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Spanish police raid soccer federation as part of probe into Barcelona’s payments to referee official

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spanish police raided offices of the Spanish soccer federation on Thursday as part of a judicial investigation into the alleged payment of millions of euros over several years by Barcelona soccer club to the vice president of Spain’s football refereeing committee.The Guardia Civil confirmed to The Associated Press that its police had searched the offices of the referee committee at the federation headquarters near Madrid. The police said they had not made any arrests and were acting on the orders of the judge investigating the case.In March, state prosecutors formally accused Barcelona of corruption in sports, fraudulent management, and falsification of mercantile documentation. Prosecutors said the club paid José María Enríquez Negreira, a former referee who was a part of the federation’s refereeing committee from 1994 to 2018, 7.3 million euros ($7.7 million) from 2001-18.Barcelona has denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest, saying it paid for technical ...

Koepka only identifies with 3 letters at Ryder Cup: USA, not LIV

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — The three letters Brooks Koepka represents this week in the Ryder Cup are USA.Not LIV.Koepka stands out for many reasons on golf’s biggest stages, mainly because he wins at so many of them as a five-time major champion. The obvious reason at Marco Simone is being the only player from Saudi-funded LIV Golf League who made it back to the ultimate team event.“I didn’t notice,” Koepka said sardonically when this was brought to his attention.It wasn’t a problem for U.S. captain Zach Johnson, who used one of his six wild-card selections on Koepka. “An easy pick,” Johnson said.It’s not a problem for the rest of the American team. Koepka lives near four of them in Florida, shares an agent with Scottie Scheffler and has remained friendly with everyone.Just don’t get the idea Koepka is carrying the flag for LIV Golf.“I feel like I’m representing the USA. That’s what I’ve got on the front of my hat this week, so that’s what I’m re...

Deadly violence continues in Sweden. 3 people killed in overnight shootings and an explosion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Three people were killed overnight in separate incidents in Sweden as deadly violence linked to a feud between criminal gangs escalated. Late Wednesday, an 18-year-old man was shot dead in a Stockholm suburb. Hours later, a man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting in Jordbro, south of the Swedish capital.Early Thursday a woman in her 20s died in an explosion in Uppsala, west of Stockholm. The blast, which damaged five houses, is being treated by the police as a murder. Swedish media said the woman who died likely was not the target.Swedish broadcaster SVT noted that the two fatal shootings brings the death toll from gun violence in September to 11, making it the deadliest month for shootings since police started keeping statistics in 2016. It was not known whether the shootings or the blast were related to each other but Swedish media said at least two of the three events were somehow connected to a feud between criminal gangs, a growing problem in Swede...

Israel reopens Gaza crossing for Palestinian laborers after sealing it over rising tensions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel reopened a main crossing with the Gaza Strip on Thursday, allowing thousands of Palestinian laborers to enter the country for the first time since sealing it last week.The crossing reopens after weeks of violent protests along Gaza’s frontier with Israel, where demonstrators have thrown explosives and rocks and flew incendiary balloons that sparked fires. The protests have driven up tensions, prompting Israel to launch airstrikes in the territory that targeted military posts belonging to the militant Hamas that rules Gaza. Cogat, the Israeli defense body that deals with Palestinian civilian affairs, said late Wednesday that the crossing would reopen and said such measures could continue if calm was maintained. Early Thursday, workers thronged the crossing before being let through, with some resting on patches of grass as they waited to cross.The Erez crossing is the sole pedestrian passageway out of the coastal enclave into Israel for the ro...

In Yemen, 5 fighters from secessionist force killed in clashes with suspected al-Qaida militants

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — At least five Yemeni fighters from a secessionist group were killed in clashes with suspected al-Qaida militants in the country’s south, security officials said.The deadly fighting broke out Wednesday night between forces loyal to Yemen’s secessionist Southern Transitional Council and al-Qaida militants in the southern Abyan province, local security authorities said in a brief statement. Abyan’s security department said that the secessionist forces, led by the Eastern Arrows Forces, reclaimed several areas that had been under the militants’ control and that three of its fighters were injured in the clashes. No further details were given.It remains unclear how many al-Qaida fighters died in the battle. The group did not comment on the incident.The Southern Transitional Council is backed by the United Arab Emirates and controls most of Yemen’s south. It is at odds with the internationally recognized government and has repeatedly called for the south Arabian co...

