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After years of delay, Western Balkans hope for progress on joining the EU – and financial support

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Leaders of the six Western Balkan countries met informally Monday in the Albanian capital, Tirana, to prepare for a summit on progress toward European Union integration, known as the Berlin Process.At an informal lunch, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed his counterparts from Montenegro, Serbia and North Macedonia, together with EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.On Oct. 16, Albania will host the summit on the Berlin Process, an initiative from Germany and France to encourage the Balkan countries in their path toward membership into the European Union.The six Western Balkan countries — Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania — are at different stages of integration into the bloc.Rama said he expected “the summit to have a meaningful outcome for the Western Balkans and serve as a further step” in facilitating the interactions between the countries of the region with the EU. “In parallel with the negotiation process, (we) ...

2 killed in rollover crash on I-225 in Aurora

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Two people were killed in a single-car rollover crash on Interstate 225 Sunday morning.Around 4:30 a.m., the Aurora Police Department said northbound I-225 was closed from Alameda to 6th Avenue due to a serious crash.APD said three people were inside the car, and all three were transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Monday, officers confirmed one female and one male victim died from their injuries. 5 suffer life-threatening injuries in Aurora rollover crash The third person inside the car, a female, remains at the hospital in serious condition. At this time, APD is still investigating how the crash happened. The identities of the victims will be released at a later time by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office.I-225 was reopened to traffic four hours after the crash.

2 Colorado cities among the most educated in the nation

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado's two biggest metro areas are among the highest on a list of the United States' most educated. Financial adviser site WalletHub compared the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas across 11 key metrics ranging from the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree, the quality of the public school system and university systems, and education gaps among races and genders. HGTV host Ty Pennington hospitalized in Colorado The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area ranks 11th overall in between the Austin and Portland metro areas. The Colorado Springs metro area ranks 17th overall. The Denver area ranks highly for educational attainment but less for quality of education and the gaps in educational attainment. With some of the highest levels of college and graduate degree holders, it ranks 11th for educational attainment. It ranks 46th for quality of education and gender or racial gaps in educational attainment. Watch: Mike Johnston sworn in as ...

Shrewsbury PD requests public’s help to identify suspect wanted for identity theft and larceny

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

The Shrewsbury Police Department is requesting the public’s help as it works to identify a suspect connected to multiple identity theft and larceny cases involving local banks.The police department shared several images of the individual over the weekend as they investigate what authorities are calling “multiple identity theft and larceny cases that occurred at UniBank and Rockland Trust.”“The suspect is observed wearing the same baby blue long sleeve shirt, and aqua blue scaly cap with sunglasses on top during each incident,” the department stated on Facebook, adding that the suspect also appeared to carry a fake Connecticut state driver’s license.Image provided by the Shrewsbury Police DepartmentAuthorities said “multiple incidents” have not only occurred in Shrewsbury, but also other areas that include Worcester, Milford, Grafton, Quincy, and Braintree.Further details on the incidents themselves were not released.Anyone with informa...

Common typo causes millions of emails intended for members of the US military to be sent to accounts in Mali

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

(CNN) — Millions of emails intended for Pentagon employees were inadvertently sent to email accounts in Mali over the last decade because of typos caused by the similarity of the US military’s email address and the domain for the West African country, according to a Dutch technologist who discovered the problem.In some cases, sensitive information like hotel reservations for senior US military officials were revealed.The emails were intended for owners of “.MIL” email accounts – the internet domain owned by the US military – but because of typos they were instead sent to the .ML domain, which handles email accounts in the West African country of Mali.The email mishap reveals the security risks to US national security officials that can arise from an innocent typo. The personal information in the emails could be used to conduct targeted cyberattacks or to track the movements of Pentagon personnel – although there’s no evidence that happened in this case.The Financial Times ...

