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Insider: Expedia CEO talks about his company, travel demand, high prices, and his compensation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

Online travel agency Expedia Group is benefitting as Americans continue to make up for trips they skipped during the worst of the pandemic, and Wall Street expects it to post a solidly profitable 2023 after a money-losing first quarter.The Seattle-based company has been restructuring operations, and next month it will launch a rewards program that will tie together its disparate brands including Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, which competes with Airbnb.CEO Peter Kern talked with The Associated Press about the company, demand for travel, whether consumers can tolerate higher prices, and his management style. The answers have been edited for length and clarity.Q: The question of the moment in the travel industry is whether demand is going to remain strong. What do you see?A: We see macro demand pretty strong. It depends where you are in the world, but by and large demand has remained robust, and it’s going to be a busy summer for sure. Q: Are high prices having any effect on travel spe...

Microsoft stakes Xbox video game sales on long-awaited space adventure Starfield

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

One small step for an intrepid crew of 24th century space explorers could be a giant leap — or flop — for Microsoft when the Xbox-maker launches its long-awaited video game Starfield.Players must fend off pirates, navigate strange moons, build outposts and fix their own starships in a space epic that is due out on Xbox in September after years of development and delay. Microsoft gave its most detailed glimpse of the upcoming game at a Los Angeles event Sunday.The release could be one of the most important in Xbox’s history as it looks to attract gamers with a headliner on par with Nintendo’s latest Zelda game and PlayStation’s upcoming Spider-Man 2, said Mat Piscatella, a game industry analyst for market researcher Circana. After months of watching Nintendo’s Switch console and Sony’s PlayStation steal the momentum in a lagging market — with boosts from Hollywood adaptions of Nintendo’s Super Mario and the PlayStation exclusive Last of Us — Micros...

Toney describes FA as ‘spiteful,’ says he’ll come back stronger after betting ban

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

LONDON (AP) — England striker Ivan Toney has described the Football Association as “spiteful” for its handling of his ban for breaking betting rules.Toney was handed an eight-month suspension last month after admitting to 232 counts of breaching English soccer’s betting rules.The FA announced Toney had been charged with 262 breaches in November, effectively ruling him out of contention for the World Cup in Qatar, but had to wait until May before receiving his ban and a fine of 50,000 pounds ($62,000).“It came out just before the England camp,” the Brentford striker said in an interview on Kick Game’s YouTube channel that was released Monday. “Obviously I missed that and the World Cup. Honestly, that would have been my biggest dream.“It was like, get it out now so he doesn’t go with England, and then all of a sudden they want to wait until the end of the season. It is what it is, if they want to do it that way. I call it a bit spiteful, but it is what it is.”Toney said missing the Wo...

Crews work to control fire in NW Miami-Dade

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

A large fire broke out in Northwest Miami-Dade.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived at the scene of the fire in the area of Northwest 137th Avenue at 182nd Street, near the Everglades, Monday morning. 7Skyforce hovered over the scene as thick black smoke emitted from the flames. According to MDFR, units were dispatched in reference to a grass fire in the area. A tanker was requested and crews began to clear the area. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

MDPD investigating fatal shooting of man in front of toddler, seeking public’s help in locating suspect

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Homicide Bureau is investigating an incident involving the fatal shooting of an adult male in front of his one-year-old child. Authorities are seeking assistance from the community in locating the suspected shooter.The shooting took place in the area of 528 Northwest Third Avenue in Homestead, triggering a response from officers of the Homestead Police Department following a ShotSpotter alert. Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, 27-year-old Jose Guajardo, lying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue swiftly arrived at the scene and airlifted the critically injured man to the JMH Ryder Trauma Center. Unfortunately, despite their medical efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries several days later.Preliminary findings from the ongoing investigation indicate that the victim was in his front yard, accompanied by his mother and one-year-old toddler when an unidentified individual approached on foot. The su...

