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Judge seems skeptical of Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend’s claims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

By TERRY SPENCER (Associated Press)STUART, Fla. (AP) — A Florida judge appeared skeptical Tuesday to arguments made by an attorney for superstar golfer Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend Erica Herman, who is trying to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement that would require the ongoing legal disputes between the two be decided privately by an arbitrator. During a 45-minute hearing, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger repeatedly questioned why the mandatory arbitration clause in the couple’s disputed agreement wouldn’t invalidate Herman’s lawsuit against Woods. She even appeared to agree with Woods’ attorney, J.B. Murray, that even the question of whether Herman actually signed the August 2017 document or her signature is forged should, for now, be left to an arbitrator.Neither Herman nor Woods was present. Herman, 39, is suing both Woods, 47, and the trust that owns his $54 million Florida mansion, seeking $30 million from the latter amid unspecified allegatio...

Stock market today: Wall Street dips amid quiet trading

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

By STAN CHOE (AP Business Writer)NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting lower on Wall Street Tuesday following some mixed earnings reports. Several beaten-down banks are also weakening after a brief respite from a brutal run. The S&P 500 was 0.4% lower in midday trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 60 points, or 0.2%, at 33,557, as of noon Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.6% lower. Paypal fell 11.4% despite reporting better profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected. Analysts pointed to its forecast for how much profit it expects to wring out of each $1 of revenue, which may have disappointed some investors. Electric automaker Lucid Group dropped 8.2% after reporting a worse loss than expected for the latest quarter. Skyworks Solutions sank 5.3% after reporting profit for the first three months of the year that matched forecasts. The company’s comments about weakness in demand from China for Android phones may have frightened in...

National emergency alert system being tested Wednesday in much of Canada

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

Canada’s national emergency alert system, Alert Ready, will be conducting a test on Wednesday that will include all provinces and territories, with the exception of Alberta and Quebec.Public test messages from the emergency alerting system will be sent to all TV and radio stations, as well as wireless devices.In Ontario, the test is scheduled for 12:55 p.m. ET. The test times vary for the rest of Canada.The testing sound will simulate an emergency alert, beginning with the alert tone. The message will indicate that it is a test and does not require action.These tests are usually conducted twice a year, in May and in November. Alberta and Quebec don’t have a test scheduled in May.Canadians do not have the option to opt out of the test or actual alerts.RELATED: What’s Ontario’s criteria for issuing an Amber Alert and how does the system work?Emergency alerts are issued for kidnappings (Amber Alerts) and other policing-related situations, as well as in the event of biologic...

El Chapo’s son, Sinaloa members face sanctions over fentanyl

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States on Tuesday sanctioned a son of Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, three members of the powerful Sinaloa cartel and two Mexican-based firms, alleging they trafficked fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S.The sanctions came the day Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was to talk with President Joe Biden by phone about immigration and the fentanyl crisis.The Treasury Department designated El Chapo’s son Joaquin Guzman Lopez and others for financial sanctions, including a freeze on American-owned assets and bank accounts and a ban on Americans doing business with them. A Culiacan, Mexico, chemical and lab equipment company and a real estate business also were targeted for sanctions.The latest penalties by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control follow a set of April fentanyl trafficking charges brought against three other Guzman sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán S...

Robert De Niro, at 79, becomes a father for the 7th time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

Robert De Niro has welcomed another child. The 79-year-old is now the father of seven.A representative for De Niro confirmed the birth to The Associated Press on Tuesday but said no other details or statement were expected.The Oscar winner is also a parent to Drena, 51, and Raphael, 46, from his first marriage; and twins, Julian and Aaron, 27; Elliot, 24; and Helen Grace, 11, from his second marriage.De Niro is currently promoting the new comedy “About My Father,” which opens on May 26.De Niro is a two-time Oscar winner for his supporting role in “The Godfather: Part II” and best actor in “Raging Bull.” In 2011, he was also honored with the Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award for his impact on the world of entertainment and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom five years later.The Associated Press

