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2 Colorado girls recognized at the White House

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A charitable act by twins Brooke and Breanna Bennett to help give menstrual products to girls in Alabama public housing led them to start an organization that aims to end “period poverty” by ensuring broad access to the items women and girls need when it is that time of the month. The sisters helped lobby for a state law passed earlier this year to provide sanitary pads and other menstrual products to students. And on Wednesday, the 16-year-old twins were among a group of young women recognized at the White House by first lady Jill Biden for their advocacy on this and other issues, from pushing for tighter gun laws and against book bans to encouraging civic engagement and combating antisemitism. President Biden to visit Colorado on Monday “Brooke and I wanted to make it our mission to destigmatize periods and menstrual hygiene and the female reproductive system,” Breanna told a reporter after the ceremony. Brooke said the issue is one that people, especially men,...

‘We have an opportunity to make a difference’: FLFR captain to begin 2-week deployment to Israel amid war

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

A South Florida firefighter who is answering the call for volunteers is preparing to head to Israel to help people there.Speaking with 7News on Wednesday, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Capt. Jason Friedman said he felt compelled to travel overseas following Hamas’ early Saturday morning’s surprise attack out of Gaza.“I’m a very firm believer that this is the path that was chosen for me,” he said.And that path will take Friedman to the Middle East.“Right now, they need our help, so that’s my motivation for going over there,” he said.Friedman is a member of Emergency Volunteers Project, or EVP, a group that provides Israel with emergency services support. This is his first deployment with them.Friedman will be gone for two weeks. He said he will take his full gear with him, and once in Israel, he will be provided a bulletproof vest and a helmet.He said he will learn exactly what he’ll be doing while he’s over there.“We...

Man killed in police-involved shooting near Miami Edison High School; 2nd armed subject in custody

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

An armed subject who was rushed to the hospital after an officer-involved shooting near Miami Edison High School has died, police said, an incident that led officers to take a second armed subject into custody.City of Miami Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the incident in the area of Northwest Second Avenue and 62nd Street, at around 5:15 p.m., Wednesday.Police said the call initially came in as a man in his 20s found shot in a field.Investigators said the man suffered injuries to his head and leg.Paramedics transported the patient to Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Police later confirmed he later succumbed to his injuries.Back at the scene, 7News cameras captured several officers in the field, part of which was cordoned off by crime scene tape.Investigators said they have taken a second armed subject into custody. Detectives have not provided further details about what led to the shooting. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.I...

Woman who was told her health insurance was accepted receives surprise doctor’s bill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

Before she went to the doctor, she asked if they accepted her insurance. They said yes. A few days later, she got a bill for the visit, and then things got worse. That’s when she called Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.Maryanna takes good care of herself: exercise, eating right. But of course, she still gets aches and pains.Maryanna Healy: “My shoulder has been bothering me. It’s probably just an age thing, rotator cuff.”She called her primary care office, where she was told a new doctor would see her.Maryanna Healy: “They told me, ‘Yes, your insurance is going to cover this. Oh, yes.'”The appointment went well … and then she was hit with a new ache.Maryanna Healy: “About two weeks later, I get a bill for $548.”Turns out the doctor she saw had not yet been approved by her insurance. She called the office.Maryanna Healy: “‘And it’s all going to work out. And we’ll – we will redo it, and it’ll ...

Europe should be unequivocal and support Israel against Hamas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

Yohan Benizri is the former president of the Belgian Federation of Jewish Organizations.When it comes to Israel, a nation grappling with a new terrifying wave of brutal terrorist acts, Europe’s moral compass needs adjusting.For too long, any defense of the Israeli population against terrorism has had to be prefaced by some form of apology or criticism of Israeli policies, as well as calls for restraint. Terrorists have been presented as combatants, their actions sometimes explained or justified.This is wrong.Israel, like any sovereign nation, must protect its citizens from terrorism, and Europe should help in any way it can — without reservation.Of course, nuance and intellectual humility are required when facing complex phenomena, including the origins of the conflicts in the Middle East, the evaluation of certain policies and the search for lasting solutions. We can legitimately engage in open debate on each of these issues, and hope that our disagreements will lead to a dee...

