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Ukraine’s long war and the importance of patience

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe.Wars don’t run according to political timetables. And in the lead-up to Ukraine’s counteroffensive, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top aides strove to explain this reality to both nervous allies, impatient for military progress, and their own people, eager for the big counterattack to kick off and hear good news from the front lines.In the run-up to the long-awaited counteroffensive, which started to unfold last week — later than most anticipated — Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov was worried that expectations were “definitely overheated.” “Everyone wants another win,” he said, cautioning allies to temper their hopes, so as to avoid subsequent disappointment.The worry here is that falling short of expectations might lead to a reduction in international military assistance and renewed, often oblique, pressure to engage with Moscow in negotiations. “They want the next victory. It’s normal, these are emotions,” Rez...

At least 79 people drown after migrant boat sinks off Greek coast

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

(CNN) — At least 79 people died after a migrant boat carrying hundreds of people sank off the Greek coast in the early hours of Wednesday, that country’s Coast Guard said, as fears mount that there could be more fatalities.A total of 104 migrants who were traveling on the boat have since been rescued from the water and transferred to the city of Kalamata.“All the men who have been rescued are between 16-41 years old according to what they said,” Kalamata Mayor Thanasis Vasilopoulos said Wednesday. “They also said there were women and children on board,” he added.The coast guard said the search and rescue operation will stop once it’s dark in the area and will continue with the first light of day tomorrow.It is unclear how many people were on board the ship when it went under. Survivors say there could have been as many as 750 passengers.“We fear that the number of dead will rise significantly,” a spokesperson for Peloponnese prefect Panagiotis Nikas said.The International Organ...

Investigation underway after fire at church in Somerville

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

An investigation got underway in Somerville this weekend after a fire at a church that has sparked concern for many. First Church Somerville will be back open this Sunday for services in a downstairs area. Upstairs, church leaders said the fire was still being investigated as of Wednesday. Faith leaders elsewhere in the state have reacted, in the meantime.“Certainly, safety and security of every sanctuary is of concern,” said Rev. Laura Everett of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.Somerville fire officials said they responded to First Church Somerville on Sunday, when church officials in a statement said a fire was set in the church sanctuary immediately after a pride worship service. The congregation was downstairs at the time and a church member was the one to eventually put out the flames. Fire officials said there was minor damage to the sanctuary. While no one was physically hurt, Everett said any violation of a place of worship is worrisome. “...

4 things we learned from the Chicago Cubs, including Jed Hoyer reiterating his stance not to discuss extension talks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

A balanced schedule has created some quirks for the Chicago Cubs.Their three-game series this week against the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates marks the teams’ first meeting of 2023. Until this point, the Cubs had played only four series versus National League Central teams. With 12 of their remaining 30 series representing division opponents, the Cubs will have chances to chip away at their current fourth-place standing.The competitiveness, or lack of, within the division — the Pirates are the only team above .500 — could complicate the Cubs’ decisions leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline.“It’s probably rare to be at a point where you’d say that about a division in the middle of June where anyone can still win it but no one has pulled away or even pulled away from .500,” President Jed Hoyer said Wednesday. “And I think that’s one of the challenges of evaluating your team is that you’re evaluating where you are in t...

Div. 3 boys lacrosse: Not even lengthy rain delay can slow powerful Norwell

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

QUINCY — Throughout the spring, Norwell’s boys lacrosse program has had a bold target on its proverbial back. To most, the Clippers were the consensus team to beat in the Div. 3 field. Understandable, given that they were fresh off a state crown in 2022.Despite plenty of obstacles, they now find themselves in a familiar position – one win from the pinnacle.Senior captain Austin Shea finished with a game-high six goals Wednesday night, as top-seeded Norwell advanced to the championship for a third straight campaign with a convincing 16-4 drubbing of No. 5 Medfield at Veterans Stadium.“We knew this was going to be a good game,” said Norwell coach Josh Stolp. “This is a great team, we’ve seen them three years now in a row. Solid team, well-coached, very disciplined. So we knew we had to play our ‘A’ game. Luckily our guys came out and did a great job.”This semifinal tilt was a rematch of last year’s Div. 3 state final, and the Clippers came in ready to defend their ha...

