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Day of drama ends with France and Germany confident of EU spending rules deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

PARIS AND BRUSSELS ― France and Germany said they are confident that last-ditch talks on an overhaul of the EU’s public spending rules will result in a deal ― despite lingering disagreement between the bloc’s biggest governments.On the eve of a virtual meeting of all 27 finance ministers on Wednesday, France’s Bruno Le Maire and his German counterpart, Christian Lindner, said they hoped to wrap up a compromise in the hours that followed, which would pave the way for looser targets allowing countries to be given more time to rein in spending.Their dinner in Paris on Tuesday night came after a day of back-and-forth between Brussels and EU capitals that at one point left diplomats believing that negotiations were about to collapse. The ambition had always been to find agreement before the end of the year.“I am sure we will have a deal tonight,” Le Maire said before Tuesday’s talks. Standing next to him, Lindner clarified the word should be “solution”...

Restoration efforts ongoing along South Shore after high winds bring down trees, power lines

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

Restoration efforts continued on the South Shore Tuesday, one day after the region was hit hard by Monday’s major storm. Ramping up overnight into Monday morning, powerful wind gusts sent debris flying, knocking down trees and leaving nearly all residents in Scituate in the dark. As of around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, 34% of Scituate energy customers were still without power, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Sixty-six percent of customers in Norwell were impacted, while more than 50% of customers in Hanson, Pembroke and Duxbury were in the dark. Elsewhere, 62% of energy customers in Rochester were without power.National Grid said it brought in crews from New York and Canada to support restoration efforts. Crews were then visible around town in Scituate Tuesday making repairs. Still, officials said it could take until Thursday to fully restore power.Scituate schools were closed Tuesday, as were schools in Cohasset, Duxbury, Marshfield, Norwell, and Pembr...

From the Beatles and Maria Callas to Thelonious Monk and Eric Clapton, new 2023 box sets run the gamut

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

George Varga | The San Diego Union-TribuneAny CD or vinyl box sets worth releasing are worth rereleasing, ideally in expanded, more lavishly packaged and more expensive form.That is not an official business model for the record industry, but it certainly could be with regards to new 2023 box sets by everyone from the Beatles to opera icon Maria Callas. Their new releases affirm that any box set done once is worth doing again, the bigger the better.This seems to be the best way to entice music fans who want to ensure their collections are complete, even — make that, especially — if it means buying a box set they already have. Or, rather, a box set they already have that is now lacking compared to the newly expanded version of that set, which boasts songs not included in prior iterations, spiffy new audio mixes, accompanying books with extensive essays and artist interviews, memorabilia and more.Consider the recently released updated versions of “The Beatles 1962-1966” and...

Stumped for tech gifts as the shopping season winds down? We’ve got you

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

If you’re stumped for tech gifts as the holiday season winds down, I’ve got a few suggestions for your final gadget-shopping push.I’ve tried all of the following, and I like them enough to recommend them — though I’ve noted where I see potential issues.Amazon has most of these products and will get them to you before Christmas Eve — but you will have to pay for delivery, in most cases, unless you are a Prime subscriber.With a couple of products, you’ll need to order directly from the manufacturer.What gadgets are you giving or hoping to receive this Christmas? Email me at the address above.Safety-focused earbudsRockin’ your tunes with traditional earbuds that lodge in your ear canals is great … except when you’re running, jogging or driving, and you need to keep your wits about you.JVC’s HA-NP50T Nearphones solve this problem because they are positioned just above and outside your ear canals, not inside them. This means you can hear your podcasts and music clearly without blocking o...

Cyclist dies after being struck by garbage truck driver in Allston: Boston Police

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

A man has died from injuries he suffered riding a bicycle after a driver of a garbage truck struck him in Allston Tuesday morning, according to authorities.The cyclist had been traveling near the intersection of Hano and Cambridge streets, near Union Square, minutes after 10 a.m., when the garbage truck driver crashed into him, Boston Police Sgt. Det. John Boyle said.The victim’s identity has not been released.Police responded to the scene at about 10:08 a.m., and emergency responders took the cyclist to a nearby hospital with what authorities described as life-threatening injuries.The truck driver stayed on scene and cooperated with authorities.— Developing

