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Google CEO Sundar Pichai returns to court to defend internet company for second time in two weeks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday was summoned to federal court for the second time in two weeks to testify in an antitrust trial threatening to topple a pillar of an internet empire that he helped build.In his latest court appearance in San Francisco, Pichai spent more than two hours defending the business practices of the Google Play Store, which distributes apps for the company’s Android software that powers most of the world’s smartphones.At times, the soft-spoken Pichai looked nonplussed and frustrated by the confrontational questioning he faced. Other times he came across as a professor explaining complex subjects to the trial’s 10-person jury located just a few feet from a podium Pichai was allowed to use because he has difficulty sitting for prolonged periods.Epic Games, the maker of the popular video game Fortnite, is trying to convince the jury that a Google Play payment processing system that collects a 15% to 30% commission from in-app purchases is il...

North Korea says it tested new solid-fuel engines for intermediate-range ballistic missiles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it successfully tested new solid-fuel engines designed for intermediate-range ballistic missiles as it continues to work on developing nuclear-capable weapons targeting its rivals in the region.North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said the country’s military scientists tested the first-stage and second-stage missile engines on Saturday and Tuesday. The report did not say when the new missile system was expected to be completed.The North’s existing intermediate-range missiles, including the Hwasong-12 that may be able to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, are powered by liquid-fuel engines, which need to be fueled before launch and cannot stay fueled for long periods of time.Missiles with built-in solid propellants can be made ready to launch faster and are easier to move and conceal, which theoretically makes it harder for adversaries to detect and preempt the launch in advance.The recent tests were an “essenti...

Donald Trump’s lawyers focus on outside accountants who prepared his financial statements

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump blamed his accountants. So did the two sons he entrusted to run his company. Now, as they mount their defense in the civil fraud trial threatening the former president’s real estate empire, his lawyers are too.Trump’s lawyers spent Tuesday digging into outside accounting firm Mazars USA LLP’s role in preparing financial statements at the heart of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, upping the blame with expert testimony from a former federal financial regulator.Jason Flemmons, testifying as an accounting expert, questioned some of the firm’s practices and raised doubts about earlier testimony from Donald Bender, the retired Mazars partner who spent years working on Trump’s financial statements.Bender, the first witness called by state lawyers, testified Oct. 3 that he’d asked a Trump Organization executive for all of the company’s property appraisals — not just ones used for the financial statements — and that he was surprised when he...

Detroit officer to stand trial after photojournalists were shot with pellets during a 2020 protest

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

DETROIT — A Detroit police corporal accused of shooting three photojournalists with rubber pellets while they covered protests against police brutality has been ordered to stand trial.Daniel Debono is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 28 in Wayne County Circuit Court on felonious assault charges, the county prosecutor’s office said Tuesday.Shortly after midnight on May 31, 2020, in downtown Detroit, MLive.com photojournalist Nicole Hester and two independent photojournalists, Seth Herald and Matthew Hatcher, encountered Debono and two other officers.Each of the photojournalists was wearing press credentials, identified themselves as news media and raised their hands as they asked to cross the street, Prosecutor Kym Worthy said at the time.Debono, dressed in riot gear, struck all three with rubber pellets that inflicted bruises and other injuries.The photojournalists were covering the protest in downtown Detroit, which was sparked by the May 25, 2020, death of George Floyd in Minn...

'They're absolutely fearless': Beverly family targeted by car thieves twice in under 2 weeks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

CHICAGO — A Beverly family that is still reeling from an armed carjacking in their driveway was targeted again only 12 days later, police say.According to Chicago police, two persons of interest were taken in for questioning on Tuesday after thieves made off with a second vehicle stolen from the family that fell victim less than two weeks ago. Semi-truck fire shuts down portion of I-294 in Willow Springs Police say the carjackings happened around 7:20 a.m. in the 9300 block of South Pleasant Avenue in the city’s Beverly neighborhood.The family’s surveillance camera captured the moments the carjacking took place on Nov. 2, when thieves stole one of the family vehicles and FOBs to both of the family’s cars.Alderman Matthew O'Shea (19th Ward) said thieves returned to the house on Tuesday morning and stole a second vehicle that was parked on the street outside the home."They're absolutely fearless of any accountability and in this case, unfortunately for them, they're going to be held...

