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Travel Troubleshooter: Budget charges $250 for calibrating a camera. Is that legit?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I rented a car from Budget last summer in Jacksonville, Florida. I noticed several dents and scratches, which I planned to point out during the walk-around inspection. But the attendant told me that they “don’t do inspections” because they keep records of any damage that happens to their vehicles. That didn’t seem right, so I took photos of the damage.Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter When I returned the vehicle, there was also no inspection. The next month, I received a letter from Budget telling me it would charge my credit card $250 for damages. They claim that the damage involved a windshield camera — not any of the dents or scratches I had photos of.I assured Budget that nothing had happened to the vehicle while I had possession of it, and I asked for paperwork on the damage. Budget never produced any evidence of the damage.My credit card company told me that the time for a dispute had expired and there...

Mother Nature can ‘fool’ DC region with April 1 weather

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

Just as we flip the calendar to April early this weekend, we are reminded just how much Mother Nature can “fool” D.C. residents with the weather.Transition seasons such as fall and spring provide D.C. with an array of weather with temperatures bouncing around, rain, thunderstorms and even snowflakes in the mix. April 1 presents its own challenges for meteorologists.Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Weather forecastWhile the past six years have been consistent with highs in the 50s and 60s, you don’t have to look too far back to see highs in the upper 40s in 2004. It can get as hot as 88 degrees like it did in 1978 and as frigid as 15 degrees in 1923.However, a frosty morning in D.C. is more of the exception than the rule. The last time April Fools’ Day dropped below freezing was 1987.April Fools’ Day weather statistics and latest spring freeze data for Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of NOAA)As a matter of fact, Monday is the average d...

Así es la polémica reforma judicial de Israel que ha desembocado en protestas masivas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

(CNN) — Durante meses, cientos de miles de israelíes han salido a las calles de todo el país para protestar contra los cambios de gran alcance en el sistema jurídico que, según algunos, amenazan los fundamentos democráticos del país.Las tensiones aumentaron aún más este fin de semana cuando el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu despidió abruptamente al ministro de Defensa, Yoav Gallant, por su oposición a la reforma prevista, lo que desató protestas callejeras masivas y huelgas generalizadas.Protestas en Israel: última hora y noticias en vivoEn esencia, la reforma judicial daría al Parlamento israelí, la Knesset (y por tanto a los partidos en el poder), un mayor control sobre el poder judicial de Israel.Desde cómo se selecciona a los jueces hasta sobre qué leyes puede pronunciarse el Tribunal Supremo, pasando incluso por otorgar al Parlamento el poder de anular las decisiones de esta corte, los cambios supondrían la mayor remodelación del poder judicial israelí desde su fundac...

Huazhu Group: Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

SHANGHAI 201103, China (AP) — Huazhu Group Limited (HTHT) on Monday reported a loss of $19 million in its fourth quarter.The Shanghai 201103, China-based company said it had a loss of 6 cents per share.The hotel operator posted revenue of $537 million in the period.For the year, the company reported a loss of $264 million, or 85 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $2.01 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HTHT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HTHTSource

Harris visits Ghana’s president, promises aid, investments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday praised Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo for his “democratic principles” during a visit with the West African leader, who’s facing rising discontent over inflation and fresh concerns about regional security.Harris is just beginning a weeklong trip to the continent that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia, part of a concerted effort to broaden U.S. outreach at a time when China and Russia have entrenched interests of their own in Africa.On Monday, the vice president was welcomed into the Ghanaian presidential palace, called the Jubilee House, where she promised assistance with security in the nation and increased investments there.“As president of Ghana, you have been very courageous and forward in terms of standing for democratic principles,” Harris said to Akufo-Addo. “I thank you for the friendship you have offered the United States”Akufo-Addo oversaw one of the world’s fast-growing economies...

