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Rich Brits get visa sweetener in Macron’s contentious immigration bill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

PARIS — Emmanuel Macron’s contentious immigration bill sparked a rebellion over its ruthless approach to unwanted immigrants, but one group of visitors comes out on top: British second home-owners.British citizens who own a second home in France will now be allowed to stay more than the 90 days agreed after Brexit, according to an amendment that was passed in the immigration bill on Tuesday.It addresses a recurring complaint from wealthier expats who split their life between France and the U.K. Currently British citizens can only spend a total of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period on the continent. While they can already apply for ad-hoc long-term visas to stay longer, many report being put off by the paperwork.The new long-term visa would be delivered automatically for Britons, according to the amendment, which goes against the grain of a bill that has tightened immigration rules in France. The draft legislation, which was passed with the support of the conservatives and t...

European leaders increasingly gloomy on Ukraine progress

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

European leaders are increasingly concerned by the stalemated war in Ukraine, and with allies’ struggles in keeping ahead of new Russian arms production.A year that began with promises of a huge Ukrainian counteroffensive to match last year’s surprise push through hundreds of miles of Russian-occupied territory devolved into a bloody, yard-by-yard fight across hundreds of miles of front, that saw little territorial gain despite a massive human cost.“Russia has the capability and the ability to go on with this war for years,” Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said during a visit to Washington this week where he signed a new defense agreement with the U.S. “Many are overestimating that the West is winning this, that Ukraine is winning.”This month, Häkkänen’s government announced it is doubling its production of ammunition, committing to send much of it to Ukraine as it struggles with thinning supplies from Western allies and the slow buildup of production capabilities in the U.S...

Police chief says at least 15 people are dead after a mass shooting at a Prague university

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — An armed man opened fire in a university building in downtown Prague on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and sowing widespread panic with one of the Czech Republic’s worst mass shootings of its kind, police and the city’s rescue service said.The bloodshed took place in the philosophy department building of Charles University, where the shooter was a student, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said. He has not been named publicly.Police gave no details about the victims or a possible motive for the shooting at the building located near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said investigators do not suspect a link to any extemist ideology or groups.Pavel Nedoma, the director of the nearby Rudolfinum Gallery, said he saw from a window a person standing on a balcony of the building and shooting a gun.Police said they were still searching the area, including the balcony, for possible explosives. The building was evacuated, Prague M...

Police arrest man on rape, kidnapping charges after he allegedly used cleaver to hold woman against her will in Danvers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

Massachusetts State Police say a man from Lawrence was arrested after he allegedly raped a woman while using a meat cleaver to hold her against her will in Danvers.An MSP spokesperson said Rene Montes, 55, was arrested in Methuen on Thursday – a day after a woman was able to get to the state police barracks in Danvers Wednesday morning and tell authorities she had been assaulted and raped in her home.The victim, who was later hospitalized for her injuries, told troopers she had been held against her will by a suspect who was armed with a meat cleaver, which troopers recovered along with other pieces of evidence while investigating the scene.Authorities later identified Montes as a suspect and were able to obtain a warrant charging him with:Aggravated RapeAggravated KidnappingAssault and Battery with a Dangerous WeaponThe 55-year-old suspect was taken into custody at a home in Methuen on Thursday morning, according to state police.No additional details were released.

Honda recalling 2.6 million vehicles for a fuel pump issue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

New York (CNN) — Honda is recalling 2.6 million cars, SUVs, vans and pickups in the United States because the fuel pump could fail. If that happens while driving, the vehicle could suddenly lose power.Honda recalled more than 620,000 vehicles in 2021 for the same issue. This latest recall includes many new vehicles that were not included in the one two years ago.Models being recalled include the 2019 and 2020 model year Honda Accord, 2019 Honda Odyssey, 2019 Honda Pilot, 2019 Honda Ridgeline and many other Honda and Acura models. Acura is Honda’s luxury brand.Vehicle owners will be asked to bring their vehicle to a Honda or Acura dealer to have the fuel pump replaced at no charge. Honda will begin notifying owners in early February. Not enough parts are available to fix all the vehicles involved at once, Honda said in a statement. Owners will be notified in separate waves over time to bring their vehicles in for repair as parts are available, Honda noted.Honda and Acura owners ...

