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French officials suspect young people in rash of fake bomb threats, warn of heavy punishments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

PARIS (AP) — France’s government is threatening prison terms and heavy fines for callers who make fake bomb threats after a rash of false alarms forced the evacuation of 15 airports and cancellation of 130 flights and shut the doors of Versailles Palace three times in five days. French officials suggested young people and children may be responsible. Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti blamed “little jokers, little clowns” and vowed, “They will be found, they will be punished.”French law allows prank calls to be punished by up to 3 years’ imprisonment and fines of 45,000 euros ($47,000), the minister said. He said minors’ parents could be made to pay for damages. “We don’t need this. We don’t need troublemakers, psychosis, at this moment,” he said Wednesday. France has been on heightened alert since the fatal stabbing of a schoolteacher last week that was blamed on a suspected Islamic extremist who allegedly declared allegiance to the Islamic State gro...

Pakistan court grants protection from arrest to ex-leader Nawaz Sharif, allowing his return home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A court in Pakistan on Thursday granted several days of protection from arrest to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in graft cases, clearing the way for him to return home from self-imposed exile in London, where he went in 2019 for medical treatment.The decision by the Islamabad High Court is a major boost for Sharif and his party and comes two days before he is to return to Pakistan ahead of parliamentary elections in January as the country faces deepening political and economic turmoil.Sharif has been a fugitive from justice since failing to appear before a Pakistan court in 2019. He traveled from London to Saudi Arabia last week and is to return home on a special plane from Dubai on Saturday, according to his Pakistan Muslim League party. Sharif stepped down as prime minister in 2017 after being convicted of corruption. Two years later, facing further graft charges, he complained of chest pains and was granted permission by his successor, Imran Khan, to travel ...

Nokia plans to cut up to 14,000 jobs after sales and profits plunge in a weak market

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Telecom gear maker Nokia said Thursday that it is planning to cut up to 14,000 jobs worldwide, or 16% of its workforce, as part of a push to reduce costs following a plunge in third-quarter sales and profit.The Finnish wireless and fixed-network equipment provider said the planned measures are aimed at reducing its cost base and increasing operational efficiency “to navigate the current market uncertainty.”The company said it is aiming to lower its cost base by between 800 million euros ($843 billion) and 1.2 billion euros by the end of 2026. That was set to lead to a reduction from 86,000 employees now to between 72,000 and 77,000 during that time period.Nokia’s third-quarter sales plummeted 20%, to 4.98 billion euros from 6.24 billion, compared with the same three-month period last year. Comparable net profit plunged to 299 million euros from 551 million in the July-to-September quarter from a year earlier.The company’s biggest unit by revenue — the mobile ne...

EU seeks answers to rising security challenges as Israel-Hamas war fuels new concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union interior ministers on Thursday debated how to manage the impact of the war between Israel and Hamas on the bloc, amid heightened security tensions after a firebomb assault on a Berlin synagogue and killings in Belgium and France by suspected Islamist extremists.Officials from across the 27-nation EU have expressed concerns about a rise in antisemitic attacks, the radicalization of young people online, the use of encrypted messaging services by criminals or extremists, and the need to speed up the deportation of people who might pose a public danger.But calls for an increase in security across the board are also creating deep unease as the solutions being discussed could undermine free movement and the right to assemble in Europe. Italy and Germany, notably, are introducing new border checks.EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell believes that part of the solution to Europe’s security woes must involve the bloc helping diplomatically and financiall...

A first timer’s guide to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

Cross another item off the bucket list. For years, my friends in the theme park enthusiast community have been telling me that I HAVE to check out Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights event. But I’ve been to Halloween events and haunted houses in the past. They kept telling me how this was DIFFERENT. They were right. Last week I flew down to Orlando and checked out HHN for the first time. Over two nights, I experienced every one of the haunted houses and checked out much of what the event had to offer. HHN attracts a large crowd every night, and with so much to do, it can be kind of intimidating for a first time visitor. I thought I would answer some questions you might have about how it works, some observations I had as a newbie, and I'd share my rankings of this year’s haunted houses. First up…What is it? The Universal Orlando Resort has two theme parks - Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure. During the months of September, October and a few ...

