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EU and Montenegro strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

The European Union and Montenegro have signed a renewed bilateral arrangement on the Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism. The arrangement will be signed by Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, and Minister of Interior of Montenegro, Danilo Šaranović. The arrangement aims at strengthening cooperation between Montenegro and the EU on counter-terrorism, as well as on countering and preventing violent extremism. Montenegro and the EU will work together on the removal of terrorist content online, terrorism financing, explosive precursors, critical entities resilience and supporting Montenegro to align to EU legislation on counter-terrorism. Furthermore, it aims at strengthening Montenegro's law enforcement capacity to deal with extremism and terrorism-related investigations. The EU will continue to support the implementation of the arrangement through the regional and bilateral programmes already in place. This is a further step in the implementation of the Joint Action Plan...

Build a new-kitchen toolkit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

In anticipation of the new home’s brand-new kitchen, the urge may arise to quickly fill it with the best kitchen items.Not so fast. A deliberate plan will serve the new kitchen owner better. Whether an experienced chef, an aspiring culinary genius or the master of the microwave, plan to spend time finding quality pieces you’ll actually use.First, incorporate drawers in the kitchen design process with the builder. It’s easier to pull out a drawer to access pots, pans and small appliances than to rummage through cabinets kneeling on the floor or climbing on step stools.Look at shallow drawers, deep drawers, wide drawers, narrow drawers, drawers with flexible layered inserts and hidden drawers at floor level. Remember rollout shelves in cabinets. Arguably, these aren’t drawers, but they provide the same effective functionality.Next, upgrade the cookware.Hand-pickyour pansAvoid a box set of pots and pans; these sets invariably feature items that get less use relative to the space they c...

Ex-California cop gets 27 years for kidnapping, other crimes committed while working as bail bondsman

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

A former Torrance police officer and bail agent was sentenced Wednesday, Nov. 29, to 27 years in state prison for abusing his position as a bail agent by intimidating and kidnapping clients and threatening to send them back to jail if they didn’t give him money and property.Rehan Nazir, 51, was convicted by a Norwalk Superior Court jury in May of 17 felony counts, including three counts of kidnapping, extortion, burglary, false imprisonment, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and grand theft, according to court records.Prosecutor Monique Preoteasa said the crimes took place from 2017 to 2019 in Torrance, Gardena, Manhattan Beach, Lakewood, Rolling Hills Estates, El Segundo and Long Beach. Of the counts for which Nazir was convicted, there were nine victims.Of the 33 counts, Nazir was found not guilty by the jury on nine counts and the jury was hung on two others. Two charges were dismissed prior to trial and three others were dismissed during trial.While working as a lic...

Remembering the legacy of ‘Schindler’s List’ 30 years after its world premiere in DC

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

Exactly 30 years ago, “Schindler’s List” made its world premiere in D.C. on Nov. 30, 1993. Director Steven Spielberg was in attendance, while Oskar Schindler’s widow, Emilie Schindler, visited the nation’s capital to receive a commemorative medal from the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.Now, 30 years after winning seven Oscars, including Best Picture, the Holocaust epic remains as relevant as ever, from neo-Nazis chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, to rampant antisemitism recently after Hamas’ attack on Israel last month, plunging Israelis and Palestinians into a war that still rages.While there’s no substitute for documentaries like “Night and Fog” (1955) and “Shoah” (1985), “Schindler’s List” is the best narrative film to capture the horror of the Holocaust and the spirit of the survivors, showing the journey of Oskar Schindler, a wealthy member of the Nazi Party, who saw the light to save 1,...

Royal Bank: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — TORONTO (AP) — Royal Bank Of Canada (RY) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $3.04 billion.The bank, based in Toronto, said it had earnings of $2.14 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were $2.05 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of three analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.90 per share.The bank posted revenue of $22.82 billion in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $9.59 billion, which also beat Street forecasts.For the year, the company reported profit of $11.02 billion, or $7.78 per share. Revenue was reported as $41.62 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on RY at https://www.zacks.com/ap/RYSource

Things to do in the DC area: Holiday markets, drag Santa afternoon tea … and more!

