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Do you believe? Cher set to star in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Cher is obviously a superstar but even a superstar can be the opening act when it comes to Santa.Organizers of this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade have nabbed the Oscar-, Emmy- and Grammy Award-winner for their 97th annual event. Cher will make her appearance just before the parade’s end, signaled by the arrival of Santa’s sleigh, parade organizers said.This year’s parade will feature 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns and eight performance groups.It’s a busy time for Cher, who is preparing to release a 25th-anniversary edition of her Grammy-winning album “Believe” and just dropped her first new album in five years, “Christmas.”For the first time in its long history, the holiday tradition will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET, half an hour earlier than previous years, kicked off by multi-instrumentalist and Grammy-winner Jon Batiste. There will be appearances by Bell Biv DeVoe, Bran...

Luxury parka maker Canada Goose lowers financial guidance for full year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

TORONTO — Canada Goose Holdings Inc. cut its financial guidance for its full year as it reported a second-quarter profit attributable to shareholders of $3.9 million, up from $3.3 million a year earlier.The luxury parka maker says it now expects total revenue for its 2024 financial year between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion, compared with its earlier guidance for between $1.4 billion and $1.5 billion.The company also says it expects adjusted net income per diluted share between 60 cents and $1.40 for its full year, compared with its earlier guidance for between $1.20 and $1.48.The updated outlook came as Canada Goose said it earned four cents per share for the quarter ended Oct. 1 compared with three cents per share in the same quarter last year.Revenue for the quarter totalled $281.1 million, up from $277.2 million a year earlier.On an adjusted basis, the company says it earned 16 cents per share in its latest quarter compared with an adjusted profit of 19 cents per share for the s...

Crews work to rescue 2 trapped after collapse of Kentucky plant being readied for demolition

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

INEZ, Ky. (AP) — Crews were working Wednesday to rescue two men trapped after the collapse of a more than 10-story Kentucky coal preparation plant being readied for demolition, officials said.The collapse was reported around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Martin County Sheriff John Kirk said first responders were able to find and make contact with one of the two men, news outlets reported. Officials didn’t know the extent of their injuries.In a social media post Wednesday morning, Gov. Andy Beshear said he had declared a state of emergency in the county — mobilizing state resources to help with the rescue. The plant hasn’t been in use for several years and the men were salvaging material from the building when it collapsed, Kirk said. The men were on the bottom floor of the building when it collapsed, trapping them beneath tons of rubble, Kirk said.Several rescuers were inside the rubble as part of the rescue effort, Kirk said. The rescue could take days, Kirk said.“This is a lot of weight. ...

Addiction can lead to financial ruin. Ohio wants to teach finance pros to help stem the loss

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Joe Smith did not picture raising his granddaughter at age 66, but when his daughter’s substance use disorder meant she couldn’t care for her child, that’s where Smith and his wife found themselves nineteen years ago.That brought all the costs that come with a new baby in the house, like clothes, a crib, a third mouth to feed — and sometimes a fourth, when Smith’s daughter lived with them on and off. His granddaughter’s father provided no child support. When Smith and his wife finally gained legal custody of their granddaughter, Olivia, Smith had missed countless hours of work as a construction electrician to attend court hearings and attorney meetings.“You don’t get paid sick days… They expect you to be there every day. They don’t care what goes on in your personal life. I mean, at least the companies I was working for,” said Smith, who runs a weekly peer support group for parents of those struggling with addiction in Columbus, Ohio.Smith’s story isn’t u...

Man in 60s dead after being struck by vehicle in Mississauga

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

A pedestrian is dead after they were struck by a vehicle in Mississauga on Wednesday morning.Police were called to the area of Lakeshore and Orchard roads, just west of Dixie Road, around 7:20 a.m. for reports of a crash.A man in his 60s was pronounced dead at the scene.A Jeep involved in the collision remained at the scene.Lakeshore is closed in both directions west of Dixie for the investigation.This is a developing story. More to come.

