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University of Miami student charged by DOJ in $3.5 million fraud scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

A University of Miami student has been charged by the United States Department of Justice for his alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme.According to the indictment, 21-year-old Matthew Frederic Bergwall, also known as “MXB” and co-conspirators orchestrated a fraudulent tracking scheme, known as “FTID,” targeting a multi-national shipping, receiving and supply chain management company from December 2021 to April 2022. Unauthorized access to compromised employee accounts allowed them to input false tracking information for merchandise, leading to nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns and causing over $3.5 million in lost product and sales revenue for victim-retailers nationwide, the Department of Justice said in a news release.The alleged scheme involved Bergwall purchasing high-value items for himself, including a $41,000 Rolex President Day-Date watch, a $600 TeamGee H2O Electric Skateboard, a $350 Samsung 43-inch Smart UHD TV, and an $80 pair...

Protesters call for cease-fire in Fort Lauderdale, demand Congress halt funding for Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

Protesters gathered outside Congressman Jared Moskowitz’s office, demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. Monday morning’s protest, at 111 E Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale, was organized by the American Friends Service Committee and the Florida Student Power Network.“We’re here in solidarity with them calling for a ceasefire, humanitarian aid and stopping of U.S. funding to the genocide, said Mishka Ahmad, a protester at Monday’s gathering. “We’re here united with AFSC, which is a Latino-led organization, and we’re here in solidarity with them, calling for a ceasefire.” Across the street, another group of protestors were out in support of Israel and their efforts in the war. “They’re for terror. People are dying and getting murdered in Israel,” said another protester, Itamar Friedman. “And they’re for that. They don’t — they’re not for peace or anything.” The yelling from...

Nigel Farage set for testicle-chomping ‘I’m A Celebrity’ reality show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

LONDON — Never mind the animal bollocks, here’s Nigel Farage.After much speculation, the controversial former Brexit Party leader was confirmed Monday night as a contestant on this year’s “I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here,” a long-running British reality TV show that sees participants shipped off to the Australian jungle to perform grueling tasks — known as “bushtucker trials” in a bid to win a public vote.In the past these have included eating camel testicles, chomping on crocodile anus — and being enclosed in a coffin full of snakes.Explaining his reasons for taking on the show, Farage — who helped nudge Britain towards a Brexit referendum and had a two-decade spell as an MEP — said he had been “demonized over the years” by the political elite. It would, he said, be “nice to show people I am not nasty.” Asked if he thinks viewers will vote to keep him on, Farage said: “Given [that] millions hate me, I do expect people will vote for me ...

Supreme Court adopts code of ethics for the first time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday adopted its first code of ethics, in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, but the code lacks a means of enforcement.The policy, agreed to by all nine justices, does not appear to impose any significant new requirements and leaves compliance entirely to each justice.Indeed, the justices said they have long adhered to ethics standards and suggested that criticism of the court over ethics was the product of misunderstanding, rather than any missteps by the justices.“The absence of a Code, however, has led in recent years to the misunderstanding that the Justices of this Court, unlike all other jurists in this country, regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules,” the justices wrote in an unsigned statement that accompanied the code. “To dispel this misunderstanding, we are issuing this Code, which largely represents a codification of principles that w...

November Chill

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

It was cold this morning! Everybody woke up to their coldest morning of the season so far!Not only was it our coldest morning of the season, but the last time there was a morning that was colder than this, you’d have to go back to February! November has had a lot of chill, too. It’s only our third month of the year so far that’s running below normal. And coming off of a toasty October, it probably feels even more chilly than it otherwise would.We’ll keep the chill going over the next few days, but it won’t be as cold as it was today. Increasing clouds this evening and tonight will limit our cooling. So instead of waking up in then teens, most of us should wake up to temperatures near 30°. But with more clouds overhead tomorrow, we won’t warm up as fast. So despite the warmer start, it’ll still be cool in the afternoon. It’ll be another below average day tomorrow.We’ll get a few more of those blue squares that are becoming oh-so-c...

Boeing lands $52B order at Dubai Air Show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Long-haul carrier Emirates opened the Dubai Air Show on Monday with a $52 billion purchase of Boeing Co. aircraft, showing how aviation has bounced back after the groundings of the coronavirus pandemic, even as Israel’s war with Hamas clouds regional security.Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, followed up with an $11 billion order of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the first wide-body aircraft in its fleet. Together, the sales marked a significant win for Virginia-based Boeing Co. on the first day of the air show, as airlines appear poised for even more billion-dollar deals this year.Emirates made the announcement witnessed by the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, at an afternoon news conference. Emirates CEO and Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the deal would see the carrier purchase 90 Boeing 777 aircraft, 55 of them 777-9 variants and 35 of them 777-8s.Emirates will also add an additional five 787 Drea...

US stikes Iran-backed groups in Syria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon and U.S. officials say U.S. fighter aircraft conducted airstrikes on locations in eastern Syria involving Iranian-backed groups, likely causing casualties and destroying weapons stored at the two targets that were struck — a training facility and a safe house.A defense official said that the training facility also served as a weapons storage and that the safe house, located in the Bulbul district of Mayadin, functioned as a headquarters for Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated groups in the area. The official said Revolutionary Guard-related personnel were present at the time of the strikes and likely were hit, but the Pentagon had not confirmed whether they were killed.The defense official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to provide additional details of the strikes.The U.S. has conducted three strikes over the last two weeks against Iranian-tied weapons depots in Syria to retaliate for the more than 50 rocket and drone a...

The Supreme Court says it is adopting a code of ethics, but it has no means of enforcement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday adopted its first code of ethics, in the face of sustained criticism over undisclosed trips and gifts from wealthy benefactors to some justices, but the code lacks a means of enforcement. The policy, agreed to by all nine justices, does not appear to impose any significant new requirements and leaves compliance entirely to each justice.Indeed, the justices said they have long adhered to ethics standards and suggested that criticism of the court over ethics was the product of misunderstanding, rather than any missteps by the justices.“The absence of a Code, however, has led in recent years to the misunderstanding that the Justices of this Court, unlike all other jurists in this country, regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules,” the justices wrote in an unsigned statement that accompanied the code. “To dispel this misunderstanding, we are issuing this Code, which large...

Brush fire closes I-805 offramp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Fire-Rescue crews made quick work of a brush fire that broke out near Interstate 805 Monday morning.The fire, which was reported just before 11:20 a.m., was stopped at one acre, SDFD said on X, formerly known as Twitter. New atmospheric river heading for California next week, likely impact zone of Bay Area to San Diego Crews have closed the offramp from northbound I-805 to westbound 43rd Street.The fire did not cause any injuries or threaten any structures, SDFD said.Check back for updates on this developing story.

Royal Canadian Mint to begin circulation of coins with image of King Charles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:12:58 GMT

WINNIPEG — The first Canadian coins bearing the face of King Charles are soon to be circulated across the country. The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg is set Tuesday to showcase its model of the King that will appear on one side of all Canadian coins.The monarch’s effigy is also to be pressed onto a loonie for the first time at the mint. The mint says a small amount of 2023-dated coins with the King are to circulate in early December.Coin exchanges are set to take place later in the month at the mint’s Ottawa and Winnipeg boutiques. The image features work by Canadian portrait artist Steven Rosati, who has designed other coins for the mint, including six silver National Hockey League goalie coins. Earlier this year, the federal government directed the mint and the Bank of Canada to replace the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II with one of the King on its coins and the $20 bill.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2023. The Canadian Press