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EU spending rules talks on verge of missing end-of-year deadline

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Last ditch talks between the EU’s finance ministers planned for Wednesday on an overhaul of the EU’s public spending rules look set to fall short amid continued disagreement between Germany, France and Italy, according to officials in Brussels.French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and his German counterpart, Christian Lindner, will face the press on Tuesday evening to explain the situation before the two of them meet over dinner in Paris.They are expected to announce that the latest draft text ― which governments have not signed off and is only about 95 percent complete ― should be kept as it is until negotiations can continue in January. They had hoped to get a deal by the end of the year.To speed up the process, legislative talks with the European Parliament could begin on what’s been agreed so far so that no time is lost before the legislature dissolves in April, officials said.One EU diplomat said that countries such as Italy and France were pushing back against th...

Restoration efforts continue on South Shore after high winds bring down trees, power lines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Restoration efforts continued on the South Shore Tuesday, one day after the region was hit hard by Monday’s major storm. Ramping up overnight into Monday morning, powerful wind gusts sent debris flying, knocking down trees and leaving nearly all residents in Scituate in the dark. As of around 12 p.m. Tuesday, 92% of Scituate energy customers were still without power, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Sixty-seven percent of customers in Norwell were impacted, while more than 50% of customers in Hanson, Pembroke and Duxbury were in the dark. National Grid said it brought in crews from New York and Canada. Crews were then visible around town Tuesday making repairs. Still, officials said it could take until Thursday to fully restore power.Scituate schools were closed Tuesday, as were schools in Cohasset, Duxbury, Marshfield, Norwell, and Pembroke.Longtime area resident Cathy Cooney said she lost power on Monday. “We haven’t got it back,” she...

Bus crashes into building in Hyannis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

A bus crashed into a building in Hyannis Tuesday. Authorities responded to the scene, where serious damage appeared to have been sustained to both the building and the bus.The cause of the crash remains unknown, as does whether any injuries occurred.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

What to know about Patriots new quarterback Nathan Rourke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is just getting to know new quarterback Nathan Rourke, but we have more information on the team’s latest addition.The Patriots claimed Rourke off waivers from the Jaguars on Monday afternoon to replace Will Grier, who had been signed off of the team’s practice squad and onto the Chargers’ 53-man roster.O’Brien said he found out the news before Tuesday’s video conference calls.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting ...

2023’s economy didn’t play by the usual rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

By Anna Helhoski | NerdWalletThe U.S. economy was nothing if not weird throughout 2023, but step back and the overall picture is stronger than you might suspect.From one viewpoint, consumers are still struggling with forces beyond their control: They’re paying more for goods and services compared with the pre-pandemic years; the Federal Reserve continued its rate-hike spree for most of the year; and sky-high mortgage rates put homeownership out of reach for more people.Despite these financial challenges, the U.S. never fell into a widely expected recession. Far from it, in fact. And banks, including Chase and Goldman Sachs, and the Fed have stopped predicting one — at least for 2024.That’s because, seen from another angle, the economy is booming: Unemployment hit its lowest point in 50 years; inflation continued to slow down and certain goods and services even deflated; the Fed paused rates multiple times; the nation’s growth surpassed expectations; and consumers are still spending ...

Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo isn’t the only assistant on the defensive staff who believes he could be a head coach one day.Defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, who was named to NFL Media’s head coach watch list last month, said Tuesday during a video conference call running a team is one of his goals.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth “Obviously that’s in the horizon for me of what I want to do,” Covi...

Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones lost his starting job to Bailey Zappe after being benched on four separate occasions this season, but offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien didn’t close the door on the possibility of the Alabama product gaining the top role back.The Patriots are 1-2 with Zappe as the starter, and they began the season 2-9 with Jones under center.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth “I think everybody’s gotta be ready to play, especiall...

Israel delivers deadly airstrikes in south Gaza and raids a hospital in the north

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

By NAJIB JOBAIN and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces raided one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza’s north and bombarded the south with airstrikes that killed at least 28 Palestinians, pressing ahead with their offensive Tuesday with renewed backing from the United States, despite rising international alarm.In a hospital in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, Mohammed Zaghroub bid farewell to his two children — a 2-year-old boy, and a girl born two weeks ago — killed in a predawn strike on their home. Wounded in the strike, he winced as he peeled back the shrouds to look at their faces as his wife and mother stood by his bed.“Just two weeks old. Her name hadn’t even been registered,” said the children’s grandmother, Suzan Zoughroub. Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she cried, “Does he think that by killing these children he will achieve something? Have they succeeded now? Has he achieved what he wants?”The air and gr...

Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

Kicker Chad Ryland’s disappointing rookie campaign with the Patriots continued in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs when he wasn’t even close on a 41-yard field goal attempt that missed wide left in the first quarter.Ryland went on to make a 25-yard field goal and two extra points in the game, but he’s now just 13-of-20 on field goals and a perfect 19-of-19 on extra points this season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth The Patriots traded...

Ohio prosecutor urged to drop criminal charge against woman who miscarried

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:27 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The physicians’ group behind Ohio’s newly passed reproductive rights amendment is urging a prosecutor to drop criminal charges against a woman who miscarried in the restroom at her home.Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, a nonpartisan coalition of 4,000 doctors and others, argues in a letter to Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins that the abuse-of-corpse charge against Brittany Watts, 33, conflicts “with the spirit and letter” of Issue 1.The measure, which was approved in November with 57% of the vote, guarantees an individual’s “right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.” It made Ohio the seventh-straight state to vote to protect reproductive rights since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that long legalized abortion nationally.Watts’ case has touched off a national firestorm over the treatment of pregnant women, particularly those like Watts who are Black, in post-Roe America. Civil right...