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Europe gathered in unity for Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s plea exposed its divisions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

BULBOACA, Moldova — European leaders mounted a powerful show of defiance — and support for Ukraine — as they gathered Thursday for a historic summit in the ex-Soviet country of Moldova just kilometers from the Ukrainian border.But even as over 40 leaders pledged their solidarity with Ukraine at the second gathering of the so-called European Political Community, the difficulty in maintaining that unity was on display. Before and during the summit, leaders hedged and staked out competing positions on an increasingly contentious issue — what security guarantees the Western alliance can give Kyiv to ensure that if Russia is ever pushed out, it won’t return.French President Emmanuel Macron set the tone on Wednesday, imploring allies to offer Kyiv “tangible and credible” security guarantees — a shift in the French position. His German counterpart, Olaf Scholz, was more hesitant on Thursday, declining to provide any details and indicating it might be a question for after the war.Again...

Bill Cosby targeted in new sexual assault lawsuit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

(CNN) — Bill Cosby is being sued by Victoria Valentino in a new civil lawsuit claiming decades-old allegations of sexual assault, that her attorney shared with CNN and said it was filed in Los Angeles on Thursday.Shortly after meeting Cosby in 1969, Valentino claims she and a friend had dinner with the comedian where they were given pills and later agreed to go to an office with him, according to the filing.“After ingesting the pill, Plaintiff’s head began nodding and she struggled to keep her head up and stay awake. Plaintiff felt nauseated, and her head was spinning. She stated, ‘I want to go home now,’” according to the filing.The lawsuit outlines in graphic detail allegations that Cosby raped Valentino, claiming “Plaintiff was incapable of consent by reason of being drugged by Cosby and physically helpless.”Valentino filed the lawsuit under California’s new law that gives residents a three-year window in which they can file civil sexual assault lawsuits that would...

Thousands of patients impacted by Compass Medical shutdown, Gov. Healey says admin is looking into situation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey said her administration is trying to get answers one day after the sudden shutdown of all Compass Medical locations in Massachusetts left patients with questions about their health care and left hundreds of employees without a job. Compass Medical, with locations in Quincy, Braintree, East Bridgewater, Easton, Middleborough and Taunton, confirmed  an “imminent plan” to close its practices in a message on its website Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, people were seen leaving now-closed Compass buildings with boxes and suitcases, not saying a word. “I’m afraid for my health,” said Compass patient Courtney Beggs. 7NEWS has learned the abrupt closure of the Compass system means 450 employees have lost their jobs and 70,000 patients have been left in the lurch.Beggs is among the patients now asking questions. She said she has a lump on her thyroid and shared a letter from her doctor urging her to get a chest x-ray and ultrasound immediately.&nbs...

‘Amazing’: 15 sets of twins, one set of triplets to graduate from Westford Academy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

Westford Academy’s graduation ceremony Friday may seem a bit repetitive. That’s because Westford’s 400-something class of 2023 has 15 sets of twins and one set of triplets.“They hang out together. They play sports together. They do activities together,” said Dean of Students Daniel Twomey, “and they’re all graduating together.”The duplicates say being a twin has its ups.“We know how to share because we grew up together,” twin Meghan Hall said. “We know how to make friends because we made them together.”But it also has its downs.“She follows me everywhere,” one twin said. “I can’t get rid of her” “I don’t!” his sister replied.Nobody seemed to realize just how special the class was until they started laying out the yearbook, and they needed two pages for the twins club.“I think the real impact moment was taking a look at that page in print, in the yearbook, was that final moment for me of ‘wow, wow,’” Principal James Antonelli said.Yes, the triplets said they get to pull rank.“St...

White House says Biden is fine after tripping on stage at Air Force Academy commencement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden tripped on a sandbag and fell as he completed handing out diplomas at the US Air Force Academy commencement in Colorado on Thursday.Biden appeared fine afterward, walking without assistance to his seat in the stands. He was seen smiling and jogging toward his vehicle at the ceremony’s conclusion.The White House said the president was fine after the fall.The stumble began as Biden was jogging away from center stage, where earlier he’d delivered a commencement address to the academy’s graduates. He spent more than 90 minutes handing out diplomas and congratulating hundreds of cadets.As he was moving toward his seat, he tripped, falling to the ground. The president landed on his right hip before lifting himself up on his right hand.A group of men, including an official with the Air Force Academy and two Secret Service agents, grasped onto Biden’s arms to help him back to his feet.As he got back up, Biden pointed back toward the ground where he trip...

