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Is Turkey now joining the EU? No, but the EU is engaging

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s latest round of geopolitical brinkmanship came with a new twist this week: Linking his support for Sweden’s NATO bid with Turkey’s own application to join the EU.It was an audacious move. It caught even close observers by surprise. And it has zero chance of happening any time soon.Numerous EU leaders and officials did make a careful public show of treating the Turkish leader’s request seriously, pledging to explore ways to revive the country’s moribund EU accession and to work more closely with the country in the meantime. But as a serious prospect, EU membership was discarded almost instantly. “Pure posture,” quipped one former European Commission official who worked on Turkey’s EU bid.“You cannot link the two processes,” said European Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant. Even publicly, some of the EU’s most high-profile figures were quick to tamp down any speculation.“That’s a question that is not related to the other issue, and th...

Sorry Russia, the Baltic Sea is now NATO’s lake

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

VILNIUS — A resurgent NATO is set to tighten its grip on the Baltic Sea, complicating a vital transit route for Vladimir Putin’s navy in Russia’s backyard. This week’s alliance summit in Vilnius was Finland’s first as a NATO member. On the summit’s eve, Turkey agreed to back Sweden’s bid to join — paving the way for a strategic shift in a region Moscow once dominated. “[Sweden and Finland] make NATO much more geographically coherent. The Baltic Sea becomes a NATO lake, which is generally useful, also because of the Arctic’s increased importance,” said Ulrike Franke, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. NATO has steadily increased its control of the Baltic Sea — a crucial maritime gateway for the Russian fleet which has bases near St. Petersburg and in the heavily militarized Kaliningrad exclave. During the Cold War, only Denmark and Germany at the far western edge of the Baltic were in the alliance. Poland joining NATO in 19...

Teen attacked by two dogs in Windham, NH, transported to local hospital with multiple bites

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

A 14-year-old girl was attacked by two dogs while she was on a jog in Windham, N.H.Police said the dogs were able to break free from a van near 63 Blossom Rd. near Easy Street when they surrounded the girl on Wednesday afternoon around 2:39 p.m.The victim had numerous dog bites and bleeding about the neck, chest, arms, and hands. She was transported to a local hospital.When first responders arrived, the owner of the dogs had already restrained the dogs.“I was just on my back deck here, I was just doing some work back there and then I started to hear some yelling,” neighbor Ian Hastings said. “I came out to look what was going on and they had the road blocked off and something serious must have happened.”Windham police and other local officials are investigating the incident.

BPD: Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara was driving twice the speed limit when she crashed into home

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

Boston police have released new details on a crash involving City Councilor Kendra Lara last month. A police report released on Friday night said Lara was driving twice the speed limit when she crashed into a home in Jamaica Plain on June 30. The crash happened on Centre Street, with the car plowing through a fence and slamming into the home. Police said Lara was driving with a revoked license and driving in an unregistered car. 7NEWS sources said her son, who was hurt and needed stitches, was not bucked into a safety seat, as required by state law. Lara has apologized for her role in the crash.This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

Construction worker helps break ground on project in Brockton at the same site where she attended elementary school

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

Wednesday brought with it a full circle moment for a construction worker in Brockton as she helped break ground on a project at the very site where she attended elementary school. Kendy Power-Koch was raised in Brockton. Now, she’s hoping her story will inspire others“We’ve been able to stay the course and keep the eyes on the prize,” said Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan at a groundbreaking event for Brockton’s new public safety building. “It’s like full circle for me,” said Suffolk Construction Assistant Superintendent Kendy Power-Koch. “…I never knew that I would end up here.”Power-Koch came to Brockton as an immigrant, attending elementary school on the very lot where the new public safety building is putting down its roots. Now, Power-Koch is one of the people behind the build. “I used to walk up those stairs as a little girl speaking very little English and now here I am,” she said. While marking the start of the new project in her hometown holds s...

