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Inflation in Europe falls to 2.4%. It shows interest rates are packing a punch

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Europeans again saw some relief as inflation dropped to 2.4% in November, the lowest in more than two years, as plummeting energy costs have eased a cost-of-living crisis but higher interest rates squeeze the economy’s ability to grow.Inflation for the 20 countries using the euro currency fell from an annual 2.9% in October, according to numbers released Thursday by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics agency. It’s a far cry from the peak of 10.6% in October 2022 as an energy crisis left Europe’s households and businesses struggling to make ends meet.The new figure is close to the European Central Bank’s inflation target of 2% following a rapid series of interest rate hikes dating to summer 2022. But the tradeoff is stalled economic growth.With energy prices plunging 11.5% from a year earlier, it raises expectations that the ECB would hold rates steady for the second time in a row at its next meeting Dec. 14.ECB President Christine La...

Just drizzle and showers for many, but low tornado risk east of I-35

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Drizzle and showers have moved in and will be on and off through the morning through early-afternoon, mainly for the Austin Metro and eastern counties. The Hill Country will generally be drier today as most of the rain misses you to the east.For most of us this will not be a "big storm day" with rain staying generally light and thunderstorms staying isolated, but there's still a risk for a brief, spin-up tornado east of I-35 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.The Storm Prediction Center, having previously removed our eastern counties from the "Enhanced" risk (Level 3 out of 5) has put eastern Fayette and Lee counties back in. Severe weather risk today (SPC)All this means is that there remains a potential for a brief tornado, mainly in our eastern counties, either side of midday. This all depends on where shear in the atmosphere lines up with instability. We call this a "conditional" severe weather threat, because certain conditions...if they come together...could develop a tornado...

European Commission approves two new Geographical Indications from Portugal and Sweden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

The European Commission approved the addition of a Portuguese onion to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and a Swedish pickled gherkin to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI).‘Cebola da Madeira' is the name given to bulbs produced using traditional practices on the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo.The aroma is distinctive, with a hint of sweetness and notes of sulphur or garlic, earthy or vegetal and fresh, with low pungency and persistence. When cooked, they become milder and acquire smoky, grilled or caramel notes, while maintaining their intensity and complexity.The parish of Caniço on the island of Madeira is particularly important for the production of ‘Cebola da Madeira'. Not only does it provide most of the regional supply, but it has also been hosting the ‘Festa da Cebola' [Onion Festival] since 1997 to promote this traditional product and preserve its specific production method. On the island of Porto Santo, this crop is part of th...

Horoscopes Nov. 30, 2023: Ben Stiller, take advantage of your skills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Kaley Cuoco, 38; Elisha Cuthbert, 41; Ben Stiller, 58; Billy Idol, 68.Happy Birthday: Adjust how you deal with money, contracts and health issues. Don’t let anyone control decisions that influence how you live. Design your routine to fit your needs, and take advantage of your skills and insight into what you want to pursue. Approach relationships with equality in mind and refuse to let anyone take control of matters that influence your future. Your numbers are 8, 15, 24, 29, 31, 42, 47.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your thoughts to yourself. Focus on monitoring your finances, health and any contractual dealings that need your attention. Don’t believe everything you hear. Do your due diligence and make decisions based on facts. Mixing business with pleasure will lead to problems. 2 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Look for an opportunity and follow your plans. Be open regarding your intentions and be open-minded to suggestions. Think big, but...

Bridge: Nov. 30, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

Cy the Cynic constantly battles his weight. We urge him to go to a gym or at least jog, but he is resistant.“I’m in a `Fitness Protection Program’” Cy shrugs.Cy won’t even exercise caution. In my club’s penny game, Cy played at today’s six spades. He won the first club with the ace and saw that with normal breaks in the majors, he could make an overtrick. Cy took the ace of trumps, then led the A-K of hearts. If East-West followed, Cy would ruff a third heart with dummy’s queen of trumps, draw trumps and claim.DOWN ONEAlas, East ruffed the king of hearts and returned a trump. The Cynic won … and West discarded. Cy ruffed a heart with the queen of trumps and drew trumps, but he had to lose a heart to West.After Cy takes the ace of hearts, he should cautiously lead a low heart. West wins and leads, say, a diamond. Cy takes dummy’s ace, leads a trump to his hand, ruffs a heart with the queen of trumps and draws trumps. Then he can r...

