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Cambodia deports 25 Japanese nationals suspected of operating online scams

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Twenty-five Japanese nationals suspected of involvement in a cyberscam operation based in Cambodia were deported to Japan on Wednesday, said Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s Interior Ministry.The Japanese government arranged a charter flight to transport the suspects, who were detained in September after Cambodian police received a tip-off from their Japanese counterparts, he told The Associated Press.The 25 were arrested in the capital, Phnom Penh, according to Gen. Keo Vanthan, a spokesperson for the immigration police.Khieu Sopheak thanked the Japanese government “for their support and good cooperation with the Cambodian government in order to arrest these people.”Cybercrime scams have become a major issue in Asia.In August, the U.N.’s human rights office said that criminal gangs have forced hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia into participating in unlawful online scam operations, including false romantic ploy...

Red hot October almost guarantees 2023 will be the hottest year on record

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

This October was the hottest on record globally, 1.7 degrees Celsius (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the pre-industrial average for the month — and the fifth straight month with such a mark in what will now almost certainly be the warmest year ever recorded.October was a whopping 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the previous record for the month in 2019, surprising even Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European climate agency that routinely publishes monthly bulletins observing global surface air and sea temperatures, among other data.“The amount that we’re smashing records by is shocking,” Burgess said.After the cumulative warming of these past several months, it’s virtually guaranteed that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, according to Copernicus.Scientists monitor climate variables to gain an understanding of how our planet is evolving as a result of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. A warm...

Amdocs: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

SAINT LOUIS (AP) — SAINT LOUIS (AP) — Amdocs Ltd. (DOX) on Tuesday reported fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $102 million.The Saint Louis-based company said it had net income of 86 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and stock option expense, came to $1.42 per share.The results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of $1.42 per share.The provider of computer systems integration posted revenue of $1.24 billion in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $540.7 million, or $4.49 per share. Revenue was reported as $4.89 billion.For the current quarter ending in December, Amdocs expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.53 to $1.59.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.23 billion to $1.26 billion for the fiscal first quarter._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks ...

Wheeler Real Estate: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust Inc. (WHLR) on Tuesday reported a loss in a key measure in its third quarter.The Virginia Beach, Virginia-based real estate investment trust said it had a funds from operations loss of $1.8 million, or $1.84 per share, in the period.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had a loss of $30 million, or $30.61 per share.The real estate investment trust, based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, posted revenue of $25.2 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on WHLR at https://www.zacks.com/ap/WHLRSource

Just 10 days before another government shutdown, Congress expands to-do list with Ukraine, border

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten days before a potential government shutdown, Congress is no closer to resolving the standoff and is even complicating the issue with Republican demands for border security changes as a condition for further support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.New House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Tuesday that Republicans do not want to close things down, but he is well aware that his predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted as speaker after compromising with Democrats in September to keep federal offices open.“We certainly want to avoid a government shutdown,” Johnson said at a news conference alongside families with loved ones kidnapped in the Israel-Hamas war.“It’s a dangerous time around the world right now,” he said. “We recognize that, and we’re doing our job.”Johnson is facing one of his most difficult tests yet, just two weeks into the job. Rather than lead the House Republicans into a strategy, Johnson appears to be crowd-sour...

F1 driver’s oligarch dad fails to overturn EU sanctions

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

The General Court of the European Union on Wednesday upheld sanctions against Russian ammonia magnate Dmitry Mazepin.Mazepin, whose son Nikita used to drive in Formula 1 motor racing, was sanctioned by the Council of the EU in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over his ties to President Vladimir Putin. The Russian oligarch had his assets frozen, and was forbidden from traveling to the EU. And, despite Mazepin’s legal challenge, the EU court said the Council had provided enough evidence to justify the sanctions.“The Council provided a proper statement of reasons for its decision,” the court said in a statement.“The Council has adduced a set of sufficiently specific, precise and consistent indicia capable of demonstrating that Mr. Mazepin is a leading businessperson involved in a sector providing a substantial source of revenue to the Russian Government,” the statement said.Mazepin can still appeal the decision to the higher ...

Ukraine should start EU membership talks, Commission says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

Ukraine and Moldova should start the process of becoming EU members, the European Commission said Wednesday — but the two countries must do more to speed up their reforms in key areas.The EU granted Ukraine candidate status last year and the recommendation that it begin formal negotiations on accession paves the way for the country, which is still fighting off Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, to become a member of the bloc.The next step is for EU leaders to back the Commission’s plan at a summit in Brussels in December.Kyiv, which has made a priority of joining the EU and NATO, must also tackle the remaining issues — including the treatment of minorities, anti-corruption and taking power away from oligarchs — that it was asked to address before it gets a start date for formal talks to begin.  The Commission also recommended granting candidate status to Georgia and recommended different actions for six aspiring Western Balkans co...

Thousands flee north Gaza on foot as desperation grows over dwindling supplies and Israeli advance

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Thousands more Palestinians have fled northern Gaza on foot, the U.N. said Wednesday, as desperation grew over the dwindling supply of food and water, intensified shelling and the approach of Israeli troops and tanks.Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already left their homes, but the number of people making their way south has quickened recently, as the war triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault inside Israel entered its second month. With no end in sight to the fighting, an increasingly dire humanitarian situation is unfolding inside the besieged Palestinian enclave.International pressure mounted on Israel over the civilians’ plight, with the Group of Seven industrialized nations calling Wednesday for the “unimpeded” delivery of food, water, medicine and fuel, and for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted such calls, while leaving open ...

Chillier Pattern, Sleet & Rain On The Way

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

After a beauty of an afternoon yesterday, winds of change are certainly in the air this morning as temperatures have tumbled back into the 30s and lower 40s. That colder air, combined with a busy breeze, gusting 25-35mph, has certainly provided a chill in the air this morning. The breeze sticks around through the day, as well as that chill and the dry air. Highs today recover into the mid to upper 40s, several degrees below average for the time of year. Tonight, temps slide back into the low to mid 30s as some light sleet/rain starts to break out after midnight. The best chance to catch a wintry mix overnight is across northern MA/NH/VT, where most of the precipitation is, but even near/north of the Pike early tomorrow morning, some sleet pellets may mix in with the rain. Generally, temps hold above freezing for most of central and eastern Mass and road temps are warm, so road impacts of any ice seem limited at this point. With that said, there may be a few higher terrain spots acro...

Voters decide Boston city council seats, other races across Mass.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:37 GMT

Voters made their way to the polls to decide races across Massachusetts on Tuesday, including in Boston, where a handful of new members were elected to the city council, and in Worcester, where the city kept its incumbent mayor.On the Boston City Council, Henry Santana is the projected winner of the At-Large seat held by longtime councilor Michael Flaherty, who did not seek reelection, Ben Jacob Weber won the District 6 seat currently held by Kendra Lara, and Enrique Pepen is the projected winner of the District 4 seat that is currently held by Ricardo Arroyo.In Worcester, Mayor Joseph Petty defeated four challengers to capture his seventh term.Rhode Island elected Gabe Amo, its first Black representative in Congress.The former White House aide served in the Obama and Biden administrations, most recently as deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. He also served in the administration of former Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo.