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Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden insisted Friday that “this fight is not over” after the Supreme Court struck down his $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan. Biden blamed Republicans’ opposition, aiming to direct the ire of millions of borrowers toward them rather than his own party in next year’s elections.The president planned an afternoon address to lay out a series of actions to provide continued relief to 43 million student loan borrowers, and in the meantime tried to stay on the political offensive against the GOP.“The hypocrisy of Republican elected officials is stunning,” Biden said in a statement. “They had no problem with billions in pandemic-related loans to businesses – including hundreds of thousands and in some cases millions of dollars for their own businesses. And those loans were forgiven. But when it came to providing relief to millions of hard-working Americans, they did everything in their power to stop it.”Electoral consequences aside, prog...

As France burns, Macron blames social media for fanning the flames

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

PARIS — French rioters have set the country on fire and Emmanuel Macron is pointing the finger at TikTok and Snapchat for pouring gasoline on the inferno.In the past three days, violent protests erupted across France after a police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Nahel M., who was of North African, in a Paris suburb. Rioters targeted public buildings, transport systems and shops with projectiles and Molotov cocktails, leaving 249 members of law enforcement injured and 875 people arrested. Unlike the deadly outbreak of violence in 2005, the turmoil — which has led to public transportation shutdowns, concert cancelations and armored vehicles being deployed across the country — can be documented in real time, shared online and seen by tens of thousands on social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Twitter. That online phenomenon is worrying France’s political leaders, who have been scurrying to find solutions as the unrest shows no sign of fizzling out. “We...

Man wanted on January 6-related charges arrested in Obama’s DC neighborhood with guns and materials to make explosives

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

(CNN) — A man with numerous firearms and materials to make an explosive was arrested Thursday in former President Barack Obama’s Washington, DC, neighborhood after claiming on an internet livestream that he had a detonator, law enforcement officials told CNN.Taylor Taranto, who had an open warrant for his arrest related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement. He has been charged with being a fugitive from justice.“Arresting officers requested MPD’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team to perform a vehicle sweep of the individual’s van near the location of the arrest,” the MPD said in a statement to CNN. “There is no active threat to the community and this incident remains under investigation.”According to law enforcement officials, firearms and materials to make Molotov cocktails were found in Taranto’s car. There is currently no indication of a direct threat to the Obamas, law enforcement...

Actors poised to go on strike against studios, streaming services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

New York (CNN) — Some very famous faces could soon be on picket lines as the union representing about 160,000 actors prepares to possibly go on strike against major studios and streaming services.The current contract for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) expires at 11:59 pm PDT Friday. The actors could join 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America, who have already been on strike for two months.Industry experts like Jonathan Handel, an entertainment lawyer and writer and author of a book on the 2007-08 writers strike, “Hollywood on Strike!: An Industry at War in the Internet Age,” expects that there will be a strike. Although there are signs, he added, that the current contract could be extended into next week and postpone the possible start of an actors strike past the July 4 holiday.“My betting is that may be a short extension, but there will probably be a strike. While discussions have been productive, it ...

Santos appears in court for first time since pleading not guilty in criminal fraud case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

Central Islip, New York (CNN) — Embattled Rep. George Santos appeared in federal court on Friday, where prosecutors unveiled they had delivered the defense roughly 80,000 pages of documents earlier this week.Santos – back in court for the first time since pleading not guilty to a 13-count indictment alleging fraud related to Covid-19 unemployment benefits, misusing campaign funds and lying about his personal finances – showed no emotion throughout the hearing in Long Island, sitting with his hands folded in front of him.Santos’ attorney, Joseph Murray, noted that Congress’ August recess would be a good time to review the cache of documents.The next hearing will take place on September 7, one week before Congress is back in session. Murray argued he wanted his client to be able to return to session.Murray told the judge that the defense and prosecutors had a “good working relationship,” when discussing when to set a next court date.As he left the table, Santos wished p...

