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Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford steps down

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

LONDON — Mark Drakeford, the Welsh Labour leader of Cardiff’s devolved government, has announced his intention to step down.The first minister resigned as Welsh Labour leader Wednesday with immediate effect. He said he will then step down as first minister following a leadership election in the new year.“Nominations for my successor as Welsh Labour leader will open shortly and I’m confident the process can be concluded by the end of the spring term,” Drakeford told a hastily arranged press conference. “That will enable the name of the winner of that contest to be put to the Senedd [Welsh parliament] before the Easter recess.” Drakeford has served as first minister for exactly five years, winning a new term as leader of the devolved government in Welsh parliament elections in 2021. He had already signaled his intention to quit before 2024 and said he would serve only five years at the top of Welsh politics. A figure from Labour’s left wing, Drakeford was...

Ruff day in Strasbourg: European Paw-liament goes barking mad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

It’s not uncommon for lawmakers to howl at each other during tense sessions in the European Parliament, but at Wednesday’s plenary meeting actual barking momentarily interrupted the proceedings.Shortly after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen concluded a speech to the body, a dog’s barking rang out in the hemicycle, prompting confused looks among lawmakers including Renew Europe group Chair Stéphane Séjourné and the European People’s Party’s Dolors Montserrat.European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, meanwhile, couldn’t contain her laughter. “Dear colleagues, we must have a support animal in the house,” she said, breaking into giggles.The barks ringing out during a session attended by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made the situation all the more absurd. In Spain, the Socialist leader is jokingly referred to as Perro Sanxe — “Sánchez the dog” — a nickname that emphasizes his canny, underdog q...

Poison centers see 1,500% increase in calls related to injected weight-loss drugs as people accidentally overdose

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

(CNN) — Poison control centers across the US say they are seeing a steep increase in calls related to semaglutide, an injected medication used for diabetes and weight loss, with some people reporting symptoms related to accidental overdoses.Some have even needed to be hospitalized for severe nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, but their cases seem to have resolved after they were given intravenous fluids and medications to control nausea.From January through November, the America’s Poison Centers reports nearly 3,000 calls involving semaglutide, an increase of more than 15-fold since 2019. In 94% of calls, this medication was the only substance reported.In most of the calls, people reported dosing errors, said Dr. Kait Brown, clinical managing director of the association.“Oftentimes, it’s a person who maybe accidentally took a double dose or took the wrong dose,” Brown said.Compounded versions may require different dosesSemaglutide was approved by the US Food and Drug ...

House set to vote on formalizing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden with floor vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

(CNN) — House Republicans are expected to vote Wednesday on their resolution to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as their investigation reaches a critical juncture and right-wing pressure grows.The vote comes as a potential showdown between House Republicans and Hunter Biden is also expected to come to a head on Wednesday, as the president’s son has been subpoenaed to appear for a closed-door deposition and is in Washington, DC. It is not yet clear if Hunter Biden is going to sit down and answer questions from lawmakers who want to interview him as part of their escalated impeachment inquiry.Up until this point, House Republicans have not had enough votes to legitimize their ongoing inquiry with a full chamber vote. The probe has struggled to uncover wrongdoing by the president, which is why it hasn’t garnered the unified support of the full GOP conference.Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unilaterally launched...

Down, Then Up

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

Seasonable air back in place today with highs recovering into the lower 40s. Add in a bit of a breeze, and there will be a bit of a chill in the air today, but not all that bad by mid December standards. Sunshine this morning will mix in with some scattered clouds this afternoon. Temps do slide quickly this evening, pushing back into the 20s overnight. Tomorrow is a chillier day as highs struggle to get out of the low to mid 30s. While it’ll be below average by 5-8 degrees, it’s the only below average day on the 7day. We’ll race back to near 50 on Friday and stay there over the weekend. Sunday night – Monday, a storm will move up the East Coast, delivering the next chance for rain and wind. Showers and a damp breeze may linger into Tuesday too.

