Duda added, and Poland will replace the MiGs with American-made F-35s and South Korean FA-50 fighters.After convincing its Western allies to supply Ukraine with dozens of tanks following a months-long diplomatic marathon, Kyiv has been intensively lobbying its partners in recent weeks to send modern fighter jets.As he toured European capitals las...

Macron invokes nuclear option to push through pensions reform in huge political setback

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron authorized the use of a controversial constitutional maneuver to bypass parliament and impose his deeply unpopular pensions reform, in a move that dealt a significant blow to his leadership.Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne announced in parliament Thursday afternoon that the government was invoking article 49.3 of the constitution, in what is seen as a nuclear option ahead of what would have been a key vote in the National Assembly. The surprise move allowed the government to push through legislation without submitting it to a parliamentary vote. Borne faced scenes of anger and unrest in the National Assembly as she made her announcement. Far-left lawmakers belonging to the France Unbowed party booed and chanted the national hymn the Marseillaise as far-right National Rally MPs shouted “Resign! Resign!” The speaker of the house was forced to suspend debates to allow Borne to make her speech. The prime minister made the case that the reform...

Police: 17-year-old student injured in stabbing at Brockton Therapeutic Day School

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

A 17-year-old student is suffering non-life-threatening injuries after a stabbing at Brockton Therapeutic Day School at Huntington Thursday morning, according to police.Officers responded to a report of a stabbing just after 9:30 a.m. The injured student was taken to a local hospital, where he is responsive and alert, police say. School administrators are also there with him.Police say a 17-year-old suspect is in custody. Their name has not been released. No additional information has been released.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

A 5,000-mile-wide blob of seaweed is headed for Florida, threatening tourism across the Caribbean

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

(CNN) — A gargantuan mass of seaweed that formed in the Atlantic Ocean is headed for the shores of Florida and other coastlines throughout the Gulf of Mexico, threatening to dump smelly and potentially dangerous heaps across beaches and put a big damper on tourist season.The seaweed, a variety called sargassum, has long formed large blooms in the Atlantic, and scientists have been tracking massive accumulations since 2011. But this year’s sargassum mass could be the largest on record — spanning more than 5,000 miles from the coast of Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.The blob is currently pushing west and will pass through the Caribbean and up into the Gulf of Mexico during the summer, with the seaweed expected to become prevalent on beaches in Florida around July, according to Dr. Brian Lapointe, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.Lapointe said this year’s sargassum bloom began to form early and doub...

Dolphins bringing in interior O-line depth, competition with former Jets lineman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

The wait is over for the Miami Dolphins to bring in an outside free agent for offensive line depth and competition.They agreed to terms with former New York Jets lineman Dan Feeney on Thursday morning, according to a league source. The Dolphins are also bringing back offensive tackle Geron Christian after the team brought him on board late last season.Feeney can make a push to play at left guard or replace Michael Deiter, who remains a free agent, as backup center behind Connor Williams. Liam Eichenberg, the Dolphins’ 2021 second-round pick, was the starting left guard last season, and Robert Jones filled in serviceably when Eichenberg was injured with a knee ailment. Practice-squad guard Lester Cotton also started the playoff loss at the Buffalo Bills when Miami dealt with multiple injuries on the line.Feeney, who has 64 career starts, has mostly been a reserve for the Jets the past two years but has started in spot duty. He also contributes on special teams. Before going to ...

Patriots reportedly hosting 3 free-agent veterans on visits Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

The Patriots are hosting Rams safety Taylor Rapp on a free-agent visit Thursday, according to ESPN.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing veteran RB James Robinson to 2-year deal New England Patriots | The Patriots’ risk and reward of replacing Jakobi Meyers with JuJu Smith-Schuster New England Patriots | Source: Patriots expected to sign Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster New England Patriots | Patriots move to retain restricted free agent OT Yodny Cajutse on 1-year deal New England Patriots | Patriots reportedly signing veteran OT Riley Reiff, expect him to start Rapp, 26, has made 48 career starts, including some at free safety where the Pats just lost Devin McCourty to retirement. The 6-foot-0, 208-pounder has six interceptions over the last two seasons and brings some positional versatility. Last year, he recorded 92 tackles, six pass deflections and two picks.Rapp entered ...

Source: Patriots re-signing LB Mack Wilson to 1-year deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

The Patriots are re-signing linebacker Mack Wilson to a 1-year deal, according to a source.Wilson can earn up to $2.2 million, per the NFL Network.Wilson returns after starting three of 17 games in his first season with the Patriots. He totaled 36 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Wilson saw his defensive role diminish as the year progressed, however, taking zero defensive snaps over the last five weeks.Wilson continued to contribute on special teams, but lost his role as the team’s lone linebacker in packages with six defensive backs to defensive captain Ja’Whaun Bentley. The 25-year-old is the Pats’ most athletic linebacker, who is believed to have more upside than he’s shown through four NFL seasons.Last week, the Patriots re-signed veteran Raekwon McMillan and extended fellow linebacker Jahlani Tavai midseason. With Wilson returning, the Pats will have their entire linebacking corps intact heading into training camp this summer.

ASK IRA: Is Heat’s Oladipo too much sizzle when Spoelstra is seeking stability?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

Q: The fact is — it’s an important part of the season and Victor Oladipo is a liability on both ends. The Heat are better off with him on the bench when the game/season is on the line . – P.M.T.A: What Victor Oladipo has shown this season is the ability to produce the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. At this point, especially from his supporting cast, Erik Spoelstra seemingly is seeking something closer to stability. In last season’s playoffs, Victor appeared content to play as a complementary piece. This season, amid his comeback, he has been trying to do more to the degree that, at times, he tries to do too much. The consistency of Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry appears to be the play at the moment. No, not nearly as flashy as Victor, but also not as harrowing.Q: Hopefully this Gabe Vincent experiment ends soon – Paolo.A: At this point, it’s more about Kyle Lowry than Gabe Vincent when it comes to who starts at point guard. But Kyle wonR...

Westbound SR-78 closure to last into weekend for emergency sinkhole repairs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:31:52 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- The westbound lanes of State Route 78 in Oceanside are closed Thursday for emergency repairs to a sinkhole that formed after heavy flooding.All lanes are expected to be closed until Saturday, according to Caltrans.Drivers will be detoured to the College Blvd./ Vista Way off-ramp, then go west on Vista Way and then to the SR-78 on-ramp at El Camino Real.The California Department of Transportation says they are working with local partners to address the flooding issue on SR-78 from College Boulevard to El Camino Real. The agency is working to temporarily repair a gaping hole underneath two lanes on westbound SR-78 to make it safe for drivers. However, the agency said they are waiting for a permanent fix.On Wednesday, SR-78 westbound was initially reduced to one lane. Recent rainstorms caused undermining of the shoulder, according to Caltrans. The agency said a metal pipe culvert underneath the freeway is collapsing, leading to a dip in the road of two lanes. The t...