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Thousands of protesters gather in Brussels calling for better wages and public services

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Thousands of protesters gathered Tuesday in the capital of the European Union, calling for better public services, salaries and living conditions.The protest in downtown Brussels took place during EU negotiations over the new Stability and Growth Pact, which aims to limit debt and deficits for member countries. Nations seeking to spend their way out of a crisis would instead implement a set of economic policies such as budget cuts and tax increases. But critics say the policy, known as austerity, won’t work.The European Trade Union Confederation, which represents 45 million members, claims the planned reinstatement of the Stability and Growth Pact will force 14 member states to cut a combined 45 billion euros ($49 billion) from their budgets in the next year alone.ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch said a return to austerity “would kill jobs, lower wages, mean even less funding for already over-stretched public services and all but guarantee another devastatin...

Israel strikes across Gaza as the offensive leaves both it and the US increasingly isolated

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza overnight and into Tuesday as they pressed ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months, even as global calls for a cease-fire left both Israel and its main ally, the United States, increasingly isolated.The war ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel has already brought unprecedented death and destruction to the impoverished coastal enclave, with much of northern Gaza obliterated, more than 18,000 Palestinians killed, and over 80% of the population of 2.3 million pushed from their homes.The health care system and humanitarian aid operations have collapsed in large parts of the besieged enclave, and aid workers have warned of starvation and the spread of disease among displaced people in overcrowded shelters and tent camps.STRIKES AND RAIDS ACROSS GAZAStrikes overnight and into Tuesday in southern Gaza — in an area where civilians have been told to seek shelter — ...

Tennessee Republican extends his rapid-fire Christmas party — to 16 minutes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

(The Hill) -- Santa’s going to have 60 extra seconds this year to make his super speedy cameo at Rep. Tim Burchett’s Christmas party. The Tennessee Republican says he’s extending his holiday festivities from 15 minutes — to a whopping 16 minutes.Burchett told ITK in an interview that at last year’s 15-minute inaugural bash in Washington, he “really just couldn’t pack it all in.”“I thought, well, let's put another minute on it and see if that works this year,” he said.Burchett, who’s known to add some levity at the Capitol with his rapid-fire wisecracks, made headlines last year when he first floated his brief holiday soiree.“You go to a Christmas party and you're sitting there drinking some watered-down drink and some crappy hors d'oeuvres that probably were froze from last year's Christmas party,” the 59-year-old lawmaker said of a traditional holiday gathering. “And you're stuck there talking to somebody with wine breath, and you can’t get away from them, and you’re thinking, ‘Dan...

'Barbie,' Israel-Hamas war among the year's top Google searches in 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Your Google search history for 2023 has arrived.Well, actually, the world's. On Monday, the California-based tech giant released its “Year in Search,” a roundup of 2023’s top global queries, ranging from unforgettable pop culture moments (hello, Barbenheimer), to the loss of beloved figures and tragic news carrying worldwide repercussions.The ongoing Israel-Hamas war topped news trends in 2023, per Google's global data, followed by queries related to the Titanic-bound submersible that imploded in June, as well as February's devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Jury decides against Google’s app store in antitrust lawsuit Damar Hamlin was Google's top trending person on search this year. A safety with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, Hamlin experienced a near-death cardiac arrest on the field during a January game, but has since completed a celebrated comeback. Actor Jeremy Renner, who survived a serious snowplow accident at the start of 202...

What would a second Trump presidency look like? Journalists tackle a political what-if

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Even before anyone has cast a vote in a 2024 presidential primary, the attention of many political journalists has shifted to Jan. 20, 2025.There has been a flurry of recent stories about the implications of a potential second presidency for Donald Trump, and his team's planning for Inauguration Day and beyond. Polls show his continued dominance over Republican rivals and the likelihood of a close general election.The New York Times reporting team of Charlie Savage, Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman has been mining that topic since the summer, and last week wrote in depth about the former president's authoritarian impulses, and the possibility of fewer checks on his power. On Sunday, they examined whether Trump would leave NATO. Special counsel asks Supreme Court to weigh in on Trump immunity in federal Jan. 6 case A special issue of The Atlantic magazine released last week collected essays by 24 writers on how a Trump presidency would affect things like foreign po...

