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Australia bans TikTok from federal government devices

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia has become the last of the “Five Eyes” security partners to ban the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from its federal government’s devices. Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said in a statement Tuesday that based on intelligence and security agencies’ advice, that ban would come into effect “as soon as practicable.” The so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners — the United States, Canada, Britain and New Zealand — have taken similar steps. TikTok is owned by the Chinese technology company Bytedance and has long maintained that it does not share data with the Chinese government. It is carrying out a project to store U.S. user data in Texas, which it says will put it out China’s reach. The company also disputes accusations it collects more user data than other social media companies, and insists that it is run independently by its own management.The European Parliament, European Commission and the EU Council, the 27-member bl...

Group steers Swiss billionaire’s money to liberal causes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Berger Action Fund is a nondescript name for a group with a rather specific purpose: steering the wealth of Hansjörg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire, into the world of American politics and policy. As a foreign national, Wyss is prohibited from donating to candidates or political committees. But his influence is still broadly felt through millions of dollars routed through a network of nonprofit groups that invest heavily in the Democratic ecosystem. Such groups don’t have to disclose the source of their funding — or many details about how they spend it. Newly available tax documents show that his giving through the Berger Action Fund, which describes itself as advocating for “solutions to some of our world’s biggest problems,” swelled in 2021 to $72 million, cementing Wyss’ status as a Democratic-aligned megadonor. Representatives for Wyss insist they comply with laws governing the giving of foreign nationals and have put in place strict poli...

Officials provide update on Woodridge tornado recovery efforts nearly 2 years later

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

WOODRIDGE, Ill. — As disaster recovery efforts are underway after the latest tornado outbreak, the Village of Woodridge is still working to recover from one that hit the community nearly two summers ago.At the Woodridge Country Club Condo Association, 24 homeowners and their families are still displaced as recovery efforts remain ongoing.“21 months ago, this area was hit by an EF-3 tornado, and the recovery is still not complete. Last weekend our district was hit again from Aurora to Belvidere, with severe storm damage,” said Congressman Bill Foster. Chicago-area native being hailed a hero after Nashville school shooting On Monday, Foster joined other lawmakers, Village of Woodridge representatives, Woodridge Neighbors Helping Neighbors Disaster Recovery board members, and representatives with the homeowners’ association for Woodridge Country Club 5 to share an outlook for the future of disaster recovery efforts.“This is a very emotional time for all of us, so I do thank you for b...

John Shipley: Wild have found their identity, now they need to win the Central

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

When this space last visited Xcel Energy Center, the home team was trounced by the Vegas Golden Knights, 5-1, and holding onto the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.It wasn’t difficult to see why.After relying on a potent offense to earn a franchise-best 113 points last season, a mark that included 25 come-from-behind wins, the Wild were playing like a team with an offense capable of rallying for 25 victories.They still aren’t that team, and won’t be for however long this season lasts, but that’s OK because they’re not trying to play like that team anymore. Since that loss to the Knights back on Feb. 9, the Wild have tightened things up considerably and gone 17-3-6 in their past 26 games.There was a lot made of the fact that in early February, the Wild ranked 28th among the NHL’s 32 teams in even-strength goals. Well, guess what? They still do, yet even after a disappointing, 4-3 shootout loss to the Knights on Monday, the Wild are in position to win their first divis...

Biden approves another disaster declaration for California, unlocking more federal aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

President Joe Biden has approved another disaster declaration in California, unlocking federal funding for those affected by the severe winter storms, flooding and landslides that have rocked the state since mid-February.Since February 21, states of emergency have been declared in 47 counties — more than 80% of the state.“Many have lost so much, and must be supported to recover from this extreme hardship,” tweeted Luis Alejo, the Chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. “We are relieved that help is on its way!”With this declaration, those affected by the storms in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties will now be eligible for additional services, including housing assistance, food aid, counseling, medical support, and legal services. It also will bolster support for state, tribal and local governments dealing with emergency response and recovery costs, and provide low-cost loans as communities rebuild from the repeated disasters.B...

