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Warsaw makes a risky political bet in attacking Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

WARSAW — Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is in the fight of its political life ahead of next month’s general election — and in its scramble for votes it’s taking aim at the country’s alliance with Ukraine. The latest blow came from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who on Wednesday said that Poland has halted shipments of its own armaments to Ukraine.“We are no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine, because we are now arming Poland with more modern weapons,” Morawiecki told Poland’s Polsat television.It’s true that Poland has sent most of its Soviet-era tanks, fighters and other weapons to Ukraine and doesn’t have much left in its stocks. Warsaw will also continue allowing arms shipments from other allies to pass through its territory.“Poland still functions as a hub for international aid,” said government spokesperson Piotr Müller, adding that the country is fulfilling its existing military supply contracts wi...

Rupert Murdoch steps down as Fox and News Corp. chairman

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

New York (CNN) — Rupert Murdoch announced Thursday that he will step down as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp.“For my entire professional life, I have been engaged daily with news and ideas, and that will not change,” Murdoch wrote in a memo to employees. “But the time is right for me to take on different roles, knowing that we have truly talented teams.”His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will become sole chairman of both companies. Rupert Murdoch called his son “a passionate, principled leader.”Fox News announced Rupert Murdoch’s retirement on its air Thursday morning, with anchor Bill Hemmer praising the network’s founder.“Rupert Murdoch created all of this and so much more across America and the globe,” Hemmer said. “His life’s work has left an indelible imprint on the global media landscape. His contributions are both innumerable and extraordinary and we thank him for letting us be a part of it all.”“Without him, we would not be here,” anchor Dana Perino added.A decades-lon...

Climate group Extinction Rebellion Boston blocks traffic in Financial District; members arrested

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

Climate group Extinction Rebellion Boston is continuing to pressure the Healey administration to ban new fossil fuel infrastructure projects.Their latest attempt to send a message to Gov. Maura Healey came this morning, when more than 35 activists marched around the Rose Kennedy Greenway, shutting down traffic in the Financial District.“The activists communicated that they would refuse to end their traffic disruption unless the Governor made a public statement committing her administration to opposing all new fossil fuel infrastructure projects, including the expansion of airports and gas connections in new buildings,” the group wrote in a release.Wearing blue shirts with yellow illustrations of the Earth accompanied by slogans “I rebel for…” followed by personal messages, the group split into three subgroups and marched around several intersections in the Financial District, creating a traffic gridlock.Some people expressed confusion around the group’s stunt on social media.“While ...

Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger has a limited pregame BP routine — and it has set him up for success. Here’s how.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

Cody Bellinger’s favorite time to hit happens long before the ballpark opens to fans.He finds solace during the 45-minute early batting practice sessions where “there’s no camera, no anybody and it’s not as controlled of an environment,” Bellinger explained to the Tribune.“If I’m going to hit on the field, I prefer the early hitting slot because it’s peaceful — it’s just you on a baseball field and it’s super, super enjoyable.”Outside of his early on-field work, Bellinger typically does not take on-field BP with his teammates at home or on the road. Bellinger instead prefers to go through his own routine using the indoor cage.It’s a practice that has become more common in the majors, among them most notably is Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani, who’s been known for how rarely he hits on the field pregame.Early in the season Bellinger would take BP with his teammates because he felt like he had to in a n...

Column: The ‘Royalization’ of the Chicago White Sox is full steam ahead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

Whenever Chris Getz hears Lorde sing “Royals,” he must feel compelled to sing along at the top of his lungs.On his first day as Chicago White Sox general manager, Getz revealed manager Pedro Grifol, his former coach with the Kansas City Royals, would be retained. Among his first front office hires, Getz is reported to be bringing in San Francisco director of pitching Brian Bannister, a former Royals teammate, and Gene Watson, the former Royals assistant general manager/scouting. Longtime Royals GM Dayton Moore has been linked to the Sox as well, according to USA Today.So the standard has been set for the Sox, and the question must now be asked:Could they be Royals, or at least a version of the organization that managed to win a championship without a team full of superstars back in the 2010s?The Royalization of the Sox is underway.Anyone with ties to the Royals might be Zillowing the southwest suburbs of Chicago right now, looking for available homes for 2024 and beyond....

