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Severe asthma — breaking the cycle of inadequate care

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

Asthma has long lagged behind other inflammatory conditions in terms of political attention and progress on patient outcomes. This may be partly because many people think of asthma as a generally mild condition, when in fact its severe form is a serious condition that can have a major impact on people’s quality of life. Action on severe asthma would not only relieve a significant burden for patients, health systems and society, it would also help advance other urgent policy priorities, including tackling the links between health and climate change, strengthening health system sustainability and reducing health inequalities.Severe asthma: a distinct and serious conditionSevere asthma is defined as asthma that remains uncontrolled despite people receiving optimal inhaled therapy.1 Periodic inflammation of the airways results in potentially life-threatening exacerbations (attacks) which, over time, may gradually impair people’s lung function.1 Having frequent, unpredictable exacerbatio...

Biden wraps Vietnam visit by talking with business leaders and visiting a memorial to John McCain

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — President Joe Biden was wrapping up a visit to Vietnam on Monday, meeting with Vietnamese government officials and business leaders and spotlighting new deals and partnerships between the two countries. He’ll also visit a Hanoi memorial honoring his late friend and colleague Sen. John McCain, who was held for more than five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War .Biden met with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, who also accompanied Biden to a quick drop by at a meeting of business leaders. Biden also sat down with President Võ Văn Thưởng, who hosted the U.S. president for a formal state luncheon.Biden spoke about strengthening Vietnam’s semiconductor industry and his administration’s commitment to an open Pacific. “My message today is quite simple. Let’s keep it up,” Biden told the CEOs. “We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships.”The prime minister also stressed the need to improve cooperation a...

The search for Cyprus’ missing goes high-tech as time weighs on loved ones waiting for closure

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

EXO METOCHI, Cyprus (AP) — A bright yellow machine resembling a cross between a vacuum cleaner and a small scooter scrapes a narrow village road in Cyprus, working to solve a painful mystery from the divided island nation’s conflict-ridden past.It uses radio waves to detect any disturbances in the layers of soil under the asphalt — potential evidence that could support eyewitness accounts of a mass grave containing remains of people who vanished nearly a half-century ago. Cyprus’ Committee on Missing Persons is testing the pulseEkko — a deep ground penetrating radar — to help locate the remains of hundreds of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who disappeared in the clashes during the 1960s and the 1974 Turkish invasion. Since then, the island has been divided along ethnic lines, with the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north separated from the Greek Cypriot south where the internationally recognized government is located. The radar is working against time as many witnesses t...

Former CEO of China’s Alibaba quits cloud business in surprise move during its leadership reshuffle

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — The former CEO of Alibaba, Daniel Zhang, resigned as head of its cloud computing unit Monday in a surprise move as the Chinese e-commerce empire wraps up a leadership reshuffle. Alibaba said it will invest $1 billion in a technology fund Zhang will establish to support the firm’s strategies for future growth.Zhang stepped down on the same day he gave up his roles as Alibaba’s CEO and chairman. In a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange, Alibaba said that Eddie Wu, its new CEO, will also head its cloud unit. Wu and Alibaba’s new chairman Joseph Tsai assumed their new roles by Monday, with Alibaba saying it has “completed its leadership transition.” Alibaba expressed its “deepest appreciation” to Zhang for his contributions to the company over the past 16 years.Alibaba’s Hong Kong stock price was down 3.6% Monday following the announcement.In an internal letter dated Sunday and viewed by the AP, Tsai wrote that Zhang had “expressed his wish to transition away from hi...

Caribbean Export Development Agency garners coveted awards in 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

The Caribbean Export Development Agency proudly announces its receipt of prestigious awards in recognition of its unwavering commitment to driving economic growth, sustainable business practices, and trade development in the Caribbean region. Bestowed "Best Investment Promotions and Trade Agency 2023" by The European The Caribbean Export Development Agency has been honoured with the esteemed title of "Best Investment Promotions and Trade Agency 2023" by The European, a highly regarded publication. This accolade commends the agency's exceptional devotion and proficiency in catalysing business transformation and fostering investment growth through strategic alliances.The agency has consistently demonstrated its unwavering dedication to fostering economic progress and development throughout the Caribbean by actively seeking innovative solutions and attracting substantial investments to fortify local enterprises. Deodat Maharaj, Executive Director at Caribbean Export, expressed his grat...

