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EU chief says investment plan for Western Balkan candidate members will require reforms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — The European Commission’s top official said Monday that a decade-long investment package for Western Balkan countries seeking to join the bloc could vastly improve the region’s economy but is conditioned on required reforms.EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed details of the 6 billion euro ($6.37 billion) package during a visit to North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, at the start of a four-day trip to the region. EU leaders presented the package at a Western Balkans meeting in Albania earlier this month. At a news conference Monday with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, von der Leyen said the EU package had the potential to double North Macedonia’s economy within a decade. “That is the goal, and it will play an important role in your path towards the EU,” she said.She said the plan would allow Western Balkan companies access to key sectors of the block’s single market, while at the same time countries in t...

Nikki Haley formally enters her home-state primary as a new poll suggests she has momentum in Iowa

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Nikki Haley claimed new momentum in the race to supplant Donald Trump as her party’s front-runner during an appearance in her home state Monday, where she formally filed to appear on the South Carolina Republican presidential primary ballot.The former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador returned to the Statehouse where her political career took off for a signing ceremony. She suggested that by the time of South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary, she might be able to beat Trump, who maintains huge leads nationally and in early primary states. A Des Moines Register poll released Monday shows Haley pulling even in Iowa with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, even as both lag far behind the former president. Haley and DeSantis are vying for second place in hopes of consolidating the support of people who want an alternative to Trump, with their campaigns and allied super PACs increasingly targeting each other in ads and messaging.A field that began w...

Sunday Night Fright: Bears struggle again in loss to Chargers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

INGLEWOOD, CA. — There would be no magic on the big stage for the Bears' rookie quarterback on Sunday evening. Tyson Bagent now got his chance to deal with the frustration that most fans of the team have dealt with the last decade - and maybe longer.In front of a national audience, the Bears endured another forgettable setback against the Chargers, who were in control from the start to the finish in a 30-13 victory. Once again, the team failed to win back-to-back games in the Matt Eberflus era, falling to 2-6 on the year in their seventh double-digit defeat in their last 11 games. It also continues their run of futility on Sunday night that now goes back nearly five years.The defeat to Los Angeles marked the seventh-straight defeat that the Bears have suffered on Sunday Night Football. Nov. 19, 2019 - Loss at Rams 17-7Dec. 22, 2019 - Loss vs. Chiefs 26-3Nov. 29, 2020 - Loss at Packers 41-25Sep. 12, 2021 - Loss at Rams 34-14Dec. 12, 2021 - Loss at Packers 40-35Sep. 18, 2022 - Loss at...

12 dead, scores injured in Halloween weekend mass shootings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

(The Hill) -- At least a dozen people are dead and many more are injured after numerous mass shootings took place across the United States over the Halloween weekend. There were 13 mass shootings — defined as when at least four victims are injured or killed — between Friday and Sunday, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The shootings left at least 12 people dead and 79 people injured, according to the nonprofit organization.They come just days after a gunman opened fire in Lewiston, Maine, killing 18 people and injuring another 13. In the days since, lawmakers and activists have reignited familiar calls for gun reform.The worst shooting of the weekend happened in Texarkana, Texas, leaving three people dead and three injured when gunfire broke out at a party Saturday night, according to police.“Apparently, this all started when a fistfight broke out between two men at the party. At some point during this fight, at least two men there pulled out rifles and started s...

Matthew Perry had repeatedly called this movie his 'best': Have you seen it?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Fans of the late Matthew Perry are finding solace in some of his most memorable performances, with many pointing to his comedic work on “Friends” as bringing them joy in the days after his death.Perry, 54, had always remained proud of his role in the iconic sitcom. But when it comes to his entire body of work, the actor has — on multiple occasions — singled out one film as being his “best.”Just a few seasons after “Friends” debuted, Perry appeared opposite Salma Hayek in the 1997 film “Fools Rush In.” The film starred Perry as Alex Whitman, a real-estate developer who falls for Hayek’s free-spirited photographer after a fling in Las Vegas. It wasn’t a universal hit with critics, but it’s the film Perry suggested he was most proud of.“To this day, it’s probably my best movie,” Perry wrote in his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.” Matthew Perry’s cause of death still under investigation by county medical examiner In fact, Perry has not only suggest...