Biden announces aid to Israel in historic visit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- President Biden was in Israel on Wednesday to meet with the prime minister and war cabinet. He expressed staunch support for Israel, but also concern for innocent Palestinians.Biden's visit to Tel Aviv is a historic one, as the Israeli prime minister hasn't allowed any other U.S. President to visit Israel in a time of war."Thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow and always," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Biden strongly condemned the Hamas terrorist attack and U.S. officials announced plans for new aid to Israel."The brutality we saw we have cut deep anywhere in the world, but it cuts deeper here in Israel," Biden said. "I'm going to ask the United States Congress for an unprecedented support package for Israel's defense.""We know that virtually every Israeli has been touched by the bloody hand of Hamas," added Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.Biden also said the U.S. is "pursuing every avenue to bring home those who are being held captiv...

Recovery efforts underway following wildfires at University of Texas lab

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

BASTROP COUNTY, TX (KXAN) -- University of Texas field crews are hard at work recovering over a centuries worth of data that was lost last year. The Pine Pond Fire destroyed more than 300-acres of the Stengl Lost Pines Biological Station in August of last year. READ MORE: Bastrop wildfire destroys centuries worth of data at University of Texas facility "They're really just trying to take a snapshot of what we have here," said Steven Gibson, Site Manager at the Stengl Lab.The forest provided researchers a place to study a rare mature pine forest in Central Texas. Since the 1990's, researchers have been mapping the forest, collecting data on species that live there and studying the various biomes within.Following the fire, all of that work has to be done again, but now in a new type of forest. Instead of a mature woods, scientists can study a baby forest that's been rebooted after a fire. The Stengl Lost Pines Biological Field Lab: September 2023/September 2022First, however, Gibso...

5 things to know this Thursday, October 19

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- One more day until Friday, we're almost there. Happy Thursday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, sunshine will make its long-awaited return to the Capital Region today. After tomorrow though, unfortunately, the rest of the forecast is another story. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! New York State workers with disabilities were honored Wednesday at the Capital Region Disabilities Employment Awards. The award ceremony was part of the New York State Industries for the Disabled’s annual meeting. Meanwhile, family members of Honoree Fleming, the woman killed on a rail trail in Castleton, are speaking out. Vermont State Police are investigating several leads into her case. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. NYS workers with disabilities honored at annual employment awards ceremonyNew York State workers with disabilities were honored Wednesday at the...

RPI men's hockey using relentless approach in 2023-'24 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The word "relentless" was throw around quite a bit by the RPI men's hockey team at its' media day Wednesday morning. That's the brand of play the team intends to bring to the ice in the 2023-'24 season. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Engineers have also brought back a wealth of talent and experience, returning six of its' top eight scorers. They also bring back a familiar face in goal in Jack Watson, who started 30 games as a sophomore last year. That experience has led to a cohesive unit in the early going this season. "I really like the makeup of our returning guys," said head coach Dave Smith. "Last year, we were filled with inexperience. Those guys gathered valuable lessons, and grew a lot. Now what we're seeing in the early part of the season is that the habits and the leadership and the chemistry behind the scenes has been excellent. I think that's attributed to the guys that learned a lot last...

Commission approves amendment to 2022-2027 regional state aid map for Slovakia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:16:43 GMT

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, an amendment to Slovakia's map for granting regional aid until 31 December 2027, within the framework of the regional aid guidelines.On 16 September 2021, the Commission approved the 2022-2027 regional aid map for Slovakia, and its amendment on 17 February 2023 to increase aid intensities for territories identified for support from the Just Transition Fund. On 30 May 2023, the Commission adopted a Communication regarding a possible mid-term review of the regional aid maps, taking into account updated statistics.In this context, the amendment to Slovakia's regional aid map approved today enables higher maximum amounts of aid to investments in the region of Západné Slovensko, given the decrease of its gross domestic product per capita. The maximum amounts of aid will increase from 40% to 50% of the eligible investment costs in a limited part of the region, and from 30% to 40% of the eligible investment costs in the rest o...