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Ursula von der Leyen’s going on vacation. Who’s she leaving in charge of the EU?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

BRUSSELS — It’s officially August, which means the last Eurocrats are heading out of town to their favorite summer retreats, and most of Brussels is “out of office.”But a few commissioners have the questionable honor of being on the summer roster, staying behind as the person on duty should an emergency arise. Former Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker introduced the system in 2017 to show that the EU never sleeps, and his successor Ursula von der Leyen continued it. A rota is set up at the start of each five-year Commission term and covers all holiday periods, with each commissioner holding down the fort for 13 days. Von der Leyen and top EU diplomat Josep Borrell are exempt.The official job description for the commissioners on duty recalls the theme of “Designated Survivor.” The assigned commissioner will be in charge if there’s an unexpected crisis and will maintain the “continuity of the Commission’s core tasks,” a Commission spokesperson said, adding that thes...

Driver of SUV that hit and injured 6 migrant workers outside a North Carolina Walmart has turned himself in, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

(CNN) — A 68-year-old man turned himself in Monday after six migrant workers were hit and injured by an SUV outside a North Carolina Walmart Sunday afternoon, police said.The driver told investigators and his family that he “accidentally hit the gas when he was pulling into a parking space, panicked and left the scene,” Lincolnton police Major Brian Greene told CNN. The man was charged with felony hit and run, according to Greene.The incident happened after 1 p.m. Sunday outside the store in the city of Lincolnton, about 38 miles northwest of Charlotte, according to the Lincolnton Police Department.Surveillance video released by police Monday shows a mid-size black SUV driving in front of a bus, over a tree-lined median and disappearing beyond the trees. After the vehicle crosses over the median, people can be seen running toward the scene, where police said the migrant workers had been standing.Six people were taken to a local hospital with various injuries and later rele...

Chicago Cubs get a boost with addition of third baseman Jeimer Candelario from Washington Nationals: ‘I don’t really want to put a ceiling or limits on this group’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

The Chicago Cubs front office believes in this team’s potential.That’s the message they sent to the players and staff with their first move ahead of Tuesday’s 5 p.m. trade deadline, acquiring infielder Jeimer Candelario and a cash consideration from the Washington Nationals. In return, the Cubs sent two prospects, left-handed pitcher DJ Herz and infielder Kevin Made, to Washington in the deal before Monday’s 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.The Cubs have two months to make the most of Candelario’s return to Chicago, where he spent the first two seasons of his big-league career. He reunites with his fellow World Series championship teammates Kyle Hendricks and now manager David Ross. Ian Happ played with Candelario at Triple-A Iowa in 2017, and their call-ups to the Cubs that season were within four days of each other.“I’m excited to have him back and a part of this group and hit right in the middle of our lineup, it’ll be great,” ...

Robbins: Security tapes spell trouble for ‘the boss,’ will voters care?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

The only thing worse than a conspiracy to obstruct justice is a conspiracy to obstruct justice committed by criminals who aren’t very good at it.If the allegations in the superseding indictment handed down by a federal jury against former President Trump last week are accurate, he was at the center of a conspiracy to obstruct justice comprised of The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.After the FBI observed surveillance cameras located at Mar-a-Lago near where Trump was illegally retaining the classified documents he had illegally pilfered, the Justice Department notified Team Trump that it was subpoenaing the surveillance footage from those cameras. Trump’s lawyers informed Trump in New Jersey, who promptly summoned loyal aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta for a meeting. Nauta immediately made arrangements to fly to Mar-a-Lago, texting a colleague that he was returning there on a “family emergency,” using a “shushing” emoji.No joke.Trump’s property manager at Mar-a-Lago, one newly ind...

Patriots extra points: Trent Brown reported to training camp ‘lighter than he’s been’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

FOXBORO — After skipping the voluntary portion of the offseason workout program, it sounds like Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown came to training camp in good shape.Brown skipped organized team activities during the spring and was late to show up for minicamp due to a reported canceled flight. Brown was then limited in his only practice of the spring, spending most of the team’s second minicamp session working on his conditioning.But head coach Bill Belichick praised Brown on Monday before the Patriots’ first fully padded practice.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick: Mac Jones had a ‘good offseason,’ Patriots QBs will compete in training camp New England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 6: ‘D’ makes goal-line stand, Rhamondre Stevenson sits New England Patriots | Patriots have a secret offensive weapon on defensive side of the ball New England Patriots | P...

