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EU SEP reform gambles Europe’s long-term future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

On May 31 2023, the U.S. and the EU wrapped up the fourth Trade and Technology Council, committing to foster the development of joint standards around next-generation mobile telecommunications and electric vehicle charging. Since the very first TTC meeting in 2021, standards have been at the heart of discussions, and the Luleå meeting was no different. As part of the meeting’s joint statement, an annex dedicated to 6G reiterated the importance of ensuring transatlantic leadership in the future of communications standards. TTC negotiators have good reason to prioritize connectivity standards. Global cellular technology standards are the foundation of all aspects of our society and global economy — facilitating market access and acting as a catalyst for further technological innovation. Indeed, macroeconomic analysis estimates that their economic contribution accounts for between 7.4 percent and 63.6 percent of GDP growth across different geographies and periods.Cellular standards are...

Germany’s pledge of free medical care for Ukrainian soldiers hits bureaucratic snags

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

BERLIN — Germany promised to pay for the treatment of wounded Ukrainians, but non-profit groups and even soldiers themselves are sometimes footing the bill.Some 750 injured people from Ukraine and neighboring countries have been brought to Germany for medical treatment during the war, according to the interior ministry. In the EU and its European allies, around 2,250 patients from Ukraine have been admitted in total.In a policy paper issued by the health ministry and obtained by POLITICO, Germany pledged that all injured Ukrainian civilians and soldiers should have fast, easy access to high-quality medical care after their arrival in the country — without having to bear any costs themselves. But private groups have had to take over the organization and financing of urgent medical care in some regions.One organization that is stepping in with private funding is Berlin-based MediCare Hubs Kyiv, a non-profit group. A spokesperson said case reviews in Germany can “drag on for several we...

Grant Shapps: UK doesn’t need more green energy subsidies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. does not need to emulate the United States’ huge subsidies for climate-friendly technologies because it is already “a decade ahead of the rest of the world” in the promotion of renewables, Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said.Shapps faced warnings from British business that, despite bold net zero targets enshrined in law by the government in 2019, green industries could move away from the U.K. to the U.S. in pursuit of the subsidies available under Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).But in an interview with POLITICO, a bullish Shapps said he welcomed the U.S. “catching up.” He insisted there was no need for London to mirror Washington by pumping significantly more public money into the energy transition because the government’s legally-binding emissions targets meant private investment in the U.K. was already achieving the same goals.Shapps also branded the Opposition Labour party’s plan for major state stimulus for green industries — which emulates so-c...

Man arrested in connection with deadly stabbing in Falmouth 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

A man has been arrested in connection with a deadly stabbing in Falmouth over the weekend, the Cape and Island District Attorney announced on Monday. The DA said police initially responded to a report of a possible stabbing at Gosnold Grove Apartments off East Falmouth Highway around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday. Once on scene, the DA said officers found Milteer Hendrix, 19, of Falmouth bleeding from an apparent stab wound. Hendrix was taken to a local hospital and then flown to a hospital in Boston, where he died on Sunday, according to the DA. A day later, the DA said police arrested Adrian Black, 22, of Taunton at a location in Taunton. Black is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. He is facing charges including murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to the DA.

Lynn native makes history as first non-binary person to win a Tony award for acting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

This year’s Tony Awards brought with them a historic honor for Massachusetts native Alex Newell.Newell, from Lynn, became the first openly non-binary person to win an award for acting. Speaking this week, those who knew Newell said they knew success would be coming after being part of Newell’s life in the theater as a child.Steve Black directed Newell in shows at Marblehead Little Theatre.He said he knew Newell was special from their first audition.“When Alex came in, as soon as they opened their month, that was what everybody remembered — the wonderful, amazing sound that no one else could capture or emulate,” Black said.Thomas Nunan is the president of Bishop Fenwick High School, where Newell graduated in 2012. He said everyone at Bishop Fenwick couldn’t be prouder of Newell’s success.“To see that kind of joy and exuberance last night on stage — just thrilling and exhilarating,” Nunan said. As Newell celebrated Sunday night, they were not the only...

