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In the EU’s inflation crisis, the humble egg takes the cake

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The humble egg has become a star performer for all the wrong reasons as inflation has hit households across the European Union extremely hard over the year. The EU’s statistical agency Eurostat announced Friday that the average price of an egg — that important staple for poor families and gourmet cooks alike — had risen by 30% over the year to January 2023, becoming a symbol of how the cost of living has hit everyone in the 27-nation bloc.Even if the latest inflation figures show that annual inflation in the 20-nation eurozone has started to decline to 8.5% in February, the sector of food, alcohol and tobacco continued to rise and stood at 15%. And then, eggs outperform just about all. Two years ago, egg inflation still stood at a lean 1%, rising to 7% the year after before reaching 30% in February. Egg prices were whipped up the most in the Czech Republic, rising 85% over the year, followed closely by two other central European nations — Hungary (80%) and Slov...

Editorial Roundup: New England

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

Hearst Connecticut Media. March 8, 2023. Editorial: 2 sides of CT’s criminal identity. Murder in the suburbs and illegal guns in cities.Nothing about updating laws involving guns — both illegal and legal — is ever simple.The very act of urban mayors in Connecticut working together to get illegal guns off their streets feels like progress. The mayors are focusing on disarming repeat offenders they believe are responsible for most of the state’s gun violence. Resistance is always expected when it comes to changing gun laws. In this case, the loudest blowback came from a fellow Democrat, state Sen. Gary Winfield, during a 12-hour hearing Monday.The approach taken by the mayors of Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury seems practical. Far too often, those repeat offenders are committing crimes with guns while out on probation or bail. The mayors’ objective is to increase the penalties in such circumstances.Winfield essentially told the mayors to take a reality check about their ...

Kishida makes 1st pitch in Japan game with South Korea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida threw out the first pitch for Friday’s World Baseball Classic game between Japan and South Korea, bouncing a ball that was scooped up by Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama, his designated catcher.Kishida had the credentials to make a better pitch. He was a high school baseball player and is still a big fan of his hometown professional baseball team, the Hiroshima Carp.Kishida wore No. 101 because he oversees the 101st Japanese government cabinet in modern history.His appearance was highly symbolic, signaling the improving relations between the two countries who have often been at odds related to Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule in Korea.Kishida has invited South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to visit Japan next week for what could be the start of some “shuttle diplomacy.”Kishida and Yoon will meet for a summit on strengthening ties, both governments said Thursday.On Monday, South Korea announced it would raise local funds to ...

Pie in the Sky: Juvenile bald eagle snatches pizza slice in Connecticut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) – Connecticut is known for great pizza, and it looks like the word has spread to the skies.Nature Photographer Doug Gemmell captured the moment a juvenile bald eagle swooped down and snatched a pepperoni pizza slice at Wethersfield Cove this week.Check out the pictures in the gallery below!Credit: Doug Gemmell Nature PhotographyCredit: Doug Gemmell Nature PhotographyCredit: Doug Gemmell Nature PhotographyCredit: Doug Gemmell Nature PhotographyIt's a good thing New York City's famous pizza rat lives underground, otherwise, he might end up as part of a meal for this eagle. The city's lollipop racoon isn't as lucky and may need to watch the skies.According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bald eagles eat small animals such as waterfowl, turtles, rabbits and snakes, but their staple food is fish -- which is why they typically live near rivers, lakes and marshes.

Man robbed by 5 men in Lake View East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

CHICAGO — A man was robbed by five armed men in the city's Lakeview East neighborhood early Friday morning. According to police, the 24-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk near the 1000 block of West Belmont Avenue around 2:30 a.m. when five men exited an SUV armed with handguns. Security guard injured after Wacker Drive bank robbery Police say the men stole the man's phone, laptop, backpack and fled the scene.There were no reported injuries and there is currently no one in custody. Police are actively investigating the incident.

