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6 takeaways on incoming EU innovation chief’s parliament grilling

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

BRUSSELS — Iliana Ivanova played to the crowd and stuck to the script. The Bulgarian nominee for European commissioner faced just under three hours of questioning by the European Union’s parliamentary committees for industry and culture in Brussels on Tuesday. She landed strikes and dodged punches from lawmakers on topics ranging from questions on the EU’s poor record in supporting startups to problems with Europe’s flagship education program Erasmus. But she did so by playing it safe, sticking to non-controversial answers and explanations, at times pandering to members of the EU’s chamber and — above all — avoiding taking clear positions on issues that had the potential to backfire, like the sexual harassment debate that has raged in Spain in recent weeks. On others, like the United Kingdom’s role in EU research funding, lawmakers refrained from seeking a definite answer, because they knew it’s not up to Ivanova to call the final shots anyway. Th...

5 things to know as the Digital Markets Act ramps up

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

The world’s largest tech companies are gearing up for tight rules on how they run their businesses in the European Union. The bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) will compel Big Tech firms to make it easier and cheaper for companies to compete on their platforms from March — or else face serious fines.As part of the path to enforcing the DMA, the European Commission will on Wednesday identify a handful of digital “gatekeepers” — companies already supreme in their marketplace — that must comply with the DMA’s strict rules aimed at stifling anticompetitive behavior and stopping abuse of dominance. Among the restrictions designated gatekeepers will face are having to provide free updates to companies that buy or sell ads on their platforms, and stopping social media networks from requiring a specific type of account to access their apps and services. Here are five things to know about the EU’s sweeping new rulebook that’s set to upend how people use their favorite platforms...

GOP Sen. McConnell’s health episodes show no evidence of strokes or seizures, Capitol physician says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health episodes show “no evidence” of being strokes or seizures, the Capitol physician said in a letter released Tuesday after a medical evaluation and consultation with neurologists.McConnell’s office released the letter from attending physician Brian P. Monahan as the Senate returns from an extended summer break and question mount over the long-serving Republican leader’s health. The 81-year-old froze up last week during a press conference in Kentucky, unable to respond to a question, the second such episode in a month.“There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinson’s disease,” Monahan wrote, using the acronym for a transient ischemic attack, a brief stroke. The doctor said the assessments entailed several medical evaluations in...

Oceanside debuts QR codes on lifeguard towers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Oceanside's lifeguards have placed QR codes on every lifeguard tower to alert beachgoers of current conditions.When beachgoers scan the QR code, they are taken to a website that shows them the current weather conditions, the water temperature, the height of the current surf, which lifeguard towers are open or closed, any safety alerts including if there are water quality alerts, stingray sightings, and more features.“Information is power, we have a lot of visitors here, a lot of tourists that aren’t familiar with the way that our beaches work,” City of Oceanside Lifeguard Sgt. Jonathan Chesner said.The information is all updated in real time and automatic. The QR code provides a direct link to safebeachday.com – which houses the information. San Diego has more fleas than any other city in country: SDHS “That provides a real-time interface to the public that lets them know if we are getting significant rescue activity at a certain tower, if our towers are staff...

Man hospitalized after hit-and-run crash

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

SAN DIEGO — A man was hospitalized Monday after he was struck by a driver who fled the scene in the El Cerrito neighborhood, San Diego police said.According to SDPD, the crash happened around 9:10 p.m. near the 5400 block of University Avenue when a 67-year-old man was walking across the westbound lanes mid-block.The pedestrian stepped into the lanes and was struck by a vehicle, police said. The driver of the vehicle, described only as a man by officials, helped the pedestrian to the curb before reentering his vehicle and leaving the scene. Woman killed by Coaster train; investigation underway The pedestrian was taken to a nearby hospital via ambulance to be treated for injuries that were not considered life threatening, SDPD said.Police did not have details regarding a suspect or vehicle description.The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information or who may have witnessed the crash was asked to contact SDPD's Traffic Division at or leave an anonymous with Cr...

