Hey all. Just a brief Penguins hodgepodge from yours truly to begin your Thursday.
Yesterday, PP colleague Caleb DiNatale called my attention to a comment made by defenseman Ryan Graves in an article by Seth Rorabaugh on the Tribune Review.
In discussing his play last season, the 29-year-old blueliner remarked, “The media loves a negative story line. If you read the story lines, you’d think I had played bad every night. That’s not the case.”
Most observers agreed that Graves, our marquee free-agent signing from a year ago, endured a disappointing first season in the ‘Burgh. Coming off a strong 2022-23 campaign for the Devils (eight goals, 26 points, plus-34), he was expected to fill a top-four slot next to Kris Letang or fellow newcomer high-profile Erik Karlsson. He struggled to find a fit with both.
Indeed, his best work seemed to occur after he was demoted to the third pairing, especially when skating next to sturdy rookie Jack St. Ivany.
For the record, he experienced similar struggles his first year in New Jersey before blossoming alongside Dougie Hamilton in ’22-23.
Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and candidate for Chancellor of Germany, has called for fundamental changes in Germany’s immigration and asylum policies. He emphasized that deporting criminals from Syria and Afghanistan should be prioritized, even amid instability in these countries.
In an interview with the German news agency, Merz stated, “We know that Syria and Afghanistan remain highly unstable. However, we in the party have long believed that deportations to these countries are fundamentally possible and necessary. We will do this.” His remarks highlight his strong stance on tackling immigration issues.
Merz also stressed the need for reforms in Germany’s asylum and immigration policies. He promised significant changes in these areas if he were to win the upcoming election. His focus would be on creating a more controlled and sustainable immigration system.
According to Germany’s Interior Ministry, approximately 975,000 Syrians currently live in Germany. Most arrived after the Syrian civil war began in 2015, with over 300,000 receiving “subsidiary protection” due to the ongoing conflict.
Merz is a proponent of labor migration and opposes the current asylum system. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between asylum seekers and labor migrants. He argued that Germany has already provided significant support to refugees, but the number of asylum seekers has become unsustainable, and the capacity of cities and communities is reaching its limit.
To address labor migration, Merz’s party has proposed creating a digital agency called “Work and Residency” to streamline and regulate the process of labor migration separately from asylum applications.
The ongoing refugee crisis in Germany has sparked intense debate about the future of asylum policies. Merz’s calls for reform reflect a growing concern over the social and economic impact of large numbers of refugees on Germany’s infrastructure and public services.
As European countries, particularly Germany, continue to struggle with managing refugee influxes, a more streamlined and controlled approach to immigration may be necessary. However, this must be balanced with a humanitarian approach that protects the rights and dignity of refugees fleeing war and persecution. The challenge lies in finding a solution that is both sustainable and compassionate.
Авиакомпания Turkmenistan организует два рейса для вывоза пассажиров из Москвы
Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области информирует:
Свыше 110 уроков пенсионной грамотности провели сотрудники Отделения СФР по Москве и Московской области
Ефимов: почти 30,6 тыс москвичей получили ключи от новых квартир в ЮВАО
Врач Михаил Кутушов рассказал, как избежать проблем с перееданием в Новый год