Two in Lawrence, including councilor-elect, charged with voter fraud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

Two Lawrence women, including a city councilor-elect, are facing fraudulent voting charges in Essex County amid an ongoing investigation.District Attorney Paul Tucker late Wednesday announced that Lawrence District A Councilor-Elect Fidelina Santiago and a second defendant, Jennifer Lopez, were indicted by a grand jury on charges that Tucker’s office said are “in connection with the November 2023 Lawrence election.”While details were not released, the prosecutor’s office said that Santiago and Lopez were indicted on four counts each of illegal voting or attempt to vote, conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally, unlawful interference with voter, and obstruction of voting.Tucker’s office said the charges stem from an investigation it conducted with State Police detectives following a referral by Secretary of State William Galvin’s office of “allegations of fraudulent voting associated with the November 2023 local election.” Galvin...

Maryland prison contraband scheme ends with 15 guilty pleas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Fifteen people have pleaded guilty for their roles in a prison contraband scheme in Maryland that included the use of drones to smuggle drugs, cellphones and other items into a state prison, the state’s attorney general announced. The guilty pleas came seven months after Attorney General Anthony Brown first announced that a correctional officer and civilians had been indicted on charges that they assisted inmates in illegal activity at the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Maryland. “Safety is as important in our correctional institutions as it is to the public in our neighborhoods and communities,” Brown said in a news release this week. “This meticulous investigation and subsequent convictions send a clear message that we will not tolerate crime or corruption within our correctional facilities that disrupts the goals of rehabilitation.” An investigation began in April 2022, after authorities recovered drugs and other contraband that had b...

Ohio gives historical status to building that once housed internet service pioneer CompuServe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

A Central Ohio building that once served as the global headquarters for CompuServe has been recognized with historic marker status by the state.At its height in the 1990’s, the pioneering tech company — one of the first to offer commercial internet services — was known by the public for online forums that offered news, message boards and data file transfers. The firm also introduced the GIF image format back in 1987.“This may be the first historical marker about the internet. Most history is not recognized and celebrated in your lifetime, but this is and its really special,” said Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted at a dedication event featuring state officials and former CompuServe CEO Jeff Wilkins. “Today we have a vibrant, growing tech economy in the state of Ohio. And it began right here.”The company opened its headquarters in 1973 and, according to records housed at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, closed the location in the summer of 2006. Ohio’s historical markers pro...

The Super League had its day in court and won. What is it and why do some fans and clubs object?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled Thursday that soccer’s governing bodies UEFA and FIFA acted contrary to EU competition law by blocking plans for a breakaway Super League. Emboldened by that ruling, organizers quickly revealed plans for the new competition designed to change the face of European soccer.That news was celebrated by Real Madrid, which along with Barcelona, has been leading the fight to get the new competition off the ground.“Today a Europe of freedoms has triumphed, and also football and its fans have triumphed,” Madrid president Florentino Pérez said. “We are facing a great opportunity to improve European club football.” A previous attempt to launch a Super League in 2021 collapsed when clubs backed out in the face of angry fan protests. And despite the latest ruling, it is unclear if the competition has wide backing or if clubs would be willing to join and risk alienating supporters and challenging UEFA. WHAT IS THE SU...

‘You are the father!’ Maury Povich declares to Denver Zoo orangutan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:49 GMT

Initially unsure of which orangutan was the father of a new baby primate, the Denver Zoo decided to have a little fun and turned to the paternity announcement guru himself: former daytime talk show host Maury Povich. Just as he would do on his long-running show, Povich pulled the purported DNA results for 4-month-old Siska out of an envelope and declared: “Berani. You are the father!”The zoo posted the video on social media this week.Siska, a female who was born on Aug. 27, is the first baby for Eirina, a 15-year-old Sumatran orangutan, who came to the Denver Zoo from Germany’s Dortmund Zoo in 2016.Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a rapidly declining wild population due to habitat loss, illegal hunting and the black-market pet trade, the zoo said in announcing Siska’s birth.Siska’s father remained a mystery because the zoo’s animal care team had to wait a few months before Eirina was...