Phased reopening of schools, childcare central to revised Covid plan

SAN FRANCISCO - Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has agreed to pay $90 million to settle a decade-old, class-action lawsuit over the social media giant’s use of "cookies" in 2010 and 2011 that tracked people online — even after they logged off of Facebook.The company, which posted profits of $39.37 billion in 2021, will pay the $90 million settlement to users who previously submitted verified claims, after lawyer fees are deducted. Meta has also agreed to delete all the data it "wrongfully collected" during that period. The proposed settlement was filed late Monday in the U.S.

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Authorities in Bucks County say they are looking to identify and locate a person of interest in a homicide that occurred on Tuesday. Bristol Township police responded to the 700 block of Winder Drive at 7:15 p.m. and found a deceased 78-year-old man inside of a home. After a preliminary investigation, authorities say they identified Brian Joseph Carey, 41, as a person of interest. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office identified Carey as the victim’s stepson.Carey is believed to be driving a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer that belonged to the victim.

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COVID-19 as the province began phasing out its vaccine passport system Wednesday.The daily tally showed pandemic-related hospitalizations stood at 1,995, a drop of 57 compared with the previous day. This includes 129 patients in intensive care units, a decrease of three.Officials say 130 people were admitted to hospitals in the past 24-hour period, while 187 were discharged.The province reported 2,328 new novel coronavirus cases, but the number isn’t representative of the situation since only high-risk groups can access government-run screening clinics.On that note, 23,053 tests were administered Monday.

Manitoba COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU admissions down while no new deaths reported Global News will stream the press conference on this page.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The bicycle ride was hard enough already.And then add in getting charged by a bull.At least two videos have surfaced showing a bull in Bakersfield, Calif., charging a bicyclist, participating in the Rock Cobbler, an 80-mile course described as a "stupidly hard (bike) ride bordering on a race," according to the website.Richard Pepper, who shot one of the videos on Feb. 12, captured the moment a bull charged at a bicyclist, who didn't slow down or swerve on his path, but kept moving in the direction of the large animal, which butted its head twice at the rider, who fell off his bike. SEE ALSO: Video captures flock of birds suddenly falling from the sky in MexicoPepper told Storyful when he got to this part of the trail, there were already about 15 riders stopped because of the bull."More racers were coming in from behind.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia has dropped its vaccine mandate in indoor dining establishments and unveiled a new, multi-tiered system they say will guide decisions on easing - or implementing - restrictions in the future. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced the news during Wednesday, amid a recent drop in new cases and positivity rates in the city.Bettigole says the new system, made up of four tiers, will allow officials to use metrics to drive their decisions on COVID-19 restrictions.

Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 78,50,494, said the state health department on Wednesday. 

#COVID19 restrictions in the state. pic.twitter.com/7HgNPxxQds

Coachella has loosened the reigns on COVID-19 safety even more. In a shocking return to pre-pandemic form, Goldenvoice, the company that produces Coachella, Day N Vegas, Camp Flog Gnaw, and formerly Panorama NYC, has announced that there will now be no protocols in place for the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

A covert operation conducted by an Edmonton security firm determined some protesters occupying the Coutts border had become so emboldened by the blockade’s success they discussed blocking cargo terminals at airports across the country in an ongoing attempt to force a change of government in Ottawa.

Paislee Shultis, a young girl kidnapped two years ago at the age of four, has been found alive in her home state of New York.

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COVID on Wednesday, with 364 in intensive care units as overall figures continue to trend downwards.This is down by 147 hospitalizations but a decrease of 20 in ICUs since the previous day. Last Wednesday, there were 2,059 hospitalizations with 449 in ICU.The province recently began distinguishing between those who were admitted to hospital directly because of COVID, and those who were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for the virus.Of the 1,403 people in hospital with COVID-19, 54 per cent of them were admitted because of the virus, while 46 per cent were admitted for other reasons but tested positive for COVID-19.Of the 364 people in ICUs with the virus, 82 per cent were admitted because of COVID, while 18 per cent were admitted for other reasons.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia officials have announced that the city would be ending its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor dining under a new, tiered system of safety standards and protective measures.  City leaders and health officials announced the new standards during their weekly briefing on Wednesday as case counts have dropped significantly over the past several weeks.

Statistics Canada says annual pace of inflation topped five per cent for the first time in more than 30 years.The agency says the annual inflation rate rose to 5.1 per cent in January compared with a gain for 4.8 per cent in December.Driving much of the increase in January were prices for housing, gasoline and groceries.

Charles Hamelin added to his Olympic legacy on Wednesday after helping Canada win gold in the men’s 5,000-metre relay speed skating final in Beijing.Hamelin, Steven Dubois, Jordan Pierre-Gilles and Pascal Dion took home the top prize with a time of six minutes 41.25 seconds. South Korea finished with silver after skating 6:41.69, and Italy clocked in at 6:43.431 for bronze.The short-track event was the last Olympic competition for 37-year-old Hamelin, and the medal win places him alongside Cindy Klassen as the most decorated winter Canadian Olympian.“I just think if you put the work in, anything is possible,” Hamelin told reporters after the win.“Finishing on top of the podium with these guys, it is living your dream.”A five-time Olympian, the Sainte-Julie, Que., native has now won six Olympic medals, including four gold, making him Canada’s most decorated male winter Olympian.

