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‘They are infiltrating our societies’: Drug crime boom threatens EU democracies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Rule of law in European democracies is at risk of being undermined unless EU leaders significantly ramp up their response to a boom in drug-related crime, the head of the bloc’s law enforcement agency told POLITICO.Europol chief Catherine De Bolle said Europe had replaced the United States as the primary target market for international drug traffickers, and that arrivals of drugs were expected to spike over the next two years amid a glut in production.The result is an increase in violence and creeping corruption at several drug-trading hotspots including the port of Antwerp in Belgium, as criminal gangs increasingly seek to infiltrate logistics companies, local government and even the judicial system, De Bolle warned.“We see that the European Union has become more important [for the criminals] compared to the United States. The European countries are predominant for the moment,” she said. “We see that for the upcoming two years we will have an increase i...

Madrid calling: Telecoms and the Spanish presidency

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Reindustrialization and green transition are the keywords of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU. “The geopolitical, technological and environmental changes currently taking place — they wrote when taking the helm of the Council — provide us with the opportunity to (…) attract new companies and jobs to European soil and reduce our foreign vulnerabilities.”I agree with this view, and I believe European telecoms companies are going to be part of the solution. According to a recent Eurobarometer, 76 percent of Europeans believe that advanced connectivity will make their daily use of digital technologies significantly better. Also, we know that safe and resilient networks are a key strategic asset. Let me explain more.Between now and 2030, connectivity will move to the cloud and effectively become a ‘service’.Future connectivity and Open Strategic AutonomyThe connectivity networks of yesterday were all ‘brick and mortar’. A matter of digging cables into the ground and assemb...

Boosting SME digital skills is key for UK economic growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

The U.K.’s entrepreneurial ambitions are stronger than ever.Despite the challenging economic times, new analysis by Mastercard and Opinium shows that the number of micro businesses (zero to nine employees) being set up in the U.K. has grown every year in the past decade.However, the U.K.’s smallest businesses are the least optimistic about their future performance, compared with medium and large businesses.It’s hardly surprising when energy costs, staffing shortages, supply chain blockages and liquidity concerns are so prevalent — hampering the ability of small businesses to grow and succeed. This is on top of the already challenging task of running a business and keeping pace with an ever-changing digital environment, and the impact this has on customer demand.Schemes to address the unique challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face, help them unleash productivity, and build their resiliency are a vital component of the U.K.’s innovation strategy and its economic...

Alonso, bats bail out Mets bullpen in rubber match win over Giants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

The Mets defeated the Giants, 8-4, on an occasionally drizzly Sunday night at Citi Field where the Mets’ big bats refused to let the bullpen blow another lead.Led by Pete Alonso’s three RBI, the Mets (38-46) batters came-through with clutch hits multiple times to take the rubber match in their series against the Giants (46-38). It was the Mets’ first series win since sweeping the Phillies home from May 30 to June 1.Leading 6-4 in the 8th inning, Alonso celebrated his third All-Star nod by clubbing a two-run big fly to give the Mets an additional cushion on a night where Mets pitchers repeatedly played with fire.In his second start after getting called back up to the big leagues, David Peterson ended the first and second innings on double play balls before the Giants opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd.After Bryce Johnson was originally called out trying to steal third base, the call was overturned and he scored on a Thairos Estrada infield single. But Peterson...

3 Palestinians killed as Israel launches large-scale raid in West Bank stronghold of militants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military launched a large-scale raid in a stronghold of militants in the occupied West Bank early Monday, and local health officials said at least three Palestinians were killed.Israeli forces raided what the military described as a “unified command center” for militants in the Jenin refugee camp, but did not immediately provide further details. Israeli media said the military also conducted airstrikes, reviving a tactic it had largely halted during the past two decades, after a Palestinian uprising against Israel’s open-ended occupation slowly fizzled.The Palestinian Health Ministry said three Palestinians were killed and 13 injured early Monday, three of them critically.In a separate incident, a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the ministry said.The Jenin camp and an adjacent town of the same name have been a flashpoint as Israeli-Palestinian violence escalated since the spring of 2022. Monda...

Toronto police seeking assistance in homicide investigation in Lawrence East and Don Mills area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Toronto police are asking for the public’s assistance with information in a homicide investigation.On July 1, Fudail Moulvi, 19, of Toronto was found dead and is the victim of a homicide.The incident reportedly happened at approximately 10:00 p.m. on June 28 in the Lawrence Avenue East and Don Mills Road area.Homicide investigators are asking anyone with dash cam footage or video surveillance from that time in the area to contact police.

Sunday Night Forecast: Mostly cloudy, low of mid-60's

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

After record-setting rains poured down from the skies across Chicagoland Sunday, drier conditions are arriving overnight.Sunday night: Rain subsides and will be replaced by mostly cloudy conditions as temperatures drop into the mid-60's over night.Monday: Sunshine and mid 80-degree temperatures return, as Chicago is looking at a high of 85 Monday with an overnight low of 61 and not a rain cloud in sight.More Info: WGN Weather Center

Silver Alert issued for 82-year-old missing Kerrville woman

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

KERRVILLE, Texas (KXAN) — The Kerrville Police Department is searching for a missing 82-year-old woman last seen Sunday afternoon.The Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Silver Alert for Betty Matter, who was last seen at 1655 Junction Hwy. in Kerrville. She is described as 5'6", 210 pounds, with brown eyes and gray hair. She was last seen wearing a red, white and blue shirt, black pants, blue socks and red shoes, as well as uses a walker.The vehicle affiliated with Matter's alert is described as a white 2006 Lexus LX 470 model, with the license plate number BGT2738.Anyone with information regarding Matter is asked to contact Kerrville PD at 830-257-8181.

New York fireworks in question due to weather

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

N.Y. (NEWS10) -With rain on the forecast for the holiday weekend, fireworks being able to light up the night sky are in the question. In the Town of Berne, pyrotechnics are making sure to put weather first."Thunderstorms, we do try to avoid at all costs. If there’s a chance of rain or a lot of rain, we usually cover up these shells with plastic before we shoot," explained Pyrotechnic for Santore’s World Famous Fireworks, Peter Decuyper. The Scotia Fireworks show presented by Jumpin’ Jack’s lights up Freedom Park Once that plastic is removed and conditions are clear, the shells are ready to show their true colors. When launching, the team uses a mix of electronic and manual devices.“The reason why we do it electronic is for safety reasons to be away from the finale. It is a transfer of risk. We do not know if all the shells are going off at once," described Decuyper. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Unfortunately, there's a...

Crews work to contain wildfire in Arcadia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:25 GMT

Firefighters were working to contain a slow moving and hard to reach wildfire in Arcadia on Sunday, authorities announced.  Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to reports of the Chantry Fire, burning in the Santa Anita Canyon, north of the dam on the east side of the canyon, at around 4 p.m. The two-acre fire was burning in “sparse fuels” in the 2020 Bobcat Fire area. By 5 p.m., the fire had grown to just under 4 acres in steep, rocky terrain with high temperatures making it difficult for crews to access the area, officials with the Angeles National Forest Service said.  By 7:30 p.m., officials reported that the crews had managed 50% containment, thanks to hotshot crews with the United State Forestry Service, as well as L.A. County hand-crews and water dropping helicopters supporting the ground crews.  The Chantry Fire in Arcadia, seen here in rocky, steep terrain, on July 2, 2023. (@firechiefanf)Officials did say there was an evacuation w...