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Amazon to lay off 9,000 employees on top of 18,000 in Jan.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.The job cuts would mark the second largest round of layoffs in the company’s history, adding to the 18,000 employees the company said it would lay off in January.In the memo, Jassy said the second phase of the company’s annual planning process completed this month and led to the additional job cuts. He said Amazon will still hire in some strategic areas.“Some may ask why we didn’t announce these role reductions with the ones we announced a couple months ago. The short answer is that not all of the teams were done with their analyses in the late fall; and rather than rush through these assessments without the appropriate diligence, we chose to share these decisions as we’ve made them so people had the information as soon as possible,” Jassy said.

‘Speak up, fight back’: Tampa woman who fought off attacker in apartment gym to host free self-defense classes

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — The woman who fought off an attacker in her apartment gym is now partnering up with YouFit to offer free self-defense classes.Video shows Nashali Alma, 24, put up a fight when she was attacked in January. She eventually got away, and her attacker was later arrested. He’s charged with sexual battery, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.According to a criminal report affidavit, the suspect had a similar incident the day after the gym attack. He knocked on another woman’s door after watching her for several minutes on her balcony, according to authorities.Deputies said in that instance, the man took about four steps into the apartment before he was chased away by the woman’s fiance. According to reports, after his arrest the suspect admitted to deputies he wanted to have sexual relations with both women.When the video of the attack was released in February, Alma said her plan was to use that terrifying moment for good. Just a...

Russia blasts back at ICC over Putin arrest warrant

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Russia’s top investigative body announced Monday that it had opened a “criminal” case against the prosecutor and judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).The move comes as part of a concerted effort from Moscow to intimidate the court in the Netherlands, which on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over his part in “unlawful” forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev threatened earlier Monday to target the court in The Hague with missile strikes. “It is quite possible to imagine a hypersonic missile being fired from the North Sea from a Russian ship at the Hague courthouse. Everyone walks under God and rockets. Look carefully to the sky … ” he said. Russia began criminal cases against the prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan and judges Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez on the basis of them having committed “signs of crimes” und...

Brockton boy gets visit from one of his favorite robots after completing cancer treatment

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

A boy from Brockton who recently completed treatment for cancer got a special visit from one of his favorite robots over the weekend.Six-year-old Israel Belliard was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age four, and after finishing his latest treatment, he was paid a visit by Marty, the Stop & Shop robot usually found patrolling aisles throughout the grocery store chain.Having a love for all things robotic, including Marty, Israel came out and gave the bot a hug Sunday morning. Also a fan of dinosaurs, Belliard received tickets to Jurassic World Live for him and his whole family.This visit was part of the store’s annual “Help Cure Childhood Cancer” campaign, which raises funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & the Jimmy Fund to fight against pediatric cancer.The 6 year old is a patient ambassador for this year’s campaign, so keep an eye out for Belliard’s face when you’re out on your next grocery trip.

Erik Spoelstra sees Heat’s own March madness, ‘the opportunities are there’

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

After all that has gone sideways, gone south, gone to the wire, coach Erik Spoelstra said it is time for a revised outlook, similar to what he told his team in the wake of Sunday night’s tougher-than-expected road victory over the Detroit Pistons.Basically for the Miami Heat, he said, it comes down to nine lives, as in the nine games remaining on the team’s regular-season schedule, starting with Wednesday night’s matchup against the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena.“I probably can sum it up, with all of this, is like nothing about this season is easy and I’m embracing that it’s not going to be easy,” Spoelstra said of the wild ride to this 39-34 record and current No. 7 seed in an Eastern Conference where only the top six seeds advance directly to the playoffs. “And I told that to the team, you have to embrace this right now. This is just the path for this team. It doesn’t mean that it’s a negative thing. Just wrap your ...

Jets still have needs to address entering second week of free agency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

The Jets are on the cusp of adding quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Packers, a move that, to many, would solidify the team’s status as a serious contender in the conference.But even if Gang Green acquires Rodgers, much work remains to be done.A week after the negotiating period, the Jets continue to have a few needs to address on both sides of the ball. According to Over The Cap, the Jets have $11.2 million of salary cap space. However, the team can gain more cap space with a few moves.If the Jets release wide receiver Corey Davis, they will gain $10.5 million of savings. Davis could be released or traded after the Jets signed ex-Packers receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year, $44 million contract last week.Gang Green could also add an extra $15.4 million if it released defensive end Carl Lawson, who will be in the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract he signed in 2021.The Jets haven’t made many moves since the free agency period began outside of L...

Optimize your career: Gain an edge in today’s workplace

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

This post is sponsored by Professional Development Institute of the University of Ottawa.The workplace has changed over the past few years, and workers have had to change the way they progress in their chosen careers.Some are still operating from home offices, either a few days a week or full time. Many have made their way back to the bricks-and-mortar spaces, where face-to-face interactions and meetings are fostered. Many workers report feeling that the months lost to the pandemic have meant losing critical career-building time.Gaining ground in the workplaceUpward mobility can be achieved by switching companies, of course, but more and more companies who are willing to offer higher salaries are looking for people from within who are keen to build more highly-developed skills.Many companies will sponsor an employee through specific courses with an eye to moving that person into a role with further responsibilities, thus retaining their talent. There might be a contract requirement ...

US sending ammunition, tanker trucks, boats to Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department announced Monday that the U.S. will send Ukraine $350 million in weapons and equipment, as fierce battles with Russian forces continue for control of the city of Bakhmut, and troops prepare for an expected spring offensive.The latest package of aid includes a large amount of various types of ammunition, such as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and an undisclosed number of fuel tanker trucks and riverine boats.Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement, said the package also provides more ammunition for howitzers, Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, high-speed anti-radiation (HARM) missiles and anti-tank weapons. “Russia alone could end its war today. Until Russia does we will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Blinken.The new aid comes as Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday, giving a political lift to Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West just days after an intern...

Putin welcomes China’s Xi to Kremlin amid Ukraine fighting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to the Kremlin on Monday, a visit that sent a powerful message to Western leaders allied with Ukraine that their efforts to isolate Moscow have fallen short.Xi’s trip — his first abroad since his re-election earlier this month — showed off Beijing’s new diplomatic swagger and gave a political lift to Putin just days after an international arrest warrant was issued for the Kremlin leader on war crimes charges related to Ukraine.The two major powers have described Xi’s three-day trip as an opportunity to deepen their “no-limits friendship.” China looks to Russia as a source of oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, and as a partner in standing up to what both see as U.S. domination of global affairs. The two countries, which are among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, also have held joint military drills.They shook hands before sitting down and making brief s...

Anthony Fauci documentary on PBS covers a career of crises

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a moment in the new PBS documentary about Dr. Anthony Fauci when a protestor holds up a handmade sign reading, “Dr. Fauci, You Are Killing Us.”It says something about Fauci that it’s not initially clear when that sign was waved in anger — in the 1980s as AIDS made its deadly rise or in the 2020s with COVID-19 vaccine opponents.“American Masters: Dr. Tony Fauci,” offers a portrait of an unlikely lightning rod: A government infectious disease scientist who advised seven presidents. Fauci hopes it can inspire more public servants like him.“I just felt that there needed to be a story of people understanding what public health officials go through, but also I hope as a source of inspiration for young people who are either in science or interested in going into science,” he told The Associated Press. The documentary airs Tuesday and later streams.Fauci allowed a film crew to follow him for 23 months starting in January 2021. The documentary covers...