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EU population fell by 265k during the pandemic

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

The European Union’s population shrank by 265,257 during the COVID-19 pandemic years, the EU’s statistics agency Eurostat said Tuesday.The pandemic “played a role” in the downfall, which took place between January 2021 and January 2022, Eurostat said in a press release.“This reduction could be attributed to natural population changes (more deaths than births)” whereas migration rates remained positive, meaning there were more people entering the EU than leaving it, the press release said.According to calculations from the European Commission, the COVID-19 pandemic led to excess mortality of at least 872,000 deaths in the bloc’s 27 member countries in less than a year and a half.This means an extra 872,000 people died in Europe between March 2020 and July 2021 compared to the average number of deaths on the Continent in the five previous years.

Germany freezes new spending as budget crisis deepens

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

BERLIN — Germany’s finance ministry has imposed a spending freeze on all federal ministries, deepening a budget crisis that has rocked the ruling coalition since a bombshell ruling by the country’s top court last week.The finance ministry decision, which halts most new spending authorizations, followed a ruling by the constitutional court last week that blew a €60 billion hole in the government’s coffers. The government is now bracing for the potential of far wider financial implications stemming from the ruling that may limit its ability to draw money from a variety of special funds that have been established to circumvent the country’s debt brake, which restricts the federal deficit to 0.35 percent of GDP, except in times of emergency.In a letter to all ministries, State Secretary Werner Gatzer said the finance ministry is freezing spending “in order to avoid further upfront burdens on future financial years.” The step does not impact t...

Bruins player Milan Lucic appears in court on assault and battery charge, pleads not guilty

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

Boston Bruins player Milan Lucic appeared in court Tuesday morning where he was arraigned on a charge of assault and battery, following his arrest over the weekend.A not guilty plea was entered on the 35-year-old’s behalf as the prosecution laid out their case, reviewing a police report that described how officers were called to Lucic’s North End apartment on Saturday, Nov. 18, for what was described as an assault and battery incident around 1 a.m.The report detailed how Lucic’s wife had reached out to authorities, and during her call, said her husband had attempted to choke her. According to the report, officers met with her in the apartment’s lobby and learned that the incident occurred after, sometime during the night, Lucic had come home and could not find his cell phone.She said Lucic accused her of hiding the phone and demanded it back, and that when she told him she did not have it or know where it was, he grabbed her by the hai...

Long serving Mass. Convention Center Authority executive director out

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s long serving executive director is parting ways with the agency, according to the chair of the Board of Directors.In a statement shared with the Herald, Board Chair Emme Handy said the decision to have a change at the top of the quasi-governmental body which oversees the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center was a mutual one.“The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Board and Executive Director David Gibbons have mutually agreed that a change in leadership would be best at this time for the future of the Authority,” Handy said. “David will be resigning effective December 1, 2023 and the Board intends to appoint an Interim Executive Director to ensure that the MCCA continues to provide the same level of service to which visitors and guests are accustomed.”Gibbons was selected by the Board to take the helm of the MCCA at the end of 2015. He joined the Authority after 30 y...

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson helps distribute turkeys for Carroll County Food Sunday in Westminster

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

Thanks to Carroll County Food Sunday almost 600 households in the county will be sitting down to a hearty meal on Thanksgiving.The nonprofit organization in Westminster, Eldersburg, and Taneytown, spent the last week distributing turkeys and side dishes to 592 families. Of that, 150 were handed out Saturday by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, as part of a “Catch-a-Turkey” event at Blaze Pizza in Westminster, which the organization hopes will become an annual tradition.“The holiday time is our busiest time,” said Caroline Babylon, executive director of the nonprofit. “This week has been our busiest.”Babylon said most households receiving a Thanksgiving dinner also come to the organization for food throughout the year.“These are families that come see us already,” she said. “They get their regular food for the week and a bag for Thanksgiving.”Clients who receive food from Food Sunday must be Carroll County residents, but tha...

