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Lawmakers pave way for EU to ratify treaty protecting women

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is getting closer to ratifying a landmark European treaty protecting women from violence.Lawmakers gathered in Strasbourg, France, on Wednesday approved by a large majority the EU’s endorsement of the Istanbul Convention.The human rights treaty of the Council of Europe states that men and women have equal rights, and obliges state authorities to take steps to prevent gender-based violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.The EU signed the treaty six years ago but it has yet to be ratified by the bloc as a whole because of the opposition of six member countries — Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. “I want to send my strongest call to those six remaining member states in the EU, to also individually ratify the Istanbul Convention,” said Arba Kokalari, a Swedish EU lawmaker from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. “It’s time for you to stand on the right side of hist...

Chanel lures stars with cruise fashion show in Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With stars like Margot Robbie and Lil Nas X sitting in the front row, Virginie Viard’s sporty clothing designs inspired by Hollywood glam shined just as bright during a Chanel fashion show in Los Angeles.The fashion brand took hold of the Paramount Picture Studios lot to unveil its latest cruise collection on a chilly Tuesday night. It was such a splashy spectacle that even Snoop Dogg was dancing in his comfy bleacher seat while models strutted on a black-and-white Chanel basketball-like court with two large scoreboards.A massive screen as long as the court showed various black-and-white videos of dancing Chanel models and aerial images of Los Angeles filled with palms trees.The spacious court gave the models room to work in front of a star-studded crowd that included Kristen Stewart, Elle Fanning, Issa Rae, H.E.R., Nile Rodgers, Paris Hilton, Andra Day, Leslie Mann, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kris Jenner, Kimora Lee Simmons, Christina Milian and Lori Harvey.Viard brought...

Nuvei says Q1 revenue up 20%, but reports loss due to Paya acquisition costs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

MONTREAL — Nuvei Corp. saw its first-quarter revenue rise 20 per cent compared with a year ago, but recorded a loss for the first three months of the year as it was hit by about US$20 million in costs related to its deal to buy U.S. company Paya Holdings Inc.The Montreal-based payment technology company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its net loss amounted to US$8.3 million or seven cents per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31.The result compared with net income of US$4.5 million or two cents per diluted share a year earlier.Revenue for the quarter totalled US$256.5 million, up from US$214.5 million in the first three months of 2022.On an adjusted basis, Nuvei says it earned 44 cents per diluted share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 46 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.Nuvei announced in January its deal to acquire Atlanta-based Paya for US$1.3 billion in cash.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May ...

How do you hold an election in a province on fire?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

In today’s Big Story podcast, wildfires continue to ravage parts of Alberta, and there are questions about how they will impact the provincial election at the end of May. And with scorching weather forecasted to return, it’s unclear when the blazes will be brought under control.Danielle Smith, the premier of Alberta, has called the ongoing wildfire situation “unprecedented,” a state of emergency was declared over the weekend, and the federal government has pledged support.Courtney Theriault, a reporter with CityNews Edmonton, says that the election will proceed as planned despite the wildfires. “The election itself is very much slated to go May 29, and it would take a substantially larger disaster than this already unprecedented disaster, to move that date,” he says.So what happens now? How has campaigning changed? And what might election day look like?You can subscribe to The Big Story podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.You can also find it at thebigsto...

1 killed in crash on Dan Ryan Expressway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

CHICAGO — One person was killed in a fatal crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway.The accident involving two vehicles happened around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on the southbound Dan Ryan near 95th Street. According to Illinois State Police, one of the vehicles was rear-ended by the other. The driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended was transported to an area hospital and pronounced dead. Woman in custody in connection with 6 baseball bat attacks on Northwest Side: police The driver of the other vehicle was transported to an area hospital with injuries.All southbound lanes were closed for several hours as authorities investigated the scene. Lanes reopened to traffic around 5:30 a.m.

Wendy's to test AI chatbot at Ohio drive-thru

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A fast food chain is teaming up with Google to add artificial intelligence to its menu.Wendy's is planning to launch an AI chatbot to automate its restaurants' drive-thrus, a representative for the company told Nexstar's WCMH on Tuesday. Dubbed FreshAI, the AI tech will hold limited conversations with customers, handling their food orders and answering frequently asked questions. The bot will integrate with the store's hardware and cash register systems for processing orders.A Wendy's drive-thru which would be capable of hosting the FreshAI chatbot for taking orders in the future. (Courtesy Photo/Wendy's)A Wendy's drive-thru which would be capable of hosting the FreshAI chatbot for taking orders in the future. (Courtesy Photo/Wendy's)The burger chain, founded in Columbus in 1969, tapped Google to power FreshAI with its existing cloud-based generative AI and large language models. The language models include the restaurant's menu as data, and will allow the dr...

Biden administration outlines added measures to deal with expected Title 42 fallout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Biden administration on Wednesday announced additional measures it will implement to respond to the expected fallout when Title 42 lifts on Thursday with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.Administration officials have been preparing for months for the end of Title 42, a Trump-era policy allowing immigration officials to more quickly expel asylum-seeking migrants attempting to cross the border.With the rule expiring Thursday and a surge of migrants at the southern border expected to follow, administration officials detailed a series of steps that fall under three broad categories: Enforcement, deterrence and diplomacy.The administration will surge resources to the border to improve processing efficiency, a senior administration official said. The new steps being taken include sending 24,000 law enforcement personnel and 1,100 new border patrol processing coordinators to the U.S.-Mexico border. Migrants without CBP One appointment urged to stay away f...

Dodgers' Mookie Betts rents Airbnb to avoid suspected haunted hotel in Milwaukee

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

(KTLA) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are in Milwaukee this week for a three-game series with the NL Central-leading Brewers, and while team unity is important during long road trips, one Dodger star is keeping his distance from the rest of the team "just in case."According to Orange County Register reporter Bill Plunkett, outfielder Mookie Betts rented an Airbnb with some friends while the rest of his Dodger teammates stayed in a legendary 130-year-old hotel in Milwaukee.The reason, Betts said, is due to long-rumored reports of hauntings and other creepy happenings at the Pfister Hotel.The Pfister Hotel is one of the most historic buildings in Milwaukee. The famed luxury hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has hosted billionaires, diplomats and more — it's also rumored to be home to an intrepid spirit or two. This is the lobby of the Pfister Hotel seen Tuesday, July 7, 2009, in Milwaukee. The Pfister is Milwaukee's most regal address, having hosted every U.S...

Why two dozen KXAN journalists took on TxTag troubles … again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Another TxTag investigation? That’s the question I expected when we pitched this project. Concerns over the state’s tollway operations and billing system are nothing new. We’ve been telling such stories for at least the past decade. Each time, the Texas Department of Transportation has told us things are getting better and change is on the way. They’ve hired and fired vendors… again...

Director: TxTag vendors doing better, but still not satisfied

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:18:53 GMT

Investigative Summary: This story is part of KXAN’s “TxTag Troubles” investigative project launched May 7, 2023. Following related reports in recent years, our team rededicated its resources to this major consumer issue, after hundreds of viewers complained to us about resurfaced billing and customer service problems with the state’s tollway operator and its contracted vendors. During our reporting, the Texas Department of Transportation began reaching out to viewers who had contacted KXAN to resolve their issues, and state lawmakers renewed their approach to fixing future TxTag problems.AUSTIN (KXAN) — The top official at the Texas Department of Transportation said he believes current vendors operating the state’s tollway systems are performing better than the previous ones, despite “documented deficiencies” with one company’s handling of back-office systems and millions of dollars in liquidated damages assessed to another business in charge of customer service and billing.“We had...