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Tunisia yet to receive EU funds to stem migration, senior EU official says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

BRUSSELS – Tunisia hasn’t received EU funding yet to stop migrants coming to Europe, the chief negotiator of the controversial deal between Brussels and Tunis told EU lawmakers Thursday.It’s too soon to see a fall in boat crossings to Europe, said the director general of the EU’s neighborhood department, Gert Jan Koopman, adding that negotiations to unblock the funding have just begun. The European Commission hailed the controversial deal back in July as a template to curb migration from North Africa, leaving the door open to similar arrangements with Libya and Morocco. The agreement offers millions to Tunisia’s authoritarian government in exchange for help to block boats carrying migrants, after arrivals from the country to Europe rose five fold over the last 12 months. But for now, the EU’s cash is still frozen in Brussels.“Yesterday we actually hit it off at my level to make sure that this is brought forward as soon as possible,” Koopman told the European Parlia...

Healey Activates Guard To Help With Shelters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

Facing a steady influx of migrants from other countries, Gov. Maura Healey on Thursday activated up to 250 National Guard members to provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels.Healey’s office announced the move Thursday afternoon, saying that her new executive order applies to locations that do not have a contracted service provider. Guard members next week will be assigned to hotels to ensure basic needs of families are met.The administration also said it is also launching regional rapid response teams to assist with overseeing shelter sites and serve as a direct contact to the administration to address any concerns.There are 6,000 families in emergency shelters and Healey has declared a state of emergency due to “rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts, requiring the state’s emergency shelter system to expand in an unsustainable manner.”“We need all hands-on deck to meet this moment and ensure families have access ...

Man allegedly threatens, bites, attacks Shrewsbury officers with stolen Taser during investigation on Lake Quinsigamond

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

A 45-year-old man from Millbury is facing multiple assault charges after police say he assaulted two Shrewsbury officers on Lake Quinsigamond.The Shrewsbury Police Department said Lukasz Knutelski was taken into custody early Sunday morning after authorities were first called about a theft on the lake around 2 a.m.According to the police department, a Worcester resident reported that two jet skis were stolen from his dock on Lake Quinsigamond, and that he saw a suspect in a boat near Norcross Point in Shrewsbury with the jet skis in tow.Authorities went on to launch a police boat in search of the suspect, with two officers eventually finding a male subject on a boat by Bay View Drive and Canna Drive.“When the officers approached the suspect’s boat and attempted to board, the man immediately began acting erratically, yelling, and became assaultive towards the officers, including ordering a dog on board to attack the officers,” a news release from the police department sta...

Capitol physician medically clears McConnell after health scares prompt new questions over his leadership position

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

Washington (CNN) — Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is medically cleared to continue his schedule, the US Capitol physician said Thursday, after he froze for the second time in as many months in public.The statement comes as McConnell moved behind the scenes to reassure his allies and donors he can do his job – even as questions persist over how long the 81-year-old Kentuckian will stay as Republican leader.“I have consulted with Leader McConnell and conferred with his neurology team. After evaluating yesterday’s incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned,” Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending doctor for the Capitol, said in a statement released through McConnell’s office.“Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration,” added Monahan. McConnell’s office has previously said that his freezes were due to lightheadedness and dehydration....

Squeezing in one last summer trip over Labor Day weekend? Expect crowded airports and full flights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

By DAVID KOENIG (AP Airlines Writer)DALLAS (AP) — By some measures, air travelers have enjoyed a less stressful summer than last year, but canceled flights remain elevated as airlines face their last big test of the prime vacation season: Labor Day weekend.The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that this will be the third busiest holiday weekend of the year so far, behind only the Juneteenth weekend, which included Father’s Day, and the Presidents Day break. Hurricane Idalia weakened and headed out to sea Thursday. While the storm left damage and power outages, its impact on travel eased. Airlines canceled several dozen flights in Florida and Georgia on Thursday but expected to operate at full strength Friday. Travelers can check conditions where they are going on the FAA website.Thursday figured to be the busiest day in U.S. airspace, with 52,203 flights scheduled, followed by 49,111 flights on Friday, according to the FAA. After a lull on Saturday and Sunday, fli...

Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

Harrison Bader is headed to Cincinnati, the Yankees announced Thursday.The Reds claimed the speedy center fielder off waivers, ending the New York native’s tenure with the Yankees after only 98 regular season games.Bader, 29, batted .237 with seven home runs, 46 RBI and 19 stolen bases over the past two seasons with the Yankees, who had acquired the 2021 Gold Glove Award winner ahead of last year’s trade deadline.“It just means so much to me to be a New York City kid playing in the Bronx for the Yankees,” an emotional Bader, who is from Bronxville, said Thursday. “It’s just really special for a lot of reasons. There’s a lot of good moments. … Regardless of the situation, no one can ever take the fact that I put that uniform on.”Bader provides a boost to a Cincinnati team that entered Thursday at 69-66, six games out of the National League Central and a game out of the third and final NL Wild Card spot. The Reds will pay Bader les...

Orioles to add outfielder Colton Cowser, reliever Joey Krehbiel to expanded September roster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

The Orioles have chosen their initial reinforcements for the extra two roster spots they will have for the rest of the regular season.Baltimore will call up outfielder Colton Cowser and reliever Joey Krehbiel on Friday, a source confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Both have appeared for the Orioles already this season and were already on the club’s 40-man roster.Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect according to Baseball America, Cowser struggled in his first major league stint, going 7-for-61 (.115) with a .433 OPS. But the 23-year-old has hit .314/.440/.524 with Triple-A Norfolk. A left-handed hitter, Cowser provides depth at all three outfield spots. Once Cowser officially returns, all of the Orioles’ top six prospects entering the 2022 season will be on their major league roster.The Orioles may well have used both additional spots on pitchers if they weren’t limited to a maximum of 14 on the roster. Krehbiel, a 30-year-old right-hander, has retired all five major league...

Gov. Healey activates National Guard to help emergency shelter hotels without providers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey issued an executive order Thursday activating up to 250 members of the National Guard to provide basic services at emergency shelter hotels that do not currently have a contracted service provider.The Healey administration said there are about 40 emergency shelter hotels where displaced families — including migrants — are staying that Guard members could be deployed at. But state officials said they will evaluate which sites require members and deploy them next week.“Massachusetts is in a state of emergency, and we need all hands-on deck to meet this moment and ensure families have access to safe shelter and basic services,” Healey said in a statement. “… While we work to implement a more permanent staffing solution, the National Guard will provide an efficient and effective means of delivering these services and keeping everybody safe.”The mobilization comes weeks after Healey declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts because an ...

Trial underway for Iowa teenager accused of murdering 2 students at school for at-risk youth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines teenager accused of murdering two fellow students inside an alternative school has admitted he pulled the trigger, but claims he did so because he feared for his life, his lawyer said in the trial’s opening statements Thursday.Preston Walls, 19, shot and killed the students because he was convinced they planned to kill him, attorney Glen Downey said. “Preston Walls decided he didn’t want to die,” Downey said during the brief opening statements. “Preston decided he didn’t want to go home to his family in a pine box.”The shooting killed students Gionni Dameron, 18, and Rashad Carr, 16. Prosecutors hace alleged the shooting was prompted by a dispute between rival gangs but the families of Dameron and Carr denied they were involved in gangs.Walls is the first of two teens to go on trial for the shooting, which took place on Jan. 23 at the Starts Right Here school. The gunfire also seriously wounded program founder Will Keeps, who re...

Spain’s Bonmatí wins UEFA best women’s player award and stands up for teammate amid Rubiales crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:31 GMT

MONACO (AP) — Spanish soccer star Aitana Bonmatí used her acceptance speech at a UEFA awards ceremony on Thursday to voice support for her teammate who was forcibly kissed by the country’s soccer federation president after the Women’s World Cup final.Bonmatí was named women’s player of the year at the annual gala held amid a crisis for European soccer’s governing body caused by the behavior of its vice president Luis Rubiales at the Women’s World Cup final.Rubiales has refused to resign as Spanish soccer federation president despite a furor over his behavior toward Jenni Hermoso at the trophy presentation after Spain’s victory over England in Sydney, Australia.“As a society, we cannot allow the abuse of power in a working environment or disrespect,” Bonmatí said on stage as UEFA leaders watched in the convention hall in high-end Monte Carlo. “To all women who are suffering the same thing as Jenni, we’re with you.”Rubiales could not attend the even...