Morn News

But they didn’t know it was nearly impossible. They were “fishes” allegedly being targeted by the mafia in an elaborate poker gambling scheme that included X-ray card tables, secret cameras, analysers in chip trays and sunglasses and contact lenses that could read their hand.

In what sounds like an Ocean’s Eleven film plot, prosecutors say these “unwitting” victims were cheated out of at least $7m (£5.25) in poker games – with one person losing at least $1.8m (£1.35m).

The scheme, which US prosecutors described as “reminiscent of a Hollywood movie,” was dismantled in a sprawling federal investigation that led to more than 30 arrests, including members of La Costra Nostra crime families, Portland Trail Blazers basketball coach Chauncey Billups and former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Damon Jones.

FBI director Kash Patel called it a “mind-boggling” fraud scheme that cheated victims in New York, Miami, Las Vegas and other US cities.

Arrests in the scheme were announced Thursday along with those in an alleged basketball betting plot, where professional NBA players are accused of faking injuries to influence betting odds.The technology was everywhere – an X-ray table that read any face-down card, analysers inside chip trays, a rigged shuffling machine that read cards and predicted who would have the best hand, and pre-marked cards that allowed those wearing special sunglasses and contact lenses to read what was in everyone’s hands.

Secretive cameras – built into tables and light fixtures – also helped convey information to those helping in the plot, authorities say.

Then there was also a sophisticated method of communicating and rigging the game, prosecutors allege.

Information from the game would be sent to an off-site conspirator – called an “operator” by prosecutors – who then would send information to another player sitting at the table who was in on the scheme – which prosecutors call a “quarterback” or “driver”.

Andrew currently lives at Royal Lodge on a so-called peppercorn rent – a token amount that typically exists only to ensure the lease is valid.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, which examines the value for money of government projects, programmes and service delivery, said he will be seeking answers from the Crown Estate and the Treasury.

“The Public Accounts Committee, which I chair, will be writing in the coming days to the Crown Estate Commissioners and HM Treasury, seeking further information on the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge,” he said.

“In the correspondence, our cross-party committee will be raising a number of questions with the Crown Estate and HM Treasury.

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He added that this forms part of a long-standing remit “on behalf of Parliament and the British public to examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of public spending, and ensure the taxpayer is receiving best value for money”.

It comes after Downing Street said MPs will not be given time in the House of Commons to discuss Prince Andrew’s conduct.

The Commons could only discuss Andrew’s friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his rent-free mansion if there was a formal motion, but the government controls the bulk of parliamentary time.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Thursday: “Prince Andrew has already confirmed he will not use his titles.

Giuffre co-writer says Andrew could help Epstein investigation

But stopped short of releasing billions of euros in frozen Russian cash to help fund the country’s defence.

A decision to use €140bn (£122bn) in Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house was pushed back until December after concerns were raised by Belgium.

The controversial move would be on top of sanctions the block has imposed on Russia – the latest on Thursday targeting the Kremlin’s oil revenues.

They followed US measures against Russia’s oil industry – the first time Donald Trump has sanctioned Moscow as he grows frustrated over Vladimir Putin’s refusal to end the war.
EU fails to back frozen Russian cash loan – but vows to support Ukraine

EPA Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky EPA
EU leaders agreed to help support Ukraine’s “financial needs” for the next two years on Thursday night – but stopped short of releasing billions of euros in frozen Russian cash to help fund the country’s defence.

A decision to use €140bn (£122bn) in Russian assets held in a Belgian clearing house was pushed back until December after concerns were raised by Belgium.

The controversial move would be on top of sanctions the block has imposed on Russia – the latest on Thursday targeting the Kremlin’s oil revenues.

They followed US measures against Russia’s oil industry – the first time Donald Trump has sanctioned Moscow as he grows frustrated over Vladimir Putin’s refusal to end the war.

On Thursday, European ministers held talks in Brussels about how billions of euros worth of frozen Russian cash could be made available to Ukraine as a so-called “reparations loan”.

Many EU governments had hoped the leaders would back the plan and request the European Commission, the EU’s executive body, to work out a formal legal proposal in the coming weeks.

But the final text, adopted after marathon talks, stopped short of greenlighting plans. Instead, it asked the Commission for “options for financial support based on an assessment of Ukraine’s financing needs”.

“Russia’s assets should remain immobilised until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by its war,” the declaration added.

The aim is now for EU leaders to reach a deal in December.

“This is a topic that is certainly not trivial. It’s very complex,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after the summit. “It was also very clear there are points to be clarified.”

Antonio Costa, European Council President, sounded a positive note, saying the bloc had “committed to ensure that Ukraine’s financial needs will be covered for the next two years”.

“Russia should take good note of this: Ukraine will have the financial resources it needs to defend itself,” he told a news conference.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was in Brussels for the summit, welcomed the outcome as a signal of “political support” for the notion of using Russian assets to keep Kyiv in the fight.

He says the sanctions won’t affect Russia’s economy (a claim widely contradicted by most analysts), but described them as an “unfriendly act” that doesn’t strengthen its relations with the US, according to Russian state media TASS.

The sanctions are an attempt to put pressure on Russia, Putin says, adding that “dialogue is always better than war”.

He says Russia will never bow to pressure from abroad.
n his speech at the Russian Geographical Society in Moscow, Putin says that replacing Russian oil on the global market will take time and lead to price increases.

Discussing his cancelled summit with Donald Trump in Budapest, Putin says the meeting was proposed by the US.

He adds that Trump most likely meant the summit was “postponed” in his comments at the White House yesterday.

Russia wants to continue dialogue with the US as the two countries have many areas for cooperation, Putin adds.

La Mesa Police Officer Lauren Craven was driving eastbound on Interstate 8 at Fairmount Avenue while returning to the city of La Mesa from San Diego Central Jail when she stopped to assist two motorists involved in a traffic collision on the freeway on Monday night just before 10:30 p.m., according to a statement from the La Mesa Police Department.