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FBI says years-long operation that led to arrest of Heat’s Terry Rozier and Trail Blazers’ Chauncey Billups also connected to mafia families The NBA, one of the world’s most prominent sports leagues, found itself associated with illegal gambling again on Thursday after two prominent stars were arrested in a sweeping federal investigation. Chauncey Billups, a Hall of Fame player who is now coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, was arrested in connection with a poker operation linked to the mafia, while Miami Heat star Terry Rozier is accused of taking part in a scheme to manipulate games.“Today, we are here

EU leaders earlier discussed proposal to use Russian assets for ‘reparations loan’, as Russia’s foreign ministry warned of ‘painful response’ if plan goes aheadThe Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urged European Union leaders on Thursday to agree as soon as possible on a plan to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.Zelenskyy, who is visiting Brussels, said on X that the proposed mechanism for using frozen Russian assets was entirely legal and fair. He said Ukraine would use a significant part of the assets to buy weapons from its European allies. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/oct/23/russia-sanctions-ukraine-loan-assets-zelenskyy-putin-european-council-latest-news-updates Author : Tom Ambrose

Union says UK-French Channel deal is inhumane and contravenes international conventionsFrench coastguards have called for plans to intercept small boats in the Channel to be halted because of the risk to life. The intervention came as the Home Office confirmed France was reviewing its “maritime doctrine” about the plan.In a letter to the French customs director general, Florian Colas, the customs union Solidaires Douanes, which includes coastguards among its members, describes the plans to intercept small boats up to 300 metres from the French shore as “a deadly doctrine, which contravenes international conventions to which France is a signatory”. Continue

The four survivors to quit the inquiry’s panel said they would only return if Phillips was removedRachel Reeves has announced a £500m investment package for new homes and stronger transport links between Oxford and Cambridge as part of a bid to create “Europe’s Silicon Valley” in southern England, PA Media reports. PA says:The Cowley Branch railway line in Oxford will reopen with new stations in Littlemore and Cowley, which the Treasury said would support up to 10,000 new jobs.The investment will also go towards the development of affordable homes in Cambridge, with plans to launch a consultation on forming a