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EU will regret making farmers scapegoats for climate change

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

Eoin Drea is senior research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.Wasn’t the war in Ukraine — and the soaring supermarket bills that followed — supposed to make food security a top priority for the European Union?On a jaunt to the Global Food Security Summit in 2022, even European Council President Charles Michel noted that the need for stable food supplies was “the major global challenge today . . . and now is the time for all of us to translate our political commitments into concrete action.”Alas, at the EU level, “concrete action” has turned into a euphemism for undermining the very agricultural sector that feeds its citizens. And thanks to the bloc’s determination to position Europe as the global hero of climate action, Brussels is well on its way to alienating and impoverishing a large part of rural Europe.Setting increasingly ambitious environmental targets from the comfort of haute cuisine Brussels is one thing. But navigating the fraught local realitie...

Boris Johnson fumbles the Trump playbook

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

LONDON — “Britain Trump” may have a long wait on his hands if he’s going to stage the kind of comeback dreamed of by the former American president. Boris Johnson’s exit did nothing to discourage comparisons with its blasts at the “kangaroo court” of lawmakers whose verdict sealed his fate, condemning the committee which judged him to have lied to parliament as a “witch hunt” seeking “revenge for Brexit.”But while Monday’s debate in the House of Commons on the committee’s findings could have presented a crunch moment, with MPs forced to decide whether or not they would condemn or back their former leader, it has instead been deflated as Johnson told his loyal supporters Friday not to bother opposing the verdict. Johnson himself, the Sunday Times reported, will spend the day celebrating his 59th birthday far away in Oxfordshire.While Donald Trump pursues the narrative of martyrdom at every available opportunity, for now at least, Johnson...

Lexington boys complete perfect year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

CAMBRIDGE – Not only did the Lexington girls tennis team win their second consecutive state tennis title, but the boys team also put the meaning of “clean sweep” to rest as well.Lexington (25-0) finished off an improbable unblemished run to the finals with a 5-0 shutout over Division 1 juggernaut Brookline moments after the girls picked up their state title on the same duPont Tennis Courts on the campus of MIT.The Warriors (23-1) were also unbeaten coming into the contest and were winners of three of the last four state titles, only losing to Acton-Boxboro in 2022 with no recorded winner in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.Joel McCandless was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Deven Devaiah in No. 1 singles play, while Arindam Bagga made easy work of Peter Khudyakov, 6-3, 6-3. But it was No. 2 Rudr Malayya who held court in a 6-4, 3-6, 10-6 thriller over Dhevin Nahata to help Lexington capture their first state tennis title since 2014.In doubles, Aahan Mehra and Rohan Reddy were vi...

Australia’s Senate votes for holding referendum on Indigenous Voice to Parliament within 6 months

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Senate voted Monday to hold a referendum this year on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an advocate aiming to give the nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policy.Dozens of mainly Indigenous people stood up the public galleries and clapped when senators passed the referendum bill 52 votes to 19.The Senate vote means the referendum must be held on a Saturday in a two-to-six-month window.While the Voice would advocate for Indigenous interests, it would not have a vote on laws, and debate for and against the elected body has become increasingly heated and divisive.Proponents hope the Voice will improve living standards for Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.2% of Australia’s population and are the most nation’s most disadvantaged ethnic group.If the referendum is passed, it would be Australia’s first successful referendum since 1977 and the first ever to pass without bipartisan support.Oppositio...

Chad Kelly directs Toronto Argos to 32-14 season-opener win over Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

TORONTO — Quarterback Chad Kelly rushed for three touchdowns to lead the defending champion Toronto Argonauts to a convincing season-opening 32-14 win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.The Argos (1-0) opened their 150th anniversary CFL season with a banner-raising ceremony to toast their 18th Grey Cup championship before their dominant outing against the rival Ticats (0-2) before 15,967 at BMO Field.They also trotted out past stars like Damon Allen and Rickey Foggie to help celebrate the occasion.Kelly, the 29-year-old nephew of Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, was the Argos’ backup last year. But he won the starting job this year with McLeod Bethel-Thompson now playing for the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers.Besides his three rushing touchdowns, Kelly completed 14 of 23 passes for 208 yards.Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, 33, tossed two interceptions into the Argos’ end zone. The two-time Grey Cup champion with the Calgary Stampeders now has...

