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Pope Francis leaves hospital; ‘Still alive,’ he quips

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was discharged on Saturday from the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis, quipping to journalists before being driven away: “I’m still alive.”Francis, 86, was hospitalized on Wednesday at Gemelli Polyclinic after reportedly having breathing difficulties following his weekly public audience. The pontiff was treated with antibiotics administered intravenously, the Vatican said. Before departing, Francis had an emotional moment with a Rome couple whose 5-year-old daughter died Friday night at the hospital. Serena Subania, mother of Angelica, sobbed as she pressed her head into the chest of the pope, who put a hand on the woman’s head. Francis seemed eager to linger with well-wishers. When a boy showed him his arm cast, the pope made a gesture as if to ask “Do you have a pen?” A papal aide handed Francis one, and the pope autographed the cast.The pontiff answered in a voice that was close to a whisper when reporters peppered him with que...

UK travelers face hours-long waits for ferries to France

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British vacation travelers were stuck in hours-long lines as they tried to cross the English Channel on Saturday, with the Port of Dover in England blaming the delays on bad weather, heavy traffic and processing delays by French authorities.The port warned ferry passengers of severe delays and said it was “deeply frustrated” by the situation, which has become a regular feature of cross-channel travel since Britain’s exit from the European Union. Saturday was the first day of a two-week spring vacation for most schools in Britain.While the port said bus passengers faced the longest delays, local media reports showed long lines of cars and trucks as well. Ferry operator DFDS said that due to the heavy traffic, it was offering a “shuttle service” that would put passengers on the next available ship as soon as they check in.“Whilst freight and car traffic was processed steadily regardless of the additional challenging weather conditions and high seasonal volumes, coach tra...

Snus: The tradition that’s given Sweden the fewest smokers in Europe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

It’s one of those cultural peculiarities that the European Union is usually keen to protect and promote but snus isn’t celebrated like Parma ham and champagne. In fact it is banned in all member states except Sweden, although it’s a tobacco product that offers a much safer alternative to cigarettes, writes Nick Powell.Tobacco that you neither smoke nor chew is “a weird Swedish cultural product”, Patrik Hildingsson cheerfully admits. And he’s a vice-president of the biggest manufacturer of snus, Swedish Match. Weird but successful. Snus consumption never stopped, although it ceased to be fashionable when Swedes embraced the global trend to smoking cigarettes. Now the snuff-like substance, placed between the upper lip and gum, has reclaimed top spot.Ever since the link between smoking and cancer was conclusively established in the 1960s, people in Sweden who want a nicotine hit have increasingly decided that the old ways are the best. Cigarette consumption is down to 4%, the lowest in...

Russian media: Former CEOs miss business, having turned to quiet family life after sanctions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

Moskvich Magazine, a popular lifestyle publication for Muscovites, ran a curious story about how the lifestyle of former CEOs changed in the wake of EU sanctions against them.A little over a year ago, when Dmitry Konov was still head of a petrochemical company, his life consisted of meetings, business trips and paperwork. He would sometimes, spend more than two hours of a three-hour flight answering emails from colleagues. And his working day often ended well after midnight. In March 2022, however, the EU imposed personal sanctions against Konov, and he left Sibur so as not to create problems for the company’s international business, and then his schedule changed.The main change, says Konov, was that for the first time in many years he had the opportunity to choose what to do with his time. He could go to bed earlier and gеt up earlier. Now he has breakfast with his son and drives him to school himself, taking time to discuss his son’s studies and routine matters on the way. Recentl...

Ask Amy: I’m insulted by the name on his FaceTime account

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

Dear Amy: I am a widow. I’ve been in a relationship with “Bernie,” a widower, for nine years. We live quite a distance apart and trade off spending weekends together.When Bernie established a FaceTime account, he included his late wife’s name on it so that when he FaceTimes with me, the notification comes in as from “BernieandBernice.”I have asked him to change it, and his reply is that he cannot change it and that he still “cares about her.” Obviously, he does not want to change it.I take issue with this. It’s as though he is including her in our personal and sometimes intimate conversations.Bernie says I am too sensitive; I say he is insensitive.I feel it is disrespectful to me, and also to his late wife. It hurts me terribly every time I receive a FaceTime call from him. I have shed many tears because of this.And if he were to email or contact friends of mine through FaceTime and the two names appeared this way, I would find it humiliating.I have told only a few frien...