Rolling Stones announce Hackney Diamonds tour, including stop in Foxboro

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

Get your yeah yeahs out.The Rolling Stones are returning to Massachusetts, bringing their Hackney Diamond tour to Foxboro for a stop scheduled May 30 at Gillette Stadium.The Foxboro stop is one of just 16 shows announced at stadiums across the US next year.The Stones are hitting the road in support of Hackney Diamonds, the band’s first studio record of new material since 2005. The first single from the disc, “Angry” just received a Grammy nomination.The band gave the songs from Hackney Diamonds a test drive last fall, taking over a club in New York, Racket NYC, to work off the rust in a group a shows hailed by critics.“For half an hour, a little club turned into a rock-and-roll church.” said the music site Pitchfork in a report on the shows.But fans can expect plenty of hits as well, including “Start Me Up,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and “Satisfaction,” all of which got mention in the tour publicity.Tickets for the show go on sale December 1st, according to the band’s a...

Man shot in rural East County

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Sheriff's deputies arrested a woman Monday night after a man was shot in rural East County, authorities said.Around 8:20 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department received a call about a shooting on the 1800 block of Harbison Canyon Road, in the Crest community east of El Cajon.When deputies arrived, they found a man in his 50s who had been shot in the chest, SDSO told FOX 5. Paramedics took the victim to the hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. One killed, one injured in Vista stabbing: SDSO Deputies arrested the woman.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Enjoy San Diego County parks for free on 'Green Friday'

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego County Parks and Recreation is encouraging the public to get outdoors this holiday weekend by lifting fees on "Green Friday." This Friday, Nov. 24, dubbed "Green Friday," County Parks and Recreation will be lifting fees so visitors can enjoy 380 miles of trails at dozens of county parks for free. On Green Friday, all $3 park day-use fees are waived. San Diego Zoo welcomes baby De Brazza’s Monkey, a first in 26 years There are several outdoor events you can join at parks throughout the county and many volunteer opportunities over Thanksgiving weekend. Use the County of San Diego Park and Recreation's interactive map to find a park to visit. Spend ‘Christmas on the Sand’ at La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival San Diego County parks are open year-round. View the latest park hours, closures and other updates here. Parking lot gates, park offices and restrooms will be closed on Dec. 25., but parks will remain open to foot, horse and bike traffic.

Dutch political leaders campaign on final day before general election that will usher in new leader

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch political leaders sought support from undecided voters in frantic campaigning Tuesday, on the eve of a general election that will change the face of the country’s politics after 13 years of leadership by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.Pollsters were predicting a knife-edge vote with four parties across the political spectrum vying to become the largest bloc in the 150-seat lower house of parliament.Rutte’s fourth and final coalition resigned in July after it failed to agree on measures to rein in migration. Rutte subsequently said he would not seek re-election but he remains in power as caretaker prime minister until a new coalition is formed — a process that could take months.The vote could provide the Netherlands with its first ever female prime minister — the new leader of Rutte’s People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) is 46-year-old Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, a former refugee who now advocates cracking down on immigration.Bu...

Here’s a list of October inflation rates for selected Canadian cities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:57 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s annual inflation rate was 3.1 per cent in October, Statistics Canada says. The agency also released rates for major cities, but cautioned that figures may have fluctuated widely because they are based on small statistical samples (previous month in brackets):— St. John’s, N.L.: 2.9 per cent (4.4)— Charlottetown-Summerside: 1.6 per cent (2.8)— Halifax: 3.5 per cent (4.9)— Saint John, N.B.: 2.7 per cent (4.2)— Quebec City: 4.3 per cent (4.9)— Montreal: 4.6 per cent (5.0)— Ottawa: 2.6 per cent (2.9)— Toronto: 4.0 per cent (4.1)— Thunder Bay, Ont.: 2.6 per cent (3.1)— Winnipeg: 2.2 per cent (2.8)— Regina: 2.3 per cent (4.0)— Saskatoon: 2.2 per cent (4.0)— Edmonton: 1.7 per cent (3.5)— Calgary: 2.8 per cent (4.4)— Vancouver: 3.4 per cent (4.0)— Victoria: 2.3 per cent (2.8)— Whitehorse: 2.8 per cent (3.8)— Yellowknife: 1.6 per cent (1.8)— Iqaluit: 1.5 per cent (1.2)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 21, 2023.The Canadian Press