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The mother of an Israeli woman in a Hamas hostage video appeals for her release

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The mother of a young Israeli woman held by Hamas appealed for her release on Tuesday, calling the seizure of some 200 hostages by the Palestinian militant group “a crime against humanity.”A day earlier, Hamas’ military wing released a video showing a dazed Mia Schem, 21, having her arm wrapped with bandages. It was the first sign of life from any of the hostages since Gaza-based gunmen smashed through border fortifications on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people in Israel.“I didn’t know if she’s dead or alive until yesterday,” her mother, Keren Schem, said at a news conference. “All I knew is that she might be kidnapped. I’m begging the world to bring my baby back home. She only went to a party, to a festival party to have some fun. Now she’s in Gaza.”Mia Schem was seized at a desert rave just over the border from Gaza that became the site of what is believed to be the worst civilian massacre in Israeli history. At least 260 people were gunned down as heavily arm...

Versailles Palace evacuated again for security alert amid high vigilance in France against attacks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The Palace of Versailles, one of France’s most visited tourist attractions, is being evacuated for a security scare. It’s the second time in four days the palace has had to close, with France on heightened alert against feared attacks after the fatal stabbing of a school teacher.The former royal palace’s account on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “For security reasons, the Palace of Versailles is evacuating visitors and closing its doors today Tuesday October 17. Thank you for your understanding.” The post gave no other details.The palace as well as the Louvre Museum in Paris were also evacuated of visitors and staff on Saturday after receiving bomb threats, police said. France stepped up its terror alert level in the wake of the school attack in the northern city of Arras last Friday by a suspected Islamic extremist.The Associated Press

Prosecutors are appealing length of prison sentences for Proud Boys leaders convicted of Jan. 6 plot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is appealing the length of prison sentences for four Proud Boys leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy in the U.S. Capitol attack, challenging punishments that were significantly shorter than what prosecutors had recommended, according to court filings.U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly sentenced former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio and three lieutenants to prison terms ranging from 15 to 22 years after a jury convicted them in May of plotting to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 presidential election. Tarrio’s 22-year sentence is the longest so far among hundreds of criminal cases stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, but prosecutors had sought 33 years behind bars for the Miami man. Attorney Nayib Hassan said in an email that the defense team will review prosecutors’ reasoning for appealing the sentencing but is preparing its own appeal and...

TD Bank says Charles Schwab stake expected to add $156M for Q4

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

TORONTO — TD Bank Group says its stake in Charles Schwab Corp. is expected to translate into $156 million of reported equity in net income for its fourth quarter.The Toronto-based bank says excluding about $13 million in acquisition-related charges after-tax, about $35 million in restructuring charges after-tax, and approximately $30 million in amortization of acquired intangibles after-tax, its adjusted equity in net income from its investment in Schwab will be about $234 million for the quarter.Schwab reported its third-quarter results on Monday.It said it earned net income of US$1.13 billion for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, down from US$2.02 billion in the same quarter last year.Its adjusted profit for the quarter totalled US$1.52 billion, down from an adjusted profit of US$2.21 billion a year earlier.TD is expected to report its full fourth-quarter results on Nov. 30.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:TD)The Cana...

Sweden players take overnight flight home, start returning to clubs after deadly shooting in Belgium

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden players were returning to their clubs Tuesday after taking an overnight flight home from Brussels following the suspension of their European Championship qualifier at halftime because a gunman killed two Swedish nationals before kickoff.It remained unclear Tuesday whether the match would be completed at a later date. European soccer governing body UEFA said it was too early to make any decision and that “further communication will be made in due course.” Belgium and Austria have qualified from Group F for the tournament to be held in Germany next year but both teams can still win the group. The squad went directly to the airport and flew back to Sweden once they were allowed to leave King Baudouin Stadium, which was locked down for 2 1/2 hours for security reasons before officials began an evacuation process around midnight local time.It was around 4 a.m. local time when the last of the Swedish supporters — totaling about 650, according to the Swedish Football...

