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Premiums for family health insurance at work jump to nearly $24,000 this year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

New York (CNN) — Workers and their employers are paying a lot more for job-based health insurance this year.The annual cost of family health insurance coverage at work soared to an average of nearly $24,000 this year, according to KFF’s Employer Health Benefits Survey, released Wednesday. That’s up 7% from last year.Employees are shelling out an average of $6,575 for their share of the premium, up almost $500, or close to 8%, from last year, the annual survey found. Their companies are footing the rest of the bill.“We have a huge premium increase this year. There’s just no other way to cut it,” said Matthew Rae, who co-authored the survey. “There are lots of affordability challenges for employer coverage.”For single coverage, the average annual premium rose to $8,435, also up 7% from last year. Workers are picking up just over $1,400 of the tab, about $75 more than last year.Though large, the jump in premiums is roughly in line with the rise in wages and inflation since 2022, as wel...

EU starts investigating Meta, TikTok over Hamas content

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

After X, Meta’s Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok are under close scrutiny over potentially breaching the European Union’s content moderation law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), for content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The European Commission on Thursday sent formal requests for information letters to Meta and TikTok, giving the platform firms until October 25 to provide information about measures they’ve taken to curb the spread of illegal content and disinformation on their popular platforms in the wake of Hamas’ attack in Israel and the war that started since.X, formerly known as Twitter, received a similar request last and had to answer on October 18 about the measures it had taken connected to the ongoing Middle Eastern crisis. A formal request of information is a preliminary step that could result in the European Commission opening an official investigation into non-compliance. Firms face fines of up to 6 percent of their annual global ...

Restaurant review: Kamoun

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

Rue de la Levure 29What’s good? Welcoming and friendly staff, rapid service and delicious Middle Eastern food to share.We loved the Israeli brioche bun served at the beginning of the meal with some garlic olive oil to dip in. We then ordered the Babaganoush, smoked eggplant with pomegranate seeds and tahini sauce; the Coquette a la flemme, roasted chicken; le Chou Fleur, cauliflower; and the Artichaut du Chicounou, artichoke served with a spicy dip and lime. The best part of all these dishes: The combination of spices and sauces they were served with. Delicious. As the meal came to an end, we were offered a fun-looking sweet pink shot — of indefinable taste — to share a toast with the whole restaurant. What’s not? The loud music, the clapping and singing around the tables make it the least ideal place for an intimate dinner. The food is served on baking paper which gives it a touch of originality, but will also make the table messy and your hands will need a scrub. Vibe: C...

65 cops hurt during pro-Palestine protest in Berlin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

During pro-Palestine protests on Wednesday evening in Berlin, 65 police officers were injured and 174 people were temporarily detained after events turned violent.“According to the current state of affairs, colleagues have been injured in the past hours due to stones, burning liquids and acts of resistance, among other things,” Berlin police said in a statement. “However, bystanders and persons who offered opposition have also been injured.”The demonstrations came the day after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, an attack that Israel and Hamas blame each other for carrying out. The ongoing violence in the Middle East — triggered by Hamas militants invading Israeli communities earlier this month and killing more than 1,000 people, which prompted retaliatory, deadly strikes from Israel — is sparking fears of a wider regional conflict. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday morning condemned that some people yelled antisemitic slogans at the Berlin protests....

Palestinians trapped in Gaza find nowhere is safe during Israel’s relentless bombing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes pounded locations across the Gaza Strip early Thursday, including parts of the south that Israel had declared as safe zones, heightening fears among more than 2 million Palestinians trapped in the territory that nowhere was safe.In the nearly two weeks since a devastating Hamas rampage in southern Israel, the Israeli military has has relentlessly attacked Gaza in response. Even after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate the north and head to what it called “safe zones” in the south, strikes continued overnight throughout the densely populated territory.A residential building in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had fought shelter, was among the places hit. Medical personnel at Nasser Hospital said they received at least 12 dead and 40 wounded.The bombardments came after Israel agreed Wednesday to allow Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to Gaza, the first crack in a puni...

