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France to witness 12th nationwide strike against Macron's pension law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

French unions called for workers to quit their jobs and join protest rallies on Thursday (13 April) for a twelfth national day of demonstrations against a bill which will make French employees work longer.Some trains may be cancelled and strikes can be expected among teachers, garbage collectors, refinery workers and garbage collectors at a moment when polls indicate that a large majority of voters oppose raising the retirement age from 64 to 64.However, industrial action is losing steam and the latest rallies have attracted fewer people that the record crowds of earlier this year which brought out millions of protesters on the streets.This latest wave of protests occurs a day prior to Friday's eagerly awaited verdict of the Constitutional Council regarding the legality and constitutionality of the bill.The government will have the right to promulgate the law if the Council agrees to some conditions. This will hopefully end the protests that at times have turned violent and coalesce...

LOCALIZE IT: Volunteerism decline straining local nonprofits

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS:Volunteerism has been woven into the fabric of American life since Benjamin Franklin encouraged his fellow Philadelphians to establish America’s first volunteer firefighting brigade, the Union Fire Company, in 1736.In 2021, American volunteers donated an estimated 4.1 billion hours to help their communities with an economic value of $122.9 billion, according to AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. However, formal volunteer participation in America fell to 23.2% between 2019 and 2021 — a 7% decline that is the largest drop the U.S. Census survey has recorded since it began tracking it in 2002.Though volunteerism in America has been declining for decades, the rapid fall is further straining the nation’s social safety net, especially with nonprofits currently dealing with an increasing demand for its services, like food pantries.The Associated Press has produced a series of stories set to run beginning April 17 to coincide with Na...

Diamondbacks visit the Cardinals to open 3-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (9-7, first in the NL West) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (7-9, fourth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Monday, 7:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (0-0); Cardinals: Jack Flaherty (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -162, Diamondbacks +139; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday to start a three-game series.St. Louis has a 4-6 record in home games and a 7-9 record overall. Cardinals hitters have a collective .347 on-base percentage, the third-ranked percentage in the NL.Arizona has a 9-7 record overall and a 4-5 record in road games. The Diamondbacks have the seventh-ranked team batting average in the NL at .254.The matchup Monday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 5-5, .000 batting average, 3.74 ERA, outscored by four runsDiamondbacks: 6-4, .000 batting average, 3.99 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runsINJURIES: Cardin...

Giants enter matchup with the Marlins on losing streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

San Francisco Giants (5-9, fourth in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (8-8, third in the NL East)Miami; Monday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Logan Webb (0-0); Marlins: Jesus Luzardo (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -132, Giants +111; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants are looking to end their three-game losing streak with a win against the Miami Marlins.Miami has an 8-8 record overall and a 5-5 record at home. The Marlins have gone 2-7 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.San Francisco is 5-9 overall and 3-5 on the road. The Giants have a 3-1 record in games when they did not allow a home run.The matchup Monday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 6-4, .000 batting average, 4.60 ERA, outscored by eight runsGiants: 3-7, .000 batting average, 4.74 ERA, outscored by six runsINJURIES: Marlins: Avisail Garcia: day-to-day (wrist), JT Chargois: 15-Day IL (oblique), Joey...

Padres open 3-game series with the Braves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

Atlanta Braves (12-4, first in the NL East) vs. San Diego Padres (8-9, third in the NL West)San Diego; Monday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Max Fried (0-0); Padres: Ryan Weathers (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -153, Padres +130; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres open a three-game series at home against the Atlanta Braves on Monday.San Diego has an 8-9 record overall and a 4-6 record in home games. Padres pitchers have a collective 4.29 ERA, which ranks sixth in the NL.Atlanta is 8-1 on the road and 12-4 overall. The Braves have a 6-2 record in games when they did not give up a home run.The teams meet Monday for the fifth time this season. The Padres lead the season series 3-1.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 5-5, .000 batting average, 3.74 ERA, outscored opponents by two runsBraves: 7-3, .000 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored opponents by six runsINJURIES: Padres: David Dahl: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), ...

