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CDC South Florida Director urges winter COVID-19 vaccinations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

With the arrival of the winter season on the horizon, public health experts are sounding the alarm about the potential risks for the unvaccinated population. Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Director for South Florida, is leading a proactive effort to bolster vaccination rates and safeguard the community.The CDC director recently visited partnering pharmacies providing COVID-19 vaccinations, emphasizing the importance of getting vaccinated as winter approaches. The urgency is underlined by recent federal data revealing that Florida has reported approximately 1,300 COVID-19 deaths in the past three months.“The updated COVID vaccine allows you to be the most protected against this new variant of the virus,” she stated. “Your immunity from prior infection or previous vaccination naturally decreases over time. It’s not just about avoiding hospitalization or death; it’s also about preventing long-lasting symptoms – even...

Yellen says US is not ready to sign global tax treaty just yet

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

LUXEMBOURG — The U.S. will not be ready by this year to add its signature to a treaty that’ll pave the way for a global levy on the world’s 100 richest companies that aims to prevent corporates from engaging in international tax tourism, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday.Under the proposed framework, known as Pillar One, the world’s biggest and most profitable companies would be taxed and countries would receive the proceeds based on where firms make money, as opposed to where they book their profits.While “much of the treaty has been agreed to … there are some matters that are important to the United States and other countries that remain unresolved,” and these “need to be resolved before the treaty can be signed, so these processes will take into next year,” Yellen told reporters in Luxembourg, where she met with EU finance ministers.Yellen’s comments are a blow to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and De...

Australia fines X, accusing it of ‘empty talk’ on fighting child sexual abuse online

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

(CNN) — Australia issued a fine of $610,500 Australian dollars ($386,000) on Monday against the company formerly known as Twitter for “falling short” in disclosing information on how it tackles child sex abuse content, in yet another setback for the Elon Musk-owned social media platform.Just days earlier, the European Commission formally opened an investigation into X after issuing a previous warning about disinformation and illegal content on its platform linked to the Israel-Hamas war.Australia’s e-Safety Commission, the online safety regulator, said in a statement Monday that X had failed to adequately respond to a number of questions about the way it was dealing with the problem of child abuse materials.The commission accused the platform of not providing any response to some questions, leaving some sections entirely blank or providing answers that were incomplete or inaccurate.“Twitter/X has stated publicly that tackling child sexual exploitation is the...

Important Patriots QB question remains a mystery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

The Patriots are continuing to take a secretive approach to their backup quarterback situation.Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was asked Monday morning on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” whether undrafted rookie quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham would continue to back up starting QB Mac Jones in Week 7 against the Bills.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Is Kendrick Bourne playing his final games with the Patriots? New England Patriots | How Patriots’ Jabrill Peppers avoided flag on big hit on Davante Adams New England Patriots | Patriots took odd approach to pregame warmups with backup QB New England Patriots | Mac Jones, offense cost Patriots again with late-game failures at Las Vegas New England Patriots | How Patriots’ Mac Jones, DeVante Parker reacted to momentous late-game drop “Yeah, we’ll deal with next week next week,” Bill Belichick said. “Just finished...

New vaccine expected to give endangered California condors protection against deadly bird flu

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Antibodies found in early results of a historic new vaccine trial are expected to give endangered California condors at least partial protection from the deadliest strain of avian influenza in U.S. history. The California condor is the only bird species in the U.S. that has been approved for the new emergency-use vaccine, which was administered this summer to condors bred in captivity during a trial at the Los Angeles Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Oregon Zoo. Authorities launched the study after the avian influenza deaths earlier this year of 21 free-flying condors in Arizona, part of a Southwest flock usually accounting for a third of the wild population.Wildlife officials feared that the outbreak’s toll on the California condor population could erase any gains made to rebuild the wild population, spurring the efforts to fast-track the vaccine. After 40 years of recovery efforts to prevent the extinction of the iconic vulture with a 10-foot (3-meter)...

