European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Uruguay on Thursday, aiming to conclude long-delayed negotiations for a landmark trade deal between the European Union (EU) and the Mercosur bloc. The agreement could create a trans-Atlantic market of 700 million people but faces opposition from EU member states and farmers. "The finish line of the EU-Mercosur agreement is in sight. Let's work, let's cross it," von der Leyen said, sidestepping objections from some EU countries, in particular France. French President Emmanuel Macron called the current proposal "unacceptable," citing concerns about unfair competition for European farmers. Macron vowed to defend agricultural independence, reflecting resistance from France's politically influential farming community. What's at Stake in the EU-Mercosur Agreement? The EU-Mercosur trade pact would establish an economic area encompassing nearly 25 percent of global GDP. It aims to reduce tariffs and trade barriers, facilitating the exchange of goods between Europe and South America. German automakers including Volkswagen, Audi , and BMW support the deal, because it would lower costs for exporting vehicles to Latin American markets. A provisional agreement reached in 2019 stalled over disputes related to environmental standards and agricultural competition. Mercosur, comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, could see its producers gain market access to the EU for beef, poultry, and sugar, raising concerns among European farmers. Critics argue that Mercosur products don't meet stringent EU environmental and animal welfare standards, providing them with an unfair price advantage. Can Protests Derail the Agreement? Farmers across the EU have staged protests to highlight their grievances. Belgian farmers blocked border crossings on Thursday, warning that the deal could flood European markets with cheaper South American goods, undermining EU producers who must comply with stricter standards. Last year, mass demonstrations underscored the depth of opposition to the deal. Despite these challenges, von der Leyen's visit suggests that technical disputes between the EU and Mercosur have been resolved. "The road is open for the top political level to make the final compromises to try to get a deal over the line," said European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill. What Happens If a Deal Is Reached? If von der Leyen secures an agreement at the Mercosur summit , the next steps would involve translating the deal into legal text. The ratification process could reveal whether unanimous approval by all 27 EU member states is required or if a special majority would suffice. As negotiations reach a critical stage, the deal's outcome will depend on whether von der Leyen can balance the EU's economic ambitions with the concerns of its member states and citizens. This article includes reporting from The Associated PressRace to be next Oakland mayor somewhat stalled as Rep. Barbara Lee makes up her mindWho has Trump picked for his Cabinet? Pam Bondi nominated for AG after Gaetz's exit
Mountain America Credit Union Donates $13,500 to American Red Cross of UtahIt’s almost time for Spotify Wrapped. When can you expect your 2024 recap?
Beneficient Enters into Agreement to Acquire Mercantile Bank International to Expand its ...
WORTHINGTON — In a battle of winless teams Tuesday night, Worthington High School came out on top over Albert Lea in a 66-53 battle. The Trojans won despite foul trouble throughout the game that saw two starters foul out in the second half. They still managed to build a double-digit lead over the Tigers through most of the game. Head coach CJ Nelson knew it was a needed win for his Trojans early in the year. ADVERTISEMENT “It was much needed,” said the second-year coach. “We've played some tough teams to start the year, so coming out here and having a chance to compete against someone that's at our level and to come out ahead is really exciting for our girls.” The first six minutes of the first half were back and forth with WHS opening up a small lead. The Trojan defense got three steals during that stretch that led to fast-break layups. Off six quick points from senior point guard Grace Barber, they led 11-7 before Albert Lea grabbed its first lead with an 8-1 run. An and-one layup from senior Jayden Spartz tied the game at 15 and then a trey from Madison Sieve later gave WHS a 19-18 lead with under 10:30 left. The Trojans wouldn’t give up the lead for the rest of the game. Spartz then began to take over. Speed and toughness helped her keep driving to the basket and drawing fouls to get to the line. She also hit two 3-pointers in the first half and scored 19 points, including a stretch of 13 in a row to push the Trojans’ lead past double digits with under 3:30 left. By halftime the Trojans held a 15-point lead with the score 38-23. “At the beginning of the game, I thought we ran our offense a little bit, and then all of a sudden, we kind of started to get away with it and really just kind of started forcing shots right away,” Nelson said. “So we just have to continue on working, to be patient and trust that if we move the ball, we're going to get a better look and trust that we need to get it back.” The Trojans kept stretching their lead into the second half, eventually reaching 20 points on an Alaina Feit putback and two Saige Scheepstra mid-range shots. But with under 10 minutes to go, both Fiet and Spartz had fouled out of the game and Albert Lea was starting to inch its way back. ADVERTISEMENT The Trojans needed to step up without two starters and the Tigers gaining momentum. After Albert Lea cut it to 13, Barber answered with a deep 3-pointer. While the Tigers did get within 11 with under five to play, they didn’t get any closer, as Worthington ran out the clock and hit free throws to ice the game in the end. “We have some big-time players that step up for us that are younger,” Nelson said. “Grace Bates played a long time with four fouls and guarding their best player, she did a nice job, I thought, overall. Even Emma Hietbrink stepping in as a freshman, who doesn't have a whole lot of varsity experience, she played a lot of minutes in the second half, and Paula (Dykstra) in the first half stepped in and took care of us when we got into a little bit of foul trouble. So it's, you know, again, it's going to be a group effort for a lot of different things.” Spartz finished with a game-high 23 points and hit nine free throws. Barber and Scheepstra each also scored in double figures for Worthington with Barber scoring 15 points and Scheepstra adding 11. Feit chipped in eight points, Sieve had six and Bates had three. Albert Lea’s leading scorer was Aliyah Heideman with 20 points and Nevaeh Wacholz added another 19. The Trojans (1-3) will be back on the court Saturday against an always-tough Southwest Minnesota Christian squad. But facing top competition is nothing new for WHS, with its first three opponents currently combining for a 7-2 record so far. SWC won its first game by 31 points Tuesday. “We have some really tough teams that we play being a AAA school,” Nelson said. “We're going to have some tough competition all year where we're going to struggle against some teams. But we're going to have games like (Tuesday) and these are the important ones, you know, these are the ones that we get to compete and we get to showcase our skills. So it's important when we have days like this that we come ready to play and again, we continue to be a team and ultimately we stick together throughout this whole year together.” Tigers 23 30 — 53 ADVERTISEMENT Trojans 38 28 — 66