By SAM McNEIL and RENATA BRITO, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — European leaders will call for a toughening of migration policies on Wednesday in a move critics say bends to pressure from far-right groups and harms basic human rights protections for vulnerable people.

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Ministers from 27 EU member nations are meeting in Brussels to discuss countering migrant smuggling, with a keynote speech by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In Strasbourg, France, representatives from the Council of Europe — 46 countries from Iceland to Azerbaijan — are expected to debate making deporting migrants easier for signatories to key treaties.

Denmark was part of a nine-nation attempt last year to curtail the power of the European Court of Human Rights, the independent legal arm of the Council of Europe. Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland argued that the court’s interpretation of rights obligations prevented them from expelling migrants who commit crimes. That effort ultimately failed, but support for its basic tenets has since grown.

The European Court of Human Rights handles complaints against the Council of Europe, under the European Convention on Human Rights, including many cases involving migrants and asylum-seekers. The intergovernmental organization is not an EU institution and was set up in the wake of the World War II to promote peace and democracy.

Centrist and left-wing parties across Europe are coalescing around the idea of tougher migration policies as a way to blunt the momentum of far-right politicians exploiting discontent over immigration.

The prime ministers of Denmark and the U.K. published an op-ed in the Guardian newspaper on Tuesday calling for tightening migration controls to deny entry to those seeking better economic opportunities as opposed to fleeing conflict.

“For decades, citizens in our countries have demanded action. So we are acting — not to exploit these issues and stoke grievances as some do, but to find real solutions,” wrote Mette Frederiksen and Keir Starmer. “The best way of fighting against the forces of hate and division is to show that mainstream, progressive politics can fix this problem.”

Illegal border crossings into the EU were down 22% from January to October this year, according to Frontex, the EU’s border and coast guard agency. The agency recorded 152,000 unauthorized border crossings in the first 10 months of the year.

Most migration to Europe happens legally, by air, with some immigrants overstaying tourist visas.

The EU has spent billions of euros (dollars) to deter irregular migration, paying countries in Africa and the Middle East to intercept migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean of the Atlantic. At the same time, European nations facing labor shortages and an aging population are in desperate need of more workers and have been investing in programs to attract and train foreign workers.

The secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, said ahead of the Strasbourg meeting that the European Convention on Human Rights was “the final safeguard of individual rights and freedoms across our continent.”

“The convention’s future and Europe’s direction are inseparable,” he said.

Brito reported from Barcelona.

By DAVID KEYTON, Associated Press

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado ‘s daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her mother’s behalf Wednesday, hours after officials said Machado would miss the ceremony.

The daughter of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Ana Corina Sosa, who will accept the award on behalf of her mother, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, arrives for the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony, in Oslo, Norway, Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix, Pool via AP)

Machado has been in hiding and has not been seen in public since Jan. 9, when she was briefly detained after joining supporters in a protest in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital.

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee, told the award ceremony that “María Corina Machado has done everything in her power to be able to attend the ceremony here today — a journey in a situation of extreme danger.”

“Although she will not be able to reach this ceremony and today’s events, we are profoundly happy to confirm that she is safe, and that she will be with us here in Oslo,” he said to applause.

The director of the Norwegian Nobel institute and Machado’s spokesperson said earlier Wednesday that she wouldn’t be able to attend the ceremony. Her daughter Ana Corina Sosa did instead.

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María Corina Machado said in an audio recording of a phone call published on the Nobel website that many people had “risked their lives” for her to arrive in Oslo.

“I am very grateful to them, and this is a measure of what this recognition means to the Venezuelan people,” she said before indicating she was about to board a plane.

“I know that there are hundreds of Venezuelans from different parts of the world that were able to reach your city that are right now in Oslo, family, my team, so many colleagues,” Machado added.

“And since this is a prize for all Venezuelans, I believe that it will be received by them. And as soon as I arrive, I will be able to embrace all my family and my children that I’ve have not seen for two years and so many Venezuelans, Norwegians that I know that share our struggle and our fight.”

Latin American leaders present in solidarity

Prominent Latin American figures attended Wednesday in a signal of solidarity with Machado, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña.

