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The political king: Charles talks up net-zero and refugee action in Berlin visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

LONDON — In his first overseas visit as U.K. monarch, King Charles III is doing little to dispel the notion he’s a political animal at heart.During a state banquet speech at Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German president, Charles talked up politicians’ “vital” efforts to cut carbon emissions, praised Germany’s “extraordinary generosity” in hosting Ukrainian refugees, took a swipe at Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and attempted a patch-up job on U.K.-German relations frayed by Brexit.Charles had previously vowed to take a restrained approach as king, having earned a reputation as prince of Wales for speaking out on hot-button political issues — and even lobbying British ministers over policies he disagreed with.His mother, Queen Elizabeth, had famously avoided political topics as monarch, and Charles said last year that his elevation meant it would “no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies t...

Red Sox to celebrate Opening Day at Fenway Park with game against the Orioles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

The Red Sox are celebrating Opening Day at Fenway Park Thursday with a game against the Baltimore Orioles. The team posted a time-lapse video of the opening day logo being painted behind home plate. The team gets to start the season within the friendly confines of their home stadium, with game one out of 162 getting underway at 2:10 p.m.After last season’s disappointing last place finish in the AL East, the Sox are ready to rebound after revamping their roster during the offseason…“Any time we don’t make it to October and play baseball in October, it’s a disappointment, we know that, but we have definitely turned the page,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “It’s been a great vibe at spring training and [we are] really looking forward to getting going here.”Despite losing a few mainstays from last year’s roster, including Xander Bogaerts, JD Martinez, and Nathan Eovaldi, the Sox say they are optimistic that this s...

‘She was a very hard worker, very honest, such a sweetheart’: Husband mourns wife killed in Lynn hit-and-run

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

A man is mourning the loss of his wife, who was killed in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Lynn on Wednesday morning.Speaking Wednesday evening, Redzo Barucija described his wife, 55-year-old Emira Barucija, as a kind, hardworking woman.“It was just sudden,” Redzo said. “Very tough.”Lynn officers responded to the incident just after 6 a.m. Wednesday on Route 107 northbound between Ida and Cooper Streets, where police said Barucija was hit in a crosswalk.Police said the driver left the scene. Within hours of the crash, officials said detectives using city surveillance cameras had identified the driver and located the damaged car in Boston inside a parking garage in the area where the man behind the wheel worked. Redzo Barucija said he and his wife moved to the United States from Bosnia for a better life. On Wednesday, Redzo said his wife was on her way to Salem Hospital, where she worked. “She was a very hard worker, very honest, such a sweetheart,” Redzo said....

Vatican: Pope improving since hospitalization with infection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis rested well overnight and was “progressively improving” Thursday after being hospitalized with a respiratory infection, the Vatican said.The 86-year-old pontiff, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, ate breakfast, read the newspapers and was working from his hospital room at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, according to a statement from Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.“Before lunch he went to the little chapel in the private apartment, where he gathered in prayer and received the Eucharist,” the statement said.Francis was hospitalized Wednesday after having suffered breathing problems in recent days and was diagnosed with a respiratory infection, though not COVID-19. The Vatican said he would remain for a few days of treatment. His audiences were canceled through Friday.Francis is scheduled to celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, and it wasn’t clear how his medical condition would affect the Vatican’s Holy Week observances, which include Holy Thursday, Goo...

Cold wind today, warming up for the weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

After the passage of a cold front overnight, chilly weather is expected today with windy conditions and high temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Factoring in the wind, wind chills will range from the upper 20s into the mid 30s all day. If you’re headed to Fenway this afternoon, expect mostly sunny skies but a wind chill from 29-34 degrees from first pitch to last out.Friday into the weekend, temperatures will be on the rise as another weather system heads towards New England from the Midwest. Although we will see rain on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach the low 60s, so a warm rain instead of a cold rain this time around.

