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Inside Ukraine’s first day as an EU member

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

If Kyiv is to join the club, the bloc will first have to change.By BARBARA MOENS in Brussels, sometime in the futureIllustrations by Ricardo Tomás for POLITICOThis is the moment Ukrainians have been fighting — and dying — for. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is walking up a red carpet in Brussels’ Europa building toward his first meeting of the European Council, the forum where the European Union’s leaders hammer out the bloc’s most perplexing problems.He has been here before, of course, wearing his olive green sweatshirt in solidarity with the Ukrainian soldiers fighting in the trenches — his eyes exhausted from leading his country through an excruciating war. But today, Zelenskyy is wearing a precisely tailored black suit, a spotless white shirt and a black tie. He’s clean-shaved, clearly well-slept and has a twinkle in his eyes. The former Ukrainian actor has time to look in the mirror again.Zelenskyy is walking the red carpet of the lantern-shaped atrium not as a war-wor...

Economic dependence curbs Poland’s rise

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

Jan Bogusławski is a political economist and researcher at Sciences Po Paris and a fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.As the war in Ukraine continues, in a noted shift, all eyes are on Eastern Europe, amid claims that “Europe’s center of gravity is moving east ” and praise for Poland’s recent economic prowess.This spotlight moment fuels Warsaw’s well-vocalized ambition of finally shedding its “periphery” label and joining the European Union’s heavyweight division. But Poland’s reliance on foreign capital — a legacy of its post-Communist economic transformation — casts a long shadow.As Europe’s core and south have seen GDP levels stagnate or increase sluggishly, post-2004 EU member countries have been playing catch-up. And today, Poland already has a higher GDP per capita than Greece and Portugal, and is on track to surpass Spain.Poland and its booming economy also play an undeniable role in the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine. Its robust economic ...

Russia’s wary neighbor weighs militarizing Baltic islands

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

MARIEHAMN, Finland — Outside the Russian consulate on the Åland Islands, in the middle of the Baltic Sea, emotions were running high. Twenty villagers had gathered with placards, flags and an assortment of small dogs to sing protest songs against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and also, they said, to stiffen their own resolve in the face of a rapidly chilling local security situation. “We are here to show our empathy for the Ukrainians, our disgust at the war — and maybe also because we are a little bit scared,” said Mosse Wallen, a retired journalist who led the singing.Locals know that their islands sit along strategically important Baltic sea lanes, which have attracted the attention of nearby military powers throughout history. They worry that Russia’s government, 16 months into an attack on neighboring Ukraine, could train its sights on Åland, a territory where international treaties currently say no militarization may take place.For Finland’s new government, likely t...

Mind the skills gap: preparing Europe for a safe digital future

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

When it comes to equipping the European Union for a digital future, there’s a two-part question that policymakers rightly often ask themselves: do our countries and citizens have the skills to seize the opportunities presented by digitalization — and can we protect ourselves from malicious cyber threats?While Europe faces a multifaceted challenge, it’s clear that emerging technologies will present exciting growth opportunities in parallel with increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks. No organization can afford to be complacent.Preparing for an ever-more digital future while ensuring citizens and the workforce have the right skills to embrace this new era of connectivity isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, it is essential to both competitiveness and resilience.Ensuring citizens and the workforce have the right skills to embrace this new era of connectivity isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’, it is essential to both competitiveness and resilience.Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president of the...

Investigation underway after police say man shot at couple with pellet gun in Groveland

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

A police investigation got underway in Groveland over the weekend after two people walking near Main Street and Elm Park were shot at with pellets fired from a pellet gun in a passing car, police said. Groveland police said the couple was walking Saturday night when a red Honda Civic with four passengers drove by. A man wearing a mask and leaning out the window of the moving vehicle shot the husband and wife with pellets, police said.“It’s a very, very unusual event to take place in Groveland,” said Groveland Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen.Gillen said the pellets hit the man’s jacket and hit the woman’s umbrella. While no one was injured, police were still looking for the people in the car as of Wednesday. “That’s kind of scary,” said Dawn Martinez, who works in the area near where this incident took place. “Usually, it’s really quiet.”Martinez was working at the time of the incident. She said she saw “a lot of police presence going back and forth.”Martinez, who wal...

