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Will the Commission blink under pressure from pharma? We’re about to find out

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

It was delayed and delayed again, but on Wednesday politicians and industry executives can stop holding their breath and find out who won the battle for influence over the direction of the upcoming pharmaceutical reform.The long-awaited package sets out new bloc-wide rules for the pharma industry, with the aim of making access to medicines more secure and affordable, encouraging innovation and reducing red tape. While the European Commission has maintained its silence over the proposal, a draft of which was leaked in January, industry has already been lobbying hard against core provisions, and it’s brought Germany on board. Will the Commission blink?Pill politicsThe heart of the debate revolves around changes to the amount of time that new medicines have on the market unchallenged from unbranded competitors — currently a decade — during which pharma companies can charge high prices.In the leaked draft, the Commission proposes to cut this period by two years but allow companies...

Boston police seek public’s help IDing suspect linked to Roxbury armed robbery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

Boston police asked for the public’s help Tuesday in efforts to identify a suspect linked to an armed robbery in Roxbury earlier this month. Police said the robbery happened around 9:15 p.m. on April 13 in the 1600 block of Tremont Street in Roxbury. Police shared photos of the suspect in the case and described him as a white male in his early 30s, standing about 5’10” with a medium build. Police said the man was wearing a royal blue fedora style hat, a black coat with gray trim on the inside, blue jeans and black sneakers. Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston detectives at 617-343-4275.Those wishing to reach out anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). 

Opa! Peabody woman wins $1 million from scratch ticket bought while celebrating Greek Easter

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

A Peabody woman celebrating Greek Orthodox Easter had even more reason to celebrate after buying a winning scratch ticket from a store in North Reading.The Massachusetts State Lottery said Despina Nirgianakis won a $1 million prize after she purchased a “$10,000,000 Bonus Wins” instant ticket game earlier this month.According to the state lottery, Nirgianakis told officials she and her family often buy instant tickets for holidays, and that she bought the winner while celebrating Greek Easter.RELATED: Feeling Blessed: Haverhill man says he felt compelled to buy $1M-winning ticket after Easter MassWhen it came time to collect her prize, Nirgianakis opted to get her winnings in the form of a one-time payment of $650,000 (before taxes).The store she purchased the ticket at, Convenience Plus on Main Street in North Reading, will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winner.According to the state lottery’s website, the odds of winning a million dollar prize via the “10,000,000 Bo...

Proud Boys leader lawyer: Trump to blame for Jan. 6 riot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — A defense attorney argued Tuesday at the close of a landmark trial over the Jan. 6 riot that the Justice Department is making Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio a scapegoat for Donald Trump after the former president’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Tarrio and four lieutenants are charged with seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors say was a plot to attack the Capitol to stop the transfer of presidential power from Trump to President Joe Biden after the 2020 election. In his closing argument, defense lawyer Nayib Hassan noted Tarrio wasn’t in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, having been banned from the capital after being arrested on allegations that he defaced a Black Lives Matter banner. Trump, Hassan argued, was the one to blame for extorting a crowd outside the White House to “ fight like hell.”“It was Donald Trump’s words. It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what...

Dolphins Deep Dive: Does Aaron Rodgers vault Jets ahead of Dolphins in AFC?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss where the Miami Dolphins rank in the AFC after the Jets addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. ()

Dolphins Deep Dive: Would another concussion cause Tua to entertain retirement thoughts again?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

The South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Chris Perkins and David Furones discuss if another concussion would cause quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to really entertain retirement thoughts again. ()

What to stream: A spring bounty of new movies, shows

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

Katie Walsh | Tribune News ServiceThere’s a wealth of new movies and series hitting streaming services this week, from acclaimed indie films to reboots of classics to intriguing crime stories ready to binge. Here’s a rundown of what’s new to rent, buy, and stream on digital platforms this week.First up: timed to release with the first big screen adaptation of her most beloved book, “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret,” the warm and lovely documentary “Judy Blume Forever” premiered last week on Prime Video. Directed by Davina Pardo and Leah Wolchok, the film tells the life story of beloved author Judy Blume, and underlines the radical and influential nature of her writing about the intimate inner lives of girls and women, and how she continues to touch readers with her work.On Tuesday, two recent indie films became available to rent or buy on digital platforms. Andie MacDowell stars in “My Happy Ending,” about an American movie star contending with a grim cancer diagnosis and findin...

Jalen Brunson not giving hints on meaning behind new celebration: ‘I apologize to Lisa Salters’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

Knicks star Jalen Brunson isn’t giving any hints on the meaning behind his new three-point celebration.Brunson hit a three over Cavs All-Star Darius Garland with just about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter of the Knicks’ Game 4 win. He then sniffed the web of his hand — or the crevice in between his thumb and index finger — on his way back up the court. When asked about the celebration by ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters, Brunson said plainly: “Don’t worry about it.”He walked that statement back some after Tuesday’s practice in Tarrytown.“I actually want to go back to that,” Brunson said. “The way I responded to Lisa came off a little arrogant on my part. So I apologize publicly to Lisa for that.“But it’s between me and my teammates, that’s it.”Asked for a hint, Brunson said: “Absolutely not.”GAME 5Sixty-three percent of the teams that take a 3-1 series lead in the playof...

As pandemic emergencies end, people battling long COVID feel ‘swept under the rug’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

Jackie Fortiér | (TNS) KPCC/LAistLost careers. Broken marriages. Dismissed and disbelieved by family and friends.These are some of the emotional and financial struggles long COVID patients face years after their infection. Physically, they are debilitated and in pain: unable to walk up the stairs, focus on a project or hold down a job. Facing the end of the federal public health emergency in May, many people experiencing lingering effects of the virus say they feel angry and abandoned by policymakers eager to move on.“Patients are losing hope,” said Shelby Hedgecock, a self-described long COVID survivor from Knoxville, Tennessee, who now advocates for patients like herself. “We feel swept under the rug.”The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in March that 6% of U.S. adults, or about 16 million, were experiencing long COVID, or ongoing health problems that continue or emerge after a bout of COVID-19. Researchers estimate that 1.6% of U.S. adults, or about 4 million,...

Watch: Rare white killer whale calf spotted off Southern California coast

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:17 GMT

NEWPORT, Calif. — Video captured Monday showed a pod of orcas swimming off the Southern California coast, including a rare glimpse at a white killer whale calf.The footage of the orca pod was captured by Newport Coastal Adventure, who was tipped off to the pod's location around 10:30 a.m. by a Long Beach whale watching company.The orcas were initially spotted over 45 miles from the Newport Harbor, but crews with Newport Coastal Adventure decided to take all available boats out on a last-minute trip for a chance to see the killer whales, according to Captain Delaney Trowbridge.The 20 passengers went to the last known location of the orcas and were ultimately able to spot them. The group witnessed a pod of seven orcas in the waters, including a three-year-old calf named Frosty due to its white appearance, Trowbridge said. VIDEO: Rare sighting of whale without tail breaching off Southern California coast According to Newport Coastal Adventure, Frosty has a unique genetic condition th...