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Bulgaria accelerates end of sanctions loophole that earned Russia €1B

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Bulgaria will scrap its exemption to EU sanctions against Russia six months earlier than planned — just days after POLITICO revealed the loophole had allowed the Kremlin to rake in an extra €1 billion for its war effort in Ukraine.Parties supporting the government’s ruling coalition announced the move Friday, following a fierce debate sparked by a POLITICO report that found Bulgaria was letting millions of barrels of Moscow’s oil reach a Russian-owned refinery on its territory, which then exported various refined fuels abroad including to EU countries.The refinery was able to move the Russian oil because Bulgaria had received an exclusive opt-out from the EU’s ban on Russian seaborne crude oil imports — a step ostensibly meant to protect the country from energy shortages. The government said it will now end that exemption on March 1 instead of a previous, self-imposed October 31 deadline.Aside from the estimated €983 million the loophole raised for Russia via produc...

After more reports of illnesses from recalled applesauce pouches, FDA is screening cinnamon shipments for lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

(CNN) — After more reports of illnesses potentially linked to lead in recalled fruit and applesauce pouches, the US Food and Drug Administration says that it is screening shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries for possible lead contamination. So far, no illnesses or elevated blood lead levels have been reported for other cinnamon or products containing the popular holiday spice.There have been 34 reports of illnesses linked to apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches sold under the WanaBanana, Weis and Schnucks brands, the FDA said Friday — a dozen more cases since an update on Monday. Cases have been identified in at least 22 states, and the agency says it’s continuing to evaluate incoming reports of illnesses.The FDA, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners have been investigating reports of high blood lead levels in children who consumed the pouches, which were manufactured in Ecuador. In one product sample of a WanaBana Apple Ci...

State transportation officials gearing up for holiday traffic surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Officials said Tuesday will be the busiest travel day before the Thanksgiving holiday, with the biggest impacts on I-93, Route 128, and the Mass Pike, regardless of when you hit the road.“MassDOT is doing everything we can to alleviate the congestion,” said MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutts. “We will be pausing construction work on major roadways outside of the established work zone.”This pause includes the work being done on the Sumner Tunnel, which will stay open this weekend and Thanksgiving weekend.The MBTA is also making adjustments to accommodate the annual holiday influx of riders.“We have added additonal services to support increased ridership during the periods when we know that people are traveling,” said MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “For instance, Logan Airport to destinations in Boston, we have increased service on the Silver Line.”Commuter Rail weekend passes, which cost $10, can be purchased on Thanksgiving Day ...

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, new research finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

A cat-borne parasite that infects about 40 million people in the United States may cause adults to be more frail as they age, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study.The parasite is already associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness, according to a release, and the CU Boulder study found it may also contribute to signs of frailty including exhaustion and loss of muscle mass.The parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, affects about 11% of people in the United States, or roughly 40 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates tend to be higher in older people, and in some countries, more than 60% of people have been infected, according to the CDC.“We often think of T. gondii infection as relatively asymptomatic, but this study highlights that for some people it may have significant health consequences later on,” Christopher Lowry, CU Boulder professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, said in a release.For the s...

98.5’s Fred Toucher is surprised that Jim Murray has already said no to ‘Toucher and Rich’ opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

A 98.5 fan favorite already saying he’s absolutely not interested in the “Toucher and Rich” opening has surprised morning host Fred Toucher, who “never thought someone would take their name out of the running” this early.It has only been one week since Toucher announced that Rich Shertenlieb was leaving the top sports morning show in the region.Jim Murray, the third chair on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Mazz,” was quickly floated as a possible replacement for Shertenlieb — but “Big Jim” Murray has shot down any chance of moving from afternoons to mornings.Toucher on Friday morning reacted to Murray saying he’s “100% not interested” in the morning show job opening.“So this was in the Boston Herald, because I get Google Alerts which are firing in because we’re big shot, big time right now,” Toucher said. “And Jim Murray has stated for the record, while asked during the ‘Fel...

