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Hey, Greece! You want your marbles back? Steal ’em

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

Welcome to Declassified, a weekly humor column.What’s all the fuss about the Elgin Marbles? You can’t even play actual marbles with them! The governments in Athens and London have spent the week sniping at each other over the Elgin Marbles — Greece of course would prefer that we call them Parthenon Sculptures, but that sounds a little too much like a mid-1970s prog rock band — after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with his counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a decision Athens dubbed “unprecedented” and “disrespectful.”Anyway, if Greece really does want the marbles back, it’s going about it all wrong. Don’t rely on diplomacy, that never works (as a reminder, the EU’s top diplomat is Josep “Take foot, put foot squarely in mouth, speak” Borrell), just steal them!I’m not sure that theft from the British Museum is even classed as a crime (POLITICO’s lawyers would like me to point out that theft of any kind...

Mayor of Paris hits back at ‘misogyny’ after scandal-ridden Tahiti trip

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

PARIS — Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said attacks on her governing style after a controversial trip to Tahiti were sexist and an attempt to tarnish her reputation ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. The mayor, who accused the government of lagging on Olympic preparations, has faced fierce criticism in recent weeks for taking a trip to French Polynesia just days after a terror attack in a school and amid tensions in Paris after the Hamas attack in Israel.Her trip’s official purpose was to visit the Tahiti venue that will host the 2024 Olympics’ surfing competition, as unveiled by newspaper Le Canard enchaîné on October 25. However, outlet Le Parisien later reported that Hidalgo went on to visit her daughter who lives on an island near Bora-Bora for a one-week private vacation. In total, the trip by the mayor, who was accompanied by no less than five members of her cabinet, cost about €60,000, according to figures provided by her staff, amid a sharp increase in the town’...

Putin’s buddy Orbán pushes EU to the brink over Ukraine

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán regularly pushes the EU to the cliff edge, but diplomats are panicking that his hostility to Ukraine is now about to finally kick the bloc over the precipice. A brewing political crisis is set to boil over at a summit in mid-December when EU leaders are due to make a historic decision on bringing Ukraine into the 27-nation club and seal a key budget deal to throw a €50 billion lifeline to Kyiv’s flailing war economy. The meeting is supposed to signal to the U.S. that, despite the political distraction over the war in the Middle East, the EU is fully committed to Ukraine. Those hopes look likely to be knocked off course by Orbán, a strongman who cultivates close ties with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and who is widely seen as having undermined democracy and rule of law at home. He is demanding the whole political and financial process should be put on ice until leaders agree to a wholesale review of EU support for Kyiv. That gives E...

The most powerful people in Europe (for better or worse)

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Acast Amazon Music This week, we take you inside our POLITICO 28 unveiling of Europe’s most powerful people and unpack Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments on the Israel-Hamas war and her plans to run for the top job again. Also, we reveal new tactics used by successfu...

‘Clash of civilizations’ looms over EU elections

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

Geert Wilders may be just the tip of the iceberg.Following the anti-Islam politician’s shock election win in the Netherlands, European elites are nervously scanning the political landscape for signs of what’s to come — including further surprise wins from far-right candidates.What they see is enough to send shivers down the spine of any EU-loving, centrist type: In nearly a dozen European countries, including France and Germany, hardline anti-immigration parties, some of them more extreme than Wilders, are currently topping the polls, or in a close second place.Europe’s struggle to bring irregular migration under control and the cost-of-living crisis is nothing new. What is new, however, is the Israel-Hamas war, which is inflaming civilizational tensions at the heart of many European countries with large Muslim populations, analysts and senior political operatives tell POLITICO.As pro-Palestinian protests bring tens of thousands of people onto the streets of cities from London to Be...

