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Ukraine’s top prosecutor vows to meet key EU membership conditions within months

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

Ukraine is accelerating its drive to clean up its politics and will meet all the EU’s anti-corruption requirements within months, in what would be a major boost to its bid to join the 27-member bloc, the country’s top prosecutor told POLITICO.“I am fully sure that all the elements of the anti-corruption and law enforcement reforms [required by the EU] will be completed in coming months,” Andrii Kostyn said in an interview at Ukraine’s mission to the EU in Brussels. “I am absolutely sure.”But the prosecutor also warned that high-profile cases such as the detention of Ukraine’s former Supreme Court chief were being used by some who want to stop the country joining the EU. Earlier this month, former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said in an interview that Ukraine was “totally corrupt.”In addition to Juncker’s comments, a leaked report from the U.S. State Department, obtained by POLITICO, showed that Washington was more concerned about corruption in Ukraine ...

Army private who fled to North Korea charged with desertion, held by US military, officials tells AP

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army private who fled to North Korea before being returned home to the United States earlier this month has been detained by the U.S. military, two officials said Thursday night, and is facing charges including desertion and possessing sexual images of a child.The eight counts against Pvt. Travis King are detailed in a charging document seen by The Associated Press. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the charges have not been publicly announced.King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that her son should be “afforded the presumption of innocence.” She said, “A mother knows her son, and I believe something happened to mine while he was deployed.”Desertion is a very serious charge and can result in imprisonment for as much as three years.King, 23, ran across the heavily fortified border from South Korea in July and became the first American detained in North Korea in nearly five years.H...

7 Investigates: Without Warning

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

A train roaring down the tracks has one sure way to warn those ahead — a steady blast of its horn.But that’s not happening in some Massachusetts communities and the results have been deadly.   Former train engineer Mark Lyman has never forgotten one fateful October night 24 years ago. Lyman was pulling into the Beverly Depot when, out of nowhere, a 17-year-old tried to cross the tracks. “He came from behind another train and walked right in front of me,” Lyman said. Lyman’s train hit and killed the teen.“I have my own kids,” Lyman recently said. “If something like that happened to them, I don’t know how I would — I live with that to this day.”The Beverly Depot is one of 25 state-recognized “quiet zones” where train engineers are not allowed to sound the train horn. “I firmly believe to this day, if there was a horned crossing, he would have known there was a train coming in,” Lyman said.Any city or town can petition the Federal Railroa...

Bishop Feehan outlasts Bishop Fenwick in triple overtime

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

PEABODY — All season, Bryan Pinabell had been itching for a litmus test. A unique chance to see exactly where his Bishop Feehan football group stood late in the fall.Despite some challenges Thursday night, he and the Shamrocks now have to be feeling pretty good about how things are shaping up. Rising quarterback Owen Mordas finished with 130 yards passing, and fired a game-clinching touchdown strike to Jack Higgins as Bishop Feehan registered its defining win with a 29-26 triple overtime victory against Bishop Fenwick.“I said to my guys in the huddle that we needed a game like this,” said Pinabell. “We’re about to go into the guantlet of the Division 2 playoffs, and we are going to be in games like this. It isn’t easy to play in a game like this. There’s adversity.”The game was billed as a clash between two of the top offenses in the Catholic Central League. For the majority of the opening quarter, Bishop Fenwick (5-2) lived up to its reputation, as senior Luke Connolly scampered ri...

Boston city councilor slammed for ‘antisemitic’ remarks on Israel-Hamas war

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

A Boston city councilor is being slammed for making “antisemitic” statements that perpetuate a “dangerous myth” about “excessive Jewish power and influence” in global affairs, two Jewish groups say.The Anti-Defamation League of New England and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston both released statements Thursday criticizing the “troubling” remarks made by Tania Fernandes Anderson at this week’s City Council meeting.“Drawing on the oldest tropes about Jewish power and influence to make a political statement is not just unacceptable, it is antisemitic,” Rabbi Dr. Jonah Steinberg, ADL New England regional director, said in a statement.“Excessive Jewish power and influence controlling global affairs is a dangerous myth where Jews are cast as manipulative schemers who use money and influence to advance an evil agenda,” he added.“Words matter,” Steinberg said, saying that while the ADL welcomes a conversation, the “community deserves an apology” from the councilor.Whe...