Roller coaster temperatures through the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After 5 days in the 80s, we'll finish up the work week with relatively cooler weather... but it won't last long.A cold front continues to sink south of us and it's wake, leaving us with slightly cooler temperatures. Afternoon highs are expected to return to the upper 60s to low 70s under a mix of sun and clouds. A temperature roller coaster ride continues thereafter with very warm conditions Saturday, then a more extended period of cool spring weather beginning Sunday. NEW BLOG: La Niña has ended — Here’s what’s next and when El Niño could begin BLOG: Spring forecast: Will our wet season fix the drought? Don't forget to set your clocks forward one hour Sunday morning as Daylight Saving Time begins.FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with your Central Texas forecast, sign up for our weather newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters Stay up-to-date with the First Warning Weather teamFollow the KXAN First Warning Weather team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.You can...

SZA splashes into Moody Center with highly anticipated SOS tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — SZA made a huge splash as she returned to Austin for her "SOS" tour at Moody Center Thursday night.The singer is in no need of saving because she's in control. The mic was all the way on the entire time. The show was full of impressive vocals, entertaining theatrics and pure emotion.It was only a few months back when the songstress headlined the 2022 Austin City Limits Music Festival. During her ACL set, she gave fans a glimpse of the stage design that fans get to see now on her tour. She's added some elements to give fans the whole experience.SZA performs at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2023. (Ricky Garcia/KXAN)SZA performs at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2023. (Ricky Garcia/KXAN)SZA performs at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2023. (Ricky Garcia/KXAN)SZA performs at Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on March 9, 2023. (Ricky Garcia/KXAN)Fans first see a scene of crashing waves. We see SZA sitting on a diving board hanging over a b...

Council takes up paid South Congress parking, petition requirements Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin City Council will meet Thursday with roughly 40 items on their agenda. Here's some of what we're watching. Petition requirements Austin City Council asked the city manager to create a charter review commission. It’s goal would be to look at City Charter and recommend changes, including possible changes to petition requirements.The resolution comes shortly after council voted to put two opposing petitions — both of which address police oversight — with the same name on the May ballot. In accordance with the law, when a determined number of signatures is reached, and then verified by the City Clerk, council’s only options are to adopt the petition outright or to send it to voters.In Austin, the magic number is 20,000 signatures, or 5% of voters, whichever is less. It’s been that way in Austin’s charter since 2012, according to council documents. Austin City Council eying changes to petition requirements “A piece of what we’re asking them to look at are o...

'It's the wild west': Texas legislature to decide future of kratom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – This session, the Texas legislature will look at two bills related to regulating kratom products – an herbal substance that can produce opioid-and-stimulant-like effects– which are easily accessible for anybody over 18 in the state. While Texas looks at ways to make the substance safer for consumers, others states are contemplating whether it should be banned. What is kratom?Kratom products are derived from the leaves of a tropical tree grown in the South Pacific. It has two psychoactive alkaloids – mitragynine and 7-hydroxymytragynine. To feel the effects, the leaves are chewed; dried and smoked; or powdered and put into capsules to be taken orally – how it is commonly sold in Texas.Kratom has been used in southeast Asia for hundreds to thousands of years. It is used to combat fatigue, in cultural ceremonies and to treat medical conditions, such as opioid use disorder. Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association, said kra...

Other voices: First Amendment is under siege from all sides

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:28 GMT

Hostility to the First Amendment is a bipartisan endeavor. Too many elected officials take an oath to uphold the Constitution without having bothered to read the document.The Orlando Sentinel reported this month that a Florida lawmaker of Republican persuasion has offered a bill to require bloggers to register with the government or face fines. The proposal excludes print journalists but mandates that all others who write about the governor, state officials or lawmakers provide information to the state about whether they are being paid and who is paying them.The sponsor, state Sen. Jason Brodeur, who represents a district near Orlando, argues the bill is “an electioneering issue, not a free speech issue” and will provide voters with information about who is attempting to influence public policy.That’s weak tea. It may be news to Brodeur, but electioneering enjoys free speech protections.“The idea that bloggers criticizing a politician should register with the...