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Israeli flyers dropped on Gaza offer cash for intel on hostages

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

By Alisa Odenheimer and Fadwa Hodali, Bloomberg NewsThe Israeli military began offering cash and protection for anyone who shares accurate information on the whereabouts of hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.Gazans found the leaflets on the streets across Gaza on Tuesday after they’ve been dropped from Israeli aircraft, the latest in a slew of steps by Israel to locate some of the people Hamas is holding captive.“If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area,” read the leaflets, written in Arabic and shared by the Israel Defense Forces.“The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality,” they said.More than two w...

Google Maps disables live traffic data in Israel, Gaza at Israeli military’s request

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

By Marissa Newman, Bloomberg NewsAlphabet Inc.’s Google is disabling live traffic conditions in Israel and the Gaza Strip for its Maps and Waze apps at the request of the Israeli military, ahead of a potential ground invasion into Gaza.“As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.Google is removing real-time crowding data in Israel and Gaza at the request of the Israel Defense Forces, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified to discuss internal matters. Live traffic information could reveal Israeli troop movements.Related ArticlesWorld | Israeli flyers dropped on Gaza offer cash for intel on hostages World | Israel launches 400 strikes across Gaza, where healt...

GOP picks Tom Emmer as its nominee for House speaker but there’s no guarantee he can win the gavel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

By Lisa Mascaro, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans picked Rep. Tom Emmer as their nominee for House speaker Tuesday as they try again to fill the top position, but the choice quickly ran into familiar resistance from hard-liners and allies of Donald Trump leaving no guarantee the latest hopeful can win the gavel.Three weeks after Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy in a historic first, they appear no closer to choosing a new speaker who can credibly unite the GOP majority, lead the party and reopen the House.As the GOP Whip, Emmer of Minnesota jumped out front during private balloting among a hodge-podge list of mostly lesser-known congressmen for speaker, a powerful position second in line to the presidency. While he won a simple majority, he lost more than two dozen Republicans, far short of what will be needed during a House floor vote ahead.“We’re going to have to figure out how to get our act together — I mean, big bo...

How safe are cockpits? Aviation experts weigh in after security scare

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

The attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines of a U.S. airliner in midflight highlights the threat that insiders pose to aviation safety with their ability to go where passengers are prohibited.Events like the one Sunday on a Horizon Air jetliner are very rare, but they are potentially devastating.The captain and co-pilot prevented disaster by subduing the off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who — from his perfect vantage point in the cockpit jump seat — tried to cut fuel to the engines.“We’re just lucky he wasn’t flying the plane when he decided to do this. What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats.There is something of a see-something, say-something mindset in aviation, where employees are encouraged to voluntarily report anything that raises a safety concern, including suspicious behavior of colleagues. It’s not clear how o...

Members of Canada’s first video game industry union vote in favour of strike action

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

EDMONTON — Video game industry workers in Edmonton have voted unanimously in favour of strike action.The Edmonton workers at Irish company Keywords Studios, who are represented by UFCW Canada Local 401, made history in summer 2022 by becoming the first video game industry union in Canada.They were laid off last month amid efforts to negotiate their first collective agreement that had gone on for over a year.The team had been working on quality assurance and testing for Edmonton-based developer BioWare, which is owned by American video game giant Electronic Arts.BioWare, which is behind the critically acclaimed “Mass Effect” and “Dragon Age” series, declined to renew its contract with the Edmonton team, which the union says resulted in the layoffs.The president of UFCW Canada Local 401 says in a statement that the strike “is about holding the company to account rather than allowing them to abandon the collective bargaining process.”“The video game indust...