Germany’s president has apologized for colonial-era killings in Tanzania over a century ago

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s president on Wednesday apologized for killings under colonial rule in Tanzania more than a century ago as he met descendants of an executed leader of a revolt against German rule, and vowed to seek answers to questions about that era that leave Tanzanians no peace.President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a visit to Tanzania noted that many bones and skulls were taken to Germany from East Africa and ended up in museums and anthropological collections, and that they were largely forgotten after the end of the colonial era and two world wars.One of those skulls could be that of Chief Songea Mbano, who was executed by the Germans in 1906.German East Africa — today’s Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi — existed from 1885 until Germany’s defeat at the end of World War I, when it lost its colonies under the treaty of Versailles. Up to 300,000 people are believed to have died during the Maji Maji rebellion against the colonial power between 1905 and 1907.Stei...

A media freedom group accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes and reports deaths of 34 journalists

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Thirty-four journalists have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, an international media freedom group said Wednesday, accusing both sides of committing possible war crimes.Reporters Without Borders called on International Criminal Court prosecutors to investigate the deaths. The organization said it already filed a complaint regarding eight Palestinian journalists it said were killed in Israel’s bombardment of civilian areas in the Gaza Strip, and an Israeli journalist killed during Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel.“The scale, seriousness and recurring nature of international crimes targeting journalists, particularly in Gaza, calls for a priority investigation by the ICC prosecutor,” Christophe Deloire, director-general of the group also known by the French abbreviation RSF, said. The organization is headquartered in France.It’s the third such complaint to be filed by the group since 2018 alleging war crimes against Palestinian jo...

Thomson Reuters planning to invest more than US$100 million a year in generative AI

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

TORONTO — Thomson Reuters Corp. announced plans to invest more than US$100 million a year in generative artificial intelligence.The company said Wednesday it is building AI-powered capabilities for its products including a tool for its Westlaw Precision service that will launch Nov. 15 for customers in the United States. “AI will revolutionize and transform the future of work for professionals across the globe,” Thomson Reuters CEO Steve Hasker said in statement.“Professionals have our unwavering commitment and support as they safely navigate the opportunities and challenges provided by the evolving AI landscape.”Thomson Reuters bought Casetext, which uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning to build technology for lawyers, earlier this year.It said it is looking to build AI capabilities, make acquisitions, find partners and train its staff to use AI across its business.The plans to invest in AI came as the company reported a third-quarter p...

New oil leak reported after a ferry that repeatedly ran aground off the Swedish coast is pulled free

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A ferry that had ran aground last month off southeastern Sweden and started leaking oil into the Baltic Sea was pulled free on Wednesday and anchored nearby, the Swedish Coast Guard said. During the operation, another oil leak was discovered, which the authorities described as small.The Marco Polo, operated by TT-Line of Germany, was operating a route along Sweden’s coast between the cities of Trelleborg and Karlshamn when it grounded on Oct. 22 and started leaking oil. It continued under its own power but grounded a second time. The 75 passengers and crew were unharmed and were evacuated. The ferry was not at risk of sinking despite taking on water, the Swedish Coast Guard said.On Sunday, severe weather dislodged it and the ferry drifted further out before getting stuck for a third time. The leaking fuel eventually reached the shores and wildlife of Pukavik Bay near Solvesborg, some 110 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city. It was u...

Man, woman shot and killed while sitting inside vehicle on South Side

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:11:53 GMT

CHICAGO — A double homicide investigation is underway after a shooting on the city's South Side.The shooting happened around 12:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 8300 block of South Dorchester. Police said a 19-year-old man and 25-year-old woman were inside a parked vehicle when they were shot by two offenders, who then fled the scene on foot.The man was shot multiple times in the chest and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The woman was struck once in the torso and was transported to the same hospital, where she was pronounced dead. ISP releases footage from Springfield State Trooper shooting No one is in custody. Area Two detectives are investigating.Anyone with information is urged to contact Chicago police.