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Von der Leyen to soothe EPP concerns in annual address

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

STRASBOURG — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will use her Wednesday morning keynote speech to MEPs to reassure her center-right political party she hears the concerns about the EU’s direction when it comes to climate and migration policy. As next year’s EU election draws closer, von der Leyen will use the handbrake on fresh legislation and announce a focus on EU policies’ impact on business and people, according to a senior Commission official who was granted anonymity to speak freely. Her State of the European Union speech — which could run to over one hour in English, French and German — will usher in a new “implementation phase” of the Green Deal, while pointing vigorously to her main achievements during a crisis-ridden four years. She plans to emphasize the benefits of the Green Deal to industry, a key concern of some businesses across Europe dealing with soaring energy and input costs, “to make sure that the implementation phase is done i...

Russian minister denied entry to Denmark for European health conference

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

Russia’s Deputy Health Minister Oleg Salagay was turned away at Copenhagen airport en route to a World Health Organization conference in Denmark.“O. Salagay, State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Health, was supposed to attend this event. However, he was refused entry to Denmark at Kastrup airport,” the Russian embassy in Denmark wrote on Telegram. Condemning the incident, the embassy demanded an apology from Danish authorities.The Danish foreign ministry is investigating the matter, according to local media.The WHO conference is a regional meeting on “applying behavioral and cultural insights for health” and takes place in Copenhagen from September 12 to 14. The refusal comes on the back of a battle between Denmark and Russia over the number of officials working at each other’s embassies.During the visa negotiations for employees of Denmark’s embassy in Moscow, Russia repeatedly filed visa requests to Copenhagen to fill the Russian embass...

Schools closed again Tuesday after ‘catastrophic’ flooding in Leominster

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

Cleanup efforts continued in Leominster Tuesday after heavy rains on Monday triggered flash flooding that damaged roads, homes and businesses and prompted the closure of local schools.Several roads were closed Tuesday morning and more than 100 people were utilizing city emergency shelter space, according to Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella. In an update around 2 p.m. Leominster’s public schools superintendent announced local schools will be closed again on Tuesday. â€œPrecautions are being taken to ensure the safety of all our students and staff,” said Superintendent Paula Deacon.“Please stay safe and thank you for all your support!” Deacon said. — Hear Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella’s full remarks from a news conference Tuesday morning. —Mazzarella on Monday told 7NEWS heavy rain first started falling around 4:15 p.m. Floodwaters rose fast, ...

More than 5,000 presumed dead in Libya after ‘catastrophic’ flooding breaks dams and sweeps away homes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

(CNN) — More than 5,000 people are presumed dead and 10,000 missing after heavy rains in northeastern Libya caused two dams to collapse, surging more water into already inundated areas.Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation in Libya, gave the numbers of missing people during a briefing to reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. “The death toll is huge,” she said.At least 5,300 people are thought dead, said the interior ministry of Libya’s eastern government on Tuesday, state media LANA reported. CNN has not been able to independently verify the number of deaths or those missing.Of those who were killed, at least 145 were Egyptian, officials in the northeastern city of Tobruk, in Libya, said on Tuesday.In the eastern city of Derna, which has seen the worst of the devastation, as many as 6,000 people remain missing, Othman Abduljalil, health minister in Libya’s eastern administration, told Libya’s Almasar TV. H...

Experts weigh in on best steps to take after flooding damages your home or vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

As catastrophic floodwaters overwhelm local neighborhoods, what should you do if your home or car is hit? Rob Way has the story.Rushing floodwaters gushing from buildings and damaging homes.    Cars suddenly submerged or wrecked by collapsing roads.What should you do if your property is hit?  Experts say: take pictures and videos ASAP. “It’s a good idea to document your losses. You can do that with a lot of people have cell phones with cameras on them,” said Loretta Worters with the Insurance Information Institute.  Dry out your house or car.  “It’s very important to start the recovery process. You want to make sure to dry everything out; mold can start very quickly,” Worters said. Contact your insurance company immediately.  The good news, if you have comprehensive auto coverage, your car should be covered.“You will have coverage for any kind of flooding that happens...

