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Lawmaker’s suspension means a possible special election and more trouble for U.K. Conservatives

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A political standards watchdog in Britain said Thursday that a Conservative lawmaker who offered to lobby the government on behalf of gambling interests should be suspended from Parliament for 35 days.The Commons Standards Committee said Scott Benton had “communicated a toxic message about standards in Parliament” during a meeting earlier this year with undercover reporters from The Times of London who were posing as representatives of a fictitious betting firm.The committee said Benton had offered to lobby government ministers and table parliamentary questions in return for payment. It said he’d given the fake investors the message “that he was corrupt and ‘for sale’ and that so were many other Members of the House” of Commons.Once the suspension is approved by lawmakers, Benton is likely to be ousted by voters in the Blackpool South constituency he represents in Parliament. A suspension of 10 days or more allows constituents to trigger a special election if 10% of el...

TMX Group buying 78% stake in VettaFi it doesn’t already own for $1.15B

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

TORONTO — TMX Group Ltd. has signed a deal to buy the 78 per cent stake in VettaFi Holdings LLC that it does not already own for $1.15 billion.U.S.-based VettaFi provides indexing, digital distribution and analytic services to the financial services industry.The operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange acquired a 22 per cent stake in the company earlier this year.TMX says, combined with its strategic investments in the company in the first half of 2023, the deal announced after financial markets closed Wednesday will bring the total amount to be paid for full ownership of VettaFi to $1.4 billion.TMX Group chief executive John McKenzie says the acquisition accelerates the company’s long-term global expansion and increases the proportion of revenue from its global solutions, insights and analytics division, and from recurring sources.The transaction is expected to close in January, subject to customary closing conditions.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 1...

Rogers hails successful satellite-to-mobile phone call, with N.L. premier on one end

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Rogers Communications Inc. says it has passed a key milestone in satellite-to-mobile connectivity as the company pushes to bring the technology to the entire country next year.A test call on Sunday connected Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey with Mabel Tilley, a first responder with the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association, in a remote area near Heart’s Content, N.L.A news release today describes the call as “historic” and says it was made using Lynk Global’s low Earth orbit satellites and Rogers’ wireless spectrum.The location of the call was symbolic, as the world’s first successful transatlantic telegraph cable was received in Heart’s Content in 1866.Rogers says it plans to launch satellite-to-mobile phone service in 2024, beginning with SMS texting and mass notifications and expanding to voice and data.A spokesperson for the company said the services will be available only to Rogers cust...

Missing 15-year-old girl found strangled to death in South Shore home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old girl reported missing back in late August was found strangled to death inside a home in the city's South Shore neighborhood.According to the Chicago Police Department, an unresponsive female of unknown age was found inside a residence in the 7200 block of South Phillips Avenue around 6:09 p.m. Tuesday and was pronounced dead on scene.The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed the female is Amarise Parker and her cause of death was homicide via strangulation.CPD sent out a missing person's alert for Parker on August 31 that said she went missing from the 10900 block of South Wood Street in the Morgan Park neighborhood. The listed age for Parker in the alert was 15. Family questions CPD’s response after Midway Airport worker shot, killed Area detectives are investigating and police have no offenders in custody.Anyone with information is urged to call Chicago police.

Thursday Forecast: Temps near 50 with mainly sunny conditions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Mainly sunny conditions Thursday. Winds: WSW 5-10 G15. High: 49. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly clear tonight. Winds: SW 5-10. Low: 33.Friday Forecast: Increasing clouds. Winds: SW 5-10 G15. High: 51.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Mattel to follow 'Barbie' with American Girl doll live-action movie

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Barbie” may soon be joined by another Mattel doll on the big screen. The toy company is developing a live-action film based on its American Girl doll line, Mattel announced Wednesday.“American Girl” will be produced by Mattel Films, Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment, the production company of “Twilight” and “The Fault in Our Stars." Attached to write the script and produce is Lindsey Anderson Beer, the writer of this year's “Pet Cemetery: Bloodlines.”The project adds to the already teeming pipeline of movies in development for Mattel Films. Following its blockbuster first release, “Barbie,” Mattel Films is prepping some 14 live-action films, including movies based on Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Polly Pocket, Rock ‘Em Sock ’Em Robots and UNO. Time magazine names ‘Person of the Year’: Are you surprised? “Saturday Night Live” has already spoofed the idea of an American Girl doll movie. In April, the NBC sketch comedy show aired a parody ...

DATA: Auto theft happens across Austin — 8% of cases ended in arrest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Danielle Paez has a name for whoever stole her car, smashed the windows, and dumped it in Pflugerville, leaving fast food wrappers all over the front seat."My thief, the booger face," she said. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin woman tracks stolen Kia Her north Austin neighbor woke her up early on a Saturday morning in September to tell her the car was gone."Just glass, that’s it, that’s all that was left of my car," she told us at the time.She's grateful police recovered her car, but that was just the beginning. "Then I get my car back, and the damage to my car was so severe," she said.Vasquez woke up one morning to find the window to his car broken and on the ground. (Credit: Javier Vasquez)Shattered glass in the driver's seat of Paez' car. (Credit: Danielle Paez)Thieves also broke the rear view mirror when stealing Paez' car. (Credit: Danielle Paez)Someone stripped the steering wheel from Danielle Paez' car. (Credit: Danielle Paez)According to 311, both of Vasquez' case...

Friday's cold front brings rain then wind

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A brief pause in meaningful rain chances today ahead of tomorrow's cold front, marking the return of wet weather.A strong Pacific storm moving out of the Four Corners region today will swing a cold front through Central Texas tomorrow. A slight northerly shift in the storm track will mean most of the heaviest rain will go north and east of us, but moderate rain is still expected in our area.Rain is most likely:Hill Country: 6AM-10AMAustin-metro: 10AM-3PMEastern Counties: 3PM-6PMScattered rain likely along Friday's cold frontRainfall amounts will likely remain under 1" areawide now, and in some areas, may be much lower.Rainfall potential on FridayStay with the First Warning Weather team for further updates as the system approaches. Sunshine, windy weather and cooler temperatures blow in this weekend. Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date wi...

Conover, Geffen: International women’s groups and leaders have remained silent on Hamas’ violence for too long

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

The events of Oct. 7 and the war that has followed, at an incomprehensible scale of civilian violence and death, is devastating. This war so far away feels palpably close to us all and has shaken our community to its core.For us as women, there has been an additional aspect of the attacks on Oct. 7 that has felt like a double assault: the systemic rape of women and girls by Hamas terrorists and the lack of response from the world.Sexual and gender-based violence is horrific, with emotional wounds that linger well beyond the physical wounds. The healing process for the survivors of the Oct. 7 assaults begins with being heard and believed. We cannot overstate the importance of supporting these women, like we would all survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.We recoiled when reading about Shani Louk, a 23-year-old German Israeli, who can be seen in a Hamas-made video, semiconscious and half-naked, being taken to Gaza in the back of a pickup truck with men sitting astride her. Ano...

Downed tree closes all lanes on NY 85 in Bethlehem

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:41 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to 511 NY, a fallen tree has closed all lanes on NY 85 westbound at Caldwell Boulevard in Bethlehem. Drivers in the area should seek alternate routes. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!This is a developing scene. Stick with NEWS10 for updates when the roadway reopens.