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TikTok hits $10 billion user spending milestone

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

Hong Kong (CNN) — Video-sharing platform TikTok has become the first app that isn’t a mobile game to generate $10 billion in global consumer spending, according to a new report, and is expected to become the highest earning app ever.The other four apps identified by app intelligence provider data.ai as having reached the milestone are all games: Candy Crush Saga from Activision Blizzard, Honor of Kings by Tencent, Monster Strike from Mixi and Supercell’s Clash of Clans.Candy Crush is the current all-time top earner with than $12 billion in lifetime user spending, according to the Monday report. The totals are based on revenue derived from Google Play and Apple’s iOS App Store. But TikTok is expected to be even bigger than the popular game.“TikTok is poised to become the highest earning mobile app ever — approaching the $15 billion milestone in 2024. Consumers are spending over $11 million per day tipping their favorite content creators, propelling TikTok past the world’s most lucrat...

United Fantasy Flight brings holiday joy to young patients at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

Patients from the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital received a unique prescription for holiday cheer — a journey to the North Pole. United Airlines Flight 3876 transformed into a magical experience for the young patients and their families, offering a festive celebration. Greeted by superheroes and Santa’s elves at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, the children embarked on a fantastical journey to the North Pole aboard the specially designated United Fantasy Flight. “We’re going to take them up in the sky and take them to the North Pole,” said Charlie Hobart, spokesperson for United Airlines. “So, this is an opportunity for these kids to really enjoy the holiday season.” The flight, filled with anticipation, featured a festively decorated gate, and the children boarded with excitement. Less than an hour later, their window shades opened to reveal the enchanting North Pole. Upon arrival, the young travelers were met by be...

Hunter Biden defies congressional subpoena to appear privately for deposition with GOP investigators

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden on Wednesday defied a congressional subpoena to appear privately for a deposition before Republican investigators who have been digging into his business dealings, insisting outside the U.S. Capitol that he will only testify in public.The Democratic president’s son slammed a subpoena requesting closed-door testimony, saying it could be manipulated. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has said Republicans expect “full cooperation” with demands. It was scheduled for Wednesday.“What are they afraid of? I’m here, I’m ready,” Hunter Biden, who lives in California, said outside the Capitol. He said he was offered a choice to come in for depositions or committee hearings. “Well, I’ve chosen,” he said. “I’m here to testify at a public hearing today to answer any of the committee’s legitimate questions.”Republicans pursue are pursuing an impeachment inquiry seeking to tie President Joe Biden to his son Hunter...

Police investigation underway following double shooting at apartment complex in Miami

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

Authorities responded to the scene of a double shooting in Miami, Wednesday. According to officials, Miami Police officers and fire rescue crews responded to Yolanda Villas Condo, located 801 NW 47th Ave., where they are actively investigating the scene.Police allegedly responded to reports of two women deceased inside of their residence at the apartment building.Law enforcement have not confirmed any information as they continue their investigation. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Ukraine must join the European Union

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

Anders Fogh Rasmussen is the founder and chairman of Rasmussen Global and is currently working pro bono with the Ukrainian President’s Office on security issues. He is former NATO secretary-general (2009-2014) and former prime minister of Denmark (2001-2009). “Today we have closed one of the bloodiest and darkest chapters in European history. Today we have opened a new chapter. Europe is spreading its wings. In freedom. In prosperity. And in peace. It is a truly proud moment for the European Union. It is a triumph for liberty and democracy.”Twenty-one years ago today, I uttered these words to a group of journalists gathered in Copenhagen. I had just presided over the European Council summit in which European leaders agreed to invite the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to join the EU.It wasn’t a decision we took lightly, but ultimately all of us assembled in that room recognized the historic moment we faced. We saw that despite the challenges, expanding the EU eastward was th...

