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China crackdown on cyber scams in Southeast Asia nets thousands but leaves networks intact

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Zhang Hongliang, a former restaurant manager in central China, took various gigs in and outside China to support his family after losing his job during the COVID-19 pandemic.In March, a job offer to teach Chinese cooking at a restaurant led him into a cyber scam compound in Myanmar, where he was instead ordered to lure Chinese into giving up their savings for fake investment schemes via social media platforms.Zhang is one of tens of thousands of people, mostly but not all Chinese, who have become ensnared in cyber scam networks run by powerful Chinese criminal syndicates in Southeast Asia. Regional and Chinese authorities have netted thousands of people in a crackdown, but experts say they are failing to root out the local elites and criminal networks that are bound to keep running the schemes.When scam operations are shut down in one place they often just resurface elsewhere. The problem is an embarrassment for Beijing and is discouraging ordinary Chinese from travel...

Tensions rise amid clashing rallies in Skokie

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

SKOKIE, Ill. — Tensions came to a boil in Skokie on Sunday afternoon after pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups held rallies at the same time.The ensuing chaos from the events left three people, including a CPD officer with minor injuries after they were pepper sprayed by someone in the crowd. A solidarity with Israel event was getting underway at the Ateres Ayala event space in Skokie and those in attendance told WGN-TV News that a counter-rally was then organized for the same time, in the same area by Palestinian supporters. Rally in support of Israel takes place at Foster Beach According to Skokie police, the NIPAS Mobile Field Force and Cook County Sheriff’s Police were called in to assist in planning for the event.Police say while officers were on the scene, a crowd of about 200 counter-protestors formed outside of the solidarity with Israel event.Skokie police say during the protest, several disturbances broke out, resulting in a Chicago police officer and two citizens...

Sunday Forecast: Mostly clear, increasing clouds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

Sunday Night: Mostly clear evening. Increasing clouds overnight. SE 5-10 mph. Low: 44Monday: Mostly cloudy with some mid-day showers & building winds. S 10-20 mph. High: 63Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for a nice start to Tuesday and temps to build into the mid to upper 70s. Showers likely by the evening-- and we'll see on/off rain at times and a few iso. t'storms getting into Wednesday with temps settling back into the mid to upper 60s. And we'll stay pretty cloudy for the rest of the week as well with each day through the coming weekend has a chance of showers. The good news is that the rain will help the near peak to peak fall colors to really pop on the trees. 

Hundreds attend refugee job fair in Austin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Sunday, hundreds of refugees living in Austin showed up to a local mosque looking for resources and job opportunities. Several non profits partnered to host the hiring fair at the North Austin Muslim Community Center.The organizations that set this up include: The TENT Partnership, a coalition that supports refugees in the United StatesCombined Arms, a national organization focused on supporting veterans and individuals who arrived in the United States after having assisted the U.S. Armed ForcesGlobal Impact Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education programming and workforce development for marginalized communitiesDozens of employers 30 different employers from a variety of industries filled the community center.Landscapes Unlimited Chief Development Officer Jake Riekstins was among the employers in the room. "We're looking for folks with entry level skills all the way up to those that are career minded," Riekstins said. "We talked about their tr...

For sale: Fixer-upper home. Used to be a school. Cash only.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

HUNTER, N.D. — A property for sale 40 miles northwest of Fargo could have people yearning for nostalgia and the early days of their education.Built in 1903, the old school in Hunter, North Dakota, was purchased, renovated and lived in by Larry Schuler and his wife, Cheryl, from 1999 until her death from a heart attack in 2020.Schuler stayed for a few years longer, but the sheer amount of space and upkeep was just too much for him and his dogs.A former classroom is seen inside the old school in Hunter, North Dakota. Later transformed into a home, the property is for sale for $150,000 cash. (Contributed / CJ Anderson / BHHS Premier Properties)“I’d still be there if it wasn’t for life-changing situations,” he said.Now, the property at 320 Second St. E. in Hunter — population 332 — is on the market for $150,000 for a unique buyer who must be willing to pay cash.Listing agent CJ Anderson with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties said lenders have told her the property...