Chicago Cubs can’t pull off a comeback in 13-7 loss as Justin Steele makes his shortest non-injury start of the year

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

Left-hander Justin Steele has been a stabilizing force in a Chicago Cubs rotation that looks different from their Opening Day version.Through all the injuries, inconsistencies and role changes, Steele’s consistency helped the Cubs recover from being 10 games under .500 in early June to fighting for a wild-card spot. But for a second consecutive start, Steele allowed six runs and struggled to keep the Cubs in the game. His three-plus innings in Wednesday’s 13-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates represented his second-shortest outing of the season, exceeded only by his injury-related departure May 31.Steele struck out six batters through three innings when the Pirates started finding holes. Pittsburgh tallied six consecutive singles to begin the fourth inning, quickly ending his night and likely his case to win the National League Cy Young Award.“Six straight hits, the alarm goes off a little bit, like, what’s going on,” manager David Ross said.Steele was ch...

Patriots: 6 reasons to still be optimistic about 2023 season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

The Patriots have been underdogs in their first two games to start the season, so in many ways, the 2023 campaign has gotten off to a logical and predictable start entering Week 3 at 0-2.But panic seems to be creeping in around the region because the Patriots vowed to fix the mistakes that led to a Week 1 loss, and then those same exact issues plagued them Week 2 against the Dolphins.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Callahan: Bill Belichick has hamstrung Bill O’Brien, but O’Brien has to deliver anyway at the Jets New England Patriots | Patriots captain: Defense off to ‘hell of a start’ preparing for Jets New England Patriots | Patriots see increased participation from three players in practice New England Patriots | Patriots captain delivers important message to Demario Douglas after fumble New England Patriots | Mac Jones gets good news at Patriots practice ahead of Jets game The...

Rupert Murdoch, creator of Fox News, stepping down as head of News Corp. and Fox Corp.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Rupert Murdoch, the 92-year-old media magnate who created Fox News, is stepping down as leader of both Fox’s parent company and his News Corp. media holdings.Fox said Thursday that Murdoch would become chairman emeritus of both companies. His son, Lachlan, will become News Corp. chairman and continue as chief executive officer of Fox Corp.Lachlan Murdoch said that “we are grateful that he will serve as chairman emeritus and know he will continue to provide valued counsel to both companies.”Besides Fox News, Murdoch started the Fox broadcast network, the first to successfully challenge the Big Three of ABC, CBS and NBC. He is owner of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.Murdoch is a force in the conservative world, where Fox News Channel has profoundly influenced television and the nation’s politics since its start in 1996.Murdoch vowed in a letter to employees that he would remain engaged at Fox. “In my new role, I can guarantee you that I will ...

Fighting ‘through hell.’ To reclaim Bakhmut, a Ukrainian brigade must first survive the forest

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

ANDRIIVKA, Ukraine (AP) — The Russian bullet struck the sergeant just above the left ear. The leader of the Ukrainian platoon was down. Headquarters radioed a battlefield promotion to the private who had called him “brother” — a man known as Courier.Courier knew the platoon’s orders were to move forward through the forest, on the road to Bakhmut. He hesitated near his mortally wounded commander. Then he decided: There would be no turning back. “Forward!” he howled.The men stumbled through the charred spindles of trees toward the village of Andriivka — the objective of the 3rd Assault Brigade since the start of Ukraine’s counteroffensive this summer, about 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of the city of Bakhmut.Days later, as he prepared for Gagarin’s funeral, Courier predicted his own future, his pale eyes unfocused.“This forest is taking our friends away, and this is the worst,” he said. “And when I think about how far we still need to move forward … most likely some...

Cisco buying cybersecurity firm Splunk for $28 billion, bolstering defenses as use of AI widens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:53:07 GMT

Cisco is buying the cybersecurity firm Splunk in a $28 billion deal as it bolsters its defenses against potential security threats that may be heightened by the widening use of artificial intelligence. The Silicon Valley networking tech giant will pay $157 per Splunk Inc. share. “Our combined capabilities will drive the next generation of AI-enabled security and observability,” Cisco Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins said in a prepared statement. “From threat detection and response to threat prediction and prevention, we will help make organizations of all sizes more secure and resilient.” Dan Ives of Wedbush sees the transaction as a smart move for Cisco.“Cisco is focused on the next generation of AI-enabled security and observability and Splunk’s well regarded unique platform makes this the right move at the right time for Cisco in our view and an aggressive strategic play in cybersecurity,” he wrote in a note to clients. “For Cisco this is a shot across the bow at Palo Alto, Checkpoint...