Cooler, wetter weather after today's warm up

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today will be the warmest day of the next seven as clouds, rain and cooler temperatures settle in for the remainder of the work week.Afternoon highs will warm well into the 60s today under a mainly to partly cloudy sky. Although we'll lose a good amount of sunshine today, rain looks to hold off until tomorrow.Tracking our next storm systemA slight chance of rain showers enters the forecast Wednesday and Thursday as a disturbance out ahead of the main event crosses our region.Rain chances Wednesday through Saturday morningDETAILS: Wet weather expected late weekRain and thunderstorms are much more likely on Friday as a strong Pacific storm system plows through the state. While the storm is still several days away, it appears that it could bring the heaviest rain since October to our area with rain totals between 1"-2" plus isolated pockets of more.American computer model - rainfall accumulation Wednesday through SaturdayRain is expected to clear in time for Saturday/S...

5 things to know this Tuesday, December 12

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Tuesday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect more sunshine and milder temperatures before some "festive flakes" show up tomorrow. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! The man arrested in connection to the shots fired incident outside of Temple Israel on December 7 is facing another firearms charge. Also, the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) is merging with a north country community and it will increase accessibility to transportation throughout the Capital Region. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Tuesday morning. 1. Temple Israel suspect faces additional firearm chargeThe man arrested in connection to the shots fired incident outside of Temple Israel on December 7 is facing another firearms crime. Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 28, of Schenectady, was charged with conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.2. CDTA service c...

Ask Amy: A bestie’s betrayal may be friendship-ender

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

Dear Amy: My boyfriend/significant other of 13 years is six years older than me. He wants to retire in a year or two and move more than 200 miles away from the town where we both currently live.I have my own home, family, and job in my hometown. I’ve lived here for my entire life.My SO and I have no plans to marry or live together.Should we try a long-distance relationship, or break up now because our future plans don’t seem to include the other?— Perplexed in the MidwestDear Perplexed: I sense in the subtext of your question that you might feel quite stung by what you perceive as your significant other’s choice not only to leave town, but to leave you.So yes, you could preempt this still far-off choice by preparing to break up, or you could at least attempt a long-distance relationship by trying to visit one another on a loose schedule. If he lands in a nice spot, you might see this as each of you having something of a second home: a second destination to travel to when you w...

New kid on the block doing its bit for the environment, health and economy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

There’s “a new kid on the block” on Brussels’ culinary landscape – and it’s one that puts environmental and health issues at the very top of its menu.Thai Café is a “chain” of restos, spread all over Belgium, that’s just unveiled the latest addition to its fast-growing family.The newcomer is located at the popular Woluwe shopping centre, timely as the place is usually packed with Christmas shoppers at this time of the year.The Asian eatery opened only in September and brings the total so far to no less than 17. The difference with the Thai Café chain though is that it is constantly evolving in order to meet the changing demands of consumers and also other issues.These very much include environmental and health matters. For example, it has abandoned single-use plastic in all its packaging and, since the start of the year, uses KioBox packaging (for takeaways). This is far more environmental-friendly than, say, cardboard, as it is reusable and recyclable (all that is required for the ...

French: Where university presidents erred on antisemitic speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:36 GMT

 As I watched the presidents of Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania struggle last week to respond to harsh congressional questioning about the prevalence of antisemitism on their campuses, I had a singular thought: Censorship helped put these presidents in their predicament, and censorship will not help them escape.To understand what I mean, we have to understand what, exactly, was wrong — and right — with their responses in the now-viral exchange with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. The key moment occurred when Stefanik asked whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate school policies. The answers the presidents gave were lawyerly versions of “it depends” or “context matters.”There was an immediate explosion of outrage. But this is genocide we’re talking about! How can “context” matter in that context? If that’s not harassment and bullying, then what is? (The president of Penn, Elizabeth Magill, resi...