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Author A.S. Byatt, who wrote best-seller ‘Possession’ and had a beetle named after her, dies at 87

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — British author A.S. Byatt, who wove history, myth and a sharp eye for human foibles into books that included the Booker Prize-winning novel “Possession,” has died at the age of 87. Byatt’s publisher, Chatto & Windus, said Friday that the author, whose full name was Antonia Byatt, died “peacefully at home surrounded by close family” on Thursday.Byatt wrote two dozen books, starting with her first novel, “The Shadow of the Sun,” in 1964. Her work was translated into 38 languages. “Possession,” published in 1990, follows two young academics investigating the lives of a pair of imaginary Victorian poets. The novel, a double romance which skillfully layers a modern story with mock-Victorian letters and poems, was a huge bestseller and won the prestigious Booker Prize. Accepting the prize, Byatt said “Possession” was about the joy of reading.“My book was written on a kind of high about the pleasures of reading,” she said.“Possession” was adapted into a 2002 film st...

Live updates | Israel will allow ‘very minimal’ fuel into Gaza, as UN warns of possible starvation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

Israel announced Friday that it will allow for the first time “very minimal” daily shipments of fuel into Gaza for use by the U.N. and communications system.Aid agencies say the lack of fuel has forced them to call off deliveries of basic necessities in the Gaza Strip. They warned of possible widespread starvation in the besieged enclave because of the lack of fuel, and said most people in Gaza were without adequate food and clean water.Israel earlier said it found the body of another hostage in a building adjacent to Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital. The hospital has been the focus of clashing narratives over who is to blame for the widespread suffering of Palestinian civilians during the war between Israel and Hamas. At least 11,470 Palestinians — two-thirds of them women and minors — have been killed since the war began, according to Palestinian health authorities, who do not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths. About 2,700 people are reported missing.Israel vowed ...

Miss Universo 2023: favoritas, a qué hora y cómo ver en vivo por TV e internet

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(CNN Español) — La edición 72° de Miss Universo está casi lista para su ceremonia final este sábado 18 de noviembre en El Salvador. Las participantes buscarán llevarse la corona que actualmente posee la estadounidense R’ Bonney Gabriel.El certamen de belleza celebra todas las culturas, orígenes y religiones y crean un espacio seguro para que las mujeres compartan sus historias e impulsen un impacto personal, profesional y filantrópico, según la propia Organización Miss Universo (MUO, por sus siglas en inglés).Afirma que las mujeres que participan en esta plataforma actúan como líderes inspiradoras y modelos a seguir para sus comunidades en todo el mundo.Miss Universo 2023: ¿cuáles son sus normas y cómo funciona?La realización de la gala de este año fue puesta en duda días atrás, cuando JKN Global Group, la empresa tailandesa propietaria de Miss Universo, se declaró en quiebra. Sin embargo, la compañía anunció que el certamen seguía adelante y aseguró que su prioridad es ofrece...

Lingering flooding woes grip South Florida despite clear skies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

SOUTH FLORIDA (WSVN) – Days after a severe storm wreaked havoc across South Florida, some neighborhoods are still grappling with flooded streets, stalled cars, and soaked homes, prompting residents to search for answers.Miami-Dade County remains waterlogged, with Northeast 116th Street and 16th Avenue seeing ankle-deep water. Reports of cars submerged and towed away reveal the aftermath of the relentless rain and winds.Miami Gardens, too, faces lingering flooding, with streets in the 2200 block of Northwest 170th Street still submerged. Residents attribute the recurrent problem to drainage issues, expressing frustration and hoping for a swift resolution.In Broward County, the situation is equally dire. One homeowner in Davie compared his property to an island surrounded by water. Despite witnessing improvement in many flood zones over the past 24 hours, his area remains submerged.As some speculate about the impact of nearby construction work, the aerial view from 7Skyforce sho...

White House slams Elon Musk for supporting antisemitic post

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

The White House on Friday condemned Elon Musk for endorsing an antisemitic post on social media.Musk, a self-proclaimed free speech advocate, on Wednesday wrote that an X post “said the actual truth,” replying to a user who posted an antisemitic claim that Jewish communities have been “pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.”The post also spoke of “hordes of minorities that support flooding their country,” referencing a known antisemitic conspiracy theory that falsely asserts that Jews want to flood the country with nonwhite people in order to displace the white population.White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, that the White House condemns “this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms.”“It is unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of Antisemitism in American history at any time, let alon...

