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EU pledges crackdown on ‘brutal’ migrant smuggling during visit to overwhelmed Italian island

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

MILAN (AP) — EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged the swift return of irregular migrants and a crackdown on the “brutal business” of migrant smuggling Sunday during a visit with Italy’s premier to a tiny fishing island overwhelmed with nearly 7,000 arrivals in a single day this week. “We will decide who comes to the European Union, and under what circumstances. Not the smugglers,” von der Leyen declared after touring the island’s hotspot. The Red Cross said 1,500 migrants remained in the center built to accomodate hundreds. Tensions have spiked on the island, which is closer to Tunisia than the Italian mainland, with residents expressing impatience with the constant flow of migrants trying to reach Europe from North Africa arriving on their shores — not just this week but for decades. In the face of the new crisis, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni has pledged tougher measures and is calling for a naval blockade of North Africa to prevent migrants ...

¿Se está saliendo de la órbita del Kremlin uno de los aliados más antiguos de Rusia?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

(CNN) — La llegada de soldados estadounidenses para un ejercicio de entrenamiento de fuerzas de paz en Armenia irritó al gobierno ruso, que durante décadas ha actuado como único garante de seguridad para la antigua república soviética. El ejercicio “Eagle Partner”, de 10 días de duración, que comenzó el lunes, involucra a 85 soldados estadounidenses y 175 armenios y tiene como objetivo preparar a los armenios para participar en misiones internacionales de mantenimiento de la paz.Las maniobras, aunque de pequeña escala, son las últimas de una serie que el Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de Rusia calificó de “acciones hostiles” adoptadas por su tradicional aliado.Armenia envió recientemente ayuda humanitaria a Ucrania por primera vez, y su parlamento está a punto de ratificar el Estatuto de Roma de la Corte Penal Internacional, lo que significa que se vería obligado a arrestar al presidente de Rusia, Vladimir Putin, si pusiera un pie en el país, que Rusia ha considerado durante...

WTOP Book Report: ‘The He-Man Effect’ explores how companies use nostalgia to sell toys

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio Author Brian Box Brown speaks with WTOP's Terik King $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); This story was written as part of the WTOP Book Report series authored by Terik King. Read more of that coverage. (Courtesy First Second Books)According to author and cartoonist Brian “Box” Brown, it all started with a Sears catalog.“I’m interested in these vintage toys and stuff from my youth,” Brown told WTOP. “I ...

Sri Lanka bat first in Asia Cup final against India

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first in the Asia Cup final against India at R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.Both teams qualified for the finals with two wins each in the Super Four stage.India made six changes for the final from their last game of the Super Four round, which they lost to Bangladesh.Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, all of whom were rested for the dead rubber against Bangladesh, were back in the side while all-rounder Washington Sundar replaced the injured Axar Patel.Sri Lanka made one change bringing in leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha for the injured Maheesh Theekshana.___Teams:Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana and Pramod MadushanIndia: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Su...

Relationships to watch as world leaders gather for UN General Assembly

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

Von der Leyen aligns with Italy’s tough approach on migration

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

Europe seems to be backing the Italian government’s hard-line stance on migration. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday promised “a coordinated response” from Brussels to the problem of immigration, vowing to improve anti-trafficking forces, increase air surveillance and consider a possible new European naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea.Following a surge in arrivals by boat on the Italian coast last week, von der Leyen visited the Italian island of Lampedusa on Sunday, where thousands of migrants are stranded in difficult conditions. She was accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.In response to the crisis, members of the Italian government have called for an EU naval mission to prevent boats leaving north Africa. They have also proposed measures to increase repatriations, and a doubling of the number of detention centers.  In a video message on Friday, Meloni warned people not to undertake the Mediterranean cross...

The Revolution fall 2-1 at Colorado

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

The New England Revolution continue to falter since former head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena was banished from the sidelines on Aug. 1.The Revolution are now 1-2-2 under interim head coaches with Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to the struggling Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Col.The Revolution (13-6-9) fell into third place in the MLS Eastern Conference with six games remaining in the regular season. The Rapids improved to 4-13-10. The Revolution close out a three-game road swing at Chicago Fire FC on Sept. 23.“I think we still have a lot to play for,” said Revolution interim head coach Clint Peay after his first MLS game since replacing Richie Williams.“I think that the players are still obviously very committed to the goal of winning the cup. That’s what we are going to strive for each and every day moving forward.”After a scoreless first half, Colorado went up 1-0 Cole Bassett’s tally in the 48th minute. Rapids’ Calvin Harris scored the game...

Protesters demand that Japan save 1000s of trees by revising a design plan for a popular Tokyo park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Protesters in Tokyo formed a human chain Sunday to demand the government save thousands of trees by revising its plan to redevelop a popular downtown park.Demonstrators, many wearing green shirts and holding up signs saying, “Save Jingu Gaien,” demanded the Education Ministry take action even though the landowner is one of its agencies.Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike approved the plan in February, a move that would allow developers — real estate company Mitsui Fudosan, Meiji Jingu shrine, Itochu Corp. and the ministry-affiliate Japan Sports Council — to build a pair of 200-meter (650-foot) skyscrapers and an 80-meter (260-foot) tower. That would require cutting down nearly 3,000 trees at Jingu Gaien, one of Tokyo’s most historic and beloved green areas. The plan would also raze and rebuild a historic baseball stadium where Babe Ruth played and change a rugby field to one with artificial grass. Also at stake are the well-known 150 gingko trees lining a century-old pr...

Gunmen kill a member of Iran’s paramilitary force and wound 3 others on protest anniversary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Gunmen opened fire on a group of paramilitary forces in southern Iran, killing one of them and wounding another three, state media reported Sunday.Local media did not give a motive for Saturday’s attack, which occurred on the anniversary of the death while in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and the outbreak of nationwide protests. It was unclear if the attack was linked to the anniversary.The official IRNA news agency said the attack targeting members of the paramilitary Basij occurred late Saturday in the town of Nourabad, some 630 kilometers (390 miles) south of the capital, Tehran.In a separate incident, a man was shot and wounded by security forces near the city of Saqqez, in Iran’s western Kurdish region. IRNA said he was shot after entering an area under military restrictions, without elaborating on his condition. The Kurdish rights group Hengaw had earlier reported that he was in critical condition, while the semi-offic...

Climate activists spray Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate with orange paint

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:29:31 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — German climate activists sprayed orange paint onto Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on Sunday morning to urge the German government to take more urgent action against climate change.Members of the group the Last Generation used fire extinguishers filled with paint to spray all six columns of the popular landmark in Germany’s capital. The group’s priorities include getting Germany to stop using all fossil fuels by 2030 and take short-term measures, including imposing a general speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) on highways, to cut emissions more quickly.“The protest makes it clear: It is time for a political change,” the group said in a statement. “Away from fossil fuels — towards fairness.”Police cordoned off the area surrounding Brandenburg Gate and confirmed that they detained 14 activists affiliated with the Last Generation.The group best known for its protests in which activists glue themselves to roads and block traffic plays a provocative and polarizi...