Russia has lost 87% of troops it had prior to start of Ukraine war, according to US intelligence assessment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

(CNN) — Russia has lost a staggering 87 percent of the total number of active-duty ground troops it had prior to launching its invasion of Ukraine and two-thirds of its pre-invasion tanks, a source familiar with a declassified US intelligence assessment provided to Congress told CNN.Still, despite heavy losses of men and equipment, Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to push forward as the war approaches its two-year anniversary early next year and US officials are warning that Ukraine remains deeply vulnerable. A highly anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive stagnated through the fall, and US officials believe that Kyiv is unlikely to make any major gains over the coming months.The assessment, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday, comes as some Republicans have balked at the US providing additional funding for Ukraine and the Biden administration has launched a full-court press to try to get supplemental funding through Co...

Ski Wednesday: Whistler Blackcomb is a big slice of heaven

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

In my long life of ski dedication, one big resort and I kept missing one another like chairlifts passing in a storm.One year, a family emergency caused my cancellation. Another, a bad (non-ski related) crash ended my plans. Then that pesky pandemic got in the way.It seemed, despite my world travel, that Whistler Blackcomb (https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/) and I were destined not to meet. So when I booked a trip last winter, I held my breath. And for a moment, I wondered – if I finally made it there – if this would fall under what I call “prom syndrome,” when you so look forward to something that it cannot possibly live up to your expectations.Here’s the end first: Made it there, savored it all. And as for Prom syndrome? I now need to come up with a term for quite the opposite. Because my late winter skiing visit to Whistler Blackcomb was all I imagined and more.From sunny morning runs to snowy powder moments; from the quiet sanctity of soaking in a true Scandinavian spa to the ru...

Far-right Dutch election winner Wilders wants to be prime minister, promises to respect constitution

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Far-right lawmaker Geert Wilders, whose party swept to a shock victory in last month’s Dutch general election, said Wednesday he wants to be prime minister for “all Netherlanders,” and pledged that he will ensure his policies adhere to the country’s constitution.Wilders’ comments during a debate in parliament were aimed at easing fears among potential coalition partners about his strident anti-Islam rhetoric and plans including banning mosques, Islamic schools and the Quran.After preliminary talks with party leaders over the last two weeks, Ronald Plasterk, an official appointed by the Dutch parliament to investigate possible ruling coalitions said Monday that Wilders should open negotiations with three other parties on forming a new government.Some potential coalition partners, and in particular Pieter Omtzigt who leads the reformist New Social Contract party that won 20 seats at the Nov. 22 election, have expressed fears that some of...

What small businesses need to know about new regulations going into 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Regulations are a double-edged sword. They’re created to improve business dealings, discourage unfair or illegal business activity, and protect workers. But, for small business owners, they often mean more red tape, higher costs and possible penalties for failing to comply.″For a small business, you have a higher cost per employee when it comes to complying with regulations than your larger business competitors,” said Tom Sullivan, vice president of small business policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.Heading into 2024, there are several regulations that should be on small business owners’ radar.Registering with FinCENSmall businesses will need to register with an agency called the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in 2024, as part of an act passed in 2021 called the Corporate Transparency Act.The act was intended to get a look inside shell companies and crack down on attempts by “criminals, organized crime rings, and other illicit actors to hide their identitie...

New Hampshire sheriff charged with theft, perjury and falsifying evidence resigns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:11 GMT

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire sheriff accused of stealing $19,000 in county funds has resigned, leading prosecutors to withdraw their request to revoke his bail on charges of theft, perjury and falsifying evidence.“I am proud to have served as high sheriff of Strafford County and to have been both the youngest sheriff and first African American man to serve in this role across the state of New Hampshire,” Mark Brave wrote in his resignation letter. His lawyer announced his resignation at a scheduled hearing in court Tuesday, effective immediately.Brave, 38, pleaded not guilty in September. He’s accused of using his county credit card to pay for travel to fictitious business meetings with multiple paramours and then lying about it to a grand jury. He was arrested in August and went on administrative leave.“At this time, I feel it is in the best interest of Strafford County, my subordinates, and the populations we serve that I step aside while I address allegations made...