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7 reasons Disney World’s $5,000 Star Wars hotel failed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

The crash-and-burn launch of the Star Wars hotel will ultimately go down in the history books as a failure, but the bold, ambitious and audacious concept will help shape Disney’s immersive hotel, theme park and cruise ship experiences for decades to come.Disney announced this week that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel that opened just over a year ago at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Florida will be closing in September.“Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment,” according to a statement released by Disney. “This premium experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms and we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans.”The “galactic cruise” invites costumed passengers to hatch plots against the First Order, fall in with a band...

Here’s what CHP wants you to do if you see drivers swerving all over the road

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

Q. On a recent interminable drive from Oregon to the O.C., I had much time for contemplation, including about the very common signs you see: “Report Drunk Drivers, Call 911.” How are we to identify drunken drivers versus just plain bad drivers? Should we also report texting drivers, because many say it’s as dangerous as drunken driving? How often are these calls made and is there an actual serious response?– Rick Birle, Lake ForestA. If you see a driver who is potentially threatening others, just give a 911 operator a heads-up, Rick.“Swerving into another lane is an indicator, fluctuating their speed, crossing over onto the shoulder (or median),” said Brian Kinsey, an officer and spokesman for the California Highway Patrol station house not real far from your place, Rick, in San Juan Capistrano. “Many times an officer is in the area and will try to contact that party.”The dispatcher will want what you can provide: the vehicle’s make, model, color and, if possible, the license-plate ...

EU welcomes F-16 jet decision for Ukraine; pilots already being trained

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief said Tuesday that the U.S. green light to allow Ukrainian pilots get training to fly F-16s has created an inexorable momentum that will inevitably bring the fighter jets to the Ukrainian battlefield. “You know, it’s always the same thing, we discuss, at the beginning everybody is reluctant,” said Josep Borrell, giving the example of the long debate and initial opposition to the dispatch of advanced Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine.“And at the end — with the Leopards, with the F-16 at the end — the decision comes to provide this military support because it is absolutely needed.” He added that training for Ukrainian pilots had already begun in Poland and some other countries, though authorities in Warsaw could not immediately confirm the news. The Netherlands and Denmark, among others, are also making plans for such training. No decision on actually delivering fourth-generation fighter jets has been taken yet, but training...

Affimed N.V.: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

HEIDELBERG, Germany (AP) — HEIDELBERG, Germany (AP) — Affimed N.V. (AFMD) on Tuesday reported a loss of $34.3 million in its first quarter.On a per-share basis, the Heidelberg, Germany-based company said it had a loss of 23 cents.The results fell short of Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of four analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for a loss of 22 cents per share.The drug developer posted revenue of $4.8 million in the period, which also fell short of Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $6.6 million.The company’s shares closed at $1.07. A year ago, they were trading at $3.28._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AFMD at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AFMDSource

U-Haul crashes into security barrier near White House, driver facing charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

A driver who may have intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at Lafayette Square near the White House Monday night is in custody, officials said.U.S. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that around 10 p.m. Monday, a U-Haul truck crashed into security barriers at H and 16th streets on the north side of Lafayette Square in D.C.He added that the crash may have intentional. U.S. Park Police arrested the man Monday.Police indicated that authorities intend to prosecute the man under a statue that prohibits threats to kill, kidnap or inflict harm on “a member of the immediate family of the President, the President-elect, the Vice President, or the Vice President-elect”Police did not offer specifics on possible threats made.The driver is also facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, destruction of federal property, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and trespassing.U-HAUL RAMS INTO WHITE HOUSE BARRIERS: A snapshot of ...