De La Cruz hits 2-run double as Miami Marlins rally past Chicago White Sox 6-5

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — While the Miami Marlins were putting together another dramatic rally, Bryan De La Cruz started clamoring for an opportunity in a big moment.When he got the chance he wanted, he delivered.De La Cruz capped Miami’s three-run ninth inning with a two-run double, and the Marlins beat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 on Sunday.“I was feeling like the adrenaline of the momentum of the game just flowing all over me,” De La Cruz said through a translator, “and I told the guys I wanted to get the at-bat. I want to be the hero of the game.”Jorge Soler hit two of Miami’s four solo homers, helping the Marlins take the rubber game of the weekend set. Garrett Cooper and Jean Segura also connected.It was Miami’s fifth comeback win in its last seven games and No. 20 on the season. The Marlins scored five times in the ninth inning of a 5-1 victory on Saturday.“I think they believe that they’re in it at all times,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said, “and once you win from beh...

Broward, Miami-Dade locations to be closed for Juneteenth

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

SOUTH FLORIDA, Fla. (WSVN) – Certain Broward County and Miami-Dade County government offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the Juneteenth federal holiday. The following locations will be closed on June 19: Although many online services will be available, officials said the 311 Call Center and the Homeless Helpline (954-563-4357) will be available from 8 a.m. to noon. All Broward County Library locations, with the exception of NSU-Alvin Sherman Library located at 3100 Ray Ferrero Jr. Blvd. Broward County’s Animal Care Facility will be closed. Emergency services will be provided upon calling 911. The Aviation Department administrative offices at Broward County’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will be closed.The North Perry Airport administrative office will be closed. Broward County’s Port Everglades administrative offices will be closed; however, the building will remain open during normal business hours for tenants. The Broward Co...

7-Eleven is giving the Slurpee a makeover

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

New York (CNN) — The Slurpee, an iconic 7-Eleven frozen drink, is getting a makeover.Don’t worry, the recipe isn’t changing. But the cups are. Beginning Monday, the new look will include “eccentric colors and eclectic vibes” and feature a new Slurpee logo and a large “S” that resembles the swirly top of the drinks.It’s the first redesign in four years, when the Slurpee ditched its recognizable psychedelic pinwheel look. A new advertising campaign for the frozen beverage is also rolling out, marking the first time the same marketing is being used for the drink at both 7-Eleven and Speedway, the gas station chain it bought for $20 billion in 2020.Currently, stores sell at least three flavors (Coca-Cola, cherry and blue raspberry) and 7-Eleven often changes up its limited-time offerings. A 7-Eleven spokesperson didn’t reveal how much Slurpees contribute to the convenience chain’s bottom line but said it has sold more than 70 million drinks in “recent years.”There are more than 153,000 ...

Poland to challenge EU climate laws before top court

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

Poland will try to overturn the EU’s combustion engine phaseout and other climate laws with an appeal before the bloc’s top court, Climate Minister Anna Moskwa said. In spring, the bloc passed a law effectively banning the sale of new cars powered by fossil fuels from 2035, despite opposition from Warsaw. Moskwa told Poland’s Radio Zet on Monday that the country would take the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union. “The solution of banning combustion cars in 2035 is harmful to all European economies … I believe that if today we are making a decision for 2035, then today it is necessary to look at its consequences for the following years,” she said. “There is no analysis of the social and economic impact, which is scandalous,” Moskwa added. “Anyway, we are going to the Court of Justice in the near future with this decision.”The legislation, opposed by Warsaw, is part of a larger set of bills designed to cut the EU’s emissions by 55 percent thi...

Silvio Berlusconi’s 9 most controversial moments

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:13:44 GMT

Paul Dallison writes Declassified, a weekly satirical column.“In 20 years of politics, I have never insulted anyone.” Those were the somewhat surprising words of Silvio Berlusconi in 2014 when asked by the BBC why he kept insulting people.Berlusconi was, to put it very, very mildly, a controversial figure. The former Italian prime minister, who has died aged 86, often seemed to embrace the fact that he caused offense, berating his critics for not being able to take a joke.Here are some of Berlusconi’s more famous controversies (and there are plenty more):Winding up the whole of FinlandWhich cuisine do you prefer, Italian or Finnish? In the early 2000s, negotiations were held to decide on the location of the European Food Safety Authority, with Parma and Helsinki the competitors. Berlusconi was unknowingly overheard saying that Finnish food was inedible and disgusting and that he could barely endure it during his visits to the North. “Finns only eat ...