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Romania to pay farmers to leave trees standing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

The European Commission Thursday approved a €200 million in state aid scheme allowing Romania to pay foresters to leave trees standing.Under the scheme, which will run until 2027, foresters will receive compensation when they’re prevented from cutting down trees for environmental reasons. “The scheme aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, improve ecosystem services and preserve habitats and landscapes,” the Commission’s press release states, adding that it considered “the scheme was necessary and appropriate to support the development of the forestry sector.”The announcement comes as Romania is under pressure from the EU to crack down on illegal logging, a problem it has been battling for years.In 2020, the Commission launched an infringement procedure against the country for failing to safeguard protected Natura 2000 forests and stop illegal tree cuts.Successive Romanian governments have put in place measures to fight illegal logging, includ...

US inflation rises for the first time in a year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

WASHINGTON — Inflation in the United States edged up in July after 12 straight months of declines. But excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core inflation matched the smallest monthly rise in nearly two years, a sign that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes continue to slow price increases.The inflation figure the government reported Thursday showed that overall consumer prices increased 3.2% from a year earlier. That was up from a 3% annual rise in June, which was the lowest rate in more than two years. The latest figure remained far below last year’s peak of 9.1%, though still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target.The Fed, economists and investors, though, pay particular attention to core inflation figures for signs of where inflationary pressures might be headed. From June to July, core inflation remained a tame 0.2%.“Core prices are moving in the right direction,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist for High Fre...

Man stabbed to death in East Village apartment: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A man was killed inside his apartment on the 600 block of 14th Street in East Village Thursday night, authorities confirmed.Shortly after 10:45 p.m., officers from the Central Division responded to a call from an individual reporting he found his roommate deceased, said Lt. Steve Shebloski with the San Diego Police Homicide Unit.Once at the scene, officers found a man suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper body. SDPD immediately began to work the investigation as a homicide. The victim was described by police as a 38-year-old man. Photos: Rare ‘Scrippshenge’ sunset awes San Diego Meanwhile, a woman at the apartment complex flagged down police by throwing things out of her apartment window, said Lt. Shebloski. She informed them her boyfriend was allegedly acting strange and violent. At that time, officers ultimately checked the welfare of the woman's apartment. Based on some physical evidence, including injuries seen on his body, the boyfriend was detained b...

TTC riders can tap credit, debit cards to pay for fares starting Aug. 15

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

Starting next week, TTC riders will be able to tap a credit or debit card to pay for fares on the Toronto transit system.City of Toronto and provincial officials made the announcement Thursday at a TTC station in North York.TTC riders will be able to use their debit or credits cards, including cards on a smartphone or smartwatch, as of Tuesday, Aug. 15.“The launch of credit and debit payment on the TTC is just another way our government is making life easier for people across the Greater Toronto Area,” said Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation.Last year, the provincial agency introduced the option of tapping with a debit or credit card, including those on a phone or watch, to pay fares on GO Transit, UP Express and participating 905 transit systems. Customers can also tap their phones or watches on PRESTO readers to pay through the credit card attached to their mobile wallets.Metrolinx is also working on introducing virtual Presto cards for mobile wallets in the coming mon...

Lebanese official says bullets hit defense minister’s car near Beirut but no one was hurt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Two bullets hit the car of Lebanon’s caretaker defense minister on Thursday while he was driving in a convoy near Beirut, a senior security official said. No one was hurt.A senior Lebanese Army official said an investigation was underway to find out if the minister was targeted. He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.Defense Minister Maurice Sleem said in a brief statement that nobody was hurt, without giving further details.Kareem Chehayeb, The Associated Press

The death toll from wildfires in Hawaii could climb, officials warn. Follow live updates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

Follow live updates about wildfires racing across part of Maui in Hawaii, destroying sections of a historic town on the island and forcing some to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where the Coast Guard rescued them. The fires forced evacuations in some areas, including the popular tourist spot of Lahaina. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Dora, which is passing south of the island chain at a safe distance, was partly to blame for strong winds driving the flames, knocking out power and grounding firefighting helicopters.OFFICIALS WARN THAT HAWAII WILDFIRE DEATH TOLL COULD CLIMB Officials in Hawaii warned Thursday that the death toll — already at 36 — could rise, with the fires still burning and teams spreading out to search charred areas.Search-and-rescue teams are fanning out in the devastated areas in the hopes of finding survivors, Adam Weintraub, communication director for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”Add...

