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Sánchez’s backing of Catalan amnesty sparks big far-right protest

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Thousands of people, mainly from the ranks of far-right group Vox, took to the streets of Madrid on Sunday to protest government’s backing of amnesty for Catalan separatists, a measure they claim conflicts with upholding the country’s rule of law.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday said he was in favor of the controversial amnesty toward those involved in Catalonia’s failed 2017 independence bid. Sánchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), argued that the time was ripe for Catalonia to undergo a “total reunion,” noting how a 2021 pardon of high-ranking separatists had been instrumental in easing divisions within the country. “Overcoming definitively the conflict would require other measures in the future because we can’t leave this wound open indefinitely,” Sánchez told party members on Saturday. Sánchez said the move was the “only way” to persuade Catalonia’s parties, such as ERC and JxCat, to endorse him in forming a new Spanish government, a...

Trade talks between Australia and EU collapse

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Last-chance negotiations on a trade agreement between Australia and the European Union have fallen through, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Sunday. “Unfortunately, we have not been able to make progress,” Farrell said in a video statement after informal discussions between Canberra and Brussels. “Negotiations will continue and I am hopeful that, one day, we will sign a deal that benefits both Australia and our European friends.” The talks, held on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 trade ministers in Japan, were seen as a last-ditch attempt for the two sides to bridge remaining gaps.Australia performed a theatrical walk-out in July, objecting that the offer on the table wouldn’t open the EU market sufficiently to its farm produce. The Australian trade minister warned over the weekend that he’d be ready to walk away again if the offer from Brussels was “not good enough” for Australia. He also said that failure to reach a...

Spain’s Sánchez backs Catalan amnesty in bid to form new coalition

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday said he supported granting amnesty to those involved in Catalonia’s failed 2017 independence bid.“Catalonia is ready for total reunion. Representatives of more than 80 percent of Catalans support this measure,” Sánchez said. “And for those same reasons, in the name of Spain, in the interest of Spain, in defense of coexistence among Spaniards, I defend today the amnesty in Catalonia for the events that occurred in the past decade.” Sánchez declared his backing as the “only way” that he could build a governing coalition, El Confidencial reported.Sánchez Socialist Party (PSOE) on Tuesday signed a coalition agreement with the far-left Sumar group, led by Yolanda Díaz. But that deal is not enough to secure a majority in parliament. The agreement includes a range of social measures, including proposals to regulate job cuts, raise the minimum wage and reduce working hours without decreasing salaries...

Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers: Everything you need to know about the Week 8 game before kickoff

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

The 2-5 Chicago Bears will play the 2-4 Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in a Week 8 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:20 p.m., NBC-5).‘The main thing I’ve learned is the room for error is a lot smaller’Every week of Darnell Wright’s rookie season, there has been social media examination of how the Chicago Bears first-round pick is faring — clips of him plowing a path in the run game with his athleticism, holding his own to allow quarterback Justin Fields time and, yes, getting beat by veteran pass rushers.But the film of Wright’s performance against the Las Vegas Raiders and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby on Sunday was unusual. For several plays in the Bears’ 30-12 victory, it looked like Wright was keeping Crosby away from backup quarterback Tyson Bagent with the use of only his right arm.Wright dealt with a left shoulder injury all last week in practice, and coach Matt Eberflus said he pushed t...

Bruins notebook: Joe Sacco earns kudos for penalty kill

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

Some pretty impactful differences stand out between this year’s Bruins’ team and last year’s, but some constants remain.They may not be able to score at will, and the old reliable names no longer patrol the middle of the ice. But they still have excellent goaltending, team defense is still the foundational rock the team was built upon and, perhaps most surprising of all, the penalty kill is still a shining light.One reason is, though they’ve lost some key personnel from the PK from a year ago, one constant remains – assistant coach Joe Sacco, the Medford native who runs the highly successful unit.After their 4-for-4 effort against the explosive Red Wings’ power play on Saturday night at the Garden, the B’s are now 33-for-34 on the PK, with the only goal coming in garbage time of the 4-2 win over the Kings in Los Angeles.When the subject of the PK came up after the B’s 4-1 victory over Detroit, Sacco’s name was on the tip of everyone...