Looking for a refill? McDonald’s is saying goodbye to self-serve soda in the coming years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Say goodbye to refilling that Coke. McDonald’s is getting rid of self-served soda.The Chicago-based fast food chain plans to eliminate self-service soda machines at its U.S. restaurants by 2032, McDonald’s confirmed this week. It’s unclear if locations outside the U.S. will follow suit.In an email to The Associated Press Tuesday, McDonald’s USA said the goal of the change is to create consistency for customers and crew members across the chain’s offerings — from in-person dining to online delivery and drive-thru options.The company did not specify if any additional factors — such as finances or sanitation — impacted the decision to part ways with its self-serve machines. For years, McDonald’s customers have used the machines to fill and refill their beverages without additional trips to a cashier.Behind-the-counter soda machines already exist at some other fast food chains — and a handful of McDonald&#...

Apple’s new iPhones get faster chips, better cameras and new charging ports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE (AP Technology Writer)CUPERTINO, Calif. (AP) — Apple on Tuesday unveiled its next generation of iPhones — a line-up that will boast better cameras, faster processors, a new charging system and a price hike for the fanciest model.The showcase at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., comes as the company tries to reverse a mild slump that has seen its sales drop from last year in three consecutive quarters. The malaise is a key reason Apple’s stock price has dipped by nearly 10% since mid-July, dropping the company’s market value below the $3 trillion threshold it reached for the first time earlier this summer.Investors apparently were not impressed with what Apple rolled out Tuesday. The company’s shares were down by nearly 2% during afternoon trading.As has been case with Apple and other smartphone makers, the four types of iPhone 15 models aren’t making any major leaps in technology. But Apple added enough new bells ...

Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte moving past 4th-down error with this advice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

For a moment, it appeared the Patriots’ comeback hopes had remained alive when Mac Jones connected with Kayshon Boutte along the left sideline on fourth down.But it was ultimately the final play. A video review confirmed that the rookie wide receiver only got one foot in bounds on the catch, sealing the Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Eagles.It was the second time that Boutte – the Patriots’ sixth-round rookie receiver – had failed to get his two feet in bounds necessary for a completion in his NFL debut on Sunday. It was a costly mistake, but a valuable teaching moment as he begins his career.“It’s definitely something that can be worked on,” Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas said. “We have a whole ball drill routine that we do, and that’s something definitely that will be added and more emphasized. It’s his first game as a professional football player, he’s coming from college football where he only needed one foot down to have it be a complete pass and now you gotta...

Popular nasal decongestant doesn’t actually relieve congestion, FDA advisers say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

By MATTHEW PERRONE (AP Health Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — The leading decongestant used by millions of Americans looking for relief from a stuffy nose is no better than a dummy pill, according to government experts who reviewed the latest research on the long-questioned drug ingredient.Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on Tuesday against the effectiveness of the key drug found in popular versions of Sudafed, Allegra, Dayquil and other medications stocked on store shelves.“Modern studies, when well conducted, are not showing any improvement in congestion with phenylephrine,” said Dr. Mark Dykewicz, an allergy specialist at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine.The FDA assembled its outside advisers to take another look at phenylephrine, which became the main drug in over-the-counter decongestants when medicines with an older ingredient — pseudoephedrine — were moved behind pharmacy counters. A 2006 law had forced the mov...

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has a torn left Achilles tendon and will miss the rest of the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:49:28 GMT

Aaron Rodgers has a torn left Achilles tendon and the 39-year-old New York Jets quarterback will miss the rest of the season, coach Robert Saleh announced Tuesday.An MRI revealed the four-time NFL MVP’s injury, confirming what the Jets feared after their 22-16 overtime win over Buffalo on Monday night. Saleh said Rodgers will have season-ending surgery, but he wasn’t certain when that would occur.Torn Achilles tendons typically take several months of recovery due to the extensive rehabilitation needed.On his fourth regular-season snap in a Jets uniform, Rodgers tried to avoid a rushing Leonard Floyd, who wrapped up the quarterback and spun him down to the MetLife Stadium turf. Rodgers stood up after a few moments, looked over to the Jets’ sideline and then sat on the turf — seemingly knowing he was seriously hurt.He needed help from trainers to get to New York’s sideline, where he was taken to the blue medical tent to be examined. Rodgers then got on a cart to go t...