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After Brexit, Britain and Europe embrace ever-closer union

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

LONDON — It was the gleaming smiles and mutual backslapping of two 40-something banker bros which signalled a new era of U.K.-EU relations. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron looked like natural bedfellows as they riffed off one another at a friendly Paris press conference in March, announcing a sizeable £478 million package to deter migrant crossings through the English Channel.The contrast with the petty name-calling of the Boris Johnson and Liz Truss eras was clear to see.Sunak’s warm and productive summit with Europe’s most high-profile leader confirmed a more collaborative relationship with the EU and its national capitals after the turmoil of the Brexit era. Less than two weeks earlier, the British PM’s landmark Windsor Framework agreement with Brussels had finally resolved post-Brexit trading issues in Northern Ireland.“My hope is that [the agreement] opens up other areas of constructive engagement and dialogue and co...

Consensus builds for EU bank to finance shells and tanks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

BERLIN — Germany is warming to a French plan that would expand the powers of the European Investment Bank to allow it to finance defense projects such as the buying of weapons and military supplies.Chancellor Olaf Scholz is coming around to an idea that the French government and France’s EU commissioner have been advocating for months, according to four officials and diplomats in Berlin and Brussels, who were granted anonymity to enable them to speak freely. If approved, the proposal would widen the mandate of the EU’s lending arm to allow it to bankroll joint defense projects, such as for the purchase of arms, military equipment and ammunition. The Luxembourg-based body, owned by EU countries, currently provides loans in other sectors, like climate, sustainable energy and digitalization — but is prohibited from investing in defense.The shift underscores the growing importance of the EIB, which has grown rapidly in recent years as financially strapped EU countries have ta...

5 Taunton police officers hurt in knife attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

A suspect was taken into custody Tuesday night after injuring five police officers in a knife attack in Taunton, officials said. The incident ended in the area of West Britannia Street and Thomas Street. Later speaking to reporters, Police Chief Edward Walsh said one officer suffered multiple serious but non-life-threatening stab wounds. At least four other officers, including Walsh himself, were also injured, according to police.Police in a statement said the incident began around 6:45 p.m. when the suspect showed up at an unrelated traffic stop on County Street near Hart Street and began yelling at officers. Walsh said the suspect got back into his car when told to leave. A short time later, though, Walsh said another officer spotted the suspect driving erratically and pulled him over. As officers approached, Walsh said the suspect fled, nearly hitting an officer and prompting a pursuit. Taunton police said officers followed the suspect until he crashed his veh...

René Pinto’s 2-run homer and Manuel Margot’s 2 RBIs help Rays outlast Red Sox 9-7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — René Pinto hit a two-run home run, Manuel Margot added a pair of RBI singles as part of a four-hit night, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-7 on Tuesday night.Rays starter Zach Eflin (16-8) yielded three runs off five hits over five innings to earn his third victory in four starts. Pete Fairbanks struck out three in a scoreless ninth to pick up his 25th save.“A bunch of relentless at-bats early on. … Found holes, drove the ball well and everybody really contributed,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We want all those guys to feel good and today was a step in that direction.”Eflin said he’s in a good place after notching his AL-leading 16th win.“I’ve learned so much this year being able to play with these guys — it’s been tremendous,” Eflin said. “We’re looking forward to the playoffs. We’re ready to get going. But in the meantime we’re going to keep trying to win games and see where it takes us.”T...

Orioles, playing with ‘heavy heart,’ shut out Nationals, 1-0, behind Kyle Bradish’s gem, Gunnar Henderson’s homer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

Kyle Bradish isn’t viewed as an American League Cy Young candidate, but he pitched like one Tuesday.Gunnar Henderson, meanwhile, is the AL Rookie of the Year front-runner, and he hit like it Tuesday.Bradish twirled eight shutout innings, Henderson hit a leadoff home run and the Orioles held on to beat the Washington Nationals, 1-0, and lower their magic number to win the AL East to two.The shutout victory at Camden Yards over the local foe was the third in as many games this season, as the Orioles claimed the first two contests of the Beltway Series at Nationals Park in April with 1-0 and 4-0 wins. It’s the club’s 11th shutout this season and fourth 1-0 triumph.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the MLB record-holder for most games with the lone RBI in a 1-0 win is Brooks Robinson, the Hall of Fame third baseman who died Tuesday. He did so 10 times in his 23-year career.“I think a lot of guys played tonight with a heavy heart,” said manager Brandon H...