Bulgaria accelerates end of sanctions loophole that earned Russia €1B

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

Bulgaria will scrap its exemption to EU sanctions against Russia six months earlier than planned — just days after POLITICO revealed the loophole had allowed the Kremlin to rake in an extra €1 billion for its war effort in Ukraine.Parties supporting the government’s ruling coalition announced the move Friday, following a fierce debate sparked by a POLITICO report that found Bulgaria was letting millions of barrels of Moscow’s oil reach a Russian-owned refinery on its territory, which then exported various refined fuels abroad including to EU countries.The refinery was able to move the Russian oil because Bulgaria had received an exclusive opt-out from the EU’s ban on Russian seaborne crude oil imports — a step ostensibly meant to protect the country from energy shortages. The government said it will now end that exemption on March 1 instead of a previous, self-imposed October 31 deadline.Aside from the estimated €983 million the loophole raised for Russia via produc...

After more reports of illnesses from recalled applesauce pouches, FDA is screening cinnamon shipments for lead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

(CNN) — After more reports of illnesses potentially linked to lead in recalled fruit and applesauce pouches, the US Food and Drug Administration says that it is screening shipments of cinnamon from multiple countries for possible lead contamination. So far, no illnesses or elevated blood lead levels have been reported for other cinnamon or products containing the popular holiday spice.There have been 34 reports of illnesses linked to apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches sold under the WanaBanana, Weis and Schnucks brands, the FDA said Friday — a dozen more cases since an update on Monday. Cases have been identified in at least 22 states, and the agency says it’s continuing to evaluate incoming reports of illnesses.The FDA, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners have been investigating reports of high blood lead levels in children who consumed the pouches, which were manufactured in Ecuador. In one product sample of a WanaBana Apple Ci...

State transportation officials gearing up for holiday traffic surge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

Officials said Tuesday will be the busiest travel day before the Thanksgiving holiday, with the biggest impacts on I-93, Route 128, and the Mass Pike, regardless of when you hit the road.“MassDOT is doing everything we can to alleviate the congestion,” said MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutts. “We will be pausing construction work on major roadways outside of the established work zone.”This pause includes the work being done on the Sumner Tunnel, which will stay open this weekend and Thanksgiving weekend.The MBTA is also making adjustments to accommodate the annual holiday influx of riders.“We have added additonal services to support increased ridership during the periods when we know that people are traveling,” said MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “For instance, Logan Airport to destinations in Boston, we have increased service on the Silver Line.”Commuter Rail weekend passes, which cost $10, can be purchased on Thanksgiving Day ...

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, new research finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

A cat-borne parasite that infects about 40 million people in the United States may cause adults to be more frail as they age, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study.The parasite is already associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness, according to a release, and the CU Boulder study found it may also contribute to signs of frailty including exhaustion and loss of muscle mass.The parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, affects about 11% of people in the United States, or roughly 40 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates tend to be higher in older people, and in some countries, more than 60% of people have been infected, according to the CDC.“We often think of T. gondii infection as relatively asymptomatic, but this study highlights that for some people it may have significant health consequences later on,” Christopher Lowry, CU Boulder professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, said in a release.For the s...

98.5’s Fred Toucher is surprised that Jim Murray has already said no to ‘Toucher and Rich’ opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:30 GMT

A 98.5 fan favorite already saying he’s absolutely not interested in the “Toucher and Rich” opening has surprised morning host Fred Toucher, who “never thought someone would take their name out of the running” this early.It has only been one week since Toucher announced that Rich Shertenlieb was leaving the top sports morning show in the region.Jim Murray, the third chair on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Mazz,” was quickly floated as a possible replacement for Shertenlieb — but “Big Jim” Murray has shot down any chance of moving from afternoons to mornings.Toucher on Friday morning reacted to Murray saying he’s “100% not interested” in the morning show job opening.“So this was in the Boston Herald, because I get Google Alerts which are firing in because we’re big shot, big time right now,” Toucher said. “And Jim Murray has stated for the record, while asked during the ‘Fel...