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Meta’s initial decisions to remove 2 videos of Israel-Hamas war is reversed by Oversight Board

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — A quasi-independent review board is recommending that Facebook parent company Meta overturn two decisions it made this fall to remove posts “informing the world about human suffering on both sides” of the Israel-Hamas war. In both cases, Meta ended up reinstating the posts — one showing Palestinian casualties and the other, an Israeli hostage — on its own, although it added warning screens to both due to violent content. This means the company isn’t obligated to do anything about the board’s decision. That said, the board also said it disagrees with Meta’s decision to bar the posts in question from being recommended by Facebook and Instagram, “even in cases where it had determined posts intended to raise awareness.” And it said Meta’s use of automated tools to remove “potentially harmful” content increased the likelihood of taking down “valuable posts” that not only raise awareness about the conflict but may contain evidence of human...

Germany’s top court orders a repeat of the 2021 national election in parts of Berlin due to glitches

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s highest court on Tuesday ordered the 2021 national election to be partially repeated in Berlin because of severe glitches at many polling stations in the capital. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the election must be repeated in 455 of 2,256 precincts in the city. It largely upheld a decision by the parliament, which decided last year on a limited rerun with the votes of Chancellor OIaf Scholz’s three-party coalition, though it slightly widened the scope of the new vote.The issue landed at the court after Germany’s main conservative opposition bloc complained, seeking a much more extensive rerun. Berlin’s top election official, Stephan Bröchler, said that the new vote would be held on Feb. 11.Although opinion polls now paint a very different picture from the results of the 2021 election, with two of three parties in the unpopular governing coalition far below their level in that vote, the rerun ordered Tuesday is much too limited ...

Good news, late holiday shoppers: Retailers are improving delivery speeds

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Haven’t ordered any of your holiday gifts yet?Well, you might find solace in discovering some of America’s biggest retailers are working to increase their shipping speeds to please shoppers expecting faster and faster deliveries.Walmart, Target and Amazon are all-in on the shipping wars, a move retail experts say will help them maintain a competitive edge against low-cost Chinese retailers Shein and Temu. For Walmart and Target, their investments are also aimed at narrowing the gap in delivery speed with Amazon, which has set the standard for fast shipping and remains the king of speed.Amazon packages have been arriving at the doors of Prime customers even faster this year under the company’s new distribution model, which divides the country into eight regions and predominantly ships items from warehouses in those areas. The idea, according to Amazon, is to get shipments to travel shorter distances with fewer touchpoints, which helps the company not only speed up del...

Children get to 'shop with a cop' Tuesday

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A group of Austin elementary school children will spend Tuesday morning shopping with local law enforcement.Amigos en Azul and Austin Police will host the second of their two “Shop with a Cop” events Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Target at Southpark Meadows. 2021: Amigos en Azul hosts "Shop with a Cop" event The first event was at the Target at Capital Plaza on Dec. 15.Officers with Amigos en Azul (Friends in Blue) take a group of disadvantaged children on a shopping spree every year.Amigos en Azul will host 300 students from ten schools this year, APD said. The students will be paired with an officer and each student will spend approximately $150, according to APD.According to the department, Amigos en Azul was founded in 1982 to better bridge the gap between the Hispanic community and APD. Every year, it awards scholarships to area high school students.

Historic preservation survey to examine downtown Austin

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin said Monday that a local-based historic preservation firm will survey downtown and surrounding neighborhoods for what the city calls an equity-based preservation plan that replaces one instituted 42 years ago.The city’s Historic Preservation Office said the survey from HHM & Associates, Inc. will focus on the architecture, history and culture of the area. Preserving Austin's Diverse History Researchers will gather information for the proposed preservation plan, said Kalan Contreras, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Austin.  That draft plan will be released in early 2024 for public review and feedback, according to the plan's website.     As KXAN reported, since the last historic preservation plan was developed in 1981, Austin has exploded. The population has nearly tripled, causing housing issues to become front and center from affordable housing to urban density concerns.

5 things to know this Tuesday, December 19

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Tuesday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect a mostly cloudy, windy day with a few snow showers to the west. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Rainfall from the coastal storm continues to impact roadways throughout New York and the Northeast Region. A State of Emergency was enacted in Warren County on Tuesday afternoon as flooding and road damage has worsened. Also, a body was recovered from a submerged car in Greene County due to flooding Monday morning. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Tuesday. 1. Rainfall causes washouts, road closures in Warren CountyRainfall from the coastal storm continues to impact roadways throughout New York and the Northeast Region. A State of Emergency was enacted on Tuesday afternoon as flooding and road damage has worsened.2. Body recovered from submerged car in Greene CountyAn individual has passed away after their vehicle w...

Traffic stop leads to heroin-related arrests in Albany

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Ravena man and Catskill woman were arrested Monday following a traffic stop near Henry Johnson Boulevard and Livingston Avenue in Albany. Brian Morrill, 55, and Kasmira Pepper, 36, face multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On Monday, the Albany County Sheriff's Office deputies pulled a car over near Henry Johnson Boulevard and Livingston Avenue for a traffic violation. They identified Morrill as the driver and Pepper as the passenger. Amid their investigation, deputies say they found a quantity of heroin and cocaine. Morrill Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceFourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSeventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceTampering with physical evidenceSecond-degree obstructing governmental administrationResisting arrest Rainfall causes washouts, road ...

Ask Amy: Single man searches for the right match

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

Dear Amy: I’ve been single since high school (I’m currently 27 years old).Dating has never been exactly a priority of mine, but I do want a romantic relationship in my life.I’ve been on several dating apps for the past few years, and have finally matched with a real, genuine human (as a man, the odds of that happening are disproportionately slim).We’ve been talking for a while, but I’m the one who’s been carrying the conversation.I’m asking all the questions like, “What do you like to do in your free time?” or “How has your day been?”She replies with very short answers that have made it increasingly difficult for me to proceed.I know so much about her, yet she hasn’t exactly shown much interest in me.I have mentioned a few things about myself organically, but she doesn’t respond very intensely to anything I offer.There is the possibility that she would communicate better in person, but at this point I’m reluctant to get to an in-person meeting.Is it wrong to make that assumption fro...

Commission approves €140 million Portuguese state aid scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen and biomethane to foster the transition to a net-zero economy

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

The European Commission has approved a €140 million Portuguese scheme to support the production of renewable hydrogen and biomethane to foster the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023, to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.Under the scheme, the aid will take form of a variable premium under a two-way contract for difference concluded for a duration of 10 years. The aid is awarded through a competitive bidding process where renewable hydrogen producers and biomethane producers compete separately. In the competitive bidding process, beneficiaries are selected on the basis of the strike price per MWh of renewable hydrogen or biomethane offered.The Commission found that the Portuguese scheme is in line with the condit...

Word Game: Dec. 19, 2023

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:56:57 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — BLEARY (BLEARY: BLEER-ee: Poorly outlined or defined.)Average mark 20 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 24 or more words in BLEARY? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CHOREA care cero char chore core hare hear hero hoar hoer hora ocher orca race reach roach each echo ache acre aero archTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].