Now Free For Some, Community Colleges See Enrollment Climb

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

The number of students studying at the state’s community colleges shot up in the fall semester, driving the first undergraduate enrollment increase at Massachusetts public colleges and universities in a decade, officials announced Tuesday.There were 152,739 undergraduates enrolled this fall across state universities, University of Massachusetts schools and community colleges, an increase of 2.9 percent compared to fall 2022, according to new Department of Higher Education data.While the jump marks the first time total undergraduate enrollment was higher than the prior year since 2013, the trend was not universal across all campuses. The number of undergraduates dropped 1 percent at UMass campuses and 0.6 percent at state universities from fall 2022 to fall 2023, though officials said the decline at state universities was more muted than in recent years.A sizable single-year increase — 8 percent — at community colleges drove the overall trend upward, the data s...

Supreme Court to decide whether to restrict abortion drug nationwide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

(CNN) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will consider whether to restrict access to a widely used abortion drug — even in states where the procedure is still allowed.The case concerns the drug mifepristone that — when coupled with another drug — is one of the most common abortion methods in the United States.The decision means the conservative-leaning court will again wade into the abortion debate after overturning Roe v. Wade last year, altering the landscape of abortion rights nationwide and triggering more than half the states to outlaw or severely restrict the procedure.The new case could be decided by July, inserting the Supreme Court into the middle of the presidential election, where abortion access is once again a key issue.For now, mifepristone remains available and not subject to restrictions the lower courts have said should be imposed on its use. The high court determined in April that access to the drug would remain unchanged until the ...

Bill Belichick responds to report Robert Kraft has already decided to part ways

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

FOXBORO — According to a report from NBC Sports Boston’s Tom E. Curran, Patriots owner Robert Kraft decided last month he will part with head coach Bill Belichick after the season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill O’Brien, Troy Brown preview Chiefs matchup New England Patriots | Patriots coach Troy Brown reacts to fellow assistant leaving midseason New England Patriots | Patriots lose backup QB to AFC rival Ravens after minimal playing time New England Patriots | Will Taylor Swift be in Boston for the Patriots-Chiefs game? New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe credits Patriots O-line with fast start, takes blame for later struggles Kraft reached his decision after the Patriots’ 10-3 loss to the Colts in Germany, according to Curran, who shared his report Monday evening during a televised discussion on Belichick’s future.“When they came out of G...

Patriots attempted to keep Malik Cunningham before Ravens poached rookie QB

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

FOXBORO — Head coach Bill Belichick understood what the Patriots were up against when the Ravens signed rookie Malik Cunningham away.The Ravens signed Cunningham off of the Patriots’ practice squad and onto their 53-man roster on Tuesday. Belichick said Wednesday morning that the Patriots did attempt to keep Cunningham, who had been elevated from the practice squad onto the game-day roster in each of their last two games.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill O’Brien, Troy Brown preview Chiefs matchup New England Patriots | Patriots coach Troy Brown reacts to fellow assistant leaving midseason New England Patriots | Patriots lose backup QB to AFC rival Ravens after minimal playing time New England Patriots | Will Taylor Swift be in Boston for the Patriots-Chiefs game? New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe credits Patriots O-line with fast start, takes blame for late...

Grant program funding two overnight shelters opening in North Central Massachusetts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:10 GMT

United Way of Massachusetts Bay awarded a grant Wednesday to open two overnight shelters in North Central Massachusetts as the Healey administration continues to contemplate how to use $50 million for an overflow site.Opportunities for Hope will provide 23 bedrooms across the two sites as well as facilities management and maintenance while the Spanish American Center will offer “multilingual, culturally competent resource coordination and connections to local supports.”This is the second grant the nonprofit organization has handed out to a community group to stand up overnight shelters after Gov. Maura Healey shuttled them $5 million in federal cash. The sites come online as the emergency shelter system in Massachusetts is still at the 7,500-family limit the governor put in place earlier this year.United Way of Massachusetts Bay President and CEO Bob Giannino said United Way of North Central Massachusetts, Opportunities for Hope and the Spanish American Center thought “creatively ab...