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‘Not as generous’: Polish leader hits Germany over Ukraine support 

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

Germany has fallen short in supporting Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told POLITICO on Friday, lashing out at Berlin as Europe searches for ways to continue arming Kyiv. In an interview following the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, the conservative Polish leader said the EU’s biggest economy must step up and lead — part of a broader call he made for the EU and NATO to revise their spending rules and unleash massive military investments. Among his proposals: NATO allies should dramatically jump their spending target to 3 percent of economic output, the EU should explore raising new debt for defense purposes and countries should accelerate efforts to repurpose frozen Russian assets for the war effort.But Morawiecki’s most pointed comments targeted Germany, which has had a fraught relationship with Poland of late.Germany should be “sending more weapons, sending more ammunition, and giving more money to Ukraine, because they are the richest and the bigg...

Report: No turbulence during fatal business jet flight

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Investigators said Friday that a passenger on a business jet was fatally injured in early March when the aircraft violently bucked up and down after pilots disconnected a system used to stabilize the plane.The National Transportation Safety Board said the pilots were responding to several warnings in the cockpit of the Bombardier jet that diverted to a Connecticut airport on March 3. They followed a checklist and turned off a switch that “trims” or adjusts the stabilizer, a control panel on the plane’s tail.The plane turned nose-up at several times the force of gravity, then pointed lower before again turning upward before pilots could regain control, the report said.Pilots told investigators they did not encounter turbulence, as the NTSB had said in a preliminary assessment the day after the crash.The trim system of the Bombardier Challenger 300 twin-engine jet was the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration last year mandate that pilots conduc...

Airline passenger honored for tackling man in flight attack

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

EXETER, N.H. (AP) — An airline passenger who helped tackle a man trying stab a flight attendant with a broken metal spoon was honored Friday by his hometown police department in New Hampshire.Jeff Neil, a former bouncer who now works for a software company, received the “Citizen Award” for his actions earlier this month, which were caught on video by another passenger.At a ceremony in Exeter, Neil said he doesn’t consider himself a hero but acknowledged the significance of what happened.“I truly was in the right place at the right time,” he said.Neil’s wife Libby was sitting with him on the plane. She said she wasn’t surprised he jumped into action.“We both knew that he would be getting up,” she said.Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, Massachusetts, was arrested and accused of attacking a flight attendant and attempting to open the door of United Airlines Flight 2609. The plane was about 45 minutes from Boston when the crew noticed the door handle had been m...

Bobby Wood finding his place with the Revolution

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

Bobby Wood is depicted as an attacking forward, a job description he feels does not adequately portray his compete level for the New England Revolution.Wood anticipates making his fourth start of the season when the Revolution (3-1-0) engage D.C. United (1-2-1) in an Eastern Conference match between two MLS original franchises on Saturday night (7:30) at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.“For me personally, I think I add a lot of ball running,” said Wood. “You know, I like to press and do a lot of things off the ball and I think that fits in very well with all the creative players we have.“I just try to work off their creative movements and do my thing and help the team as much as possible.”The New England roster has been adequately filled by sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena with players capable of finding the back of the net.Wood, 30, was selected with the No. 1 pick in Stage 2 of the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft after spending the last two seasons with Real Salt Lake. He played...

Engaging robots could be roaming Disney parks in near future

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

Katie Rice | Orlando SentinelA robotic rabbit wearing a helmet and roller skates tumbled out of a crate and got to its feet alone, extending its arms to balance itself on a stage at Disney’s panel at the South by Southwest conference this month.The robot, apparently modeled after the character Judy Hopps from Disney’s 2016 animated film “Zootopia,” then skated across the stage into a somersault and returned to its feet in a triumphant pose, arms raised, as the audience cheered. A nearby Imagineer, Morgan Pope, steadied the robot as it leaned forward and lifted it onto his shoulders to laughter.Though the robot did not speak, its childlike actions charmed the audience, which was exactly Disney’s goal. The panel “Creating Happiness: The Art & Science of Disney Parks Storytelling” showcased the company’s work to inspire human delight using innovative technologies and fan-favorite characters within Disney’s theme parks.“This is our latest effort in making robots that we think can ha...

