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Privacy fears dominate launch of digital euro plan

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

BRUSSELS ― When the European Commission unveiled draft legislation paving the way for a digital version of the euro, its jitters over how to allay privacy concerns were only too apparent.“This is not a Big Brother project,” Finance Commissioner Mairead McGuinness told reporters on Wednesday after presenting what, if it becomes a reality, will be a virtual extension of euro banknotes and coins and which will settle payments across the eurozone in seconds.Supporters say the digital euro goes beyond providing a public good and will ensure the currency and European Central Bank remain relevant in a digital economy, where cryptocurrencies circulate and big tech companies dream of printing their own money.But critics fear it will give governments a way to snoop on buying behavior. At the extreme end, conspiracy theorists portray the digital euro as a covert plan to phase out cash and monitor people’s shopping habits.Unease about how to sell the project was underscored by a last-minute att...

Service temporarily suspended on Orange Line at Tufts Medical Center after issue with third rail

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

Crews responded to the MBTA’s Tufts Medical Center station on Wednesday after the MBTA said an operator reported flames within the track area near the station.Video at one point showed the smoky scene on the Tufts station platform.The T initially announced delays for southbound trains in the area around 12:15 p.m. In an update at 12:30 p.m., the T said service was temporarily suspended between North Station and Back Bay due to what the agency described as an “issue with the third rail.” A T spokesperson, in a statement, said the operator of a southbound train at Tufts first reported flames within the track area in front of the train around 11:50 a.m. The spokesperson said fire crews arrived while the flames were being put out. Power was turned off to the third rail around 12 p.m. and fire crews had left the station as of around 1:45 p.m., the spokesperson said.While there were no injuries, service was still suspended in the area while an investigation into the ...

Biden says Putin has ‘absolutely’ been weakened after revolt in Russia

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden told CNN on Wednesday his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has “absolutely” been weakened by the short-lived mutiny over the weekend.It was his most definitive comment to date on how the rebellion by Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin affected the Russian leader’s stature.Biden and his team have been cautious in commenting on the events, wary of providing Putin pretext for claiming a western plot to oust him. But on Wednesday, Biden expanded on his views of Putin’s diminished stature.Asked whether the Russian president had been weakened, Biden said: “Absolutely.”Later, expanding on the extent of Putin’s weakness, Biden said it was difficult to ascertain.“It’s hard to tell but he’s clearly losing the war,” Biden told reporters on the White House South Lawn, mistakenly referring to the war in Iraq instead of Ukraine.“He’s losing the war at home. He’s become a bit of a pariah around the world. And it’s not just NATO, it’s not just...

US military launches official investigation of disputed drone strike that reportedly killed civilian

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

(CNN) — An official investigation has been launched by US Central Command into the May 3 drone strike in Syria that reportedly killed a civilian instead of the intended senior al-Qaeda target.A statement from CENTCOM on Wednesday said that the civilian casualty credibility assessment recently completed has become an official 15-6 investigation. CNN reported earlier this month that CENTCOM was preparing to launch the formal investigation.“The civilian casualty credibility assessment process has become an AR 15-6 investigation,” the CENTCOM statement on Wednesday said. “Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, commander of [Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve], appointed a general officer as the investigating officer, effective June 23, 2023.”The investigation comes eight weeks after the drone strike which was targeting a senior al-Qaeda leader. Despite confidence from senior CENTCOM officials in the aftermath of the strike that they had killed an al-Qaeda leader, ...

(Test) Chicago White Sox get full Shohei Ohtani experience as Los Angeles Angels two-way star homers twice and strikes out 10

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

The Chicago White Sox didn’t have much success slowing down Shohei Ohtani at the plate.And they didn’t take full advantage of the few opportunities they had to capitalize while hitting against him either.The Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar homered twice and struck out 10 Sox batters in 6 1/3 innings. The Sox got the complete Ohtani experience in a 4-2 loss to the Angels in front of 33,637 on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.“He’s extremely talented,” Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s probably the best player in the game, so he was tough to hit and he’s tough to pitch to.”Ohtani homered to right in the first against Michael Kopech. The Sox starter struggled with his command, walking seven in four-plus innings. But Kopech got out of a couple of jams, particularly in the second when two Angels were thrown out attempting to steal second.“Can’t give away that many free bases,” Kopech said. “Whether the misses a...

Ukraine accuses a local man of directing a missile strike that killed 11 at a pizza restaurant

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

By HANNA ARHIROVA (Associated Press)KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday arrested a man they accused of helping Russia direct a missile strike that killed at least 11 people, including three teenagers, at a popular pizza restaurant in eastern Ukraine.The Tuesday evening attack on Kramatorsk wounded 61 other people, Ukraine’s National Police said. It was the latest bombardment of a Ukrainian city, a tactic Russia has used heavily in the 16-month-old war.The strike, and others across Ukraine late Tuesday and early Wednesday, indicated that the Kremlin is not easing its aerial onslaught, despite political and military turmoil at home after a short-lived armed uprising in Russia last weekend.There has been no apparent military push by Ukraine to exploit that turmoil, though the government has been tight-lipped about recent battlefield developments as it seeks to gain momentum in its recently launched counteroffensive.The Kremlin reeled from the weekend mut...

Construction worker trapped in trench at site in La Jolla Shores

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores on Wednesday.The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed around 8:55 a.m. that crews are working to rescue the trapped individual in the 8000 block of El Paseo Grande.Fire officials say the construction worker is conscious and alert. 13 live parrots seized at US-Mexico border A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)A construction worker became stuck in trench from the waist down at the site of a single family home in La Jolla Shores. (KSWB)There is no word yet on how long it may take to extricate the person from the trench.At this time, no traffic disruptions have been reported in the area.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

These concerts are coming to Petco Park this summer

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It's time to kickoff summer concerts at Petco Park, and the lineup is hot.The summer concert series starts Thursday with Logic bringing The College Park Tour and special guest Juicy J to Gallagher Square, the park located just northeast of the baseball stadium.Check out the lineup below and get tickets on the MLB website. Free summer park concerts to attend in San Diego area June 29 at Gallagher Square - LogicJuly 1 at Gallagher Square - Porter RobinsonJuly 2 at Gallagher Square - Chris LakeJuly 14 at Petco Park - Morgan WallenJuly 15 at Petco Park - Morgan WallenJuly 16 at Petco Park - Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with RomeJuly 21 at Gallagher Square - Jimmy Eat World and Manchester OrchestraAugust 1 at Gallagher Square - YellowcardAugust 11at Gallagher Square - Cigarettes After SexAugust 12 at Gallagher Square - Dom DollaAugust 25 at Gallagher Square - Darius RuckerAugust 26 at Gallagher Square - Kodak Black and NLE ChoppaSeptember 3 at Gallagher Square - WeezerSept...

Maltese lawmakers vote to legalize abortion, but only where the mother is at risk of death

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Maltese lawmakers on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to ease the strictest abortion laws in the European Union, but pro-choice campaigners had withdrawn their support, saying last-minute changes make the legislation “vague, unworkable and even dangerous.”The original bill allowing women access to abortion if a pregnant woman’s life or health is in danger was hailed as a step in the right direction for Malta, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation. It was introduced last fall after an American tourist who miscarried had to be airlifted off the Mediterranean island nation to be treated. Under the amendments, however, a risk to health is not enough. A woman must be at risk of death to access an abortion, and then only after three specialists consent. The legislation approved Wednesday allows a doctor to terminate a pregnancy without further consultation only if the mother’s life is at immediate risk.Thousands of Maltese protested against t...

Former Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., maverick senator during Watergate, dies at 92

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:22:33 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Lowell P. Weicker Jr., a Republican U.S. senator who tussled with his own party during the Watergate hearings, championed legislation to protect people with disabilities and later was elected Connecticut governor as an independent, died Wednesday. He was 92.Weicker’s death at a hospital in Middletown, Conn., after a short illness, was confirmed by his family in a statement released by a spokesperson.With a 6-foot-6-inch frame and a shoot-from-the-hip style, Weicker was a leading figure in Connecticut politics from his first election to the General Assembly in 1962 until he decided against running for a second term as governor in 1994.He inspired strong feelings among many people he met. In one poll, opinion was split over whether Weicker was “decisive and courageous,” or “inflexible and arrogant.”“I think he was just incredibly genuine, a little unfiltered,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat who considered Weicker a friend, told the Associated Pres...