Pope Francis has left the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has left the Rome hospital where he was treated for bronchitis.Source

Warmer Weather Returns this Weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

Following days of rain earlier this week, mainly late in the day, beautiful weather returned Friday. Most of this weekend is also looking quite nice although it will be warmer and there is the chance for some showers late in the day Saturday.Today, expect a good deal of sunshine much of the day with high temperatures above average into the mid to upper 80s. A stray shower can’t be ruled out at any time but by the early afternoon a few showers will begin to develop to the west of the metro and those showers are expected to move east toward the east coast. Therefore, a few showers are forecast later today, especially during the 4-8PM time period. Otherwise there will be plenty of dry time before then for your outdoor plans.If rain is any concern, then the odds of dry conditions will be higher on Sunday with a 20% chance for rain opposed to Saturday’s 40% chance. Sunday will be great, featuring lots of sunshine, warm temperatures and just a stray shower. Highs will remain i...

US judge sends Dominion lawsuit against Fox News to trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

In a blow to Fox News, a Delaware judge ruled Friday that a jury should decide a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit claiming that the channel broadcast numerous false statements about voter fraud after the 2020 election.Judge Eric Davis concluded that Dominion Voting Systems, which makes election equipment, had proven that Fox aired a series of false claims about the company, but that depositions, internal emails and text messages had not established whether Fox acted with “actual malice” by carrying statements on its air that it knew were false or likely so.The evidence is “CRYSTAL clear that none of the Statements relating to Dominion about the 2020 election are true,” Davis wrote. Fox’s false statements included assertions that the company was controlled by Venezuela and implemented a bizarre algorithm to boost Democrats’ vote count under certain conditions, the judge said.Some uncertainty remained about who at Fox authorized specific broadcasts and what those people knew or believe...

ASK IRA: Has regression of supporting cast been the ultimate Heat setback?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

Q: Ira, I think that the worst thing that happened to this team was missing the NBA Finals last year by one missed Jimmy Butler three-point shot. That became our mantra, and our front office became complacent, deciding to run it back with the same group, hoping that everyone would improve. The problem is almost no one other than Jimmy Butler and maybe Bam Adebayo, for half the year, improved, while most of the Eastern Conference made personnel changes to get better, – Greg, Jacksonville.A: Correct. Hindsight sort of makes that clear at the moment. Ultimately, the supporting cast regressed significantly. I’m not sure how that could have been anticipated. The upshot is that then required Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to be great. That is a high bar to set for a single player, let alone a trio.Q: Is playing for the Miami Heat one of the easiest jobs in professional sports? One can be as lackadaisical and mediocre as one wants while collecting millions. ThereR...

Storms strike Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana; 7 reported dead

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:14 GMT

By ANDREW DeMILLO (Associated Press)LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A monster storm system tore through the South and Midwest on Friday, spawning deadly weather including tornadoes that shredded homes and shopping centers in Arkansas, collapsed a theater roof during a heavy metal concert in Illinois and made a fatal sweep into rural Indiana.The storm caused three deaths in Sullivan County, Indiana, Emergency Management Director Jim Pirtle said in an email to The Associated Press early Saturday. The storm damaged homes and some residents were missing in the county seat of Sullivan, located near the Illinois state line about 95 miles (152 kilometers) southwest of Indianapolis.At least one person was killed and more than two dozen were hurt, some critically, in the Little Rock area, authorities said. The town of Wynne in northeastern Arkansas was also devastated, and officials reported two dead there, along with destroyed homes and people trapped in the debris.Authorities said a theater...