FDA approves antibody to protect infants from RSV

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

(CNN) — This fall, parents and pediatricians will have a new option to protect babies from a lung-attacking virus that is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants under a year old in the United States every year.The US Food and Drug Administration approved nirsevimab to protect newborns from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, on Monday.Nirsevimab, which will be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is not a vaccine. Vaccines prompt the body to make antibodies to defend against pathogens. Instead, nirsevimab is a form of passive immunity. It’s a ready-made antibody that can bind to the virus and block it from infecting healthy cells. The immune system doesn’t have to make anything.It’s given as a single injection to an infant before RSV season, which usually peaks in the fall and winter months. The FDA approval also allows a second injection for infants up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable through their second RSV season.“RSV can cause serious disease i...

Make a deconstructed Meyer lemon curd tart with this parfait recipe

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

Tired of traditional summer tarts? Try out this deconstructed lemon tart recipe – a Meyer lemon curd parfait with layers of crumbled crust and blueberries soaked in wine and sugar.This recipe comes from the Clif Family Winery, where an organic edible farm provides produce for the winery’s food truck, Clif Family Bruschetteria. The recipe is one of more than 60 featured in “Gather: Casual Cooking from Wine Country Gardens” (Harry N. Abrams, $40) by Janet Fletcher.The Napa-based food writer is the voice of the “Planet Cheese” newsletter and author of several cookbooks that highlight wine, cheese and farm-to-table fare. Her latest book showcases recipes and wine pairings inspired by 13 edible gardens in wine country.Meyer Lemon Curd ParfaitServes 6 to 8INGREDIENTSPoppy seed crust1¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface2 tablespoons granulated sugar1 tablespoon poppy seeds1⁄8 teaspoon kosher or sea salt1⁄2 cup cold unsalted butter, in small pieces1 large egg ...

Elton John lends celebrity testimony to Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

LONDON — Kevin Spacey ‘s lawyers enlisted the help of an A-list star Monday in his sexual assault trial, calling on Elton John and his husband to cast doubt on one of the Oscar winner’s accusers at the end of the defense case.John appeared briefly in the London court by video link from Monaco after his husband, David Furnish, testified that Spacey did not attend an annual gala ball at their Windsor home at the time that the accuser said he was attacked in a car.John was the final witness for the defense and was followed by character testimonials from colleagues, friends and family that had Spacey in tears in the dock when they were read aloud by his lawyer in Southwark Crown Court.Spacey, 63, has pleaded not guilty to a dozen charges that include sexual and indecent assault counts and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.One of the alleged victims said he was driving Spacey to the White Tie & Tiara Ball in 2004 or 2005 when the a...

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Is there a wrong way — or time — to nap?

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

(TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkDEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am retired, and although I generally enjoy less hectic days now, I keep busy. Part of my routine includes trying to squeeze in a nap on most afternoons. My wife tells me that I’m doing it wrong because I often wake up groggy. Is there a wrong way — or time — to nap?ANSWER: Closing your eyes for a few minutes during your busy day may seem like a good idea. It can refresh and recharge you. Is there a wrong way to nap? Only if the naps cause negative effects on other aspects of your life.For your daily nap routine, it’s important to consider the time of day and length of time you nap, as these can provide benefits or create problems.On the plus side, a nap can improve your mood, speed your reaction time, improve your memory, reduce fatigue and increase your alertness. A regular nap can make your afternoon more productive.There are some potential drawbacks of napping every day. First is sleep inertia. It’s the temporary...

Nutrition: 6 key foods to incorporate into a healthy diet

Published Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:04:56 GMT

There’s no doubt that eating fewer ultra-processed foods is beneficial for cardiovascular health. However, eating a healthful diet is not just about eating fewer processed foods, but consuming adequate amounts of certain nutrient-dense foods. In fact, researchers have determined that not eating enough of six key foods is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke, in adults.The World Health Organization estimates that cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths worldwide. The results of a study spanning 80 countries and 245,000 subjects published this month in the European Heart Journal found that the top foods to lower CVD risk are fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish and whole milk dairy products. They also found that whole grains and unprocessed meats can be included in a healthful dietary pattern in moderation.Based on the research findings, a dietary pattern beneficial for cardiovascular health shou...