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Biden issues first veto, defending Labor Dept. ‘ESG’ rule

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday issued the first veto of his presidency as he sought to block Republican-led efforts in Congress to overturn a Labor Department rule allowing retirement plans to consider environmental, social and governance factors when making investment decisions.The Labor Department rule ended a Trump-era ban on managers of retirement plans considering factors such as climate change or pending lawsuits when making investment choices. Because suits and climate change have financial repercussions, administration officials argue that their predecessors were courting possible disaster.Critics say ESG investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers. Republicans in Congress who pushed the measure to overturn the Labor Department’s action argue ESG is just the latest example of the world trying to get “woke.”Only two Democrats in the Senate voted for the...

Macron survives crucial no-confidence vote in parliament

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

PARIS — Emmanuel Macron’s government survived a no-confidence vote in the French parliament Monday, after it pushed through a deeply unpopular pensions overhaul without a vote last week, sparking outrage and spontaneous protests across the country.In a high-stakes vote in France’s lower house of parliament, 277 MPs, mostly from the left and the far right, voted in favor of a cross-party motion of no confidence, falling short of the 287 votes needed to topple the government. A second motion, backed only by the far-right National Rally, is not expected to garner enough votes.Speaking ahead of the votes, the centrist MP Charles de Courson, one of the authors of the cross-party motion, accused Macron’s government of lacking “courage” during the parliamentary debates. “You could have submitted [your reform] to a vote, and you probably would have lost it, but that’s the game when you are in a democracy,” he told MPs. The leader of Macron’s R...

Relieving animal shelter in Texas, MSPCA & NEAS take in nearly 50 cats and kittens

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

Nearly four dozen cats and kittens are recouping in Massachusetts following a long flight from Texas, with animal rescue staff hoping to put them up for adoption in the near future.Staff from MSPCA-Angell and the Northeast Animal Shelter (NEAS) welcomed 47 felines at the New Bedford Regional Airport over the weekend before bringing them to the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem.The cats were relocated to New England as part of an effort to relieve the SPCA of Texas, a shelter that officials say is being “overrun with pets during a particularly busy period of animal intake in the South.”“This transport comes at a critical time for the South,” explained Jamie Garabedian, NEAS assistant director of operations. “As the weather gets warmer, shelters will likely see an increase in how many cats and kittens come in, so it’s important to free up some space there, while getting these cats here where we’re confident they’ll find new loving homes.”“Our relocation program brought mor...

‘Good Burger’ sequel to reunite Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

(CNN) — The order is up for audiences who have been hungry for a “Good Burger” sequel.Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell have confirmed that “Good Burger 2” is coming.The pair broke the news recently with an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”In the show’s opening, Fallon greets Thompson before Mitchell appears in character as “Ed.” That causes Fallon to get in on the fun with a “Good Burger” costume before the three inform the audience to “Welcome to Good Burger 2.”During an interview with Fallon, the late-night host pointed out that it’s been more than 25 years since the original “Good Burger” film was released.The 1997 film was based on a comedy sketch about a fast food restaurant from Nickelodeon’s “All That,” with Thompson as Dexter and Mitchell as Ed.It’s such a blessing man. It’s unbelievable,” Thompson told ...

Erik Spoelstra sees Heat’s own March Madness, ‘the opportunities are there’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

After all that has gone sideways, gone south, gone to the wire, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said it is time for a revised outlook, similar to what he told his team in the wake of Sunday night’s tougher-than-expected road victory over the Detroit Pistons.Basically for the Miami Heat, he said, it comes down to nine lives, as in the nine games remaining on the team’s regular-season schedule, starting with Wednesday night’s matchup against the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena.“I probably can sum it up, with all of this, is like nothing about this season is easy and I’m embracing that it’s not going to be easy,” Spoelstra said of the wild ride to this 39-34 record and current No. 7 seed in an Eastern Conference. Only the top six seeds advance directly to the playoffs. “And I told that to the team, you have to embrace this right now. This is just the path for this team. It doesn’t mean that it’s a negative thing. Just wrap your ...

