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Turkey, Hungary to approve Finland’s NATO membership

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Turkey and Hungary announced Friday that they will sign off on Finland’s NATO membership — removing the biggest barrier to Finland’s joining the alliance but leaving Sweden’s bid languishing.“We have decided to initiate the ratification process in our parliament,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a press conference in Istanbul alongside his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinistö. Erdoğan’s move will inevitably fuel concerns about the alliance’s cohesion as Sweden — which was originally invited to join together with Finland — gets left behind for the moment.Ankara has expressed concerns about arms exports and the countries’ support for Kurdish groups, prompting months of negotiations with Finland and Sweden. But despite policy changes, Turkey holds onto its quibbles with Sweden and continues blocking Stockholm’s process. On Friday, Erdoğan lauded Finland for taking “authentic and concrete steps” while criticizing Sweden for not handing over those wanted ...

Crews battle raging fire at Lawrence liquor store, bakery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Crews battled a raging fire at Sweeney’s Package Store on Essex Street in Lawrence Friday morning. Witnesses saw the roof cave in and flames burst out from the liquor store and a cake shop next door. The fire caused the back of the building to collapse. Firefighters could only fight the flames from the outside. According to the Chief Brian Moriarty, fighting the fire was especially difficult because there were no sprinklers in the liquor store. “We had pretty heavy smoke conditions in not only the cake factory, but the package store behind us,” Moriarty said. “As it turns out, we think the majority of the fire was in the package store, but it’s just that the alarms in the cake factory are what notified us.”As of 9 a.m., firefighters remain on scene to monitor hot spots. Officials say no injuries were reported, but the building is a total loss. The owner of Sweet Grace Heavenly Cakes spoke with 7NEWS on scene, emotional about the loss of her busine...

Taylor Swift will unveil four previously unreleased songs ahead of Eras Tour debut

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

(CNN) — Time has not run out on Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” era.The “Anti-Hero” singer shared on Instagram on Thursday that “in celebration of the Eras Tour,” she’ll be releasing four previously unreleased songs. They’re set to debut at midnight.Those songs will be: “Eyes Open (Taylor’s Version),” “Safe & Sound (Taylor’s Version)” featuring Joy William and John Boy Music, “If This Was a Movie (Taylor’s Version)” and “All of the Girls You Loved Before.”Three of the four songs that Swift is releasing appear to be rerecordings, as they include the “(Taylor’s Version)” tag in the titles.In 2019, Swift’s former label, Big Machine, sold the master recordings of her music catalog, prompting the singer to record new versions of her previous albums. In 2021, Swift released “Fearless (Taylor&...

Arrest made in connection with fatal Roxbury double shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Police have made an arrest in connection with a double shooting in Roxbury that left one victim dead and another injured, according to officials.The Boston Police Department announced the arrest of Stephen Freeman, 33, who was taken into custody on Thursday.Authorities said Freeman, a Boston resident, was arrested on charges related to a shooting that occurred on Saturday, Feb. 18, in the area of 958 Tremont Street.Police had been responding to a ShotSpotter activation near the address at the time when officers located two men suffering from gunshot wounds outside of a bar. Both were taken to the hospital, where one victim died while the other was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Boston police later identified the victim killed as 37-year-old Terrell Banks of Boston.Following an investigation involving the police department’s Homicide Unit and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, police honed in on Freeman, with a warrant issued on charges that included:Mur...

‘The cutest clovers in the patch’: Mass General shares St. Patrick’s Day photos of NICU newborns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Mass General for Children and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have shared photos of newborn babies in the NICU on their first St. Patrick’s Day.“[We] are caring for the cutest clovers in the patch on their first St. Patrick’s Day!” Brigham and Women’s said in a statement. “The adorable, little leprechauns from the hospitals’ intensive care units are charming families, friends and staff!”The NICU provides specialized care to infants after delivery, including treatment for premature and critically ill patients. Here are this year’s “lucky charmers’, courtesy of Mass General for Children and Brigham and Women’s Hospital:

Patriots releasing veteran CB in surprising move, per reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