Opinion: The clock is ticking on the Tyson Bagent Express

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

CHICAGO — There's a bona fide NFL quarterback inside of Tyson Bagent — it could be seen at times last Thursday — but the clock is ticking on his pro football career, and he needs to get better fast if he's going to stick in the league beyond this season. Last week: ‘Oh you almost had it!’ is becoming a weekly theme for the Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears pulled out a 16-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, exerting their will at times in the run game, with Bagent functioning as the offense's game manager — playing clean football (for the most part) and executing the team's game plan.In hindsight, stat watchers who looked at the box score were likely satisfied by what they saw — Bagent went 20/33 for 162 yards through the air while adding a small morsel of 12 yards on the ground alongside playing turnover-free football.D'Onta Foreman got the lion's share of carries out of the backfield, toting the rock 21 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, as the Bears...

Las Vegas teen dies after group attacks him near high school: police

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A group of teenagers in Las Vegas are facing murder charges in the deadly beating of a high school student, according to authorities. The victim, identified as 17-year-old Jonathan Lewis Jr., died on Nov. 7, six days after the attack near Rancho High School, the teen's father told Nexstar's KLAS. The Clark County Coroner's Office listed his cause of death as complications of multiple blunt force injuries. California man accused of dumping body parts now charged with killing wife, in-laws During a press conference on Tuesday, police said the fight erupted over a pair of stolen wireless headphones and possibly a vape pen. Lewis was on the ground, not defending himself, when he eventually became unconscious, Las Vegas Police Lt. Jason Johannson said. Though Lewis' father previously said that 15 people attacked the teen, police later said they believe 10 students were involved -- and eight of them were arrested Tuesday morning. The eight suspects facing charges are...

Forest Lake man found not guilty in fatal hit-and-run death of St. Paul woman; prosecutors drop other charges

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

After a Chisago County jury last week acquitted a Forest Lake man on two of four charges stemming from a fatal hit and run earlier this year, prosecutors decided to dismiss the two remaining charges against him, Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter said Tuesday.The jury on Thursday found Mark Wiosky, 38, not guilty on counts of third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide – leaving the scene. They could not reach a unanimous verdict on the two other charges — second-degree manslaughter and criminal vehicular homicide while having methamphetamine in his system, Reiter said.“While disappointed in the outcome, we respect the jury’s decision,” she said. “They deliberated for approximately 16½ hours over two days to reach those verdicts on Thursday. After review and contemplation, prosecutors did not believe another trial now would have resulted in convictions on the remaining two counts. As a result, the remaining two counts were dismissed.”According to the crim...

Albany County accepting applications for second round of COVID relief funds

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany County leaders are preparing to distribute more federal COVID relief funds. Applications for the second round of funding are open.A total of $8.3 million will be distributed. Non-profit organizations hurt by the pandemic will receive $1.5 million, and community development projects will receive $6.8 million. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Officials hope to use the money to address a range of issues, including housing, food, youth and elder services, transportation, health, recreation, and violence prevention."The $8.3 million ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funding is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have and provide impact on the entire county, particularly the underserved communities," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said.The applications can be found online. Physical copies are available at the county office building located at 112 State St. The applications are due on January 5.

Could the Cardinals land Japanese star Yoshinobu Yamamoto?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - We're nearly a week into MLB free agency. There haven't been many big splashes yet, but it might not take long in a free agent market with plenty of upside, especially for pitching. Cy Young candidates Blake Snell and Sonny Gray are available. So are bona fide innings-eater Aaron Nola and new World Series champion Jordan Montgomery. Hitting-pitching phenom Shohei Ohtani is also a first-time free agent, but he could be sidelined from pitching for at least a year after a torn UCL. Even with stiff competition, one free agent pitcher stands out to many teams above the others. And he has yet to throw a pitch in Major League Baseball. His name? Yoshinobu Yamamoto. At 25 years old, Yamamoto is one of the most decorated pitchers in recent Japanese baseball history. He made several key starts leading up to Japan's World Baseball Classic title last spring. He is also a three-time Japanese Triple Crown winner in the Nippon Professional Baseball League and a three-time Eiji Sawamura...