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Trump arrest prompts Jesus comparisons: ‘Spiritual warfare’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the most devoted Trump conspiracy theorists, there are no coincidences and timing is everything.So when ex-President Donald Trump was arraigned Tuesday on charges that he falsified business records to obscure hush money payments in an effort to influence the 2016 election, some of his most ardent followers quickly noted the court appearance came during Christianity’s most sacred week, Holy Week, when many Christians commemorate Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.“Seems there was someone else who was tortured and crucified this week,” read one post on Gab, a platform popular with Trump supporters. A similar post on Telegram put Trump’s case in apocalyptic terms: “Good vs Evil. Biblical times. Divine timing.”Comparisons likening Trump to Christ were among the top online narratives about the Republican former president and his criminal charges circulating in the last several days, according to an analysis of online and social media content conducted by Zi...

Global takedown of cybercriminals behind malware operation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An online marketplace that trafficked in stolen login credentials, email user names and passwords, bank account data and other sensitive information has been dismantled, law enforcement officials in the United States and Europe announced Wednesday.Officials also have seized 11 domain names tied to the Genesis Market and arrested about 120 users across the world, including some in the U.S., according to the FBI and Justice Department, which participated in the operation.The market “falsely promised a new age of anonymity and impunity, but in the end only provided a new way for the Department to identify, locate, and arrest on-line criminals,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.Genesis Market was created five years and since then has provided users with access to data taken from more than 1.5 million computers infected with malicious software, the department said.“Operation Cookie Monster,” the effort by law enforcement agencies in 17 countries, ...

UN: Ban on Afghan female staffers by Taliban unacceptable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The U.N. said Wednesday it cannot accept a Taliban decision to bar Afghan female staffers from working at the agency, calling it an “unparalleled” violation of women’s rights.The statement came a day after the U.N. said it had been informed by Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban that Afghan women would no longer be allowed to work for the world body. That announcement came after the U.N. mission in the country expressed concern that its female staffers were prevented from reporting to work in eastern Nangarhar province.The Taliban decision is “an unparalleled violation of women’s rights, a flagrant breach of humanitarian principles, and a breach of international rules,” Wednesday’s statement said. The Taliban have not commented publicly on the ban and have not released a statement.The U.N. statement said several U.N. national female personnel have already experienced restrictions on their movements, including harassment, intimidation and detention.“The UN...

Liberal MP slams own government’s ‘bland statements’ on Israel’s far-right crackdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

OTTAWA — Liberal MP Salma Zahid is criticizing her own government’s response to Israel’s administration amid police violence in Jerusalem.The Toronto MP says Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly needs to go beyond statements expressing concern.Zahid said on Twitter Tuesday evening that “Canada cannot stand by and issue bland statements anymore,” and “either we stand for human rights or we don’t.”The tweet includes a video of Israeli police storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City overnight, as police fired stun grenades at Palestinians who hurled stones and firecrackers.Zahid says there is a “direct line” between the violence and “provocations” by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is propped up by right-wing parties.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was not asked about the situation during a news conference on Wednesday but volunteered a statement on the issue. “It&...

Bob Lee, Cash App founder and MobileCoin exec, slain at 43

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bob Lee, a technology executive who created Cash App and was currently chief product officer of MobileCoin, was fatally stabbed in San Francisco early Tuesday, according to the cryptocurrency platform and police.The San Francisco Police Department said in a press release that officers responded to a report of a stabbing on Main Street at 2:35 a.m. Tuesday and found a 43-year-old man suffering from apparent stab wounds. The victim died at a hospital.Police did not identify the victim but MobileCoin confirmed Lee’s death in response to an email from The Associated Press on Wednesday.“Our dear friend and colleague, Bob Lee passed away yesterday at the age of 43, survived by a loving family and collection of close friends and collaborators,” MobileCoin CEO Josh Goldbard said in a statement.Lee was “made for the new world,” Goldbard wrote.“From large contributions to Android at google, to being the first CTO of Square, in that time creating CashApp, and working...

