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Macron signs pensions reform into law after top court clears measure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

PARIS — France’s Constitutional Council ruled Friday in favor of the most contentious part of President Emmanuel Macron’s pensions reform bill, which raises the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62.However, it chose to block several other measures, including a “senior index” which aims at encouraging the employment of senior workers. Some of them were added as “sweeteners” to the bill, to make it more acceptable to trade unions and opposition MPs.“The Constitutional Council examined the application of the articles invoked [by the government], it found that none of the applications have fallen foul of the rules of the National Assembly,” said one of the Council’s officials on Friday. Following the ruling, Macron signed the measure into law early Saturday morning. The government had come under fire during parliamentary debates about the reforms, because it had invoked a controversial constitutional maneuver — known as article 49.3 — as well as other moves that curtaile...

Japan, US agree to cooperate on geothermal energy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

SAPPORO, Japan (AP) — Japan and the United States agreed Saturday to cooperate on developing geothermal energy, one of the most plentiful resources on this volcanic island chain.The memorandum of commitment was signed Saturday on the sidelines of a meeting of the Group of Seven energy and environment ministers in the northern city of Hokkaido.Japan’s famed hot springs reflect its abundant geothermal activity, but the spas and resorts clustered around them have slowed efforts to use that resource to generate power. The pact signed by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Japan’s minister of economy, trade and industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura, says that geothermal energy is recognized as a “renewable energy technology that the United States and Japan can work together to advance.”It calls for collaborating in research and development and exchange of information and in pursuing geothermal projects in the U.S., Japan and other countries. It’s one of an array of areas where the...

Zimbabwe’s aspiring female artists still ‘frowned upon’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A self-portrait shows Nothando Chiwanga covering her face with a yellow miner’s helmet while money spills over the edge of a traditional African reed basket she holds in her lap.The artwork, a collage called “Immortal,” challenges age-old gender roles in a strongly patriarchal country like Zimbabwe by juxtaposing a helmet from an overtly male-dominated job with a delicately woven basket commonly used by women at markets. To art curator Fadzai Muchemwa, the piece speaks directly of a woman’s struggle to break free of those traditional roles.“To survive as a woman in Zimbabwe … one needs a hard hat,” Muchemwa said as she gazed at the collage, which combines photography and paintwork in an intentionally blurred yet striking image.Chiwanga’s “Immortal” is one of 21 works by female artists that have been on show at the southern African country’s national gallery since International Women’s Day on March 8. The exhibition titled “We Sho...

“Es necesario que EEUU pare de incentivar la guerra en Ucrania”: Lula da Silva desde Beijing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

BEIJING – El presidente brasileño, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, afirmó este sábado desde Beijing, tras su visita de Estado a China, que “es necesario que Estados Unidos pare de incentivar la guerra” en Ucrania y “comience a hablar de paz”.“Es necesario que EEUU pare de incentivar la guerra y comience a hablar de paz. Es necesario que la Unión Europea comience a hablar de paz para que podamos convencer” a los presidentes de Rusia y Ucrania, Vladímir Putin y Volodymyr Zelenskyy, de que “la paz interesa a todos”, dijo Lula a los periodistas.El mandatario hizo esas declaraciones a los medios a la salida del hotel de Beijing donde se ha hospedado y antes de embarcar a Abu Dabi, tras culminar su visita de Estado a China, que incluyó una reunión con su homólogo chino, Xi Jinping.Lula, de 77 años y en el poder desde el pasado 1 de enero, también pidió a “los países que están suministrando armas” al conflicto que “paren...

