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Disney to acquire the remainder of Hulu from Comcast for roughly $8.6 billion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

Walt Disney Co. said it will acquire a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for approximately $8.6 billion, a deal that will give Disney undisputed control of the streaming service. Disney has actually run Hulu since 2019, when Comcast ceded its authority to Disney and effectively became a silent partner.Disney offered no comment beyond saying the acquisition will “further Disney’s streaming objectives.”Hulu began in 2007 and quickly evolved into as a service backed by entertainment conglomerates who hoped to stave off the internet with an online platform for their own TV shows. Disney joined in 2009, planning to offer shows from ABC, ESPN and the Disney Channel. A decade later, Disney gained majority control of the business when it acquired 21st Century Fox.Disney has treated Hulu as one of its own services for years — for instance, when it launched its own streaming service, Disney+, in 2019 and immediately offered a streaming bundle that included Hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+.More recently, ...

Australian police arrest host of lunch that left 3 guests dead from suspected mushroom poisoning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian police on Thursday arrested the host of a luncheon gathering that left three guests dead from suspected mushroom poisoning and a fourth fighting for life.Victoria state police executed a search warrant at Erin Patterson’s home at Leongatha where her former husband’s parents, Gail and Don Patterson, both aged 70, Gail Patterson’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and her husband Ian Wilkinson, 68, gathered on July 29 for lunch.All four guests were hospitalized the next day and only Ian Wilkinson survived.Homicide detectives would interview Erin Patterson after the search of her home was completed, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said.“Today’s arrest is just the next step in what has been a complex and thorough investigation by Homicide Squad detectives and one that is not yet over,” Thomas told reporters.Detectives had previously interviewed the 49-year-old about the fatal lunch but no charges have been laid.She has publicly denied an...

European privacy officials widen ban on Meta’s behavioral advertising to most of Europe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — European officials widened a ban on Meta’s “behavioral advertising” practices to most of Europe on Wednesday, setting up a broader conflict between the continent’s privacy-conscious institutions and an American technology giant.Behavioral advertising, used by Meta’s Facebook and Instagram among many other tech companies, involves observing individual behavior such as browsing habits, mouse clicks and app usage, then using that data to build profiles for targeting ads.The decision by the European Data Protection Board represents a sharp escalation of a tussle that began in Norway, where privacy officials imposed a daily fine of 1 million kroner (roughly $90,000) on Meta for obtaining that data without adequate consent. Those fines have been piling up since August 14.Meta said it has cooperated with regulators and pointed to its announced plans to give Europeans the opportunity to consent to data collection and, later this month, to offer an ad-free subscription s...

T-wolves hand Nuggets 1st loss in wire-to-wire 110-89 rout, hit 26 of 27 free throws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 24 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who delivered the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets their first loss in five games this season with a 110-89 victory Wednesday in the first rematch of their first-round playoff series from last spring.“I didn’t think our approach was where it needed to be,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “That team came out like they wanted to get some revenge.” Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and eight rebounds with tireless defense on Nikola Jokic and Mike Conley had 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting for the Timberwolves (2-2), who went 26 for 27 from the foul line and led from start to finish. “The maturity comes when you stack performances like this on top of each other, so that remains to be seen,” Wolves coach Chris Finch said. “But this was a great focused effort.” Jokic had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Murray scored 14 points for the Nuggets (4-1), who shot just 6 for 33 from 3-point range to fall ...

Diamondbacks’ magical season ends with a thud against Rangers in World Series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks were supposed to be contenders next year, when their young players would be more seasoned and their top prospects ready for the big leagues.The Diamondbacks accelerated the timeline, shaking up the baseball world with an extended postseason stay.Arizona’s bid for a second World Series title was stopped by a 5-0 loss to the Texas Rangers in Game 5 on Wednesday night, but the NL pennant is certainly something the Diamondbacks can build upon.Two years removed from losing 110 games, the Diamondbacks shook off a midseason swoon to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2017. They proceeded to take down Milwaukee, the Dodgers and Philadelphia on their way to their first World Series appearance since they won the 2001 championship.The Rangers exposed Arizona’s weaknesses in the Fall Classic.Arizona managed to overcome its lack of depth in its rotation through the first three rounds of the playoffs, but it cost them in the World Serie...

