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Biden, Japan’s Kishida meet ahead of G-7 summit, vowing to ‘stand strong’ against global threats

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Thursday aiming to showcase the strength of their alliance ahead of a Group of Seven summit where leading democracies will tackle the challenges of Russia’s war in Ukraine, North Korea’s ballistic nuclear threats and an increasingly forceful China. Biden recalled that Kishida said during a January Washington visit that the world faced one of the “most complex” security environments in recent history. “I couldn’t agree with you more,” Biden told the Japanese prime minister as they sat with their aides at a conference table. “When our countries stand together, we stand stronger and I believe the whole world is safer when we do.”Kishida noted that the global tensions had brought the U.S. and Japan closer together, that “the cooperation has evolved in leaps and bounds.”The Kishida family’s home city of Hiroshima will host the gathering of major industrialized nations known at the G-7. The set...

Austrian actor Helmut Berger, movie star in the 1960s and 1970s, dies at 78

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Austrian-born actor Helmut Berger, a European movie star in the 1960s and 1970s who rose to prominence with roles in films by Italian director Luchino Visconti, died Thursday, his agent said. He was 78.Berger died “peacefully but nevertheless unexpectedly” early Thursday in his home city of Salzburg, agent Helmut Berger wrote on his management company’s website.Berger was born in Bad Ischl, Austria on May 29, 1944. In 1964, he worked as a film extra in Rome before being discovered by Visconti, who would later become his partner and in 1966 gave him his first role. He played prominent roles in Visconti’s “The Damned,” “Ludwig” and “Conversation Piece.”Berger’s credits also included appearances in Vittorio De Sica’s “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis,” Massimo Dallamano’s “Dorian Gray,” and, later, in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather Part III.”After a string of health problems, Berger announced the end of his acting career in Novem...

RSV vaccine for pregnant women protects their newborns but is it ready for US sale?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A first-of-its-kind RSV vaccine for pregnant women guards their newborns against the scary respiratory virus -– and federal health advisers debated Thursday if Pfizer’s shot is ready to roll out. RSV fills hospitals with wheezing babies each fall and winter, and the virus struck earlier than usual and especially hard in the U.S. this past year..Vaccinating moms-to-be “would have a major impact,” said Dr. Alejandra Gurtman, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief.The idea: Give women a single injection late in pregnancy, between 24 weeks and 36 weeks, so they develop RSV-fighting antibodies that pass through the placenta — just like they pass protection against other bugs to their babies.In Pfizer’s international study of nearly 7,400 pregnant women, maternal vaccination proved 82% effective at preventing severe RSV during babies’ most vulnerable first three months of life. At age 6 months, it still was proving 69% protective against severe illness.Pfizer said there w...

Héroux-Devtek reports Q4 profit down from year ago, sales up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

LONGUEUIL, Que. — Héroux-Devtek Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit of $6.3 million, down from $11.5 million a year earlier as its sales climbed higher.The maker of aircraft landing gear says the profit amounted to 18 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, down from a profit of 33 cents per diluted share a year earlier.Sales totalled $156.0 million, up from $147.5 million in the same quarter last year.The company says civil sales were up 28.9 per cent, boosted by increased deliveries for the Boeing 777, Embraer Praetor and Falcon 6X programs, while defence sales were relatively stable.On an adjusted basis, Héroux-Devtek says it earned 18 cents per share, down from an adjusted profit of 38 cents per share a year earlier.The company’s funded backlog stood at $864 million, up from $682 million a year earlier.“At Héroux-Devtek, our priority remains stabilizing our production system through a reliable supply chain and increased automation in our plants,R...

Man charged with killing 5-year-old who was found dead in a suitcase 9 years ago

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Nine years after the body of 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver was found in a suitcase beside a Massachusetts highway, the former boyfriend of the child’s mother will be arraigned Thursday on a murder charge in connection with the death, prosecutors said.Alberto Sierra Jr., 32, is charged with murder and disinterring a body and will be arraigned in Worcester Superior Court, the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Wednesday. An email seeking comment was left with Sierra’s attorney.Jeremiah’s body was found in April 2014 along Interstate 190 in Sterling, about an hour west of Boston. But the boy was last seen alive in September 2013, and was not reported missing until December of that year.The family, which lived in Fitchburg at the time, was being supervised by the state Department of Children and Families. Even before the boy’s body was discovered, an investigation found that a social worker with the child welfare agency wen...

