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Emotions: The ultimate lobbying weapon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

Rosa Sanchez Salgado is a political scientist at the University of Amsterdam.Given the success of utilizing emotions in marketing and advertising, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to the role of emotions in lobbying.After all, strategies such as blaming and shaming are the bread and butter of many NGOs, condemning the European Union, time and again, for its responsibility in human rights violations — including, for example, the failure to save refugees and migrants.The reason the use of emotions has flown under the radar for so long could be related to the fact that, in European politics, emotions are often considered to be the worst enemy of policymaking. Groups like NGOs, trade unions and farmers are often criticized for being emotional, something that is presented as irrational, sensational and out of proportion. This idea that emotions are irrational and dangerous is also supported by the way in which populist politicians and demagogues often misuse them....

Europe’s sleeper train awakens

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

The night train revival is pulling into the heart of the European Union. The much-anticipated European Sleeper route linking Berlin and Brussels kicked off Thursday night. Its ambition: to be the harbinger of a revival of the overnight rail lines that once linked the Continent’s cities before the age of discount airlines.Now, a boom in demand for transport with a lower carbon footprint than flying, and the attractions of slower travel, is sparking a resurgence. Shortly before 9 p.m. on Thursday, European Sleeper’s aged carriages rumbled out, not from the bowels of the futuristic concrete, steel and glass tomb that encases the crossed platforms of Berlin’s giant Hauptbahnhof, but instead from a suburban terminal usually used for services running to Poland.The station choice was out of his team’s control — but it’s just one part of the challenge in running a regular and reliable service, Eng...

Padres claim catcher Gary Sanchez off waivers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

The San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sanchez off waivers on Monday.The move was made days after Sanchez was designated for assignment by the Mets to make room on the 26-man roster for Tomas Nido, who was reinstated from the injured list.The two-time All-Star played three games with the Mets, going 1-for-6 with three strikeouts and an RBI.San Diego hopes Sanchez can provide production at the catcher position, something that has been lacking during the early stages of the season. Starter Austin Nola entered Monday batting .131 with one homer and seven RBI in 99 at-bats. Second-stringer Brett Sullivan is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors on April 16.Luis Campusano has been sidelined with a thumb injury and is expected to return around the All-Star break.Sanchez is looking to revive his career after landing on his third team this season. Before signing with the Mets, he was released by the San Francisco Giants ...

Celtics season ends with Game 7 loss to Heat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

The Celtics knew that their miraculous Game 6 victory wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t follow it up with a memorable performance. Their resilience to respond with three consecutive victories to force an unthinkable Game 7 wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t finish the job.The Celtics weren’t celebrating Saturday night in Miami. Jaylen Brown said that win meant nothing if they laid an egg Monday night on their home floor.Then, that’s exactly what happened.One of the rowdiest home crowds in TD Garden history came to celebrate the possibility of witnessing history, hoping to see the Celtics become the first NBA team to overcome an 0-3 series deficit and advance to the NBA Finals.Instead, they were history. Instead, boos followed these Celtics into a long, agonizing summer after a painful 103-84 loss to the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, one of the most disappointing defeats in Boston sports history.They learned there’s a reason why no team has ever done the imp...

Report: At least 153 people arrested under special powers have died in Salvadoran prisons

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — At least 153 people jailed since El Salvador instituted emergency powers in March 2022 to confront the country’s powerful street gangs have died in state custody, according to a report released Monday by the human rights group Cristosal.None of those who died had been convicted of a crime they were accused of at the time of their arrest. There were four women among the victims and the rest were men.The deaths were the result of torture, and systematic and serious injuries, the report said. Nearly half of the victims suffered violent deaths. Some of the deaths showed signs they resulted from deliberate denial of medical assistance, medicine and food, including some deaths resulting from malnutrition.The deaths revealed punitive policies carried out by guards and prison officials. The report stated that such actions would have required authorization and backing by the highest level security officials.The government has not provided an official count of...

