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New wave of GOP candidates poised to join 2024 campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The opening phase of the Republican presidential primary has largely centered on the escalating collision between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.But a new wave of GOP White House hopefuls will begin entering the 2024 race as soon as this coming week after a monthslong lull. They include former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who will formally launch his campaign Wednesday.Former Vice President Mike Pence has said he will finalize his plans in “weeks, not months.” He has kept a busy schedule of early state visits and policy speeches as aides have discussed details of an announcement including dates as early as May, but more likely in June. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who has formed a presidential exploratory committee, is expected to join the race in a similar time frame.Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been meeting with former aides and he returned to New Hampshire this past...

DA: Baby boy found unresponsive in Waltham dies at hospital

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

An infant died last week after first responders found the 5-month-old male baby unresponsive in a Waltham home, officials said.On April 13, just before 2 p.m, the infant was found in a home on Leitha Street, which officials say is not the child’s home, and then transferred to Newton Wellesley Hospital. No other information was provided, and the District Attorney’s Office said the investigation is ongoing.

Bob Raissman: Not lost in translation — Yankees continue to enable John Sterling and his radio shtick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

It’s too late now, but how different the Yankees radio experience might be if only John (Pa Pinstripe) Sterling had put as much time into perfecting his play-by-play, as he did concocting “catchy” home run calls for specific players.The thought popped up again with multi-media-platform reaction swirling over his call of Anthony Volpe’s first major league HR against Minnesota, which had most listeners in need of a pal in Palermo.“…Anthony Volpe! A spettacolo oggi! “Sterling bellowed. “Oh, the fox socks one to left. And the Yankees take an immediate 1-0 lead.”By now, you must know (how could you not?) “A spettacolo oggi” sort of means “putting on a show today.” Silly us. We always thought it was the play-by-play voice’s job to paint word pictures that need no translating. Then again, many of Sterling’s calls — in English — often need translation.“It is high … it is far ...

Here’s how AI can steal your identity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

A few years ago, a feature called Voice ID was probably perfectly secure. It’s used by many companies—including some banks—as a way to verify your identity by having you speak a phrase or two in your own unique voice. The problem is, these days, your own unique voice doesn’t necessarily have to come from your own mouth.Joseph Cox is a reporter with Motherboard, he joins us to discuss how he used AI-driven voice cloning software to hack his own online banking account, what the rapid advance of this technology means for existing forms of online security, and how to protect yourself amidst an escalating cybersecurity arms race.You can find our main website at thebigstorypodcast.ca. You’ll still find The Big Story on Twitter @thebigstoryfpn, so please continue to tag us there if you share any episodes from our daily show. You can also find information about the other shows in our network by following @frequencypods.

Lawmakers war-game conflict with China, hoping to deter one

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s April 22, 2027, and 72 hours into a first-strike Chinese attack on Taiwan and the U.S. military response. Already, the toll on all sides is staggering.It was a war game, but one with a serious purpose and high-profile players: members of the House select committee on China. The conflict unfolded on Risk board game-style tabletop maps and markers under a giant gold chandelier in the House Ways and Means Committee room. The exercise explored American diplomatic, economic and military options if the United States and China were to reach the brink of war over Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own. The exercise played out one night last week and was observed by The Associated Press. It was part of the committee’s in-depth review of U.S. policies toward China as lawmakers, especially in the Republican-led House, focus on tensions with President Xi Jinping’s government.In the war game, Beijing’s missiles and rockets cascade down on Ta...

Alabama education director ousted over book’s stance on race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday announced she replaced her director of early childhood education over the use of a teacher training book, written by a nationally recognized education group, that the Republican governor denounced as teaching “woke concepts” because of language about inclusion and structural racism.Barbara Cooper was forced out as as head of the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education after Ivey expressed concern over the distribution of the book to state-run pre-kindergartens. Ivey spokesperson Gina Maiola identified the book as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Developmentally Appropriate Practice Book, 4th edition. Maiola said she understands that the books have been removed from the state classrooms.“The education of Alabama’s children is my top priority as governor, and there is absolutely no room to distract or take away from this mission. Let me be crystal clear: Woke concepts that have ze...

Elephant dies at Pakistani zoo days after procedure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — An ailing elephant who underwent a critical medical procedure by a team of international veterinarians earlier this month has died at a Pakistani zoo, officials said Saturday.Noor Jehan, 17 years old, was brought to Karachi with three other elephants more than a dozen years ago. She died after an accident just days after the procedure performed by a team of experts based in Austria to assess her condition, said Kanwar Ayub, a top official at the Karachi zoo.Syed Saifur Rehman, the top local government official in Karachi, said city and zoo administrators did all they could to comfort the long-ailing elephant after the procedure this month.“Sadly we could not save Noor Jehan despite making all efforts including bringing in a team of foreign experts for her treatment,” he said. Videos of Noor Jehan leaning her head against a tree and struggling to stand caused alarm in Pakistan and around the world.An eight-member team from the Austrian animal welfare organiza...

Rare big tornado near Myanmar capital kills 8

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — A tornado that tore through two villages in central Myanmar near the capital Naypyitaw killed eight people and destroyed more than 200 houses, a rescue worker said Saturday.The tornado hit Aung Myin Kone and Tadau villages on Naypyitaw’s southern outskirts at around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, Thet Paing Soe, a leading member of the Doh Lewe charity organization, told The Associated Press. He said local charity organizations had transported 128 people to hospitals, and 232 houses in the two villages were destroyed.“The tornado blew for approximately 40 minutes. Almost all the houses in the villages are quite badly damaged. The restoration will take months,” Thet Paing Soe said.Major tornadoes are rare in Myanmar.However, tornadoes of a size that rarely cause death and serious damage often occur in the summer and pre-monsoon periods when the temperature rises, said Kyaw Moe Oo, a director-general at the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.“During this period, there are fr...

Serbian, Hungarian leaders attend military display in Serbia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The populist leaders of Serbia and Hungary observed a Serbian military exercise Saturday, an event seen as a display of lethal firepower amid the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Balkans.Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrived in Serbia on a previously unannounced visit. He was greeted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said he was happy “to once again welcome a great friend of Serbia.”“Serbian-Hungarian relations are at the highest level in the history of our countries,” Vucic wrote on Instagram.Both leaders have maintained political and economic ties with Russia despite its aggression in Ukraine. Their relations with Moscow have been a sore spot with other European nations and with the U.S.Although Serbia formally seeks membership in the European Union, Vucic has refused to join international sanctions against Russia or publicly condemn the war in Ukraine. And while Hungary is a member of both the EU and NATO, Orban has criticized war-relate...

Saturday Forecast: Windy and cloudy, showers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:55:48 GMT

Saturday: Increasing clouds & wind. A few scattered showers. W 10-20, G30 mphHigh 47Saturday Night: Clearing skies, breezy & colder. WNW 10-20, G30 mph. Low 31Sunday is looking mostly cloudy, chance of a few rain/snow mix showers. WNW 15-20 mph. High 46Full forecast details at the WGN Weather CenterExtended outlook calls for milder weather as we get back to the work-week as we end up partly cloudy and milder with highs in the mid 50s. A cooler than normal week ahead with highs stay in in the mid 50s with a mix of clouds & sun. Next chance for precip after Sunday looks like next Friday when a chance of showers returns. =-=-=