UK Labour Party admits it’s not ready for government — yet

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

After nearly 14 years in opposition, Britain’s Labour Party insists it’s ready to govern. Just not quite yet.The opposition party is preparing for formal talks with government officials about its immediate plans if — as polls predict — it wins the next election, currently expected in either spring or fall 2024.But Labour officials privately admit that, before they begin discussions with the civil service, their policy program still needs work.“We’re not nearly ready,” grimaced one Labour official, granted anonymity to speak candidly (like others in this article.) “We’d be fucked if there was an election tomorrow.”Unlike the U.S. presidential system, a changeover in No. 10 Downing Street involves no transition period. The new prime minister starts work still red-eyed from election night.To ease the new government’s arrival, pre-poll “access talks” — where neutral civil servants help prepare potential incoming parties for the chall...

Swayman rebounds with a shutout as the Bruins blank the Sharks 3-0 to stop their 3-game skid

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Paval Zacha had a goal and an assist as the Boston Bruins snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk also scored. Jeremy Swayman — pulled during Monday’s 5-2 loss to Columbus — stopped all 28 shots he faced for his second shutout this season.David Pastrnak added two assists for the Bruins, who beat the NHL-worst Sharks for the 13th straight time.MacKenzie Blackwood made 32 saves for San Jose, which won its previous two games.After both teams squandered power-play chances in a scoreless first period, the Bruins struck 1:38 into the second as Heinen drilled a shot short side for his third goal of the season. San Jose had an opportunity to clear the puck but Matt Poitras kept the play alive by sliding a backhand feed over to Heinen, who glided through the circle by his lonesome before ripping the puck past Blackwood.Later in the same period, Boston’s advantage grew to 2-0 when DeBrusk was the...

Family surprised with $5,000 in gifts at Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

A family at a Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury received an extra special surprise just in time for the holidays Thursday as they were surprised with $5,000 worth of gifts. Considered integral members of the community, the Garris family’s son has been an active member of the Boys & Girls Club for three years. Last year, though, their lives were turned upside down when a flood in their apartment forced them from their home. The community has since rallied around the family and celebrated their surprised gifts with them this week. “I am very much overwhelmed,” said Danielle Garris after her children were given gifts. “I am appreciative.” “I am happy, overjoyed for them because this is stuff I wasn’t able to provide for them,” she said.Garris said the past year has “really been hard.” She said she had to take time off work and ended up having to leave her job.“It was a lot trying to recover from that and we still are,” she said. “I’m just very grateful.” The...

7 Investigates: Former scammer describes how scammers work to help shoppers avoid becoming victims

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

The holiday shopping season is in full swing and so is the season for scammers trying to take your money.In tonight’s 7 Investigates, Samantha Kummerer spoke with a former scammer about how the thieves work so you don’t become a victim.“My first year in the university was kind of tough,” said Chris Maxwell. “So I needed to make money for myself. You know, my parents really were not making enough money.”Maxwell is a former scammer who spoke to us from his home in Nigeria.“It’s difficult for me to get clothes, for myself to eat,” he said.At least 65 percent of Nigerians live in poverty.To make money, Chris learned to scam women who were looking for love. He followed a 39-page guide to find his victims.But he has since changed his life, going from criminal to consultant for the website Social Catfish to check if profiles or products are real or fake.“I felt so pitiful,” he said.This holiday season, he’s using his expertise to warn shopper...

Five things to know about Maryland’s investment in the Orioles and Ravens

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 16:46:56 GMT

Two of Baltimore’s most recognizable buildings and brands are its two pro stadiums, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, and the teams that inhabit them.The Orioles and Ravens bring attention, pride and joy to Maryland — and Maryland gives a lot of taxpayer dollars back to the teams.A large public investmentThe state of Maryland built and financed both of the Baltimore stadiums and, last year, agreed to earmark at least $1.2 billion to improve the stadiums — $600 million for each. The principal and interest on the bonds sold to cover those costs ultimately would be paid off with lottery revenue.The Orioles, whose lease with the state expires Dec. 31, are currently negotiating a new lease with more state resources.According to a Baltimore Sun review of financial documents obtained in public records requests and interviews with experts, the MLB club has received or is on track to get at least $1.3 billion in public benefits since Oriole Park opened i...