Revolution hold off Atlanta United 2-1 to extend home unbeaten streak

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

FOXBORO — The New England Revolution extended their home unbeaten streak to a record 11 straight with a 2-1 victory over Atlanta United FC before 17,615 on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.The Revolution improved to 11-4-7 overall, 8-0-3 at Gillette and took over second place in the Eastern Conference. The Revolution close out the homestand against D.C. United on Saturday night (7:39) before breaking from MLS for a month to compete in the Leagues Cup tournament.“Our mission tonight was to get three points and we got it,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena. “We are hanging in there and a little thin right now with injuries and other things.“We have got to get through this game on Saturday and get reorganized. I think we have had a good year to date. Hopefully we can recover and give D.C. United a game on Saturday. They are certainly going to have a bit of an edge being fitter for the game.”With two games in four days, Arena made several alterations to the Starting XI that drop...

Floral pop-up pool bar transports you to Mediterranean coast

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Ciao, San Diego! L'Auberge Del Mar is bringing the Italian vibes to the North County area.The high-end resort, located at 1540 Camino Del Mar, collaborated with local florist Native Poppy to create La Dolce Vita Pool Bar, according to hotel officials. Blooms and lush greenery, along with handcrafted cocktails by the beach, captures the atmosphere of the Mediterranean. Chill out with an icy treat at this San Diego spot Guests can bask in the sun while sipping on drinks like the Sorrento Spritz with limoncello liquor or Bellini Alla Pesca, which is made with housemade peach puree, prosecco and berries. If you are hungry, light bites on the menu include Weiser Farms Melon and Prosciutto and Suppli-Crispy Risotto Balls with parmigiano.The pop-up experience will be available until Oct. 8, opening daily at 11 a.m. for hotel guests and 5 p.m. to the public. The bar closes daily at 8 p.m.A Paint and Sip series is also in the plans this summer, offering live music and s...

Ukraine wins G7 security pledges, but NATO membership remains elusive

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed fresh pledges of weapons and ammunition to fight Russia’s invasion along with longer-term security commitments from the West on Wednesday even as he expressed disappointment over the lack of a clear path for his country to join NATO as the alliance wrapped up its annual summit.“The Ukrainian delegation is bringing home a significant security victory for the Ukraine, for our country, for our people, for our children,” he said while flanked by U.S. President Joe Biden and other leaders from the Group of Seven most powerful democratic nations.A joint declaration issued by the G7 lays the groundwork for each nation to negotiate agreements to help Ukraine bolster its military over the long term. Zelenskyy described the initiative as a bridge toward eventual NATO membership and a deterrent against Russia.“We will not waver,” Biden vowed after the summit in Lithuania ended. “I mean that. Our commitment t...

Australian pro-democracy activist thanks supporters for early release from Vietnamese prison

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Pro-democracy campaigner Chau Van Kham on Thursday thanked his supporters who helped secure his release from a Vietnamese prison this week four years into a 12-year sentence for terrorism offenses.The 73-year-old Australian citizen returned to his family in Sydney on Tuesday after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged that the retired baker be released from prison during a visit to Hanoi last month.Kham thanked a broad array of supporters including the current and former Australian governments, rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, community groups, media and lawyers.“The first time in front of you, so I feel so nervous. So nervous, because I’m so happy, and I’m never nervous in front of the Vietnamese officials,” Kham told reporters in Sydney.He thanked his wife and two children “for forever supporting me in my dreams and my beliefs.”“The last thing, can you send a message to the Vietnamese government. I thank yo...

Thailand’s parliament is set to choose a prime minister, but it might not be the election winner

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 15:15:45 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai lawmakers are gathering Thursday to select a new prime minister, a process whose outcome is far from certain even though the country’s most progressive party won both the popular vote and the most seats in the House of Representatives in the most recent election.Thailand’s May 14 election was regarded as a major political turning point. The reformist Move Forward Party’s victory appeared to spell an end to nine years of unpopular army-supported rule. Two months later, it is unclear if that mandate for change will be honored. Parliament is due to vote on whether to make Move Forward’s leader, 42-year-old businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, the country’s prime minister. His party captured 151 of the 500 House seats but has assembled a coalition government-in-waiting. The eight parties in the coalition won 312 seats combined, a healthy majority.“This is a party leading a coalition, and they’ve won the election,” Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a poli...