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Poland’s revolution gets real as government reclaims control of public media

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

WARSAW — Poland’s new government moved Wednesday to seize control of the country’s publicly owned television, radio and news agency from the hands of loyalists to the Law and Justice (PiS) party, which lost power following the October 15 parliamentary election.It’s part of a broader revolution that has the new parliament setting up special commissions to investigate the actions of the former government — in power from 2015 to this year. The new government is also replacing the heads of security agencies. Separately, a court, not under political control, on Wednesday sentenced two prominent PiS politicians to terms in prison for crimes committed when PiS briefly governed from 2005 to 2007.TVP public television, Polish Radio, and the Polish Press Agency (PAP) became subject to tight political control shortly after PiS won power in 2015, which saw Poland slide in global media freedom rankings. The coverage was heavily skewed toward the government, something election o...

Ireland to sue UK over law blocking probes into Northern Irish violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

DUBLIN – Ireland will sue the United Kingdom over its Northern Ireland Legacy Act, which slams the door on legal actions linked to three decades of bloodshed in the U.K. region, Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin announced Wednesday.Martin said he regretted “that we find ourselves in a position where such a choice had to be made,” but accused the British government of reneging on previous bilateral agreements in favor of a unilateral approach that violates the European Convention on Human Rights.This will be Ireland’s first complaint against the United Kingdom filed at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg since 1971, when British soldiers and Northern Irish police were accused of torturing Irish Republican Army suspects. The court in that case ultimately ruled that the British security forces were guilty of “degrading and inhuman treatment,” not torture.The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act – which was designed to shield former British soldiers...

New England Patriots do some holiday shopping with children in need at ‘Gifts from the Gridiron’ event

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

Helping ensure gifts are under the tree for dozens of children in need, the New England Patriots were out at the Bass Pro Shops on Tuesday, helping kids buy winter gear and gifts for loved ones.Joined by players such as Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jonathan Jones, some 50 children from local homeless programs were able to go on a shopping spree at the Bass Pro Shops location at Patriot Place.“It’s going good – we’ve got some good coats here, we’re looking for a hoodie right now,” Jones told 7NEWS as he helped push a cart down the aisles. “Christmas is the perfect time – it’s a good atmosphere, good spirits. Everyone’s having a good time.”The annual event is a result of the Patriots Foundation coming together with Bass Pro Shops, pairing players with families in need this holiday season, with each child receiving a $400 gift card as they go gather presents, coats, gloves and more.“That’s really the best thing abou...

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu formally apologizes for wrongful arrests of black men in 1989 Carol Stuart murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

It was an apology 34 years in the making.On Wednesday morning, Mayor Michelle Wu formally apologized on behalf of the City of Boston to two black men wrongfully arrested and accused in the Oct. 23, 1989, shooting murder of Carol Stuart. Those men were Alan Swanson, who appeared at the event himself, and Willie Bennett, who was represented by members of his family.The murder was in fact orchestrated by her own husband Charles “Chuck” Stuart who blamed it on a random black man, an accusation that inflamed the city’s racial tensions.“We are here to acknowledge the tremendous pain that the City of Boston inflicted on the city’s black community 34 years ago,” Wu said. “In response to the murder of Carol Stuart and her child and acting on a false, racist claim accusing a black man for her death.”That response “unleashed” terror on the Mission Hill community, Wu said.“If you knew and loved a black man in Boston, you feared for his life. There was no evidence that a black man ha...

Bill Belichick explains why Patriots claimed new QB Nathan Rourke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots needed depth at quarterback after losing quarterbacks off of their practice squad in consecutive weeks, so they used their 3-11 record to their advantage.The Patriots claimed quarterback Nathan Rourke off waivers from the Jaguars on Monday. The 8-6 Texans also put in a claim for Rourke, per ESPN, but the Patriots had a higher waiver priority because of their record.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots place J.C. Jackson on non-football illness list, sign running back New England Patriots | What to know about Patriots new quarterback Nathan Rourke New England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles The Ravens signed quarterba...

Chicago Bears Q&A: Which direction will they go at left tackle? What are the most important factors in the Matt Eberflus decision?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

After a fourth-quarter collapse resulted in a crushing loss for the third time this season, the Chicago Bears have three games remaining before facing major offseason decisions on their coaching staff and quarterback.Before the Arizona Cardinals arrive for Sunday’s game at Soldier Field, Brad Biggs digs into the weekly Bears mailbag.With all the attention on the fate of Justin Fields and the possible selection of a top QB prospect and whether or not to keep the head coach, will the Bears also seriously address fixing the OL, which can’t hold up at all against a good defense? The Bears’ D-line with Montez Sweat is greatly improved. — @jamespazdanNo question the future of the coaching staff and Fields are front-burner topics for the Bears when the season ends. That doesn’t mean they are the only issues. Most have expected all along the team will construct a plan, perhaps multilayered, to upgrade at center. It’s probably not a popular opinion, but th...

Boston mayor apologizes to Black men wrongly accused in 1989 murder that shone spotlight on racism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

By STEVE LeBLANC (Associated Press)BOSTON (AP) — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu issued a formal apology Wednesday to two Black men who were wrongly accused in a 1989 murder of a white woman, a case that coarsened divisions in a city long split along racial lines and renewed suspicion and anger directed at the police department by the city’s Black community.“I am so sorry for what you endured,” the mayor said during a news conference. “I am so sorry for the pain that you have carried for so many years.”Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett were wrongly named as suspects in the Oct. 23, 1989, death of Carol Stuart, whose husband, Charles Stuart, had orchestrated her killing.Stuart, who was also white, blamed his wife’s killing – and his own shooting during what he portrayed as an attempted carjacking — on an unidentified Black gunman, leading to a crackdown by police in one of the city’s traditionally Black neighborhoods in pursuit of a ...

These San Diego areas among 'most popular large cities' for Zillow surfers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- Zillow surfing -- most of us have done it. Whether we're pondering our next move or daydreaming about buying a home, this online real-estate marketplace is a go-to for browsing available listings. As it turns out, there are four large cities in California that are among the top ten most popular for searchers on Zillow, according to a study recently released by the platform. These California cities are among richest in US: report When figuring out which metros have potential renters and buyers most curious, researchers at Zillow analyzed housing metrics that indicate consumer demand. This included page-view traffic, home value growth, and days on market.Large cities, according to Zillow, were defined as having a population of at least 250,000 people, based on the 2021 American Community Survey data.The following California areas were ranked in the top ten for large cities:-- Ranked No. 8: Irvine, CaliforniaAerial drone photo above Irvine Great Park...

No fire plans, keys left out and no clean laundry. Troubled South Carolina jail fails inspection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina jail that is being investigated by federal officials has failed a state inspection after it was found to have unsafe and unsanitary conditions.The South Carolina Department of Corrections’ review of the Richland County jail found, among other things, a lack of written plans to evacuate inmates during a fire, keys for cells and exits that had been left in an unlocked desk drawer in a juvenile wing, prisoners who were tasked with conducting head counts and prisoners only being given clean clothes once a week.Several of the problems involved units holding women. One had urinals, and a male inmate was able to drop into the female unit through the ceiling. The women weren’t regularly given toothbrushes, soap, tampons and pads.A cell used for women who are a danger to themselves doesn’t have cameras or other ways to constantly monitor the prisoner. Women awaiting trial and others who have already been convicted of crimes were being ...

1 dead, 6 others treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after gas leak in Kitchener

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:37 GMT

Investigators in Waterloo say a 25-year-old man is dead, and six others were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning following a gas leak at a home in Kitchener.Police were called to a home in the Activa Avenue and Periwinkle Street area just after 7:30 a.m. on Monday.Officers located several people suffering from what was determined to be carbon monoxide poisoning. One man, a 25-year-old, was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.Six others were transported to the hospital for treatment. The male victim was not identified.Police said the incident is not considered suspicious as the source of the carbon monoxide was determined to be a vehicle left running in the home’s garage.According to the City of Toronto, more than 80 per cent of injuries and deaths from carbon monoxide in Ontario occur in the home.Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, as well as confusion, drowsiness, loss of consciousness and death.