Police, fire: At least 5 in hospital after shooting in Roseland

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

CHICAGO — At least five people are in critical condition after a shooting in the Roseland neighborhood Sunday evening, according to Chicago police and fire officials.According to the Chicago Police Department, at least five people were shot in the area of West 99th Street and South Princeton Avenue.The Chicago Fire Department initially told WGN at least one person is dead and five people are in critical condition. Fire officials would not confirm a death after later requests for further clarification.It is unclear at this time what led up to the shooting or the circumstances surrounding the incident.The ages and genders of the victims have yet to be provided by fire or police officials.Fire officials said all victims are adults and were taken to various local hospitals, including the University of Chicago Medical Center, Advocate Christ Medical Center and Roseland Hospital. CPD: Man and woman robbing, kidnapping elderly women on Northwest Side No other information is available at ...

Heat holds steady until limited relief late in the week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) --Highs on Sunday were record-tying as we reached 106º at Austin's Camp-Mabry tying the previous record from this day in 2011. This also made it the hottest day of the year and the hottest day since August 4, 2022 and our 5th triple digit day of 2023. BLOG: If June is this hot, what comes in July? HeatThe National Weather Service has extended its heat alerts to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The Excessive Heat Warning is for heat index readings up to 120°. The Heat Advisory for the Hill Country is for heat index readings up to 112°.Heat Alerts extended until Tuesday eveningHigh temperatures should peak Tuesday when we should get close to 106º again with oppressive humidity. A subtle temperature drop and slight humidity drop brings some relief later in the week.Highs this weekStormsThe severe weather threat has likely ended as severe storms in Gillespie County have moved out of the area and additional redevelopment elsewhere appears unlikely. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Another ...

Shattered glass, blood inside office building where 9 teens were shot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS – It's hard to tell a place of learning has turned into chunks of glass, leftover trash, and dried blood.Lauren Young has operated Inspire Young Tutoring for the last six years in leased office space inside the building near Washington Avenue and 14th Street."My office is completely devastated. It's just gone," she said. "I have nowhere to go to implement instruction anymore." Downtown ‘not a 1 a.m. destination’ for teens, mayor says Young said she's been warning the landlord about security concerns in the weeks and months leading up to nine teenagers being shot during a weekend party. One of the victims, later identified as 17-year-old Makao Moore, died. A tenth victim, a 17-year-old female, was trampled while fleeing from the scene and suffered serious injuries to her spine, according to police."It's heartbreaking what happened, but I feel like it could've been prevented," Young said.She said people would try and bypass the locked doors by propping the front and back d...

Downtown ‘not a 1 a.m. destination’ for teens, mayor says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS – One teenager was killed and nine others injured in a shooting at an overnight party in downtown St. Louis. The terrifying moments were caught on camera as teenagers ran for their lives.“Wrap your arms around your children today as we mourn," St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said.Police said nine people were shot at a party on the fifth-floor of a building in the 1400 block of Washington Avenue.St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy identified the victim killed at the party as 17-year-old Makao Moore. Downtown St. Louis shooting: Slain teen identified, person of interest in custody “Additionally, a 17-year-old was possibly tramped coming down the stairs running from the scene, and has serious injuries to her spine at this time," Tracy said.The other victims’ suffered the following injuries:19-year-old male shot in the arm, groin, and legs19-year-old male shot in the back18-year-old male shot in their left side17-year-old male grazed by a bullet to the face and treated by par...

Live updates | Wyndham Clark wins US Open by 1 shot over Rory McIlroy for 1st major title

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:13 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Follow along for live updates in the final round of the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.___Wyndham Clark has won the U.S. Open for his first major championship, beating Rory McIlroy by one shot at Los Angeles Country Club.The 29-year-old from Denver was playing in just his seventh major and had never finished better than 75th. His even-par 70 was good enough to outlast four-time major champion McIlroy, who also shot 70.Clark finished at 10-under 270. He tapped in for the victory, pumped his fists, hugged his caddie and then covered his face with his cap.World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler also shot 70 and finished third, three shots back.Clark had three early birdies to pull away from Rickie Fowler, who either shared the lead or had it outright through the first three rounds. Fowler shot 75 and faded to a tie for fifth.___— Fowler, McIlroy, Scheffler headline the final round in a U.S. Open full of possibilities— Late three-putt drops Fowler...