City of San Diego increases distance parked cars must move every three days

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The City of San Diego’s Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to amend its 72-hour parking violations. The changed code means cars and trucks will have to move a farther distance to avoid a ticket.  Some of the main concerns the city expressed were safety and the aesthetic appeal of neighborhoods, while some residents question if enforcement will be fair and not targeted to one group of people.  Under the amended city code, cars and trucks are required to move at least half a mile every three days, as opposed to only a tenth of a mile. The code was first enacted in 1985. “People get a citation, then they move it like three feet and get away with it under the old law,” said Jennifer Campbell, San Diego City Councilmember, who sits on the public safety committee.The city said cars parked for more than three days are neighbors' number one complaint, with reports of the city’s “Get It Done” app receiving a daily average of 130 complaints.  Staff from Mayor Todd Gloria’s...

Edmonton police issue Amber Alert for blind, non-verbal woman

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

EDMONTON — Police in Edmonton have issued an Amber Alert for a 40-year-old woman who is blind and non-verbal.Edmonton police say Cindy Tin was abducted in a stolen vehicle in the evening, in the area of 118 Avenue and 91 Street.Tin is described as having short black hair and wearing a blue sleeveless shirt and black pants.Police say the stolen vehicle is a 2013 white Toyota Sienna van, with Alberta licence plate CCM6068, travelling westbound on 118 Avenue.There was no description of the driver available.Police say the alert is in effect for the city of Edmonton and surrounding areas.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2023.The Canadian Press

Baltimore firefighter dies and 4 others are injured battling rowhouse fire

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — A rapidly intensifying blaze that engulfed multiple rowhouses in northwest Baltimore late Thursday afternoon left one firefighter dead and four others injured, city officials said.The injured firefighters sustained varying degrees of burns and are receiving medical treatment, officials said at a news conference Thursday night outside Baltimore’s Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical System.The Baltimore Fire Department has faced growing controversy in recent months over its policies and training after three firefighters died while battling a vacant rowhouse fire early last year. Local officials called for additional oversight of the agency and the department’s previous leader resigned amid the turmoil.James Wallace, who was sworn in earlier this month as Baltimore’s new fire chief, said the blaze “appeared to rapidly grow in intensity” not long after firefighters arrived on scene. “Tonight, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce one member...

4 dead in central Washington shooting including gunman, police say

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

TOPPENISH, Wash. (AP) — A 19-year-old man shot four people Thursday in central Washington state, killing three of them, and then killed himself, police said.Toppenish Police Chief John Clary said in a statement that at about 5 a.m. the man shot and killed a 13-year-old boy, an 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old woman at a house in Toppenish. The man also shot a 21-year-old man who was taken to a hospital in critical condition, Clary said.The 19-year-old man who shot them then killed himself, according to the police chief.Police said there were no outstanding suspects and there was no ongoing threat to the community.“The motive behind this heinous act remains unknown at this time,” Clary’s statement said. “The Toppenish Police Department is fully committed to conducting a thorough investigation in collaboration with our regional law enforcement partners to determine the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.”Toppenish has a population of about 8,600 people and is located...

RE/MAX ‘no longer affiliated’ with Vaughan realtor who appeared to poke fun of Israel-Hamas war

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 13:35:27 GMT

Real estate company RE/MAX says it’s no longer affiliated with a Vaughan-based realtor who appeared to make light of the Israel-Hamas war on his social media pages. Vadim Vilensky of Realtron Vadim Vilensky Realty shared a message on Facebook, X and Instagram over the weekend above a photo of Gaza, which was bombed. The photo read, “Off market. 130 square miles, oceanfront lot. No utility. No power/water.”Vilensky captioned it and wrote, “Coming soon to the market,” with two laughing-face emojis. The social media post quickly garnered significant reaction online, with many calling for the realtor to be fired. Vilensky’s social media accounts, including LinkedIn, appear to have been deleted or disabled.The death toll in Gaza since Israel declared war has risen to 3,785 Palestinians killed, including 1,524 children, 1,000 women and 120 older people, the Gaza Health Ministry said. In addition, 12,493 others have been wounded, including 3,983 children...