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UK sees record number of people off work due to long-term sickness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The number of people in the U.K. not working because of long-term sickness has risen to a record high partly because of ongoing health problems related to the coronavirus pandemic, official figures showed Tuesday. The Office for National Statistics found that 2.55 million people were not able to work in the three months to March, which is over 6% of the country’s working population. That was up nearly 100,000 on the previous quarter.The agency said the pandemic is likely to be one of the main causes for the increase in the number of long-term sick over the past three years or so, including those suffering from long COVID symptoms such as post-viral fatigue. Many young people have also been unable to work because of mental health issues while those suffering from head and neck problems has potentially grown because of the increase in home-working since the coronavirus pandemic. There’s also a backlog of care following the pandemic that will take time to clea...

Auxiliary lane to ease I-95 bottleneck at Occoquan now open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

The new auxiliary lane on southbound I-95 from Route 123 to Prince William Parkway. (Courtesy InsideNoVa/VDOT)This article was written by WTOP’s news partner, InsideNoVa.com, and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.About a mile and a half of the southbound I-95 right shoulder was converted to a travel lane between the ramp from southbound Route 123 and the ramp to westbound Prince William Parkway.The auxiliary lane aims to make it easier for drivers to merge into and out of traffic between the ramps.Southbound I-95 averages about 80,000 vehicles a day in this area, VDOT said in a news release.“Our team is proud to provide transportation solutions for northern Virginia,” said Bill Cuttler, P.E., VDOT’s Northern Virginia Deputy District Engineer. “This auxiliary ramp will allow drivers to begin exiting one mile earlier, which will make a big difference for drivers caught in southbound congestion.”Construction on the I-95 ...

Novak Djokovic reaches Italian Open quarterfinals for 17th straight year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

ROME (AP) — Novak Djokovic was in command from the start and never really let up in a 6-3, 6-4 win over 13th-seeded Cameron Norrie on Tuesday to reach the Italian Open quarterfinals for the 17th straight year.Aiming for his seventh title on the red clay of the Foro Italico, Djokovic had his entire game clicking after struggling at times in the previous rounds.On an overcast day after it had rained all morning, Djokovic appeared focused from the start.“I actually finished my warmup 10 minutes before I went on the court. So I was rushing a bit with everything but we couldn’t (warm up) earlier because of the rain,” Djokovic said. “So I’m just glad to overcome today’s challenge in straight sets and move on.”Also, Djokovic was seen in the trainer’s room before the match. He recently took three weeks off because of a lingering issue with his surgically repaired right elbow.“Every day is something,” the 35-year-old Djokovic said, without specifying what was bothering him. “But ...

US can pick Folarin Balogun as FIFA approves eligibility change from England

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

ZURICH (AP) — The United States can select Folarin Balogun after the England Under-21 forward who has starred in the French league opted to represent the 2026 World Cup co-host.FIFA said on Tuesday it approved a request by the U.S. Soccer Federation to change Balogun’s national eligibility from England. The 21-year-old New York-born player also was eligible for Nigeria.Balogun has been in demand after a breakout season in France on loan to Reims from Arsenal.He has 19 goals and dueled with Kylian Mbappé for part of the season to be the league top scorer. Mbappé now leads with 26 for Paris Saint-Germain.Balogun was born in Brooklyn though his Nigerian parents had been living in London.“My parents were on holiday there for a few months because we have family in New York,” Balogun said in an interview with the French league website this season. “But very soon after I was born, we all moved back to London.”Balogun also acknowledged “London is my city, it’s where I grew up, where m...

ProQR: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

LEIDEN, Netherlands (AP) — LEIDEN, Netherlands (AP) — ProQR Therapeutics NV (PRQR) on Tuesday reported a loss of $9.6 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Leiden, Netherlands-based company said it had a loss of 12 cents.The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for a loss of 12 cents per share.The Dutch drugmaker posted revenue of $702,700 in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $703,000._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PRQR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PRQRSource

Senate race developments: Olszewski backs Alsobrooks, Anne Arundel businessman eyes Md. Democratic primary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (D) offers his endorsement Monday to Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) in the 2024 U.S. Senate election. (Courtesy Maryland Matters/ Photo by William F. Zorzi)This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Baltimore County Executive John A. “Johnny O” Olszewski Jr. (D) will not run to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) next year, squelching speculation that he would be a rare candidate from the Baltimore area in the statewide race.Instead, Olszewski on Monday threw his support behind Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D), who declared last week she was running for Cardin’s seat, after the state senior senator announced he would not seek re-election in 2024.Olszewski’s endorsement was one of several new developments in the fast-moving race to replace Cardin, who has held elective office sin...

Stratasys: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Stratasys Ltd. (SSYS) on Tuesday reported a loss of $22.2 million in its first quarter.The Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based company said it had a loss of 33 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 2 cents per share.The results topped Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 8 cents per share.The maker of 3D printers posted revenue of $149.4 million in the period.Stratasys expects full-year earnings in the range of 12 cents to 24 cents per share, with revenue in the range of $630 million to $670 million._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on SSYS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/SSYSSource

Best places to live in the US: 3 cities in Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- U.S. News and World Report released the best places to live for 2023-2024 on Tuesday morning."The rankings are based on the details people consider most carefully when moving somewhere new, from the cost of living to the weather, and more minute factors like air quality and access to health care," U.S. News & World Report said. 10 breathtaking spring hikes to take in Colorado What Colorado cities made the list?Two places in Colorado made the top 10 list of best places to live. At number four on the list is Boulder."Holding its spot at No. 4 for the second year in a row, Boulder has a strong job market and gets high marks for quality of life. The metro area’s average annual salary of $73,360 is nearly $15,000 above the national average, and the average monthly unemployment rate is just 2.69%," U.S. News & World Report said. 2 Colorado lake towns named among best in US At number nine on the list is Colorado Springs."Steady population growth due t...

Gerber powdered baby formula was distributed to some US retailers after the initial recall notice, company says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

(CNN) — A Gerber infant formula under voluntary recall for possible contamination with a germ that can seriously sicken babies was distributed to some US retailers even after the initial notice, according to a release shared by the US Food and Drug Administration.The Ireland-based Perrigo Company, which first issued the recall in March “out of an abundance of caution,” had said some products could be contaminated with the pathogenic Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria, according to the release.The recall impacts Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula and applies to products manufactured between January 2 and January 18 at the company’s facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.One of the recalled products was sent to Nashville-division retailers of Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc, a cooperative wholesale distributor, after the initial recall notice on March 17, according to the release from the company, shared by the FDA.Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc̵...

What are the odds for the Chicago Bulls in tonight’s NBA draft lottery? And could they fall out of the first round completely?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:24 GMT

Chicago will host to one of the most decisive nights of the NBA calendar on Tuesday night.The NBA draft lottery will take place at 7 p.m. CT at McCormick Place, airing live on ESPN.The random selection will determine the order for the 2023 draft, deciding which team lands a highly-touted young talent expected to immediately change the league’s landscape.Chicago fans were already buoyed after the Blackhawks received the No. 1 overall pick in their respective draft lottery last week. After a disappointing season, the stakes are even higher — and the odds are even lower — for the Bulls as they wait and see if they’ll factor in the first round at all.What is the draft lottery?The lottery is an additional mechanism to enforce parity in the NBA by providing the 14 teams that finished outside the playoffs with a randomized opportunity to receive one of the top four overall draft picks.The Bulls currently hold the No. 11 pick, but the lottery offers them a chance to ...