Broncos coach Sean Payton may not be interested in baby steps, but that’s what his team took Sunday in win vs. Packers: “It was nice to finally finish”

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

Even the ugliest of wins goes on the left side of the ledger.Sean Payton knows it.He praised his team Sunday for finding its way to the finish line of a 19-17 victory that won’t find its way into any sort of football pantheon.“The teams that have that trait generally fare better,” Payton said of handling adversity. “I was glad to see us do that.”The Denver Broncos, though? No finish line or arrivals or anything much beyond a deep breath in sight. They have a long way to go.Even the rosiest tinted glasses can’t hide the warts on this team.Or the 2-5 record.Or the virtually nonexistent playoff odds that increased infinitesimally when Denver staved off yet another shaky second half on its home field thanks to P.J. Locke’s interception just after the two-minute warning.Could the Broncos find themselves on the Autobahn? Suddenly whizzing past traffic, gaining on lost time and making like Jacksonville or Detroit last year? Riding a heater to the postseason like the 2-6 Jaguars did o...

Neighbors take down suspected home burglar in Lancaster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

A group of neighbors in Lancaster took matters into their own hands when they caught a man breaking into homes Saturday evening, according to witnesses.The chaotic and dangerous scene unfolded in the area of 20th Street West and Avenue J-8 at about 7:30 p.m.One victim, who only wanted to be identified as “Karen,” told a news photographer that she was startled to find the burglar outside of her bedroom.“I just opened my door and he was standing there,” she said. “We pushed him out of the house … he got onto his bike and started riding down the street.”Moments later, the man was seen looking inside cars, acting suspiciously and carrying a backpack, according to a woman who was attending a birthday party in the area. When he tried again to ride away on his bike, the witness says he fell over and was quickly pounced on by neighbors who ripped away his backpack and subdued him until authorities arrived.“They opened up his backpack… [he had] wallets, watches, sets of house keys, jewe...

Steelers' offense awakens in fourth quarter, rallies for a 24-17 victory over the Rams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

Both the Steelers and the Rams knew their tight game wasn't solely decided by one questionable fourth-down spot at the two-minute warning.That didn't make Los Angeles any happier about the officials' decision — and Pittsburgh wasn't about to apologize for earning a big break in its impressive comeback victory.Jaylen Warren and Najee Harris rushed for touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and the Steelers awoke from a quiet offensive day just in time to grab a 24-17 victory over the Rams on Sunday.Kenny Pickett passed for 230 yards and ran for another score for the Steelers (4-2), who had just 110 yards in the first three quarters at SoFi Stadium. But much-maligned coordinator Matt Canada's offense finally found some holes in the Los Angeles (3-4) defense in the fourth quarter, racking up three long drives culminating in two TDs and the chance to run out the clock.Pickett got that generous spot to convert a fourth-and-1 at the Los Angeles 38 on the final snap before the tw...

¿Cuándo y cómo fueron los anteriores balotajes en Argentina?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

(CNN Español) — Este domingo se celebraron las elecciones presidenciales en Argentina y con más del 90% de las mesas escrutadas, ya está a la vista que se celebrará un balotaje entre Sergio Massa, el candidato de Unión por la Patria, y Javier Milei, de La Libertad Avanza.Mapa de resultados en vivo de las elecciones en Argentina 2023 por provincias y departamentosHay que decir que el escenario de la segunda vuelta o balotaje en Argentina se dio más recientemente en 2015, cuando los argentinos tuvieron que elegir entre Daniel Scioli del Frente para la Victoria y Mauricio Macri, quien se convertiría en presidente.El primer escenario de segunda vuelta que se dio en el país fue en el 2003 en el que debían competir el expresidente Carlos Saúl Menem del Frente por la Lealtad/UCeDé y Nestor Kirchner por el Frente de la Victoria. Sin embargo, Menem no se presentó a segunda vuelta y Kirchner fue el ganador.¿Cómo funciona el balotaje en Argentina?El balotaje está establecido por ley en e...

Las frases más destacadas del discurso de Javier Milei tras pasar al balotaje

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:46 GMT

(CNN Español) — Tras haber perdido su posición y pasar al balotaje de las elecciones de Argentina en segundo lugar, Javier Milei, el candidato de La Libertad Avanza, apuntó contra el kirchnerismo y aseguró que está dispuesto “a hacer tabula rasa” para derrotar a Sergio Massa, de Unión por la Patria, en la segunda vuelta que disputarán el próximo 19 de noviembre.“Yo hoy vengo a dar por terminado ese proceso de agresiones y de ataques. Estoy dispuesto a hacer tabula rasa, barajar y dar de nuevo con el objetivo de terminar con el kirchnerismo”, dijo Milei durante su discurso este domingo.Milei obtuvo el 30,09% de los votos, según los resultados oficiales.Mapa de resultados en vivo de las elecciones en Argentina 2023 por provincias y departamentosEstas son las frases más destacadas del discurso de Javier Milei tras pasar al balotaje“De no tener partido a estar disputando con el kirchnerismo es un logro histórico”“Quiero que tomen concienci...