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Biden will ask Congress for $13B to support Ukraine and $12B for disaster fund, an AP source says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday will ask Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine, another massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s deeply entrenched forces, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.The last such request from the White House, made in November, was met and then some — Congress approved more than what the Democratic president had requested. But there’s a different dynamic this time. A political divide on the issue has grown, with the Republican-led House facing enormous pressure to demonstrate support for the party’s leader, Donald Trump, who has been very skeptical of the war. And American support for the effort has been slowly softening.The White House also is expected to ask for $12 billion to replenish federal disaster funds, according to the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly about a request...

Novo Nordisk prioritizes existing patients for weight-loss drug as demand soars

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

Novo Nordisk is taking a cautious approach to rolling out its obesity drug Wegovy in new markets as demand surges, the company said Thursday.Since the drug was approved in June last year in the U.S. and Europe for weight loss, the Danish firm has seen demand for the product soar, fueled by social media influencers. At the same time, supplies have been impacted by a manufacturing pause.For Novo, the priority is to ensure that patients who start treatment can attain the highest maintenance dose of 2.4 milligrams, which requires increasing the dose four times over five months.CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen told an analysts’ call Thursday that the best way to ensure that all patients started on the treatment can reach the highest dosage and achieve weight-loss results “is of course not to start more patients than we can secure continuity of care, and then furthermore not to launch in more [markets] than we can support.”To safeguard continuity of care, the supply of the lower Wegovy...

Taylor Swift reveals ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ as her next drop, with ‘insane’ vault tracks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

(CNN) — Taylor Swift capped off her sixth and final “Eras Tour” concert at Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium on Wednesday with a big announcement that Swifties had been speculating about for weeks.During the surprise song portion of the concert – in which she sang two songs including “New Romantics” – the singer confirmed on stage that her next re-record will be for her megahit 2014 album “1989.” “New Romantics” is a deluxe track off that record.“There’s something I’ve been planning for a really, really, really ridiculously, embarrassingly long time,” she said after speaking about how moved she is that her fans have embraced her quest to re-record her first six albums, as seen in videos of the concert posted to social media.She then directed attention to the large video screen where an image of the album art for “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” appeared, confirming an October release date.“Surprise!! 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is on its way to you,” Swift wrote&nbs...

Aid organization says US nurse and daughter freed after abduction in Haiti are healthy and unharmed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A U.S. nurse and her young daughter who were kidnapped in Haiti in late July and released this week were not harmed and are healthy, an aid organization said Thursday.The announcement allayed concerns about the state of Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter. Violent gangs in Haiti are known for mistreating and sometimes raping those they abduct, often holding victims for months and demanding multiple ransoms.“Alix is a remarkably resilient woman whose walk with God guides her deep love for her family and her passionate commitment to the Haitian people,” said El Roi Haiti, the Christian group founded by Dorsainvil’s husband.It also thanked U.S. authorities for working “tirelessly behind the scenes” and credited a faith-based global security ministry with providing consultants that helped lead to the Aug. 8 release of Dorsainvil and her daughter.“God demonstrated His loving kindness through both private and public sector partners and resourc...

50 defining moments in hip-hop history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

By Karu F. Daniels, Brian Niemietz, Tim Balk and Amber Garrett, New York Daily NewsWhile it’s impossible to distill a history as rich as hip-hop’s down to just 50 defining moments, here are many of the music’s game-changing artists and achievements over the past 50 years:Aug. 11, 1973: 1520 Sedgwick Ave. in the Bronx earns its place in history as the birthplace of hip-hop when DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell) and his sister Cindy throw a back-to-school party in their building’s community room.Community center in ground floor of apartment building 1520 Sedgwick Avenue is recognized as official birthplace of Hip Hop on August 16, 2007 in Bronx Borough of New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)Nov. 12, 1976: Afrika Bambaataa makes his DJ debut at a party at the Bronx River Community Center, spinning vinyl on a sound system his mom gave him as a graduation present.July 13, 1977: During a two-day New York City blackout, inner city youth reportedly break into local electronics stores acro...