Argentine’s President Javier Milei arrives at Oslo City Hall before the award ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize, in Oslo, Norway, Wednesday Dec. 10, 2025. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB Scanpix via AP)

The 58-year-old’s win for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in her South American nation was announced on Oct. 10, and she was described as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

Machado won an opposition primary election and intended to challenge President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s presidential election, but the government barred her from running for office. Retired diplomat Edmundo González took her place.

The lead-up to the July 28, 2024, election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations. That increased after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared the incumbent the winner.

González, who sought asylum in Spain last year after a Venezuelan court issued a warrant for his arrest, attended Wednesday’s ceremony, which was overlooked by a large portrait of Machado.

U.N. human rights officials and many independent rights groups have expressed concerns about the situation in Venezuela, and called for Maduro to be held accountable for the crackdown on dissent.

Some previous winners have been unable to attend

Five past Nobel Peace Prize laureates were detained or imprisoned at the time of the award, according to the prize’s official website, most recently Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi in 2023 and Belarusian human rights advocate Ales Bialiatski in 2022.

The others were Liu Xiaobo of China in 2010, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar in 1991 and Carl von Ossietzky of Germany in 1935.

Gustavo Tovar-Arroyo, a Venezuelan human rights activist who was forced to flee into exile in 2012, said Machado’s supporters “did the best for her to be here as she deserves. But we knew the risk.”

He added that they are “disappointed that she cannot be in the ceremony, but this is part of what we do when we fight against a dictatorship, a tyranny or a criminal regime. So we are used to it.”

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve will almost certainly reduce its key interest rate Wednesday, but the bigger question for financial markets and the economy is what signals Chair Jerome Powell may send regarding the central bank’s next steps.

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It would be the third cut in a row and bring the Fed’s key rate to about 3.6%, the lowest in nearly three years. For Americans struggling with high borrowing costs for homes, cars, and other large purchases, this year’s rate cuts could reduce those costs over time — though it’s not guaranteed. Mortgage rates in particular are also influenced by financial markets.

This week’s meeting could presage a much cloudier path for the Fed in 2026. The government shutdown has delayed two months of jobs and inflation data, leaving the Fed with much less information on hiring and inflation than it is used to. Powell’s term as chair ends in May and President Donald Trump will nominate a replacement, possibly as soon as this month, who will almost certainly push for lower borrowing costs. Yet the new chair could face resistance from other Fed officials.

In addition to a likely rate cut, the Fed could signal that the bar for another reduction when they next meet in late January will be higher than it has been this fall. A year ago, after implementing a third rate cut at its December meeting, the Fed indicated it would likely keep rates unchanged in the coming months. It didn’t cut again until September.

“They would love to take a pass (in January), push it off to March, and just wait for a couple of more inflation reports to come in,” Tom Porcelli, chief economist at Wells Fargo, said.

The Fed’s 19-member rate-setting committee is deeply divided between those who support reducing rates to bolster hiring and those who’d prefer to keep rates unchanged because inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target. Higher borrowing costs can slow spending and the economy and reduce price increases.

The government said last week in a delayed report that the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained elevated in September, with both overall and core prices rising 2.8% from a year earlier.

The lack of economic data has contributed to the divisions. But by their January meeting, they’ll have up to three months of backlogged reports to consider. If those figures show that hiring has remained weak, or that layoffs have spiked, the Fed could reduce rates again in January.

By contrast, if they show hiring has stabilized while inflation remains elevated, they may hold off on additional cuts for several months.

On Wednesday, the Fed will also issue their quarterly set of economic projections, which include forecasts for where they will set rates at the end of this year and next. Economists expect just one rate reduction next year, as they did in September.

Yet the projections will likely carry much less weight this year, since a new chair will probably push for more reductions. And if the economy weakens, more officials will support reductions.

In an interview with Politico published Tuesday, Trump said “yes” when asked if reducing rates “immediately” was a litmus test for his new Fed chair. Trump has hinted that he will likely pick Kevin Hassett, his top economic adviser.

