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EU to join European Convention on Human Rights ‘as soon as possible,’ EU chiefs say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

The European Union is finalizing its bid to join the European Convention on Human Rights, a decades-old treaty setting human rights standards that’s already been ratified by 46 European countries.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel made the announcement together on Wednesday during a rare joint speech.“We would like to strengthen cooperation with the Council of Europe, and to that effect we are in the process of joining the European Convention on Human Rights,” Michel said from the Council of Europe’s summit in Reykjavik, Iceland. “I am optimistic that we will be able to solve the remaining difficulties very quickly,” he added.Speaking directly after Michel, von der Leyen doubled down, saying: “I want to confirm the European Union’s intention to join the European Convention on Human Rights as soon as possible.”The back-to-back speeches from the EU’s two top officials we...

EU countries slam ‘crazy’ France for taking renewables legislation ‘hostage’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

BRUSSELS — Anger at France boiled over on Wednesday as EU countries accused Paris of taking a key piece of EU climate legislation “hostage” at the last minute to extract further concessions in the text.EU ambassadors were due to sign off on the Renewable Energy Directive on Wednesday, an integral part of the bloc’s flagship Fit for 55 climate package that aims to slash greenhouse gases by 55 percent by 2030 and ramp up the share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix to 42.5 percent.Negotiators reached a provisional deal on the rules in March following tough talks in which France threatened to torpedo the legislation unless it recognized some role for atomic energy. It eventually won a marginal concession.With rumors swirling that Paris might try to block approval, Sweden — which holds the six-month rotating Council presidency — was forced to strike a discussion on the text from Wednesday’s meeting of ambassadors to avoid a dramatic derailing of the legislation.“France is crazy,...

Transit police: Driver ticketed after getting stuck on Green Line tracks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

A driver was ticketed on Tuesday morning after turning too early and getting stuck on the Green Line tracks on Huntington Avenue in Boston, transit police said.Service was delayed as crews removed the vehicle from Huntington and Longwood Avenue around 7:30 a.m.There were no reported injuries.https://twitter.com/MBTATransitPD/status/1658807908325380101

At Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp says ‘I have no further need for Hollywood’

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

By JAKE COYLE (AP Film Writer)CANNES, France (AP) — Appearing at the Cannes Film Festival the day after premiering his first film in three years, Johnny Depp said Wednesday that he has “no further need” for Hollywood. Depp made a rare public appearance to face questions from the press following the opening-night premiere of “Jeanne du Barry,” in which Depp plays King Louis XV. The French film, directed by and starring Maïwenn and featuring a French-speaking Depp, is the actor’s first film since a jury last year largely sided with him in his legal battle with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Part of Depp’s argument in that 2022 defamation trial was that he had lost work due to Heard’s allegations. Heard was ordered to pay Depp $10 million in damages, vindicating his allegations that Heard lied about Depp abusing her before and during their brief marriage. Heard was also awarded $2 million. “Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? YouR...

Abortion after 12 weeks banned in North Carolina after GOP lawmakers override governor’s veto

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM, GARY D. ROBERTSON and DENISE LAVOIE (Associated Press)RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will become law in North Carolina after the state’s Republican-controlled General Assembly successfully overrode the Democratic governor’s veto late Tuesday.The House completed the second and final part of the override vote after a similar three-fifths majority — the fraction necessary — voted for the override earlier Tuesday in the Senate. The party-line outcomes represent a major victory for Republican legislative leaders who needed every GOP member on board to enact the law over Gov. Roy Cooper’s opposition.Cooper vetoed the measure over the weekend after spending last week traveling around the state to persuade at least one Republican to side with him on the override, which would be enough to uphold his veto. But in the end, the four Republicans targeted by Cooper — including one who recently switched from the Democratic ...

