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Rutte’s party won’t join Geert Wilders in Dutch coalition, new leader says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

Dilan Yeşilgöz, the leader of the biggest center-right party in the Dutch parliament, ruled out joining a potential Geert Wilders-dominated coalition but said she could support such a government from the sidelines.This could pave the way for an alliance between Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) and Pieter Omtzigt’s center-right New Social Contract (NSC) in government.“The big winners are the PVV and NSC. After 13 years, a different role suits us,” Yeşilgöz, leader of the liberal-conservative People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the part of outgoing premier Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague on Friday. “But we will make a center-right cabinet possible. We will support constructive proposals, so it is a form of tolerance,” she added, according to public broadcaster NOS.Wilders quickly reacted on X, formerly Twitter, saying VVD’s decision, taken before the start of coalition negotiations, was “very disappointing.&#...

Nissan confirms future of Sunderland factory with UK government support

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

LONDON — Japanese carmaker Nissan has committed to building three new electric vehicle models in the north east of England in a major boost to Britain’s automotive sector.The long-term commitment by Nissan is expected to be backed by government support.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Nissan’s investment was a “massive vote of confidence in the U.K.’s automotive industry.” Sky News reported earlier this week that Sunak had been personally involved in discussions with Nissan.The company announced on Friday that it will build new electric Qashqai, Juke and LEAF models at its factory in Sunderland, which will also be supplied by an additional battery gigafactory and electricity grid infrastructure.Taken together, the plans represent £2 billion of investment and protect 7,000 direct British jobs, Nissan said.The overall sum of government support for the project was not disclosed on Friday, but will include £15 million for a research center in Bedfordshire and the creation of a North East...

Firefighters battle house fire in Norwood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

Firefighters responded to a fire the broke out in a three-story home in Norwood overnight.The fire left the top level of the home completely charred.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.No additional information is immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Shoppers hit the stores for Black Friday deals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

Shoppers across Mass. lined up in the cold Friday morning to be sure they were among the first take advantage of Black Friday deals.At the Wrentham Outlets, people could be seen lined up outside the stores as they prepared to open for crowds. At South Shore Plaza, the parking lot was empty with an hour to go before opening.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest Black Friday news.

The second installment of Sri Lanka’s bailout was delayed. The country hopes it’s coming in December

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The governor of Sri Lanka’s Central Bank said Friday he’s confident it will receive the second instalment of a $2.9-billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund before the end of the year, after payment was delayed due to inadequate oversight and debt restructuring.“I am confident that we are making very good progress. We are moving in the right direction,” said Nandalal Weerasinghe.Sri Lanka plunged into economic crisis in 2022, suffering severe shortages and drawing strident protests that led to the ouster of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It declared bankruptcy in April 2022 with more than $83 billion in debt — more than half of it to foreign creditors. The IMF agreed in March to a $2.9-billion bailout package, releasing the first payment shortly thereafter.The IMF’s review in September said Sri Lanka’s economy was recovering, but it needed to improve its tax administration, eliminate exemptions and crack down ...

Ukraine aims a major drone attack at Crimea as Russia tries to capture a destroyed eastern city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russia’s invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday.At the same time, Ukrainian officials reported that the Kremlin’s forces escalated their weekslong and costly attempt to storm Avdiivka, a strategically important city in eastern Ukraine.The stepped-up efforts came as both sides are keen to show they are not deadlocked as the fighting approaches 2024. Neither side has gained much ground despite a Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June, and analysts predict the war will be a long one. With winter weather setting in, bringing snow and freezing temperatures to the battlefield, Ukraine and Russia are looking to take ground that could provide platforms for future advances.The Moscow-appointed governor for the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said Ukraine launched ...

Vietnam’s plan for spending $15.5 billion for its clean energy transition to be announced at COP28

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A plan for how Vietnam will spend $15.5 billion to transition to cleaner energy has been finalized and will be announced at the COP28 climate conference, which begins in Dubai next week. Mark George, the climate counselor for the British Embassy in Hanoi, said that after months of coordination with key Vietnamese ministries to iron out details of how the money will be used, the final plan was finalized on Thursday. George gave no details of the plan. The United Kingdom is co-chair of a group of nine, rich industrialized nations that have agreed to provide the $15.5 billion to help Vietnam end its reliance on dirty coal power and more quickly switch to renewable energy as a part of a Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP. “That is a really important milestone,” said George. George was speaking at a panel discussion hosted by the UK-Vietnam Joint Economic and Trade Committee centered around opportunities for the two nations after Britain officially joined a...

From Dec. 1, citizens of five European countries and Malaysia can enter China without a visa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China announced Friday that it will allow visa-free entry for citizens of five European countries and Malaysia as it tries to encourage more people to visit for business and tourism.Starting Dec. 1, citizens of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia will be allowed to enter China for up to 15 days without a visa. The trial program will be in effect for one year.The aim is “to facilitate the high-quality development of Chinese and foreign personnel exchanges and high-level opening up to the outside world,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a daily briefing.China’s strict pandemic measures, which included required quarantines for all arrivals, discouraged many people from visiting for nearly three years. The restrictions were lifted early this year, but international travel has yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.China previously allowed citizens of Brunei, Japan and Singapore to enter without a visa but suspended that after...

Ireland’s prime minister condemns anti-immigrant protesters who rampaged through central Dublin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Ireland’s prime minister on Friday condemned anti-immigrant protesters who rampaged through central Dublin after three young children were stabbed, saying the rioters simply wanted to cause chaos, not protect the country’s way of life.Police arrested 34 people overnight after up to 500 people looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at crowd control officers equipped with helmets and shields. The violence began after rumors circulated that a foreign national was responsible for the attack outside a Dublin school on Thursday afternoon.Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland’s capital had endured two attacks — one on innocent children and the other on “our society and the rule of law.”“These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland, they did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people, they did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped,” Varadkar told reporters on Friday morning. “They did so because they...

Retailers hoping for economic boost this Black Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:01 GMT

SHAUMBURG, Ill. -- Thursday may have been a day for giving thanks but for thousands, the day after is when shoppers dedicate to their holiday spending. Retailers are hoping for a holiday surprise in consumer spending this season, with economic forecasters wondering where sales will end up this year.Black Friday is usually the center piece of holiday shopping but not so much as more stores advertise deals earlier."Historically we think of Black Friday as a start, but most experts say it's the first of November. In the last few shopping years, it’s beginning earlier and earlier. However, Black Friday day after Thanksgiving is still the largest shopping day of the year," John Talbott from Indiana University Kelley School of Business said. Migrants celebrate first Thanksgiving in Chicago The National Retail Federation which tracks shopping trends, says consumers will spend more than $960 billion dollars in November and December -- more than 3 to 4 percent from 2022.It will also be the...