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Hermes billionaire wants to bequeath fortune to his former gardener

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

London (CNN) — A descendant of Europe’s richest family has reportedly begun a process to adopt his middle-aged former gardener, planning to leave him at least half of his roughly €12 billion ($13 billion) fortune.Nicolas Puech, 80, a fifth-generation descendant of the founder of French luxury goods company Hermes, wants to cancel a contract that would bequeath his fortune to the Isocrates Foundation, which he founded, and instead make his employee a legal heir.Swiss newspapers Tribune de Geneve and 24 heures reported the news earlier this month, describing the potential heir as Puech’s “servant, former gardener and handyman.”The charitable foundation is contesting Puech’s plan to cut ties, which it says it learned of only recently. “From a legal point of view, a unilateral cancellation of the contract of inheritance seems void and unfounded,” the organization said in a statement shared with CNN Wednesday. “The foundation has therefore opposed the cancellation of the contract, w...

Judge halts California law that would have banned carrying concealed firearms in many public places

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

(CNN) — A federal judge on Wednesday blocked parts of a California law that would have banned carrying concealed firearms in certain “sensitive places,” including places of worship, public libraries, amusement parks, zoos and sporting events.California is planning to file an appeal of the decision, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday, adding that “the court got this wrong.”The law, among a series of gun control measures signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, applies to those with licenses to carry a concealed weapon.US District Judge Cormac Carney granted a preliminary injunction, and indicated that provisions of Senate Bill 2 that were being challenged “unconstitutionally deprive” concealed carry holders of their rights to carry a handgun.The judge called the coverage of California’s law “sweeping, repugnant to the Second Amendment, and openly defiant of the Supreme Court.”“SB2 turns nearly every public place in California into a ‘sensitive place,...

Chilly Air… For Now

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

Winds have kicked back to the north and chillier air will settle in over the next couple of days. Temps start off near 30 this morning, but won’t move much to the higher side this afternoon as we max out in the low to mid 30s. Factor in a wind that gusts 20-30mph, and it’ll feel cold outside with wind chills staying in the 20s. Even a few gusts to 40mph will be felt across the Cape and Islands. Ready for winter? The winter solstice is this evening, at 10:27pm, marking the official start of astronomical winter. It will feel like winter too with lows dropping into the teens and lower 20s. While the cold air remains tomorrow, the wind will be light, allowing for a chilly day, but a nice one overall too. We’ll warm up a bit over the weekend with more clouds in the mix Sunday. While there may be a spot sprinkle or flurry Sunday morning, expect the pattern to be mainly dry right through Christmas Day. By Christmas Day, temps run near 50! Sorry for those hoping for a whit...

Division 1-2 boys hockey preview: Xaverian, Canton among the teams to beat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

There might just be a brisk chill in the building. You can hear the occasional puck being shot, echoing as it ricochets off a nearby board.To those here in New England, it is an environment folks know all too well. Finally, high school hockey has made its anticipated return, and this year’s campaign is expected to bring unforgettable highlights.For Xaverian, the wounds are still fresh from last winter’s game at TD Garden, when the Hawks faltered in a 3-2 heartbreaker to Pope Francis during a Div. 1 title bout for the ages.Yet, there is also an enthralling sense of optimism along Clapboardtree Street in Westwood as the program enters a newfound season. As usual, the school returns with a loaded roster, with key contributors such as standout goaltender Cole Pouliot-Porter (93.8% save percentage, 1.97 GAA) coming back.“We are very excited,” said Xaverian coach Dave Spinale. “I would say that certainly having Cole back, it’s wonderful, that he decided to stay and was very happy with the...

2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is big, brawny and priced right

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

With 2024 around the corner, manufacturers are destined to release vehicles in the fleet in order to keep up with consumer demand and consumer wants. Gas Mileage, new aesthetics, larger capacities, are just a few of the items that come to mind. For Toyota, the 2024 Grand Highlander is their major focus, as if the long-lasting Highlander wasn’t enough for consumers, a bigger and more brawny version hits the dealerships in hopes of keeping up with Jeep’s Grand Wagoneer for a much less price.With 7-passenger vehicles all the craze and 3rd row seat being a more prime component in vehicle sales in 2023, manufacturers are riding that wave into 2024 and releasing bigger than ever vehicles, while smaller SUVs and sedans diminish. For Toyota, bigger is always better as their long history or conquering the large SUV market has always been a priority. The Grand Highlander is no different as it is big and brawny and boasts tremendous legroom and storage capabilities. Our Platinum AWD Gran...