In the news today: Canadian economy to resume growth in 2024: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Canadian economy to get ‘back on its feet’ next year, Deloitte Canada saysA new report from Deloitte Canada suggests the economy’s near-term struggles will ease next year as the Bank of Canada begins cutting its key lending rate.The report estimates GDP will rise one per cent this year and 0.9 per cent next year. Deloitte Canada had earlier predicted GDP would contract 0.9 per cent in 2023.It says a population surge in Canada and an improved outlook for trade with the U.S. likely prevented the country from going into a deeper recession.The report predicts the Bank of Canada will start lowering interest rates next spring, eventually bringing the overnight rate to three per cent by mid-2025.—Here’s what else we’re watching …MPs expected to dig deeper on condemned inviteThe House of Commons will resume sitting this morning...

Daily horoscope for September 28, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 4:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EDT today (1:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023:You are charismatic, magnetic and seductive. You are also sensitive and have a strong appreciation of beauty. This is a wonderful year for you because you’re reaping the rewards of past activities. Expect a promotion, award, accolades and acknowledgement. Bravo!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★You are the artisan of the zodiac. You can do practically anything with your hands in an inventive way. Today, especially this afternoon, is a very creative time for you. You’re in touch with your muse and that mystic, inner world that you know exists within you. Tonight: You win!TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★★Because your ideals are aroused today, feelings of sympathy or empathy for someone will prompt you to help a friend if you can do so. You also might lend your energy,...

Digital Services Act: Commission launches Transparency Database

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

The Commission has launched the DSA Transparency Database, putting in action one of the many ground-breaking transparency features mandated by the DSA.Under the DSA, all providers of hosting services are required to provide users with clear and specific information, so-called statements of reasons, whenever they remove or restrict access to certain content. The new database will collect these statements of reasons in accordance with Article 24(5) of the DSA. This makes  this database a first-of-its-kind regulatory repository, where data on content moderation decisions taken by providers of online platforms active in the EU are accessible to the general public at an unprecedented scale and granularity, enabling more online accountability.Only Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) need to submit data to the database as part of their compliance with DSA already now. From 17 February 2024, all providers of online platforms, with the exception of micro and small enterprises, will have to s...

Negative effects of COVID-19 on public health - Overview of research and some predictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

The coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on health care around the world. On the one hand, it has exposed weaknesses in public health systems, such as shortages of medical personnel, equipment and medicines, as well as insufficient coordination and co-operation between countries. On the other hand, it has had a negative impact on the accessibility and quality of health care for other categories of patients, writes Mukhammadsodik Rakhimov, senior researcher of the Institute of Strategic and Regional Studies under the president of the Republic of UzbekistanIn order to ensure macroeconomic stability, effective social support for the population, and protection of the life and health of the citizens of Uzbekistan during the period of counteraction to the spread of coronavirus infection, the following measures were taken:Presidential Order "On measures to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, cardinal improvement of the system of sanitary-epidemiological well-being and protection ...

The EU needs to seek partnership, not conflict

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:34:56 GMT

When Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) took up her seat as the president of the European Commission, we were promised – in her words – a “Geopolitical Commission”, which would elevate Europe’s role on the world stage. That meant – or so we were led to believe – that she would lead the Commission to engage in the hard choices and necessary compromises of diplomacy and trade, writes Ladislav Ilčić MEP.In some areas, it could be argued that the von der Leyen Commission has made progress in its geopolitical ambitions. Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has shown – although with some opposition within its ranks – that it stands with nations fighting for freedom. The approach to another geopolitical adversary – China – has changed, with proposed regulations targeting Chinese exports, such as a tougher ban on imports produced from forced labour. There has been some improvement in relations with the U.S., including greater coordination on commo...