Arab foreign ministers meet ahead of Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Arab foreign ministers met Wednesday in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Arab League’s annual summit in the kingdom to discuss the upcoming gathering’s agenda and draft resolutions. This year’s summit, starting Friday in the city of Jeddah, will mark the readmittance of war-torn Syria into the 22-member league, after a 12-year suspension. Syria’s membership was frozen following Syrian President Bashar Assad’s brutal crackdown on the 2011 mass protests against his rule. The country quickly descended into a brutal civil war that has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half of the country’s pre-war population of 23 million. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Wednesday that the region is at a crossroads, facing a host of challenges. He called for cooperation between Arab countries to achieve security, stability, and economic prosperity.Bin Farhan also welcomed Syria’s return, as did the league’s Secre...

Stock market today: Markets bounce back modestly with focus still on retail sector, consumers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

TOKYO — Wall Street bounced back modestly early Wednesday with more big retailers reporting sales and profit pointing to an American consumer that’s reigning in spending under the weight of ongoing inflation and anxiety about a possible recession.Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% and the S&P 500 ticked up 0.3%. Target shares bounced around early after the Minneapolis retail giant reported another quarterly profit decline and issued a cautious sales and profit outlook. Target said it is dealing with higher costs, including rising theft, and consumers who have become more cautious about spending.Home Depot on Tuesday projected its first decline in annual revenue since 2009, dragging broader markets into negative territory for the day. The nation’s largest home improvement retailer cut its profit and sales expectations for the entire year.Walmart, another bellwether for the retail sector and indicator of broader consumer health, reports its results before...

Exceptional rains in drought-struck northern Italy kill 5, cancel Formula One Grand Prix

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

ROME (AP) — Exceptional rains Wednesday in a drought-struck region of northern Italy swelled rivers over their banks, killing at least five people, forcing the evacuation of about 5,000 and prompting officials to warn that Italy needs a national plan to combat climate change-induced flooding.The heavy rains and floods also forced Formula One to cancel this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix to not overtax emergency crews that were already stretched thin in responding to the emergency.Days of rainstorms stretched across a broad swath of northern Italy and the Balkans, where “apocalyptic” floods, landslides and evacuations were also reported in Croatia, Bosnia and Slovenia.Italian Civil Protection Minister Nello Musemeci said that five people were killed in flooding that struck Emilia-Romagna particularly hard, forcing the evacuation of thousands in two dozen flooded towns. At a briefing, Musemeci said that he hoped reports of people who were unaccounted for would turn out to be fals...

Air Canada signs codeshare and interline partnership deal with Flydubai

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

MONTREAL — Air Canada has announced a partnership with Flydubai that will offer more options for travellers headed to destinations in the Middle East, East Africa, Indian Subcontinent and Southern Asia.Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive vice-president for revenue and network planning, says the partnership complements the airline’s non-stop service to Dubai from Toronto and Vancouver.Under the deal, an Air Canada marketing code will be placed on nine Flydubai routes from Dubai that will give travellers the ability to travel to those markets with the issuance of a single ticket. The agreement also includes an interline arrangement that will see customers easily connect in Dubai to more than 60 destinations served by Flydubai.The airlines say more than 30 of those destinations are not flown to by Air Canada’s other partners.They also say they plan on improving the connection process in Dubai and are working toward introducing expanded features and benefits for loyal...

Ecuadorian president puts end to impeachment proceedings against him by dissolving National Assembly

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:54 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso on Wednesday put an end to impeachment proceedings against him by dissolving the opposition-led National Assembly, which had accused him of embezzlement.The right-wing president, who has denied any wrongdoing, can govern for up to six months by decree under the South American country’s constitution.The National Electoral Council now has seven days to call presidential and legislative elections, which must be held within 90 days. Those elected will finish the terms of Lasso and the lawmakers he ousted, which had been set to end in May 2025.In a televised message, Lasso accused the National Assembly of focusing “on destabilizing the government.” He called his move “democratic,” and as a way to give “people the power to decide their future in the next elections.”Lawmakers had accused Lasso of not having intervened to end a contract between the state-owned oil transport company Flota Petrolera Ecuatoriana and the private entity ...