Sicilian swordfish cooks gently in rustic tomato-caper sauce

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

From May to August each year, the turbulent waters between Sicily and Calabria erupt with fishermen searching for what’s known as the king of the strait, swordfish. Once on land, the massive fish is cut into succulent steaks for one of Southern Italy’s most emblematic summertime dishes, pesce spada alla ghiotta.The name, which means “swordfish in glutton’s style,” is a reference to the wealth of delicious ingredients that flavor a rustic tomato sauce. Rife with briny capers, olives, garlic, red pepper flakes and basil, it’s something like a saucy, seafood version of puttanesca.In the version from our book “Tuesday Nights Mediterranean,” which features weeknight-friendly meals from the region, swordfish steaks are browned in olive oil and finish cooking in the garlicky tomato sauce. Capers and basil infuse the dish with bold Mediterranean flavors.To make it a complete one-pan meal, we add Yukon Gold potatoes. Cutting the potatoes into small, ½-inch pieces ensures they cook completely...

Thousands of pounds of boneless beef chuck recalled over possible E.coli

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

Thousands of pounds of boneless beef chuck have been recalled due to possible E. coli bacteria.Maryland is one of nine states that received the meat that was packed on Feb. 16 and shipped to distributors.The meat is a product from Elkhorn Valley Packing, a Harper, Kan. establishment. The company is voluntarily recalling more than 3,400 pounds of the boneless beef chuck.More Business NewsMore Recalls NewsA news release from the Department of Agriculture said that the meat may contain Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.It was shipped to distributors, federal establishments, retail locations and wholesale locations, which includes hotels, restaurants and institutions.The recall happened after a sample of the meat came back positive for the bacteria during routine testing.Symptoms of ingesting the bacteria includes diarrhea and vomiting with some illnesses lasting longer. Infection of the bacteria is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample.The USDA says distributors and others who hav...

New Hubble images reveal stunning seasonal transformations on Uranus, Jupiter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured some stunning new images revealing the changing seasonal conditions on two of our solar system’s largest planets – Uranus and Jupiter.The icy gas giant Uranus is particularly intriguing, as it follows an unusual 84-year orbit around the sun while also rolling on its side. This means that for 42 years at a time, parts of one hemisphere are without sunlight, creating extreme seasonal changes on the planet’s surface.Thanks to the Hubble telescope’s powerful imaging capabilities, scientists can now observe these seasonal transformations in greater detail than ever before. Images captured just seven years apart show the planet’s orientation shifting significantly as it moves along its orbit.But it’s not just Uranus that’s caught the attention of astronomers. Hubble has also been tracking the changing weather patterns on Jupiter, another gas giant in our solar system. The telescope’s observati...

Jeremy Renner shows off strides in recovery on treadmill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

(CNN) — Jeremy Renner is continuing on his road of recovery and taking his followers along with him.The “Mayor of Kingstown” star posted on the Instastories portion of his verified Instagram account over the weekend and shared a video in which he was doing physical therapy on an anti-gravity treadmill.Renner can be heard saying that the machine allows him to only feel “40% of my weight” while walking.According to the Running Physio site, such treadmills “feature a bubble that inflates with air, then surrounds the user’s lower body. This gently lifts them off the treadmill which reduces pressure on the lower body.”The actor was crushed by a snow plow he had been operating on New Year’s Day near his Nevada home.Since then, Renner has been sharing posts about his miraculous recovery.“Now is the time for my body to rest and recover from my will,” Renner captioned his weekend video.

2 tigers recaptured after escaping Georgia safari park during tornado warning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:20 GMT

(CNN) — Two tigers have been recaptured after escaping a Georgia safari park during a tornado warning Sunday morning, according to the park.In a Facebook post, the Wild Animal Safari park in Pine Mountain wrote that it sustained “extensive tornado damage.”No staff or animals were injured but “several animal enclosures” were breached and “two tigers briefly escaped,” said the park.Since then, both big cats have been “found, tranquilized, and safely returned to a safe enclosure.”Wild Animal Safari, a drive-through park, is home to over 75 species of animals housed on 250 acres of land, its website says. Tigers are included in the park’s “walkabout” section, where guests can observe animals in a more zoo-like environment, the website says.In a Sunday morning Facebook post, the Troup County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report of a tiger “unaccounted” for inside the park in Pine Mountain, Geo...