Word Game: Nov. 30, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — OCULIST (OCULIST: OK-yoo-list: An optometrist or opthamologist.)Average mark 20 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 26 or more words in OCULIST? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — UTERINE unit unite untie urine teen tenure tern tier tine tire tree trine triune true tune tuner tureen turn enter entire enure erne etui rein rent retie retinue reunite rite ruin runt inert inter inure neuter niterTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game cr...

Ask Amy: Should I tell my neighbor about her child’s bullying behavior?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

Dear Amy: My daughter, in third grade, made friends with a second-grader, “Lucy,” who lives across the street. They go to the same school.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My wife has big-league dreams for our son, but I think he should give up the sport Advice | Ask Amy: We’re not inviting her, but it will be hard to tell her why Advice | Ask Amy: This teen mom is trying to manipulate my son Advice | Ask Amy: I’m being punished for refusing to give in to my child’s spouse Advice | Ask Amy: Now I’m expected to sew a custom quilt for a stranger as a gift The two girls were getting along great when all of a sudden Lucy started making friends with all my daughter’s classmates, and then telling her that the other kids don’t want to be her friend.She also heard Lucy tell another girl that my daughter is ugly. She came home sobbing.I know this happens all the time, but it’s wrong....

Harriette Cole: My birthday wish list could get me in trouble with my family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 20th birthday is coming up. I have a list of presents I want to ask for, but I do not want to ask for too much or for the presents to be too expensive.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My two roommates are moving out, and I don’t believe their excuse Advice | Harriette Cole: My old friend is back in my life, and she has brought a lot of drama Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m on the brink of unloading on my husband about the car crash Advice | Harriette Cole: I can no longer be silent about this messed-up family Advice | Harriette Cole: She’s the restaurant patron from hell, and she needs to hear that A lot of things I want are in a high price range, and I do not want to seem ungrateful or appear as if I am asking for too much. My family has reassured me that it is an important birthday and I am not overstepping.My list is pretty long, though, and despite asking mul...

NYPD Accused of Fabricating Domestic Violence Survivor’s Murder Confession

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

A woman who was charged with murdering her husband in 2020 sued the New York City Police Department, alleging that police officers fabricated the confession that was the basis of the case against her. The federal civil rights lawsuit also alleges that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office obtained a search warrant for an email account she created to draw attention to her case — and never disclosed it, as required by law. Prosecutors dropped their case against Tracy McCarter last December, citing insufficient evidence. In the lawsuit, which was filed on November 2 in the Southern District of New York, McCarter said she had “sustained serious physical and psychological harm as a result of being wrongfully arrested, charged, imprisoned, searched, and prosecuted.” The lawsuit names four NYPD officers who were involved with the arrest and one investigator from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who worked on the case. All four of the police officers have previously fac...

Efforts underway to save bald eagle struck on Baltimore highway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:57:12 GMT

Hopes are high that a bald eagle will recover from its injuries after being rescued Monday along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.The injured eagle is in the hands of a veterinary surgeon after being rescued by a volunteer with the Owl Moon Raptor Center in Boyds, Maryland.“It was sitting on the side of the road and it was not moving … people were passing by in their vehicles and they couldn’t stop and … they saw it on the side of the road,” said Suzanne Shoemaker, executive director of the Owl Moon Raptor Center. “It was even marked on WAZE as a road kill and it wasn’t dead.”Yesterday, a District 4 officer responded to an injured Bald Eagle in the wooded area along the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy. The officer worked with the Owl Moon Raptor Center to rescue this iconic bird. The Bald Eagle is now receiving great care and is expected to recover. pic.twitter.com/svDxlbwVGy— USPPNEWS (@usparkpolicepio) November 28, 2023The eagle was apparently strong ...