Hassett has often called for lower borrowing costs, but this week has been more circumspect. In an interview Tuesday on CNBC, when asked how many more rate cuts he would support, Hassett did not give a specific answer and said, “What you need to do is watch the data.”

Playoff time is here, as the powers of fantasy football leagues begin three weeks of battle for championship glories.

But for non-powers, including your Humble Narrator who missed the playoffs by (checks math) just ONE lousy Week 13 point, it’s time for our lesser postseason competition. Unless you’re Notre Dame and just quitting.

Whether you are playing for big bucks, or a fantasy Rate Bowl, you need to hunker down and pick your lineup. And a lot of notable NFLers that looked great in summer have faded dramatically in the fall. We’ll break down your Week 15 issues by position:

Running back — Worried about relying on subpar efforts from Breece Hall, Ashton Jeanty or Alvin Kamara? You might be better off grabbing Chicago’s Kyle Monangai (vs. Browns), Houston’s Woody Marks (vs. Cardinals) or Pittsburgh’s Kenneth Gainwell (vs. Dolphins).

Wide receiver — Some up-and-down playmakers are hard to trust this week. We’re alluding to the Eagles’ Devonta Smith, the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle and the Jags’ Brian Thomas Jr. Two really hot and widely available pass catchers are the Jags’ Jakobi Meyers and Cards’ Mark Wilson.

Tight end — Who has been more disappointing this season? The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce or the Ravens’ Mark Andrews? Neither looks as good this week as Cleveland rookie Harold Fannin Jr., who faces Chicago.

Quarterback — Obviously Indy’s Daniel Jones is now completely broken, and Washington’s Jayden Daniels is hardly fixed. Two QBs with great matchups this week are the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence versus the Jets and the Giants’ Jaxson Dart against what’s left of Washington’s defense.

Kicker — There are plenty of reasons not to like the Chiefs’ Harrison Butker. Lack of scoring opportunities is now one of them. The Vikings’ Will Reichard is having a better season and will likely outscore the K.C. kicker in a possible shootout with Dallas.

Sitting stars

Seattle’s defense will be all over Indy running back Jonathan Taylor. But you’ll have to start him anyway and cross your fingers. … You can’t start any Commanders against the Giants, even Daniels or Terry McLaurin. … Carolina rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan will cool down against the Saints. … Two top tight ends will underperform in this key week: Vegas’ Brock Bowers versus Eagles and Cardinals’ Trey McBride against the Texans. … And the Chiefs-Chargers showdown has two usually excellent QBs that you probably can’t trust: Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert.

Matchup game

With two mediocre run defenses taking the field, both the Ravens’ Derrick Henry and Cincinnati’s Chase Brown will post big numbers this week. … Miami’s De’Von Achane, assuming he’s healthy, will continue his all-pro play against the Steelers. … Vikings’ Jordan Mason should find the end zone again versus Dallas. … In that same game, look for the old Justin Jefferson to return, finally. … Same for Detroit WR Amon-Ra St Brown against the Rams. … Three other receivers we expect to shine in Week 15: Dallas’ George Pickens versus Minnesota, Cincy’s Tee Higgins facing the Ravens and our old pal Stefan Diggs versus his old Buffalo pals.

Injury watch

Other than the Jones saga in Indianapolis that brought Philip Rivers out of retirement, the focus is on Pittsburgh wideout D.K. Metcalf, who is having what are politely being called “stomach issues.” … Notables considered questionable include three running backs (Giants’ Tyrone Tracy, Cards’ Emari Demercado and Texans’ Nick Chubb) and seven pass catchers (Cowboys‘ CeeDee Lamb, Cardinals’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Bears’ Rome Odunze, Bucs’ Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and Falcons’ Drake London and Michael Pitts).

Deepest sleeper

Two words we were never expecting to promote here: Shedeur Sanders. Cleveland’s rookie fourth-stringer from the start of summer camp has been much less than “LEGENDARY.” But for fantasy mavens with playoff quarterback issues, a fellow coming off a 364-yard, three touchdown game might be palatable. And he’ll face no great defenses the next three weeks (Bears, Bills, Steelers).

The Thursday pick

Falcons at Buccaneers (-4½)
Pick: Buccaneers by 7

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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