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Poland is shaken by reports that consular officials took bribes to help migrants enter Europe and US

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s conservative governing party was hoping to make migration a key campaign theme ahead of the country’s national election. But not like this, with arrests, dismissals and an attempted suicide among its own ranks.The Law and Justice party is being rocked by reports that Polish consulates issued visas in Africa and Asia in exchange for bribes, opening the door for migrants to enter the European Union — which some hoped to use as a way into the United States.Details about the corruption scandal are coming to light a month ahead of the country’s national election Oct. 15, leaving Law and Justice struggling to control the damage. A former deputy foreign minister who was dismissed amid reports of his involvement in the scandal was hospitalized after an apparent suicide attempt.Law and Justice has been the election frontrunner in a field of several parties, and it’s not clear if the affair will dent its support. But opposition politicians have seized on t...

The cost of damage from the record floods in Greece’s breadbasket is estimated to be in the billions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

ZAGORA, Greece (AP) — The apples were almost ripe for harvesting when the worst storms in more than a century struck Greece’s breadbasket in Thessaly.Now, farmers on the forested slopes of Mount Pilion, which overlooks the plain of Thessaly, say they face millions of euros in damage from the flooding that began earlier this month. They will be lucky to salvage a third of their crop — and that will only happen if wrecked road access to their orchards is patched up in time.As bad as the damage suffered by the Pilion farmers was, their peers in the plain were hit by even greater devastation from last week’s disastrous floods that left 16 people dead, days after wildfires killed 20 people in northeastern Greece.The storms flooded 720 square kilometers (280 square miles), mostly prime farmland, totally destroying crops. They also swamped hundreds of buildings, broke the country’s railway backbone, savaged rural roads and bridges and killed tens of thousands of livestock...

Letter showing Pope Pius XII had detailed information from German Jesuit about Nazi crimes revealed

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

ROME (AP) — Newly discovered correspondence suggests that World War II-era Pope Pius XII had detailed information from a trusted German Jesuit that up to 6,000 Jews and Poles were being gassed each day in German-occupied Poland, undercutting the Holy See’s argument that it couldn’t verify diplomatic reports of Nazi atrocities to denounce them.The documentation from the Vatican archives, published this weekend in Italian daily Corriere della Sera, is likely to further fuel the debate about Pius’ legacy and his now-stalled beatification campaign. Historians have long been divided about Pius’ record, with supporters insisting he used quiet diplomacy to save Jewish lives while critics say he remained silent as the Holocaust raged.Corriere is reproducing a letter dated Dec. 14, 1942 from the German Jesuit priest to Pius’ secretary which is contained in an upcoming book about the newly opened files of Pius’ pontificate by Giovanni Coco, a researcher and archivist in the Vatican’s Ap...

'Piqui's Law' passed after SoCal boy murdered by father in custody battle

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

The tragic death of a South Pasadena boy during a contentious custody battle has now led to the creation of new legislation protecting children from abusive parents. In a unanimous vote on Friday, state assemblymembers passed “Piqui’s Law,” which was sponsored by Senator Susan Rubio of Baldwin Park. The law mandates domestic abuse training for judges, especially when dealing with child safety during custody battles with abusive parents.The law is named after Aramazd Andressian, Jr., a 5-year-old boy known as “Piqui,” who was killed by his father after a trip to Disneyland in 2017.The boy’s mother, Ana Estevez, had warned officials that the boy’s father, Aramazd Andressian, whom she was divorcing was an abusive man. Despite her pleas, the man was granted joint custody of their son.Aramazd Andressian, Jr., a 5-year-old boy known as “Piqui,” pictured with his father in a family photo.Aramazd Andressian, Jr., a 5-year-old boy known as “Piqui,” in a family photo.Aramazd Andressian, Jr., ...

For Amador Valley, win over Monte Vista was for all the haters: ‘It was personal this week’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

PLEASANTON – Jake Goldsworthy felt the Amador Valley High School football team wasn’t getting enough respect prior to its game with unbeaten Monte Vista on Friday night.If that was the case at all before, that figures to change now after the standout senior running back and the Dons earned their biggest win of the young season.The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Goldsworthy rushed for 227 yards and three touchdowns as 16th-ranked Amador Valley, propelled by a huge second quarter, outlasted No. 12 Monte Vista 41-27 before a raucous near-capacity crowd that was celebrating the school’s centennial.With his team trailing by 14 early in the second quarter, Goldsworthy raced down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown that changed the game’s momentum, as Amador Valley (3-1) reached the end zone three more times before the half to jump ahead 28-21 and never trail again.“We wanted this game so much,” said Goldsworthy, whose other touchdowns came on runs of 20 and 75 yards. “We were underdogs by every sin...