Gas prices could soar after OPEC cuts production

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

(KRON) – Gas prices could soon be soaring. A group of oil-producing countries announced Monday that they would be cutting production of oil by about 1.2 million barrels per day starting in May. Analysts say that could drive up the price by about ¢30 per gallon.  At the Arco gas station in Mill Valley, prices popped up ¢4 a gallon Monday in response to The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cutting production in May. A long line stretched back to the freeway as drivers rushed to fill up before prices go up even more. East Bay police department offering $75K hiring bonus “It is so difficult. Hard on commuters. You are losing all the time. I am a student and it is very hard,” said Kira Barnes, who was driving on Monday.Fuel prices in the past few months have steadily come down, especially compared to where they were in the fall. Now drivers fear we are in for a repeat of last summer, when average gas prices in the Bay Area were between $6 and $7 dollars per gall...

US military says senior IS commander killed in Syria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone strike carried out by the American-led coalition in northwestern Syria has killed a senior member of the Islamic State group who was in charge of planning attacks in Europe, the United States military said Tuesday.The man killed Monday in the strike was identified by a U.S. military statement as Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri. The military statement added that his death “will temporarily disrupt the organization’s ability to plot external attacks.”The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said on Monday that one person was killed in a drone strike near the rebel-held village of Kefteen.The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, said it evacuated the man from the scene of the attack and he later succumbed to his wounds. The strike was the latest in a series of attacks over the past years targeting al-Qaida-linked militants and senior members of the Islamic State group in northwestern Syria....

Braves will retire Jones’ No. 25 in September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Atlanta Braves will retire No. 25 in honor of Andruw Jones later this season.The Braves announced Monday the outfielder will be honored in a special number retirement ceremony Sept. 9. The Braves will play the Pittsburgh Pirates after the ceremony.During his 12 seasons with the Braves, Jones won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards. He was voted to the All-Star Team five times. In 2005, Jones won the Silver Slugger Award, the NL Hank Aaron Award and the Major League Player of the Year.Jones finished his Major League career with 1,933 hits, 1,289 RBIs and 434 home runs. He was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2016.Jones is from Curacao, an island country in the Caribbean. It is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands“It’s a great honor getting your number retired. You don’t think about things like that while you’re playing. You just play the game you love,” Jones said in a statement released by the team. “I’m thankful to the Braves for giving me the opportunit...

Chicago chooses between progressive, moderate for mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Voters in Chicago will choose a new mayor on Tuesday as two candidates with contrasting views on issues including crime, taxes, schools and investment in policing compete to lead the heavily Democratic city, the country’s third-largest. The race pits former Chicago schools CEO Paul Vallas, a moderate Democrat endorsed by Chicago’s police union and major business groups, against progressive Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and union organizer backed by the Chicago Teachers Union. Both men finished ahead of current Mayor Lori Lightfoot in a February election, making her the first incumbent in 40 years to seek reelection in the city and lose. The top two vote-getters in the all-Democrat but officially nonpartisan race moved to the Tuesday runoff because no candidate received over 50% of the vote. The contest has centered on the increase in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic and soaring property taxes. But it also could have implications for Democrats...

Sanogo leads way for UConn in push to NCAA title No. 5

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:12 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Adama Sanogo stood on the sideline watching his UConn teammates dribble out the final seconds that secured the program’s fifth NCAA championship. He looked eager, ready to sprint in at the first chance.When the horn sounded, reserve Andrew Hurley used both hands to spike the basketball near midcourt and start the celebration — only to see Sanogo run straight in and secure it.“I need that ball. That’s a ball I want to save for my kids, my grandkids,” Sanogo said. “I need that ball.”It was fitting for the first souvenir to go to the big man who had been the rugged interior presence all season for the Huskies.Sanogo finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds in Monday night’s 76-59 win against San Diego State in the national title game. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound big man from Mali was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after tallying his fourth double-double in six tournament games, making him the centerpiece of the Huskies’ domin...