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Commission sets out new EU road map of priority measures to fight organized crime and drug-trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

The Commission is adopting an EU road map to step up the fight against drug trafficking and criminal networks, building on the legislative and operational initiatives put forward so far. The drugs trade is one of the most significant security threats faced by the EU today. Seizures of cocaine in the EU are hitting record levels, with 303 tonnes seized in 2021 alone. The activities of criminal networks have evolved in their scale, sophistication, and violent consequences.Fighting organized crime and drug trafficking is a priority for the European Union, its member states, and its international partners. We must address the threats we face together; this is why the Commission proposes to the European Parliament and the Council to fully endorse the priority actions and medium to long-term measures set out in the Roadmap.  Stepping up EU's targeted responseRecent achievements in the EU's fight against criminal networks show that the EU is on the right track in responding to these emergi...

Family, friends remember Pepperdine students killed in crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

Through prayer, song and personal memories, Pepperdine University said goodbye on Sunday to four students who were killed in last week's devastating crash in Malibu.A memorial service was held on campus that was attended by the families of Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams, along with sorority sisters and members of the greater campus community.“Niamh and I are always side by side. These last few days I keep looking to my left and expecting to see her there,” Alpha Phi sorority member Aubrey Lewis said, fighting back tears.“I admired Deslyn’s confidence more than anything. She knew what she wanted and always executed it so perfectly,” another friend recalled.Vinita Weir, mother of Malibu crash victim Asha Weir, speaks at a memorial at Pepperdine University on Oct. 22, 2023. (Pepperdine University)Niamh Rolston, Peyton Stewart, Asha Weir and Deslyn Williams died when authorities say a speeding driver hit them on the Pacific Coast Highway roughly four miles ...

L.A. police respond to shooting in Skid Row

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

At least two people were hospitalized after a shooting in downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row neighborhood Sunday evening.According to Los Angeles Police, officers responded to 521 S. San Pedro Street around 8 a.m. where they found a 60-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. Another male victim was transported to a hospital by a “private party,” LAPD said.Their conditions were not released.Crime scene tape surrounded the entrance to a Wesley Health Center facility and traffic was blocked in the area, a video posted to Citizen showed.No suspect information was available.Many streets in the area are lined with homeless encampments.

Mad Max starting ALCS Game 7 for Rangers at Houston, just as he did for Nats in 2019 World Series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Max Scherzer is set to pitch another Game 7 in Houston with visiting teams undefeated in the series.This time, Mad Max will be trying to win a pennant for the Texas Rangers. Scherzer will start the deciding game of the AL Championship Series on Monday night. It comes four years after the three-time Cy Young Award winner started Game 7 of the World Series for Washington as the Nationals beat the Astros at Minute Maid Park in the only best-of-seven postseason series that went the distance without the home team winning a single game.The Rangers, after losing all three of their ALCS games at home, forced Game 7 with a 9-2 win on Sunday night. Texas also won Games 1 and 2 in Houston. Scherzer was the loser in Game 3 in Arlington on Wednesday night, when he returned after missing just more than a month with a right shoulder strain. The 39-year-old right-hander allowed five runs and five hits while throwing 63 pitches over four innings, but finished strong by striking out th...

Former Estonia army chief boosts Europe’s defense industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

Presented by ASD By LAURA KAYALI with JOSHUA POSANER and CALEB LARSON PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— The former chief of Estonia’s defense forces, now an MEP, is working on how to help Europe’s defense industry. — France wants its security and defense think tanks to become more influential. — Germany wants to make its armed forces more attractive for women amid recruitment challenges. Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us at @joshposaner, @LauKaya and @calebmlarson .DRIVING THE DAYESTONIAN LAWMAKER WANTS EU DEFENSE PLAN: The EU needs a well-funded strategy for its defense industry to ensure that small- and medium-sized firms can access major contracts, according to Riho Terras, an Estonian MEP from the European People’s Party who used to run the B...

