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Is Bribery, The Political Currency Of Choice For Elected Officials?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

EU and Thailand relaunch trade negotiations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

The EU and Thailand announced the relaunch of negotiations for an ambitious, modern and balanced free trade agreement (FTA), with sustainability at its core. This announcement confirms the key importance of the Indo-Pacific region for the EU trade agenda, paving the way for deeper trade ties with the second largest economy in South-East Asia and further strengthening the EU's strategic engagement with this burgeoning region.The aim of the FTA will be to boost trade and investment by addressing a wide range of issues such as: market access for goods, services, investment and government procurement; swift and effective Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary procedures; the protection of intellectual property rights including Geographical Indications, and the removal of obstacles to digital trade and trade in energy and raw materials, thereby supporting the digital and green transitions. Sustainability will also be at the heart of this agreement, with robust and enforceable disciplines on Trade a...

Single family residence in San Jose sells for $2.2 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

1622 Monteval Court – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 1600 block of Monteval Court in San Jose was sold on Feb. 23, 2023. The $2,150,000 purchase price works out to $842 per square foot. The house built in 1968 has an interior space of 2,554 square feet. The property features six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a garage, and two parking spaces. It sits on an 0.3-acre lot, which also has a pool.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Puerto Vallarta Drive, San Jose, in February 2023, a 1,670-square-foot home was sold for $1,800,000, a price per square foot of $1,078. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In November 2022, a 2,642-square-foot home on Via Campagna in San Jose sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $795. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,124-square-foot home on the 1500 block of Monteval Lane in San Jose sold in September 2022 for $1,650,000, a price per square foot of $777. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.&...

2 Capitol Heights men arrested in connection to Silver Spring shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Two Capitol Heights, Maryland, men have been arrested in connection to the shooting death of a man in Silver Spring earlier this month.On Wednesday, Montgomery County police reported that Kajohn and Ahmahd McCombs, both 22-years-old, are in custody following the death of Deandre Keith Ellis, 23.More Montgomery County NewsMore Crime NewsThe shooting took place in the 900 block of Bonifant Street.Around 10:15 p.m. on March 5, officers responded to the location for a welfare check call. When they arrived on the scene, officers discovered Ellis deceased in a car with an apparent gunshot wound.The two men are being held in the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, but their bond information is unavailable.NBC Washington reported that a press conference occurred in the same area of this homicide three weeks before the shooting.  Leaders in Montgomery County were announcing new legislation aimed at improving late-night safety in Silver Spring.The proposed bill would require businesses...

Greek unions stage general strike over rail deaths

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A general strike in Greece called in response to a rail disaster last month grounded flights and extensively disrupted services, with protests in cities across the country planned for Thursday.The strike also kept ferries to the Greek islands at port, left public hospitals running with emergency staff, halted public transport services and led to class cancellations at state-run schools.Unions have rallied behind railway workers’ associations that have staged rolling walkouts since the head-on train collision in northern Greece on Feb. 28 that left 57 people dead and dozens injured.The government, which faces parliamentary elections before the summer, says rail services will restart on March 22 and be restored gradually through April 11, with additional staff to monitor safety and mandatory speed reduction rules along sections of the track.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ center-right government has seen a strong lead in opinion polls reduced in recent weeks ...

UN nuclear watchdog: 2.5 tons of uranium missing in Libya

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Some 2.5 tons of natural uranium stored in a site in war-torn Libya have gone missing, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Thursday, raising safety and proliferation concerns. Natural uranium can’t immediately be used for energy production or bomb fuel, as the enrichment process typically requires the metal to be converted into a gas, then later spun in centrifuges to reach the levels needed. However, each ton of natural uranium — if obtained by a group with the technological means and resources — can be refined to 5.6 kilograms (12 pounds) of weapons-grade material over time, experts say. That makes finding the missing metal important for nonproliferation experts. In a statement, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, informed member states Wednesday about the missing uranium. The IAEA statement remained tightlipped though on much of the details. On Tuesday, “agency safeguar...

