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Post-pubescent, angsty, opinionated — and ready to vote in Belgium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

MECHELEN, Belgium — Meet Europe’s newest electorate, aged 16 to 18.On a recent rainy day in the Belgian city of Mechelen, north of Brussels, a gaggle of teens gathered in a history classroom not to learn about the Flemish Renaissance or French Revolution — but to become the first Belgians under 18 to register to vote in next year’s European Parliament election.“We are affected, so why wouldn’t we be able to vote?” reasoned 17-year-old Selle Haemhouts. “Politicians really need to listen to what young people say.”Last year, Belgium became the third country in the European Union to lower the voting age to 16 for the European elections. The result is a wave of Gen Z voters that is poised to break over the country — or at least try to land with a splash.Soaring participation by young people drove voter turnout in the 2019 European election, a Eurobarometer survey found. Similarly, the youth vote helped rock last year’s midterm vote in the United States.With the addition of 16- to 17-year...

2024 EU elections will take place June 6-9

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

It’s official: European voters will head to the polls from June 6-9, 2024 to choose the next class of MEPs.EU diplomats signed off on the election dates Wednesday, according to the Swedish presidency of the Council of the EU.  #COREPERII | The EU Ambassadors just approved setting 6 to 9 June 2024 as the dates for the next European Parliament elections.— Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU (@sweden2023eu) May 17, 2023In selecting some 705 parliamentarians to serve from 2024 to 2029, EU citizens could shake up not just the Parliament, but the European Commission as well. Europe’s political groups are inching toward a historic realignment, as the European People’s Party eyes alliances with the far right, fraying its tacit pro-EU coalition with the center left.  The choice to hold balloting from Thursday, June 6, to Sunday, June 9 next year marks a defeat for Portugal. Lisbon said those dates would depress turnout in Portugal, due to a national holiday on Monday,...

Fire to Freeze

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

Warm winds yesterday helped send temps to near 80 degrees, but also elevated the brush fire risk as relative humidity dropped to 15-20%. Today, it’ll be much cooler, near 60, but the wind and low humidity will send the brush fire danger to the high side again as a red flag warning is in place. Winds gust to 30mph out of the north and dew points in the teens, with temps near 60, send the relative humidity down to near 20%. Clear skies, very low humidity and a diminishing wind are a perfect mix of ingredients to send temps tumbling tonight. A freeze watch is up for much of Southern New England, away from the coast. With temps running in the upper 20s to low 30s for many, it’ll be a good idea to cover up or bring in any sensitive flowers/tender vegetation you have outside. Despite the cold start tomorrow, it’ll be a beautiful afternoon with temps in the mid 60s. Friday will be even warmer, in the low 70s. The chance for widespread rain arrives Saturday with rain likel...

AAA offers up Memorial Day travel tips in anticipation of post-pandemic return of crowds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

The AAA is offering up some travel tips as travelers gear up for what is expected to be the busiest Memorial Day travel season since before the COVID-19 pandemic began.Booking earlier flights, traveling lights, and preparing for delays are among the tips the travel organization is making for those looking to travel this holiday.

Howie Carr: Can’t grope your way out of this AJ

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

What are the odds that A.J. “Gropey” Baker is going to beat this rap?Not great, would be my call. The best the Gropester can hope for this time is the traditional CWOF – Continued Without A Finding.Gropey is 29 years old. He’s not exactly a kid anymore. There are a lot of advantages to growing up with a silver spoon in your mouth.But damn, shouldn’t some of his fellow blue bloods on the polo team or at the yacht club have filled him in on what the rest of us learned at a very early age?Never, ever take the Breathalyzer.Eat the six-month license suspension and just use Uber. Geoff Diehl could use the work, as much money as he owes on his pathetic failed campaign for governor.Instead, Gropey went back to the barracks in Danvers and blew a 0.152. The legal limit, of course, is .08. I thought kids learned this while studying for the MCAS test. They certainly should.What the kid blew was what the wise guys term the Double Bubble. And that means Double Bubble Trouble.To get the conviction...

