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Austrian court acquits Blackwater founder and 4 others over export of modified crop-spraying planes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — An Austrian court on Thursday acquitted five people, including the founder of the Blackwater security firm, who were accused of exporting two crop-spraying aircraft that were allegedly refitted for military purposes without the necessary permits.The state court in Wiener Neustadt found that the modified aircraft were not “war material,” the Austria Press Agency reported. It also found that the defendants had acted “very prudently” and sought advice on export permits.The trial stemmed from an investigation into a local company, Airborne Technologies GmbH, which fits out aircraft with sensors and other equipment.Prosecutors said that two Ayres Thrush agricultural aircraft were equipped with armor, extra tanks and a special camera that could be used for marking and illuminating targets. They said one was sent to Malta in 2014, with Kenya as its declared destination, and landed in troubled South Sudan, while the other was sent to Bulgaria in 2015.The defendants were ...

Rogers, Lynk Global complete Canada’s first satellite-to-mobile phone call

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 GMT

Rogers Communications Inc. and Lynk Global have completed Canada’s first successful satellite-to-mobile phone call using smartphones in Newfoundland.The historic call was made on the Samsung S22 between Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey and Mabel Tilley, a Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association member.Using Lynk Global’s low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites and Rogers national wireless spectrum, Premier Furey and Tilley communicated at the historic Heart’s Content in Trinity Bay, where the world’s first trans-Atlantic telegraph cable occurred between Canada and Ireland over 150 years ago. The phone call was made between Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association using Lynk’s LEO satellites and Rogers’ national wireless spectrum. Photo: Rogers Communications Inc.“This is a game-changer for Newfoundland and Labrador and for the rest o...

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

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:21:42 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...