The Latest on the provincial election in Alberta

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

It’s election day in Alberta with Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party fighting to win a second consecutive majority government, while Rachel Notley’s NDP is trying to regain the government it lost in 2019.Here are the latest developments (all times are MT):8:45 p.m.Alberta’s United Conservatives jumped out to a lead over the NDP in early returns tonight in what has been forecast to be a tight race in the provincial election. Advance polls set a record of more than 758,000 votes cast, eclipsing the previous record of more than 700,000 in 2019.__8 p.m.Polls have closed in Alberta in an election expected to be a nail-biter finish between the United Conservative Party and the NDP.Both the UCP’s Danielle Smith and the NDP’s Rachel Notley have been premier and leaders of the official Opposition.Advance polls suggest voter turnout will be heavy.__This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2023.The Canadian Press

United Conservatives jump out to early lead in tight Alberta election

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

Alberta’s United Conservative Party jumped out to a lead over the NDP in early returns Monday in what was forecast to be a tight race in the provincial election.Danielle Smith’s UCP was holding strong in its traditional rural strongholds while Rachel Notley’s NDP was faring well in Edmonton, where it won all but one seat in 2019.Early results were still mixed in the key battleground of Calgary.The UCP is seeking a second mandate while the NDP is fighting to regain the majority government it lost to the UCP in 2019.Polling have suggested a close contest between the two parties, with support for smaller parties falling off. Advance polls set a record of 758,540 votes cast, eclipsing the previous record of more than 700,000 in 2019. The campaign has taken place alongside a record-breaking spring for wildfires in Alberta. Ten communities were under evacuation orders Monday. Elections Alberta set up alternate voting locations for those displaced. Evacuation was added as an eligible reaso...

Russia hits Kyiv in pre-dawn attack as air defenses work to stop relentless bombardment

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a pre-dawn attack on Ukraine’s capital Tuesday as its air defenses worked to stop drones in what has been a relentless wave of daylight and nighttime bombardments targeting Kyiv.The buzzing of drones and loud explosions were heard as Ukrainian air defense responded to the third Russia aerial attack on the capital in the last 24 hours. According to preliminary data, more than 20 Shahed drones were destroyed by air defense forces in Kyiv’s airspace, the Kyiv Military Administration says.One person died, three were injured when a high-rise building in the Holosiiv district caught fire. The two upper floors are destroyed, and there may be people under the rubble, the Kiyv military administration said. More than 20 people were evacuated.Elsewhere in the capital, falling debris caused a fire in a private house in the Darnytskyi district and three cars were set alight in the Pechersky district, according to the military administration.The se...

UN agencies face funding challenges in feeding Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, official says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh should not bear the burden of more than 1 million Rohingya refugees alone while U.N. agencies are facing challenges to feed them, a United Nations official said Monday.Olivier De Schutter, a U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, made the statement at the end of a 12-day trip to Bangladesh, where he visited camps sheltering the refugees from Myanmar. He said the international response to meet the funds needed to support the refugees is “grossly insufficient.”About $876 million is needed to support the community for a year, but only 17% of that has been pledged to date, he said, calling it “scandalous” at a news conference in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka.“Bangladesh should not be left to shoulder the burden of the presence of the refugees on its own. These (U.N.) agencies should be much better supported in their work,” De Schutter said.He said the World Food Program was forced in May to reduce the value of the monthly food vouc...

Heavy police presence near Six Flags Great America

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:59:24 GMT

GURNEE, Ill. -- Police in Gurnee are investigating an incident at Six Flags Great America Monday night.According to reports, several people visiting the theme park Monday told WGN there was some kind of fight and police were searching inside the park for someone who was reportedly hiding from authorities. 9 injured in shooting near beach in Hollywood, Florida; some taken to children’s hospital Witnesses reportedly also said that several people were pepper sprayed, a number of people had been transported to a local hospital, and several others have been taken into custody.Law enforcement from Gurnee, Round Lake, and North Chicago were seen responding to the area.A mother told WGN that she attempted to enter the Six Flags Great America parking lot to pick up her kids, but wasn't able to go by the entrance of the theme park, so her kids had to find her.WGN reached out to the Gurnee Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff's Office, but have yet to hear back.Stay with WGN as this...