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X tests $1 fee for new users in Philippines, New Zealand in bid to target spam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has begun charging a $1 fee to new users in the Philippines and New Zealand in a test designed to cut down on the spam and fake accounts flourishing on the site formerly known as Twitter.The company said late Tuesday that it has started trying out the annual subscription method for new and unverified accounts. The program, dubbed Not a Bot, won’t apply to existing users.It’s not clear why it only applies to New Zealand and the Philippines or why those countries were chosen.“This new test was developed to bolster our already successful efforts to reduce spam, manipulation of our platform and bot activity while balancing platform accessibility with the small fee amount,” the X support account tweeted. “It is not a profit driver.”Some experts said charging a fee might not do much to stop fake accounts and could even amplify the problem.If X decides to roll out the $1 fee worldwide, it could be ̶...

Hamas’s attack on Israel: Two victims with Canadian ties laid to rest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

Two victims with ties to Canada who were killed in Hamas’s attacks on Israel were remembered fondly by relatives on Wednesday, who called for the world to recognize the brutality of what happened. Tiferet Lapidot, 22, was formally identified by authorities on Monday, more than a week after she died at a music festival near the Gaza Strip border, where Hamas’s attack began on Oct. 7. Her family had thought she was among those being held hostage.“She was like a daughter for me,” said Harel Lapidot, her uncle. “And the funeral was horrible, the taking (of) a happy girl, helping, loving.”Tiferet Lapidot was an Israeli citizen whose father has roots in Saskatchewan. In an interview Wednesday, a Montreal-based relative described Lapidot as charismatic and compassionate.Oran Zlotnik said Lapidot had taught in Africa and had lived in Australia. Zlotnik said she had returned to Israel for the holidays and was a few days shy of her 23rd birthday.“She ...

Berrios, Kiermaier among 5 Blue Jays Gold Glove finalists

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

Toronto Blue Jays left-fielder Daulton Varsho, centre-fielder Kevin Kiermaier, starting pitcher Jose Berrios, catcher Alejandro Kirk and third baseman Matt Chapman were named finalists for Gold Glove Awards on Wednesday.The winners will be named Nov. 5.Kiermaier and Chapman both are three-time Gold Glove winners, while the others are looking to capture the award for the first time.Kiermaier is up against Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners and Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox in the centre-field category.Austin Hays of the Baltimore Orioles and Steven Kwan of the Cleveland Guardians are the other left-field candidates.Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray of the Twins, the two starters for Minnesota in its 2-0 win over the Blue Jays in the wild-card round, will battle Berrios, the starter in Game 2, for the pitching prize.Kirk faces off with Adley Rutschman of the Orioles and Jonah Heim of the Texas Rangers.Third base has Chapman, Jose Ramirez of the Guardians and Alex Bregman of t...

I-25 in Colorado set to reopen Thursday after train derailment collapsed bridge and killed trucker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — Interstate 25 in southern Colorado is expected to reopen Thursday, four days after the main north-south route through the state was shut down when a train derailment caused by a broken rail collapsed a railroad bridge onto the highway and killed a truck driver, Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday.Polis toured the damage near Pueblo on Wednesday with local leaders and representatives with the National Transportation Safety Board. He also offered condolences to family and friends of Lafollette Henderson, the 60-year-old truck driver from Compton, California, who is survived by six children and 15 grandchildren.The steel bridge, built in 1958, collapsed Sunday when 30 cars from a BNSF Railway train hauling coal derailed while crossing over I-25. Investigators are examining how the rail broke and why warning systems did not alert crews to the condition of the track, according to the NTSB.A 9-mile (14-kilometer) stretch of I-25 — used by 39,000 to 44,000 vehicles daily —...