PHILADELPHIA - A man is fighting for his life after he was stabbed multiple times inside a Kensington home. The incident happened at approximately 4:39 a.m. on the 2900 block of Ruth Street. Police say a 30-year-old man was stabbed to the forehead, abdomen, left shoulder, and both thighs. He was rushed to Temple University Hospital where he is listed in critical condition. An arrest has been made and a weapon was recovered.

Motorists in traffic drive south on Highway 101 in Los Angeles, California, U.S. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Anyone who has ever been temporarily blinded by high-beam headlights from an oncoming car will be happy to hear this.U.S.

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SYDNEY - A swimmer off of a Sydney beach in Australia died on Wednesday after suffering "catastrophic injuries" from a great white shark — the first fatal shark attack in the area since 1963.The attack was reported at about 4:35 p.m. local time near Buchan Point, Malabar, where Little Bay Beach is located, according to a statement from New South Wales police.

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PHILADELPHIA - Police are investigating a man that was stabbed to death early Wednesday in North Philadelphia. The incident happened just after 1 a.m. on the 700 block of Huntington Street.Police say the man was stabbed one time in the back and was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.There is no word on any arrests yet.

Data on alcohol drinking is unreliable

Mumbai, taking the cumulative tally to 10,54,732, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday.

Ottawa is getting sweeping new powers after triggering the Emergencies Act to end Canada’s disruptive protests against COVID mandates.

UK on Delta-Omicron recombinant variant of SARS-COV-2

Kerala in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative caseload to 64,40,371, according to the state health department. 

PTI on Wednesday. 

BEIJING - Minutes after failing to score in the shootout as the Americans’ last chance to stay alive at the Olympics, captain Andy Miele took off his gloves to wipe the tears coming out of his eyes."I’m just sad it’s over," he said.With one bad bounce in the final minute of regulation that became the tying goal and an unsuccessful shootout, the United States is out of the men’s hockey tournament at the Beijing Games after a shocking 3-2 loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinals Wednesday. The previously unbeaten U.S. that earned the top seed in the knockout round and looked poised for a deep run instead was dealt the same result as the 2018 group in the last Olympics without NHL players."This one’s going to sting for a little bit," veteran defenseman Steven Kampfer said.

NEW YORK - Police say they have found a little New York girl who had been missing for nearly three years.Paislee Shultis, then 4 years old, was reported missing from Cayuga Heights in Tompkins County on July 13, 2019.  At the time of her disappearance, police thought that she might have been abducted by her non-custodial parents, Kimberly Cooper and Kirk Shultis Jr.On Monday, police in Saugerties say they had a warrant to search the home of Paislee's grandfather after receiving a tip. The girl's biological father was one of the residents.

NASA says. As a bonus, the full moon will appear low on the west-northwestern horizon near Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Regulus is the brightest star seen in the constellation Leo, which is typically best seen in the Northern Hemisphere's late winter and spring, according to the space agency.February’s snow moon reaches peak illumination at 11:59 a.m.

iPhones always work like a dream when we buy them. Then, like any other device, it starts slowing down.However, following one simple advice can help improve your iPhone’s performance, make sure it operates for longer and even increase its worth if you choose to resell it later.All you need to do is preserve your phone’s battery health. This is a common piece of advice that most iPhone users have probably heard but taken for granted often.Here are eight handy tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to ensure that your iPhone battery remains healthy and efficient for longer.

Volunteers from around the UK are being recruited to take part in a new study for an Omicron booster jab.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - For Los Angeles Rams' Van Jefferson, Sunday was a night full of emotional highs mixed with even more highs.Not only did the second-year wide receiver played part in the Rams' 23-20 Super Bowl LVI win, but the 25-year-old and his wife, Samaria, made national headlines after the game after it was revealed that the couple was about to welcome their second child on Super Bowl Sunday.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rams WR Van Jefferson's wife rushed to hospital after going into labor during Super Bowl LVIAs Samaria was reportedly rushed to the hospital in the middle of Sunday's game, which Van didn't know at the time, NFL Films captured the dramatic moment the Rams wide receiver found out his wife was in labor."Your wife is giving birth right now," a Rams staff member told Van in the video."Oh my gosh!" Van exclaimed.As soon as Van heard the news, he turned to his daughter to tell him that they need to leave SoFi Stadium."Mommy's finna have a baby," Van calmly explained to his daughter. "We gotta go!"Below is the video of the dramatic but wholesome exchange between the dad and soon-to-be big sis.Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.The Rams wide receiver eventually took to social media to give the announcement fans had anxiously waited: the birth of the couple's second child!On Valentine's Day, the day after the birth of their newborn baby, Van took to Twitter to pay tribute to Samaria with the caption reading, "MVP."Jefferson finished the game with four catches and 23 receiving yards in Sunday's historic win.Tune in to FOX 11 Los Angeles for the latest Southern California news.Advertisement