Chicago White Sox face a challenging June — 7 straight series against teams with winning records, Aaron Judge and more Shohei Ohtani

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

The Chicago White Sox were looking to end May on a good note.Instead they found themselves trailing by seven runs after four innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.The Sox surrendered five homers — two by Shohei Ohtani — in the 12-5 loss.“If you don’t regroup and come back with some energy (Friday), this thing can linger on, so it’s our responsibility to make sure we nip this in the bud and get back to work and bring some energy against Detroit and hopefully win a series,” manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday. “But this thing can linger on and we’re not going to let it. I’m not going to let it.”The Sox had a winning month, going 15-14. But they still find themselves 12 games under .500 at 23-35.And plenty of challenges await them in June. Here’s a look at what’s ahead.1. Say goodbye (for now) to the AL Central.The Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros and Angels were the only teams...

Money stored in Venmo and other payment apps could be vulnerable, financial watchdog warns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

By KEN SWEET (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Customers of Venmo, PayPal and CashApp should not store their money with these apps for the long term because the funds might not be safe during a crisis, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned on Thursday. The alert comes several weeks after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank, which all experienced bank runs after fearful customers with uninsured deposits pulled their money en masse. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures bank accounts up to $250,000. But money stored in Venmo or CashApp or Apple Cash is not being held in a traditional bank account. So, if there is an event similar to a bank run with these payment apps, those funds may not be protected. Some of these funds may be eligible for pass-through insurance coverage if the customers do certain activities with the apps, the CFPB says, but generally by default these apps are not covered by deposit insurance. For ...

Ticker: Officials signal pause in rate hikes; Mortgage rates tick up 3rd straight week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

Leading Federal Reserve officials are sending out stronger signals that they will forego an interest rate increase at the central bank’s next meeting in June, though they indicate hikes could resume later this year.“Skipping a rate hike at a coming meeting would allow (Fed policymakers) to see more data before making decisions” about whether to further increase rates, said Fed Governor Philip Jefferson in a speech Wednesday. Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker made similar comments.Jefferson has been nominated by President Joe Biden to be the Fed’s vice chair, though he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate. But his nomination places him close to the center of Fed policymaking.On May 19, Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted that he also supported pausing rate hikes at the June meeting, to give the Fed time to evaluate the economic impact of its previous rate increases.Mortgage rates tick up 3rd straight weekThe average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed thi...

Preliminary hearing date set for man accused of shooting Ralph Yarl as supporters look on

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

By MARGARET STAFFORD (Associated Press)LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man accused of shooting a Black teenager will face a preliminary hearing in three months, attorneys agreed during a brief hearing Thursday, days after a judge ruled that court documents in the case will be sealed and kept from the public. Attorneys agreed the preliminary hearing for Andrew Lester, 84, will be Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. Lester appeared in court, which was held in a small courtroom filled with supporters of Ralph Yarl.Many of the supporters wore T-shirts saying, “Ringing the wrong doorbell is not a crime.” Others were from a group of Liberian residents living in the Kansas City area. Yarl’s parents are Liberian immigrants. The teen’s father, Paul Yarl, said he was disappointed the preliminary hearing was delayed until late August. He said he hoped Lester eventually serves jail time.“The shooter was going to kill Ralph,” Paul Yarl said. “It’s obvious,...

Rare sighting of wolverine confirmed in Yosemite National Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:25 GMT

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed multiple sightings of what is believed to be the same wolverine in several California counties.Officials say two sightings were in the Inyo National Forest and Mono counties and a third sighting occurred in Yosemite National Park.Photo courtesy of Yosemite National ParkImages and video of the wolverine, taken in May by separate individuals in different locations, were sent to CDFW for analysis, where they say scientists identified the animal as a wolverine by its size, body proportion, coloration, and movement patterns. “Wolverines can travel great distances, making it likely that the recent sightings are all of the same animal,” said CDFW Senior Environmental Scientist Daniel Gammons. “Because only two wolverines have been confirmed in California during the last 100 years, these latest detections are exciting.”Scientists say they documented a single wolverine in Cal...