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

There’s so much to do in the D.C. area in the coming days, and WTOP has you covered with our weekly roundup of area events worth anticipating.Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.The 11th annual Christmas Markt will host approximately 50 vendors. (Photo courtesy of Heurich House Museum)For the 11th year, the Heurich House Museum is hosting its weekend Christmas Markt. Expect over 50 local vendors from Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 with wares that vary from jewelry to woodworking to food vendors to printmakers to candlemakers and more.On Saturday, guests will be able to enjoy Right Proper Brewing Company’s Senate Beer, which is a historic revival of the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co.’s classic corn lager from the 1890s.For family fun, there will also be a free kids craft station on Saturday and Sunday with ornament making and coloring sheets, according to Alex Fraioli, director of small business development at the Heurich House Museum.Registration is...

La OMS vigila más de cerca la cepa BA.2.86, ya que la escasez de datos dificulta las predicciones

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

(CNN) — La Organización Mundial de la Salud ha evaluado el estado de la cepa de coronavirus BA.2.86 y sus ramificaciones, nombrándola “variante de interés”, aunque la organización dice que el riesgo actual de esta familia de virus parece ser bajo.Anteriormente, la organización había estado siguiendo este linaje como una “variante bajo seguimiento”.La OMS también tiene clasificadas XBB.1.5, XBB.1.6 y EG.5 como variantes de interés. Actualmente no existen variantes preocupantes, la designación más alta.BA.2.86 apareció por primera vez en EE. UU. en agosto y ahora es la tercera variante más común, causando aproximadamente 1 de cada 11 nuevos casos de Covid-19 aquí, según la última actualización del rastreador de variantes de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de EE. UU. . La prevalencia parece haberse triplicado en las últimas dos semanas, aunque a menudo se sobreestima el crecimiento de una variante en las primeras semanas después de que aparece en el se...

No. 17 Tulane, No. 25 SMU bring unblemished league marks into AAC title tilt

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

No. 25 SMU (10-2, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) at No. 17 Tulane (11-1, 8-0, No. 22 CFP), Saturday, 4 p.m. EST (ABC)Line: Tulane by 3 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: SMU leads 8-1.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Tulane is trying to win back-to-back conference titles for the first time since taking the 1930 and 1931 Southern Conference crowns. The Green Wave also has a chance to go to a major New Year’s Day bowl game for a second straight season. SMU seeks its first conference title since winning the Southwest Conference in 1984. A New Year’s Day major bowl game also could be in the cards for the Mustangs if they win the AAC title in their last season in the league before moving to the ACC.KEY MATCHUPSMU’s running back tandem of Jaylan Knighton and LJ Johnson Jr., who have combined to rush for 1,187 and nine TDs this season, against a Tulane defensive that ranks fifth nationally against the run with 86 yards rushing allowed per game. PLAYERS TO WATCHSMU: DE ...

No. 2 Michigan is a big favorite in Big Ten championship game. Third straight CFP bid is in sight

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

No. 2 Michigan (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) vs. No. 18 Iowa (10-2, 7-2, No. 16), Saturday, 8 p.m. EST, in Indianapolis (Fox)Line: Michigan by 22½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Michigan leads 44-15-4.KEY MATCHUPIowa’s rushing offense vs. Michigan’s rushing defense. The Hawkeyes will try to play the field-position game like they also do, but time of possession could loom large. Iowa leads the nation in three-and-outs, according to Sportradar, and will need its rotating crew of running backs to dent a defense allowing just 3.0 yards per carry. Leshon Williams regained his stride against Nebraska last week, finishing with 111 yards and breaking a long one to set up the winning field goal.PLAYERS TO WATCHMichigan: RB Blake Corum. He has run for a single-season, school-record 22 touchdowns. A year ago, he watched the Wolverines play in the Big Ten championship game from a California hotel room after having knee surgery.Iowa: QB Deacon Hill. He completed bet...

No. 4 FSU looks to make its closing playoff argument against No. 15 Louisville in ACC title game

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:32 GMT

No. 15 Louisville (10-2, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 14 CFP) vs. No. 4 Florida State (12-0, 8-0, No. 4), Saturday, 8 p.m. EST (ABC)Line: FSU by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: FSU leads 17-6.WHAT’S AT STAKE?The focus is on the Seminoles, who are positioned to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inaugural edition for the 2014 season. Staying unbeaten and claiming their first ACC title since that same year is the final step in getting there. For the Cardinals, former program quarterback Jeff Brohm has the Cardinals playing in the ACC title game for the first time.KEY MATCHUPFSU QB Tate Rodemaker vs. Louisville’s defense. Rodemaker has been pressed into the starting job after the loss of star Jordan Travis to a season-ending injury. In his first start since taking over, Rodemaker threw for 134 yards while the Seminoles matched their season-low scoring output (24 points) in a win against Florida. The Seminoles will face ...