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Australian safety watchdog fines social platform X $385,000 for not tackling child abuse content

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s online safety watchdog said on Monday it had fined X — the social media platform formerly known as Twitter — 610,500 Australian dollars ($385,000) for failing to fully explain how it tackled child sexual exploitation content.Australia’s eSafety Commission describes itself as the world’s first government agency dedicated to keeping people safe online.The commission issued legal transparency notices early this year to X and other platforms questioning what they were doing to tackle a proliferation of child sexual exploitation, sexual extortion and the livestreaming of child sexual abuse.eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said X and Google had not complied with the notices because both companies had failed to adequately respond to a number of questions.The platform renamed X by its new owner Elon Musk was the worst offender, providing no answers to some questions including how many staff remained on the trust and safety team that worked on pre...

Live updates | Day 10 of the latest Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

More than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected Israel invasion that seeks to eliminate Hamas’ leadership after its deadly incursion. Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis.Israeli forces, supported by U.S. warships, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished neighborhoods but failed to stop militant rocket fire into Israel.The war that began Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 155 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.Currently:1. Water has run out at U.N. shelters across Gaza and overwhelmed doctors at the territory’s ...

Used clothing from the West is a big seller in East Africa. Uganda’s leader wants a ban

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Jostling for space, people jam the crowded footpaths crisscrossing a massive open market in Uganda’s capital. They are mostly looking for secondhand clothing, sifting through underwear for pairs that seem new or trying on shoes despite getting pushed around in the crush.Downtown Kampala’s Owino Market has long been a go-to enclave for rich and poor people alike looking for affordable but quality-made used clothes, underscoring perceptions that Western fashion is superior to what is made at home. These clothes have been discarded by Europeans and Americans, then shipped to African countries by middlemen. It’s a multimillion-dollar business, with some two-thirds of people in seven countries in East Africa having “purchased at least a portion of their clothes from the secondhand clothing market,” according to a 2017 U.S. Agency for International Development study, the most recent with such details.Despite the popularity, secondhand clothes are facing ...

Daniel Noboa, political neophyte and heir to fortune, wins presidency in violence-wracked Ecuador

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Daniel Noboa has managed to do what his father failed at five times: Getting elected as Ecuador’s president.And he did it Sunday on his first attempt, winning a runoff election against a leftist lawyer on the resume of a 35-year-old who belongs to the South American country’s elite, which means some schooling in the U.S., some entrepreneurial work, some dabbling in politics.Now, he must answer the universal demand to make Ecuador safe again, which voters urged on all the candidates who originally jumped into the race amid a surge in unprecedented violence tied to drug trafficking. Noboa’s proposals to tackle the crucial issue have run the gamut. At one point in the campaign, he proposed turning ships into floating jails for the most violent criminals. At another, he simply promised more gear for police.Voters are increasingly frightened by the escalation of drug violence over the past three years. Killings, kidnappings, robberies and other criminal activi...

Major US pharmacy chain Rite Aid files for bankruptcy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Major U.S. pharmacy chain Rite Aid said Sunday that it has filed for bankruptcy and obtained $3.45 billion in fresh financing as it carries out a restructuring plan while coping with falling sales and opioid-related lawsuits. In 2022, Rite Aid settled for up to $30 million to resolve lawsuits alleging pharmacies contributed to an oversupply of prescription opioids. It said it had reached an agreement with its creditors on a financial restructuring plan to cut its debt and position itself for future growth and that the bankruptcy filing was part of that process. The plan will “significantly reduce the company’s debt” while helping to “resolve litigation claims in an equitable manner,” Rite Aid said. In March, the Justice Department filed a complaint against Rite Aid, alleging it knowingly filled hundreds of thousands of unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances from May 2014-June 2019. It also accused pharmacists and the company of ignoring “red flags...