Gunmen open fire on police officers during anti-polio drive in southwest Pakistan, killing 2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on Pakistani police escorting a team of polio workers on Tuesday during a door-to-door vaccination campaign in the southwest, killing two police officers before fleeing, police said.The polio workers were unharmed in the attack on the outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, local police chief Asif Marwat said.No one has claimed responsibility, but Pakistan’s anti-polio campaigns are regularly marked by violence. Islamic militants often target polio teams and police assigned to protect them, falsely claiming that the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.Since January, Pakistan has reported only one polio case, raising hopes that the country is close to eradicating the disease. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in which polio has not been eliminated.The Associated Press

Mar-a-Lago property manager is the latest in a line of Trump staffers ensnared in his legal turmoil

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A longtime Mar-a-Lago staffer who spent years fetching luxury cars for wealthy club members is the latest person to be ensnared in former President Donald Trump ‘s ballooning legal troubles.Carlos De Oliveira appeared in court Monday to face charges connected to what prosecutors allege was a scheme directed by the former president and current GOP frontrunner to try to erase security footage after it was subpoenaed by a grand jury. De Oliveira is also charged with lying to investigators, according to a new indictment unveiled last week.De Oliveira is now the second little-known Trump employee charged in connection to his alleged hoarding of classified documents at his Palm Beach, Florida, club. His case highlights the collateral damage of Trump’s mounting legal woes, as he leaves a trail of co-conspirators and allies accused of lying or committing other crimes on his behalf. Some of those finding themselves under legal scrutiny depend on Trump for their li...

Russia accuses Ukraine of a drone attack on Moscow that hit the same building just days ago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Russian authorities accused Kyiv early Tuesday of yet another attack on Moscow and its surroundings with drones, one of which hit the same building in the capital that was damaged by a drone just days ago in a similar attack. Russian officials have claimed that the intensified attacks on the capital region reflect failures in Ukraine’s counteroffensive, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over the weekend that “the war is gradually coming back to Russian territory,” but stopped short of taking responsibility for the attacks. The repeated drone strikes underscore Moscow’s vulnerability as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month.Overnight, Russian forces attacked Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, with Iranian-made Shahed drones, according to Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. One drone struck a three-story building at an educational institution in the Saltivka district, partially destroying the top two floors of the buildin...

US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The United States imposed new travel restrictions on citizens of Hungary on Tuesday over concerns that the identities of nearly 1 million foreigners granted Hungarian passports over nine years weren’t sufficiently verified, according to the U.S. Embassy and a government official.The restrictions apply to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which allows passport holders from 40 countries to enter the United States for business or tourism without a visa for up to 90 days.The validity period of travel for Hungarian passport holders under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization was reduced from two years to one year, and each traveler will be limited to a single entry into the United States. They are the only such restrictions among the 40 participating states in the Visa Waiver Program.A senior U.S. government official said the change followed years of failed efforts by the U.S. to work with Hungary’s government to resolve the security concerns. The offi...

Jill Biden says exercise including spin classes and jogging helps her find ‘inner strength’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:55:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Spin classes when she’s on the road. Biking near her Delaware beach home. Jogging on the White House driveway.Jill Biden says exercise helps her find her “inner strength.” She gets out of bed at 5:45 a.m. most mornings to fit exercise into her schedule.The first lady also takes barre classes and rides a Peloton bike. Early morning workouts are when the 72-year-old can focus on herself, she says in the cover story for the upcoming September issue of Women’s Health magazine. “I need to be with myself and find inner strength so I can be strong for everyone else,” Biden says.The first lady is a longtime runner who finished the Marine Corps Marathon in 1998. But these days she jogs around the White House driveway that circles the South Lawn because of the security presence that would be needed if she were to run on District of Columbia streets, like Bill Clinton did when he was president. Clinton eventually had a jogging track built around the south driveway...