‘Rust’ movie medic gets $1.15 million partial settlement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge has approved a $1.15 million settlement between a medic who worked on the “Rust” film set and one of several defendants she accused of negligence in the fatal 2021 shooting of a cinematographer by Alec Baldwin during a rehearsal. Court records show the partial settlement between Cherlyn Schaefer and prop master Sarah Zachry was approved during a hearing Monday. Schaefer told the judge there’s not a day that goes by when she doesn’t think about what happened, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.In her civil complaint, Schaefer said she fought desperately in a failed attempt to save the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She said the shock, trauma and emotional distress that followed has made it impossible for her to continue working in her field.Prosecutors dismissed an involuntary manslaughter charge against the actor and producer last month, citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.State District Judge Ka...

Fox Corp. dinged by Dominion settlement in third quarter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Fox Corp. swung to a third quarter loss, weighed down by Fox News’ nearly $800 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. In April Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election.Dominion had sued Fox for $1.6 billion, arguing that the top-rated news outlet damaged the company’s reputation by peddling phony conspiracy theories that claimed its equipment switched votes from former President Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.“We made the business decision to resolve this dispute and avoid the acrimony of a divisive trial and a multiyear appeal process, a decision clearly in the best interests of the company and its shareholders,” said Lachlan Murdoch, Chair and CEO of Fox Corp. For the three months ended March 31, Fox Corp. lost $54 million, or 10 cents per share. A year ago it earned $283 million, or 50 c...

Canada-China spat could sour business relations, experts say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

OTTAWA — Experts say souring relations between Ottawa and Beijing could affect Canadian companies in China, potentially tarnishing the appeal of Canadian brands for Chinese consumers. Companies like Canada Goose, Roots, Lululemon and Tim Hortons have expanded into China in recent years, leaning into Canada’s reputation as a source of quality goods and often featuring the red maple leaf in store and product branding.China is central to the growth strategy of many Canadian companies eager to tap into the country’s compelling consumer market. But retail analyst Bruce Winder says a diplomatic spat between Ottawa and Beijing could spur a “soft boycott” of Canadian brands in China. He says a pullback in spending on Canada-based brands in China could jeopardize the expansion plans of several companies.Tims China chairman Peter Yu said in February that the coffee and doughnut chain had 600 locations in China, with plans to grow to a thousand by the end of 2023.Lulule...

Lionel Messi’s father says no deal agreed with a future club

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

PARIS (AP) — With speculation over Lionel Messi’s potential next destination turning into a frenzy his father intervened Tuesday to say no deal has been agreed over a move to Saudi Arabia or return to Barcelona. Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain runs until the end of June, and his father Jorge Messi said nothing will be decided before PSG’s season finishes on June 3.“There are always rumors and many use the name of Lionel to gain notoriety but there’s only one truth and we can assure you that there is nothing with anyone,” Jorge Messi posted on his Instagram account. “Neither verbal, nor signed, nor agreed, and there won’t be anything until the end of the season.”The guessing game escalated Tuesday into where the World Cup winner from Argentina will play next season. Staying at PSG seems the most unlikely outcome, while Inter Miami in Major League Soccer is also chasing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.French media earlier reported that Messi h...

Breast cancer screenings should begin at 40, not 50, new guidelines say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:13 GMT

(The Hill) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday released new guidance advising that women begin receiving annual breast cancer screenings at age 40, 10 years earlier than its previous recommendation, citing updated research."All women are now encouraged to get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40, thanks to new and more inclusive science about breast cancer in people younger than 50 that has enabled the Task Force to expand its prior recommendation," the USPSTF said in a statement.The independent volunteer panel of physicians' recommendation was Grade B, meaning the task force believes with high certainty this guidance has a "moderate to substantial" net benefit. This guidance is an update on the USPSTF's final recommendation in 2016 that advised women to make individual decisions in their 40's on when to start getting screened.The recommendation applies to all women and individuals assigned female at birth who have an average risk...