European nations back system to calculate damage Russia caused in Ukraine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — More than 40 countries at a summit of European leaders have backed a system to estimate the damage Russia is causing during the war in Ukraine, in the hopes Moscow can be forced to compensate victims and help rebuild the nation once the conflict is over.The Russian invasion of Ukraine was the dominant topic during the meeting in the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, where delegations from Council of Europe member states discussed how the continent’s preeminent human rights organization could support Kyiv.France, Germany and the United Kingdom are among the countries that have signed on to the most tangible outcome of the meeting: a new office to set up a register of damages which will allow victims of the war to report the harm they have suffered.German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the register of damages “a significant contribution to international efforts to hold Russia to account for the consequences of its brutal actions.” Ten countries of the 46-member in...

Why Hyundai and Kia have everyone else playing catch-up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

In the past few years, Hyundai and Kia vehicles have skyrocketed to the top of Edmunds’ rankings in some of the most popular vehicle segments. For example, you’ll find a Hyundai or Kia in the top spots for three-row midsize SUVs, midsize sedans, and multiple categories of electric vehicles. This changing of the guard can come as a surprise for car shoppers expecting to see more familiar brands like Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota.This success isn’t attributable to one single factor, such as short-lived marketing schemes like rock-bottom pricing or unsustainable rebates. Let’s take a closer look at what these sister South Korean automakers are doing well and where they’re still coming up short.DISTINCTIVE DESIGNFirst impressions matter, and this holds true when people are shopping for a new vehicle. Hyundai and Kia clearly recognize the importance of standing out in a crowd. Whether it’s a family-friendly SUV with three rows of seating or an electric SUV on the technological cuttin...

Trudeau in South Korea warns of growing authoritarianism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says authoritarianism is gaining ground in an address to South Korean National Assembly Wednesday morning.The prime minister is in Seoul for his first official visit to South Korea and as Canada vies to strengthen ties between the two countries, and become “the best of friends.”In his address, he says “antagonistic countries” are taking advantage of economic interdependence to their own geopolitical advantage.Trudeau’s visit to South Korea follows on commitments from both countries to strengthen economic and military ties to counterbalance the influence of China.Trudeau went on to tell parliamentarians the “world is facing a moment of uncertainty” as countries recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, while economic anxiety and climate change add stress to people’s lives.He argued Canada and South Korea can be partners in addressing climate change, which he says is also a way to safeguard against geopolitical instability and build more resilient economies.Can...

South Korean, Canadian leaders vow cooperation on clean energy, North Korea threat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The leaders of South Korea and Canada on Wednesday vowed to strengthen their security and economic cooperation to address challenges posed by North Korea and expand Canadian supplies of minerals crucial to South Korea’s technology industry as they held a summit in Seoul.The meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came before they travel to Japan for the weekend’s Group of Seven meetings, where geopolitical uncertainties worsened by Russia’s war on Ukraine, China’s regional assertiveness and North Korea’s nuclear ambitions are expected to drive discussions. In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the leaders condemned North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program and urged Pyongyang to return to U.S.-led denuclearization talks, which have stalled since 2019 over disagreements related to international sanctions imposed on the North.Trudeau, the fist Canadian leader to visit S...

39 missing after Chinese fishing boat capsizes in the middle of the Indian Ocean

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:26:27 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Several ships and aircraft searched Wednesday for 39 people reported missing after a Chinese fishing boat capsized in the middle of the Indian Ocean.Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the accident happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday. The report said the crew includes 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang have ordered Chinese diplomats abroad, as well as the agriculture and transportation ministries, to assist in the search for survivors. “All-out efforts” must be made in the rescue operation, Xi was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. Li ordered unspecified measures to “reduce casualties and strengthen safety management of fishing vessels at sea to ensure safe maritime transport and production,” Xinhua said. No word was given on the cause of the capsizing. Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines have also expressed their willingness to join in the search. Indonesia’s Na...