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FBI and European partners seize major malware network in blow to global cybercrime

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — U.S. officials said Tuesday that the FBI and its European partners infiltrated and seized control of a major malware network used for more than 15 years to commit a gamut of online crimes including crippling ransomware attacks. They then remotely removed the malicious software agent — known as Qakbot — from thousands of infected computers. Cybersecurity experts said they were impressed by the deft dismantling of the network but cautioned that any setback to cybercrime would likely be temporary.“Nearly ever sector of the economy has been victimized by Qakbot,” Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said Tuesday in announcing the takedown. He said the criminal network had facilitated about 40 ransomware attacks alone over 18 months that investigators said netted Qakbot administrators about $58 million.Qakbot’s ransomware victims included an Illinois-based engineering firm, financial services organizations in Alabama and Kansas, along with a Maryland...

Exonerees support Adnan Syed in recent court filing as appeal drags on

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

FILE - Adnan Syed gets emotional as he speaks to reporters outside the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal building after a hearing, Feb. 2, 2023, in Annapolis, Md. Syed, whose protracted legal odyssey was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial,” is asking Maryland’s highest court to deny a petition to expand the rights of crime victims in post-conviction proceedings. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun via AP, File)(AP/Barbara Haddock Taylor) FILE - Adnan Syed gets emotional as he speaks to reporters outside the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal building after a hearing, Feb. 2, 2023, in Annapolis, Md. Syed, whose protracted legal odyssey was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial,” is asking Maryland’s highest court to deny a petition to expand the rights of c...

HP: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — HP Inc. (HPQ) on Tuesday reported fiscal third-quarter net income of $766 million.The Palo Alto, California-based company said it had net income of 76 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were 86 cents per share.The results matched Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 86 cents per share.The personal computer and printer maker posted revenue of $13.2 billion in the period, missing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $13.36 billion.For the current quarter ending in October, HP expects its per-share earnings to range from 85 cents to 97 cents. Analysts surveyed by Zacks had forecast adjusted earnings per share of $1.04.The company expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.23 to $3.35 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data fro...

How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 8/29/2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as two economic reports suggested the economy is cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to pause hiking interest rates. The S&P 500 rose 1.5% Tuesday, its biggest gain since early June. The Dow rose 292 points and the Nasdaq rose 1.7%. The Conference Board, a business research group, reported that consumer confidence tumbled in August, surprising economists expecting levels to hold steady around the strong July reading. Job openings in July fell more than economists expected. Best Buy rose after the consumer electronics retailer beat Wall Street forecasts. Treasury yields fell.On Tuesday:The S&P 500 rose 64.32 points, or 1.5%, to 4,497.63.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 292.69 points, or 0.8%, to 34,852.67.The Nasdaq composite rose 238.63 points, or 1.7%, to 13,943.76.The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 26.53 points, or 1.4%, to 1,895.54.For the week:The S&P 500 is up 91.92 points, or 2.1%.The Dow is up 505.77 points...

Louisiana plagued by unprecedented wildfires, as largest active blaze grows

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — One of the largest wildfires in Louisiana history continues to burn through land and threaten rural communities, which are used to flooding and hurricanes this time of year rather than drought and blazes.Louisiana has had an unprecedented wildfire season as dry conditions and extreme heat persist. The rapid spread of fires has been made worse by pine plantation forests, blown down by recent hurricanes, fueling the blazes. This month alone, there have been about 600 wildfires across the state, and officials say there will likely be more in the weeks ahead. “This is not done. We expect a dry September. So we got to be prepared for this and all work together until the rain comes … and then we can get back to life,” Mike Strain, the commissioner for Louisiana’s Department of Agriculture and Forestry, said during a news conference Tuesday.The state’s largest active blaze, the Tiger Island Fire in southwestern Louisiana, doubled in size over the weekend, grow...

