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Voting begins in parliamentary and local elections, a key step in building a just Kazakhstan

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

Legislative elections are taking place today in Kazakhstan to elect members of the Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, and the maslikhats, local representative bodies.Significant changes have been made to the electoral system in comparison to previous elections following constitutional amendments last year. A proportional-majoritarian model is being used for the first time since 2004, where 30 per cent of Mazhilis members are elected in single-member districts. The threshold for political parties to gain seats in parliament has been lowered from seven to five per cent. Other changes include an “against all” option on the ballots, and a 30 per cent quota for women, youth, and persons with special needs in party lists, both prior to the election and in the distribution of mandates.Seven political parties are competing in the election, including two new parties that are able to participate due to simplified party registration rules. A total of 281 candidates from seven party lists...

UK foreign secretary visits Kazakhstan, ,eets President Tokayev

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

Kazakhstan is the United Kingdom’s primary trading partner in Central Asia, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the UK James Cleverly said during his meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana as part of his first visit to the nation on 18 March. According to the President’s press office, Tokayev and Cleverly spoke about strengthening bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, investment, and humanitarian fields.“Your visit will give a very strong impetus to further enhance mutual cooperation between Kazakhstan and the UK. I took note of your recent speech at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office that outlined the long-term vision for British foreign policy. Indeed, it is a very important speech,” Tokayev said. The Kazakh President expressed appreciation for the positive dynamics of relations with the UK. “I would like to assess our mutual cooperation as very successful, particularly, in the economic sphere and...

Paris police and protesters clash for third night over Macron's pension

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

Paris police clashed with demonstrators for a third night on Saturday (18 March) as thousands of people marched throughout the country amid anger at the government pushing through a rise in the state pension age without a parliamentary vote.The growing unrest and strikes have left President Emmanuel Macron facing the gravest challenge to his authority since the so-called "Gilets Jaunes" (Yellow Vests) protests four years ago."Macron, Resign!" and "Macron is going to break down, we are going to win," demonstrators chanted on the Place d'Italie in southern Paris. Riot police used tear gas and clashed with some in the crowd as trash bins were set on fire.Municipal authorities had banned rallies on Paris's central Place de la Concorde and nearby Champ-Elysees on Saturday night after demonstrations that resulted in 61 arrests the previous night. There were 81 arrests on Saturday night.Earlier in the French capital, a group of students and activists from the "Revolution Permanente" collec...

At least 4 dead in wrong-way crash on 71 Freeway

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

At least four people died when a wrong-way driver caused a pileup involving several vehicles on the 71 Freeway in Chino Hills early Sunday morning, officials said.The crash happened around 2:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the 71 near the Central Avenue exits.According to CHP, several drivers called 911 to report seeing a driver traveling northbound in the southbound lanes. The collision, involving four to five vehicles, occurred moments later, officers told news photographers at the scene.Officers tried to rescue several people who were trapped inside a burning vehicle but could not because of the intense flames, CHP said. March 19, 2023 (Key News)The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the 71 near the Central Avenue exits. March 19, 2023. (Key News)The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the 71 near the Central Avenue exits. March 19, 2023. (Key News)CHP said a CHP sergeant who was first to arrive on the scene tried to rescue severa...

Who deserves a levee? The fight to save California communities from flooding

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

The tiny town of Hamilton City sits in the direct path of the mighty Sacramento River, muddy and swollen by this week’s storms.But a new $125 million levee system – the product of the community’s 35-year-long fight to make something big from something broken — is protecting its 1,900 farmworkers and their families.This week, as a levee failure drowned the town of Pajaro, Hamilton City’s river also overflowed. But then it gently spread across a landscaped floodplain, losing its fury. The levee held firm. The system, the first of its type in the state, offers a new paradigm for how to respond to flood risk in an era of dangerous climate change.“It’s doing what it’s supposed to do,” said former fire chief Jose Puente, who proudly watched the project excel in its big test.There are 1,758 levee systems throughout California listed in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers database, built to hold back rivers and protect towns, homes, businesses and crops from flooding. S...