Day 6: APD officer's murder trial continues, state likely to wrap mid-week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

Editor’s note: The above video shows KXAN Live’s top morning headlines for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Prosecutors have said they are nearly finished presenting their case against Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who is on trial for murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor's attorneys are expected to take over as early as Tuesday. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during an incident with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Monday providing live updates of the trial on social media platform X: Day 6: The jury is back this morning for the murder trial for APD Officer Christopher Taylor. We expect the state to continue presenting evidence today until 2pm (juror scheduling conflict this afternoon) and then to finish up Tuesday. Then the defense takes over. Today's thread:— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) October 30, 2023 Previous coverage o...

Travis County ESD No. 2 opens new Pflugerville fire station

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) – The Travis County Emergency Services District No. 2/Pflugerville Fire Department celebrated the opening of its sixth fire station on Saturday. Station 6 is located on Weiss Lane in front of Weiss High School. The department said the station is on land donated by the Pflugerville Independent School District.Opening Ceremony for Station 6, Travis County ESD No. 2 (Courtesy: Travis County ESD No. 2) Opening Ceremony for Station 6, Travis County ESD No. 2 (Courtesy: Travis County ESD No. 2) Opening Ceremony for Station 6, Travis County ESD No. 2 (Courtesy: Travis County ESD No. 2) Opening Ceremony for Station 6, Travis County ESD No. 2 (Courtesy: Travis County ESD No. 2) According to the district's Strategic and Master Plan, the number of incidents that ESD No. 2 has responded to rose from 9,363 in 2017 to 13,332 in 2021.

Police: Man shot in head in Bloomington remains in critical condition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

A man shot in the head early Sunday in a parking lot in Bloomington remained in critical condition Monday, police said.Police said they believe the 27-year-old man was shot by a suspect known to him.Officers responded around 3 a.m. to a report of shots fired in the 800 Block of American Boulevard, south of Interstate 494 and east of Portland Avenue. The man was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the head, but breathing.He was treated at the scene by officers and then paramedics before being taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.The investigation continues.Police are asking anyone who has information about the shooting to call them at 952-563-4900.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Arrest made in Halloween weekend’s fatal shooting of 2 in Tampa; 18 more victims injured Crime & Public Safety | Nicholas Firkus murder trial jurors didn’t get to hear from his 2nd wife. She says he lied to her about finances, too. ...

Letters: The climate case for Summit Avenue changes doesn’t hold up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

Challenging a climate argumentEfforts by St. Paul City Council Member Mitra Jalali to rationalize ripping up Summit Avenue and devastating its canopy of mature trees do not withstand factual scrutiny. Jalali claimed in an interview with Pioneer Press on Oct. 25 that opposition to the plan “denies our climate crisis.” But, she ignores the fact that hundreds of mature trees would be cut down to make way for the project. Each of those trees absorbs 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and releases oxygen in exchange, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Cutting down those trees and adding more paving adds to our climate crisis. Leaving the trees in place to thrive is a positive step toward reducing our climate crisis.Taking account of Minnesota winters and weather, the elevated bike lanes will take little or no auto-commute traffic off the roads. Public transit holds the best hope of reducing auto traffic here.Jalali claimed that opposition “neglects our infrastructure.” Ther...

Eyedrops from Target, CVS and others carry possible infection risk, FDA says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:17 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. health regulators are warning consumers not to use more than two dozen varieties of over-the-counter eyedrops because of the risk of infections that could lead to blindness.The Food and Drug Administration advisory applies to lubricating drops sold by six companies, including CVS Health, Target, Rite Aid and Cardinal Health. Consumers should stop using the products immediately and avoid purchasing any that remain on pharmacy and store shelves, the FDA said in a statement Friday.The agency asked the companies to recall their products last week, because FDA inspectors found unsanitary conditions and bacteria at the facility producing the drops. The FDA did not disclose the location of the factory or when it was inspected.No injuries related to the products had been reported at the time of the announcement, but the FDA encouraged doctors and patients to submit cases through the agency’s online reporting system.Earlier this year, federal officials linked an outbreak of...