Stock market today: Wall Street stalls as hopes regress for respite on rates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are stalling Thursday after a Federal Reserve official told Wall Street the end to its interest-rate hikes may not come as soon as hoped.The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in early trading, a day after charging higher on hopes the U.S. government is heading toward a deal to prevent a disastrous default on its debt. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 104 points, or 0.3%, at 33,316, as of 9:48 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher.Stocks have remained remarkably resilient since early April despite a long list of worries. A major reason for that is hope the Fed would take it easier on its hikes to rates, which have slowed inflation at the expense of raising the risk of a recession and knocking down prices across financial markets. The widespread bet was that the Fed would take a pause at its next meeting in June.“The data in coming weeks could yet show that it is appropriate to skip a meeting,” Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan ...

Lawmakers approve south suburban cargo airport study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State legislators have passed a bill which takes steps toward development of the much-discussed South Suburban Airport.HB2531 is headed to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk and, if signed, it will direct the Illinois Department of Transportation to create a list of qualifications for proposals to build the cargo airport in Peotone which is about 40 miles south of Chicago. It's a development which has been debated for roughly 40 years. Wendy’s piloting underground robot system for orders The bill passed the House on March 21 by a vote of 72-40, and the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 33-20. A group of senators plan to discuss the potential airport Thursday including "how the accomplishment will generate job creation and local revenue for residents across Southern Cook and Will counties," according to a press release.

Wendy's piloting underground robot system for orders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

DUBLIN, Ohio — Much like a bank drive-up, Wendy's patrons may soon have their orders sent to them through an underground tube.The Ohio-based company announced Wednesday they are partnering with Pipedream, a hyperlogistics company, for the pilot."We know that serving orders quickly and accurately leads to increased customer satisfaction," said Wendy's U.S. Chief Operations Officer Deepak Ajmani. "Pipedream's Instant Pickup system has the potential to unlock greater mobile order speed of service and accuracy, enabling us to consistently deliver hot and fresh Wendy's products to our fans.""Instant pickup portals" will be positioned next to parking spots. Patrons will place their order and the technology uses autonomous robots to transport meals underground to their vehicle.Wendy's plans to integrate the Pipedream delivery system into an existing restaurant later this year.Earlier this month, the company announced they're teaming up with Google to add artificial intelligence to its menu...

Kraft Heinz develops dispenser to create over 200 condiment combinations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

CHICAGO — Those who like to mix condiments for new concoctions will soon get some help from Kraft Heinz.The company unveiled Wednesday their new condiment dispenser "HEINZ REMIX."The dispenser will offer over 200 potential sauce combinations.Consumers will first select from a range of base sauces — currently ketchup, 57 sauce and BBQ sauce. Then, further personalization can be made with jalapeno, smoky chipotle, buffalo and mango "enhancers."The company said the intensity levels of low, medium and high will be offered. Wendy’s piloting underground robot system for orders Kraft Heinz is debuting the dispenser at the 2023 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago this weekend.

CPS: Students ingest edible marijuana at Chicago Academy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:51:32 GMT

CHICAGO — CPS reported that students at Chicago Academy ingested edible marijuana on school grounds Wednesday. A CPS spokesperson said that no one was seriously injures and that everyone is safe. The school stated that they will have stricter 'no sharing rules' and if students are caught sharing food, it will be taken from them and returned at the time of dismissal. Montana becomes first state to ban TikTok; law likely to be challenged They also encourage families to check any candy or snacks students may have that parents do not recognize.The CPS spokesperson said in a staement: "We encourage you to take this opportunity to have a conversation with your child about the health risks associated with consuming edibles, especially if they come from an unknown source, and to remind them not to accept food if they do not know where it came from."CPS said they immediately noticed families, the school and community members. There was no further information provided.