California: Criminal rings loot billions in jobless funds

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sophisticated hackers, identity thieves and overseas criminal rings stole over $11 billion in unemployment benefits from California last year, but the extent of the fraud might grow far larger: billions more in payments are under investigation. California Labor Secretary Julie Su told...

Businessman seeks to avoid prison in Giuliani-tinged case

NEW YORK (AP) — A Florida businessman who hired Rudy Giuliani to lend credibility to a fraud-busting company that was a fraud itself is seeking to avoid a prison sentence at his upcoming sentencing. A lawyer for David Correia said in a submission to a judge Monday that his client is a changed man no longer...

California paid $11 billion in bogus jobless claims last year, investigating possible fraud involving $20 billion more

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California paid $11 billion in bogus jobless claims last year, investigating possible fraud involving $20 billion more.

Protests against Israeli PM Netanyahu continue nationwide

JERUSALEM (AP) — Over a thousand protesters gathered in Jerusalem on Saturday for weekly demonstrations demanding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu step down over corruption charges, as smaller protests were staged at intersections and bridges across the country. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud,...

Diplomats contact Canadian held for over 2 years in China

BEIJING (AP) — Canada said its officials have met online with former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years in a case related to an executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Canada’s Foreign Ministry said officials led by Ambassador Dominic Barton were given...

Opposition leader urges UN to halt Belarus media crackdown

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The main opposition challenger in Belarus’ disputed presidential election urged the United Nations on Friday to call for a halt to “violence and lawlessness” in the country, including media censorship, internet shutdowns, website blockages and cancellation of...

University bans ex-teacher from outreach after Trump speech

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Former California university professor John Eastman has been banned from performing outreach or speaking at the University of Colorado Boulder after giving a speech for former President Donald Trump shortly before the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, university officials said....

Judge: NY lawsuit seeking NRA's dissolution can go forward

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge on Thursday denied the National Rifle Association’s bid to throw out a state lawsuit that seeks to put the powerful gun advocacy group out of business. Judge Joel Cohen’s ruling will allow New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit to move ahead...

Florida eye doctor gets clemency from Trump in health fraud

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Dr. Salomon Melgen once held political fundraisers at his palatial Florida home, hung out with prominent Democrats including New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez and made millions of dollars through his eye care practice. The problem, according to federal prosecutors, was that Melgen...

US releases Detroit's disgraced former mayor from prison

DETROIT (AP) — Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has served more than seven years of a 28-year prison sentence for corruption crimes, was released from federal prison Wednesday after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman told The Associated Press. The...