Settlement over Trump family separations at the border limits future separations for 8 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The federal government would be barred from immigration policies that separate parents from children for eight years under a proposed court settlement announced Monday that also provides families that were split under the Trump administration with temporary legal status and short-term housing aid.The settlement between the Biden administration and the American Civil Liberties Union, if approved by a judge, would at least temporarily prohibit the type of “zero-tolerance” policy on illegal immigration under which former President Donald Trump separated thousands of families at the border with Mexico.“It is our intent to do whatever we can to make sure that the cruelty of the past is not repeated in the future. We set forth procedures through this settlement agreement to advance that effort,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told The Associated Press.Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, hasn’t ruled out reviving the hi...

Arrest made in airport parking garage shooting that killed Philadelphia officer and injured another

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A suspect has been arrested in an airport parking garage shooting that killed a Philadelphia police officer and injured another last week, authorities said. Police have scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference to release more information.Authorities said the two officers had just arrived at work at about 11 p.m. Thursday when they heard breaking glass and saw several people breaking into a car in the parking lot at Philadelphia International Airport. A confrontation ensued, and the two officers and one of the suspects were shot.Fifty-year-old Officer Richard Mendez, who had been on the force for more than two decades, was shot four times and was pronounced dead at a hospital. Officer Raul Ortiz, a 20-year veteran of the force, was shot once in his arm and was released from the hospital Saturday.Authorities said the suspects fled in an SUV reported stolen a week ago that was later seen at a hospital dropping off 18-year-old Jesus Herman Madera Duran, who autho...

Cricket’s Olympic return draws an enthusiastic response from around the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Cricket’s return to the Olympic program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games drew an enthusiastic response from around the world.Cricket, a bat-and-ball game that is hugely popular in south Asia, was one of five sports added to the LA Games by the International Olympic Committee on Monday. Flag football, baseball-softball, lacrosse and squash were also included.“After a wait of more than a century, our beloved sport is back on the Olympic stage,” former India captain Sachin Tendulkar wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “This marks the dawn of a new era for cricket as it will be a golden opportunity to foster inclusivity and showcase new talent from emerging cricketing nations. A start of something truly special!”Monday’s decision was made at an IOC meeting in Mumbai, the Indian city that will host five matches at the ongoing Cricket World Cup.“Our beautiful game of cricket has a rich heritage and diverse international following,” said Paki...

Suncor CEO says company remains committed to decarbonization

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

OTTAWA — The CEO of one of Canada’s biggest oil producers says he hasn’t studied the fine print on new federal regulations to cut emissions from gasoline and diesel.Suncor CEO Rich Kruger says he is aware of the regulations and says the company is meeting its obligations.But when asked what impact the regulations will have on Suncor’s products, he said he hadn’t looked at them in great detail yet.The regulations took effect earlier this year, requiring companies that refine or import gasoline and diesel to offset their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in clean technology and renewable energy.Kruger is in Ottawa today speaking at the House natural resources committee to explain comments he made this summer about reducing his company’s emphasis on the transition to lower-emitting energy sources.Kruger says his comments were misinterpreted as Suncor ending its commitment to curbing its carbon footprint, when the focus is really on ensuring the company...

B.C. to bring in new rules on short-term rentals to create more housing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:50:57 GMT

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government has introduced new legislation aimed at increasing badly needed rental housing, in part by forcing those offering short-term accommodation to live on the property they’re renting.The government says the legislation would rein in a rapidly expanding short-term rental market. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon introduced the bill Monday in the legislature, saying there has been “an explosion” of short-term rental units and the legislation will target areas with high housing needs. “Vacancy rates across the province are extremely low. People are struggling to find homes that they can afford and the rapid increase in short-term rentals is making the problem worse,” he said.Short-term rentals remove thousands of homes from B.C.’s communities, Kahlon said. The legislation would force short-term rental platforms to share their data with the province for enforcement and tax purposes, and would limit short-term rentals ...