Finals MVP Nikola Jokic carries Nuggets to first championship in franchise history after eliminating Heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

Just four months ago, Nikola Jokic wasn’t picked. The playground insult. LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the captains of the All-Star teams, instead chose players like Kyrie Irving, Ja Morant and Donovan Mitchell.Jokic, the two-time reigning MVP at the time, picked himself that night — he just walked off the stage before LeBron made a choice — because he didn’t want to insult the other final starter on the draft board, Lauri Markkanen.Fast forward several weeks and a former NBA player, Kendrick Perkins, implied on ESPN that Jokic was only voted MVP because he’s white. Ridiculous. Perkins also labeled Jokic a stat padder. Doubly ridiculous.Other NBA stars would’ve taken these things personally. LeBron would’ve logged the slights in his memory bank. Kevin Durant would’ve pretended to not care while tweeting about it.But Jokic, the most overlooked and disrespected two-time MVP in history, ignored the noise. And now he’s an N...

California Gov. Newsom spars with Fox News host Hannity over Biden, immigration and the economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom sparred with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, insisting President Joe Biden is physically fit for a second term as president while refusing to say whether supporters have urged him to run against Biden on the 2024 ballot.Asked if he believes Biden is “cognitively strong enough to be president,” Newsom said yes, adding that he talks with the president “all the time” and has traveled with him aboard Air Force One.‘You never answered my question directly,” Hannity responded. “How many times does your phone ping a day, people saying you need to get in this race because they agree with me that he’s not up to the job.”Newsom stammered somewhat before responding: “I’m not answering.”Newsom has repeatedly said he has no interest in running for president, saying he completely supports Biden’s reelection campaign. In April, Newsom raised money for Biden during a fundraiser in Washington shortly after the...

Denver Nuggets, Canadian Jamal Murray win 1st-ever NBA title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

The Denver Nuggets and Canadian guard Jamal Murray are NBA champions for the first time after defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 on Monday.The Nuggets won the best-of-seven final in five games. It’s the franchise’s first title in its 47 years.47 years in the making. ???? pic.twitter.com/E8Gjd2jT5d— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 13, 2023 Murray, who hails from Kitchener, Ont., was dominant alongside two-time regular season MVP Nikola Jokic, who finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds on Monday night. Murray added 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Forward Michael Porter Jr. had 16 points and 13 rebounds.Jokic was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging over 30 points and 13 rebounds per game and shooting over 46 per cent from three in the playoffs.Murray, meanwhile, averaged over 26 points per game in the playoffs to help guide and ultimately secure the title for Denver. He was drafted seventh overall by the Nuggets in the 2016 NBA Draft.It’s the second-...

Teen, paralyzed in water accident, warns others of the dangers of diving

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

Every year as the weather warms up and people go to pools and beaches, injuries rise.The first nice day of this year’s Spring was the last time a young man stood on his own. A diving accident left him paralyzed.But he is determined to walk and warn others. 18-year-old Pato Gilchrist lives with his family just one block from the beach in WIlmette. On the day of his accident, the weather was warm and the water was low.“The first dive in I dove in headfirst, and I hit the sand the bottom of the lake,” he said.WGN’s Medical Watch team first visited Gilchrist two weeks after his accident at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab.Lauren Rizio is an occupational therapist.“Over the summer there is a percentage of our caseload here that is diving injuries,” she said. “(Gilchrist) has a cervical spinal cord injury at about the C7 level.” MedWatch Daily Digest: Study spanning 25 years shows effects of traumatic brain injuries He undergoes intense therapy three hours a day, re-learning the b...

Hardly drought busters, but showery spells to increase Tuesday with slow moving low pressure; Canadian fires still burning and smoke may stage a Chicago area comeback in coming days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:59 GMT

It’s here! El Niño, a warming of the equatorial Pacific waters west of South America and accompanying weakening of the easterly trade winds which blow across that region, has arrived with a range of potential global weather/climate implications, which a study published in the scientific journal Nature suggests may end up producing economic impacts amounting to $3-trillion in 2023.The last full blown El Niño occurred in 2016—a year which produced the highest global average temp on the books. It’s widely believed this year, when El Niño warming is added—the planetary warming already underway with ongoing climate change—that our planet will set a new global warm temp record for 2023. And odds of this becoming a strong El Niño by this coming winter—with ocean temps warming 2.7 degrees F above normal—are placed at 56% by forecasters at the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC).WHY IS THERE SUCH INTEREST IN El Niño?Much is made of El Niños because of the important and...