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How Quran burnings in Sweden have increased threats from Islamic militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The killing of two Swedish citizens in an attack ahead of a soccer match in Brussels has shocked the Scandinavian country, although the government has been warning for months that Swedes were at greater risk since a recent string of public desecrations of the Quran holy book by a handful of anti-Islam activists. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday noted that the government and the security service in August had raised the terror alert to the second-highest level following threats against Sweden by Islamic extremists. “Now we know with chilling clarity that there were grounds for those concerns,” he said. The desecrations, primarily by an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, have sparked angry reactions in Muslim countries. In June, demonstrators in Iraq stormed the Swedish Embassy and the Iraqi government cut off diplomatic relations with Sweden. The desecrations have raised questions -– including in Sweden -– about why such acts are allowed.WHAT DO SWEDISH...

Russian parliament moves to rescind ratification of global nuclear test ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — The lower house of the Russian parliament on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a bill revoking the ratification of a global nuclear test ban.The State Duma voted unanimously to rescind the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty known as the CTBT, in the first of three required readings. The final vote is scheduled for later this week.The move follows a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned earlier this month that Moscow could revoke its 2000 decision to ratify the bill to “mirror” the stand taken by the United States, which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, although it has never fully entered into force. There are widespread concerns that Russia could move to resume nuclear tests to try to discourage the West from continuing to offer military support to Ukraine. Many Russian hawks have spoken in favor of resumption.Putin has not...

Czech government faces no-confidence vote in Parliament sought by populist ex-prime minister

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech coalition government on Tuesday faced a parliamentary no-confidence vote over opposition claims that it is incompetent in handling the economy and in controlling immigration.The main opposition centrist ANO (YES) movement led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis accused the government of failing to deal with high inflation driven by energy prices and a new wave of migration, among other issues. Inflation has been on the decline this year, dropping from 17.5% in January to 6.9% in September.The government has rejected the allegations.The two opposition parties, including ANO and the anti-migrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party, are unlikely to oust the five-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which has a comfortable majority in the lower house of Parliament.Babis, the former prime minister, also accused the government of caring more about Ukraine than about Czech citizens. The country has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its f...

In the news today: War update from Israel, Canadian grocers keep mum on pricing plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Day 11 of the latest Israel-Palestinian WarPalestinians are describing intense bombardments early Tuesday near two towns in southern Gaza, where Israel had ordered civilians to seek refuge. A strike in Deir al Balah, south of Gaza City, reduced a house to rubble, killing nine members of the family living there, mostly women and children. Three members of another family that had evacuated from Gaza City were killed in a neighbouring home. Witnesses said there was no warning before the strike. The order to evacuate was given ahead of an anticipated Israeli offensive in the territory, with an aim at eliminating Hamas and its leadership. Meantime, Iran’s supreme leader Tuesday insisted that his country will not stop Hamas, and repeated a call for Israeli leaders to be tried for war crimes. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “If the crimes continue, Muslims wi...

Israel-Hamas war means one less overseas option for WNBA players with Russia already out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Alysha Clark has spent the past five WNBA offseasons playing overseas in Israel, but with the country at war with Hamas she probably won’t be going back this year — if it’s even an option.Currently the Israel women’s basketball league has suspended play amid the war.“It’s another home for me when I go there. I don’t know,” Clark, the Las Vegas Aces’ top reserve said of possibly returning to Israel. “Honestly my gut feeling is saying no. I’d prefer to stay home and be with my family, be in the market in Vegas and do that type of thing.”As Clark and other players evaluate their next moves with the WNBA season coming to an end this week, the overseas job market continues to shrink, between the situation in Israel and the ongoing war Russia-Ukraine war. Last offseason nearly half the league’s 144 players made the trek to Israel, Australia, Turkey, Italy and about a half-dozen other countries to supplement their incomes.While it’s easie...