NBA’s $300 million man, Jaylen Brown ready to step into leadership role for retooled Celtics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Early in his NBA career, Jaylen Brown was largely viewed as a player who would be a component of the Boston Celtics’ long-term success, rather than a pillar of its foundation.When big-name stars would become available during free agency, Brown was often a potential trade chip.As he prepares for his eighth season, his play has forced the narrative to be rewritten.Last season was defining for Brown, who garnered his second All-Star selection and second-team All-NBA nod while helping lead the Celtics within a game of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.In July he cashed inm signing a five-year, $304 million extension, the richest contract in NBA history. It immediately thrust him onto a tier reserved for only the league’s most elite stars.It comes with expectations and a weight that Brown has yet to experience. Not as the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2016, or even as a teammate of four-time All-Star and teammate Jayson Tatum. But on a new-look Celtics’ roster that ha...

Terrific Thursday, Rain On Deck

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

Patchy fog and clouds this morning break for sunshine by midday. While there will be some cumulus clouds in the mix this afternoon, it’ll stay dry and mild. Highs average in the mid 60s, a bit above average for the time of year. The breeze picks up the pace, gusting 20-25mph. Tomorrow, we start tracking scattered showers and more clouds. Despite that, it’ll be mild with highs back into the 60s and even some humidity working in by the evening. Rain will likely be widespread tomorrow night. While it won’t rain all day Saturday, it’ll be unsettled with showers in and out through the day with temps in the 60s. Sunday, the best chance of showers favors northern locations, especially across Central New England. That’ll mean more dry hours in southern New England vs. what we get Saturday. However, the wind will be gusty, pushing 30-40mph at times with temps near 60. It’ll be cool and dry early next week with even some frost possible by Tuesday AM across ...

Acton-Boxboro corners Lincoln-Sudbury in DCL field hockey action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

SUDBURY – Offensive corners seem to be the bread and butter of the Acton-Boxboro field hockey team’s attack, and a section of what it practices is dedicated toward finishing broken plays in those opportunities.That paid off Wednesday afternoon with the Dual County League title in the balance, using two goals on busted corners in the third quarter to narrowly beat Lincoln-Sudbury, 2-1.Defenses starred for both units as dangerous chances around the goal were limited, making the eight second-half corners the Revolution (11-2-1) produced all the more impactful. Especially in a win they grinded through for another league title despite dealing with a few injuries.“We had adjustments to make, and we did,” said Acton-Boxboro field hockey coach Mae Shoemaker. “That just sealed the DCL for them, so it was important. … Winning while they’re missing (important pieces was huge).”Acton-Boxboro led the shot battle at halftime, but all of its shots came from just inside the circle as the Warr...

2023 Genesis GV70 EV does its job

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

Genesis, the upscale brand of Hyundai Motor Co., has done a great job at being the sleeper brand for consumers today. Its limited dealership footprint and huge array of fleet size, make it a great brand for many consumers in the high end luxury market. With exterior appearances that dominate the consumer market and offer aesthetic flares of Bentley and Mercedes, the Genesis brand offers a nicely sized discount compared to others while still getting the same great features.Our tester, the 2023 Electrified Genesis GV70 AWD Prestige. Wrapped in the famous Genesis Makalu Matte Grey Paint, the GV70 is comfortable, rightly sized, rightly priced and exquisite on the interior. Boasting a mid $60K price tag, you would have thought you were riding in the GLE or Bentayga, but the Genesis brand does it again, ensuring passengers get exactly what they want in a mid size SUV.Powering the Electrified GV70 for 2023 is a 160 kW front + 106 kW rear electric motor with a 77.4 kWh battery. We noticed a...

Ravens vs. Lions scouting report for Week 7: Who has the edge?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:28 GMT

Despite poor efficiency in the red zone, the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-16, in London to regain first place in the AFC North. The Lions handled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-6, to move to 5-1. Who will have the advantage Sunday?Ravens passing game vs. Lions pass defenseLamar Jackson started hot against the Titans, and Pro Football Focus grades him the fourth best passer in the league despite his unremarkable raw totals. He’s a more pedestrian 13th in ESPN’s QBR, but he has thrown well, and his receivers did not repeat their drop woes from the previous week in Pittsburgh against Tennessee. Rookie Zay Flowers has been Jackson’s most frequent target with 35 catches for 367 yards, and he scored his first career touchdown against the Titans. Tight end Mark Andrews remains the first option in a tight spot, and his 38-yard catch in the second half was one of the most important plays Sunday. The Ravens’ offensive line, featuring all five starters for the fir...