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Making cryptocurrencies crime-proof 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

“Criminals and terrorists will soon have a hard time using Bitcoin for their schemes”, says co-rapporteur Assita Kanko who together with Ernest Urtasun from the Greens negotiated new rules on cryptoassets which will be voted on in the European Parliament tomorrow. According to Kanko, the “crypto sector has been hit by high-profile scandals and bankruptcies in the past. More and more people therefore understand that cryptocurrencies need normal regulation.”When buying and selling crypto-assets, personal data will soon have to be exchanged even for small amounts of money as this is common for bank transfers already. “However, a threshold of just €1,000, as used for bank transfers, is really quite meaningless in the world of cryptocurrencies. It is often the small amounts that hide crime. We have seen evidence of terrorist fundraising with amounts of around €100. We've seen evidence of payments to child pornography websites of 10 or 20 euros”, Kanko said in today's plenary debate. The ...

California bill aims to crack down on organized retail theft

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

California lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to crack down on repeat offenders of organized retail crime.The bill, formally known as AB 1708, will either allow a felony or misdemeanor charge for anyone who has two or more convictions for theft-related offenses, a news release said.The proposed legislation would also require those with prior petty theft convictions to participate in diversion programs for substance abuse and mental health treatment, as needed, as a way to break the cycle.The bill was introduced by California Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi, Sabrina Cervantes, Bill Essayli, Mike Gipson, Evan Low, Cottie Petrie-Norris, Blanca Rubio, and Carlos Villapudua.Assemblymember Essayli is a Republican, while everyone else is a Democrat. California bill would ban the sale of Skittles, Hot Tamales & other food items Assemblymember Muratsuchi held a press conference on Tuesday alongside members from the League of California Cities, the California Retailers Association...

Flavor of Haribo's green gummy bear shocks users on social media

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

The classic Haribo gummy bears have been around for over 100 years, but one of the flavors still has fans shocked. That flavor is the green gummy of the pack.A social media post recently resurfaced on Reddit showing the different flavors and many were taken aback when they learned that the green flavor wasn't what they thought it was. Due to the green hue, many assumed the flavor was either a green apple, lime, or even watermelon.It turns out the flavor is actually strawberry. The conversation has sent Twitter ablaze with one user wanting to call the authorities."Calling the police over whether the green Haribo gummy bears are strawberry or apple," the person jokingly tweeted.Another person had a moment as they came to terms with the truth. "20 years of living and it’s only now that I figured out that the green Haribo gummy bear is actually strawberry flavored," another one said.“Am I the only one who didn’t know that the green Haribo gummy bear is strawberry flavored and not lime?!...

Campbell crime report for the week of April 28

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

April 106:29 a.m. at Almarida Drive and David Avenue: A 16-year-old stole her cousin’s car and got into an accident. She had alcohol in her system.April 111900 block of Montemar Way: Someone sprayed paint on the fence and sidewalk.10:59 a.m. at Bucknam and Peggy avenues: The suspect, 30, was stealing mail. They were in possession of several pieces of mail from Bucknam, Linda, Virginia and Hacienda. They also had a warrant.11:41 p.m. at Shamrock Drive and Joseph Avenue: Officers located and recovered a silver 1998 Chevrolet pick-up that had its VIN and plates switched. The vehicle was reported stolen out of San Jose on Jan. 29.1:47 a.m. in the 200 block of Wilton Drive: A woman reported that her son stole her blue 2007 Dodge Charger. The car was located at 350 Budd Avenue, and the son, 15, was issued a juvenile contact report for the theft.200 block of Harrison Avenue: Someone accessed the victim’s bank account through Amazon and stole $8,000.April 127:28 a.m. at Campbell Avenue and ...

Trial begins for man accused of igniting massive 2018 California wildfire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

A long-running dispute between two neighbors among the rustic cabins of Holy Jim Canyon led one of the men to intentionally ignite what became the massive Holy fire that burned through more than 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties, a prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday.Alleged threats made by Forrest Clark toward his neighbor, along with potentially self-incriminating comments a raving Clark made to investigators who were looking into the source of the wildfire, are at the center of an arson trial that began Tuesday morning in an Orange County Superior courthouse in Santa Ana.Deputy District Attorney Dominic Bello told jurors that Clark threatened his neighbor hours before setting a fire “in or around” the man’s cabin. Alternate Defender Jason Phlaum countered that fire investigators quickly focused solely on Clark and carried out an inadequate investigation that failed to prove the blaze was intentionally set.Forrest Clark appears in court on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 during ...