Boston Herald weekly EMass/ISL divisional football rankings

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

 Here are the weekly Eastern Mass. and ISL divisional football rankings. DIVISION 11. St. John’s Prep (8-0)2. Xaverian (6-2)3. Needham (7-1)4. Lincoln-Sudbury (7-1)5. Everett (7-1)6. Methuen (6-2)7. Andover (7-1)8. BC High (5-3) DIVISION 21. Catholic Memorial (5-2)2. King Philip (8-0)3. Marshfield (6-2)4. Barnstable (7-1)5. Bishop Feehan (6-1)6. Peabody (8-0)7. Winchester (7-1)8. Belmont (5-3) DIVISION 31. Milford (7-1)2. Billerica (7-1)3. Mansfield (5-3)4. Dartmouth (8-0)5. Walpole (5-3)6. Woburn (6-2)7. Milton (5-3)8. Plymouth South (5-3) DIVISION 41. Duxbury (6-1)2. Middleboro (6-2)3. Scituate (5-3)4. Melrose (6-2)5. Westwood (6-2)6. Norwood (6-2)7. Holliston (5-3)8. Tewksbury (5-3) DIVISION 51. Hanover (8-0)2. Foxboro (7-1)3. Shawsheen (7-0)4. Newburyport (7-1)5. Dedham (6-2)6. Norton (6-1)7. Danvers (5-3)8. Martha’s Vineyard (5-3) DIVISION 61. Norwell (7-1)2. Lynnfield (7-1)3. Fairhaven (7-1)4. Abington (6-2)5. Salem (6-2)6. St. Ma...

Two teens killed in El Cajon shooting; suspect remains on the loose

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Two teenagers were killed in an overnight shooting in El Cajon, authorities confirmed. According to the El Cajon Police Department, a series of calls came in around 11:57 p.m. Saturday reporting a loud house party and multiple gunshots in the 700 block of Mahogany Drive.Responding officers witnessed numerous people fleeing from the area. After further investigation, ECPD said a 16-year-old and an 18-year-old, both males, were found critically wounded. Three wounded in shooting at Chula Vista mall One of the victims was found in the street and the other was found in the front yard of a residence. Despite medical attention, police said both victims succumbed to their injuries after being transported to local hospitals.Detectives conducting the investigation discovered that the incident occurred during a large house party hosted at a short-term rental property on Mahogany Drive. According to ECPD, preliminary findings indicate that both victims were targeted...

Horror comedy from Ariane Louis-Seize wins Windsor International Film Festival prize

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

A horror comedy set in Montreal telling the coming-of-age story of a teenage vampire is the winner of this year’s Windsor International Film Festival prize for Canadian film.Quebec director Ariane Louis-Seize took home the $25,000 award today for her film “Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person,” which explores a teen’s ethical qualms about feeding on the human blood she needs to survive. The panel of jurors who determined the winner praised the movie’s deft handling of multiple genres, calling it “risky and memorable” with a comedically downbeat tone. The jury also praised the lead performance by Sara Montpetit  The prize was awarded at a private afternoon reception, at which the festival also honoured veteran director Philippe Falardeau — behind such projects as “Monsieur Lazhar” and “The Good Lie” — with its spotlight award for career achievement and industry impact. Other nominees for the WIFF prize i...

4 people, including 2 students, shot near Atlanta college campus

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Four people, two of them students, were shot Sunday near Georgia State University’s Atlanta campus. Authorities said three of the victims were in stable condition and one was in critical condition. Police said the shooting stemmed from a dispute between two groups. They did not reveal whether they had arrested anyone or identified any suspects. The shooting happened around 5 a.m. near a RaceTrac gas station. It’s the same gas station where another Georgia State student died in a December 2022 shooting. A different man was also shot there in April, WXIA-TV reported. In a statement Sunday, university officials confirmed that two students were among those injured in the shooting. They also pledged to increase patrols in the area and work with police to secure the areas surrounding the campus, which is located in downtown Atlanta. The Associated Press

Florida’s ‘Fantasy Fest’ ends with increased emphasis on costumes and less on decadence

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:01:26 GMT

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) — The 10-day Fantasy Fest costuming and masking celebration ends late Sunday in Key West, after some 100 events with an increased emphasis on imaginative costuming and decreases in past years’ decadence.Tens of thousands of spectators thronged the subtropical island’s historic downtown Saturday night for Fantasy Fest’s highlight event, a parade featuring over 40 motorized floats and costumed marching groups.Illustrating the festival’s move toward a more PG-rated focus, its 2023 theme was “Uniforms and Unicorns … 200 Years of Sailing into Fantasy,” in salute to the Florida Keys’ bicentennial and that of the U.S. Navy’s presence in Key West.“The parade really demonstrated the festival’s direction away from decadent aspects and into good fun and off-the-charts creativity,” said Fantasy Fest director Nadene Grossman Orr. “It feels like Fantasy Fest has entered a new era of creative expression.”Parade standouts included a uniformed group with huge blue wings depicting...