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Red Sox notebook: Bullpen taking shape as Whitlock returns from IL

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

As injuries have mounted over the past few weeks the Red Sox have been forced to rely on a number of Triple-A call-ups and depth arms to help keep the ship afloat.It hasn’t always been pretty, but as the club returns to full health the bullpen is beginning to take shape.Garrett Whitlock was activated from the injured list on Sunday and is expected to return to the multi-inning relief role in which he dominated as a rookie two years ago. With his addition the Red Sox now have eight relievers who could be comfortably described as high-leverage guys, and once Tanner Houck returns to the fold next week the Red Sox will have their full pitching staff available for the first time all season.Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Whitlock’s return could be a game-changer.“Now we can balance the bullpen,” Cora said. “Usage-wise it’s been a challenge the last 10-12 days with so many close games, now adding him to the equation and using him the way we did before, m...

Pink fan goes into early labor at Boston concert, names premature baby in singer’s honor

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

Pink got more than just the party started at her recent Boston concert when a fan went into early labor during the show — and later named the baby after the Grammy-winning superstar.Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital announced the birthing journey of Angela Mercer, who attended the “Just Like A Pill” singer’s Summer Carnival tour stop at Fenway Park on July 31. The Albany, New York, resident is now the proud mother of a new baby boy she named in honor of Pink.“At only 31 weeks pregnant, Angela hadn’t been expecting her son’s arrival quite yet, but she started having contractions shortly after arriving for the show,” the hospital shared on Facebook Wednesday morning.“She called her doctor, who advised her to get to a hospital [but] with all the traffic surrounding Fenway for the concert, Angela had trouble finding a ride,” the post continued. “She and her family decided the fastest way to get to Brigham and Women’s was to walk — and so, decked out in their concert outfits, they ma...

Camp Pendleton recognizes anniversary of first woman to enlist in Marine Corps

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Aug. 13, 2023 marks 105 years since the first woman enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.During World War I, 305 women were accepted for duty in the Marine Corps Reserve on this day in history. Opha May Johnson became the first known woman to enlist as she was reported to be first in line at the recruiting station, Camp Pendleton explained.The Kokomo, Indiana native was sent to Capitol Hill to fill administrative roles in the office of Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in Washington D.C. -- a role she would lead throughout the first World War. Family demands answers after girl, 14, found in Camp Pendleton barracks According to Marine Corps University, most women filled clerical billets at Headquarters, Marine Corps. This allowed male Marines qualified for active field service to be released to fight in France. Other women, the university explained, filled jobs at recruiting stations throughout the U.S. This was until July 30, 1919 when ...

Roger Thibault, one half of first same-sex civil union in Quebec, dies at 77

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

MONTREAL — A member of the first same-sex couple to be legally joined in a civil union in North America has died.  Roger Thibault, 77, died Friday in the arms of the man he shared his life with for 50 years. His husband, Theo Wouters, says Thibault suffered from Parkinson’s disease hat his conditioned had worsened. The couple was united in a civil union in July 2002 after the Quebec government created the new form of legal partnership, distinguished from marriage only by its name, which was open to same sex couples.Quebec would legalize same sex marriage in 2004, while the federal government would follow in 2005. Wouters, 81, says he hopes future generations will remember the couple’s fight against homophobia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, 2023. The Canadian Press

Makkabi Berlin becomes the first Jewish team to play in the German Cup in a loss to Wolfsburg

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Makkabi Berlin became the first Jewish team to compete in the German Cup when it was beaten 6-0 by Wolfsburg on Sunday.The fifth-tier team swiftly went behind with the visitors scoring two early goals through Lukas Nmecha and Jonas Wind to dampen hopes of an upset.But Makkabi didn’t fold against the Bundesliga team backed by car manufacturer Volkswagen, and Kanto Fitiavana Voahariniaina was unfortunate to see an apparent goal ruled out for offside.Wolfsburg put the result beyond doubt early in the second half and would have scored more but for Makkabi goalkeeper Jack Krause, who earned the home fans’ biggest cheers. Tiago Tomas had two goals off the bench for Wolfsburg.Makkabi, which was founded by Holocaust survivors in 1970, had already made history just by qualifying for the 64-team German Cup – by winning the Berlin Cup for the first time – to become the first Jewish club to take part since the tournament was started under the Nazis in 1935. Jews were excluded at t...