Home Showcase: Architecture as art in Ashmont Hill

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

It’s perhaps fitting that 3 Ocean Street in Dorchester’s Ashmont Hill neighborhood is home to one of the largest ginkgo biloba trees in Boston.The tree is a symbol for resilience in Asia and is known as a hardy survivor, much like its current real estate steward. It might not be the most ornate shingle-style Victorian in Dorchester, but the lovely single-family has kept up appearances over the years with so much of the intricate interior millwork preserved.According to the Friends of the Public Garden, in autumn, ginkgo tree leaves turn a blazing shade of golden yellow before falling to the ground in one fell swoop. After the first frost, neighbors of 3 Ocean Street have been known to gather to take in this natural phenomenon, so buyers should know they’re not just taking over a corner lot, but a beloved Dorchester friend.Historic details adorn the home throughout, but they’re especially striking in the entrance hall and staircase off the foyer that opens to the living room on one s...

BU coach Jay Pandolfo has the Terriers one win from the Frozen Four

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Jay Pandolfo has enjoyed a near unimaginable run in his first season as the head coach of the Boston University Terriers.BU regrouped from getting knocked sideways in the Beanpot to capture the Hockey East regular season and tournament championships. For those achievements, Pandolfo was named the Hockey East Coach of the Year.The Terriers were awarded the No. 2 seed in the Manchester Regional and Pandolfo experienced his first NCAA tournament victory as a coach in the Terriers’ 5-1 thrashing of Western Michigan on Thursday afternoon at SNHU Arena.“I am enjoying it and I feel, number one, very fortunate,” said Pandolfo. “I am grateful to have this opportunity to coach at Boston University and that is where I went and spent four of the best years of my life.“It’s been great and I have a great staff. Obviously. I inherited these players but they have all bought in. I am really happy to be coaching these guys.”BU (28-10-0) will look to secure its first trip to the Fro...

California man pleads guilty to groping 2 women on JetBlue flight to Boston from Los Angeles

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

A California man described as “not all there” by one of his victims has pleaded guilty to groping two female passengers on a redeye flight from Los Angeles to Boston last year.Jairaj Singh Dhillon, 43, of Modesto, Calif., pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston earlier this week to two counts of assault. District Court Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson scheduled sentencing — which could be prison for up to six months in prison — for June 14.“This man just groped me,” the first victim said aboard the JetBlue aircraft, Flight 988, not too long after departing L.A. on its flight to Boston on May 31, 2022, according to an affidavit filed in the case.Dhillon was seated in an aisle seat in row 22 next to this unidentified woman, who was sitting in the middle and tending to her infant child sitting in a car seat at the window seat. The victim would later tell police waiting at Boston Logan that Dhillon started by caressing her left upper thigh with the back and palm of his hand, which ca...

A last-minute guide to filing your 2022 return: EV credits, shrinking refunds and the end of pandemic tax relief

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

Robert Channick | (TNS) Chicago TribuneWith less than one month to go before the April 18 deadline, the majority of the nation’s 168 million tax filers are once again scrambling to download software, organize receipts and call their accountants for last-minute help.Procrastinators may find what early filers already know: Tax year 2022 is not producing as many happy returns as in previous years due to a number of changes, including the expiration of some pandemic-era tax breaks.“People will be getting smaller refunds on average because of that,” said Dan Rahill, a longtime Chicago tax partner and past chairman of the Illinois CPA Society, who now serves as a wealth strategist at Wintrust Wealth Management.From a reduced child tax credit to the end of a charitable tax break that allowed for an above-the-line deduction last year, the changes are most likely to erode refunds that have become the norm during the pandemic.For the 63 million people who had already filed their tax returns a...

SDSU vs. Alabama: Watch the Sweet 16 game at these watch parties

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:12:50 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State University Men’s Basketball team will faceoff with Alabama in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.Tipoff for the Sweet 16 game is set for 3:30 p.m. PT. The competition will be held at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. At home in San Diego, fans are riveting and ready to cheer on their team from afar. How to watch San Diego State take on Alabama in Sweet 16 There are a variety of watch parties being held throughout the city, offering those rooting on the Aztecs' a place to rev up their team spirit as they watch college basketball history prevail. Here's a breakdown of SDSU vs. Alabama watch parties near you. -- Viejas Arena: The home arena of the Aztecs, which can seat up to 12,414 fans, will be putting the game up on their big screens. SDSU pride is sure to be felt from home court. Plus, admission to the watch party is free. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. -- Chula Vista Golf Course: Located at 4475 Bonita Road, this South Bay watch party at the golf...