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France’s arms heartland tiptoes into the war economy

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

LA CHAPELLE-SAINT-URSIN, France — Across industrial plants reeking of metal, where booming machines drown out voices, French arms manufacturer Nexter hasn’t waited for the EU’s nod to ramp up production. With factories located in Bourges’ wider region — the country’s defense heartland since the 19th century — Nexter has been building the Caesar truck-mounted howitzers delivered to Kyiv in recent months and producing the 155-millimeter shells Ukraine needs to rapidly restock. But now the company has also been thrust into the heart of Europe’s arms race, as EU officials seek out manufacturers to rapidly expand their output even further and create a true “wartime economy.”On a cold, sunny Monday morning, Nexter was the latest stop for Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner tasked with championing homegrown production. He also popped over to visit the nearby missile manufacturer MBDA. In the same way as the hyperactive French commissioner toured factories to boost vaccine pr...

Is there a war on? Big EU powers still short of NATO spending targets

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Not even a war has succeeded in pushing Europe’s biggest powers to reach their defense spending targets.The Continent’s largest economies all fell short of a common goal of spending 2 percent of economic output on defense, according to a NATO report published Tuesday. And across the entire military alliance, only seven out of 30 members spent at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense last year. Germany: 1.49 percent. Italy: 1.51 percent. France: 1.89 percent. And although that amounts to billions, officials and experts warn the organization’s members will need to spend much more to assure its security. The figures, all NATO estimates for 2022, show that while allies have been pouring significantly more money into their militaries for years, many are still largely lagging behind an alliance spending target, set in 2014, to spend 2 percent on defense within a decade. Of 30 members, only Greece, Poland, the Baltic states, the United Kingdom and the United Stat...

Tom Hanks named Harvard’s 2023 commencement speaker

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Two-time Academy Award winning actor Tom Hanks was named the principal speaker at Harvard’s commencement on May 25, the Ivy League university announced Tuesday.Hanks, 66, has appeared in almost 100 films. Nominated for an Oscar six times, he won best actor for “Philadelphia” in 1993 and “Forrest Gump” the following year.Harvard President Lawrence Bacow called Hanks “a true master of his craft.”“In addition to his brilliance as an actor, Tom has demonstrated both an innate empathy and a deep understanding of the human condition,” Bacow said in a statement. “He has contributed to our national culture and expanded our ability to appreciate stories and histories that have been previously unexamined.”Recent Harvard commencement speakers included former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, late civil rights activist and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg.A comedic actor early in his career, Hanks transitioned seamlessly to dramatic rol...

Lowell Police arrest suspect in armed robbery

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Lowell Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a masked armed robbery that took place earlier this year at a bank on Bridge Street.Police say 38-year-old Nesuh Gebrechristos is facing charges of masked armed robbery and threats to commit a crime. Officers responded to the bank shortly after 12:30 p.m. on January 31 for a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred. After conducting an investigation, detectives identified the alleged suspect as Gebrechristos, according to police.Police say Gebrechristos is listed as being homeless at the time of the crime.No further information has been released. https://twitter.com/LowellPD/status/1637880609719590918?s=20

Medford home of Elizabeth Warren’s son burns in overnight fire

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

A home belonging to the son of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren burned to the ground in Medford Tuesday morning, requiring the aid of two outside fire companies.“I deeply appreciate the efforts of the firefighters who worked through the night to put out a fire at our son’s house. I am grateful that everyone is safe and request privacy for our family,” Warren said in a statement issued by her office.Fire crews responded to the residential fire at 44 Terrace Road in Medford after 1 a.m.Firefighters arrived to find the apparently unoccupied home already ablaze.By 3 a.m. the response had been elevated to a third alarm.The house burned for several more hours before crews were able to extinguish the fire.Alex Warren bought the five bed, four bath, over 3,300 square foot property in April of 2021 for $1.3 million, according to figures provided by Zillow.Medford Fire Chief John Freedman told WCVB no fire fighters or occupants were injured, as the home was still under construction, but nearby home...

Retro: Who was former Orioles pitcher James ‘Rube’ Parnham?