Mitchell scores 30 points as the Cavaliers snap a 3-game skid, beating the Knicks 95-89

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 30 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers snapped a three-game skid with a 95-89 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.Caris LeVert scored 19 and Eric Mobley added 14 for Cleveland, which was again missing starters Darius Garland (strained hamstring), center Jarrett Allen (ankle bone bruise) and backup guard Ty Jerome (sprained ankle) with injuries. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. Immanuel Quickley scored 18, Donte DiVincenzo had 16 and Mitchell Robinson finished with 16 rebounds.New York was without RJ Barrett, who sat with a sore left knee. Julius Randle’s offense was also missing, as he finished with six points on 3-for-15 shooting from the field and 0-for-6 sniping from long distance.“Their defense was tough. It was a defensive game,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “We needed more easy baskets and we didn’t get those. You gotta find a way to win. That is the bottom line.”The Knicks led 50-49 at halftime before the Cava...

Green scores 23, VanVleet 22 as the Rockets earn 1st win of the season, beating the Hornets 128-119

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Jalen Green scored 23 and Fred VanVleet added 22 points and 11 assists as the Houston Rockets earned their first win of the season, 128-119 over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.The Rockets, who dropped their first three games, led by 18 points in the first half before letting the Hornets get back in it. But Houston used a big run in the third quarter to stretch its lead and withstood a late push by the Hornets for the victory.VanVleet, an eight-year veteran who joined the Rockets this season, said young teams have to learn how to win. “Especially with the history and the circumstances that have been here the last couple of years, you have to learn how valuable possessions are and how fast things can snowball both ways,” he said. “So just continue to make the right plays and chip away and then once it gets crunch time, you’ve got to be able to get organized and keep your mind right and make the crucial plays.”Houston was up by five points late in the fou...

Most World Series Championships won by Managers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

7 — Joe McCarthy7 — Casey Stengel5 — Connie Mack4 — Walter Alston4 — Bruce Bochy4 — Joe Torre3 — Sparky Anderson3 — Miller Huggins3 — John McGraw3 — Tony La RussaSource

Man arrested after deadly North County fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

VISTA, Calif. -- A man suspected of arson was arrested last Friday after a deadly fire in the Vista area, authorities said.Gregory Triana Villegas, 50, faces two charges, including one count of murder and one count of arson, Lt. Joseph Jarjura with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a news release Wednesday. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.The fire occurred around 8 p.m. in the 100 block of Palmyra Drive. Firefighters began evacuations of the residence occupied by multiple people, when they learned one of the residents was missing, according to authorities. However, they were unable to locate the resident inside the home due to the flames and heat. Del Mar home sold for record-breaking $44.1M as countywide sales slow Once the fire was put out, firefighters found a body inside a bedroom. The deceased has not been identified at this time, per law enforcement.Investigators found evidence that suggested the fire was intentionally set.Villegas, who had be...

Suspect wanted in deadly hit-and-run motorcycle crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:39 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A $1,000 reward is being offered to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in a deadly hit-and-run crash, San Diego County Crime Stoppers along with the San Diego Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.The collision occurred on the evening of Oct. 21 on West Hills Parkway at the intersection with Carlton Oaks Drive in the Tierrasanta area.A 65-year-old man and 68-year-old woman were on a three-wheeled motorcycle when they were hit by an unknown vehicle while traveling southbound on West Hills Parkway, according to authorities. The impact of the crash sent the motorcycle rider and passenger off the vehicle, killing the woman and seriously injuring the man. ‘General Hospital,’ ‘Days of Our Lives’ star Tyler Christopher dead at 50 While the suspect vehicle left the scene, passersby helped until first responders arrived at the location, officials said. Crime Stoppers and police obtained video showing the suspect vehicle stopping for a short time south...