Zero sugar, two Choices: What's the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

(BLOOM) — Coke Zero and Diet Coke are go-to options for soda lovers who want to cut the sugar but not the fizz. But wait a minute — they're both zero-calorie, both from Coca-Cola, and both claim to offer the classic Coke taste without the sugar. So what sets them apart?The Origin Story: More Than Just a NameDiet Coke was introduced in 1982, when the Coca-Cola Company recognized a growing demand for lower-calorie beverages as consumers became more health-conscious. Diet Coke was not just a sugar-free version of the classic Coca-Cola, but a completely new formula. It was the first extension of the Coca-Cola trademark and was aimed primarily at Baby Boomers who were starting to seek healthier options. Over the years, Diet Coke has undergone several rebranding and repackaging efforts, including the introduction of various flavors like Cherry, Lime, and more recently, Ginger Lime and Feisty Cherry.Coke Zero: The Millennial MagnetFast forward to 2005, and the landscape had changed again. ...

A Trump-Biden rematch may be on the horizon in 2024, whether voters like it or not

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The end of Labor Day weekend would typically mark the start of a furious sprint to the Iowa caucuses as candidates battle for their party’s presidential nomination. But as the 2024 campaign comes into greater focus, the usual frenzy is yielding to a sense of inevitability. Among Republicans, Donald Trump is dominating the primary field, outpacing rivals with resumes as governors, diplomats and entrepreneurs that would normally prove compelling. The former president’s strength comes despite — or perhaps because of — multiple criminal indictments that threaten to overshadow any serious debate about the future of the country. And for now, the tens of millions of dollars that Republican rivals are pouring into the race are doing little to diminish Trump’s stature, fueling concerns among his GOP critics who fear the primary is essentially over before it begins. As one troubled front-runner tightens his grip on the Republican nomination, President Joe Bid...

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw resigns after turbulent three years at the helm

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw will step down this month, the mayor said Tuesday, ending a turbulent three years at the helm of one of the country’s largest police forces that spanned the pandemic lockdowns and Black Lives Matter protests to take a leadership position with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.Outlaw, the first Black woman to run the 6,000-member department, came aboard just before the pandemic shutdown and quickly had to oversee the city’s safety as intense protests broke out in Philadelphia and across the country in the summer of 2020 over the police killing of Black people.Her resignation comes just a few months before the end of Mayor Jim Kenney’s tenure and as the rates of homicides and other crimes have become a major issue in the race to replace him. Tensions between Philadelphia police and the public escalated after Floyd’s killing in May 2020, when mostly peaceful protesters who shut down a major cit...

Police, city officials to testify in ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers’ trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

OTTAWA — Police, city officials and former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson will be among 22 witnesses called at the criminal trial of “Freedom Convoy” organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.As their trial got underway at the Ottawa courthouse Tuesday, Crown attorney Tim Radcliffe said he will also submit more than 100 exhibits. That will include dozens of videos, photos and letters from the Freedom Convoy protest, which gridlocked the city of Ottawa in winter 2022.Given the mountain of material expected at the trial the opening morning was largely spent with lawyers explaining how they expect the trial to unfold over 16 days of testimony.“We’re trying to put this case on the rails,” Justice Heather Perkins-McVey told the court.Jim Watson, who was the mayor of Ottawa during the protest, was at the courthouse Tuesday and confirmed he expects to testify.Lich and Barber were part of the original group that mobilized a convoy of big rigs and other trucks and cars t...

America’s small towns are disbanding police forces, citing hiring woes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 GMT

GOODHUE, Minnesota (AP) — As Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith struggled this summer to fill vacancies in his small department, he warned the town’s City Council that unless pay and benefits improved, finding new officers would never happen.When nothing changed, Smith quit. So did his few remaining officers, leading the Minnesota town of 1,300 residents to shutter its police force in late August.America is in the midst of a police officer shortage that many in law enforcement blame on the two-fold morale hit of 2020 — the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of police that boiled over with the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. From Minnesota to Maine, Ohio to Texas, small towns unable to fill jobs are eliminating their police departments and turning over police work to their county sheriff, a neighboring town or state police.The trend isn’t altogether new.At least 521 U.S. towns and cities with populations of 1,000 to 200,000 disbanded policing between 1972 and 201...