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Malta has a Soft Spot for Russian Money

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

A fish rots from the head. The same can be said for the island nation of Malta. The country’s seedy political underbelly was thrown into the international spotlight in 2017 when journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia met her demise at the hands of criminals. Lengthy investigations revealed the murderers’ connections went right to the highest level of the Maltese state. - writes Andrew Hackney of INTERNATIONAL POLICY DIGESTThe collapse of that corrupt government has birthed another, except that now instead of simply being a haven for criminals, Malta has become a chink in Europe’s united front against the Vladimir Putin regime.Malta’s golden passport scheme has been a window for Russian dirty money and influence to pour into Europe since 2014. The scheme has been used prolifically by wealthy Russians, many with connections to the Kremlin. At €900,000 a pop, it has been a good source of revenue for Malta’s government, with the wife of Prime Minister Robert Abela even profiting from the pr...

Woman dead after vehicle crashes into Mission Hills car dealership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

A woman was killed and two other people were injured after an SUV crashed into the enclosed service area of a car dealership in Mission Hills Wednesday morning, officials said.The crash occurred around 9:10 a.m. at 11041 N. Sepulveda Blvd., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A preliminary investigation revealed the driver accidentally hit the accelerator and plowed through the building, Los Angeles Police Detective Lisset Fuentes said. The driver struck two workers and a patron before her vehicle eventually stopped in the customer reception area of the Toyota dealership.Witnesses described a patron being stuck under the vehicle after being dragged about 20 feet. She was freed by bystanders, including an off-duty nurse who started CPR. The aftermath of a deadly crash at a Mission Hills car dealership is seen on Aug. 9, 2023. (KTLA) A witness shared video of the aftermath of a deadly crash at a Mission Hills car dealership on Aug. 9, 2023. Firefighters and LAPD officers re...

Burger King to introduce its version of snack wraps

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

A variation of snack wraps, a popular discontinued item from McDonald’s, will soon be available at Burger King. The company has rebranded its Royal Crispy Chicken sandwiches into wraps, slated to debut on Aug. 14 at participating restaurants nationwide. Burger King brings back fan-favorite item for limited time The new BK Royal Crispy Wraps come in three flavors, classic, spicy and honey mustard, and cost $2.99, according to a news release.Burger King has rebranded its Royal Crispy Chicken sandwiches into wraps, slated to debut on Aug. 14 at participating restaurants nationwide. (Business Wire) “The BK Royal Crispy Wraps offer our guests an all-new way to enjoy our BK Royal Crispy Chicken without sacrificing quality ingredients, bold flavors, and the choice to have it your way.” Pat O’Toole, chief marketing officer for Burger King North America, said in a statement.Designed to be either a snack or an addition to a meal, the new wraps each come with crispy chicken, a tomato slice a...

Video shows wild scene at Americana as 30-plus thieves ransack Yves Saint Laurent store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify the source of the reward money.A group of brazen thieves robbed the Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana at Brand in Glendale Tuesday afternoon.Video of the incident showed multiple people in dark clothes, hoods and masks running into and then quickly out of the YSL store at the upscale shopping center just before 5 p.m.The Glendale Police Department said there were at least 30 people involved, and they got away with about $300,000 in merchandise. At least one of the culprits was halted by someone who appears to be an Amazon delivery driver, but that thief was able to get free and jumped into an already-moving red sedan to make their getaway.Shoppers filmed the scene, with at least one person telling the delivery person to stop scuffling with the thief, as it was "not worth" the risk of getting struck by a fleeing vehicle.Sgt. Victor Jackson confirmed that advice to KTLA."Our community is very protective of this city, and we unde...

BART crossbow-wielder pleads no contest to criminal threat charge, sentenced to one year in jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

DALY CITY — A crossbow-wielding man that told BART workers he’d kill them on a train in May pleaded no contest to a felony charge in court Tuesday and was sentenced to one year in a county jail, according to prosecutors.Daniel Ray Baxter, a 42-year-old San Leandro resident, was on a train at the Daly City station on May 24 when two BART employees entered the car. Baxter, who had a crossbow loaded with an arrow, was shouting at himself, according to the employees, before turning to them. He then aimed the crossbow at one of them and shouted “I’ll kill you.”Taking the threat seriously, the employees barricaded themselves in the train’s operator cab and called police, prosecutors said. Upon police arrival, Baxter was found on the floor of one of the cars and told officers that he was the one they wanted.“The victims here, the two BART people, they fully believed he was serious about what he was going to do,” San Mateo County District Attorney S...