LOS ANGELES - California will soon move on from the indoor mask mandate.This comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced earlier in February that the state's indoor mask mandate will expire after Tuesday, February 15. But before you start to consider ditching the masks, a major caveat Californians must take into account is that local governments can continue to continue their own version of the indoor mask mandates. Here are notable counties that announced it will not align with the state's decision to ditch the indoor mask mandate:As for Southern California counties, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties are aligning with the state's decision to part with the indoor mask mandate starting Wednesday, February, 16. In Los Angeles County, all indoor public settings are still required to have everyone mask up, regardless of their vaccination status.Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr.

MOSCOW - Russia said Wednesday it was returning more troops and weapons to bases, but NATO declared it saw no sign of a drawdown as fears that Moscow could invade Ukraine soon persisted.Russia has massed about 150,000 troops east, north and south of Ukraine, sparking Western concerns it was planning an attack. Moscow denies it has any such plans and this week said it was pulling back some forces and weapons, though it gave few details.

NEW YORK - A Long Island La-Z Boy furniture store on Sunrise Highway went up in flames Wednesday after a gasoline tank truck slammed into the buildingThe roughly 13,000-gallon truck struck the empty store in Rockville Center at about 1:15 a.m. and spread to another building and the street.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka says it supports the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.Calls have been mounting from human rights bodies to amend the law ahead of this month’s UN human rights council sessions.The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has told diplomats this week that it supports the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.It said terrorism should be investigated under the general law by making necessary amendments.In a statement, the HRCSL said it is also advocating amendments to the Human Rights Commission Act, to achieve greater transparency.It added that it will implement a national preventive mechanism under which there will be regular visits of suspects to prevent torture.The commission also said it is also advocating for re-trials of rejected appeals instead of presidential pardons.It noted that a project is being designed to address issues of plantation workers.

PALM COAST, Fla. - A Palm Coast man is accused of beating his nine-year-old son after he and his younger brother made several iPad app purchases. Deputies said Andrew Atkerson picked up his son and threw him against the walls and closets in their home on Feb 3. The alleged beating left bruises under both of the boy's eyes, his left hip, and his upper back right shoulder. According to the Flagler Sheriff's Office, the child's mother reported the incident after picking him up from school and seeing the bruises. When Atkerson was questioned about the bruises, he told the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), "I might have over punished them a little bit."Since 2004, Atkerson has faced 20 different charges in California and Florida, according to authorities.

Rylan Clark has opened up about his mental health struggles, admitting that his “crisis” hit him “like a baseball bat”.The now-BBC Radio 2 presenter shot to fame when he finished in fifth place on Simon Cowell’s talent show ‘The X Factor’ in 2012.He has since gone on to work in television and the media, and won Celebrity Big Brother in 2013, as well as becoming the host of Supermarket Sweep.Rylan broke up with his husband Dan Neal after a six year marriage in June last year, and admitted that he had been “going through a tough time” earlier this year.Now, Rylan has opened up on his ‘Ry-Union’ podcast about his struggles with mental health.The star’s guest Ella Henderson was talking about the honesty involved in creating her new album when the pair got onto the topic of mental health.“Mental health is so prevalent, it’s one of those things that people are talking more and more openly about,” Rylan said.“I’ve never in my life thought that I would ever go through a crisis like that, but I did ultimately.“It literally hit me round the face like a baseball bat, because I thought that I was too strong for it, like I’m never going to let anything like that happen to me.“But then it does, and it’s really really hard to deal with.”The showbiz star took some time out after his breakup, and recently updated his Instagram followers when he reassured fans that he would be back soon after he pulled out of his radio show because of illness.The 33 year-old posted a picture of a cannula in his arm, but didn’t elaborate on his condition.In an interview with The Guardian earlier this year, Rylan admitted that he had lost weight rapidly after splitting with Dan, reportedly shrinking to 9 stone despite his lanky 6ft 4in frame.To get more

The Department of Health has been notified of an additional 776 cases of Covid-19, while 29 further deaths have been recorded over the past 24 hours.

The HSE has published its Service Plan for 2021, which will see an increase of €3.5 billion in funding allocated for the health service compared to last year. 

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn has appealed to anyone who has recently travelled from Brazil to phone any GP or any GP out-of-hours service to arrange a free Covid-19 test after three cases of a new P1 variant of Covid-19 were detected in Ireland for the first time. 

The Department of Health has been notified of 28 further deaths associated with Covid-19.

From higher proportions of Covid-19 in urban areas being in line with expectations, to comments on Vitamin D, here are six things we learned at this evening's Covid-19 briefing.

The Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is meeting in Government Buildings to discuss the phased reopening of schools.

Cases of Covid-19 in hospitals continue to reduce, according to the latest figures from the Health Service Executive.