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Poles face choice over their country’s standing in Europe

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

Mujtaba Rahman is the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice. He tweets at @Mij_Europe.Poland’s elections on October 15 will be the most consequential in the European Union this year. The future of the country’s democracy may be at stake – so too its role and influence in Europe.A lot has been said in the last year about the balance of power in the EU “moving East” due to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. This is an exaggeration. For as long as the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party rules the roost in Warsaw, there is always going to be a limit on Poland’s ability to lead.The many sources of conflict between Brussels and Warsaw highlight why.For one, there is the ongoing fight over the independence of Poland’s judiciary, which continues to prevent Warsaw from accessing €36 billion in Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds. While the government has taken steps to pass several judiciary reforms earlier this year, Warsaw has so far failed to implement the legislation, whi...

Europe’s ‘template’ for migration: Tunisian strongman’s racist clampdown

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

SFAX, Tunisia — Fatima Turay woke up to the sound of shouting and the clattering of a tear gas canister tumbling into the house in which she was staying.A 22-year-old from Sierra Leone, Turay had traveled to the Tunisian port city of Sfax to visit a friend. But then violence erupted after a scuffle between sub-Saharan Africans and local residents killed a Tunisian man.Police hustled Turay and her son out of the house and took them to the police station. “All of a sudden in the morning, we just see the bus, the big bus,” Turay recalled. “I was trying to ask, why did they bring a bus? Where are they taking us? They say it is for our own safety.”The truth was far different. Turay and her son were among the more than 1,000 sub-Saharan Africans that Tunisian authorities rounded up in Sfax and bussed to the border of Libya, abandoning them for more than a month in a no-man’s land with little access to food, water or shelter from the sun. At least 27 people who were forcibly transferred di...

Finland’s far right has shelved EU exit demand (for now)

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

HELSINKI — Brussels can stop worrying about a Finnish far-right push to take the country out of the EU, at least for now, the Nordic state’s new pro-EU foreign minister said. Finland’s new foreign policy chief, Elina Valtonen, said she believes the coalition government’s policy program, released earlier this summer after lengthy talks, demonstrates the government’s pro-EU line. The far-right Finns Party, the second largest of four governing parties after Valtonen’s National Coalition Party (NCP), remains committed to what it calls a “long-term” aim of taking Finland out of the EU, saying Brussels has taken too much political decision-making away from national capitals. But in the Finnish government program — which among other things describes Finland as an “active, reliable and solution-oriented member state” — there is little sign of Finns Party dissent against the NCP’s pro-EU stance. “Nobody expects all the coalition parties to agree on everything, ...

Patriots acquire another tackle via trade with Vikings for draft pick

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

The Patriots, clearly discontent with their offensive line depth, acquired another offensive tackle via trade Sunday.The Patriots are dealing a sixth-round pick to the Vikings for offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, a source confirmed to the Herald. Lowe, who’s listed at 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, was a sixth-round pick out of Illinois last year. The 24-year-old offensive lineman played four games without any starts for Minnesota last season. He spent 33 snaps at left tackle in Week 18 as a rookie.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots practice notes: Two players return, long list of absences ahead of cuts New England Patriots | Source: Patriots trade RB Pierre Strong for Browns offensive lineman New England Patriots | Patriots-Titans film review: Marte Mapu’s main area for growth and 19 more takeaways New England Patriots | Patriots’ eight most difficult decisions on 53-man roster cutdown day New England Pa...

Motorcyclist killed on SR-78 identified

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- A 29-year-old motorcyclist who was killed in a crash in Oceanside earlier this month has been identified, medical officials said.Brandon Reyes of Oceanside was announced as the deceased, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office said on its website.The collision occurred on Aug. 8 on westbound State Route 78, according to California Highway Patrol. These San Diego-area hotels were ranked among top waterfront resorts in U.S. While Reyes was traveling on SR-78, he lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected as he got closer to the transition road to northbound Interstate Route 5, authorities said. Moments later, a driver of a Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle, who did not see Reyes and the motorcycle, hit the motorcycle and then stopped to see the motorcyclist on the ground, per CHP.When first responders arrived, Reyes was taken to the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla Emergency Department where he was pronounced dead.