More bars in top vacation spots serving up nonalcoholic drinks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

By Sally French | NerdWalletIn Orlando, Florida, there’s no shortage of bars that’ll make you a mocktail.Many are almost certainly designed for the under-21 crowd, including “The Simpsons”-inspired Flaming Moe. The bubbling, citrusy, nonalcoholic concoction is served at Universal Studios Florida.But in the city known for being family-friendly, there’s an entirely different set of bars specifically not for kids, such as The Bandbox, a 1920s Art Deco-inspired speakeasy. Customers must be 21 or older, and while there’s no official dress code, there’s a more elegant vibe at this intimate lounge.The Bandbox owner, Kevin Zepf, emphasizes that his bar doesn’t serve traditional mocktails, which tend to be ultra-sweet and contain ingredients like juices, syrups and sodas.In contrast to classics like Shirley Temples, virgin Piña Coladas or even the Flaming Moe, The Bandbox serves nonalcoholic craft cocktails using alternative or distilled spirits.The interior of The Bandbox in Orlando. ...

Browns working out former Ravens QB Joe Flacco after Deshaun Watson injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is working out Friday for the Cleveland Browns, who are still sorting through their changing quarterback situation, a person familiar with the visit told The Associated Press.The 38-year-old Flacco could be an option for the Browns, who lost Deshaun Watson for the season earlier this week with a broken bone in his right shoulder.Flacco is the only QB being worked out Friday at the team’s facility, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the club never publicly discloses any player workouts.Flacco rallied the New York Jets to an improbable comeback win over the Browns last season. He hasn’t been on any roster in 2023, but has kept open the possibility of returning and Cleveland has a pressing need.Watson’s injury has threatened to derail a promising season for the Browns (6-3), who are coming off a last-second win at Baltimore. But Watson won’t be back until 2024 at the earliest, and the Browns need help...

Salem Hospital faces lawsuit after hundreds of patients possibly exposed to HIV, hepatitis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

An Amesbury woman is suing Salem Hospital after she and hundreds of other patients may have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV during a medical imaging procedure.Keches Law Group has filed a class action lawsuit against Mass General Brigham, Salem Hospital and 10 hospital employees on behalf of plaintiff Melinda Cashman, a resident of Amesbury whom the firm says “suffered permanent injuries, additional testing requirements, extreme anxiety, emotional distress, and decreased quality of life due to potential exposure to these infections.”Hospital officials revealed on Wednesday that roughly 450 patients receiving an endoscopy between June 2021 and April 2023 were potentially exposed during the administration of IV medications “in a manner not consistent with our best practice.”Keches Law, in a release, highlighted that the hospital recently notified Cashman about the situation and that “she would need to undergo testing, screening and an evaluation to determine whether s...

Asset freeze sought in proposed suit alleging Quebec billionaire paid minors for sex

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

MONTREAL — A lawyer representing dozens of women who say a Montreal billionaire paid them for sex while they were minors wants to freeze millions of dollars of the businessman’s assets.Jeff Orenstein, who is representing the women in a proposed class-action lawsuit, told a Quebec Superior Court judge he worries Robert Miller will hide the proceeds from the coming $5.2-billion sale of his company, Future Electronics.Orenstein says he wants Miller and Future Electronics to deposit a total of $200 million with the court for safekeeping, and if that isn’t done for their assets — as well as the assets of a number of related companies and individuals — to be frozen.Miller has denied the allegations, and his lawyer, Karim Renno, told the court there’s no evidence his client will try to hide his assets.He says the court order Orenstein is seeking would target people who are not defendants in the proposed class action and is so broad it would prevent Miller from even buying...

Citing ongoing criminal case, UVA further delays release of campus shooting findings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:45 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — University of Virginia officials said Friday they were further delaying the public release of the findings of an investigation into the events surrounding a 2022 campus shooting that killed three student-athletes and wounded two other students. Citing concern about the impact the findings could have on the suspect’s pending trial, UVA said in a news release that it would not make a “redacted” version of the final report public until “after the criminal proceedings.”“Making the report public at this time, or even releasing a summary of their findings and recommendations, could have an impact on the criminal trial of the accused, either by disrupting the case being prepared by the Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney, or by interfering with the defendant’s right to a fair trial before an impartial jury,” UVA President Jim Ryan said in a statement. Ryan said the university had consulted with Albemarle County Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Hingeley in reachin...