El príncipe Harry pierde pleito legal para pagar de forma privada su seguridad policial

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

(CNN) — El príncipe Harry perdió el juicio en el que solicitaba el derecho a pagar de forma privada la seguridad policial durante su estancia en el Reino Unido, según dictaminó este martes el Tribunal Superior de Londres.El caso del duque de Sussex contra el secretario de Estado del Ministerio del Interior era un recurso legal para mantener la protección policial del duque después de que dejara de ser miembro activo de la realeza. Ahora se negó la revisión judicial de esta demanda, declaró el juez Chamberlain.Exclusiva: el equipo de seguridad del príncipe Harry y Meghan dice que la persecución en auto “pudo haber sido mortal”La impugnación era un intento de mantener la protección policial concedida a la realeza y las personalidades públicas, conocida como Comité Ejecutivo para la Protección de la Realeza y las Personalidades Públicas (RAVEC).En sus alegaciones por escrito ante el Tribunal Superior, el Ministerio del Interior del Reino Unido argumentó que “el RAVEC consid...

Air bag thieves hit 20 Hondas in Arlington

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

Car air bag thieves struck again this weekend in Arlington County, Virginia, breaking into at least 20 vehicles.A woman in the Radnor/Fort Myer Heights neighborhood saw three men attempting to break into a vehicle, Arlington County police said, and her shouts scared them away early Sunday morning.But when police investigated, they found that about 20 vehicles in the area, all of them Hondas, had their windows shattered and air bags stolen.The thieves were seen leaving the area in a gray sedan.People who live in the neighborhood situated near Fort Myer said they have experienced no major crime uptick, but there have been occasional property crimes.“I will say things that aren’t locked up have been stolen. We’ve had quite a few bikes we’ve left outside stolen,” said Ian, who wished to only be identified by his first name.Theft of air bags, particularly in Honda model cars, has been a nagging problem across the area, including in Arlington County.“I ...

Lowe’s: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Lowe’s Cos. (LOW) on Tuesday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $2.26 billion.On a per-share basis, the Mooresville, North Carolina-based company said it had net income of $3.77. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to $3.67 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $3.48 per share.The home improvement retailer posted revenue of $22.35 billion in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Twelve analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $21.56 billion.Lowe’s expects full-year earnings in the range of $13.20 to $13.60 per share, with revenue in the range of $87 billion to $89 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LOW at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LOWSource

4 men arrested on suspicion of hanging Vinícius Júnior effigy off bridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Four men suspected of hanging an effigy of Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior off a highway bridge in Madrid in January have been arrested, Spanish police said Tuesday.The arrests come two days after the latest case of racial abuse against the Brazil forward in a Spanish league game against Valencia.The effigy was hanged by the neck the morning of a derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Along with it was a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real.”The perpetrators used a black figure with Vinícius’ name on it, tied a rope around its neck and hanged it from an overpass while still dark in the Spanish capital.Police said three of those arrested belonged to one of Atletico’s fan groups, and the other was a follower of the group. Some had prior bookings with police for other crimes.The hate message on the banner is often used by Atletico’s ultras, though at the time they denied being responsible for the display.The men arrested are betwee...

Las 5 cosas que debes saber este 23 de mayo: ¿Qué pasa si hay alerta roja por el Popocatépetl?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:22 GMT

La economía de EE.UU., al borde del abismo. Meta recibe una multa récord de US$ 1.300 millones en la Unión Europea por violación de privacidad de datos. Esto es lo que debes saber para comenzar el día. Primero la verdad.1. ¿Qué pasa si hay alerta roja por el Popocatépetl?El domingo, la Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC) de México decidió aumentar el nivel del semáforo de alerta volcánica, con lo que pasó de amarillo fase 2 a amarillo fase 3. Teniendo en cuenta las condiciones actuales, ¿qué tendría que pasar para que el nivel de alerta cambie a rojo?Las recomendaciones de las autoridades por la actividad del Popocatépetl 4:572. La economía de EE.UU., al borde del abismoEstados Unidos se dirige al borde de un desastre económico autoimpuesto, ya que la Cámara de Representantes — liderada por los republicanos— se niega a pagar la deuda del país a menos que el presidente Joe Biden acepte recortes en el gasto actual y futuro así como nuevos recortes en los programas sociale...