Ohioans warned of call scam reported around the state

Ohioans warned of call scam reported around the state

COLUMBUS

Ohioans are being warned about suspicious calls reported recently in the state from callers asking if those answering the phone can hear them.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says similar calls have been reported throughout the country as part of a purported scam to trick people into responding “yes.” That response is then used to place unauthorized charges on a consumer’s phone or utility bill.

DeWine’s release says those reporting the scam calls say they often appear to come from a local number and sometimes claim the consumer has won a vacation or cruise.

DeWine advises Ohioans to let calls go to voicemail or hang up, if they seem questionable.

Consumers also are advised to check phone bills and credit card statements regularly and report any suspicious charges to providers.

Mosque shooting shows Quebec has its ‘demons’

QUEBEC CITY

Quebec’s premier acknowledged Tuesday that his French-speaking province has its “demons” in terms of attitudes toward Muslims, but he said it is generally open and accepting despite this week’s deadly attack on a mosque and long-simmering debates about religious accommodation.

“Xenophobia, racism and exclusion are present here,” Premier Philippe Couillard said at a news conference. “We have to acknowledge that and work together.”

Couillard was grilled by reporters two days after a man entered a Quebec City mosque and shot six people to death and wounded 19. French Canadian university student Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the massacre.

Bissonnette was a fan of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Iran refuses to confirm conducting missile test

TEHRAN, Iran

Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday refused to confirm whether his country recently conducted a missile test, saying the Iranian missile program is not part of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The U.N. Security Council met privately later at the Trump administration’s request, and U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said afterward that the world should be “alarmed” at the Iranian test and the council should take action.

Haley called the medium-range ballistic missile test “absolutely unacceptable” and said Iran is “being naive” by thinking the U.S. and others accept its contention that it has no intention of attacking any country.

UN postpones its Syria political talks until Feb. 20

BEIRUT

The United Nations announced Tuesday that U.N.-sponsored political talks between the Syrian government and opposition groups have been postponed from next Wednesday until Feb. 20, with a key aim of trying to solidify the cease-fire.

U.N. special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who will oversee the talks, said that “if the cease-fire becomes as solid as we hope that will only help the serious talks to actually be concrete.”

He said the U.N. also wants to give Syria’s government a chance “to become seriously engaged in concessions” and to give the opposition time to unify its delegation.

Associated Press