Stock market today: World shares mixed following Wall Street rally as war shock to markets fades

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares were mixed Tuesday after U.S. stocks rallied as investors unwound some of last week’s moves driven by worries about war in the Middle East. Oil prices rose and U.S. futures declined. Markets are awaiting China’s latest economic growth figures, due Wednesday. Economists are forecasting that annual growth dropped below 5% in July-September from 6.3% in the previous quarter. A weaker Chinese economy is a drag on regional and global trade and manufacturing, slowing the global recovery from the pandemic. Germany’s DAX fell 0.5% to 15,163.52 and the CAC 40 in Paris shed 0.3% to 7,000.99. Britain’s FTSE 100 rose 0.3% to 7,654.72. The futures for the S&P 500 and Dow industrials were 0.2% lower. In Asia, Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.2% to 32,040.29 and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong added 0.8% to 17,773.34. The Shanghai Composite index gained 0.3% to 3,083.50. In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 climbed 0.5% to 7,056.10. India’s Sensex advance...

Rolls-Royce is cutting up to 2,500 jobs in an overhaul of the UK jet engine maker

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

Jet engine maker Rolls-Royce said Tuesday it’s cutting up to 2,500 jobs globally as part of a corporate overhaul that its new CEO is carrying out. The aerospace company was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic that decimated demand for air travel. Tufan Erginbilgic, who took over as chief executive in January, said the layoffs are aimed at making Rolls-Royce “more streamlined and efficient.” Rolls-Royce, based in Derby, central England, didn’t disclose where jobs will be cut, but around half of its 42,000-person workforce is based in the United Kingdom.The cuts will remove duplication and bring cost efficiencies in the latest stage of its “multi-year transformation,” the company said. “We are building a Rolls-Royce that is fit for the future,” Erginbilgic said. The company slashed 9,000 jobs globally in 2020 as it grappled with the collapse of air travel during the pandemic.The new turnaround plan also includes creating a new company-wide procurement divis...

UN refugee chief says Rohingya who fled Myanmar must not be forgotten during other world crises

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees urged the international community on Tuesday not to forget the plight of ethnic Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in the midst of many other world crises. More support is needed to help the displaced Rohingya and also relieve the burden on the countries hosting them, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi said.Grandi said providing humanitarian assistance is becoming increasingly difficult because of the continuing armed conflict in Myanmar and reduced funding and aid due to the other crises, including in Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East.Speaking on the sidelines of a regional meeting on Rohingya refugee assistance in Bangkok, he emphasized that a ”voluntary, dignified return to Myanmar” by the Rohingya refugees is the most desirable solution, but acknowledged there are “many challenges that need to be overcome.”“What I have asked the participants in this meeting is to make big pledges in support of the Rohingya refugees: open po...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps near 60 with partly cloudy conditions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

CHICAGO — Partly cloudy and a bit milder Tuesday. Winds: WSW 5-10 mph. Air quality is Good to Moderate today for Chicagoland. Highs near 60. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Partly cloudy tonight this evening. Increasing clouds after midnight. Winds: S 5-10 mph. Low 46.Wednesday Forecast: More clouds Wednesday, getting breezy, with showers / t'storms arriving by evening. S 10-20, G30-35 mph. High 65.Extended outlook calls for a soggy Thursday with high temps near 60. Mostly cloudy and some showers for Friday with highs near 60. Showers and sun for Saturday and a few showers might linger into Sunday too. Highs both days this weekend in the mid to upper 50s. Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

'Pay to play?' Reese's $25K contest may be against sweepstakes laws

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:54 GMT

Reese’s may be in violation of state and federal laws with its new sweepstakes offer currently advertised on packs of peanut butter cups.The promotion on two-cup packages reads “You could win $25,000” and, in smaller print, “See details inside.” But only after consumers have bought and opened a package can they see the small print: no purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes.The Reese's contest was first reported Monday by Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts, who runs the Consumer World website.Sweepstakes are primarily governed by state laws, which require that no purchase is necessary to participate. A contest that requires a purchase is a lottery, which is subject to different rules.Three federal agencies — the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Postal Service — also enforce laws governing sweepstakes depending on the type of promotion. The Postal Service requires mailed sweepsta...