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Amazon, Tripadvisor and other companies team up to battle fake reviews while FTC seeks to ban them

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Some of the most used platforms for travel and online shopping said Tuesday they’re going to team up to battle fake reviews. Amazon, reviews site Glassdoor and Trustpilot as well as travel companies Expedia Group, Booking.com and Tripadvisor said in an announcement they’re launching a coalition that aims to protect access to “trustworthy consumer reviews” worldwide. The companies said the members of the group, which will be called Coalition for Trusted Reviews, will look for best practices for hosting online reviews and share methods on how to detect fake ones. That will include developing standards for what constitutes a fake review and sharing information about how bad actors operate. Phony reviews have long plagued online marketplaces despite their efforts to eradicate it. Much of the problem is fueled by brokers who solicit fake customer reviews through social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps and other channels in exchange for money, free items or ...

Biden to visit Israel as bombardments strike southern Gaza on 11th day of war with Hamas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

Palestinians described intense bombardments early Tuesday near two towns in southern Gaza, where Israel had ordered civilians to seek refuge.Thousands of people trying to escape Gaza are gathered in Rafah, which has the territory’s only border crossing to Egypt. Mediators are pressing for an agreement to let aid in and refugees with foreign passports out. The U.S. hoped to break a deadlock with President Joe Biden set to head to Israel and Jordan on Wednesday.Aid workers warned that life in Gaza was near complete collapse because of the Israeli siege that followed a Hamas attack on Israel.The war that began Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,778 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.Currently:U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of...

Georgia deputy shoots, kills Black man who served 16 years on wrongful conviction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

KINGSLAND, Ga. (AP) — A Black man who spent more than 16 years imprisoned in Florida on a wrongful conviction was fatally shot Monday by a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities said.The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which is reviewing the shooting, identified the man as Leonard Allen Cure, 53.In this photo provided by the Innocence Project of Florida, Leonard Allen Cure poses on the day of his release from prison on April 14, 2020, in Fla. Cure, who spent more than 16 years in prison in Florida on a wrongful conviction, was shot and killed Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, by a sheriff's deputy in Georgia during a traffic stop, authorities and representatives said. (Innocence Project of Florida via AP)Cure had been represented in his exoneration case by the Innocence Project of Florida. The group’s executive director, Seth Miller, said he was devastated by news of the death, which he heard from Cure’s family.“I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is i...

Man accused of living with dead body for months spent victim's money on Amazon: prosecutors

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) - A man accused of killing his roommate and living with her body for months faces new criminal charges after prosecutors said he used the victim's money to buy thousands of dollars worth of products from Amazon following her death. A grand jury indicted George Bone, 31, earlier this month on three theft-related charges, court records showed. The panel indicted Bone last month on a murder charge in the death of 29-year-old Beverly Ma.During a grand jury return hearing Friday, Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said Bone allegedly raked up $10,000 in Amazon purchases. Police suspect Bone "ordered 171 items from Amazon for himself using her finances while she lay deceased," court documents said.Photos shown to a Clark County grand jury include this one of a fly trap hanging from a lamp. (Grand jury exhibit/KLAS)Las Vegas Metro police officers took Bone into custody in July after discovering Ma’s body during a welfare check, according to the department.On the ...

Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage as US, international pressure to release captives intensifies

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

Hamas is beginning to release videos of hostages that they kidnapped from Israel as part of a brutal attack on the country launched last week, when 199 people were taken captive and more than 1,300 were killed.Women and children including infants and toddlers are believed to be among those Hamas took as hostages into the Gaza Strip during its attack on Oct. 7.A new video released Monday shows a young woman lying in a bed and receiving medical treatment. Her arm is being wrapped after what appears to be a recent surgery to stabilize what could be a broken bone. In another shot she is sitting up and facing the camera, explaining her name, age and that she was taken to Gaza from the southern Israeli city of Sderot after the Supernova music festival where Hamas killed more than 200 people.“Hi, I’m Mia Schem, 21-years-old from Shoham. Currently, I’m in Gaza,” she said, speaking in a composed manner.“I returned early Saturday morning from the Sderot area, I was at a party. I was seri...

