Salem News Channel

Cybercrime of all stripes cost victims globally more than $16 billion dollars last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a report released on Wednesday. The losses – a one-third increase over 2023 – were largely driven by low tech scams, such as would-be investors swindled out of money online, or company employees tricked by deceptive emails into wiring large sums to criminals’ bank accounts. Tech support and romance scams also caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, the bureau said. The figures were collated by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, which has become a clearinghouse for reports of digital fraud and hacking, and drew on nearly 860,000 complaints, the bureau said. Losses from cybercrime are notoriously hard to calculate. The FBI’s figures are among the most comprehensive, but the bureau acknowledged that its calculations were incomplete, particularly with regard to ransomware, a particularly destructive breed of software used by hackers to extort organizations into making ransom payments in return for their data. While the complaints gathered by the FBI came from around the world, the overwhelming majority were filed in the U.S.

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U.S. health officials say they'll urge foodmakers to phase out petroleum-based artificial colors in the nation’s food supply. But officials stopped short of promising a formal ban and offered few specifics on how they intended to achieve the sweeping change. The move would trigger an overhaul of scores of products on U.S. grocery store shelves. The plan was announced Tuesday by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary. The FDA currently allows 36 color additives, including eight synthetic dyes. In January, the agency banned the color known as Red 3.

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Sen. Dick Durbin's decision to not seek reelection ends his more than four-decade career representing Illinois and accelerates a generational shift in Senate Democratic leadership where he has long held the No. 2 position. Durbin said Wednesday he knows “it’s time to pass the torch.” Durbin is in his fifth Senate term and was first elected to the House in 1982. Durbin's decision not to run in 2026 will set off a scramble for his Senate seat in solidly Democratic Illinois and for his leadership position. As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during President Joe Biden’s term, Durbin led the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

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An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 has shaken Istanbul and other areas in Turkey. The quake prompted widespread panic and scores of injuries in Istanbul, though there were no immediate reports of serious damage. More than 150 people were hospitalized with injuries sustained while attempting to flee buildings on Wednesday. There were several aftershocks, including one measuring 5.3. Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake in February 2023, followed by a powerful tremor hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings and left over 53,000 people dead.

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An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 has shaken Istanbul and other areas in Turkey. The quake prompted widespread panic and scores of injuries in Istanbul, though there were no immediate reports of serious damage. More than 150 people were hospitalized with injuries sustained while attempting to flee buildings on Wednesday. There were several aftershocks, including one measuring 5.3. Turkey is crossed by two major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake in February 2023, followed by a powerful tremor hours later, destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings and left over 53,000 people dead.

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Harvey Weinstein is on trial again after an appeals court threw out the ex-studio-boss's 2020 rape conviction in a case that was a watershed for the #MeToo movement. Opening statements began Wednesday in a retrial that could take six weeks. Weinstein’s retrial is happening at the same Manhattan courthouse as the 2020 trial, and two accusers from that trial are expected to testify again. Weinstein’s retrial is playing out at a different cultural moment than the first. Besides the charges being retried, he faces an additional charge based on an allegation from a woman who wasn’t a part of the first case. He has pleaded not guilty.

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We Need To Protect Our Farmers At All Costs

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Indian police say gunmen have killed at least 26 tourists at a resort in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Tuesday's attack appears to be a major shift in a regional conflict in which tourists have largely been spared from violence. Two senior police officers say at least four gunmen, whom they described as militants, fired at dozens of tourists from close range. The officers say at least three dozen people were wounded, with many of them reported to be in serious condition. The region's top elected official says the attack is “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.”

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U.S. stocks are rising as a worldwide rally comes back around to Wall Street. The S&P 500 jumped 2.2% Wednesday after President Donald Trump appeared to back off his criticism of the Federal Reserve and his tough talk in his trade war. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 591 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 3.2%. Treasury yields also eased in the U.S. bond market after Trump said he has no intention to fire the Fed's chair and that his tariffs could come down on China imports. Stocks also rallied across much of Europe and Asia.

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J.D. Vance's Rise Has Been Fun To Watch

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Stacy Washington NOW | April 23, 2025

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A planned meeting between top U.S., British, French and Ukrainian diplomats to push forward a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has been scrapped at the last minute. At the same time, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday negotiations are reaching a moment of truth. Vance told reporters during a visit to Agra, India that the U.S. has issued “a very explicit proposal” to the Russians and the Ukrainians. He said "it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process.” He said the proposal would freeze territorial lines at some level close to where they currently stand, with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide further details of the proposal.

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Democrat Senator Dick Durbin To Retire From Congress

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A fast-moving wildfire engulfing part of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens has not resulted in any injuries, officials said, though it’s expected to continue to grow before forecast rain later this week. At a news conference Wednesday officials said the fire in southern New Jersey could continue to burn for days. It is currently burning about 18 square miles and is about 30% contained. About 5,000 residents were evacuated but have been permitted to return home. Forest fires are common in this area of New Jersey, known as the Pine Barrens. The region is in its peak forest fire season.

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The body of Pope Francis was moved Wednesday morning to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public mourning for an Argentine pontiff remembered for his humble style, concern for the poor and insistent prayers for peace. The public viewing is largely for ordinary Catholics to grieve the 88-year-old pope, who died Monday after suffering a stroke. The basilica will be kept open until midnight on Wednesday and Thursday to allow the faithful to mourn. The public mourning period will end on Friday at 7 p.m. local time.

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HHS To Phase Out Harmful Artificial Food Dyes

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Democrats are determined to defend the MS-13 gang member that was deported.

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Was Pope Francis more woke and liberal leaning? See more on Salem News Channel.

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Biden's Disinformation Czar Spreads Lies Against Trump In UK

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President Trump has struck a deal with India. See more on Salem News Channel. 

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