Brazil court bars Bolsonaro from elections until 2030 in ruling that upends his political future

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

By MAURICIO SAVARESE and DIANE JEANTET (Associated Press)SAO PAULO (AP) — A panel of judges voted Friday to render far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office again after concluding that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system.The decision forbids Bolsonaro from running until 2030, upending the 68-year-old’s political future and likely erasing any chance for him to regain power.Five judges on the nation’s highest electoral court agreed that Bolsonaro abused his authority by using government communication channels to promote his campaign and sowing doubts about the vote. Two judges voted against.“This decision will end Bolsonaro’s chances of being president again, and he knows it,” said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “After this, he will try to stay out of jail, elect some of his allies to keep his politica...

Maximize memory function with a nutrient-rich diet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

(TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network Research suggests that the ability to maximize memory function may be related to what you eat. Following an eating plan that provides a healthier selection of dietary fats and a variety of plant foods rich in phytonutrients could positively affect your health. Phytonutrients are substances found in certain plants that are believed to be beneficial for human health and help prevent certain diseases.There’s still much to learn about what makes up a brain-healthy diet. Studies are finding that what’s good for your heart also may be good for your brain. So the best bet for rich memories is to forgo unhealthy fat and remember to diversify your plant-based food portfolio.Foods that boost memoryDiets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, fish, healthier fats, and herbs or seeds boost the brain’s memory functioning. Here’s more about these powerhouse foods:Fruits— Berries are high in antioxidants that can protect t...

What makes you a mosquito magnet? Some people can’t escape the pesky but dangerous bites

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

Mosquitos can carry some dangerous diseases, including malaria, recently rediscovered in Florida.Whether you are a target of those pesky insects may depend on an odd array of factors including your your blood type, your body scent, your metabolism, and what you wear.“Some people are more prone to bites than others,” said Eva Buckner, Assistant Professor & State Extension Specialist at the UF/IFAS Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach. “If you are one of these people you need to protect yourself this summer.”Mosquito season in the state started earlier than usual this year, in mid-April, and the extreme heat and rain are triggering higher mosquito levels.“In Florida we get mosquitoes year-round but the numbers are highest in the warm summer months,” Buckner said.  “We are in the middle of mosquito season and it’s hot and we are getting lots of rain this year and those two things are promoting more production of mosquitoes.”What makes you a magnetScientists estimate ...

Mayo Clinic Minute: How to use an asthma inhaler

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

Alex Osiadacz | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkSummer temperatures, humidity and allergies are triggers for people diagnosed with asthma. These triggers can range from being a nuisance to being life-threatening.Dr. Jacqueline Squire, a Mayo Clinic allergist and immunologist, demonstrates proper technique for using inhalers to combat these asthma triggers.When asthma symptoms flare, an inhaler is the first line of treatment. Different types of inhalers serve different purposes, and knowing how to use each type is key to breathing easier.“There are short-acting inhalers, which is like our rescue inhalers,” says Dr. Squire. “For more persistent asthma, we’re going to recommend a daily inhaler.”Rescue inhalers, also called metered-dose inhalers, are pressurized to deliver medication fast. To get the most medicine in your lungs, Dr. Squire recommends using a spacer — a holding chamber between the inhaler and mouth.“Place the spacer into your mouth and t...

Mayo Clinic Minute: Fireworks safety tips

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:06:19 GMT

For many, the Fourth of July holiday is a time to celebrate with barbecues, parades and fireworks. But, experts say, when it comes to fireworks, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.Every year, thousands of people are admitted into emergency departments across the country because of injuries caused by fireworks.“We’ll see injuries to fingers or the whole hand. Another common injury is burns. And sometimes we’ll see eye injuries because of the sparks that fly into the eye,” says Dr. Neha Raukar, a Mayo Clinic emergency medicine physician.If consumer fireworks are legal where you live, here are a few tips from the National Safety Council:Never allow young children to handle fireworks.Always have adult supervision.Wear protective eyewear.Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands.Don’t point or throw fireworks at another person.Only light one firework at a time.Watch them from a safe distance.“If you’re going to have some fireworks,...