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White House holds first-ever summit on the ransomware crisis plaguing the nation’s public schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

The White House on Tuesday held its first-ever cybersecurity “summit” on the ransomware attacks plaguing U.S. schools, which has included hackers leaking sensitive student data such as medical records, psychiatric evaluations and student sexual assault reports. “If we want to safeguard our children’s futures we must protect their personal data,” first lady Jill Biden, who is a teacher, told the gathering. “Every student deserves the opportunity to see a school counselor when they’re struggling and not worry that these conversations will be shared with the world.”At least 48 districts have reported ransomware attacks this year — already three more than in all of 2022, according to the cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. All but 10 had data stolen, the firm reported.An October 2022 report from the Government Accountability Office, a federal watchdog agency, found that more than 1.2 million students were affected in 2020 alone — with lost learning ranging from three days to three weeks. Nearl...

Ukraine accuses Russia of targeting rescue workers with consecutive missile strikes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials on Tuesday accused the Kremlin’s forces of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles — the first one to draw crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them.The strikes Monday evening in the downtown district of the city of Pokrovsk killed at least seven people, including an emergency official, and wounded more than 80 others, most of them police officers, emergency workers and soldiers who rushed to assist residents, Ukrainian officials said.The Russian missiles slammed into the center of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, which is partially occupied by Russia. Emergency crews were still removing rubble on Tuesday. The Iskander missiles, which have an advanced guidance system that increases their accuracy, hit within 40 minutes of each other, according to Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.Since the start of the war, Russia has used artillery and missiles to hit targets and then s...

Niger’s junta rejects a diplomatic visit by regional and UN officials over ‘atmosphere of menace’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to reinstall the ousted president, rejecting a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday, according to a letter seen by The Associated Press.The letter cited “evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace” against Niger, two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s democratically elected leader. The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn’t reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.On Monday, acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders and said they refused to allow her to meet with Bazoum, whom she described as under “virtual house arrest.” She described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to her appeals to start negotiations and restore constitutional rule.“These conver...

Brazil leader hopes that Amazon summit will bring back protections that the world needs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

BELEM, Brazil (AP) — For the first time in 14 years, Amazon rainforest nation leaders are meeting to protect the ecosystem and address the organized crime threatening it.Assembling Tuesday and Wednesday in the Brazilian city of Belem are members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization. The 45-year-old alliance that has met only three times before. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said that he hopes the summit will spur it to start taking far-reaching and effective action.“It has never been so urgent to resume and expand that cooperation. The challenge of our era and the opportunities that arise will demand joint action,” Lula said at the start of the event on Tuesday morning. The Amazon stretches across an area twice the size of India, and two-thirds of it lies in Brazil. Seven other countries and one territory share the remaining third. Presidents from Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are attending, plus Guyana’s Prime Minister, Venezuela’s Vice Presiden...

S&P/TSX composite index dips alongside U.S. markets in Tuesday morning trading

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock market nudged southward in late-morning trading, in line with a bigger dip in U.S. markets.The S&P/TSX composite index dipped 125.19 points to 20,110.85, dragged down by metals and information technology stocks.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 402.14 points to 35,070.71. The S&P 500 index was down 51.34 points at 4,467.10, while the Nasdaq composite was down 222.68 points at 13,774.91.The Canadian dollar traded for 74.26 cents US compared with 74.88 cents US on Friday.The September crude oil contract was down 78 cents at US$81.16 per barrel and the September natural gas contract was up four cents at US$2.77 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$9.10 at US$1,960.90 an ounce and the September copper contract was down eight cents at US$3.76 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

In Mexico, accusations of ‘communism’ and ‘fascism’ mark school textbook debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — There are few places where the debate over school textbooks has gone so ballistic in such a short time as in Mexico, where opponents are hurling cries of “communist” and “fascist’ at each other.The series of about three dozen government-written, free textbooks will be required reading for first through ninth grades in every school nationwide, starting on Aug. 28.News anchor Javier Alatorre claimed the new schoolbooks written by the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador are trying to inject “the virus of communism” into kids.Government supporters, meanwhile, have compared the opposition to Hitler, after opposition party leader Marko Cortes suggested some of the texts should be destroyed. Temperatures have run so high that López Obrador has instructed officials to hold a series of news conferences to answer questions about the new texts.The debate reveals how starkly divided Mexico is between die-hard supporters of López Obrador, and those wh...

Chicago native DJ Casper, creator of the 'Cha-Cha Slide,' dies at 58

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago native DJ Casper, the creator behind the classic hit "Cha-Cha Slide," has died, according to multiple news outlets.Casper, whose real name is Willie Perry Jr., passed away Monday following a years-long battle with cancer.He was 58-years-old.The DJ, who was born and raised in Chicago, was reportedly known as "Casper" due to frequently wearing all white attire while on stage.He allegedly created the party hit "Cha-Cha Slide" in 1998 for his nephew who who was a personal trainer at Bally Total Fitness. Casper then created "Casper Slide Pt. 2" in 2000.The DJ joined WGN Morning News for an interview back in 2020 to promote his cancer foundation.

24-year-old woman critical after Bronzeville shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 24-year-old woman was critically injured following a shooting in Bronzeville Monday night.Just before 8:50 p.m., police responded to a shooting in the 4800 block of South Drexel. At the scene, officers found a 24-year-old woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.She was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. 24-year-old woman critical after Bronzeville shooting Police believe the woman was involved in a verbal alteration with a man who shot her and then fled in a black sedan.No one is in custody.

Suspected burglar arrested after breaking into Florida church, 'baptizing himself' during attempt to steal electronics, money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) — A Georgia man who broke into a Florida church on Friday morning had an unusual encounter in the baptismal, deputies said.The suspect, identified by the Bay County Sheriff's Office as Derek Porter, was attempting to steal from the Emerald Beach Church of God in Panama City Beach when he stopped to baptize himself, according to officials.Shortly before, Porter had used a cinderblock to smash a window at the church and gain entry on Friday morning. A woman working in the church heard the sound and fled, deputies said. "While inside, Porter caused approximately $8,000 worth of damage to the church. Porter then loaded several electronics including a television and a computer into his truck along with the church’s money bag," deputies wrote. Deputies and officers with the Panama City Beach Police Department descended on the church and arrested Porter. They say he was found meth and drug paraphernalia. Hundreds attend church service generated by ChatGPT ...

Wait not worth it for the Cubs on Monday in New York

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:57:00 GMT

NEW YORK — If you weren't up for waiting up for the end, you didn't miss much, especially if you were a Cubs fan.In a strong stretch of play in the second half of the season for the team, this one was a dud. Losing to the Mets before a lengthy rain delay at Citi Field, things only got away from the Cubs even more on a forgettable night for the club. New York added four more runs after it to pull away for an 11-2 win. The Cubs are now 2 1/2 games behind the Brewers for first in the NL Central but just one in back of the Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.It's the most lopsided loss for the team in the second half of the season, besting their 8-0 defeat at the hands of the Braves on Friday. The Cubs rallied to take the final two games of that series at Wrigley Field this past weekend and will try to do the same when they play the final pair the next two days.Drew Smyly struggled on a big night for the Mets, who had lost six straight following a major trade deadli...