EU regulator begins review of Spanish COVID vaccine booster | Health

MADRID (AP) – The European Union medicines agency announced on Tuesday that it has initiated an accelerated review process for an experimental coronavirus vaccine booster being manufactured by Spanish company Hipra. The European Medicines Agency said in a statement that its assessment was based on preliminary data from laboratory studies and studies in adults comparing … Read more

Australia to spend more on defense and security in next budget | national politics

By ROD McGUIRK – Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – The Australian government will increase spending on defense and national security while cutting budget spending, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said before unveiling on Tuesday a budget prepared with the upcoming election in mind. As Russia is at war with Ukraine and China’s military is growing more … Read more

The Trail Blazers take on the Pelicans in a 4-game losing streak | NBA

New Orleans Pelicans (32-43, ninth in Western Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (27-48, 12th in Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Wednesday, 10 p.m. EDT CONCLUSION: Portland goes into the matchup with New Orleans as a four-game loser. The Trail Blazers have played 11-34 against Western Conference teams. Portland has a 15-30 record against teams over .500. … Read more

UConn Reaches 14th Consecutive Final Four, Leads NC State in 2OT | to nation

By DOUG FEINBERG – AP Basketball Author BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — In a double-overtime thriller that seriously threatened UConn’s record streak of women’s Final Four appearances, Paige Bueckers prevailed for the Huskies — and earned a trip home to Minneapolis. The sensational sophomore scored 15 of her 27 points after regulation, and UConn defeated North … Read more

FTC accuses Intuit of misleadingly promoting free tax filing | nation

Reuters WASHINGTON — The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Monday asked a court to enter an injunction preventing Intuit, owner of tax preparation software TurboTax, from misleadingly advertising free tax returns when many people have to pay. In the lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, the FTC, which … Read more

Southwest Agrees Pay Increases for Customer Service Representatives | local business

AP DALLAS — Southwest Airlines on Monday reached an interim agreement with a union representing its customer service workers that would grant pay increases totaling more than 16% over the next three years for about 7,000 employees. The machinists’ union said its bargaining committee unanimously recommended that members approve the treaty in an upcoming ratification … Read more

Bills to keep OL Ryan Bates by adjusting Bears bid sheet | football

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills will keep Ryan Bates by matching the four-year qualifying offer the offensive lineman signed with the Chicago Bears, general manager Brandon Beane said Monday. Beane made the announcement while attending NFL owners’ meetings in Florida, four days after Bates signed the Bears’ bid sheet. The Bills had … Read more