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MEP mulls special driving licenses for SUVs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

French MEP Karima Delli wants to introduce a new driving license for SUVs — a target of climate campaigners for the pollution they emit and of safety advocates for the danger they pose to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of smaller cars.The vehicles “are not only taking up more space and are less energy efficient … in terms of road safety, they are more likely to be subject to collisions than light passenger cars, with far more serious consequences,” the Greens lawmaker, who’s leading Parliament’s work on a reform of EU driving license rules, wrote in her draft report.The B license currently needed to drive cars and vans “is not completely suitable for the heaviest passenger cars,” she argued. Instead, she wants a new B+ license that would apply to cars and vans weighing more than 1.8 tons. Drivers should only be able to obtain it after a two-year probation on a normal B permit, and only from the age of 21, she proposed.That would force drivers of popular he...

What to expect from Apple’s iPhone 15 reveal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

(CNN) — Apple is expected to debut its iPhone 15 lineup Tuesday at the company’s annual September keynote event, and it could introduce the biggest change to the phone’s design in 11 years.The press event, which Apple teased with a “wonderlust” tagline, will take place at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, and will be livestreamed on its website, starting at 10 a.m. local time.Although the annual iPhone event has become formulaic over the years, announcing incremental changes to battery life, camera system and displays, this year Apple is expected to introduce USB-C charging to its smartphones for the first time. The change could ultimately streamline the charging process across various devices and brands.But the company will have to show off more than just a new charging system to get users to upgrade. Last month, Apple’s sales fell for the third consecutive quarter. iPhone revenue came in at $39.7 billion for the quarter, marking an appro...

As Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace enter the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame, will Sammy Sosa be next?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace entered the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday during a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field, joining former teammates Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson, among others.Dunston was honored Friday at Wrigley with a video tribute, while Grace had his tribute during Saturday’s game.Dunston said he was humbled by the honor, though he didn’t consider himself in the same group as Sandberg, Dawson, Grace, Fergie Jenkins and others. Dunston spent 12 years on the North Side and became a fan favorite for the way he played the game.“I put it out there every day and tried my hardest,” Dunston said. “I wasn’t always the best, but I always put the team first, before myself, just like I put my family before myself. I think they appreciate the way I played.”The next big question is whether Sammy Sosa will make the Class of 2024, which will be voted upon after this season. The inductees will be announced at the Cubs Convention in Janua...

Latvia and Estonia sign deal to buy German-made missile defense system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — Estonia and Latvia signed an agreement Monday with Germany to purchase a medium-range air defense missile system that opens the way for the two Baltic nations to join a common air defense system proposed by Germany last year.The agreement was signed Monday at a meeting of defense ministers in the German city of Rötenbach and involved what officials said was the overall sale of 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) worth of IRIS-T defense systems produced by German company Diehl Defense. Estonia and Latvia previously have signed letters of intent to joint the Sky Shield Initiative, a common air defense system proposed by Germany in 2022 in the wake of the Russian war against Ukraine. The project currently includes 16 NATO member states, NATO invitee Sweden, as well as the neutral states Austria and Switzerland.Monday’s deal means that Germany replaces the United States as Estonia’s biggest defense partner, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.“This is by fa...

Making a splash: World’s largest rubber duck back to quack in Toronto

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

It’s your ducky day; the world’s largest rubber duck is returning to Toronto’s waterfront this weekend.The annual Toronto Waterfront Festival is being held from September 16 to 17 at Queens Quay East and in a twist, the world’s largest rubber duck, affectionately known as Mama Duck, will appear on land this time.The festival begins on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and runs until Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.A spokesperson for the waterfront festival said that while the event is not open to the public on Friday, Mama Duck will be inflated for an hour, inviting the public to get a first look before the weekend event.In April, Nancy Gavin, Chair of the Toronto Waterfront Festival, confirmed that Mama Duck would return to the city’s shores.“The number one program we continually get asked to bring back is by far the ‘World’s Largest Rubber Duck,” Gavin said. “After six years, we are very excited to have Mama Duck back on Toron...

Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist, would like to have a word

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If you’re thinking of checking out the new memoir by Elton John’s lyricist to learn more about the Rocket Man, you’re out of luck. This is Bernie Taupin’s song to sing.“Scattershot: Life, Music, Elton & Me” is a fascinating read for the pictures it paints of the music scene of the 1970s, ’80s and ‘90s but if John is what you seek, he writes, the singer-pianist is “in absentia for much of this narrative.”“What people don’t realize is that we were joined at the hip at the beginning. It was sort of me and him against the world,” Taupin said in a recent interview. “But I think once that we gained a modicum of success, it was natural that we would sort of separate and find our own lives.”“Scattershot” is the story of an Englishman bewitched by country music and the American West who grows up to supply lyrics to one of rock n ’roll’s all-time superstars and later in life embraces art and becomes a bona fide cowboy.“It was a great sor...

Get a taste of the world of Catan with a cookbook inspired by the hit board game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — You can work up quite an appetite sitting around a table plotting world domination. Luckily, a new cookbook lets Catan fans savor the board game even more while out-trading opponents.“Catan: The Official Cookbook ” includes 77 recipes inspired by the multiplayer phenomenon, dishes like Forest Dweller’s Dip, Tavern Ale Pie and Fireside Banana Boats. There are snacks, small plates, full dinners, desserts and even a few drinks.“We wanted them to be fun, but real. This is a real cookbook. There are recipes in here that you can and should definitely make. It’s not just a gimmick or a gag gift by any means,” says Casie Vogel, vice president of editorial at Ulysses Press.The recipes pay homage to the game, in which competitors try to build settlements on a fictional island using five resources: wool, grain, lumber, brick and ore. The cookbook includes dishes with lamb, to honor the wool, while there are a few that call for bricks: Brick Smash Burger, Chicken Under a Brick a...

Next time you invite friends over to play Catan, why not feed them Chicken Under a Brick?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

Everyone knows that one Brick and one Lumber make a road in the game Catan. But what about two bricks and four chicken thighs? That’s the beginnings of an amazingly delicious, yet simple, main dish included in the new “Catan: The Official Cookbook.” Add a lemon, oven, and aluminum foil, and you’re all set. This recipe is fast and easy, and will add some victory points to your cooking game. It is gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and low-fat.CHICKEN UNDER A BRICKServes: 4Prep Time: 5 minutesCook Time: 15 minutesServes: 4INGREDIENTS4 boneless, skin-on chicken thighs (ask your butcher to remove the bones for you)Extra-virgin olive oil, for coating2 lemons, halvedSea salt, to tasteFreshly ground pepper, to taste INSTRUCTIONS1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Wrap two bricks in aluminum foil.2. Season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper.3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until very hot. Add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan. ...

Stellantis reports progress in talks with auto workers and plans to make another offer Monday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Stellantis is reporting progress in talks with the United Auto Workers union with just three days left before contracts expire with Detroit’s three automakers.Tobin Williams, head of human resources for North America, told employees in an email that the union made counteroffer to its economic proposal on Sunday. Stellantis released no details of its offer Monday.He also says both sides have reached agreement in a number of areas including health and safety. “There was good energy among both teams and great momentum to reach an agreement as we head into the final days before the contract expires Thursday night,” Williams wrote. “We are on a good path UAW President Shawn Fain on Friday called counter offers from Stellantis, General Motors and Ford inadequate. He warned of strikes against any company without a tentative contract agreement when the contracts expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.On Friday, Stellantis, which was formed in a 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler and F...

UK government may ban American XL bully dogs after a child was attacked

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:10:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s home secretary said Monday she is seeking “urgent advice” on banning a type of American bully dog, highlighting an attack on a 11-year-old girl over the weekend. Suella Braverman said she has commissioned advice on outlawing American bully XL dogs after police said they were investigating an incident in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday, when a girl was injured by one of the dogs. Two men who intervened were also injured. “This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children,” Braverman wrote on social media. ”We can’t go on like this.”Police said the dog was seized by officers and officials will consider what to do with the animal. For months, some campaigners have been calling for a ban on the XL Bully, which was originally bred from the American pitbull terrier.Emma Whitfield, the mother of a 10-year-old boy who died after he was mauled by an American bully XL ...