Rio de Janeiro deploys helicopters in extra security after a criminal gang torches 35 buses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Authorities deployed helicopters and other extra security Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro after members of a criminal gang set fire to at least 35 buses in apparent retaliation for the police slaying of one of their key members. The attack late Monday on public transport buses took place in a western section of Rio far from its tourist districts and caused no casualties, but it represented significant defiance of the government.Rio’s state Gov. Cláudio Castro said Tuesday after a meeting with his security officials that the city was on “maximum alert” with helicopters and drones reinforcing the police presence on the streets.Police arrested 12 people in the arson attacks, but six were released due to a lack of evidence as the investigation continues, Castro said.Authorities said the arson attacks were in retaliation for the police slaying earlier Monday of a man identified as Matheus Silva Resende, the nephew of a criminal leader of the largest militia group in the s...

The 1st major snowstorm of the season is expected to hit the northern Rockies after a warm fall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The first major snowstorm of the season is expected to hit the northern Cascades and Rockies and move into North Dakota this week, sending residents searching for their winter coats, gloves and boots and facing much different driving conditions after a warm fall in many places.The National Weather Service is warning of hazardous travel on snowy mountain passes and ice on some highways when snow initially melts and then freezes as road temperatures drop. The storm is forecast to begin Tuesday with rain at lower elevations in Washington and snow in the mountains before spreading snow across northern Idaho, Montana, northwestern Wyoming and North Dakota.Cold air moving down from northwestern Canada will combine with a moist Pacific weather system leading to freezing temperatures and snowfall amounts up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in the mountains of Montana, the National Weather Service forecasts. Some higher elevations in the northern Rockies could see snow tota...

Music Review: K-pop group SEVENTEEN find nirvana on new mini-album ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — How does a group follow up their biggest release to date? In the case of K-pop act SEVENTEEN, they continue to grow their successes — and release another mini-album in the same year.In April, the 13-member group (WOOZI, DK, JOSHUA, JEONGHAN, SEUNGKWAN, VERNON, S.COUPS, WONWOO, MINGYU, DINO, HOSHI, JUN, THE 8) released “FML,” their highest charting release. It spent nine weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 2 and sold millions of copies.On the group’s 11th mini album six months later — titled “SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN,” a play on the English maxim “seventh heaven,” referring to a state of extreme elation — the group build off that exciting foundation across seven tracks.And there’s a lot to love, particularly in the first two tracks. “SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN” opens with an all-English language track, the Jersey club-meets-pop rock “SOS,” co-produced by American DJ Marshmello. Contrast that with “God of Music,” the sunshine-y pop single with bright brassy tou...

No charges for man who fired gun near pro-Palestinian rally outside Chicago, prosecutor says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Charges will not be filed against the man who fired a gunshot into the air near pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside an Israel solidarity event in Chicago’s northern suburbs, prosecutors said Monday evening after determining that he acted in self-defense.A group of about 200 pro-Palestinian protesters had rallied Sunday evening outside a banquet hall in Skokie, where people were gathered to show solidarity with Israel, according to police.Witnesses told the Chicago Sun-Times that a man drove his car toward the group. Lincolnwood Police, who were called to assist Skokie Police, have previously said in a statement the 39-year-old man fired a shot into the air before officers took him into custody. A witness told the newspaper that the man’s car had been covered in Israeli flags.After reviewing surveillance video and witness statements, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office said in an emailed statement that prosecutors will not file charges against ...

MPs want big tech held responsible for misinformation spread online by foreign actors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:59:29 GMT

OTTAWA — A parliamentary committee is calling on Canada to hold tech giants accountable for publishing false or misleading information online, especially when it is spread by foreign actors. That was among 22 recommendations the House ethics committee made in its study of foreign interference by China and Russia.Bloc Québécois MP and committee vice-chair René Villemure says Canada needs to take a firm position on this similar to the European Union, which has a digital misinformation law that curbs hate speech and propaganda.The federal Conservatives were the only party to disagree with that recommendation, saying it will endorse censorship online. But Villemure says holding social media companies such as Meta and Google accountable has nothing to do with freedom of expression. The committee began its study in 2022 before public allegations that China tried to meddle in the last two federal elections. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.The Canadian Press