Gov. DeSantis suspends another Democratic prosecutor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

By Brendan Farrington and Freida Frisaro | Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, again wielding his executive power over local government in taking on a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential race.It’s the second time DeSantis, a Republican, has removed a Democratic state attorney and follows an investigation that began when a teenager was charged with fatally shooting a television reporter and a 9-year-old girl.“It is my duty as Governor to ensure that the laws enacted by our duly elected Legislature are followed,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Tallahassee announcing the suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola counties.Worrell vowed to seek reelection next year and said her removal was political and not about her performance. She also suggested DeSantis’ timing was to distract from a stagnant pre...

Sale closed in Palo Alto: $2.8 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

2955 Otterson Court – Google Street ViewA house located in the 2900 block of Otterson Court in Palo Alto has new owners. The 1,765-square-foot property, built in 1977, was sold on July 27, 2023. The $2,820,000 purchase price works out to $1,598 per square foot. The layout of this single-story home consists of three bedrooms and two bathrooms. On the exterior, the house is characterized by the use of wood shake roofing / shingles. Inside, a fireplace enhances the ambiance of the living area. In addition, the home includes a two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage. The lot of the property covers a substancial area of 7,300 square feet.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:A 1,194-square-foot home on the 1000 block of Colorado Avenue in Palo Alto sold in July 2023, for $1,900,000, a price per square foot of $1,591. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Moffett Circle, Palo Alto, in January 2023, a 1,368-square-foot home was sold f...

Shooting at Oakland memorial site leaves teen in critical condition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

OAKLAND — A 17-year-old boy was in critical condition after he was shot Wednesday morning at the site of a memorial for a person who had recently died, authorities said.The youth, who lives in the area of the shooting, was in a group with numerous other people but no one else was injured, authorities said.The shooting happened about 2:09 a.m. in the 2200 block of East 24th Street at Highland Avenue, a primarily residential area. The shooting prompted a gunshot-detection alert, authorities said.The youth and others were at the site of a street memorial for a man who police were told died Monday from a heart attack.As they were gathered outside, at least two people began shooting at them from the northern direction on Highland Avenue, police said.No other people were wounded, but some parked vehicles were hit by bullets, police said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man fatally shot in Oakland; third homicide in seven-hour span Crime and Public Safety | ...

Map: Maui wildfires burning in Lahaina and upcountry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

Wildfires that started Tuesday on Maui have burned at least 20 square miles (13,000 acres), including the coastal town of Lahaina.The map above shows the areas of hotspots recorded by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System as of Wednesday morning.The fires were whipped up by the winds of Hurricane Dora. Power was cut to about 14,000 residences, and 911 communications were down across the island.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | ‘It’s apocalyptic’: People jump into the ocean to flee Maui wildfires Crashes and Disasters | Editorial: New PG&E wildfire safety strategy requires scrutiny Crashes and Disasters | Opinion: How California’s landscape was transformed to fit European perceptions Crashes and Disasters | Cal Fire to probe tragic missteps in aerial firefighting ‘ballet’ Crashes and Disasters | Why are women more concerned about climate change than men?

East Palo Alto: Four indicted in 2022 park shootout that killed cousin of Raiders receiver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:25 GMT

EAST PALO ALTO — The last suspect in a deadly 2022 shootout at a city park teeming with children has been arrested, following several criminal indictments being handed down in connection with the daytime gun battle, authorities said.The shooting was reported the evening of May 17, 2022 at Jack Ferrell Park, involving two pairs of men opening fire at each other with several bystanders on scene. Five men were hit, and one of them, Ralph Fields Jr. — a cousin of Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver and East Palo Alto native Davante Adams —  died at the hospital.Early on, police emphasized that the shooting was not random, and tallied 33 shots fired between three rounds of gunfire. Police added that the five people who were hit were bystanders to the shooting. A week after the shooting, police announced that two people had been arrested.On Wednesday, East Palo Alto police announced that four men were indicted by a criminal grand jury Aug. 4 on multiple charges related to th...