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EU countries overcome key obstacle in yearslong plan to overhaul the bloc’s asylum rules

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union countries on Wednesday overcame a major obstacle in their yearslong quest to overhaul the bloc’s asylum rules amid warnings that time is running out to clinch agreement on the entire scheme before next year’s EU elections.EU envoys clinched a deal on a “crisis regulation” of extraordinary measures that a country could take in the event of a massive, unforeseen movement of migrants toward its borders. It means that the 27 member countries now have a negotiating position to take into talks with the EU parliament.Wednesday’s deal would involve setting up processing centers on the EU’s outside borders where people would be screened when they arrive and includes the option to detain people until their asylum claims are assessed.“Today we have achieved a huge step forward on a critical issue for the future of the EU,” said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, whose country currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency.He said it could allow t...

Hungary’s foreign minister hints that Budapest will continue blocking EU military aid to Ukraine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s foreign minister on Wednesday said that his government wants guarantees from Kyiv that a Hungarian bank, recently removed from a Ukrainian list of sponsors of Russia’s war, will not be placed back on that list in the future — a sign that Budapest may not be ready to lift its veto of a major military aid package to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that a Monday decision by the Ukrainian National Agency of Corruption Prevention to remove OTP Bank from the list was a “step in the right direction,” but that Hungary required further assurances before it would change its approach to Ukraine in any international settings. Hungary’s Foreign Ministry has invited Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency to come to Budapest “as soon as possible” to discuss the listing of OTP, Szijjarto said, “so that we can negotiate an agreement that guarantees that no such decision will be taken (again) in the future.” “If a reassuring agreement is reached there, then...

Clearco CEO relishes chance to transform firm as it lands new funding during downturn

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

TORONTO — When Andrew Curtis took over Clearco, he had his work cut out for him.A downturn in the tech sector that hit companies big and small was well underway and financiers were so spooked they were tightening their purse strings and pausing the lofty deals they signed at a dizzying rate during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.With its mandate to lend cash to small businesses under terms more favourable than traditional lenders, Toronto-based fintech Clearco was not immune to the pressures.It said goodbye to 25 per cent of staff in its third round of layoffs in a year as Curtis took the helm. By then, it had already culled 125 employees from its 500-person workforce in July 2022 and let go of 60 that August, when it handed off its international business to U.K. and Australian e-commerce investor Outfund. A slew of senior leaders also departed.So when Clearco’s board approached Curtis in January with news that co-founder Michele Romanow was exiting the top job and joining...

Police: Person shot on Bishop Ford Tuesday night

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

CHICAGO — A person was shot Tuesday night on the Bishop Ford.At around 10:05 p.m., Illinois State Police responded to southbound lanes of the Bishop Ford, near Beaubien Woods, on the report of a person shot.Troopers said there were five occupants in the vehicle at the time of the shooting and the front seat passenger sustained a gunshot wound.They were transported to an area hospital with non life-threatening injuries.All lanes were shut down at 130th Street and reopened Wednesday at around 1:30 a.m.

Fire breaks out at Illinois' Memorial Stadium Tuesday night

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A fire broke out at the University of Illinois' football stadium on Tuesday night just three days before the venue is scheduled to host a game. According to the Champaign Fire Department, the fire broke out at Memorial Stadium just before 8 p.m. in the southwest corner of the stadium underneath the "horseshoe" where groundskeeping equipment was stored. Heavy smoke was showing from that part of the stadium, and while the fire was upgraded to a second alarm, it was quickly put out. One firefighter was sent to an area hospital and treated for minor injuries.The cause of the fire is still not known. .@IlliniAthletics released this statement on the fire that happened at Memorial Stadium tonight underneath the horseshoe in the southwest corner..There were no injuries and it’s expected that the venue will still host the Illini-Nebraska game on Friday night..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/CpWcDCXHXd— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 4, 2023This comes as Memorial Stadiu...

Kaiser workers begin strike, the largest healthcare walkout in US history

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

(KTLA) - More than 75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers walked off the job Wednesday morning, setting what has been described as the largest healthcare strike in U.S. history into motion.Negotiators between the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and the healthcare provider are ongoing and apparently making progress, but workers have started what is expected to be a three-day strike.The strike began on the East Coast at 3 a.m. and was scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. in Southern California.Nurses, technicians and support staff at hundreds of hospitals across multiple states are striking against what they call unfair labor practices and unfair working conditions that are affecting the quality of patient care.“We just can’t go on with this staffing crisis,” one worker preparing to picket outside the Kaiser hospital in North Hollywood said Wednesday morning.Kaiser Permanente workers across the nation are gearing up for a strike authorization vote, which is set to take place on Saturday, Aug....

MAP: Where, when and how to get the best view of the 2023 annular eclipse

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – A solar eclipse will be visible from numerous U.S. states on Saturday, Oct. 14, a day highly anticipated by self-described "eclipse chasers" who have called the events life-changing, equating the sight to "looking upon the eye of God."October's eclipse is annular, meaning that the moon will be between the Earth and sun, but at or near its farthest distance from the Earth. That means the sun will create a bright ring effect around the moon. Eclipse chasers avoid Texas, plan to travel south for total solar eclipse A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks the light of the sun, darkening the sky for people on Earth who are in the shadow's path (Credits: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)You may not be an eclipse chaser, but if you're still curious how close you are to the "path of annularity," the less-than-150-mile-wide track from which the "ring of fire" will be visible in October, take a look at the map below.If you're outside of that relatively narrow stripe, you ...

Boy hospitalized after being thrown from ride at State Fair of Virginia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) – The parents of an 8-year-old boy who was injured by a ride at the State Fair of Virginia want more safety protocols put in place.Matthew Nungent says his son was riding "The Storm" when he was thrown from the ride and then struck by it. He says the boy was then thrown into a fence. "It's pretty horrific, really. It was brutal to watch and not have any control or be able to prevent it," Nungent said. "When I got to him I expected the worst, but he's a very lucky kid to come out."Photos obtained by Nexstar's WRIC showed the boy receiving first aid at the scene. He was then transported to the VCU Medical Center Trauma Center where he remained for more than 12 hours. "He had a huge gash on the back of his leg that required him to be sedated so they could irrigate and stitch it back up. He also has a fractured foot and several scrapes and burns," Nungent said. Concerns arise after ride at State Fair of Virginia gets stuck; child injured on another The fam...

McCarthy's out. So, what happens next?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif, became the first House speaker in U.S. history ousted from the position; but now, the biggest question is what happens next.Without an elected House speaker, Congress will not be able to hold votes, and bills cannot be brought to the floor. This means nothing can be done with border security, Ukraine funding or government spending until an election is held. However, committees can still meet and congressional hearings can continue. Following the vote, McCarthy announced he would not be running for speaker again. Now, no clear leader has emerged for House Republicans in the wake of this. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., motioned to remove McCarthy on Monday after the House passed a short-term government spending bill this past weekend with Democrat support and without deep spending cuts or Republican provisions for border security.On Tuesday, all Democrats and eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy as speaker. Gaetz even continued t...

Large police presence at University Place in Schenectady

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:21:06 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- NEWS10 is getting word of a large police presence near University Place in Schenectady. A crew is on the scene right now working to learn more. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! This image of the scene was sent by a viewer:Very little information is available regarding the presence at this time. Stick with NEWS10 as we work to learn more.