Giants fall flat against Cowboys after entering the season with high expectations

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After being one of the NFL’s biggest surprises last season and making the playoffs for the first time since 2016 under new coach Brian Daboll, the New York Giants came into the season looking to take that next step.They did in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, and it was a major step backward.Despite drafting impact players at cornerback, center and wide receiver, trading for explosive tight end Darren Waller and signing several free agents to shore up the defense, Daboll and the Giants fell flat Sunday night while being embarrassed by the Cowboys 40-0.“I think there is a little bit of anger, a little bit of embarrassment,” defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “I think we obviously didn’t come out here and perform the way we wanted to. But at the same time, I think we prepared well this camp, we prepared well for this week. And I think what we put on display today is not us. The leaders in this room know that, and this team knows th...

Cowboys score early on defense and special teams, embarrass Giants 40-0 at Meadowlands

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal 58 yards for a touchdown on the opening series, DaRon Bland scored on a pick-6 later in the first quarter and the Dallas Cowboys embarrassed the New York Giants again, posting a season-opening 40-0 victory Sunday night.Tony Pollard scored on two short touchdown runs for Dallas, which forced three turnovers and sacked Daniel Jones seven times in shutting down New York’s supposedly improved offense. The Cowboys beat the Giants for the fifth straight time and 12th in 13th meetings.The shutout loss was the largest between the teams, topping the Cowboys’ 35-0 win in 1995, also in a season opener at the Meadowlands. It was also the Cowboys’ biggest shutout victory, topping their 38-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in 1978.The Cowboys didn’t need much from quarterback Dak Prescott and the offense. They got two field goals from new kicker Brandon Aubrey and Pollard got Dallas’ first TD on offense on a 2-yard run midwa...

Cowboys rip error-prone Giants 40-0 for worst shutout loss in the series between NFC East rivals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys have not only put some distance between themselves and the New York Giants in the NFC East, they showed Sunday night they are going to be a contender for more than a division title.If they play this way all season, owner Jerry Jones might have a championship contender again.Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal 58 yards for a touchdown on the opening series, DaRon Bland scored on a pick-6 later in the first quarter and the Cowboys embarrassed the Giants again, posting a season-opening 40-0 victory Sunday night.“It’s the first game,” Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said. “That’s y’all’s job to write whatever statement it needs to be. For us, it’s about not getting ahead of ourselves. Continuing to stay disciplined, to show the discipline. Not only what we did through these four quarters, but taking that and making sure we use it throughout our preparation this week.”Tony Pollard scored on two short touchdown runs and Dal...

Boys cross country preview: Can anyone catch Westford Academy star?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

With just four returnees from the top 10, there’s plenty of room for new blood in the Div. 1 Meet of Championships in November.The top spot, though, should be out of reach for everyone if defending champion Paul Bergeron of Westford Academy is in the race. Bergeron is as strong a favorite as there has been in years and the race could turn into a runaway from the harrier, who will attend Stanford next year.Bergeron pulled away from his two biggest rivals last year in Sam Burgess of Framingham and Nathan Lopez of St. John’s Prep and he has been training as hard as ever for the fall. It will take a monumental effort to knock Bergeron off his perch and it doesn’t look as though anyone is close enough to challenge him.That’s not to say there’s limited talent in Div. 1 — it’s loaded. Oliver Ames has a terrific returnee in Brendan Thomas, while Bergeron’s teammate, Jack Graffeo, should be in the top three. Billerica’s Ryan Leslie could also b...

‘An uneasy feeling:’ As Lee track unclear, hurricane anxiety increasing on East Coast

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:12:00 GMT

HALIFAX — Though the track of hurricane Lee remains unclear, anxiety created by powerful storms has been growing on the East Coast — especially in communities that felt Fiona’s wrath last year. The mayor of Port aux Basques, N.L. says since last year’s hurricane damaged over 100 homes and swept a 72-year-old woman to sea, community members are worried about Lee, as forecasters say it’s uncertain whether the hurricane will even track towards the region.“The old attitude was, ‘It’s just another storm. We can batten it down,'” Mayor Brian Button said during an interview on Sunday.“Now, it’s an uneasy feeling.”In Amherst, N.S., Mayor David Kogon said there’s fear that a tidal surge could flood the Chignecto Isthmus.“A hurricane timed with a high tide could flood isthmus…which would totally cut us off from New Brunswick and Canada,” he said.Kogon, who is also a semi-retired doctor, said when he walks arou...