Warming trend kicks into high gear late week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- It's been a bit since we've had to reach for the jackets... but we wouldn't judge you if you did this morning. It's cold!Morning temperatures in the 30s and 40s will warm well into the upper 70s later today. Plenty of sunshine, dry skies and light winds will make for a beautiful October day across Central Texas.Tuesday afternoon forecast highsOur weather pattern remains relatively unchanged the next few days as high pressure generally remains over the western U.S. and a trough sinks east of the Mississippi. Sandwiched in between, Central Texas will favor warmer temperatures (courtesy of southerly winds at the surface) and plenty of sunshine.Warming trend through late weekThe Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix is in town. The weather will be dry and unseasonably hot at COTA.Formula 1 race weekend forecast PHOTOS: Solar eclipse passes over Austin area Extended outlooks point to wetter weather returning in Texas next week. Stay tuned for forecast updates.Wetter than normal pa...

Gov. Abbott gets sneak peak of race car ahead of Formula 1 US Grand Prix

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Formula 1 Lenovo United States Grand Prix begins this weekend, and Gov. Greg Abbott got a sneak peak Monday at one of the race cars.Abbott was joined by Circuit of The Americas chairman and co-founder Bobby Epstein for a car presentation at the governor's mansion. Abbott said since F1 has been at COTA, it's brought in about $10 billion in tourism for the state.Furthermore, he said it has exposed Texas to 400 million people across the entire world. Additionally, Abbott said the race will make a massive economic boom, not only for the the state, but the City of Austin. "We have people flying in from across the entire world to see this," Abbott said. "It's great for F1. It's great for the race, but think what it does for the bars, restaurants and entertainment locations across the entire area. This is an economic boom to our state."The racing and music will begin Friday and last throughout the weekend. The F1 Lenovo U.S. Grand Prix race kicks off Sunday.

David French: The moral questions at the heart of the Gaza war

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

As Israeli soldiers mass outside the Gaza Strip, preparing to launch a ground invasion that could lead to extraordinarily intense urban combat, there is a community of people who know what these soldiers are about to face. And that community knows that there is no way through the fight without sorrow, confusion and terrible heartbreak.American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan know both the necessity of confronting a force like Hamas, which President Joe Biden called “pure evil,” and the horrifying choices that decision entails. And we know that discussions of law and tactics — as important as they are — provide only partial answers. There is no way to escape the moral challenge of war.As a former JAG (or Judge Advocate General’s Corps) officer embedded with a combat arms unit in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I know that you can’t simply merge law and tactics and declare that everything that is legally and tactically sound is also moral, much less wise.We veterans know that th...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Would You Return Potato Chips If They Were Crushed?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Brenda and it's about shopping and potato chips. Here's the email: Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. My husband is telling me I'm being petty about something, but I think my point is very valid, so we thought we would bring it to you. I recently did my weekly grocery shopping and one of the items was a bag of my favorite potato chips. I have made it a point to always go to a register with a cashier instead of self-checkout. Anyway, I checked out with the cashier and another person was bagging my groceries. When I got home, I found my potato chips underneath a bag of apples and the chips were crushed to a certain extent. I was really ticked off. I wanted to go back to the store and get another bag or a refund. My husband told me I was being petty and that the chips will taste the same if they're small pieces or big chips. I think I'm right, what do you th...

Off the Beaten Path: T&J Soap

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:14:40 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - In November, T&J Soap will mark 11 years in business. Started by Theresa Van Duyne, the shop specializes in artisan cold process soap, candles, bath bombs and lotions.“So a lot of people will come in and say 'this is so beautiful I don’t want to use it',” said Theresa. "With cold process soaps it will act like an air freshener for like a year, or two.” Off the Beaten Path: Queen Bee Bakery The store offers more than 40 different varieties of scents. The most popular fall flavors are spiced apple cider and witches brew. If you want to check out T&J Soaps, it is open Wednesday through Saturday.