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RFK Jr. will testify at a House hearing over online censorship as the GOP elevates Biden’s rival

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans will be delving into claims of government censorship of online speech at a public hearing, asking Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify despite requests from outside groups to disinvite the Democratic presidential candidate after his recent antisemitic remarks.The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government is set to convene Thursday. Republicans claim conservatives are being unfairly targeted by technology companies that routinely work with the government to try to stem the spread of disinformation online. In announcing the hearing, the panel led by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said it “will examine the federal government’s role in censoring Americans.” The panel said it will probe “Big Tech’s collusion with out-of-control government agencies to silence speech.”The Big Tech companies have adamantly denied the GOP assertions and say they enforce their rules impartially for everyone regardless of ideology or polit...

Russia’s Wagner mercenaries launch joint training with Belarusian military near Polish border

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Mercenaries from Russia’s military company Wagner on Thursday launched joint drills with the Belarusian military near the border with Poland following their relocation to Belarus after their short-lived rebellion, a move that prompted Warsaw to redeploy its troops.The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that the weeklong maneuvers will be conducted at a firing range near the border city of Brest and will involve Belarusian special forces. The ministry added that Wagner’s combat experience will help modernize the Belarusian military.A video released Wednesday appeared to show Wagner’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the first time since he led last month’s rebellion. In the video, Prigozhin was seen telling his troops they will spend some time in Belarus training its military to help “make the Belarusian army the second strongest army in the world” before deploying to Africa. In addition to their involvement in Ukraine, Wagner mercenaries have been sent...

Prominent Egyptian rights activist with ties to Italy walks free from jail, rights defender says

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — A renowned Egyptian rights activist with ties to Italy walked free from jail Thursday, a rights defender said.Patrick George Zaki, a post graduate student in Italy, was pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, along with five other people on Wednesday, according to the country’s Official Gazette.The news of his release was announced by Hossam Bahgat, founder of Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, who posted a picture of Zaki on his Facebook page Thursday afternoon.Zaki was sentenced to three years in prison earlier this week over an opinion article he wrote in 2019, Egypt’s MENA news agency said.The Associated Press

Nokia profits fall as clients particularly in North America shun investments

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Wireless and fixed-network equipment maker Nokia on Thursday reported a fall in second quarter profit as clients especially in North America postponed investments due to a slowdown in economic growth and rising financing costs.The Espoo, Finland-based company reported net profit of 414 million euros ($464 million) for the April-June period, down 29% from 585 million euros a year earlier. Net income attributable to shareholders was 415 million euros, down from 582 million euros the previous year.Nokia’s sales were down 3% at 5.7 billion euros.Among other network products, Nokia is one of the world’s main suppliers of 5G, the latest generation of broadband technology, along with Sweden’s Ericsson, China’s Huawei and South Korea’s Samsung.“Earlier in the year I highlighted that we were starting to see signs of macroeconomic challenges along with inventory digestion impacting customer spending and this has intensified through the second quarter,” CEO Pekka Lundmark said ...

Motorcyclist dies after crashing into pole in Scarborough

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

A motorcyclist has died in hospital after a single-vehicle crash Scarborough on Wednesday night.Police were called to the area of Victoria Park Avenue and Lynvalley Crescent, north of Lawrence Avenue, around 8:45 p.m. for reports a motorcycle had crashed into a pole.The driver was rushed to hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.Southbound Victoria Park was closed in the area for the investigation but roads have since reopened.COLLISION: (UPDATE)8:42 pm– victim has been pronounced deceased– roads are now open#GO1682522^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 20, 2023

An alleged drug baron wanted in the Netherlands is arrested in Colombia

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An alleged drug baron wanted in the Netherlands over his suspected involvement in cocaine and methamphetamine was arrested in Colombia, the European Union police agency Europol said Thursday.The arrest comes amid sustained efforts to disrupt networks of traffickers who smuggle huge amounts of cocaine into Europe, often through ports in the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium.Dutch authorities have arrested several alleged gangsters in recent years linked to the country’s violent and lucrative drug trafficking networks.The 43-year-old Colombian national was detained Tuesday in the western city of Tulua on a Dutch warrant and is now in custody awaiting extradition. His name was not released.The Dutch Public Prosecution Office said in a statement that the suspect is allegedly a “key player in an ongoing investigation and is suspected of cocaine smuggling, participation in a criminal organization and money laundering.”Europol helped the Dutch-led inve...

At least 2 dead as Russia strikes Odesa and other southern Ukraine cities for a third night

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities, including the port city of Odesa, with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night in a wave of strikes that has destroyed some of the country’s critical grain export infrastructure.At least two people, in Odesa, were killed in the attacks, which come days after President Vladimir Putin pulled Russia out of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain to countries facing the threat of hunger. The attacks intensified after Moscow vowed “retribution” earlier this week for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukraine.Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said Ukrainian air defenses destroyed all of the 12 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two Kalibr missiles that targeted Odesa. But he added that air defense systems were unable to shoot down some incoming missiles, in particular the X-22 and Onyx types. He didn’t say how ma...

Greene displays sexual images of Hunter Biden at IRS whistleblower hearing

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

(The Hill) - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) leaned in on some of the more salacious issues concerning Hunter Biden in her questioning of IRS whistleblowers who investigated Biden at a House Oversight Committee hearing Wednesday — and brought sexually explicit posters to make her point.“Before we begin, I would like to let the committee and everyone watching at home know that parental discretion is advised,” Greene said.Greene’s questioning included her holding up small posters featuring graphic sexual photos from the laptop hard drive that purportedly belonged to Hunter Biden, which were censored with black boxes.The faces of others involved in the sexual acts were censored with black boxes, but Biden’s face is visible in the photos.Staffers react as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., holds up sexually explicit images that she says are of Hunter Biden during her questioning of IRS whistleblowers during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing with IRS whistleblow...

Fire near Jarrell spreads to 100 acres, 15% contained

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials are responding to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County Wednesday, the Williamson County Director of Communications confirmed to KXAN.Texas A&M Forest Service said it is responding for assistance on the estimated 100-acre fire. The forest service said it is 15% contained. The grass fire started at 1001 Cobb Creek Road shortly after 4:30 p.m., according to a news release from Williamson County. Shortly before 9 p.m., Williamson County said no evacuations were issued.Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Fire crews responded to a large outdoor fire between Georgetown and Jarrell in Williamson County July 19, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Andy Way)Emergency crews expect the fire to die down as the humidity increases overnight, the release said. Additionally, new crews will take over the fire...

Heat rages on with another 7+ days of triple digit temps

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 23:34:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The first 19 days of the month have now tied for the hottest July on record to date, matching the day and night temperature average from July, 2022.For the fourth consecutive day Wednesday, Austin tied or broke a daily record high, reaching 106° which ties the record set just last year. Austin also set an all-time record for number of consecutive days with highs of 105°+. The streak is now at 10 days, and appears it should continue for some time.Thursday afternoon forecast highsExcessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories remain in place nearly areawide through Thursday at 8 p.m. These heat alerts will be extended on Friday.Heat alerts in effect through 8 p.m. tonight (Thursday)A 10% chance of isolated thunderstorms returns to the forecast this weekend, but rain will be hard to come by. Record high temperatures will be in jeopardy again next week.Other than a few isolated storms this weekend, most stay dry over the next 7+ daysSummer Fan DriveThank you for helping ma...