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EU warns of financial risks from Andorra, Monaco and San Marino

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

An EU plan to forge closer ties with three tiny countries that sit within its borders risks causing significant financial harm to Europe’s consumers, the bloc’s own watchdogs warned.In a dramatic intervention that threatens to blow apart trade talks with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino just months before they were due to conclude, Europe’s top finance regulators said a deeper relationship with the trio could open the backdoor to illegal money and make it easier for predatory financial firms to target people in the EU because of lax oversight.The three nations, with a combined population of 150,000 and bordering France, Italy and Spain, aren’t members of the EU but since 2015 have been negotiating with the European Commission on deeper economic ties that would give them access to the single market. The chairs of three EU regulators, which police Europe’s banks, financial markets and the insurance and pensions sectors, warned that the trio “historically maintained less rigorous f...

Elton John briefly hospitalized after a fall, now back home and in ‘good health’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

(CNN) — Elton John was hospitalized after he suffered “a slip” at home on Sunday.The legendary singer, 76, was in his villa outside of Nice, France, when he fell and was taken to Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco. John was monitored overnight.“Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure,” John’s representative said in a statement to CNN on Monday. “Following check ups, he was immediately discharged this morning and is now back at home and in good health.”In 2021, the “Rocket Man” singer was pushed back scheduled tour dates after a hard fall that injured his hip and required surgery.“I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications,” he said in a statement at the time.John later explained that he was in pain most of the time due to his hip.“I wouldn’t be 100% fit, I wouldn’t be 100% confident, because I’m in pain most of the time with my hip...

WATCH: 4 injured when a fire rescue helicopter crashes in Pompano Beach, Florida

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

(CNN) — A Broward County, Florida, sheriff’s fire rescue helicopter crashed Monday morning, sending four people to the hospital, including two crew members and two people from an apartment complex where it came down, authorities said.All four are in fair condition, according to Veda Coleman-Wright, director of public information for the Broward County Sheriff Office.The crash occurred near an airfield just north of Fort Lauderdale as the helicopter was on its way to an emergency call, authorities said.“At approximately 8:46 a.m., emergency personnel responded to a call of an aircraft alert located southwest of the Pompano Beach Airpark. The helicopter involved in the crash is a BSO Fire Rescue helicopter. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue transported two people to an area hospital,” the Broward County Sheriff’s department said in a news release.Just before it crashed, the aircraft was smoking and on fire near the rear, video posted to CNN affiliate WPLG appeared to show.The NTSB has co...

Trump trial set for March 4, 2024, in federal case charging him with plotting to overturn election

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

By ERIC TUCKER, LINDSAY WHITEHURST and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge on Monday set a March 4, 2024, trial date for Donald Trump in the federal case in Washington charging the former president with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election, rejecting a defense request to push back the case by years.U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan rebuffed claims by Trump’s attorneys that an April 2026 trial date was necessary to account for the huge volume of evidence they say they are reviewing and to prepare for what they contend is a novel and unprecedented prosecution. But she agreed to postpone the trial slightly beyond the January 2024 date proposed by special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution team.“The public has a right to a prompt and efficient resolution of this matter,” Chutkan said.If the current date holds, it would represent a setback to Trump’s efforts to push the case back until well after the 2024 presidential election, a c...

Florida braces for the arrival of Idalia, which is forecast to become a major hurricane

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Idalia intensified and was expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches Florida’s Gulf Coast later this week, the National Hurricane Center said Monday, as officials declared states of emergencies in dozens of counties and ordered some evacuations in preparation for potentially life-threatening storm surges.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of a “major impact” to the state, noting that what was originally forecast to be nothing stronger than a tropical storm was now predicted to become a Category 3 hurricane. Idalia would be the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season and a potentially big blow to the state, which is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost a year ago. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. The state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members, who have 2,400 high-water vehicle...