Maui wildfire: Before and after photos show devastation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

Wildfires fueled by a dry summer and strong winds from a passing hurricane killed 36 people and destroyed hundreds of homes and other buildings on the Hawaiian island of Maui, in the deadliest blaze in the U.S. in years.MAP: Maui wildfires burning in Lahaina and upcountryRescuers searched Thursday through the leveled, ashen homes and businesses of Lahaina, which dates to the 1700s, is the biggest town on the west side of the island and has long been a favorite destination of tourists.Firefighters are still battling blazes on the island and local officials are preparing to evacuate thousands of visitors and residents in need of shelter.Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke is discouraging travelers from coming to Maui, saying that right now, it’s “not a safe place to be.”This combination of satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows an overview of Lahaina Square on Maui, Hawaii, on June 25, 2023, left, and an overview of the same area on Wednesday, Aug. 9, following a wildfire tha...

Orioles place Danny Coulombe, club’s top left-handed reliever, on injured list with left biceps tendonitis

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

After allowing five runs in back-to-back losses to the Houston Astros, the Orioles’ third-best reliever is heading to the injured list.Danny Coulombe, the best left-hander in Baltimore’s bullpen, was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday morning with biceps tendonitis, the Orioles announced before their matinee against the Astros. The IL stint is retroactive to Aug. 9. Right-hander Joey Krehbiel was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Coulombe on the 26-man roster.Coulombe was a nondescript addition at the end of spring training when the Orioles acquired him from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. But the veteran lefty has turned out to be one of manager Brandon Hyde’s most trusted relievers, often pitching in high-leverage situations before the All-Star duo of Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista. In 39 innings — Coulombe’s most in a season since 2017 — the 33-year-old has a 2.77 ERA with 48 strikeouts.While he hasn’t ...

5 killed when RV blows tire, crashes head-on into tractor-trailer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A recreational vehicle blew a tire on an interstate highway in Pennsylvania, crossed the median and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer, killing four people in the RV and the truck driver, authorities said.The crash occurred around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday on northbound Interstate 81 near Chambersburg, in south-central Pennsylvania, state police said. The RV, which was heading south and towing a trailer, crossed a grassy median after the tire blew and struck the truck, which was towing double trailers.Four people in the RV and the truck driver were all pronounced dead at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. Those killed in the RV were identified as Donald Molander, Kimberly Molander, Miranda Molander and Dane Molander, all of Middletown, Pennsylvania. The truck driver was identified as James Shade, of Martinsburg, West Virginia.The stretch of road was shut down for nearly 10 hours as authorities investigated, and residual delays continued Thursday ...

Federal government releases new draft regulations on clean electricity

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault released draft regulations Thursday that are designed to clean Canada’s electricity grid in an affordable way by 2035.The regulations would drive up the cost of energy slightly, but federal officials say that would be offset by the savings expected to come from moving away from fossil fuels. The government has set a target of making the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, and the regulationsare meant to help guide the way.Environment and Climate Change Canada estimates the national average household energy bill will increase by $35 to $61 per year if the regulations are adopted, but by 2040, only two per cent of that increase will come as a result of the regulations.The government plans to cover up to half of the cost of the regulations through tax credits, low-cost financing and other funds, which could mean even less cost is passed onto consumers, Guilbeault said at a press conference in Toronto. The minister also said he expect...

Quebecor’s Freedom Mobile purchase pushes it to big earnings gains

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:06:53 GMT

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc. says its purchase of Freedom Mobile drove a big boost in earnings last quarter as the company added more than 1.8 million customers through the acquisition.The Montreal-based telecommunications company reported that net income climbed 10 per cent to $171.3 million in the three months ended June 30 from $156.3 million in the same period a year earlier.Quebecor said revenues in its second quarter jumped 25 per cent to $1.40 billion from $1.12 billion the year before. On an adjusted basis, income from continuing operations rose to 79 cents per share last quarter compared to 68 cents per share a year prior, beating analyst expectations of 72 cents per share.In early April, Quebecor’s Videotron entered the national wireless market through its purchase of Freedom Mobile from Shaw Communications Inc., a condition of Rogers Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Shaw imposed to ease competition concerns surrounding the merger.The vast majority of the compa...