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Bankruptcy slams the brakes on Dutch e-bike manufacturer VanMoof

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Dutch bicycle maker VanMoof has been declared bankrupt, slamming the brakes on a company that won design awards for its stylish, minimalist electric bikes but struggled to meet soaring demand and fix glitches with the app powering its service. The Amsterdam-based company, started in 2009 by brothers Taco and Ties Carlier, posted a statement on its website informing clients that an Amsterdam court declared VanMoof bankrupt on Monday.The company headquarters in Amsterdam was closed Tuesday. One man parked his VanMoof outside the building to take a picture of the bike with the company logo in the background.It remains unclear how the Dutch bankruptcy will affect the company’s foreign operations. VanMoof sells its bikes online and has brand stores in more than 20 cities worldwide, including New York, San Francisco, Paris and Tokyo, according to its website. The company has sold about 200,000 bikes. It promised to make its bikes almost theft-proof, through the use ...

A UK woman jailed for obtaining tablets to end her pregnancy is to be released after appeal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A woman who was jailed for illegally obtaining abortion tablets to end her advanced pregnancy will be released from prison after Britain’s Court of Appeal reduced her sentence Tuesday.Carla Foster, a 45-year-old mother of three, was handed a 28-month sentence last month after she admitted to obtaining abortion pills to induce a miscarriage when she was 32 to 34 weeks pregnant in 2020. The medication was intended for use in the the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and authorities had allowed the drugs to be delivered by mail during the COVID-19 lockdown. Prosecutors said Foster obtained them by lying to a pregnancy advisory service, saying that she was just seven weeks pregnant.Abortion is legal in England up to 24 weeks. A judge said last month Foster should serve half her prison term in custody and the remainder on license after her release. But three appeal judges ruled Tuesday that her sentence should be reduced to 14 months and be suspended. “This is a very sad c...

Barge to house asylum-seekers arrives in UK as Parliament passes controversial migration bill

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A barge that will house up to 500 asylum-seekers arrived Tuesday in England after Parliament passed its long-debated bill to curb migration. The Bibby Stockholm was pulled by a tug into Portland after the government’s controversial legislation won passage after overcoming resistance in the House of Lords. The boat and the bill are both parts of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s strategy to stop migrants from making risky English Channel crossings in small boats. The legislation will become law after receiving the assent of King Charles III.The Conservative government has pledged to “stop the boats” — overcrowded dinghies and other small craft that cross from northern France carrying migrants who hope to live in the U.K. More than 45,000 people crossed the Channel to Britain in 2022; several died in the attempt. The bill is intended to deter those journeys and will prevent migrants from claiming asylum in the U.K. if they arrive illegally. Under the legislation, those caught...

Romanian court rules to keep Andrew Tate under house arrest as human trafficking case continues

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court in Romania’s capital on Tuesday ruled to extend by another 30 days the house arrest of Andrew Tate, the divisive social media influencer who is charged with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.The decision at the Bucharest Tribunal comes a month after prosecutors formally indicted the 36-year-old social media star along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women in the same case. All four defendants — who were arrested in late December near Bucharest and have denied the allegations against them — will remain under house arrest for 30 more days.Outside the court on Monday, Tate told journalists that “the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice in the end.”“My brother and I are extremely resilient people. … In the end justice shall be served,” he said. “We’re feeling like things are going to work out perfectly in the end — and until then we’re going to follow the judicial process.”The Tate brother...

Second heat wave in as many weeks grips Mediterranean while fires hit Spain, Switzerland and Greece

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

Officials warned residents and tourists packing Mediterranean destinations on Tuesday to stay indoors as a second heat wave in as many weeks hit the region and Greece, Spain and Switzerland battled wildfires.In Italy, Red Cross teams checked on the elderly by phone while in Portugal they took to social media to warn people not to leave pets or children in parked cars. In Greece, volunteers handed out drinking water, while in Spain they reminded people to protect themselves from breathing in smoke from fires.Several countries in southern Europe are sweating through a new heat wave, amplified by climate change, that is expected to persist for days. The U.N. weather agency said that temperatures in Europe could break even the 48.8-degree Celsius (119.8-degree Fahrenheit) record set in Sicily two years ago, as concerns grew the heat would provoke a spike in deaths.“Heat waves are really an invisible killer,” Panu Saaristo, emergency health unit team leader for the International Federati...