Hillsdale remains undefeated with gutsy plays against Sacred Heart Prep

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

SAN MATEO — The Hillsdale Fighting Knights remain undefeated after a complete win over No. 18 ranked Sacred Heart Prep on Friday night at Hillsdale.Senior quarterback Erick Waugh’s ability to extend plays and convert on a handful of fourth downs paired with a tough defensive front against the Gators’ physical running backs helped the No. 23 Fighting Knights put away a wire-to-wire 21-14 win. They move to 4-0 heading into league play while Sacred Heart moves to 2-2 heading into league play.“It’s a great way to start the season, but now it’s on to league. Our goals are all league-based. I think it’s great for the kids, it’s great for confidence,” head coach Mike Parodi said. “But it’s also something we can look at playing a really well-coached team to see what we need to do to get better.”Sacred Heart got an early jump on Hillsdale when Gators’ senior Anthony Noto tipped Waugh’s third down pass into th...

De La Salle’s classic gameplan tramples St. Mary’s-Stockton

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

CONCORD – De La Salle’s 24-10 triumph over St. Mary’s-Stockton was, in many ways, a return to form. The playbook from the first two games, with a high volume of passes, multiple wide receivers dotting the field, and a quarterback often isolated several yards behind the center turned out to be nothing but a passing fad for the Concord school that started 0-2. Coach Justin Alumbaugh instead continued to embrace the classic offense that has won over 30 consecutive section titles. In last week’s 35-17 win over St. Francis, De La Salle ran 43 times and threw just four passes. Friday night was more of the same. “We want to be as balanced as possible, but who we are right now, we just have to get downhill and be physical,” Alumbaugh said. “We were lacking that as a team.”The formula?Quarterback Toa Faavae hunched behind the center. Two talented runners aligned behind him. An offensive line that fired off the ball like a machine. Receivers who blocked enthusiastically but were ready t...

Carjacking, vehicle pursuit ends in Richmond man’s arrest

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

SAN MATEO – An 18-year-old Richmond man was arrested in connection with an armed carjacking in San Mateo and a vehicle pursuit from Brisbane to San Francisco on Friday, police said.The carjacking was reported around 12:25 p.m. near 42nd Avenue and Edison Street in San Mateo, the San Mateo Police Department said in a news release. The victim told officers he was held at gunpoint while the suspect stole his white Chevrolet van.After SMPD issued a “be on the lookout” bulletin, Brisbane police officers spotted the van traveling northbound on Highway 101. They then pursued the van into San Francisco.The chase ended near Market Street and Octavia Boulevard, where the suspect got out of the van and tried to escape on foot, police said. Officers, however, quickly apprehended him.The suspect was arrested and booked into San Mateo County jail on charges including carjacking, robbery, criminal threats, evading a peace officer and carrying a loaded firearm.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safet...

Dodgers on the cusp of NL West title after topping Mariners 6-3

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Miguel Rojas and James Outman homered, J.D. Martinez had two key run-scoring singles and the Los Angeles Dodgers moved closer to the NL West title with a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.Los Angeles can wrap up the NL West for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons Saturday with a win over Seattle or help elsewhere. San Francisco plays a doubleheader in Colorado, and Arizona hosts the Cubs and a number of scenarios could leave the Dodgers celebrating by the time Saturday night ends. Rojas hit a two-run homer off Seattle starter George Kirby to give Los Angeles the lead in the fifth inning. Max Muncy added an RBI triple, and Martinez had RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings.Outman hit his 20th homer of the season in the ninth inning. Seattle failed to gain ground on Houston and Texas in the AL West after both teams lost. The Mariners remained 1 1/2 games behind the Astros and a game behind the Rangers.Los Angeles starter Bobby Miller pitched 5...

Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been packed up at Angel Stadium, and the Angels decline to say why

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:35 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been mostly cleared out at Angel Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels declined to say why Friday night.The two-way superstar missed his 11th consecutive game with an oblique muscle injury Friday night when the Angels lost 11-2 to Detroit. Although Ohtani was at the stadium before the game, the soon-to-be free agent’s locker was largely empty afterward.Nearly all of the personal items had been removed from his locker and the adjoining empty stall. A fully packed bag with a logo from the 2023 All-Star Game sat in front of his stall where his shoes would normally be, and only a few workout shirts hung on the rack.Nearly a half-hour after reporters were allowed into the locker room and noticed the absence of Ohtani’s possessions, an Angels spokesman said the team will give more information about the development Saturday.Ohtani will be a free agent this winter after six seasons with the Angels, and his future has been a c...