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Poland’s voters reject their right-wing government, but many challenges lie ahead

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s voters delivered a clear verdict. After eight years of rule by a right-wing government, they have had enough. While the conservative ruling Law and Justice party won more votes than any other single party in a parliamentary election on Sunday, it lost its majority and will not hold enough seats to govern the country. Three opposition groups who waged an energetic campaign on promises to help restore national unity, rule of law and cooperative ties with the European Union and other allies, are poised to get their turn to steer the Central European nation of 38 million people. But the path ahead will be demanding. Here are five challenges facing the country in its transition.THE TRANSITION OF POWERSome Poles are afraid that the ruling party, like former President Donald Trump in the United States and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, might resist the verdict of the voters.Some anxiety was triggered by words uttered on Sunday ...

Canadian Press NewsAlert: Israeli woman with Canadian relatives has died: group

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

An Israeli woman with Canadian family has died, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says.The centre says the family of Tiferet Lapidot has asked that the development be shared with the media. They describe her as an Israeli woman with Canadian parents.They say she was reportedly kidnapped by Hamas militants and her body was identified Tuesday morning.The war in the Middle East began Oct. 7.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.The Canadian Press

EU leaders seek harmony at a virtual summit after cacophony over response to the Israel-Hamas war

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union leaders are trying to overcome the cacophony of different opinions and voices over the Israel-Hamas war into one single political hymn in an attempt to have a bigger diplomatic impact on the global stage.Even if their summit on Tuesday is by virtual video conferencing only, the attack in Brussels that left two Swedes dead last night further underscored the need to show a unified stance in the face of common threats.Ever since the attack of Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, the EU has shown it is a group of 27 different nations and even their common institutions have sent out different messages, sowing confusion about the bloc’s intentions and reaping international criticism. Many member states feel that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen overstepped her authority by visiting Israel on Friday without a pre-agreed political message and then toed what many saw as an excessively pro-Israeli line. “Foreign and security policy remains a responsibility...

Here’s a list of September inflation rates for selected Canadian cities

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada’s annual inflation rate was 3.8 per cent in September, Statistics Canada says. The agency also released rates for major cities, but cautioned that figures may have fluctuated widely because they are based on small statistical samples (previous month in brackets):— St. John’s, N.L.: 4.4 per cent (4.2)— Charlottetown-Summerside: 2.8 per cent (3.6)— Halifax: 4.9 per cent (4.7)— Saint John, N.B.: 4.2 per cent (3.3)— Quebec City: 4.9 per cent (4.8)— Montreal: 5.0 per cent (5.2)— Ottawa: 2.9 per cent (3.2)— Toronto: 4.1 per cent (4.3)— Thunder Bay, Ont.: 3.1 per cent (4.0)— Winnipeg: 2.8 per cent (3.4)— Regina: 4.0 per cent (4.6)— Saskatoon: 4.0 per cent (5.1)— Edmonton: 3.5 per cent (4.2)— Calgary: 4.4 per cent (4.8)— Vancouver: 4.0 per cent (4.1)— Victoria: 2.8 per cent (3.4)— Whitehorse: 3.8 per cent (4.6)— Yellowknife: 1.8 per cent (3.7)— Iqaluit: 1.2 per cent (1.9)This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2023.The Canadian Press

Wisconsin Senate poised to give final approval to bill banning gender-affirming surgery

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gender-affirming surgery for minors would be banned in Wisconsin under a Republican-sponsored bill up for final approval in the GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday.Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has vowed to veto the measure. The Assembly passed the bill last week, without any Democratic votes, and the Senate was slated to give it final approval Tuesday, which would then send it to Evers.Republican lawmakers across the country want to limit the rights of transgender youths, sparking fierce pushback from the transgender community and triggering discrimination lawsuits along the way.At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. Gender-affirming surgery for minors is rare, with fewer than 3,700 performed in the U.S. on patients ages 12 to 18 from 2016 through 2019, according to a study published in August.The Wisconsin bill is one of several in the state target...

Woman, 40, fatally shot during altercation on South Side

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

CHICAGO — A 40-year-old woman was fatally shot after an altercation with a man on the city's South Side.The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 8200 block of South Drexel. Police said the woman was in a verbal altercation outside of her house, when a man shot her and fled the scene.The woman was shot in the chest and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.The medical examiner has identified the woman as Lekeysha Taplet. Pedestrian struck and killed on DuSable Lake Shore Drive; southbound lanes closed at North Avenue No one is in custody. Area Two detectives are investigating.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back!

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

CHICAGO — It's a show that many generations of Chicagoans got to see as children, and now it's making a comeback with a whole new look in 2023. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back after a six-year hiatus that began in 17 as the company is rolling out a new show to appeal to the next generation of fans. There are no animals this time with the circus featuring a number of different acts as part of the presentation that will have a stop at Rosemont's Allstate Arena November 3-5. Before this show rolls back into Chicagoland, Dean Richards made a trip to Palmetto, Florida to check out the rehearsals for this new "high-tech" show at the headquarters of Feld Entertainment.He spoke with that company's COO Juliette Feld Grossman about what spectators can expect to see out of this new look Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus as they hit the road after six years. You can see Dean's segment on the upcoming show from October 17's WGN Morning News in the video above.Ge...

Community-focused pickleball facility opening in Ballston

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

BALLSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- As pickleball gains momentum in the Capital Region, another facility is working to open its doors. Legacy Pickleball Club will be located at 4 McCrea Hill Road in Ballston. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Originally planned to be located in Malta across from the Malta Drive-In, General Manager Michael Xirinachs said they were waiting a long time for some utilities to be put in and they couldn't wait any longer. They then found the building on McCrea Hill Road through their construction partner.The facility has high ceilings and is on four acres, meaning Legacy could expand to have more courts, said Xirinachs. The club will have eight indoor courts and 15 to 20 courts could be built outside the main building, with some being outside and some in another smaller indoor facility. Starbucks in downtown Saratoga Springs to reopen In addition to the courts, Legacy Pickleball Club will have a pro shop and a...

Spa City shopping for insurance provider

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - While Saratoga Springs deals with the potential loss of their insurance provider, Mayor Ron Kim cleared up confusion about which coverage would actually be dropped. “Social media is now saying we're not covered," he said. "That is simply not true.” Saratoga Springs has a new Code Blue shelter location “We have insurance for both liability and our health care insurance for our employees. We have that and we will have a new company for a liability policy within the next week or so,” Kim went on to say.Travelers insurance company sent a letter of nonrenewal to the city in September, saying in part: "The City of Saratoga Springs' approach to risk and safety management creates an unacceptable increase in the hazards contemplated by the city. Therefore, we are nonrenewing your policy effective 01/01/2024." Fright Fest 2023 at Great Escape “We are going through the process with our broker to talk to alternative insurance companies,” Kim said. He s...

10-year-old killed, 4 others seriously hurt after Washington County crash

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:47:07 GMT

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Mo. -  A 10-year-old girl is dead, and a man and three other children were hurt in a crash in Washington County.Police say the driver lost control in a curve on Highway 21 near Furnace Creek Road Monday morning and hit a tree. The children, ages six, seven, and eight, were airlifted to a nearby St. Louis hospital with serious injuries. DoorDash driver caught on doorbell camera swiping delivery The 36-year-old driver is also in the hospital with serious injuries.