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France’s constitutional council approves higher pension age

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s Constitutional Council on Friday approved an unpopular plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, in a victory for President Emmanuel Macron after three months of mass protests over the legislation that have damaged his leadership.The move threatened to enrage unions and other critics of the pension plan, including protesters gathered in spots around France on Friday evening as the decision came down. Macron’s political opponents vowed to maintain pressure on the government to withdraw the bill.The council rejected some other measures in the pension bill, but the higher age was central to Macron’s plan and the target of protesters’ anger. Macron can enact the bill within 15 days.In a separate but related decision, the council rejected a request by left-wing lawmakers to allow for a possible referendum on enshrining 62 as the maximum official retirement age. The council will rule on a similar request next month.Security forces stood behind a metal fen...

Cuba expects to resume US deportation flights this month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — Cuba plans to resume accepting deportation flights from the United States this month, a Cuban official said, echoing U.S. concerns about the highest levels of Cuban migration in six decades.Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, said flights are expected before the U.S. ends coronavirus pandemic-related restrictions on asylum on May 11, which is widely projected to increase the number of people seeking entry to the U.S. at the U.S.-Mexico border.The diplomat spoke in an interview with The Associated Press at the Cuban ambassador’s residence outside Washington after what he called “a productive meeting” to discuss migration.“We have a lot of common understanding, both parties, the United States and Cuba, about the nature of the problem,” he said.Fernandez de Cossio said there was no agreement on the frequency of flights, which will depend on U.S. and Cuban capacity. But he said there was no reason they can’t return to pre-pa...

Daniss Jenkins follows Pitino to St. John’s as grad transfer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Guard Daniss Jenkins is following coach Rick Pitino from Iona to St. John’s and joining the Red Storm program as a graduate transfer.St. John’s announced the signing of the Dallas native on Friday. It’s the first since Pitino was hired last month by the Big East Conference school to rebuild a once-proud program.“Daniss Jenkins is a lightning quick guard who is a tremendous leader on and off the court,” Pitino said in a statement. “He is someone we will rely on heavily to lead us into next season.”Jenkins was the only Iona player to start all 35 games this past season, helping the Gaels win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles and make the NCAA Tournament. Iona was beaten in the opening round by eventual national champion UConn.The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 assists, which led the MAAC and ranked top-50 in Division I.This will be the fourth college for Jenkins. He played his first two seasons at the U...

France’s Constitutional Council approves unpopular plan to raise retirement age to 64, in victory for President Macron

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s Constitutional Council approves unpopular plan to raise retirement age to 64, in victory for President Macron.Source

Dallas Eakins won’t return to Anaheim Ducks after 4 seasons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Head coach Dallas Eakins will not return to the Anaheim Ducks after four consecutive losing seasons, the team announced Friday.One day after Anaheim finished in last place in the overall NHL standings at 23-47-12, general manager Pat Verbeek said Eakins won’t be back to continue the team’s rebuilding process. Eakins’ contract expired at the end of this season, and the Ducks will not renew it.Eakins went 100-147-44 with the Ducks, who promoted him from his job as the head coach of their AHL affiliate in San Diego in 2019. The former Edmonton bench boss arrived near the start of Anaheim’s decline from a perennial NHL power in the 2010s to a rebuilding club that earned a franchise-worst 58 points this season.“This was a very difficult decision, one that comes after careful and considerable deliberation,” Verbeek said in a statement. “At the end of the day, I simply feel that a fresh perspective and new voice will be beneficial for the team....

Stocks slip as rate worries overshadow big bank profits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are slipping Friday as a swirl of competing forces spins Wall Street, from strong profits for financial giants to worries about interest rates and the economy’s strength. The S&P 500 was 0.5% lower in midday trading after giving up an early morning gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 208 points, or 0.6%, at 33,821, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.7% lower.Stocks are still on track for a weekly gain, built in part on hopes the Federal Reserve may soon end its barrage of rate hikes as inflation cools. High interest rates can stifle inflation but only by hurting the economy, raising the risk of a recession and dragging on prices for investments. A top Fed official dampened those hopes Friday after saying inflation remains far too high and more hikes to interest rates may be needed. Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed’s governing board, also said that even after hikes end, rates will likely need to stay hig...

El Departamento de Justicia acusa a los líderes del cártel mexicano de Sinaloa en una amplia investigación sobre el tráfico de fentanilo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

(CNN) — El Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos anunció este viernes cargos contra más de dos docenas de acusados, entre ellos tres hijos del famoso narcotraficante Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, en el marco de una amplia investigación sobre el tráfico de fentanilo.El Fiscal General Merrick Garland anunció los cargos en una conferencia de prensa en Washington, en la que también participaron la administradora de la DEA, Anne Milgram, y otros altos cargos de la fiscalía federal.Las acusaciones contra los líderes del poderoso cártel mexicano de Sinaloa se hicieron públicas, incluso contra los hijos de Guzmán, conocidos como los Chapitos.¿Cuál es la estrategia de la Casa Blanca para controlar el fentanilo?Los cargos de tráfico de fentanilo, armas y blanqueo de dinero en tres acusaciones implicaban a un total de 28 acusados, de los cuales 23 residían en México, cuatro en China y uno en Guatemala.Se presentaron cargos contra presuntos proveedores de sustancias químicas...

Grains mixed, Livestock lower.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Grain futures mixed Friday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade. Wheat for May was down 1 cent at $6.7150 a bushel; May corn gained .50 cent at $6.58 a bushel; May oats lost 2.75 cents at $3.35 a bushel; while May soybeans was down 1.95 cents at $14.9425 a bushel.Beef and pork lower on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.Apr. live cattle lost 1.25 cents at $1.75 a pound; Apr. feeder cattle decreased .40 cent at $2.0272 a pound; Apr. lean hogs was off .08 cent at $.7182 a pound.Source

Florida floods: FLL airport reopens as residents clean up mess

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Fort Lauderdale’s airport reopened Friday morning, two days after an unprecedented deluge left planes and travelers stranded, as residents in the city’s hardest hit neighborhoods began the slow process of cleaning up the mess left behind.Officials at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport completed final inspections after sunrise Friday and resumed operations at 9 a.m.In a tweet Friday morning, airport officials advised travelers to check with their airlines on updated flight schedules before going to the airport.The airport shut down Wednesday evening as a storm dumped more than 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain.“Nature has been unkind to us,” Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher said during a news conference Thursday afternoon at the airport.While it started raining on Monday in South Florida, much of the water fell Wednesday, and the Fort Lauderdale area saw record rainfall amounts in a matter of hours, ranging from 15 inches (38 centi...

Suspect in Cash App founder killing makes court appearance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:21:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The 38-year-old tech consultant charged in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee made his first appearance in a San Francisco courtroom Friday but did not enter a plea.Nima Momeni, a tech consultant who police say knew Lee, is now scheduled to be arraigned April 25.The judge ordered Momeni held in jail without bail, as requested by San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.Momeni appeared in court in an orange sweatshirt and pants. He did not speak except to say “yes, your honor” when the judge asked if he agreed to decline his right to a speedy trial.He is represented by Burlingame attorney Paula Canny, who is on vacation and whose brother Robert Canny, also an attorney, appeared in her place Friday. “The facts of what occurred, or didn’t occur, will come out over time,” he told reporters after the hearing.In the courtroom were Momeni’s sister Khazar Elyassnia and her husband.On Thursday, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott announced Momeni̵...