Israel strikes across Gaza after allowing another small aid convoy into the besieged enclave

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza early Monday, including in areas where Palestinian civilians have been told to seek refuge, after another small aid shipment was allowed into the besieged Hamas-ruled territory.Israel is widely expected to launch a ground offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 rampage into southern Israeli communities. Tanks and troops have been massed at the Gaza border, and Israel says it has stepped up airstrikes in order to reduce the risk to troops in the next stages.Fears of a widening war have grown as Israeli warplanes have struck targets in the occupied West Bank, Syria and Lebanon in recent days. It has frequently traded fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, which is armed with tens of thousands of rockets.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops in northern Israel on Sunday that if Hezbollah launches a war, “it will make the mistake of its life. We will cripple it with a force ...

Tanzania signs a controversial port management deal with Dubai-based company despite protests

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s government signed a controversial port management deal with Dubai-based DP World that had fueled protests in the African country in the past months and led to arrests of dozens of critics.The deal was signed on Sunday in the presence of Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who has recently been accused of cracking down on critics such as her predecessor, the late John Magufuli.Tanzania Ports Authority Director General Plasduce Mbossa said that DP World, based in the United Arab Emirates, will only operate four berths and not the entire port. Its performance would be reviewed every five years for a total contractual period of 30 years.The opposition and civil society have protested the government decision to have a foreign logistics company manage Tanzania’s ports. The government has said the move would increase port efficiency and grow the country’s economy.The ports agreement was approved by Tanzania’s parliament on June 10, triggering pr...

A price cap on Russian oil aims to starve Putin of cash. But it’s largely been untested. Until now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — For months after Ukraine’s Western allies limited sales of Russian oil to $60 per barrel, the price cap was still largely symbolic. Most of Moscow’s crude — its main moneymaker — cost less than that.But the cap was there in case oil prices rose — and would keep the Kremlin from pocketing extra profits to fund its war in Ukraine. That time has now come, putting the price cap to its most serious test so far and underlining its weaknesses. Russia’s benchmark oil — often exported with Western ships required to obey sanctions — has traded above the price cap since mid-July, pumping hundreds of millions of dollars a day into the Kremlin’s war chest. With Russia’s profits rising, the Israel-Hamas war pushing up global oil prices and evidence that some traders and shippers are evading the cap, the first signs of enforcement are appearing 10 months after the price limit was imposed in December. But sanctions advocates say the crackdown ...

Leading in early results, Machado claims win in Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Early returns in the Venezuelan opposition’s presidential primary gave a big lead to former legislator Maria Corina Machado early Monday, and she quickly claimed victory as the voters’ choice to lead the campaign to end the decade-long, crisis-ridden presidency of Nicolás Maduro. The independent National Primary Commission, which organized the primary, did not release any results until long after polling stations closed Sunday, blaming internet censorship. The organizers said that in the first 601,110 ballots counted, about 93% picked Machado, who had entered the vote as a strong front-runner. The rest of the votes were scattered among the other nine candidates. There was no indication of how many people cast ballots in all, and organizers were expected to release additional results throughout Monday.“Today, very powerful forces have been unleashed,” Machado told supporters gathered outside her campaign headquarters in the capital, Caracas...

Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida plans an income tax cut for households and corporate tax breaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:42 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday he is preparing to take bold economic measures, including an income tax cut for households hit by inflation and tax breaks for companies to promote investment, in what’s seen as a move to lift his dwindling public support.In his speech to start a new Parliamentary session, Kishida said it was time to shift from an economy of low cost, low wages and cost-cutting to one backed by growth led by sustainable wage hikes and active investment.“I’m determined to take unprecedentedly bold measures,” Kishida said, pledging an intensive effort to achieve stronger supply capability in about three years. “I will put more emphasis on the economy than on anything else.”He said he is determined to help people ride out the impact of soaring prices for food, utilities and other costs that have exceeded their salary increases, by implementing income tax cuts. He also pledged to introduce corporate tax incentives to promote...