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

His name draws shrugs from Orioles fans. James “Rube” Parnham? Who’s he? A century ago, Parnham, a gangly right-handed pitcher, won 33 games — including 20 straight — as Baltimore captured a fifth consecutive International League pennant in 1923.In eight years with the high-flying Orioles, Parnham was effective, eccentric and maddeningly elusive. Sometimes, he skipped spring training altogether; other summers, he’d vanish for days, or weeks, on end. He might be gardening back home in western Pennsylvania, or umpiring there for a sandlot team, or on a bender. In 1921, having won 50 games in the course of two seasons, he chose not to show up in Baltimore at all.When in an Orioles uniform, however, he flashed signs of brilliance. Several times, Parnham pitched (and won) both ends of a doubleheader. Master of “a puzzling curve, neat twisters and a slowball,” according to The Sun, he once faced Walter Johnson in an exhibition and bested the...

Stocks rise on Wall Street, even the most beaten-down banks

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are rising on a calming Wall Street Tuesday, even the banks most beaten down by the industry’s crisis, on hopes for more help from the U.S. government.The S&P 500 was 1% higher in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 294 points, or 0.9%, at 32,538, as of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.9% higher.Markets around the world have pinballed sharply this month on worries the banking system may be cracking under the pressure of the fastest set of hikes to interest rates in decades. If the S&P 500 squeezes out a gain, it would mark its first back-to-back rise in two weeks. In the U.S., shares of smaller and mid-sized banks rose after prepared remarks indicated Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen would tell a bankers’ group more government assistance “could be warranted” if risks arise that could bring down the system.Earlier this month, the U.S. government sa...

Cactus League report: White Sox’s Yoán Moncada OK after WBC collision — and an important season for Adbert Alzolay’s Cubs future

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Hanser Alberto continued his impressive spring Monday with two hits, including a three-run homer, for the White Sox in a 7-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Camelback Ranch.Alberto made a stellar play at third base in the first inning to start a double play. He singled in second and homered in the fourth, his second home run this spring. The non-roster invitee is hitting .483.Right fielder Eloy Jiménez exited after the second inning with right calf cramping, according to the Sox, who said he is day to day. Jiménez hit a tapper in front of the plate and was thrown out by catcher Carson Kelly in the second, his only at-bat.The Cubs were off Monday and resume Cactus League play with a Tuesday night game against the Kansas City Royals.Chicago Tribune baseball writers LaMond Pope, Meghan Montemurro and Paul Sullivan will be providing Cubs and White Sox updates throughout spring training.Yoán Moncada is ‘good’ after leaving WBC gameSox manager Pedro Grifol s...

Ravens have been quiet in free agent market; possibilities at receiver and cornerback still available

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

NFL free agency is nearly a week old and there are two teams that have yet to sign a player from outside their organization — the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Ravens. Meanwhile, the Ravens have yet to work out a deal with their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, to whom they issued the nonexclusive franchise tag earlier this month.Those circumstances are not unrelated.So far, the Ravens have re-signed five of their 20 free agents this offseason — cornerback Trayvon Mullen, running back Justice Hill, safety Geno Stone, outside linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips and long snapper Nick Moore. They have also lost three players to free agency — guard Ben Powers signed with the Denver Broncos; tight end Josh Oliver bolted for the Minnesota Vikings; and center-guard Trystan Colon joined inked a deal with the New York Jets. Additionally, veteran defensive lineman Calais Campbell was released in a cost-cutting move.As free agency nears the end of its first week, Baltimore has...

Roads closed in Mission Valley as crews prepare for more flooding

Published Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Several roads are closed in the Mission Valley area near the San Diego River as city crews anticipate heavy flooding.The closures come as another atmospheric river has made its way to the San Diego region, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to the area Tuesday morning.The following Mission Valley roads were closed as of 9 p.m. Monday, according to the City of San Diego Twitter:Southbound Qualcomm Way at Rio San Diego DriveNorthbound Mission Center Road between Hazard Center Drive and Camino De La ReinaSouthbound Ward Road at Camino Del Rio NCamino Del Este between Station Village Drive and Camino De La ReinaWestbound Camino De La Reina at Camino De La SiestaEastbound Camino De La Reina, west of Avenida Del RioSan Diego Mission Road between Fairmount Avenue and Caminito YucatanSouthern California is expected to get the heaviest rain from this next atmospheric river event expecting to bring widespread heavy showers, potentially damaging winds and cold temperatures. ...