NCino: Fiscal Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — NCino, Inc. (NCNO) on Tuesday reported a loss of $15.9 million in its fiscal second quarter.The Wilmington, North Carolina-based company said it had a loss of 14 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 9 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of six analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 7 cents per share.The company posted revenue of $117.2 million in the period, also beating Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $115.1 million.For the current quarter ending in October, nCino expects its per-share earnings to range from 10 cents to 12 cents.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $120 million to $121 million for the fiscal third quarter.NCino expects full-year earnings in the range of 38 cents to 41 cents per share, with revenue ranging from $475 million to $478.5 million._____T...

Boston will no longer require prospective spouses to register their sex or gender to marry

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Couples filling out marriage certificates in Boston will no longer be required to identify their sex or gender under a new policy adopted by the city Tuesday.The change is the first the city has made based on its new gender-aware guidelines, officials said.The goal is to provide more dignity to residents whose gender and sexual identities have historically gone unrecognized or unsupported by government agencies.“Our fundamental charge in public service is ensuring that our services and opportunities reach everyone, and that starts with affirming and supporting constituents of all identities,” Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement.“Boston must continue to work to dismantle the historic inequities and injustices that persist. This update to Boston marriage licenses is a huge step in building a city that is truly inclusive,” she added.Boston residents who are already married and want to remove sex or gender identifiers from their marriage licenses can do so by conta...

Which Colorado cities have the highest sales tax rates?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- You may not like it, but you have to pay taxes when you buy things.Sales tax rates vary wildly across the state of Colorado, so depending on where you live, you might be paying more -- or less -- than someone in a nearby town. For example, the sales tax rate is 8.81% in Denver. That rate comes from a 2.9% tax from the state, a 4.81% tax from the city and county, a 1% tax from the Regional Transportation District (RTD), as well as a .1% "Scientific and Cultural Facilities District" tax, which applies to counties in the Denver metro area.However, in nearby Commerce City, that rate is 9.25%. Denver metro adding more apartments than most US cities While that may seem high, there are areas in Colorado that collect even more sales tax than that.What are the highest sales tax rates in the state?It may come as no surprise, but some of the highest sales tax rates are in the mountains, with the highest rate found in a ski resort town.Winter Park - 11.2% sales tax2.9% state...

Running onto a sports field isn't just 15 seconds of fame — it's also trespassing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- While running onto a sports field might be seen as a way to give you fame, it could also give you jail time.Running onto a sports field has different consequences in different states. While it's widely considered trespassing, every state's laws are different. Is it really easier to hit a home run at Coors Field? When it comes to Colorado, running onto a sports field is considered trespassing, according to the Denver Police Department. It can vary from a fine to jail time, depending on the courts and what charges they may face."It also depends on what the individual does after going on the field. Other charges may be appropriate as well (i.e. assault, threats, etc)," DPD said. What are the consequences of trespassing? The punishments for trespassing vary. Trespassing ranges from first to third degree, with the first being the worst.The first degree is when someone knowingly trespasses to commit a crime, which results in a class 1 misdemeanor if there is no one on t...

This Colorado mountain town hotel spa is one of the best in the US

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:14:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — If you drive west from Denver for about an hour on Interstate 70, you will hit a small mountain town known for its casinos and hotels. Now, one of those hotel spas has been named among the best in the U.S.USA Today’s 10Best combines a list of 20 nominees for contests that cover food, lodging and travel. Then, readers get to make the final decision and vote for their favorite picks. Recently, USA Today made a list of the 10 best hotel spas where guests can indulge in luxury, wellness and serenity. Colorado hot spring voted one of the best in US Colorado's very own Spa Monarch at Monarch Casino Resort Spa was picked as the fourth best in the whole country.According to USA Today expert Ava Roxanne Stritt, Spa Monarch is "one of the most complete luxury spas in the USA."According to the resort's website, the spa offers an indoor infinity pool, jetted spas, aqua spas, respiration and light therapy, herbal steam rooms and their Laconium Lounge. The Laconium Lounge c...