AP PHOTOS: Behind the scenes as Macron visits China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

A week ago, I traveled with a group of journalists assigned to cover French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China. It was my first trip to the country, and I was excited. I have covered many state trips in my career as a photojournalist with The Associated Press. Often, photographers are led from one highly choreographed event to the other. It is a challenge to break from the script laid out by press officers, especially in a country like China, where both guests and media are subject to a strict protocol.Here, there are no unforeseen events or delays, which the French president is especially prone to. I was thrown from one meeting to another, from one handshake to another. In the middle of all that, I wanted to catch the moments surrounding the orchestrated diplomacy — to show the other side of the scene. There were security guards in dark green uniforms marching on pavements, white pandemic masks hiding their faces. Young students excitedly pulling up smart phones to snap phot...

St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (6-8, fourth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Saturday, 2:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Roansy Contreras (0-0); Cardinals: Steven Matz (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -199, Pirates +168; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.St. Louis has a 6-8 record overall and a 3-5 record at home. The Cardinals have a 0-1 record in games decided by one run.Pittsburgh has gone 5-3 in road games and 8-6 overall. The Pirates have gone 5-0 in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams play Saturday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.03 ERA, outscored by eight runsPirates: 6-4, .000 batting average, 4.35 ERA, outscored by three runsINJURIES: Cardinals: Packy Naughton: 15-Day IL (left forearm), Lars Nootbaar: 10-Day IL (thumb), Paul DeJong: 10-Day IL (back), Wilking Rodrigue...

Cincinnati Reds square off against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (5-9, fourth in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (5-8, fifth in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Matt Strahm (0-0); Reds: Graham Ashcraft (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -116, Phillies -103; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.Cincinnati is 5-8 overall and 4-3 in home games. Reds hitters have a collective .327 on-base percentage, the ninth-ranked percentage in the NL.Philadelphia is 5-9 overall and 2-6 in road games. The Phillies are 1-2 in games decided by one run.Saturday’s game is the sixth meeting between these teams this season. The Phillies have a 3-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 3-7, .000 batting average, 5.64 ERA, outscored by 12 runsPhillies: 5-5, .000 batting average, 3.64 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runsINJURIES: Reds: Joey Votto: 10-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Tony Santillan: 15-Day IL (back), ...

Marlins host the Diamondbacks on home winning streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (8-6, first in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (7-7, third in the NL East)Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (0-0); Marlins: Braxton Garrett (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -131, Diamondbacks +110; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins will try to keep a three-game home win streak alive when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.Miami is 7-7 overall and 4-4 in home games. The Marlins have a 5-1 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Arizona has a 3-4 record in road games and an 8-6 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 5-0 record in games when they scored at least five runs.Saturday’s game is the second time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 6-4, .000 batting average, 5.11 ERA, outscored by 13 runsDiamondbacks: 6-4, .000 batting average, 4.70 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runsINJURIES: Marlins: JT Chargois: 15-Day IL (oblique), Joey ...

Padres take home losing streak into matchup with the Brewers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (10-4, first in the NL Central) vs. San Diego Padres (7-8, third in the NL West)San Diego; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Freddy Peralta (0-0); Padres: Seth Lugo (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -131, Brewers +110; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres look to stop their three-game home skid with a win against the Milwaukee Brewers.San Diego is 7-8 overall and 3-5 at home. The Padres are 5-2 in games when they record eight or more hits.Milwaukee is 5-3 on the road and 10-4 overall. Brewers hitters have a collective .441 slugging percentage to rank fifth in the NL.The teams square off Saturday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.90 ERA, outscored by seven runsBrewers: 7-3, .000 batting average, 2.83 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runsINJURIES: Padres: David Dahl: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel:...

Sustained firing heard in Sudanese capital amid tensions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:23:37 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sustained firing was heard in the Sudanese capital Saturday morning amid tensions between the military and the country’s powerful paramilitary forces. The firing could be heard in a number of areas, including central Khartoum and the neighbourhood of Bahri.Tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, as the paramilitary is known, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country’s democratic transition.In a statement issued Saturday morning, the RSF accused the army of attacking its forces at one of its bases in South Khartoum. The military used light and heavy weapons in the attack, it said.Current tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan’s unsigned transition agreement.However...