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US should use its influence to help win the freedom of a scholar missing in Iraq, her sister says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States should use its influence to help win the freedom of a Russian-Israeli academic at Princeton University who went missing in Iraq nearly six months ago and is believed to be held by an Iran-backed militia regarded by Washington as a terrorist group, her sister said Wednesday.“The current level of pressure is unsatisfactory. It’s just not enough,” Emma Tsurkov said in an interview with The Associated Press. “My sister is languishing at the hands of this terror organization. And it’s been almost six months.”Elizabeth Tsurkov, a 36-year-old doctoral student whose work focuses on the Middle East and specifically Syria and Iraq, disappeared in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, in March while doing research. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said she is being held by the Shiite group Kataeb Hezbollah or Hezbollah Brigades, whose leader and founder died in the American airstrike in January 2020 that also killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, t...

Trump to appear on ‘Meet the Press’ Sunday as Kristen Welker takes over as host

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will give his first broadcast network interview since leaving office, sitting down this week with Kristen Welker as she debuts as host of NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday.The network said in a release that the interview will be pre-taped at Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club Thursday and that the same invitation had been extended to President Joe Biden. Trump last appeared on the show in 2019.The former president has largely steered clear of mainstream media interviews during his third campaign for the White House. Instead, he frequently calls in to conservative podcasts, radio shows and far-right cable outlets, and shares his thoughts in posts and videos on his Truth Social site.The interview comes as Trump remains the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination, even after being indicted four times on a slew of charges, including many connected to his efforts to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election.Tr...

BC United loses MLA as Abbotsford South’s Bruce Banman bolts to Conservatives

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

VICTORIA — The political landscape in British Columbia shifted slightly Wednesday with the defection of an Opposition BC United caucus member to the provincial Conservatives, who will now have two members in the legislature.Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman announced he is crossing the floor to join his friend B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad, who was turfed from the BC United caucus last year. Banman’s move to the Conservatives gives the party added strength in the legislature as two elected members constitute an official political party.The Office of the Clerk said in a statement that it appears to be the first time four parties will be represented in B.C.’s legislature with “official status,” but it is not the only time four parties have had representatives in the legislature.The Clerk’s statement also said there are currently no specific funding arrangements for a caucus beyond a third party, meaning the two Conservatives will receive money as t...

Cross-examination continues on Day 3 of AJ Freund's death, DCFS workers' trial

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

MCHENRY COUNTY, Ill. — The trial for two former Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers accused of child endangerment enters its third day Wednesday.The multiple felony charges filed in Sept. 2020 against Andrew Polovin and Carlos Acosta stem from the April 2019 death of five-year-old Andrew “AJ” Freund of Crystal Lake. They are accused of having known Freund’s life was in danger four months earlier yet not taking action. Previous Coverage: Nearly 20 police reports can be used in AJ Freund DCFS trial The bench trial began on Monday with the McHenry County State’s Attorney providing an opening statement for the prosecution, and separate attorneys providing statements for each of the defendants. Tuesday's proceedings were occupied entirely by the state's fourth witness, Carol Ruzicka. Ruzicka is a retired DCFS regional administrator who testified for the prosecution as an expert in regard to DCFS procedures.Ruzicka will return to the stand Wednesday ...

One thing Justin Fields would like to change before the 2nd game of the 2023 season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — As you might expect, there were plenty of moments that the Bears' starting quarterback would like to have had back from the team's opening week loss to the Packers. It wasn't just his "Pick Six" in the fourth quarter that Justin Fields lamented on when talking with the media on Wednesday at Halas Hall. "After a game, there's always a number of plays that you wish you had back," said Fields. "You're never going to get perfect quarterback play but you go back - and really at any position - you want to do better on this play or do something different that you wish you had did different, especially if it doesn't come out your way at the end of the day."A lot of stuff to learn from, and a lot of stuff to get better from for sure."Fields isn't lying as the offense left a lot to be desired in a 38-20 loss to Green Bay at Soldier Field that soured some of the positive vibes entering the opening week contest. The quarterback was 24-of-37 for 216 yards with a touchdown and...

