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Europe’s economy barely grows as inflation pinches consumers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European economy scraped out meager growth of 0.1% in the first three months of the year, barely gaining momentum after dodging a winter recession as challenges persist from inflation that corrodes people’s willingness to spend.Friday’s less-than-stellar figure follows disappointing growth estimates from the U.S. a day earlier that kept alive fears of a looming recession in the world’s largest economy.The 20 countries that use the euro currency picked up speed in the first quarter after zero growth in the last three months of 2022. The eurozone avoided a winter recession thanks to mild weather that alleviated pressure on natural gas supplies. European governments and utilities also scrambled to line up additional sources to heat homes, generate electricity and power factories after Russia cut off most supply to the continent over its war against Ukraine.Industrial activity has picked up, and China’s reopening from COVID-19 restrictions boosted the outlo...

BBC chief quits amid furor over role in Boris Johnson loan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The chairman of the BBC quit Friday after a report found he failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest over his role in arranging a 2021 loan for Boris Johnson, who was the U.K.’s prime minister at the time.The publicly funded national broadcaster has been under political pressure after it was revealed that Richard Sharp helped arrange the line of credit weeks before he was appointed to the BBC post on the government’s recommendation.The 800,000 pound ($1 million) line of credit came from wealthy Canadian businessman Sam Blyth, who was introduced to Johnson by Sharp, a Conservative Party donor. Johnson was the party’s leader as well as British prime minister.Sharp said he was quitting to “prioritize the interests of the BBC” after making an “inadvertent” breach of the rules.“I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term,” he said.Sharp said he would remain ...

Utah judge to consider challenge to new abortion clinic ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah judge on Friday will consider a request from Planned Parenthood to delay implementing a statewide ban on abortion clinics set to begin taking effect next week.Planned Parenthood argues a state law passed earlier this year will effectively end access to abortion throughout the state when clinics next week stop being able to apply for the licenses they’ve historically relied on to operate.The organization operates three of Utah’s four clinics that provide abortions. It argues that, with the clinic ban, the Utah Legislature “sought an alternative means” to further restrict abortions while awaiting a state Supreme Court ruling on a “trigger law” that would outlaw most abortions regardless of trimester.“Women will be forced to carry pregnancies to term against their will; to remain pregnant until they can travel out of state to access this critical, time-sensitive medical care … or to attempt to self-manage their abortions outside the medica...

PGE announces major clean energy storage project in Portland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland General Electric, the utility serving Portland, Oregon, plans to announce Friday it is putting in 400 MW of power, the second-largest battery storage installation in the United States. The significance of such projects is they diminish the need for power plants that burn fossil fuels that warm the planet.Only the Vistra Moss Landing in California, which is currently 400 MW but will soon add an additional 350 MW, is larger out of all the standalone battery projects in the country.The Portland project will generate enough electricity for around 260,000 homes, roughly the size of Portland, for four hours at full power.“Although we are a small utility, I like to think we punch above our weight,” said Brett Greene, PGE’s senior director, calling it an important step towards reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2030.Batteries are playing a critical role in the clean energy transition because they supply electricity during times of low sunlight and wind and can a...

2 Army helicopters crash in Alaska, killing 3 soldiers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — Two U.S. Army helicopters collided and crashed Thursday in Alaska while returning from a training flight, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth.Two of the soldiers died at the scene of the crash near Healy, Alaska, and a third died on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. A fourth soldier was being treated at a hospital for injuries, the Army said in a statement.The names of those killed were being withheld until relatives could be notified, the Army said.Each AH-64 Apache helicopter was carrying two people at the time of the crash, John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska, said earlier Thursday.The helicopters were from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, based near Fairbanks. What to know about new Arcturus COVID variant “This is an incredible loss for these soldiers’ families, their fellow soldiers, and for the division,” Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airbo...