Westminster’s conflict of interest conundrum

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

LONDON — Back in July the fashionable English town of Bruton, in Somerset, played host to the British political wedding of the year.Britain’s former chief finance minister, George Osborne, married his former aide Thea Rogers, and the guest list was a who’s who of Westminster.Long lens photographers captured a procession of political behemoths, from former Prime Minister David Cameron to current Cabinet big-hitter Michael Gove, arriving suited and booted at the 14th century church.But it was the presence of some of Britain’s most high-profile journalists — including star presenter of the BBC’s flagship Today program, Nick Robinson, and celebrity podcasters Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel — which caused the biggest stir.“None of those people should be within a hundred miles of that event,” Mic Wright, a freelance journalist wrote on social media that evening as pictures of wedding guests started to emerge.Rogers was once a senior political producer at the BBC and had worked closely ...

The Saudi-Israel deal is in tatters

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

Shyam Bhatia is an award-winning author and war reporter based in London. He is a former long-time Middle East correspondent for the London Observer.The Washington-choreographed diplomatic dance between Israel and Saudi Arabia was supposed to culminate in an exchange of ambassadors before the next United States presidential election. But due to Hamas terrorists who killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and took another estimated 100 hostages this week, this deal is now under threat.And Israel’s love affair with Saudi Arabia hangs in the balance.A jubilant Hamas is now hoping the reaction on Arab streets in support of their surprise strike will compel other Arab states to reconsider their recent decisions to normalize relations with Israel.Bahrain, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan have all seen some pro-Hamas demonstrations. But as casualties mount in Gaza, these rallies are likely to swell across the Arab world. An estimated 200,000 Palestinians in Gaza have already sought shelter at U...

Europe’s power outage: How Israel-Hamas war exposed EU’s irrelevance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

How the Israel-Hamas war exposed the EU’s irrelevance: As global crises intensify, the ‘geopolitical’ Continent is left watching from the sidelines.By MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG IN BERLINIllustration by Tomato Košir for POLITICOAt least Europe no longer has to endure that hackneyed Henry Kissinger quip about whom to call if you want “to call Europe.”  No one’s calling anyway. Of the myriad geostrategic illusions that have been destroyed in recent days, the most sobering realization for anyone residing on the Continent should be this: No one cares what Europe thinks. Across an array of global flashpoints, from Nagorno-Karabakh to Kosovo to Israel, Europe has been relegated to the role of a well-meaning NGO, whose humanitarian contributions are welcomed, but is otherwise ignored. The 27-member bloc has always struggled to articulate a coherent foreign policy, given the diverse national interests at play. Even so, it still mattered, mainly due to the size of its market. The EU’s global influ...

Hamas hate videos make Elon Musk Europe’s digital enemy No.1

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

Elon Musk has made himself Europe’s digital public enemy number one.Since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday, the billionaire’s social network X has been flooded with gruesome images, politically-motivated lies and terrorist propaganda that authorities say appear to violate both its own policies and the European Union’s new social media law. Now Musk is facing the threat of sanctions — including potentially hefty fines — as officials in Brussels start gathering evidence in preparation for a formal investigation into whether X has broken the European Union’s rules. Authorities in the U.K. and Germany have joined the criticism.The tussle represents a critical test for all sides. Musk will be keen to fight any claim that he’s failing to be a responsible owner of the social network formerly known as Twitter — all while upholding his commitment to free speech. The EU will want to show its new regulation, known as the Digital Services Act (DSA), has teeth. Th...

Bruins legends parade down gold carpet before first game of centennial season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:37 GMT

Before the puck dropped on the Bruins’ 100th year of hockey Wednesday, former players showed up at TD Garden for a “gold carpet” event.The Bruins took the ice Wednesday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game of their centennial season. Speaking earlier in the day, recently retired former Bruins player Patrice Bergeron said “it’s always good to be back.” “To be a part of this franchise with the history behind it is pretty special,” Bergeron said. “There’s not a lot of us left and I wanted to see the guys that are,” said Phil Esposito. “But this is incredible and I’m glad I came.”Fans lined up to see some of the players who are part of the Bruins’ storied history.“That’s one of the best things,” said former Bruins player Adam Oates. “You get to see all the guys that you know or the guys you played with…[It’s] a lot of fun,”Hard to miss were Bruins legends Derek Sanderson and Bobby Orr, who both made an appearance. “It’s cool to see all the ...