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Hate returning packages? Uber will now do it for you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

New York (CNN) — Uber is looking to help with a much-dreaded chore: returning packages.The rideshare giant unveiled a new product update Wednesday that takes some of the pain points out of the return process, allowing users to request an Uber to specifically drop off their e-commerce packages at a local post office, FedEx or UPS outpost.The new feature is aimed at helping the large number of online shoppers who need to return purchases but hate the process of doing so. Nearly half of consumers would prefer to sit in rush-hour traffic than make a return via mail, according to a February study from the National Retail Federation (NRF) cited by Uber, with 79% of under-30 shoppers describing mail returns as “somewhat or very annoying.” But returns are an unfortunate part of consumers’ lives, with an average 16.5% of retail sales returned, the NRF reported in December.Uber’s newest tool aimed at tackling the problem is part of Uber Connect, the company’s existing service that lets u...

FDLE seeks public’s help in solving 1974 cold case murder with Miami ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents are actively pursuing leads in the decades-old homicide case of 24-year-old James Norris and are asking the public for assistance in cracking this cold case.Norris’s murder, dating back to 1974, is believed to be one of the oldest active homicide cases in the state of Florida, marking Dixie County’s longest-standing unsolved case, FDLE said in a news release. Investigators are now reaching out to individuals residing in Citrus County, Panama City and Miami, suspecting that they may have information that could help solve this case. It is possible that Norris may have been known to some as Richard Gunning.According to authorities, on the morning of Oct. 4, 1974, James Norris, who was using the alias Richard Gunning, arrived in Miami from San Francisco. He carried a large amount of cash with the intention of purchasing Colombian-grade marijuana.Later that afternoon, Norris sent a postcard from Inglis, Florida, in Levy Coun...

FIFA gives 2030 World Cup to Spain, Portugal, 4 other countries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

The 2030 men’s football World Cup will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with one match each taking place in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, FIFA announced on Wednesday.World football’s governing body said Uruguay would also hold a centenary ceremony in Montevideo, where the first World Cup took place in 1930.With Europe, Africa and South America set to host games, it is the first World Cup that will span three continents.“The FIFA Council, representing the entire world of football, unanimously agreed to celebrate the centenary of the FIFA World Cup, whose first edition was played in Uruguay in 1930, in the most appropriate way,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host the bulk of the tournament, and those countries will all qualify automatically for the tournament.“Two continents — Africa and Europe — united not only in a celebration of football but also in providing unique social and cultural cohesion. What a great messag...

The world is changing — and not in Europe’s favor

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

Mark Leonard is director of the European Council on Foreign Relations and author of “The Age of Unpeace.”EU leaders will be gathering in Granada tomorrow for an informal discussion on the future of “strategic autonomy.”This term first emerged in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s election as United States president, and it has since become most closely associated with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for Europe to become less dependent on American hard power.With the specter of Trump now looming over next year’s U.S. presidential election, such a discussion is more than warranted. But strategic autonomy is a fundamentally inadequate framework for thinking about how Europe fits into today’s global order.The world is changing — and not in Europe’s favor.The Continent’s governments are currently struggling to work out how to position themselves. On the one hand, the growing geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China has inspired many to imagine that a new cold war...

Political theatrics dominate climate commissioner hearings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

If the EU was to get a conservative climate commissioner, left-wing lawmakers were going to make it hurt — for a bit, at least. On Wednesday, the EU’s new Green Deal chief Maroš Šefčovič and climate Commissioner-designate Wopke Hoekstra finally won the blessing of the European Parliament’s environment committee. A formal confirmation vote in plenary is scheduled for Thursday.The committee’s approval came only after MEPs, unsatisfied with what they had heard in hours-long hearings earlier this week, forced Šefčovič and Hoekstra to answer additional questions in writing. Green-minded MEPs in particular sought to put pressure on both candidates, demanding clarity on specific legislative files and diplomatic efforts — in particular setting the EU’s new climate goal for 2040. But as much as the lawmakers insisted that this was all about substance, they ultimately waved the candidates through despite gaining little in the way of new policy commitments. Instead, the pro...