Millennial Money: 4 takeaways from Netflix’s money shows

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

In the past year, streaming service Netflix has released two financially focused offerings: the film “Get Smart With Money” and the series “How to Get Rich.” Both feature powerhouse financial influencers who help people reevaluate their approaches to money to educate and empower them. Here are four takeaways that you can apply to your own life, no matter your financial situation.TAKEAWAYS FROM ‘GET SMART WITH MONEY’The “Get Smart With Money” documentary features well-known financial writers, bloggers and podcasters who share their expertise on how to become better at managing money. Here are a couple of lessons they imparted.1. EMOTION MANAGEMENT IS KEY TO MONEY MANAGEMENTIn “Get Smart With Money,” some of the featured participants were dealing with significant debt or with the challenges of living paycheck to paycheck. The stress, fear and frustration that come with money can significantly impact how you manage it.Tiffany Aliche, a financial educator also known as The Budgetnista, ...

Paris Olympic organizing head says budget ‘under control’ a year ahead of 2024 Games

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The operating budget for the Paris Olympics is “under control,” the president of the organizing committee said Tuesday.With one year to go before the opening ceremony, organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said partnership deals are on track, with 22 new sponsors joining since the start of the year.“Just recently, we passed the 1 billion euro ($1.1 billion) mark in secured revenue from our partners,” Estanguet said. “This is unprecedented. It’s obviously the first time that a sporting event in France has raised so much money from companies and partnerships.”Estanguet said the money in investment does not include “a new premium partner with whom we’re in talks.”Paris organizers are sill negotiating a partnership contract for the 2024 Games with luxury group LVMH.The organizing committee, known as COJO, has an operating budget of about 4.4 billion euros ($4.5 billion).Estanguet insisted that 96% of the budget is funded by the private sector, including the IOC, par...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in low 80s with mostly sunny conditions

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly sunny and a bit warmer Tuesday with some hazy conditions. Winds: NNE 5-10 mph. High: 81/75 lakeside.Mostly clear skies tonight and comfortable. Winds: E 5-10 mph. Low 63, 50s in the suburbs Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Wednesday Forecast: Mostly sunny and muggier. Chance of isolated PM showers/t-storms late in the evening. ESE 5-15 mph. High 86, near 80 by the lake.Extended outlook calls for a possible showers/t'storms again on Thursday-- and temps warm to the mid to upper 80s. More sunshine and a bit cooler on Thu/Fri/Sat with highs in the seasonal mid to low 80s. Chance of showers comes back on Sunday. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Taylor Swift now has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Congratulations are in order for Taylor Swift and her loyal fans, known as Swifties. The pop star officially has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history.“Speak Now (Taylor's Version)”, released earlier this month, is the third in her endeavor to re-record her first six albums, instigated by music manager Scooter Braun’s sale of her early catalog. It has officially debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her 12th album to reach the top spot.Previously, Barbra Streisand held the record, with 11 No. 1 albums.Swift ties Drake's record of 12 No. 1 records, but sits just behind Jay-Z, who has 14 No. 1 albums to his name, and the Beatles, who have 19. Four things to know about the rapidly changing housing market In addition to hitting this incredible milestone, Swift has 2023's biggest album release to date, with 716,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. An impressive 506,600 are in traditional album sale...

Williamson County offering emergency financial help for veterans

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:19:02 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) – The Williamson County Veteran Services Department said starting Monday it will offer emergency financial services for Veterans who live in the county.According to a department announcement, county commissioners earlier this month accepted a $210,000 grant from the Texas Veterans Commission for Fiscal Year 2024. The department said the grant will help veterans with emergency assistance with rent/mortgage, burial services, utilities and food. Veterans living in Williamson County can apply for the grant by filling out an application at the Veteran Services Office located inside the Georgetown Annex at 100 Wilco Way in Georgetown. The department said an online application will be available at a later date. In order to be eligible, Veterans must have an honorable discharge or under honorable discharge, according to the announcement. Director looks to expand access to Williamson County veterans The program will also require adding an emerge...