Amazon, Tripadvisor and other companies team up to battle fake reviews while FTC seeks to ban them

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Some of the most used platforms for travel and online shopping said Tuesday they’re going to team up to battle fake reviews. Amazon, reviews site Glassdoor and Trustpilot as well as travel companies Expedia Group, Booking.com and Tripadvisor said in an announcement they’re launching a coalition that aims to protect access to “trustworthy consumer reviews” worldwide. The companies said the members of the group, which will be called Coalition for Trusted Reviews, will look for best practices for hosting online reviews and share methods on how to detect fake ones. That will include developing standards for what constitutes a fake review and sharing information about how bad actors operate. Phony reviews have long plagued online marketplaces despite their efforts to eradicate it. Much of the problem is fueled by brokers who solicit fake customer reviews through social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps and other channels in exchange for money, free items or ...

Biden to visit Israel as bombardments strike southern Gaza on 11th day of war with Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

Palestinians described intense bombardments early Tuesday near two towns in southern Gaza, where Israel had ordered civilians to seek refuge.Thousands of people trying to escape Gaza are gathered in Rafah, which has the territory’s only border crossing to Egypt. Mediators are pressing for an agreement to let aid in and refugees with foreign passports out. The U.S. hoped to break a deadlock with President Joe Biden set to head to Israel and Jordan on Wednesday.Aid workers warned that life in Gaza was near complete collapse because of the Israeli siege that followed a Hamas attack on Israel.The war that began Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,778 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.Currently:U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of...

Georgia deputy shoots, kills Black man who served 16 years on wrongful conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) — A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot Monday by a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities said.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting, identified the man as Leonard Allen Cure, 53.In this photo provided by the Innocence Project of Florida, Leonard Allen Cure poses on the day of his release from prison on April 14, 2020, in Fla. Cure, who spent more than 16 years in prison in Florida on a wrongful conviction, was shot and killed Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, by a sheriff's deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities and representatives said. (Innocence Project of Florida via AP)Cure had been represented in his exoneration case by the Innocence Project of Florida. The group’s executive director, Seth Miller, said he was devastated by news of the death, which he heard from Cure’s family.“I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is i...

Man accused of living with dead body for months spent victim's money on Amazon: prosecutors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) - A man accused of killing his roommate and living with her body for months faces new criminal charges after prosecutors said he used the victim's money to buy thousands of dollars worth of products from Amazon following her death. A grand jury indicted George Bone, 31, earlier this month on three theft-related charges, court records showed. The panel indicted Bone last month on a murder charge in the death of 29-year-old Beverly Ma.During a grand jury return hearing Friday, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said Bone allegedly raked up $10,000 in Amazon purchases. Police suspect Bone "ordered 171 items from Amazon for himself using her finances while she lay deceased," court documents said.Photos shown to a Clark County grand jury include this one of a fly trap hanging from a lamp. (Grand jury exhibit/KLAS)Las Vegas Metro police officers took Bone into custody in July after discovering Ma’s body during a welfare check, according to the department.On the ...

Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage as US, international pressure to release captives intensifies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:27:00 GMT

Hamas is beginning to release videos of hostages that they kidnapped from Israel as part of a brutal attack on the country launched last week, when 199 people were taken captive and more than 1,300 were killed.Women and children including infants and toddlers are believed to be among those Hamas took as hostages into the Gaza Strip during its attack on Oct. 7.A new video released Monday shows a young woman lying in a bed and receiving medical treatment. Her arm is being wrapped after what appears to be a recent surgery to stabilize what could be a broken bone. In another shot she is sitting up and facing the camera, explaining her name, age and that she was taken to Gaza from the southern Israeli city of Sderot after the Supernova music festival where Hamas killed more than 200 people.“Hi, I’m Mia Schem, 21-years-old from Shoham. Currently, I’m in Gaza,” she said, speaking in a composed manner.“I returned early Saturday morning from the Sderot area, I was at a party. I was seri...