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Nobel effort: Scientists behind Pfizer, Moderna mRNA vaccines win Nobel

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

Two scientists won the Nobel Prize in medicine for research that laid the groundwork for some of the best-selling medicines of all time: the messenger-RNA vaccines against COVID-19.Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman’s work helped pioneer the technology that enabled Moderna Inc. and the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE partnership to swiftly develop shots. The vaccines have been given to hundreds of millions of people around the world, a key step toward easing the coronavirus pandemic.Kariko and Weissman will share the $1 million award, the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm said in a statement Monday.The scientists showed how to solve one of the major problems of mRNA by tweaking it to avoid causing inflammation. Their research, published in 2005, was one of the building blocks that allowed it to be introduced into the body.“Through their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system, the laureates ...

Bill Belichick has ‘doubts’ Patriots will give Bailey Zappe first-team practice reps

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

The Patriots are understandably not ready to re-open a quarterback battle one month after Mac Jones decisively beat out Bailey Zappe for the starting role in training camp the preseason.Jones was so much better this summer, Zappe not only was relegated to backup duties, the second-year pro was cut out of training camp. He re-signed to the practice squad one day later and eventually was brought back onto the 53-man roster.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots rookie Christian Gonzalez reportedly suffers separated shoulder in loss to Cowboys New England Patriots | ‘All World’ Patriots great Russ Francis dies in plane crash New England Patriots | Mac Jones takes blame for worst loss of Bill Belichick era: ‘I let my team down’ New England Patriots | Patriots captain backs Bill Belichick after worst loss of head coach’s career New England Patriots | Patriots teammate gives o...

Selma Blair helps White House salute landmark disability legislation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Actor and disability rights advocate Selma Blair on Monday helped President Joe Biden mark the legacy of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, displaying a touch of the comedic timing that made her a star in Hollywood hits like “Legally Blonde” and “Cruel Intentions.” Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, walked together with Biden to a ceremony on the White House’s south lawn with her cane and her service dog, an English Labrador named Scout. When she reached the stage, she told Scout, “down” and “good boy.” As he lay near Biden’s feet, the president started to bend down to pet Scout, but Blair looked over and said, “yeah, stay.” That caused Biden to straighten up to full attention. “I feel so powerful all of a sudden,” laughed Blair. Then, indicating a handheld microphone in addition to the one she was using affixed to the podium, she said, “I don’t need this. This is for someone else, correct?”“It’s...

Man convicted of stealing $1.9 million in COVID-19 relief money gets more than 5 years in prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia man was sentenced Monday to more than five years in federal prison for organizing a scheme that stole nearly $2 million in government aid intended to help businesses endure the coronavirus pandemic. A U.S. District Court judge in Brunswick sentenced 41-year-old Bernard Okojie after a jury in March convicted him of fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors say Okojie filed dozens of applications for himself and others to receive COVID-19 relief funds in 2020 and 2021, but none of the businesses named in the applications existed. The government paid Okojie and his accomplices more than $1.9 million, prosecutors said, which they used to buy a home and vehicles in addition to luxury shopping trips and a toy poodle. Authorities said Okojie was carrying nearly $40,000 in cash when they apprehended him trying to leave the U.S.Judge Lisa Godbey Wood ordered Okojie to repay the $1.9 million in addition to serving 64 months in prison.“Bernard Okojie devised a c...

Kentucky AG announces latest round of funding to groups battling the state’s drug abuse problems

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A state commission has awarded nearly $14 million in the latest round of funding to groups serving “in the trenches” to combat Kentucky’s drug abuse problems, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Monday.A few dozen groups will receive portions of the $13.9 million, which stems from a massive settlement with opioid companies. It continues the flow of money to grassroots groups specializing in drug prevention, treatment and recovery services as Kentucky struggles to overcome the deadly scourge. “To all those struggling with addiction, our message is clear: Help is on the way. Millions of dollars in help is on the way,” Cameron said in announcing the latest awards at the Kentucky Capitol.The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is funneling the money to an array of programs — from small towns to the state’s largest cities. The awards are designed to help combat a drug problem that Cameron has branded as “the public safety challenge of our lifetime.”...

UN Security Council approves sending a Kenya-led force to Haiti to fight violent gangs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.N. Security Council voted Monday to send a multinational force to Haiti led by Kenya to help combat violent gangs in the troubled Caribbean country.The resolution drafted by the U.S. was approved with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from Russia and China.The resolution authorizes the force to deploy for one year, with a review after nine months. It would mark the first time a force is deployed to Haiti since a U.N.-approved mission nearly 20 years ago.A deployment date has not been set, although U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently said a security mission to Haiti could deploy “in months.”Meanwhile, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Alfred Mutua, told the BBC that the force should already be in Haiti by Jan. 1, 2024, “if not before then.”It wasn’t immediately clear how big the force would be. Kenya’s government has previously proposed sending 1,000 police officers. In addition, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda also have...

Grizzly bear attacks rare, but a risk in wilderness, experts say after Banff deaths

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA — Grizzly bear experts say fatal attacks are extremely rare, but it’s always a risk when people venture into the wilderness.Two people were killed on the weekend by a grizzly bear in the backcountry of Banff National Park in Alberta.Kevin Van Tighem, who worked as a biologist in the national parks and wrote the book “Bears Without Fear,” said it’s tragic for the victims and their families.“It’s a horrible thing to have happen,” he said in an interview. “The family doesn’t come out of it (unscathed), so I really feel for everybody involved.”Another bear expert who’s also a family friend of one of the two people killed said both the couple and their dog died.“These were very experienced outdoors people. I don’t know if they had bear spray on them. I highly doubt they had food sources that were left out,” said Kim Titchener, who has a company called Bear Safety and M...

Toronto police officer charged for assaulting woman during dispute

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) has charged a constable with assault stemming from a dispute with a woman.A police spokesperson said an investigation was launched on Sunday, Oct. 1.It’s alleged a man and a woman were involved in a dispute, and the man assaulted the woman. No other details were released by the police force.On Monday, TPS charged 48-year-old Const. Hyung Cho with assault.He’s scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24, 2023.TPS said Const. Cho of 32 Division has 15 years of policing experience and was suspended with pay.

Federal ministers still lack mandate letters, two months after majority shuffled

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has yet to issue mandate letters for his cabinet ministers, leaving those in new roles without clear marching orders two months after announcing an overhaul to his front bench.“If you don’t do this, your government’s success is likely going to be compromised,” said Sen. Tony Dean, who used to oversee Ontario’s public service.“It’s important for everybody to be on the same page, and to understand what the desired deliverables are.”Shortly after taking office in 2015, Trudeau’s government announced it would publish the lists of tasks given to each minister, known as mandate letters. The documents lay out the priorities for each federal minister, and signal to public servants the timeline or scope of policies the government wants to advance.The last round of mandate letters was issued in December 2021, three months after the last federal election. This summer, Trudeau shuffled most of his cabin...

S&P/TSX composite closes down more than 300 points, U.S. stock markets mixed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:24:25 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index closed down more than 300 points Monday as utility and energy stocks led widespread losses, while U.S. markets were mixed. The S&P/TSX composite index ended down 364.09 points at 19,177.18.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 74.15 points at 33,433.35. The S&P 500 index was up 0.34 points at 4,288.39, while the Nasdaq composite was up 88.45 points at 13,307.77.The Canadian dollar traded for 73.66 cents US, according to XE.com, compared with 73.96 cents US on Friday.The November crude oil contract was down US$1.97 at US$88.82 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down nine cents at US$2.84 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$18.90 at US$1,847.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was down 10 cents at US$3.64 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) The Canadian Press