2023 Season Preview: Mets look to become NL powerhouse in Year 3 of Steve Cohen era

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

The 2023 season could be a crucial turning point in Mets history.They have the highest payroll in baseball with $370 million committed before taxes. They have a roster littered with elite talent and the ability to take more on should they need to. Steve Cohen, who quite possibly might be the most popular owner in baseball right now, was high on the “vibes” at spring training.Some might even say they were Amazin’.The Mets are even favored by some Las Vegas oddsmakers to win the World Series.In year No. 3 of the Cohen era, the Mets have shed their lovable loser identity and instead are poised to become a National League power, looking to improve on a 101-win 2022 campaign.But the enthusiasm has been curbed in recent weeks. The Mets will be without closer Edwin Diaz for the season, who tore his patellar on his right knee while celebrating a win with Puerto Rico during the World Baseball Classic.Typical Mets, right? They lost the best closer in baseball just months aft...

Column: Unsolicited advice for Chicago managers David Ross and Pedro Grifol? Just win.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

David Ross watched Pedro Grifol play at Florida State back when the current Chicago Cubs manager was growing up in Tallahassee and working in the stands at the Seminoles ballpark selling Cokes.“He was the guy I watched,” Ross said of the new White Sox manager. “A big fan of Pedro … Not that we go way back, but I go way back watching Pedro on a baseball field.”Though he’s only in his fourth season, Ross already has outlasted two Sox managers in Rick Renteria and Tony La Russa, plus an interim manager in Miguel Cairo. But when I asked him what advice he would have for Grifol in his first year in Chicago, Ross pleaded the fifth.“Oh, I’m not here to give anybody advice on managing,” Ross replied. “Enjoy the city. It’s a great city. He’s been in coaching a lot longer than I have. He could probably give me more advice than I could give him.”Rest assured both managers will be offered unsolicited advice from their...

‘Damn Yankees’ lands on Marriott stage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

Joe Boyd will do anything to help his favorite baseball team, the Washington Senators, win the pennant. That includes making a devilish deal in the multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway classic, “Damn Yankees” April 12-June 4 at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.Performances of the musical by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop (book), and Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (music and lyrics) are 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. most Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays, with select performances at 1 p.m. on Thursdays.“He’s a big dreamer,” said Andrew Alstat, who plays Joe Boyd, who becomes baseball superstar Joe Hardy. “He dreams of being a baseball star and he does whatever he needs to do to get there. So he makes this little deal with the devil. It’s very much a grass-is-always-greener situation. He’s quickly realizing when he’s in the shoes of Joe Hardy and that this is not ne...

Bolsonaro returns to Brazil after 3-month stint in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Former President Jair Bolsonaro arrived back in Brazil on Thursday after a three-month stay in Florida, seeking a new role on the political scene as authorities in the capital braced for the far-right populist’s return. Hundreds of supporters dressed in yellow and green chanted for him as they waited in the capital city of Brasilia, where the far-right leader is the subject of several investigations. The Federal District’s security secretariat mobilized hundreds of police officers and the Esplanade of Ministries was closed to prevent gatherings. Bolsonaro left Brazil just before the end of his presidential term. In so doing, he broke with tradition by declining to hand the presidential sash to his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won the October election with the narrowest finish since Brazil’s return to democracy over three decades earlier.While in the U.S., Bolsonaro mostly kept a low profile, although he delivered several speeches to Brazilian exp...

Fiery train derailment in Minnesota prompts evacuations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:11:10 GMT

A train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire in Minnesota early Thursday and nearby residents were ordered to evacuate their homes, authorities said.The BNSF train derailed in the town of Raymond, roughly 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Minneapolis, about 1 a.m., according to a statement from Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson.The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from BNSF officials.The train “had numerous rail cars derail” and several caught fire, Tollefson said. Homes in an area 1/2 mile (0.8 kilometers) around the site were evacuated, according to Tollefson, and residents were taken to a shelter in nearby Prinsburg.Railroad safety has been in the spotlight nationally ever since last month’s fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio. Roughly half of that town of about 5,000 people near the Pennsylvania border had to be evacuated after officials decided to release and burn toxic chemicals.Federal regulator...