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Md. House gives preliminary approval to bill that would regulate legalized cannabis industry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.The Maryland House of Delegates gave preliminary approval Wednesday to legislation that would regulate and license the budding cannabis industry, defeating attempts by Republican lawmakers to amend the bill with minor changes they argued were necessary.Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson (D-Charles) led the floor fight to defend the bill, which he cosponsored, saying that the legislation was simply a licensing bill that was needed after state voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing cannabis for recreational use, beginning July 1.Amending the legislation to address matters beyond regulating the new business is outside the bounds of the debate, Wilson said. “That ship has sailed, that train has left the station,” he said.House Minority Leader Jason C. Buckel (R-Allegany) had delayed debate on the bill Tuesday, after the full House app...

China criticizes Dutch plan to curb access to chip tools

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — China’s government on Thursday criticized the Netherlands for joining Washington in expanding curbs on Chinese access to technology to make processor chips that Western governments say might be used in weapons or to commit human rights abuses.Processor chips and the technology to make them are increasingly sensitive as Beijing develops its own chip industry and high-tech weapons. Washington in October blocked Chinese access to U.S. tools to make the most advanced chips and is lobbying European and Asian allies to tighten their own controls.The Dutch trade minister said in a letter to legislators Wednesday that national security requires controls to be tightened on exports of technology that uses ultraviolet light to etch circuits on the most advanced chips. ASML of the Netherlands is the only global supplier. Headquartered in the southern Dutch town of Veldhoven, it is the world’s only producer of machines that use extreme ultraviolet lithography to make advanced semi...

No standstill with Will Still: Reims coach is new sensation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

REIMS, France (AP) — When Reims fired Oscar Garcia in October, the French club had earned only eight points from its opening 10 league games.Deputy coach Will Still was appointed as caretaker.Five months later, the Anglo-Belgian coach without a license remains unbeaten and has lifted the Champagne club to eighth in the standings ahead of Sunday’s trip to third-place Monaco.“To be honest, when I took over, the club’s sort of urgent message was: ‘Will, we have to get out of this relegation scrap.’ We had to stay clear of relegation because it’s the first year that four teams go down in Ligue 1,” Still told the French league’s website.Fair to say that Still overachieved.Reviving the six-time champions’ distinguished past, Still and his players have managed 32 points in 16 games since he took charge, making Reims the second-best team behind runaway leader PSG over that period.PSG, which has an eight-point lead over Marseille, travels to Brest on Saturday. Marseille hosts Strasbourg at t...

Germany’s Habeck sees ‘no pressure from US’ to curb China economic ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

BERLIN — German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said Thursday that the United States isn’t pressuring his government to curtail economic links with China in sensitive areas and that Germany has its own reasons to reduce its reliance on Beijing.U.S. officials’ efforts to charm and cajole Europe into confronting China have apparently born some results with the Dutch government’s Wednesday move to impose export controls on sales of some chip manufacturing equipment to China. Germany is also preparing to remove components by Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE from critical parts of its 5G telecoms infrastructure.Habeck argued that these initiatives aren’t just following U.S. orders.“I do not feel or know of any pressure from the United States,” Habeck said. “I believe it is in Germany’s own well-understood interest to have and build up its own sovereignty in areas of critical infrastructure.”The Green politician, who is also Ger...

Russia strikes Ukraine with biggest missile barrage in weeks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

KYIV — Russia on Thursday launched a massive attack against Ukraine, using kamikaze drones and a barrage of missiles, in the first major assault against Ukrainian energy and civil infrastructure in weeks.Authorities in several regions across the Ukraine reported casualties and damage. Authorities reported emergency power shutdowns in several regions. Trains are delayed across the country.The largest nuclear power plant in Europe — the Zaporizhzhia NPP in the occupied part of the Zaporizhzhia region — was completely cut off from the power grid after the attack, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko said in a statement sent to the press.As a result, officials say, the power station is de-energized and has been put into blackout mode for the sixth time since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion last February.“Units five and six are being put into cold shutdown and 18 diesel generators have started operating to supply the plant’s in-house loads,” state atomic...