Opinion: Mayor urges San Jose to put budget focus on the basics

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

When times get tough, San Jose families sit around the kitchen table and make tough budget choices.What comes first? The mortgage or rent certainly. Food for the family. Paying off bills that could turn into burdens.You make tough, smart choices.Your government should, too.In the weeks ahead, our City Council will debate our most important task of any year — our city budget. Amid tech lay-offs, failure of a vitally important local bank, and inflation eating away at our buying power,  this is the moment for focus.There are many things we want to do — but there are a few basics that we must do.Making our city safe. Making it clean. Making progress on ending unsheltered homelessness. Making sure our economy works so we are creating more middle-class jobs.As mayor, I have been holding town halls asking residents what they want. And the same answers come back again and again. The people want us to deliver on the basics — safety, cleanliness, a realistic plan for ensurin...

Pache making his case to remain in Oakland A’s outfield mix

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

MESA, Ariz. — When Cristian Pache entered his second spring training with the Oakland A’s last month, his preseason tasks appeared to expand far beyond just preparing for another season.He isn’t just positioning himself for what he hopes to be a breakout 2023 season. His job — and a spot on the A’s Opening Day roster — is on the line.OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Oakland Athletics’ Cristian Pache (20) stands in the dugout during their game against the Kansas City Royals after the top of the seventh inning at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 19, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Out of minor-league options, and looking to improve after a woeful 2022 season, the 24-year-old Pache is fighting to maintain his role as Oakland’s primary center fielder, a position for which he is being challenged by speedy newcomer Esteury Ruiz. It’s an intriguing quandary facing the A’s and manager Mark Kotsay, who have to make a decision before the team opens the...

Me & My Car: San Ramon owner loves his ’34 Ford pickup truck

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

Ford Motor Co. built thousands of cars before it built any trucks. Today, Ford is selling more trucks than cars.Related ArticlesLocal News | Me & My Car: New home may be sought for ’69 Mercedes in Contra Costa Local News | Me & My Car: Danville owner doesn’t baby his ’87 BMW 325i at all Local News | Me & My Car: ’68 Dart in Walnut Creek in same family since it was new The first Model T Ford car was built in 1908. It was easy to drive, had a unique two-speed floor-operated forward transmission, a reverse pedal and a brake pedal. The reverse pedal could also be used quite effectively as a brake.“I will build a car for the great multitude,” Henry Ford said, and he did, selling more than 15 million Model T cars with each featuring a four-cylinder, 20-horsepower engine, 30-inch-high wood spoke wheels for high road clearance and a brass radiator.In the auto industry’s early days, durability and depen...

Macron pays high price in popularity over pension reform, surveys shows

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

Emmanuel Macron is paying a high price for his push on pension reform as a survey on Sunday showed the French president is facing a new low in popularity — as low as during the protests of the so-called Yellow Jackets.As the French take to the streets to protest against Macron’s pension reform, 70 percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with the president, according to the Ifop barometer published by Le Journal du Dimanche. Macron’s popularity rating fell by 4 points in one month, it showed.Since December, Macron has suffered a substantial drop of 8 points, and he now sees only 28 percent satisfied and 70 percent dissatisfied, according to the poll carried out, Le Figaro emphasized, between March 9 and 16.  That is the same period as the negotiations that finally led the Elysée to shun parliament and impose the unpopular pension reforms via a special constitutional power, the so-called Article 49.3, which provides that the government can pas...

Police investigating stabbing in Nubian Square in Roxbury

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:12:51 GMT

A police investigation is underway after a stabbing in Boston’s Nubian Square early Sunday morning. Officers could be seen scouring a taped-off area near the intersection of Warren and Dudley streets, where a series of evidence markers had been left on the sidewalk. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.No additional information was immediately released.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.