MGM Resorts hacked by ransomware group, social media post says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- With limited information coming from MGM Resorts and the FBI, speculation has begun on some tech and media websites about who is behind the hack that has disrupted Nevada's largest employer.Reports on Forbes, Gizmodo and Engadget are citing social media posts on X (formerly Twitter) that a group known as ALPHV, also known as BlackCat, compromised MGM Resorts through a simple phone call impersonating an employee on the IT staff. They reportedly found an employee to impersonate by searching through LinkedIn. A 10-minute phone call allowed the compromise.All of these reports cite a thread on X by vx-underground, identified by Forbes as a malware research group with nearly 229,000 followers.“All ALPHV ransomware group did to compromise MGM Resorts was hop on LinkedIn, find an employee, then call the Help Desk,” vx-underground said on X. “A company valued at $33,900,000,000 was defeated by a 10-minute conversation."A source quoted by Forbes speculated that ALPHV initi...

UT Austin assistant professor joins AI expert panel

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An assistant professor at the University of Texas Austin will join a panel of experts poised to "explore the future of artificial intelligence on society," according to a UT release Wednesday.Samantha Shorey, a communication studies assistant professor with UT's Moody College of Communications, was appointed to the AI100 study panel. The panel brings together AI experts from around the globe with specialties in computer science, sociology, ethics and economics, among other areas.The panel is administered by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, per the release. It is tasked with creating a report every five years and "exploring the state of artificial intelligence and its influences on society," the release added.“This is an incredible honor to be working alongside so many scholars who I have read and looked to their research for so long,” Shorey said in the release. “The folks that are on the committee are the kinds of people I would be...

Bayport man gets federal prison sentence for punching St. Paul mail carrier

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

A Bayport man has been sentenced to more than 5½ years in federal prison for assaulting a mail carrier in St. Paul in 2018.Kevin Demetri Blocker, 27, pleaded guilty in May to one count of assaulting a federal employee. He was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to 68 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.According to court documents, Blocker became upset that he had to stop his car quickly for a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier who was crossing the street at an intersection. After the carrier shouted to Blocker that he was required to yield, Blocker parked and confronted the carrier. He punched him in the face, which knocked him to the ground, where his head hit the concrete. He was taken to the hospital with a head wound that required 12 stitches.Blocker tried to hide his involvement in the assault by reporting that his car had been stolen and then selling it, court documents say.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Escape...

Review: The must-see restoration of ‘Stop Making Sense’ captures Talking Heads at the height of their powers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

In 1983, New York art rock band Talking Heads returned to action after a brief hiatus when the four members pursued side projects.The group’s first four records, issued one each year from 1977 to 1980, saw Talking Heads add funk and Afrobeat rhythms to their insular post-punk sound to the thrill of critics and ever-increasing interest from listeners. Their singles “Psycho Killer” and “Take Me to the River” had found some success. Thanks to MTV, less conventional acts with strong visuals were developing into superstars.It was Talking Heads’ time. Their fifth album, “Speaking in Tongues,” went platinum and its fiery lead single “Burning Down the House” hit No. 9. When it came time to tour, lead singer David Byrne crafted a wildly inventive, tightly choreographed and theatrically experimental stage show quite unlike any rock concert before it. The band members cobbled together enough money to hire Jonathan Demme, whose 1980 film “Melvin and Howard” established him as a dire...

What to stream this week: ‘Barbie,’ Dan & Shay, ‘The Morning Show’ and ‘Welcome to Wrexham’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:28 GMT

Tunes from Dan & Shay and Vic Mensa plus a genre-blending Hulu series “The Other Black Girl” set inside the world of publishing are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near youAmong the offerings worth your time as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists are a joyous season two of “Welcome to Wrexham,” “Barbie” can be bought for $30 and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon return for season three of “The Morning Show.”— “Barbie” is finally coming to the small screen, giving audiences everywhere the freedom to belt out “I’m Just Ken” along with Ryan Gosling without shame. It’ll come at a cost, though, at least for a little while. Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar blockbuster will be available to buy on video-on-demand for a cool $29.99 starting Tuesday. The film took on a life of its own after a wild marketing blitz and “Oppenheimer” proximity, inspiring moviegoers to don their pinkest, most sparkly ensembles for group trips to...