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Google to pay $700 million to US states, consumers in app store settlement

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

File - The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's new building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. A federal court jury has decided that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)(AP/Peter Morgan) File - The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's new building in New York on Sept. 6, 2023. A federal court jury has decided that Google's Android app store has been protected by anticompetitive barriers that have damaged smartphone consumers and software developers, dealing a blow to a major pillar of a technology empire. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)(AP/Peter Morg...

Column: Reviewing the year in golf based on shots from every club in the bag

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

One swing can win a tournament as easily as it can lose one. Other shots are more subtle, and even if they don’t yield birdies or eagles, they can go a long way in shaping a player’s season.What follows is an annual review of the year in golf by looking at shots hit with every club in the bag, from the driver to the putter.DRIVERRory McIlroy had to rally just to regain control against Denny McCarthy in the second round of the Match Play. He took a 1-up lead to the 375-yard 18th at Austin Country Club and unleashed that powerful, balanced swing. The ball not only reached the green, it stopped 4 feet away.McIlroy led the PGA Tour in driving distance. This was one swing that showed why.3-WOODThe U.S. Open returns to Los Angeles Country Club in 2039, leaving the club plenty of time to install a plaque on the 14th fairway, if it hasn’t already. Wyndham Clark was 282 yards away when he ripped a 3-wood toward an 8-yard wide neck at the front of the green. It crept onto th...

Colorado is home to 2 of the most festive hotels in the US

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — USA Today found 10 hotels known for their holiday spirit, from Christmas trees reaching the ceiling in Chicago to winter wonderlands in Montana. But you don't have to hop on a plane to find some of the most festive hotels in the country.Two hotels with some of the best holiday spirit in the country are located in Colorado, and they are not too far from Denver. Check out these holiday pop-up bars in Denver Coming in at No. 4 on the list is The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The hotel is currently decked out with Christmas trees and winter festivities.The trees leading the way to the entrance are all covered in lights. Inside, you'll be met with garnishes lining the fireplace, stairwell and windows filled with ribbons and bows. The Christmas trees and wreaths inside are dazzled with red and gold ornaments.There's also a gingerbread display of Santa Claus aboard a lightning bug boat. The display pays homage to the canopy boats that were once on Cheyenne Lake when the ...

Edwards scores 32, Wolves rally from 17 down to beat Heat 112-108 and improve to 20-5

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Nobody in the Minnesota locker room was happy at halftime. Karl-Anthony Towns was in foul trouble, coach Chris Finch had just gotten a technical foul and the Timberwolves were facing their second-biggest midgame deficit of the season.Then the defense showed up to save the day.The Timberwolves are tied for the NBA’s best record through 25 games, and defense — once again — was why. Anthony Edwards scored 32 points, Towns added 18 and Minnesota allowed only 42 points after the break on the way to beating the Miami Heat 112-108 on Monday night.“It takes for us to get punched in the face to wake up and do the things that we need to do,” Minnesota center Rudy Gobert said. “Every time we do the things that we’re supposed to do, especially defensively, we put ourselves in position to win the game.”Naz Reid scored 15, Mike Conley added 12 and Gobert grabbed 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves. They improved to 20-5, tying idle Boston for the NBA’s best record — and won ...

Family of 4 injured after explosion rocks West Park neighborhood; suspected gas leak caused destruction

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

Destruction unfolded in the dead of night as a massive explosion rocked a once-quiet West Park neighborhood, leaving a family of four injured. Emergency calls flooded in just before midnight Monday, reporting a loud boom heard throughout the area. The source of the commotion was quickly identified as a house, located at 5241 SW 20th St., suspected to have exploded due to a gas leak.First responders rushed to the explosive emergency, discovering a home obliterated by the blast. Firefighters initiated searches for individuals within the affected residence, while deputies evacuated nearby homes.While the cause of the rubble remains unknown, video footage confirms a devastating explosion early Tuesday. Live video footage captured the aftermath, revealing a scene where the affected house once stood, now reduced to rubble. Multiple homes and cars in the vicinity also suffered damage from the blast.Officials, including a heavy presence from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and Fire...