Pakistani insurgents attack Chinese convoy in restive province, causing no casualties, officials say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Insurgents opened fire Sunday on a convoy carrying Chinese citizens in the restive Baluchistan province in southwestern Pakistan, the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said.There were no Chinese casualties as a result of the attack in the port city of Gwadar, the embassy said. It said it “strongly condemns this terrorist act,” urging the authorities to investigate, punish the perpetrators and prevent such attacks from happening in the future.The Pakistani military, reporting on the same incident, said insurgents attacked a military convoy in Gwadar and that troops returned firing, killing two attackers. The military made no mention of a Chinese presence, but typically escorts convoys carrying Chinese citizens. The military said there was no harm to civilians or security forces. Chinese companies operating in Gwadar and other parts of Baluchistan have been targeted in the past by Baluch insurgents. The Baluchistan Liberation Army, a separatist group, claimed r...

Scarborough man drowns in lake off Cobourg pier

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

A 25-year-old Scarborough man is dead after drowning in Lake Ontario.Provincial police in Cobourg say they were called just after 4 p.m. on Saturday for reports someone was in distress in the water on the east side of the pier off Cobourg beach. A search of the waters was conducted by police, fire and the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Center in Trenton and the man’s body was recovered. He was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The victim’s name has not been released. No further details have been provided as to what may have led up to the incident.

Greece safely evacuates 48 migrants from inflatable boat off Lesbos island; vessel sinks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities said Sunday they had safely rescued 48 migrants from a rudderless inflatable boat off the island of Lesbos, close to the Turkish coast.A coast guard vessel on patrol off the island sighted the boat Sunday morning, the Greek coast guard said in a communique.The crew “carried out the safe evacuation and rescue of 48 foreigners, who were transported to the port of Mytilene,” the island’s capital, the coast guard said.“Three of those rescued were picked up by an ambulance and taken to the General Hospital of Mytilene for the provision of first aid, where they remain hospitalized,” it added.The coast guard did not mention the ethnicities of the migrants, but a YouTube video it released shows most of them are Africans.The packed inflatable vessel sank, the coast guard said.Greece has seen a rise in migrant arrivals from Turkey, mostly by sea, in recent weeks amid more clement summer sailing conditions.The Associated Press

Media observers worry about impact of Métro Média closure on Quebec’s local democracy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

MONTREAL — Media observers say the abrupt closure of Quebec newspaper publisher Métro Média will end news coverage of local government in parts of the province’s two largest cities.Andrew Mulé, Métro Média’s president and CEO, announced the immediate suspension of operations at the company’s more than 30 hyperlocal publications late Friday afternoon. Patrick White, a journalism professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, says the closure is bad news for local democracy.He says the company’s reporters were the only journalists covering many of the borough councils, which deliver a wide range of municipal services — in Quebec City and Montreal. Mulé blamed the closure on a Montreal municipal bylaw that requires people to opt-in to receive bags containing printed flyers, which was the primary distribution method for the company’s printed newspapers.Métro Média employed around 100 people. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 13, ...

Chicago firefighter making 'steady improvement' after mayday call at Northwest Side house fire

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 16:51:48 GMT

CHICAGO — A firefighter who was seriously injured Friday battling a house fire on Chicago's Northwest Side is making steady improvement, according to the fire department.On Sunday, the department said the firefighter is still in serious but stable condition at Loyola Medical Center. 3 firefighters injured following Northwest Side house fire The firefighter was transported there after a fire in the 8300 block of West Balmoral Avenue in the city's Norwood Park neighborhood. This is not far from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.Two other firefighters were also injured in the fire and taken to a local hospital in fair condition.The cause of the fire is still under investigation.