Serious crash on I-495 northbound closes highway in Chelmsford as emergency crews respond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

Traffic was halted for miles on Interstate 495 in Chelmsford Wednesday morning as crews responded to a serious crash that left a victim needing a medical helicopter to be flown out.Firefighters and ambulance crews could be seen surveying the scene on I-495 northbound, near the Westford Street overpass by Exit 87 where at least one person was loaded onto a helicopter around 10 a.m.According to 7NEWS sources, the crash appeared to involve a vehicle that went off I-495 south, through the median strip, and struck a vehicle head-on in the northbound side. SKY7-HD spotted at least two damaged vehicles at the scene, including a car with its top removed. Also visible were tire marks on the median grass leading up to an SUV with heavy damage to its front.Traffic was completely halted for miles on I-495 north following the crash, with MassDOT stating that the highway was closed at Exit 83 as emergency crews continued to respond. The left lane of I-495 south was also closed to traffic.In a soc...

What Patriots can expect from J.C. Jackson after trade with Chargers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots made a move Wednesday indicating that they’re not ready to give up on the 2023 season just yet, despite some horrible injury luck.Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is expected to miss the rest of the 2023 season with a separated shoulder and torn labrum, according to NFL Media. In response, the Patriots reacquired cornerback JC Jackson in a trade with the Chargers for a late-round pick swap.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez likely to miss 2023 season with shoulder injury New England Patriots | Source: Patriots reacquire CB JC Jackson via trade from Chargers New England Patriots | Source: Patriots signing veteran defensive tackle after successful workout New England Patriots | Patriots OLB Matt Judon facing season-threatening timeline with torn bicep New England Patriots | Patriots-Cowboys film review: Bill Belichick’s fingerprints all...

2030 World Cup set to be hosted by Spain-Portugal-Morocco with 3 South American countries added

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

By GRAHAM DUNBAR (AP Sports Writer)GENEVA (AP) — A unique 2030 World Cup is set to be played in Europe and Africa with the surprising addition of South America in a deal to allow the men’s soccer tournament to start with a 100th birthday party in Uruguay.FIFA reached an agreement Wednesday between soccer’s continental leaders to accept only one candidate for hosting the 2030 tournament, the sport’s governing body said.The Spain-Portugal bid grew to add Morocco this year and now also includes long-time bid rivals Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.A key lure of the unprecedented three-continent project is being able to open in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, where the Centenario Stadium hosted the inaugural 1930 World Cup final.“The centennial World Cup could not be far from South America, where everything began,” said Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL. “The 2030 World Cup will be played in three ...

Morgan State shooting: Five people wounded, none critically; no suspect in custody

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

By Dan Belson and Dillon Mullan, Baltimore SunFive young people, including four Morgan State University students, were shot Tuesday night on the institution’s campus in Northeast Baltimore, disrupting the school’s homecoming week festivities.Baltimore Police and federal agents responded to campus around 9:30 p.m. after university police officers heard gunshots. Shooting victims, who suffered injuries that are not life-threatening, were found near a campus residential building and a fine arts facility, officials said. The four men and one woman range in age from 18 to 22 years old, according to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley.No suspect had been identified as of early Wednesday morning, Worley said at a news conference. Police believe the shooting took place outside, but have not said whether they believe there was one shooter or multiple shooters. Earlier, Baltimore City Councilman Ryan Dorsey tweeted that police told him they believed there were three shooters.The shoo...

Kaiser workers in San Diego join thousands in three-day strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Health care workers at several Kaiser Permanente locations in San Diego County are now on strike.Some 75,000 Kaiser workers are participating in the three-day strike, which began at 6 a.m. Wednesday across California and in four other states. As of 8 a.m., at least 300 workers were picketing in front of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Zion Avenue, one of the larger Kaiser facilities in San Diego. Unionized workers lined both sides of the street.The strike is comprised of technical workers -- positions like vocational nurses, nursing assistance, housekeeping, food services, reception and respiratory care. Thousands of US health care workers go on strike in multiple states over wages and staff shortages "I'm out here for better staffing, wages across the board that compensate me for the past three years," an X-ray technician named Robert said to FOX 5. "We all worked through COVID, we worked with N-95s for one week at a time, right before the vaccine came out. "...