European Commission will immediately triple humanitarian assistance for Gaza to over €75 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) spoke to the Secretary General of the UN António Guterres, in the context of her on-going contacts with regional leaders.Following this call, she said: “The Commission will immediately increase the current humanitarian aid envelope foreseen for Gaza by €50 million. This will bring the total to over €75m. We will continue our close co-operation with the UN and its agencies to ensure that this aid reaches those in need in the Gaza strip. The Commission supports Israel's right to defend itself against the Hamas terrorists, in full respect of international humanitarian law. We are working hard to ensure that innocent civilians in Gaza are provided support in this context.”Commissioner Lenarčič said: “The Commission is doing everything in its power to provide humanitarian support to civilians in the Gaza strip. This tripling of EU humanitarian assistance will help ensure that civilians in Gaza can be provided with the basic necessities required. ...

Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams score 2nd-half touchdowns in Rams' 26-9 win over Cardinals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

Although the Los Angeles Rams have played plenty of stellar offensive football over the past seven seasons, Sean McVay's team hasn't usually done it by simply squaring its shoulders and running the ball straight through opposing defenses.The Rams ran it relentlessly in the second half against Arizona on Sunday, and the result was a runaway win.Kyren Williams rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown, and Cooper Kupp made seven receptions for 148 yards and his first TD of the season in the Rams' 26-9 victory over the Cardinals.Williams produced the Rams' best individual rushing performance in nearly three years despite getting just 4 yards on two carries in the first half. McVay dramatically leaned into the running game after halftime, even calling eight consecutive runs to begin the third quarter, and his players responded superbly to the test of their toughness.“It's awesome. I love it,” said Matthew Stafford, who passed for 226 yards. “I was so fired up, stepping back int...

MLB playoffs 2023: Rangers take ALCS lead over Astros; Phillies, Diamondbacks prep for NLCS

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

After winning the AL Championship Series opener, Texas will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound in Game 2 on Monday against Houston’s Framber Valdez.Zack Wheeler will be on the mound when Philadelphia opens the NL Championship Series against Arizona on Monday night.Jordan Montgomery outdueled Justin Verlander in Sunday night’s opener, combining with Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and José Leclerc on a five-hitter in a 2-0 victory. Jonah Heim hit an RBI single in the second and Leody Taveras homered in the fifth. Evan Carter, at 21 the youngest player in the matchup, made a pair of sparkling catches in left field.“Oh, my gosh. This is so much fun,” Carter said. “That’s just all I think about. Where else would I want to be. This is awesome. I’m just trying to keep my feet grounded and just keep rolling with this team . It’s been a lot of fun.”Wheeler pitched into the seventh inning in both of his starts for Philadelphia and has struck out 18 and walked one. He has thrived in fro...

Lillard scores 14 points in Milwaukee debut as Bucks beat Lakers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points, Damian Lillard had 14 in his Milwaukee debut, and the Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-97 on Sunday night.Lillard, part of a three-team blockbuster trade that sent him from Portland to Milwaukee, finished 3-for-10 shooting including 2 for 7 from 3-point range. Lillard’s night ended with 4:41 left in the third quarter. He played 22 minutes. Antetokounmpo, who shot 7 for 10, played 15 minutes.Anthony Davis scored 16 points for Los Angeles in 19 minutes. Davis also had seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. LeBron James did not play.HORNETS 117, THUNDER 115P.J. Washington scored 31 points shooting 13 for 18 and Terry Rozier scored 19 and host Charlotte beat Oklahoma City.LaMelo Ball scored 16 points as the Hornets shot 52.3%.Jaylin Williams scored 18 points and Aaron Wiggins had 16 for Oklahoma City, which did not play its starters.RAPTORS 134, TAIPANS 93Scottie Barnes scored 14 points, and Chris Bo...

EU-led military exercises begin in Spain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:24 GMT

Presented by ASD By CALEB LARSON with LAURA KAYALI, JOSHUA POSANER, VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA and PIETER HAECK PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Nine European countries kicked off week-long military exercises in Spain, the first lead by the EU independently of NATO.— EU countries and the European Commission will assess semiconductor technology, AI, quantum and biotech, but EU insiders tell POLITICO the Commission risks a rushed evaluation process.— Steadfast Noon, NATO’s annual nuclear exercise, begins today. Good morning and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us at @joshposaner, @LauKaya and @calebmlarson.DRIVING THE DAYMILITARY EXERCISE IN SPAIN: As of today, 31 military units and 2,800 military personnel from nine EU countries — including 1,800 from Spain, 600 from France and 200 from P...