Leominster man accused of attempted attack on flight to Boston to appear in court as lawmakers probe airline safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

A 33-year-old Leominster man who is facing charges after an attempted attack aboard a United Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Boston is set to appear in federal court Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors say Francisco Severo Torres tried to stab a flight attendant with a broken spoon and unlock an emergency exit door. Torres was arrested Sunday after passengers tackled him and the flight landed safely at Logan Airport. He is charged with one count of interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon. Officials say Torres could face up to life in prison. Boston’s aviation issues are now in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Texas Senator Ted Cruz brought up two issues this week at Logan Airport during a hearing on airline safety, including Torres’ threatening outburst and another incident on the same day when two United Airlines planes clipped wings on the tarmac. “What the heck is going on in air travel?” Cruz ...

Massachusetts is facing a ‘relentless barrage’ of sports betting ads, restrictions are needed now: Advocates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

It’s nearly impossible these days to turn on the TV or scroll on social media without seeing a “relentless barrage” of sports betting ads before mobile gambling launches, as advocates call for the state to put in ad restrictions like for tobacco products.The avalanche of sports betting ads comes with enticing promos from the companies — which are offering hundreds of dollars in bonus bets if the user signs up before mobile betting goes live on Friday.“It has been a relentless barrage of sports gambling advertising,” said Les Bernal, the national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, who lives in Massachusetts. “It’s unrelenting, and this is a product that’s highly dangerous and addictive.”All of this advertising lures in people to gamble from anywhere in the state, especially those who are under 35 years old, Bernal said.“We need to restrict commercialized sports gambling ads, just like with the restrictions for tobacc...

OBF: For bettors in Massachusetts, Friday is the Super Bowl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

Seven months to the day that NCAA President Charlie Baker signed the Massachusetts Sports Wagering Act, those over 21 located inside the Bay State will be able to legally bet online or via their phones Friday starting at 10 a.m. across six different websites.The Bay State Six are: FanDuel, DraftKings, Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, and WynnBET. They should receive their certificates of operation today.Jake Paul’s bet was to be the seventh. But it will not go live Massachusetts this week, MGC chair Cathy Stein said Wednesday.The journey through Oz is a stroll compared to this ride.Single-game parlays replace ruby red shoes. The Cowardly Lion’s cousins are +2500 to win the Super Bowl. And Toto is just another underdog.And who needs a brainless Scarecrow when some state gaming regulators cannot define a point spread or money line?Thanks to opening meeting laws, the Wizard had no curtain.In my other life as a senior betting analyst for bookies.com (shameless plug alert), I was tasked with o...

As Ravens bet on a limited market for Lamar Jackson, one question looms: Who wants the star quarterback?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

An odd trend developed Tuesday in the hours immediately after the Ravens placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on quarterback Lamar Jackson.Instead of reports trumpeting the teams that might concoct offers for one of the NFL’s most dazzling talents, every news item seemed to reveal another franchise that would not pursue Jackson.The Atlanta Falcons, the Washington Commanders, the Carolina Panthers — all thought to be hungry for a franchise quarterback, all ruled out quickly by leaks to various reporters.Current and former players cried foul, with the term collusion taking center stage in a hurry. “Why are all of these teams so publicly ‘out’ on Lamar Jackson, an MVP winner in his prime at the most important position in the entire NFL?” recently retired defensive superstar J.J. Watt asked on Twitter. “What am I missing here?”By placing the nonexclusive tag, worth about $32.4 million, on Jackson instead of the more costly exclusive tag, ...

Hong Kong security police arrest veteran labor activist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:49:21 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong national security police on Thursday arrested a veteran labor activist who is also the wife of an organizer of annual vigils commemorating China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, two people close to her said. Officers arrested Elizabeth Tang, the wife of Lee Cheuk-yan, outside Stanley Prison but it was still unclear for what reason, said the people, who declined to be identified for fear of government retribution.The move was seen as part of a crackdown on the city’s pro-democracy camp following massive anti-government protests in 2019. Many activists have been jailed or silenced under a sweeping National Security Law imposed by Beijing.Tang is currently the general secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation.She was a former leader of the now-defunct Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, the city’s largest pro-democracy trade organization. Before the group’s disbandment, it had been on a list of activist gro...