Massachusetts turns to fake tickets to keep streets clear during storm

Quincy, Massachusetts officials used fake parking tickets on vehicles during a winter storm to warn drivers about snow emergency rules and discourage street parking on key routes. The tickets carried no fines and served as visual notices to move cars for plowing and emergency access. The city coordinated the effort through police and public works as part of its winter operations plan and monitored driver response to the warnings while considering possible future enforcement actions, including real citations and towing, if noncompliance persisted on restricted streets.

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Iran warns of possible consequences as US warships head to region

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns the United States as U.S. warships move toward the Middle East, amid high tension following a deadly crackdown on protests in Iran. Iranian commanders describe the U.S. naval deployment as a threat to regional security, while the Pentagon says its forces operate under international law and aim to deter potential attacks. Human rights groups report heavy casualties from recent demonstrations, and regional governments watch the situation for signs of escalation or maritime incidents in key waterways near Iran.

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Resiliency hub launched in northeast Houston to help during emergencies

A new resiliency hub in Northeast Houston’s Robins Landing neighborhood will provide charging stations, portable power units, ice, and cold storage during emergencies. Developed by Houston Habitat for Humanity with a $50,000 donation from Reliant Energy, the facility at 8811 Robins Landing serves residents in ZIP code 77078, an area heavily impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The hub uses solar panels and backup power to support essential medical devices and preserve food when outages occur.

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DOH, FDA warn public vs unregistered medicines and health products

The Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Philippines issued a nationwide warning against unregistered and counterfeit health products, including medicines, supplements, cosmetics, and medical devices. FDA Director General Atty. Paolo Teston said unregistered products have not undergone government evaluation, making their safety and effectiveness uncertain. Under Republic Act No. 9711, all health products sold in the country must be registered with the FDA. The agencies urged consumers to verify FDA registration numbers, buy only from licensed outlets, and report suspected illegal products and adverse reactions through official FDA and DOH channels.

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‘Hanging in there’: Djokovic after 400th Grand Slam triumph

Novak Djokovic became the first player to record 400 Grand Slam match wins after defeating Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The 38-year-old Serbian advanced to the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory at Rod Laver Arena, extending his all-time record for Grand Slam match wins. Djokovic now stands ahead of Roger Federer’s 369 and Serena Williams’ 365 on the career majors match-win list as he continues his title defense and pushes deeper into the tournament’s second week.

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