'He'll live through other people,' says family of sailor on life support after carjacking

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

SAN DIEGO - It was an emotional scene inside of a South Bay courtroom as the family of a Navy sailor on life support after a carjacking in Coronado spoke out. The 18-year-old accused in Sunday's carjacking that left the victim clinging to the hood faced a judge Wednesday for the first time. The wife and brother of the sailor, who has been identified as Eddie Foster, held back tears.“His kids are devastated. They just want their dad to come home," Ashley Foster, Eddie's wife said. Foster is a father of four and was moonlighting as an Amazon driver that night to pay the bills. His brother told FOX 5 that fighting for his car was a fight for a family necessity. Bartender fighting for life after hit-and-run while walking to work Foster's family says he will be taken off of life support either Wednesday night or sometime Thursday, leaving a piece of himself for someone else. “It was always his dream for years ... that he would be able to donate his organs if anything were to ever happ...

Australia creates law to stop Russia from building new embassy near Parliament for security reasons

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Parliament passed legislation on Thursday to prevent Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House on security grounds as tensions grow between Moscow and a major supporter of the Ukraine war effort.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation would extinguish Russia’s lease on the site based on the advice of security agencies.“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Albanese told reporters. “We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.” Albanese said Australia’s government condemns Russia’s “illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.” Australia is one of the most generous providers of military hardware, training and aid to Ukraine of any country outside NATO and has escalated sanctions against Russia since the war began in February 2022.Albanese said opposition...

Harvard morgue manager and four others charged in theft and sale of human body parts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — A former manager at the Harvard Medical School morgue, his wife and three other people have been indicted in the theft and sale of human body parts, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Wednesday.Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, stole dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the school in the scheme that stretched from 2018 to early 2023, according to court documents. The body parts were taken without the school’s knowledge or permission, authorities said, adding that the school has cooperated with the investigation.Lodge sometimes took the body parts — which included heads, brains, skin and bones — back to his home where he lived with his wife, Denise, 63, and some remains were sent to buyers through the mail, authorities said. Lodge also allegedly allowed buyers to come to the morgue to pick what remains they wanted to buy.Bodies donated to Harvard Medical School are used for education, teaching or research purposes. Onc...

A look at migration trends behind the latest shipwreck off Greece

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

ROME (AP) — Wednesday’s deadly shipwreck off southern Greece, involving a large boat carrying migrants that capsized after apparently rebuffing offers of help, is just the latest case of smugglers packing vessels full of desperate people willing to risk their lives to reach continental Europe. The trip from Libya or Tunisia through the Central Mediterranean and north to Europe is the deadliest migratory route in the world, according to the U.N.’s International Organization of Migration.Here’s a look at situation in the Mediterranean and some of the particulars of the latest tragedy:WHAT HAPPENED?Greek coast guard, navy and merchant vessels and aircraft launched a vast search and rescue operation after the overcrowded fishing boat capsized and sank early Wednesday some 75 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula. So far, 79 bodies have been recovered and 104 people have been rescued. It was unclear how many were missing, but some initial reports sug...

Hong Kong protest song disappears from music streaming sites, social media platforms

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:11:58 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A popular Hong Kong protest song was no longer available Wednesday on several major music streaming sites and social media platforms, after the government sought an injunction to ban the tune.“Glory to Hong Kong” rose to popularity during the 2019 pro-democracy protests, and became an unofficial protest anthem. In 2020, the government outlawed the protest slogan “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” over secessionist and subversive connotations, and the song was widely considered to be banned in the city as its lyrics contained parts of the slogan.Hong Kong, once a bastion of free speech and expression, has come under tighter scrutiny by Beijing after the unrest in 2019. Since then, its political system has undergone a major overhaul to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing can hold office. More than 250 people have been arrested under a sweeping national security law passed in 2020 that critics say is aimed at suppressing dissent.The song rose to the...