Marine Le Pen scores big win on toughened immigration bill

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

PARIS ― The allies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen have claimed “an ideological victory” as Emmanuel Macron’s government seeks a compromise with hardline conservatives on a beleaguered immigration bill.The French president’s centrist coalition in recent days have openly discussed requesting immigrants to work or reside in France for several years before claiming benefits. The proposals echo some of the far right’s long-time obsessions, including the ideas of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the National Rally party, who campaigned in favor of a “national preference,” which meant excluding foreigners from state benefits and council housing.While the proposals put forward by Macron’s Renaissance party do not go that far, the National Rally has been jubilant over the government’s decision to take what they claim is a step in their direction.“All the decisions are moving towards Marine Le Pen’s [2017] presidential mani...

Putin could attack Baltics and Moldova next, says Belgian army chief

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

After Ukraine, the Kremlin’s next targets could be Moldova and the Baltic countries, Belgian army chief Michel Hofman has warned. Russia has “already shown that they have the will to attack a neighbor,” Hofman told Belgian news outlet VRT while visiting Belgian soldiers stationed in Romania. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s language “is always ambiguous. It is absolutely possible that they will also have other ideas later. Either in the south in Moldova or the Baltic states,” he said. “Europe must urgently prepare and make it clear that it can defend itself” and that “it will … counterattack if necessary,” said Hofman, who is the chief of defense of the Belgian armed forces. Ukraine has been fending off Putin’s full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022 and shows no signs of abating despite fierce resistance from Kyiv’s forces. “Russia has switched to a war industry,” Hofman added...

Thousands still without power as recovery from Monday storm continues

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

More than 120,000 residents were still without power Tuesday morning, waking up the day after a wet and windy storm rocked southern New England. Many schools were closed Tuesday due to continued issues with power, including schools in Cohasset, Duxbury, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke and Millis. South Shore Christian Academy, Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical and Foxborough Regional Charter were also closed for the day day. Scituate closed schools for Tuesday morning. At the storm’s peak, around 12:30 p.m. Monday, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported more than 285,000 outages statewide, with South Shore communities among the hardest hit.“Our crews worked throughout the day today, where safe to do so, and will continue throughout the night and around the clock to restore power to our customers as quickly and safely as possible,” Tim Moore, National Grid’s Vice President for Electric Operations for New England s...

At least 100 elephants die in drought-stricken Zimbabwe park, a grim sign of El Nino, climate change

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — At least 100 elephants have died in Zimbabwe’s largest national park in recent weeks because of drought, their carcasses a grisly sign of what wildlife authorities and conservation groups say is the impact of climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon.Authorities warn that more could die as forecasts suggest a scarcity of rains and rising heat in parts of the southern African nation including Hwange National Park. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has described it as a crisis for elephants and other animals.“El Nino is making an already dire situation worse,” said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.El Nino is a natural and recurring weather phenomenon that warms parts of the Pacific, affecting weather patterns around the world. While this year’s El Nino brought deadly floods to East Africa recently, it is expected to cause below-average rainfall across southern Africa...

Negotiations underway at UN ahead of vote on resolution calling for halt in hostilities in Gaza

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:21:25 GMT

(CNN) — Intensive negotiations were underway at the United Nations ahead of an expected vote Tuesday on a resolution calling for a halt in hostilities to allow much needed aid to enter Gaza, according to diplomats.The vote was originally scheduled for Monday, but was delayed a day to allow more time for negotiations. At the center of the talks is drafting language that could gain a “yes” vote from the United States, or at least an abstention, which would allow the measure to pass.The draft resolution is said to have originally included a call for a “cessation of hostilities” to allow much-needed aid to enter Gaza. Diplomats were hopeful that changing the language to “suspension of hostilities” could gain American support.The US has vetoed previous measures at the UN Security Council and voted against a call for a ceasefire in the larger UN General Assembly.That lends significance to Tuesday’s vote; if the US allows the resolution to pass, it would amount to an important si...