Chicago Cubs lose dramatic 7-6 game to the Atlanta Braves on Seiya Suzuki’s error

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

A routine fly ball turned into a nightmare for Seiya Suzuki and the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park — and with it a heartbreaking blow to their postseason hopes.The Cubs were an out away in the eighth inning from escaping with a one-run lead intact when left-hander Drew Smyly got Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy to hit a ball to right field with runners on second and third base. What should have been an easy inning-ending fly out to Suzuki became a disaster. Suzuki whiffed on the would-be inning-ending catch, allowing two runs to score on his error.The Cubs went down in the ninth to seal a devastating 7-6 loss Tuesday night in a game they led 6-0 entering the bottom of the sixth.The lights contributed to misplaying the fly ball, Suzuki explained through interpreter Toy Matsushita. He saw the ball pretty well until the last second.“I honestly thought it went into my glove so it was just that split second where it blurred my vision,” Suzuki said of the lights at Truist...

Tuesday’s high school roundup/scores: Xaverian golfers edge rival BC High

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

GOLFSean Resnick, Thomas Constantine, and Chris Morrow shot an even par 36 each for Xaverian (4-1) in a 228-237 Catholic Conference win over BC High.Brian Campbell shot a 32 (four under par), and Ben Madden shot a 35 (one under par) as Wellesley handled Framingham 108-76 in a Bay State Conference matchup.Micah Hashikawa and Josh Doney had the highest scores for St. Mary’s (Lynn) (7-2) in a 195-169 Catholic Central League victory over Bishop Feehan.Lucas Riley shot a 35 as Oliver Ames outlasted Hockomock League foe Attleboro 154-157.Drew Golden shot a 35 (one under par) as Hingham won 239-245 over Hanover in a Patriot League contest. … Aidan McCarthy tallied a 35 as North Quincy beat Whitman-Hanson 228-260.Travis Thomas and Matt Anderson shot a 38 apiece as Canton (5-2) defeated Stoughton 154-176 in a Hockomock League match.Matt Costello and Matt Oliveira finished with 34 points each as Bishop Stang (6-0) bested Old Rochester 205-144 in a nonleague contest. … Jack Balutis shot a 41, ...

Brooks Robinson: Orioles players, manager Brandon Hyde, the baseball world and beyond remember ‘Mr. Oriole’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

Legendary Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson died Tuesday at the age of 86.Robinson spent all of his 23 major league seasons with Baltimore, making 18 All-Star teams and winning 16 straight Gold Glove Awards from 1960 to 1975. He was a member of the Orioles’ World Series teams in 1966, when he was also Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game, and 1970, earning MVP honors for that series. Robinson was the 1964 American League MVP and finished in the top 10 of voting six other times.Tributes poured in recognizing a player fittingly known as “Mr. Oriole.”The OriolesBrooks Robinson truly was Mr. Oriole. He played the game for 23 years with a childlike spirit, earning MVP awards in the American League, All-Star Game and World Series. Third basemen from all levels of the game will forever look to Brooks for inspiration, most notably for his play in the field during the 1970 World Series, which cemented his election into Baseball’s National Hall of Fame. Off th...

Red Sox battle but unable to complete comeback in 9-7 loss to Rays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

If one game could encapsulate the 2023 Red Sox, it was Tuesday night’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.Particularly, Tanner Houck and Zach Eflin, whose lopsided starts set a 9-7 Rays victory in motion.Last offseason, the Red Sox and Rays made identical three-year, $40 million offers to Eflin, a free agent coming off a pennant season with the Philadelphia Phillies. Eflin, a Florida native, said it was a difficult decision, but chose to play in his home state.On the mound at Fenway for the penultimate home game of the season, he showed the Red Sox exactly how different this season might’ve been, and what the organization needs to prioritize this offseason in order to turn the page next year.Coming into his 31st start of the year, Eflin’s 3.44 ERA, 30 starts, 172.2 innings, and 182 strikeouts would’ve led the Red Sox rotation, and by a comfortable margin in most metrics. On Tuesday night, he added five innings to his season total, and held the Red Sox to three earned runs on f...

Lahaina family finds cherished heirlooms and devastation in first home visit after deadly wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:30 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Leola Vierra stepped gingerly among the hardened pools of melted metal, charred wood and broken glass that are almost all that remain of the home where she lived for nearly 50 years.Sifting through the rubble, she found two cow-patterned vessels, part of her extensive collection of bovine figurines. Nearby, her son discovered the blackened remnants of his late grandfather’s pistol from his days as a Lahaina policeman from the late 1940s to 1970s. There was no sign of the beloved cat, Kitty Kai, that used to greet her when she came home from work and church.“I’m so sad — devastated,” she said. “This was my home.”Vierra, her husband and two adult children returned to the property Tuesday for the first time since the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century whipped through on Aug. 8, obliterating the historic town of Lahaina and killing at least 97 people. They were among the first small group of residents to be allowed back into the burn zone t...