Live updates | UN aid resolution and diplomatic efforts could yield some relief for Gaza

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

The U.N. Security Council has a long-delayed vote scheduled for Thursday on a new resolution about desperately needed aid to Gaza, where the Israel-Hamas war has created a dire humanitarian crisis.Tens of thousands of people are crammed into shelters and tent camps amid shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies. Israel’s foreign minister traveled to Cyprus to discuss the possibility of establishing a maritime corridor that would allow the delivery of large amounts of humanitarian aid.At least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded Wednesday after Israel bombarded the Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, according to a senior official in the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.The Israeli military said its troops located “ a vast tunnel network ” under Gaza City that included command and control positions, meeting rooms and hideout apartments for the most senior Hamas leaders.Nearly 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on Hamas, according ...

Pakistan arrests activists to stop them from protesting in Islamabad against extrajudicial killings

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s police used water cannons, swung batons, and arrested dozens of activists in an overnight crackdown to stop protesters from entering the capital to denounce the forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the militancy-ravaged southwest, the organizers said Thursday.About 200 protesters, some of them families with children, began their nearly 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) convoy around Nov. 28, heading toward Islamabad from the town of Turbat. They planned to rally in the capital to draw attention to the death of Balaach Mola Bakhsh. The 24-year-old died in November while in police custody in Baluchistan province.Police say Bakhsh was carrying explosives when he was arrested in November, and two days later he died when militants ambushed a police van that was transporting him. Activists say police were holding him since they arrested him in October, and suspect he was killed intentionally in a staged counterterrorism operation. Such arrests b...

Fire destroys home in Brampton; no injuries reported

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

Crews worked through the early morning hours Thursday to control a fire that tore through a home in Brampton.Fire crews were called to a house in the area of Kennedy Road and Conservation Drive, north of Sandalwood Parkway, around 2:30 a.m.Photos from the scene show thick smoke and a mostly destroyed home with the roof collapsed in.In an update on social media, officials say the fire has been put out and no injuries were reported. There is no word if anyone was inside the home when the fire broke out. It’s not clear what caused the fire.Crews remain at the scene and the investigation is ongoing.UPDATE: The incident commander has declared the fire under control. We will be remaining on scene awaiting the arrival of our Fire Investigation Team. Thank you @PeelPolice and @Peel_Paramedics for your assistance. @ChiefBoyes @BPFFA1068 ^MW— Brampton Fire & Emergency Services (@BramptonFireES) December 21, 2023

Wisconsin leader pivots, says impeachment of state Supreme Court justice over redistricting unlikely

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican leader of Wisconsin’s Assembly who had threatened possible impeachment of a new liberal state Supreme Court justice over her views on redistricting now says such a move is “super unlikely.”Assembly Speaker Robin Vos originally threatened to impeach Justice Janet Protasiewicz if she did not recuse herself from the redistricting challenge, which is backed by Democrats seeking to throw out Republican-drawn electoral maps. After Protasiewicz refused to step down from the case, Vos raised the possibility of impeachment based on how she rules.Wisconsin’s Assembly districts rank among the most gerrymandered nationally, with Republicans routinely winning far more seats than would be expected based on their average share of the vote, according to an Associated Press analysis.When asked in an interview Wednesday if he would move to impeach Protasiewicz if she orders new maps to be drawn, Vos said, “I think it’s very unlikely.”“It’s one of the tools th...

Wisconsin Republican proposal to legalize medical marijuana coming in January

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:14 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans plan to unveil a proposal soon to legalize medical marijuana in the state and could vote on it sometime in 2024, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said.Republicans have been working behind closed doors for years on a medical marijuana bill. Along the way, they have rejected calls from Gov. Tony Evers and other Democrats to legalize all uses of marijuana, including medical and recreational.Vos, in an interview Wednesday, said the proposal will be limited and modeled after the medical marijuana law that had been in place in neighboring Minnesota before it moved to full legalization.“It is not going to be widespread,” he said. “We are not going to have dispensaries on every corner in every city.”He said Assembly Republicans are on board in concept, but no one has seen the actual proposal yet. He expected to unveil it in January. Vos had said in April that he hoped to have the bill by the fall of 2023, but he said it took more time to find consensus.“...