WATCH LIVE: CFD holds update after firefighter critically injured

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

CHICAGO — The Chicago Fire Department is currently battling a high-rise fire on inner Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast that has injured two firefighters, one critically.At around 7:20 a.m., CFD tweeted that they responded to the 1200 block of North Lake Shore Drive, which is near the intersection of Division, for a still-and-box response.Initially, CFD said two firefighters have been injured. Then a short time later, a mayday response was called for a firefighter down. One firefighter is in "very" critical condition and another is in fair condition.The fire department said the fire was initially out and they were just battling hot spots. However at around 8:55 a.m., the fire reignited and large flames are shooting out of another unit. Around 40 minutes later, the main body of the fire was put out with efforts being concentrated to one large apartment on the 27th floor.CFD has lost the ability to use elevators and said there are no sprinklers on the floor.On Tuesday morning, the de...

At least 6 wanted after back-to-back carjackings in Logan Square

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

CHICAGO — A group of at least six males conducted two carjackings back-to-back in Logan Square Wednesday morning. Just before 6 a.m., police said a 38-year-old man was walking to his parked grey Ford Fusion in the 2100 block of North Whipple when a black SUV and a white sedan approached. A group of approximately six to eight males exited both vehicles and demanded the man's sedan and personal property.Some of the suspects got into the Fusion and all three vehicles fled southbound, police said.At around 6:15 a.m., a 53-year-old man was inside his blue Honda Pilot when two vehicles approached. Firefighter ‘very critical’ as CFD battles Gold Coast fire A group of approximately six exited both vehicles and demanded the man's SUV. He was struck in the face before they left northbound, with one of the other vehicles following behind.No one is in custody and no suspect information was provided. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Liam Hendriks reaches major milestone in cancer fight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the most important journeys in the life of the White Sox closer has come to an end. On Wednesday morning on Instagram, Liam Hendriks announced that he has completed treatments for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He rang the "Victory Bell" after finishing up his final chemotherapy session, which he began on January 9th. That came one day after he publically announced that he'd been diagnosed with cancer on Instagram.Hendriks revealed in a video that was played on the video board at the home opener at Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday that he was starting his last treatment this week. ‘Incredibly genuine’: How Liam Hendriks & family have helped the Lymphoma Research Foundation In his Instagram post, Hendriks had this statement to supporters.5 months ago my life changed forever. You never think you will be the one who hears “you have cancer” but there I was… in shock and fear not knowing what comes next.I started treatment after SO many life altering appointments on Janua...

What is a pink moon and when can you see it?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — As we settle into spring, a new lunar cycle signals the changing of the season, bringing with it the annual "pink moon."The pink moon will rise into the sky Wednesday night, and will peak around 12:30 a.m. Eastern time early Thursday.According to the Old Famers Almanac, similar to March's worm moon, its name has nothing to do with the moon's appearance. Rather, the name stems from the fact that pink flower blooms begin to reappear around this time of year, specifically Phlox subulata, which goes by the alternate name of "moss pink."The pink moon also often comes around the time Easter is celebrated, earning its alternative name the Paschal Full Moon. Easter is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday following the April full moon, therefore, Easter will take place this Sunday, April 9. Don’t use the front passenger seat in these 140K recalled vehicles, Volkswagen says This year, the moon also appears on the day of Passover on April 5. The almanac al...

Man kills 4 children with hatchet at daycare center in Brazil

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:32:48 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded a daycare center Wednesday in Brazil, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said.The assailant turned himself in at a police station and did not appear to have any connection with the center, which offers nursery services, preschool education and after-school activities. The dead were between the ages of 5 and 7, authorities said.Authorities were searching for a motive, the police detective leading the investigation, Ronnie Esteves, told television reporters in Blumenau, a city in southern Brazil, near the Atlantic coast.An ambulance is parked outside the private daycare center "Cantinho do Bom Pastor" after a fatal attack on children in Blumenau, Santa Catarina state, Brazil, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. A man with a hatchet jumped over a wall and invaded the daycare center, killing four children and wounding at least five others, authorities said. (Denner Ovidio/Futura Press via ...