St. Lawrence Seaway workers issue strike notice, could walk as of midnight Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

MONTREAL — Unifor says workers at the St. Lawrence Seaway Corp. are ready to strike as of midnight Saturday.It says it has issued a 72-hour strike notice to the employer and will bargain through Thursday in an attempt to reach a deal. The union says a strike would effectively shut down transit through the seaway.Negotiations began on June 19 and 20 with the help of a conciliator.The two sides held additional talks in September and resumed bargaining on Oct. 17. Unifor president Lana Payne says in a press release that workers are demanding a “serious wage offer.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

TikTok denies it’s controlled by China as exec faces Canadian MPs over security fears

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

OTTAWA — A TikTok executive faced off on Wednesday with Canadian lawmakers who have concerns that data from the app could end up in the hands of the Chinese government. Steve de Eyre, director of public policy and government affairs for TikTok Canada, said at a House of Commons committee meeting that the video-sharing app is not controlled by the Chinese government.Western governments have expressed worries that the popular platform owned by Beijing-based ByteDance could put sensitive data in the hands of China’s government or be used as a tool to further misinformation.Chinese law says the government can order companies to help it gather intelligence. When NDP MP Matthew Green asked about the law, another TikTok executive brushed off the question. “I’m not an expert in Chinese law,” said David Lieber, head of privacy public policy for the Americas. The federal government banned TikTok from government-owned devices in February, after its chief information off...

New Chicago police boss wants cops to be more aggressive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Larry Snelling is no stranger to the Chicago Police Department. The Englewood native has been on the job for 30 years. And that experience may have – at times – put him at odds with a sitting mayor known more for talking about equity and inclusion than crime and consequences. Snelling's mantra: "Remember who you are." In a sit-down interview with WGN Investigates, Snelling says he has carried those words with him since his earliest days as a patrol officer, well into the academy as a trainer and now as the head of CPD. What is CPD’s response time? Experts can’t say with certainty "It’s not just about you. It’s about your partner. It’s about the community. And most of all: It’s about the children of this city because we have to make sure they have a future," Snelling said.Newly anointed Snelling takes over a depleted department – down nearly 1,500 officers from just a few years ago – and a city frustrated by frequent flashes of lawlessness. F...

Chicago Interfaith leaders condemn murder of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoumi

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

CHICAGO — A group of interfaith leaders united in the Loop Wednesday afternoon to condemn the stabbing murder of six-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoumi, who prosecutors said was targeted because of his Muslim faith.Representatives of several religious entities, including the Mecca Center, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, and Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, condemned the murder of Wadea, while also offering their sympathy for the boy's family."The Muslim community continues to mourn the loss of Wadea — a young, brilliant, energetic and loving child," said Sheikh Tariq Musleh, Associate Imam at the Mecca Center. "He was a child, who after just recently celebrating his birthday, spent his final moments on this Earth comforting his own mother, who watched him take his last breath.""This is the grossest example of disrespecting another human being, because of their religious views," added Pastor Gregg Morris from Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church. Preside...

Troops hurt after 3 drones attack US bases in Iraq as tensions flare after Gaza hospital blast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Coalition forces were slightly injured in Iraq in a spate of drone attacks over the last 24 hours at U.S. bases in Iraq as regional tensions flare following the deadly bombing of a hospital in Gaza.Two drones targeted the al Asad airbase in western Iraq used by U.S. forces and one drone targeted a base in northern Iraq, a U.S. official told the Associated Press. U.S. forces intercepted all three, destroying two but only damaging the third, which led to minor injuries among coalition forces at the western base, according to a statement Wednesday by U.S. Central Command.The U.S. official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the attacks.“In this moment of heightened alert, we are vigilantly monitoring the situation in Iraq and the region. U.S. forces will defend U.S. and coalition forces against any threat,” Central Command said in the release. Senate prepares to pass massive Israel aid package Iranian-backed militias in Iraq ...

'DEAD on DAMEN': Halloween display in Rogers Park raising money for charity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

CHICAGO -- A Halloween display in Rogers Park will continue a spooky tradition after getting new life at a neighborhood school.Jessica Bernardi and her husband are responsible for "DEAD on DAMEN Avenue," a Halloween tradition in the Rogers Park neighborhood for the past four years.Traditionally located at Damen Avenue and Howard Street, but this year, the Bernardi's were forced to relocate the Halloween display just a few blocks over at Jordan Community Elementary School. 36 October festivals and events happening across Chicagoland Despite toning down on the gory decorations, Bernardi believes the new location will help them raise money to give back to the community."This year, the funds raised at the "DEAD on DAMEN Avenue" event will be donated to the ALS association, in honor of their dog who was diagnosed last year and recently passed.Seven sections and hundreds of homemade decorations, the Bernardi's expect to have the "DEAD on DAMEN Avenue" full display up and running by this...