Cicero police investigating large teen gathering, shooting

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

CICERO, Ill. — The Cicero Police Department is investigating two incidents that happened Sunday evening; a large teen gathering near a movie theater, and a shooting near a grocery store, according to a spokesman for the Town of Cicero.The spokesman said the first investigation was for a group of about 200 teenagers in a parking lot in front of a movie theater near the intersection of West 22nd Street and South Cicero Avenue.The second investigation took place near the Aldi on West Cermak Road. CPD: 12-year-old girl missing from Austin neighborhood According to the spokesperson, it has not been determined if the two incidents are linked, or coincidentally happened at the same time. No additional details on either incident are available at this time.

'Like liquid gold:' Central Texans turning to rainwater collection amid drought

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Even though there hasn't been a consistent amount of rain in Central Texas for the last few months, one local business said many people are turning to them for rainwater collection tanks. It is in such high demand, one farmer is on a months-long wait list to get one. 'It's like liquid gold'While Central Texas is starting to see rain here and there, it hasn't been enough to get Kathleen Mooney's well up and running again. "My well went dry earlier this spring and I'm a farmer," Mooney said. "So I need water for my crops."Mooney is the owner of EIEIO Farm in Wimberley. She said she is now turning to rainwater harvesting. She's on a three to four month waitlist to get a tank installed. "I have friends out here that have rainwater collection systems. None of them have gone dry during this entire drought," Mooney said. "They marveled at how their skin feels silky soft after showering with the rainwater, that their hair is just exquisite. They have to use less ...

Source: Vikings trade offensive tackle Vederian Lowe to Patriots

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah started wheeling and dealing on Sunday, flipping offensive tackle Vederian Lowe to the New England Patriots.A source confirmed the deal to the Pioneer Press. In return, the Vikings will reportedly get a sixth-round pick from the Patriots.Though this trade won’t do much to move the needle, it’s significant in the sense that Lowe had served as the immediate backup to left tackle Christian Darrisaw throughout training camp.That puts even more pressure on offensive tackle Oli Udoh, who will likely back up both Darrisaw and right tackle Brian O’Neill now that Lowe is on the move. There’s also a chance offensive guard Blake Brandel could play either position in a pinch considering he’s done it in the past.This will be a fresh start for Lowe after the Vikings selected him in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He played in one game as a rookie, getting the nod in the season finale with the Vikings resting most of t...

Police respond to flash mob activity at Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

Police responded to the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance due to some type of flash mob activity on Sunday. Video provided by the Citizen app showed a crowd of people and officers outside the mall located at 3525 W. Carson St. The Torrance Police Department confirmed that there was some sort of "flashmob" at the mall.They could not say wether the activity was related to any type of robbery. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Local sports teams react to El Segundo winning Little League World Series

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:43:54 GMT

The El Segundo 12U All Stars won the Little League World Series Sunday with a dramatic walk-off home run in the sixth inning. El Segundo wins Little League World Series with dramatic walk-off HR In celebration of the team's hard-fought 6-5 victory over Curacao, several local sports teams have reacted on social media. El Segundo's Louis Lappe celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run in the Little League World Series Championship game on Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)Lakers: "Congrats, Champs!"Dodgers: "CONGRATULATIONS, CHAMPS! 🏆"Rams: "Another team of champions in LA 🏆 Congrats, El Segundo Little League!!"USC Athletics: "Congratulations to El Segundo Little League on winning the #LLWS! Proud of the way you represented LA!"Chargers: "WORLD SERIES CHAMPS! congrats to the el segundo little league team 👏👏" Angels: "Congratulations, El Segundo Little League! 🏆"Sparks: "City of Champions! 🏆 Congrats to El Segundo on winning the 2023 @LittleLeague W...