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EU’s trade ideals face ‘economic security’ reality check

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

The European Commission is preparing to ditch its long-held free-market ideals as geopolitics and U.S.-China competition elbow their way into the picture.On Tuesday, the EU’s executive will propose its economic security strategy, a new political paper which will be discussed by EU leaders at their meeting later this month. Mixing economics and national security was once unthinkable for a bloc which tried to separate its liberal trade policy from foreign politics. But that split has been tested, and in some cases, discarded. National security concerns jumped to the top of the European agenda following Russia’s war in Ukraine, from pipeline sabotage to cutting gas supplies to U.S. pressure to ban on Chinese telecoms suppliers, to new export controls on Dutch chips equipment to China. Europe’s reliance on Russian gas has also shown that dependencies can threaten its economic security if they are weaponized.Now, the EU wants to become a player itself, instead of being bullied ...

Daughter of Taunton mayor found safe after being reported missing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

The daughter of Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell has been found safe after she was reported missing on Wednesday, the mayor announced on Facebook.Riley O’Connell was found around 6 p.m. Sunday in Ohio.Mayor Shaunna O’Connell thanked everyone for the outpouring of support while the search was underway.

Juneteenth celebrations taking place across Mass.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

Juneteenth celebrations are planned in cities and towns across the Bay State on Monday.In Boston, the second annual Juneteenth Parade is slated to kick off at 1 p.m. at the Roxbury Heritage State Park and proceeds through Nubian Square to the National Center of Afro-American Artists. A flag raising ceremony will be held at the Dillaway-Thomas House in Roxbury.Juneteenth is a federal holiday, which means there will be closures, including schools, the Post Office, banks, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for Juneteenth coverage.

Bernardston police arrest alleged police impersonator with gun, tactical vest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

Bernardston police say a man was arrested on numerous charges last week after he was spotted driving in a vehicle that resembled a police cruiser while armed with a handgun and knives and wearing a tactical vest with a police-style badge on the front.In a public safety bulletin posted to Facebook police said the driver was stopped and arrested and they were hoping to keep the suspect jailed pending a dangerousness hearing. His name was not released.Police also said the person is known in New Hampshire for similar issues, including impersonating a police officer.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Orioles reset: Kyle Gibson is impressed by his young teammates. The organization values maturity.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

After his first start in an Orioles uniform, Kyle Gibson offered unprompted praise for the crop of young players who surrounded him in Baltimore’s spring training clubhouse.It wasn’t because of their evident talent, but rather their maturity.“Whoever they have in the organization helping bring these young guys along, they’ve done a great job because they have good feel, they know how to be professionals for 99% of the time, and I should say 100% of the time because I haven’t even seen anything where you’re like, ‘Man, that’s a young guy mistake right there,’” Gibson said after his spring debut. “They just all have good heads on their shoulders, and you can tell how they get their business done, how they walk around, how they carry themselves, and I think that’s going to help them excel and help them get more comfortable in the big leagues and help them reach their ceiling faster.”In the nearly four months ...

US-China pledge to stabilize deteriorating ties, resume high-level talks after Blinken visit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

By MATTHEW LEE (AP Diplomatic Writer)BEIJING (AP) — The United States and China have pledged to stabilize their badly deteriorated ties during a critical visit to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping.It remains to be seen whether the two countries can resolve their most important disagreements, many of which have international financial, security and stability implications. Apart from a willingness to talk, there was little sign that either were few indications is prepared to bend from hardened positions on issues ranging from trade, to Taiwan, to human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, to Russia’s war in Ukraine.At the meeting with Blinken, Xi pronounced himself pleased with the outcome of Blinken’s earlier meetings with two top Chinese diplomats, and said the two countries had agreed to resume a program of understandings that he and Pre...

Laura Washington: The city appears to be making a last-ditch effort to keep the Bears in Chicago. Don’t do it.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

Teddy bears may be cuddly, but keeping the Bears in Chicago would be toxic for Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ambitious agenda.Last year, the Bears organization announced it was looking at departing its longtime home at Soldier Field. The team unveiled lofty plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium and sprawling entertainment complex in northwest suburban Arlington Heights, aimed at expanding its capacity and adding lucrative moneymakers like restaurants, retail space and sports betting.Now Johnson appears to be making a last-ditch effort to keep the NFL team in Chicago. Don’t do it.The team has plunked down $197.2 million to purchase the 326-acre Arlington International Racecourse site. Demolition of the site is underway. The town has approved zoning changes and other initiatives to smooth the way.Recently, news broke that talks to solidify the move have become bogged down, as the team’s efforts to win state aid and reduce its potential tax burden are flailing. Other su...

Advocates seek changes to Massachusetts vocational schools admissions policies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

Vocational technical schools in Massachusetts have long been allowed to maintain more selective admissions policies than just about any other public schools in the state — which, advocates say, perpetuates stark discrimination and sends few graduates actually on a paths to trade professions.“I was excited about getting to participate in a hands on an interactive education,” Chelsea High student Jose Castellan remembered at a hearing on bill related to vocational schools admissions last Monday.Castellan applied to Northeast Metropolitan Vocational Technical School in Chelsea but, like many students in his area, was denied.“I have learned that not just my local vocational school, but almost all public vocational schools in the state rank kids for admission based on factors have been proven to be discriminatory,” Castellan said. “Why is it that our futures are decided on middle school grades, discipline records, attendance and recommendations from pe...

Biden plans 4 fundraisers in San Francisco area as he revs up 2024 campaign

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ramps up his reelection effort this week with four fundraisers in the San Francisco area, as his campaign builds up its coffers and lays strategic foundations for 2024.In the back half of June, Biden’s campaign will have over 20 fundraisers involving the president, Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, according to a person involved in Biden’s travel plans who insisted on anonymity to discuss the schedule.More than half of the fundraisers are with the president, who will also be traveling to New York, Maryland and Illinois. Biden hit the themes of his campaign at a Friday fundraising event in Connecticut, saying his goal is to do more to tell voters about his legislative accomplishments with infrastructure, computer chip production and programs for responding to climate change, among other policies.“There’s a lot we’ve done,” Biden said Friday. “We just got to let many people know we...

At least 4 Palestinians are killed as Israeli troops clash with Palestinian militants in West Bank

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:37:20 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli helicopter gunships struck targets Monday in the occupied West Bank as a gunbattle raged in the city of Jenin between Israeli troops and militants, killing four Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, officials said.The violence marked a rare use of Israeli airpower in the territory. During the clashes, Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb next to an Israeli military vehicle. At least 45 Palestinians were wounded, five seriously. The Israeli military said seven members of the paramilitary border police and the army suffered light and moderate wounds. The escalation was the latest in more than a year of near-daily violence that has wracked the West Bank.The Israeli military said troops came under a “massive exchange of fire” during an arrest raid in Jenin and shot back at Palestinian gunmen.“As the security forces exited the city, a military vehicle was hit by an explosive device, damaging the vehicle,” the army said, adding that helicopters “op...