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Watergate: Contaminated bottles handed out in European Parliament

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg were warned Thursday not to drink water from bottles handed out inside the hemicycle, after people fell sick from a suspected contamination. “You are requested not to drink from any water bottles in the EP premises in Strasbourg,” stated an emergency text message sent out to thousands of staffers and politicians. The SMS gave an emergency medical number to contact “in case of exposure” and said that the bottles were also distributed in the offices of President Roberta Metsola Thursday. The European Parliament press service said that the French authorities had been informed. “Due checks are ongoing,” the press service wrote. “The precautionary message was sent as part of the duty of care of the institution,” they added. An EU official said that a number of people had become ill but since recovered after drinking bottled water, possibly from a badly washed glass bottle.“Good thing I...

Restaurant review: GOGI Brussels

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Quai aux Briques 18, 1000 BruxellesWhat’s good? The menu is massive, offering Korean drinks, such as soju inspired cocktails and imported beers, traditional desserts, and everything in between from bibimbap to chicken wings.The set barbecue menus can help with decision paralysis, providing a sample of the classics: comforting miso soup, sticky rice, sour kimchi, refreshing cucumber and, of course, classic meat like bulgogi and pork belly.What’s not? The meat marinade did not provide much of a punch alone. A delicious sauce comes separately that you can dollop on yourself, but we were hoping for more exciting flavors.Vibe: Bustling, loud and warm! Neon lights and upbeat music give the packed restaurant a lively feel as staff cater to various tables and people without reservations are turned away. Given that most of the tables are actively emitting heat, it is toasty to say the least — so dress appropriately!Who’s picking up the check? While Korean barbecue i...

UK’s David Cameron slaps travel bans on ‘extremist’ Israeli settlers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

LONDON — The U.K. is banning violent Israeli settlers from entering the country, Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced Thursday, in a bid to “make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these intimidating acts.”In a post on social media, Cameron — the former British prime minister reappointed to the Cabinet last month — said “extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.”And he added: “Israel must take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable. We are banning those responsible for settler violence from entering the U.K. to make sure our country cannot be a home for people who commit these intimidating acts.”The move comes amid increasing international scrutiny of violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell said on Monday that he would propo...

Putin: No peace in Ukraine until Russia reaches its goals

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Almost two years into his war against Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday smashed the hopes of anyone who thought Moscow might be open to negotiating a peace deal or reversing course.Putin for the first time since the start of his full-scale assault on Ukraine fielded questions from ordinary Russians and the press.The annual “direct line” televised Q&A is a rare opportunity for Russians to share their gripes with Putin, requesting everything from a new bus stop to better central heating — all while casting the president as a magnanimous problem solver who keeps local bureaucrats on their toes. Last year, Putin skipped the event, amid Russia’s lack of progress on the battlefield in Ukraine.In a survey conducted last month by the independent Levada Center pollster asking Russians which questions they’d want Putin to answer, a majority of respondents said they hoped to hear when the so-called special military operation, as Putin calls his war, and mobil...

Experimental cancer vaccine, combined with immunotherapy, continues to show benefits against melanoma, trial shows

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

(CNN) — An investigational mRNA vaccine used along with immunotherapy continues to show benefit for people with high-risk forms of the skin cancer melanoma, the drugmakers said Thursday.At a three-year follow-up with trial participants who had had a stage III or IV melanoma fully removed but were at high risk of the cancer coming back, those who got the vaccine from Moderna along with Merck’s Keytruda immunotherapy had a 49% lower risk of recurrence or death and a 62% lower risk of distant tumor cell spread or death compared with those who got Keytruda alone, the companies said in a news release.A two-year follow-up had found a 44% lower risk of recurrence or death and a 65% lower risk of distant metastasis or death in people who got Keytruda and the vaccine, called mRNA-4157/V940, compared with those who got Keytruda alone.About a quarter of the trial participants who got Keytruda plus the vaccine reported serious adverse events related to the treatment, compared with about 20...

NFL to play regular season game in Brazil during 2024 season, announces SB LXI to be played in Los Angeles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

(CNN) — Football continues to go global.The National Football League (NFL) announced on Wednesday that São Paulo, Brazil, will host a regular season game in 2024, the first ever in South America.According to NFL.com, the league has 38 million fans in Brazil, where the sport is popular among younger fans thanks to a strong social media presence.The game will take place in the 49,000-seat Corinthians Stadium, usually the home of Brazilian top-flight soccer club Corinthians.The NFL’s 2024 international slate includes four games in addition to the Brazil fixture.The Jacksonville Jaguars have an agreement (outside of the league’s deal with overseas stadiums) to play at Wembley Stadium in London, while the English capital will also host two games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Munich’s Allianz Arena – home to soccer giant Bayern Munich – will also host a game.São Paulo was selected over Madrid, though the Spanish capital has not be...

Transat AT reports $3.2M Q4 profit compared with a loss a year ago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

MONTREAL — Transat AT Inc. reported a profit of $3.2 million in its latest quarter compared with a loss a year ago as its revenue rose more than 30 per cent.The travel company says the profit amounted to eight cents per share for the quarter ended Oct. 31 compared with a loss of $126.2 million or $3.32 per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue for what was Transat’s fourth quarter totalled $764.5 million, up from $573.1 million a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, Transat says it earned 41 cents per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted loss of $2.00 per share a year ago.Transat also announced it has signed a deal to sell its 50 per cent stake in the Marival Armony Luxury Resort in Mexico to its co-owner, the owner of the Marival Group, for US$15.5 million.It says the proceeds of the sale will be used to repay debt.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TRZ)The Canadian Press

U.S. Coast Guard and cruise line save 12 passengers after boat sinks near Dominican Republic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A boat carrying 12 passengers sank north of the Dominican Republic during inclement weather, and all have been rescued, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.Six of the passengers who were aboard a raft were rescued Wednesday by a Carnival Cruise Line ship in the area, and six others who were found clinging to debris from the sunken ship were saved by the Coast Guard, officials said.The incident occurred about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Puerto Plata. A high surf advisory was in effect.All 12 passengers were taken to emergency medical services in Puerto Plata via helicopter and are in good health, the Coast Guard said.The Associated Press

Missile fired from rebel-controlled Yemen misses a container ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired from territory controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen missed a container ship traveling through the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Thursday, a U.S. defense official said, the latest attack threatening shipping in the crucial maritime chokepoint. The attack saw the missile splash harmlessly in the water near the Maersk Gibraltar, a Hong Kong-flagged container ship that had been traveling from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. The official’s comments came after the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors Mideast shipping lanes, put out an alert warning of an incident in the strait, which separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. Maersk, one of the world’s biggest shippers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Thursday’s attack marks just the latest in...

Crews battle 2-alarm fire at under construction luxury home in North York

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:00 GMT

Crews are on scene battling a fire at an under construction luxury home in North York on Thursday morning.Toronto Fire tells CityNews the fire broke out at a home on Dempsey Crescent, in the area of Bayview and York Mills, just after 6 a.m.The three-story home under construction was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on scene.Paramedics say no one was inside the home at the time and neighbouring homes have been safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported.The fire remains active and officials say there is concern the building could collapse.This is a developing story.