Divers find 25 vehicles in Delta slough, one with missing man’s body

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

A dive team looking for a man who disappeared two months ago found 25 vehicles in a mile-long stretch of Delta slough — and one of them contained the missing man’s body.The discovery on Saturday, April 15, of Jacob VanZant’s SUV was announced by the community-funded search team Adventures With Purpose.Vanzant, 24, went missing on the evening of Feb. 17 after picking up takeout from a Lodi restaurant. He was thought to have been headed toward his girlfriend’s home in Stockton — but the Adventures With Purpose team decided to focus on an area off that route because of the last pings received from VanZant’s phone, team leader Jared Leisek said in a video report.On Friday, the first day of their search, divers spent several hours near the Eight Mile Road ferry landing, on Little Potato Slough between Empire Tract and Venice Island. In a stretch of slough a little more than a mile long, they discovered 25 vehicles in the water, Leisek said.Returning on...

Alec Baldwin plays at park with Hilaria, kids, before — ‘Yikes!’ — ‘Rust’ production resumes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

Before Alec Baldwin resumes production on “Rust” — one of the more macabre-sounding endeavors in recent Hollywood history — the beleaguered actor enjoyed a trip Tuesday to his neighborhood park with his influencer wife Hilaria, four of their seven young children and a woman who looks like one of their rumored nannies.Photos captured by paparazzi show the casually dressed Alec and Hilaria Baldwin pushing a stroller carrying at least one small child into Washington Square Park, near their penthouse in Greenwich Village. They were accompanied by a woman who appeared to be a servant, pushing a second stroller holding another two children. As the Daily Mail said, it appeared that Baldwin, 65, and Hilaria, 39, were trying to “enjoy some normality” before he flew off to Montana to resume production on “Rust.”Alec and Hilaria Baldwin are spotted out with their kids in NYC ahead of Rust filming https://t.co/CJZOb6tMrS pic.twitter.com/i6WSgPMFTu...

Coachella 2023: 25 must-see acts if you’re going to Weekend 2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

Related ArticlesMusic | Coachella 2023: Blackpink’s success has K-pop fans hoping for more Asian music and representation Music | Coachella 2023: Photos of artist-inspired outfits and fashion during Weekend 1 Music | Coachella 2023: A look inside the festival bars and hidden speakeasies Music | Coachella 2023: Fans react to Frank Ocean’s performance not being livestreamed Music | Coachella 2023: Set times and schedule announced — plus a surprise guest After attending all three days of the first weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio on April 14-16 and seeing dozens of performances — including 2023 headliners Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Frank Ocean — our festival team has come up with a list of must-see acts for those attending weekend two on April 21-23.Of course, check out the headliners (maybe Ocean will have it more together for the second weekend), but there’s a lot going on th...

Here’s how you can see South America by sea

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

Climbing the 222 steps to reach Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Christ the Redeemer may bring greater physical reward to the able-bodied who bypass the elevator or escalator. But no matter how one gets to the peak of Mount Corcovado, be they Christian or not, a spiritual reward awaits visitors at the pedestal of the religious and cultural symbol of Brazil, if not all of South America.It isn’t just the towering depiction of Jesus that brings awe to those who reach the world-famous, 98-foot-high statue. The landmark’s width and representation also make it so affecting; Cristo Redentor, using the native Portuguese name, has open arms that span 92 feet. These outstretched appendages, whether interpreted as a welcoming gesture or the redemption of mankind at the crucifixion, add to the statue’s allure and, based on the nonstop crowd of people imitating the Beloved Son’s pose in group shots and selfies, its Instagramability.Overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Christ the Redeemer is the religious and cult...

Suspects, victim in Pleasanton Home Depot shooting identified

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:15 GMT

PLEASANTON, Calif. (KRON) -- Two people are in jail Wednesday morning accused of murder, robbery, child endangerment and conspiracy after shooting and killing an employee at a Pleasanton Home Depot.Pleasanton police identified the victim as 26-year-old Tri-Valley resident Blake Mohs, a loss prevention employee at the store. Police said he was well-known within law enforcement as the reporting party on any incidents at the store. "I am devastated by the loss of Blake Mohs in yesterday’s senseless shooting. Through his service to Tri-Valley organizations, Blake was a model for others. To have a life cut short is heartbreaking and infuriating. I’m joined by the City Council in offering our deepest condolences to Blake’s family, friends, loved ones, and to everyone impacted by this tragedy,” said Mayor Karla Brown.Police were called to the Home Depot, located at 6000 Johnson Drive, at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday. They found one victim bleeding inside the store. Police said suspe...