A look at how Canada’s housing woes are straining the budgets of foreign students

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

Housing woes for international students have made headlines in recent weeks as they grapple with lack of housing, inadequate placements or fake admissions offers. Some say what drove them to come to Canada in the first place was a good education and opportunities. Now that they’re here, they’re feeling squeezed.Here’s a look at some foreign students and their experiences securing accommodation in Canada. Anubhav Gupta, 24, Saint Mary’s University, HalifaxGupta is in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree, pursuing a double major in finance and computing and information systems. He completed much of his degree remotely from India while waiting for his visa. Since arriving in January, he has lived on campus.He’d like to move off campus this year, but his search for something more comfortable and affordable has come up empty.“Now I have to stay on campus in a room that I don’t want, basically,” says Gupta, who is from the northern Indian ci...

Biden will visit Hanoi next month as he seeks to strengthen US-Vietnam relations

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is heading to Vietnam next month to meet with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders, the White House announced on Monday.The president will arrive in Hanoi on Sept. 10, tacking on the one-day visit to the Vietnamese capital after attending the annual Group of 20 leaders’ summit in India.“The leaders will explore opportunities to promote the growth of a technology-focused and innovation-driven Vietnamese economy, expand our people-to-people ties through education exchanges and workforce development programs, combat climate change, and increase peace, prosperity, and stability in the region,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.The White House also announced on Monday that Biden will stop in Alaska on his way home from Vietnam to mark the the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. He will take part in a memorial ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson...

Arrest warrants issued in Lebanon for 2 Russians suspected of spying for Israel

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Two Russian citizens who were recently detained in Beirut on suspicion of spying for Israel have been referred to an investigative military judge who issued arrest warrants for them, two judicial officials said Monday.The two Russians were detained “several weeks ago” in Beirut as they were leaving the country through the capital’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, the officials said. The two judicial officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.The head of Lebanon’s General Security Directorate Maj. Gen. Elias Baisari announced Friday that two foreigners were detained while leaving Lebanon through the airport, describing them as “part of a network spying for Israel.” He did not give their identities or say when they were detained.Russia’s Sputnik News on Saturday quoted “a Russian embassy source” as saying that the Russian consulate is trying to contact the detainees to know why they are being held. The Russian Embassy in Beirut refused to comm...

TTC looking into system-wide PRESTO vending machine outage

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is working to fix a system-wide PRESTO fare vending machine outage.The incident was reported just before 6:30 a.m. on Monday, and the TTC says it’s investigating the cause.A spokesperson said customers cannot use the credit/debit card option to add value to their PRESTO cards or purchase fare media on vending machines. All other functions are operational.The TTC noted that customers can continue to use cash for purchasing tickets and other fare media and that the option to check card balances is also working.“While we work to resolve the issue, customers can load funds and check balances via the PRESTO app,” the TTC wrote on the social media platform “X,” formerly known as Twitter. “Adult customers can also pay their fares via cash, credit, or debit.”Customers are unable to use credit / debit card to add value to their PRESTO cards or purchase fare media on Fare Vending Machines. All other functions are ...

‘Gran Turismo’ takes weekend box office crown over ‘Barbie’ after all

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:02:15 GMT

The box office results are in and Sony’s racing movie “Gran Turismo” won the weekend over “Barbie,” after all. On Sunday, “ Gran Turismo” appeared to be neck-and-neck with Warner Bros.’ “Barbie,” now in its sixth weekend, with both hovering just over $17 million. But Monday actuals reported by the studios provided a clear winner: “Gran Turismo” ended up with $17.4 million from North American theaters against “Barbie’s” $15.1 million.As is usually the case with new wide releases, “Gran Turismo’s” total also included earnings from Thursday night pre-shows ($1.4 million). More unconventionally, however, Sony also factored in $3.9 million from other preview screenings (or “sneaks”) held before Thursday.“Gran Turismo” was originally set for a wide release on Aug. 11, but with actors unable to help promote the film as the actors strike stretches on, Sony pivoted and instead opted for limited preview screenings and fan events for two weeks, leading up to a national rollout this past ...