Quick Fix: Ginger and Scallion Steamed Tilapia over Chinese Noodles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News Service (TNS)I found this delicious and very easy way to steam fish. It’s in the oven instead of over boiling liquid. It helps retain moisture and flavor. The combination of ginger, scallions and garlic form a flavorful sauce for steamed tilapia. It takes a few minutes to prepare ingredients, but then the oven does the rest of the work.Serving the fish over Chinese noodles makes a perfect pairing for the sauce. These are very thin noodles. There are several types. I use wheat-based noodles which take only 3 minutes to boil. You can also use angel hair pasta for this dinner.HELPFUL HINTS:A small sheet pan with sides can be used instead of a 10-by-8-inch baking dish.Sole, snapper, mahi mahi or flounder can be used instead of tilapia.Sesame oil can be used instead of toasted sesame oil.Fish broth can be used instead of dry sherry.COUNTDOWN:Preheat oven to 450 degrees.Prepare ingredients.Make steamed tilapia.While tilapia steams in the oven, boil water ...

Save some eggnog for breakfast; it works in French toast, too

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

Beth Dooley | (TNS) Star TribuneAt some point during the holidays, regardless of your religious or family traditions, a lovely breakfast will be added to the already busy schedule.Because there’s plenty to do in the kitchen this time of year, I have no delusions about setting a fancy table early in the morning. But I do believe it’s worth giving this meal some thought a day or two before.In our home, overnight French toast is the winning dish, especially when there’s eggnog leftover from earlier festivities. Making this one-pan dish sure beats standing over the stove, cooking slice after slice of French toast or ladling pancake batter onto the griddle. It is easily scaled up to feed a crowd with very little effort, as all of the servings bake simultaneously.Everything can be assembled the night before, so all you need to do when you wake up is pop it in the oven. It will fill the house with a warm, toasty scent as it rises into an impressive golden puff. This is th...

Groups sue over new Texas law that lets police arrest migrants who enter the US illegally

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

By ACACIA CORONADO (Associated Press)AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Civil rights organizations on Tuesday filed a lawsuit challenging a new Texas law that would allow police to arrest migrants who cross the border illegally and permit local judges to order them to leave the country.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Austin, came less than 24 hours after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure during a ceremony on the U.S. border in Brownsville. The law takes effect in March.The American Civil Liberties Union, its Texas branch, and the Texas Civil Rights Project claim on behalf of El Paso County and two immigrant aid groups that the new law is unconstitutional and preempted by federal law.The Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw and 34th Judicial District Attorney Bill Hicks, who are listed as defendants, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “The bill overrides bedrock constitutional principles and flouts federal immigration law while h...

Tuesday marks 10 years since Toronto’s devastating ice storm

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

Today marks a decade since the winter ice storm that left Toronto in the dark over the holidays.The devastating storm began on Dec. 19, 2013, and dispersed on Dec. 23, 2013, but the impacts didn’t end there. The storm reached Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Maine, New England, New York, Michigan and Arkansas.Locally, the ice was so heavy it resulted in damaged hydro lines and trees weighing down onto roads and vehicles. The 2013 ice storm comprised 40-plus hours of freezing rain and more than 30 millimetres of ice, leaving 416,000 customers without power, 500 wires down and two million trees damaged.73,000 metres of service wire replaced during the 2013 ice stormToronto Hydro is looking back while also looking ahead. It says it’s made significant improvements to harden its electrical infrastructure, modernize its grid capabilities and ensure staff have the necessary training and tools to handle emergencies effectively.“By factoring in climate projections for temp...

A pro-Trump super PAC airs an anti-Haley ad in New Hampshire. She says that’s a sign of her strength

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:13:11 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The super PAC supporting Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign has launched a television ad targeting Nikki Haley, a move her campaign called a signal that Trump’s allies are worried about her.The ad, debuting Tuesday, marks the first such effort by either Trump, who has dominated the Republican primary, or the groups supporting him to take Haley on directly. The spot from Make America Great Again, Inc. argues that, as South Carolina governor, Haley flip-flopped over her support for a gas tax, showing clips of State of the State addresses in which she opposed, then called for, such a measure. “New Hampshire can’t afford Nikki ‘High Tax’ Haley, a narrator says in the ad. Ahead of the ad’s release, Haley was already disputing its premise on social media, saying Tuesday night in a post on X that the ad signified that “someone’s getting nervous.”Haley’s super PAC responded with a New Hampshire ad of its own, arguing that the front-runner is spreading misle...