Long-awaited Bennington playground reopens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

BENNINGTON, Vt. (NEWS10) — Earlier this week, the new playgrounds at Willow Park passed their certification audit. Town Buildings and Grounds crews opened the area Wednesday, and within minutes, families were checking out the new equipment. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Although the fences are down, there is still work to be done. "We are still waiting on the swings to be installed, and there are a few punch list items that will require us to do some additional work on the playgrounds in the future," town officials noted in an online statement. "That might require some brief closings to do that work, but we will strive to have that happen during low-use times of the day/week." The playgrounds were originally slated to open in late summer 2022. Work was interrupted in late September, when a number of issues were identified by the playground engineer and certification team. Miss Vermont’s Teen 2023 hails from Bennington...

Leatherstocking Honor Flight plans 1st overnight trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Leatherstocking Honor Flight will be holding its Spring flight this Saturday, April 29. It will be slightly different from those in years past, however. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "It will be an overnight event," explained event organizer, Greg Furlong, in a press release. "We will be departing from [Albany] Saturday afternoon after a 2 p.m. ceremony and will return Sunday evening." About 70 Veterans will be on board, he said. They will be escorted to the airport by nearly 100 motorcycles, police cars, and fire engines. Volunteers load ambulance with supplies for Ukraine When the motorcade pulls into the airport around 1:30 p.m., it will be greeted by a large crowd and a high school band playing the different service songs. After the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, the Veterans will be seated for the ceremony.Then, they will hear Congressman Paul Tonko, Colonel Richard Goldenbe...

Spain to build 20,000 social houses on defence ministry land

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

The Spanish government plans to build 20,000 social housing homes on land owned and controlled by the Ministry of Defence, said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Tuesday (25 April).Rent increases will be a major campaign issue in Spain as it prepares for regional elections on 28 May and general elections later this year.According to the Observatory of Emancipation, only 16% of Spanish young people live independently, as opposed to 32% on average in Europe.The government will renovate and build 113,000 social housing units, including the conversion of 50,000 foreclosed houses managed by Spain's Bad Bank Sareb.The EU is also building 43,000 additional homes, for which they will lend €4 billion to developers and homeowners to convert houses into social housing or rent them at a reasonable price.

Horoscopes April 28, 2023: Penelope Cruz, place your emotions on the back burner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jessica Alba, 42; Penelope Cruz, 49; Jay Leno, 73; Ann-Margret, 82.Jessica Alba (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Take stock before you start again. Don’t count on others when you should do the work yourself. You have plenty to gain, but it will take ingenuity and doing or overseeing the work yourself. Put your energy where it will bring the highest return. Place your emotions on the back burner to ensure they don’t interfere with your progress. Keep your cash and belongings someplace safe. Your numbers are 7, 18, 21, 29, 32, 35, 46.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep a low profile; if you are too outspoken, you’ll argue with someone you love. Choose to prioritize health, fitness and healthy eating, and make personal growth your target. A kind gesture will enhance your relationship with someone special. 5 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stop thinking about change and do whatever it takes to get the ball rolling. Focu...

Ask Amy: Would it be overstepping to deal with my neighbors’ terrible plant?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:24:29 GMT

Dear Amy: We have lovely neighbors. They are great. We feel so lucky!I am a professional landscape designer and just a little uptight about my own garden.I try not to impose my anal-retentive obsessions upon others unless they are paying me to do so, but — holy noxious weeds! – my neighbors’ lesser celandine is taking over.This is a terrible, invasive weed that smothers other plants. Native plants and pollinators do not have a chance.I have put up a fence – the nicest one I can. But it is only a matter of time before this plant has spread everywhere. It doubles every year, spreading underground and on the wind and boots of others.Chemical control is the only realistic solution, even according to top, planet-loving experts.Should I offer to have my crew take care of it?These lovely people do not care at all about their garden. That is their prerogative.They have a crew who are the worst I have ever witnessed. They whack down the whole thing to the dirt every fall, cleanin...