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Von der Leyen doubles down on pro-Israel stance, lashes out at Iran

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday reiterated her strongly pro-Israeli stance despite growing criticism from within her own staff, while also harshly criticizing Iran for seeking to sow “violence and chaos” in the Middle East.Some 800 EU staff took the unusual step of writing to von der Leyen at the end of last week to protest against what they see as unjustifiable bias toward Israel in the Israel-Hamas war. The protest came after the president neglected to mention the EU’s support for Palestinian statehood in a speech on Thursday in Washington — despite a two-state solution being a core part of the position of European countries.Yet on Sunday von der Leyen doubled down on her previous stance during a speech to the youth organization of her German center-right CDU/CSU political group.While she stressed that any Israeli defense against the Hamas terrorist group must be “in accordance with international law,” she again did not mention ...

Ticker: Actors, studios head back to bargaining table; Chinese tax authorities visit Apple supplier  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

SAG-AFTRA and the alliance representing major studios said they would resume negotiations next week, as the Hollywood actors’ strike stretches past the 100-day milestone.The two sides said in a joint statement Saturday they will meet Tuesday at SAG-AFTRA Plaza in Los Angeles, with “several executives” from the major studios in attendance.The meeting will mark the first formal talks between the actors guild and the entertainment companies since discussions broke down on Oct. 11. The studios walked away from the table, saying the gap between the sides was too great.The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents firms including Disney, NBCUniversal and Netflix, said in a statement at the time that the union’s proposal for for streaming services to share their revenue with actors “would create an untenable economic burden,” costing more than $800 million a year.But SAG-AFTRA leaders said the amount they are seeking in the...

CVS pulls ineffective cold medicines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

CVS Health is pulling from its shelves some cough-and-cold treatments that contain an ingredient that has been deemed ineffective by doctors and researchers.The drug store chain said Friday it will remove a small number of oral decongestants that contain phenylephrine as the only active ingredient. CVS also said it will still sell “many other oral cough and cold products to meet consumer needs.”A company spokeswoman declined to elaborate on how many products will be removed.CVS Health runs more than 9,000 stores in the United States. Representatives of its national rival, Walgreens, has not pulled any products.A Walgreens spokeswoman said the company is monitoring the situation and partnering with its clinical integrity office and suppliers “on appropriate next steps.”U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisers voted unanimously last month against the effectiveness of phenylephrine, which is found in popular versions of Sudafed, Dayquil and other medications s...

Swifties edge cinephiles at box office    

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

NEW YORK — In a movie match-up almost as unlikely as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” Martin Scorsese took on Taylor Swift in cinemas over the weekend. And while the box office belonged for a second time to “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” got off to a strong start in Apple Studios’ first major theatrical gambit.After a record-breaking opening weekend of $92.8 million, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” took in an estimated $31 million over the weekend from 3,855 locations, according to AMC Theaters. In an unconventional deal, the theater chain is distributing Swift’s concert film, and playing it only Thursdays through Sundays.Most Swifties rushed to see the film on opening weekend, when a large percent of sales were driven by advance ticketing. Sales dropped a steep 67% in its second weekend, potentially signifying that  “The Eras Tour” was predominantly an opening-...

Search for suspect in fatal shooting of Maryland judge continues for a fourth day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — A manhunt for a suspect in the fatal shooting of a Maryland judge continued for a fourth day Sunday as authorities completed their search of an area where the suspect’s SUV was found.Officials said Pedro Argote, 49, is suspected of gunning down Circuit Court Judge Andrew Wilkinson in his driveway on Thursday, hours after Wilkinson ruled against him in a divorce case. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that the silver Mercedes SUV that Argote was believed to be driving was found in a wooded area in Williamsport, about eight miles (13 kilometers) southwest of Hagerstown, where the judge was shot. On Sunday, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that authorities have concluded their search of the Williamsport area.“No further information indicates that Argote is still in the immediate area,” the sheriff’s office said. It urged anyone with information on Argote’s whereabouts to contact authorities.Wilkinson, 52, was...