Lebanon’s empty schools bode long-term damage from crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — On a recent school day, the Rene Mouawad High School in Beirut was empty, its classrooms dark, just like all of Lebanon’s public schools have been for most of the past three months. Its striking teachers were protesting in front of the Education Ministry, not far away.About a hundred teachers joined the demonstration outside the ministry, blocking traffic and holding placards demanding pay raises. “We are done with charity,” said Nisreen Chahine, the head of the union for contractor teachers. “We are not negotiating anymore. They should either rightfully pay or us or go home.” The teachers gave speeches demanding officials come out and talk to them. But as usual in these regular protests, no one from the ministry emerged. After several hours, the teachers packed up and went home.Lebanon’s schools are crumbling under the weight of the country’s economic collapse as the political leadership — which caused the crisis through decades of corruption and mismanagement — balks...

Miami Hurricanes play the Drake Bulldogs in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Drake Bulldogs (27-7, 15-5 MVC) vs. Miami Hurricanes (25-7, 15-5 ACC)Albany, New York; Friday, 7:25 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Miami -2; over/under is 146.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 16 Miami Hurricanes take on the Drake Bulldogs in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.The Hurricanes’ record in ACC play is 15-5, and their record is 10-2 in non-conference play. Miami ranks seventh in the ACC in rebounding with 31.9 rebounds. Norchad Omier leads the Hurricanes with 9.7 boards.The Bulldogs’ record in MVC play is 15-5. Drake is the MVC leader with 26.2 defensive rebounds per game led by Darnell Brodie averaging 5.1.TOP PERFORMERS: Isaiah Wong is scoring 16.2 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Hurricanes. Nijel Pack is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Miami.Tucker DeVries is shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc with 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulldogs, while averaging 19 points and 5.6 rebounds. Roman Penn is shooting 51.6%...

Texas A&M takes on Penn State in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Penn State Nittany Lions (22-13, 10-10 Big Ten) vs. Texas A&M Aggies (25-9, 15-3 SEC)Des Moines, Iowa; Thursday, 9:55 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Texas A&M -2.5; over/under is 134.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies and Penn State Nittany Lions play in the NCAA Tournament first round.The Aggies have gone 15-3 against SEC teams, with a 10-6 record in non-conference play. Texas A&M is 1-0 when it has fewer turnovers than its opponents and averages 11.9 turnovers per game.The Nittany Lions are 10-10 in Big Ten play. Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten shooting 38.5% from 3-point range.TOP PERFORMERS: Wade Taylor IV is averaging 16.5 points, four assists and 1.8 steals for the Aggies. Tyrece Radford is averaging 12.3 points over the last 10 games for Texas A&M.Jalen Pickett is averaging 17.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Nittany Lions. Andrew Funk is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Penn State.LAST 10 GAMES: Aggies...

Houston Cougars play the Northern Kentucky Norse in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:20 GMT

Northern Kentucky Norse (22-12, 14-6 Horizon League) vs. Houston Cougars (31-3, 17-1 AAC)Birmingham, Alabama; Thursday, 9:20 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Houston -18.5; over/under is 121BOTTOM LINE: The No. 2 Houston Cougars play in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against the Northern Kentucky Norse.The Cougars have gone 17-1 against AAC teams, with a 14-2 record in non-conference play. Houston is 1-0 when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 9.4 turnovers per game.The Norse’s record in Horizon League play is 14-6. Northern Kentucky ranks ninth in the Horizon League scoring 28.5 points per game in the paint led by Chris Brandon averaging 6.0.TOP PERFORMERS: J’wan Roberts is averaging 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Cougars. Marcus Sasser is averaging 2.8 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Houston.Marques Warrick is averaging 19.1 points for the Norse. Sam Vinson is averaging 2.1 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for ...