Red Sox lose to Twins on 10th inning walk-off, win streak snapped at six

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

It seemed like the Red Sox had an answer every time the Twins pulled ahead, but when they couldn’t grab the lead in extra innings the writing was on the wall.Boston’s six-game win streak came to an end Wednesday after the Red Sox lost 5-4 in 10 innings on a walk-off single by Minnesota’s Kyle Farmer. The Red Sox rallied several times to force extras, but the offense couldn’t seem to come up with the big hit to put the Twins away, finishing 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position while stranding nine runners on base.“We didn’t do much, we had a lot of opportunities and we didn’t cash in,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.After initially taking a 1-0 lead in the first on a Rafael Devers RBI double, the Red Sox came from behind three separate times to tie the game upon falling behind by one run.First, after Minnesota scored twice in the second to take a 2-1 lead, Justin Turner tied it up in the top of the third with a monstrous 447-foot u...

Proposed deal to send ex-Knick Kristaps Porzingis to Celtics falls apart: report

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

A proposed to deal to send ex-Knick Kristaps Porzingis to the Boston Celtics has fallen apart, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.The Washington Wizards, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers were initially working on a three-team deal that would’ve sent the former Knick to Boston and Malcom Brogdon to Los Angeles, according to reports.The Wizards would’ve receive Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey and the 30th pick in Thursday’s draft from the Clippers, along with Boston’s Danilo Gallinari.Now with the draft less than 24 hours away, the deal is no more.Porzingis, the former Knicks’ fourth overall pick in 2015 draft, averaged a career-high in points (23.2) for the Wizards last season. He also recorded 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 65 games. The 7-3 Latvian landed in Washington after the Mavericks traded him in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans at the 2022 trade deadline.The Wizards are looking to retool their roster unde...

Waltham Hall of Fame class announced

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

The Class of 2023 Waltham High School Athletic Hall of Fame was recently announced. The dinner will take place on Friday, October 27.  Those interested in purchasing tickets can do so by contacting John Maguire at  [email protected] are the latest inducteesLiz Centofanti         Class of 2003              Field HockeyDan Arone              Class of 1999              WrestlingMike Arone             Class of 2003               WrestlingAllie Hickey             Class of 2010               HockeySteve Laforest         Class of 1982              Soccer, Basketball, BaseballHal Kopp                   1964-1970                  Football CoachBoys Hockey Team                                       Class of 1966 State Semi Finalist

Pregnant woman assaulted, suspect burned in downtown San Diego

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Authorities are investigating after police said a man assaulted a pregnant woman last week in the Gaslamp Quarter neighborhood. She then retaliated by burning the suspect with fire, per law enforcement. The assault occurred on June 12 around 10:41 p.m. in the 900 block of 6th Avenue, Lt. Adam Sharki with the San Diego Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.When officers arrived at the location, the suspect had left the scene. Police found the pregnant woman bleeding and suffering from multiple injuries, Sharki said. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. About an hour later, police responded to a report of an injured person in the 1200 block of Market Street. The man said someone had set him on fire an hour before in which he described the confrontation as a "hate crime," according to authorities. Search continues for suspect in SWAT standoff Upon arrival, paramedics took the man to a hospital with burn injuries.Detectives determined through surveilla...

Jack in the Box testing Boba Tea at San Diego locations

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:09:47 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. DetailsTHE BOBA TEA CRAZE HITS JACK IN THE BOXBoba tea is a cold-served beverage with a tea base and features edible tapioca pearls that give the drink a scrumptious texture. The beverage is typically flavored with milk or fruit. But since its popularity is steadily rising — you could say it's a craze — all types of boba drinks have been hitting the market, including boba coffee. For example, Jack-in-the-Box just announced that it is adding three Boba tea options to selected locations. Right now the restaurant is testing the drinks in three cities in California — San Diego, Long Beach and Torrance. The three flavors are Iced Coffee with Boba, Milk Tea with Boba and Vanilla Shake with Boba.THREE NEW JACK IN THE BOX BOBA DRINKSIced Coffee with BobaThe recipe for Jack in the Box's Iced Coffee with Boba calls for chilled High Mountain Arabica coffee that's flavored with sweetened cream and vanilla....