401 westbound lanes at Victoria Park re-opened after crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

The westbound lanes of the 401 highway have re-opened following at Victoria Park due to a crash on Sunday afternoon. Just after 2:00 p.m. lanes were closed, with drivers still able to pass through traffic on the shoulder.Paramedics say they attended the scene at approximately 2:13 p.m. and one man in his 20’s was sent to trauma centre with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.

Michigan State didn’t seek permission or pay for Hitler-related quiz content, YouTube creator says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The creator and producer of The Quiz Channel on YouTube, which includes Adolf Hitler’s image as part of a quiz Michigan State used on its videoboards before a game against No. 2 Michigan, said the school didn’t ask for permission to use his content or pay him for it.“It’s an absolutely normal trivia question, shown in an inappropriate setting,” Floris van Pallandt wrote Sunday on his YouTube page. “Ignoring the dark facets of history is by no means the answer, on the contrary.”The channel is publicly available and free for users.While No. 2 Michigan was finishing off a 49-0 win over the Spartans on Saturday night, Michigan State spokesman Matt Larson apologized that the inappropriate content was displayed more than an hour before kickoff.“MSU will not be using the third-party source going forward and will implement stronger screening and approval procedures for all videoboard content in the future,” Larson said.Michigan State streamed The Quiz Channe...

Couple killed after lumber on truck strikes them during California bike ride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

NAPA, Calif. (KRON) -- Two bicyclists killed by lumber in California last week have been identified. At around 11 a.m. Tuesday, authorities responded to the incident along the Silverado Trail in Napa County. Based on their investigation, the Napa County Sheriff's Office determined the cyclists, identified as Christian Deaton, 52, and Michelle Deaton, 48, were biking north on the roadway when a flatbed truck carrying lumber approached them. The lumber shifted, striking both cyclists. Man’s body mistaken for Halloween prop; lawn mowed around him Christian Deaton was pronounced deceased at the scene. Michelle Deaton was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries, the California Highway Patrol said.The Deatons were visiting from Portland, Oregon, according to the Napa County Sheriff's Office."Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Michelle and Christian Deaton, two bicyclists who were visiting from Portland, Oregon, and were killed yesterd...

PHOTOS: Spoooooky season underway in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Halloween is creeping up on us, and ghoulish activities are underway.Many homes in Austin and Central Texas have gotten in the spirit and decorated their yards in anticipation of the holiday. Austin family waiting for City inspection turns trench into Halloween display Here’s a look at some haunted houses in the area! Scroll through the slideshows below for a little trick-or-treat.AustinEaston Park CommunityCOURTESY: Michelle GerstenCOURTESY: Michelle GerstenCOURTESY: Michelle GerstenCOURTESY: Michelle GerstenOak HillCOURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt COURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt COURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt COURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt COURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt COURTESY: Oak Hill Haunt Northwest HillsCOURTESY: Becca FrasierCOURTESY: Becca FrasierCOURTESY: Becca FrasierSouthwest AustinCOURTESY: Chase and Brittany BurchCOURTESY: Chase and Brittany BurchCOURTESY: Chase and Brittany BurchCOURTESY: Chase and Brittany BurchCOURTESY: Chase and Brittany BurchLiberty HillHalloween decorations in...

San Marcos removing trees due to 'drought stress and disease'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:24:29 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) — The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department confirmed multiple trees will be removed from City Park Monday due to "drought stress and disease," according to a Facebook post Sunday.Three pecan trees will be removed Monday. Two of them are being removed due to drought stress and disease, while a third's removal is attributed to its location "in a high use area between the river and the Pauline Espinosa Community Hall," per the post. That third tree's trunk is also reported to be 35% dead, with officials adding both insects and disease "have further compromised the structural integrity."The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department confirmed multiple trees will be removed from City Park Monday due to "drought stress and disease," according to a Facebook post Sunday. (Courtesy: San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department)The San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department confirmed multiple trees will be removed from City Park Monday due to "drought stress and d...