Mets try to continue road win streak in matchup with the Dodgers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

New York Mets (10-6, second in the NL East) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (8-8, second in the NL West)Los Angeles; Monday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: David Peterson (0-0); Dodgers: Dustin May (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -163, Mets +139; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets visit the Los Angeles Dodgers trying to continue a three-game road winning streak.Los Angeles has an 8-8 record overall and a 5-4 record at home. The Dodgers have the fifth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .339.New York has gone 6-4 in road games and 10-6 overall. The Mets have a 4-0 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Monday’s game is the first time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 4-6, .000 batting average, 5.44 ERA, outscored by seven runsMets: 7-3, .000 batting average, 3.60 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runsINJURIES: Dodgers: Will Smith: 7-Day IL (concussion), Alex Reyes: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Pep...

Pirates visit the Rockies to open 3-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (9-7, third in the NL Central) vs. Colorado Rockies (5-11, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Monday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Rich Hill (0-0); Rockies: Kyle Freeland (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Rockies -143, Pirates +122; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday to begin a three-game series.Colorado has a 3-4 record in home games and a 5-11 record overall. Rockies hitters are batting a collective .253, which ranks eighth in the NL.Pittsburgh is 9-7 overall and 6-4 on the road. The Pirates have hit 19 total home runs to rank sixth in the NL.Monday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Rockies: 3-7, .000 batting average, 4.66 ERA, outscored by 17 runsPirates: 5-5, .000 batting average, 4.79 ERA, outscored by seven runsINJURIES: Rockies: German Marquez: 15-Day IL (forearm), Daniel Bard: 15-Day IL (anxiety), Randal Grichuk: 10-Day IL (her...

RESEÑA | “Succession” encuentra el humor negro tras shock del episodio anterior

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

Nota editorial: Esta reseña contiene spoilers importantes sobre el cuarto episodio de la temporada 4 de “Succession”.(CNN) — Después de la conmoción vinieron las réplicas, el vacío de poder y, quizás lo más significativo e impresionante, las risas, ya que “Succession” giró para afrontar la vida después de Logan Roy, en un episodio que por fin hizo florecer el título de la serie de HBO.El abrupto fallecimiento de Logan Roy dejó a sus hijos mayores y subordinados en una situación difícil, en la que cada uno se ofrecía humildemente para llenar el vacío, al tiempo que se preocupaban por cómo encajarían los distintos candidatos en el consejo de administración de la empresa.Al mismo tiempo, lloraban la pérdida de la figura más grande que la vida, teniendo en cuenta que había tratado a muchos de ellos de forma abismal. Y la cuarta hora también supuso el regreso de la esposa de Logan, Marcia (Hiam Abbass), en lo que pareció “Marcia contraataca”, mie...

Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges in Pakistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police arrested a Chinese national on blasphemy charges after he allegedly insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, authorities said Monday. Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, the offense carries the death penalty. Police identified the man only as Mr. Tian from China and said he was arrested on Sunday night, hours after hundreds of residents and laborers working on a dam project blocked a key highway and rallied to demand his arrest. The rally took place in the town of Komela in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, according to local police chief Naseer Khan.Khan said officers quickly responded to the protests by rescuing and arresting the Chinese national. “We are still investigating,” Khan said.The blocked highway later reopened to traffic and work resumed at the Dasu Dam, which has scores of Chinese and hundreds of Pakistanis working on the project, Khan said.Mob attacks on people accused of blasphemy and even ly...

Saudi-led coalition releases additional Yemen war prisoners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:11:22 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Saudi-led military coalition on Monday started freeing 104 more prisoners captured in Yemen’s war, a unilateral release that followed an organized prisoner swap amid renewed diplomatic efforts to halt the conflict.The International Committee of the Red Cross said it flew 48 detainees from Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport heading to Sanaa, Yemen’s capital that has been held for years by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. More flights with prisoners were planned for later on Monday. A statement from Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, acknowledged the release of 104 Houthi detainees.A U.N.-brokered deal saw the release of over 700 detained Houthis, and more than 180 other prisoners, including Saudi and Sudanese troops fighting with the Saudi-led coalition. That three-day operation was overseen by the Red Cross and ended on Sunday. The prisoner releases come as the Houthis and Saudi Arabia s...