7 arrested as authorities fear Greece may be targeted by violent soccer supporters’ gangs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Police in northern Greece on Thursday detained seven Romanian men carrying knives and protective gear, amid concerns that a deadly soccer-related attack this week could attract more groups of violent supporters from around Europe.The seven men were arrested near the Greek border with Bulgaria after police found three knives during vehicle inspections, as well as cans of spray paint and protective gear normally used for boxing, authorities said.Greek club Olympiakos faces Genk of Belgium later Thursday in qualifying for the Europa League in Piraeus, near Athens, under heightened security. Greek authorities remain on alert after a 29-year-old Greek fan was stabbed to death late Monday outside AEK Athens’ stadium, prompting the cancellation of a Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb.More than 100 fans were arrested, mostly Dinamo supporters, and remain in police detention after the blanket charge of murder and membership of a criminal organization...

A global law firm separates from its Chinese partner, citing cybersecurity and data rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — One of the world’s biggest law firms said Thursday it is separating from the Chinese firm that was part of its global network for eight years, citing changes in cybersecurity and other rules that have rattled foreign companies.The decision by Dentons follows warnings by business groups that global companies are postponing or shifting investment away from China due to concern about an expanded anti-espionage law, tighter controls on business, a data security crackdown and raids on foreign consulting firms.Dentons said it was separating from Beijing Dacheng Law Offices due to changes in cybersecurity and data protection but gave no details. Dentons said in a statement Dacheng will be a “separate, standalone firm” that is its “preferred law firm” for clients with needs in China.Dacheng joined the Dentons network in 2015. Dentons, which says it has more than 10,000 lawyers in some 80 countries, added the Chinese characters for Dacheng to its logo used worldwide.The arrang...

Italy investigates migrant boat disaster, with 41 feared dead. Four survivors tell a harrowing tale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

ROME (AP) — Prosecutors in Sicily on Thursday investigated a capsizing that left 41 migrants missing in the Mediterranean Sea after they set out in a flimsy boat from Tunisia, the latest in a string of similar tragedies involving people who entrust themselves to smugglers to reach Italy’s shores.Four young migrants who were rescued by a passing merchant ship told doctors and police on a tiny Italian island where they were brought on Wednesday that they survived by holding on to inner tubes for hours. They and a few other survivors spotted an empty boat a nd struggled to reach it. But only the four of them made it to the boat and climbed aboard — to find the iron-hulled, open-topped vessel had no engine. State TV reported that the migrants survived for some four days on four bottles of drinking water and a half-package of crackers they found in the boat. A Malta-flagged ship rescued them, and an Italian Coast Guard vessel took them to Lampedusa island. The survivors said 41 fel...

3 charged, firearms recovered after multiple carjackings in York region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:11:23 GMT

Three people are facing multiple charges after police officers recovered two firearms and two stolen vehicles following carjackings in York region.On Aug. 5, just before midnight, York police received a call of an attempted carjacking in the area of Mistysugar Trail and Thornhill Woods Drive, near Highway 7 and Bathurst Street, in Vaughan.The victim told police that a male suspect pointed a gun at her, tried to take her car, and took off when approached by the victim’s husband. The vehicle was not taken and there were no injuries.Half an hour later, at approximately 12:30 a.m., police received a call about another carjacking, this time in the area of Fairburn Drive and Highway 7 East in Markham.The victim said his Mercedes was taken at gunpoint by a male suspect.Police located the suspects and officers were able to arrest one of them and recover the victim’s Mercedes. A loaded handgun was later located near the scene.On Aug. 8, the second outstanding suspect was located in a stolen ...