The Patriots intend to release veteran cornerback Jalen Mills, according to reports.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots reportedly re-sign DL Daniel Ekuale New England Patriots | The Patriots offense is better with Mike Gesicki, but how will it take shape? New England Patriots | Patriots signing Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki to 1-year deal in free agency New England Patriots | Source: Patriots re-sign LS Joe Cardona to 4-year deal New England Patriots | Patriots host Trey Flowers and an ex-Lions LB on free-agent visits Mills’ release comes as a surprise considering he started all 26 games he appeared in the past two seasons. Cutting Mills will create roughly $5 million in cap space for the Patriots, who started the day with roughly $21 million in room, per Over the Cap, ninth-most in the league.Mills recorded 31 tackles, five pass deflections and two interceptions last season, when he also m...

Patriots reportedly re-sign DL Daniel Ekuale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Another Patriots re-signing on defense.The Pats reached terms with backup defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale on Friday morning, per the NFL Network. Ekuale is the 10th Patriots player to re-sign this offseason and the seventh defender. Last season, he tallied two sacks, three QB hits and 14 tackles.After originally signing with the Patriots in 2021, Ekuale survived roster cuts last summer despite facing a 2-game suspension to start the season. He played 36% of the team’s defensive snaps, primarily as an interior pass rusher. The 29-year-old had previous stints in Jacksonville and Cleveland.The Patriots’ only defensive free agents who have not re-signed are safety Devin McCourty (retirement) and cornerback Joejuan Williams.

Cactus League report: Seiya Suzuki injury update — and Oscar Colás tries out center field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Cody Bellinger finally hit his first spring home run — at least the first one that counted.Bellinger’s homer last week against Team Canada is not applied to Cactus League totals because it was an exhibition matchup. His home run Thursday, though, prevented the Cubs from getting shut out in a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Left-hander Drew Smyly went 4⅓ innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out four batters.Jameson Taillon threw 72 pitches in a minor-league game against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday after his sim game was rained out Wednesday. He surrendered four runs and seven hits, walked one and struck out seven in five innings.Sox manager Pedro Grifol saw some positives from the rain that canceled Wednesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants.“I didn’t plan the weather but when I saw it (in the forecast) a few days ago it was something that we thought would be good for us,” Grifol said Thurs...

The Patriots offense is better with Mike Gesicki, but how will it take shape?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

Four days later, it’s easy to forget the Patriots’ first move during NFL free agency was actually a trade.On Monday, the Pats agreed to deal tight end Jonnu Smith to Atlanta for a seventh-round pick, a transaction that officially processed the moment free agency opened Wednesday afternoon. Smith disappointed over his two years in New England, failing to crack 300 receiving yards in either season after he signed a 4-year, $50 million contract.Upon signing Miami’s Mike Gesicki on Friday morning, it appeared the Patriots had found Smith’s replacement at tight end. Or did they?Gesicki, at 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds, is a player some have instead described as a “big receiver” — Bill Belichick included. The sixth-year vet is a spectacular athlete, armed with 4.5 speed, incredible leaping ability and a massive catch radius. Few tight ends possess better receiving talent than Gesicki, the proud owner of 18 career touchdowns.The 27-year-old is also slow...

Projecting the Chicago White Sox opening-day roster: Who will claim the remaining spots?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:15:59 GMT

The Chicago White Sox have difficult choices ahead as they build their opening-day roster.That’s the way manager Pedro Grifol prefers.“It’s not going to be an easy decision, which is a good thing for us as an organization,” Grifol said Wednesday. “Easy decisions are not good for any organization.“Hard decisions mean you’ve got depth and you signed the right guys in the offseason. That’s where we’re at.”The Sox open the regular season against the 2022 champion Houston Astros on March 30 at Minute Maid Park.Here’s a Tribune projection of the team’s opening-day roster.Starting pitchers (5)RHP Dylan CeaseRHP Mike ClevingerRHP Lucas GiolitoRHP Lance LynnRHP Michael KopechThe rotation is set. Now it’s all about establishing an order.Grifol said he likely will wait until after the World Baseball Classic to name an opening-day starter.“Make sure that everybody’s healthy, everybody gets back healthy,...