Delayed by visa issues, Yu Chang will have less than week to compete for roster spot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

Yu Chang is one of several ballplayers competing for a spot on the Red Sox roster, but unlike the others, he’ll have less than a week to make his case.On Monday morning, Alex Cora told reporters that visa issues have delayed Chang’s arrival. He’s now expected to arrive Thursday, exactly one week before Opening Day.The versatile infielder played for Chinese Taipei, who were mathematically eliminated (due to Pool A’s five-team tie) in the first round of the World Baseball Classic. Though he hasn’t played in over a week and wasn’t at spring training prior to the tournament, he won’t be starting from scratch when he arrives. Sources tell the Herald that since Chang was playing at a high level in the World Baseball Classic, it shouldn’t be long before he sees some action.But including his estimated day of arrival, all that stands between the Red Sox and their first game of the regular season are six Grapefruit League games and a day off on ...

Shaquille O’Neal sparks concern after tweet from hospital bed

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal sparked thousands of messages of concern after tweeting a photo from his hospital bed.Shaq tweeted the photo on Sunday: “I’m always watching @TurnerSportsEJ and @Candace_Parker miss y’all.”The former Orlando Magic superstar is in the hospital for hip replacement surgery, according to Austin, TX, news station KXAN.Shaq played four years for the Magic he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.However, he still maintained a home on an estate in Isleworth that he bought in 1993 for $3.95 million.He finally sold the home in Oct. 2021 for $11 million, one of the highest prices ever paid for a home in Central Florida. ()

Skier dies after hitting tree on Wachusett Mountain, State Police investigating

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

A skier died after hitting a tree on a Wachusett Mountain advanced trail Monday morning, a “tragic loss” that State Police are now investigating.Wachusett Ski patrol responded to an incident involving a 67-year-old male skier at around 9:25 a.m. on Monday. The skier had reportedly struck a tree on an advanced trail, and the man was found unresponsive by another skier who was passing by.Wachusett ski patrollers brought the man to the bottom of the mountain and provided emergency care to him before handing his care over to first responders.“Unfortunately, we have since learned that the skier has passed away,” Wachusett Mountain Ski Area said in a statement. “The entire Wachusett family is grieving this tragic loss.“All of our thoughts are with the skier’s family and friends,” the ski area added.State Police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and Crime Scene Services personnel responded to investi...

Quebec police say third man dies after pedestrians struck by truck last week

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

AMQUI, Que. — A third person has died of injuries sustained when a pickup truck crashed into pedestrians last week in an eastern Quebec town, provincial police said Monday.Police identified the latest victim as 41-year-old Simon-Guillaume Bourget.One week ago, a man drove a truck down a main street in Amqui, Que., hitting several groups of pedestrians in what police have described as an intentional act.The hospital research centre tied to Université Laval said one person died Sunday night at Quebec City’s Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus.Two other men — Gérald Charest, 65, and Jean Lafrenière, 73 — were killed in the alleged attack in Amqui, about 350 kilometres northeast of Quebec City. The truck hit 11 people ranging in age from less than a year old to 77. Six people were transported to hospital; three patients were still hospitalized Monday, including one in critical condition, and the other two were stable.Bourget’s father, Sylvio Bourget, paid tribute to his late son...

Putin warns Russia could drop grain deal after 60 days

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:55:14 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed on Monday that Moscow has agreed to extend a deal allowing the exports of Ukrainian grain to global markets only for 60 days and could drop it altogether if its conditions aren’t met.Speaking at a parliamentary meeting in Moscow attended by lawmakers from African countries, Putin emphasized that Russia expects the facilitation of exports of its own agricultural products as part of a package agreement.“A fair and comprehensive implementation of the Black Sea grain deal can only be ensured if our position is taken into account, and depending on that we will deal with the issue of our further participation in it,” Putin said.The U.N. and Turkey brokered July’s agreement that allowing Ukraine — one of the world’s key breadbaskets — to ship food and fertilizer from three of its Black Sea ports. The 120-day agreement was renewed last November, and Russia agreed to extend it again when it expired Saturday, noting that it...