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Sweden confirms Indo-Pacific ministerial meeting on May 13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

Amid China’s efforts to shore up ties with the broader Asian region, the EU’s second Indo-Pacific ministerial forum will take place on May 13 in Stockholm, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said Thursday. “It is important for the EU to have strong political relationships in the Indo-Pacific,” he told POLITICO. “[This] will give us an opportunity to sit down and really have a discussion of a joint agenda of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Last year in Paris, China wasn’t invited to the forum of foreign ministers — though other regional heavyweights such as Japan, India and South Korea were on the guest list. EU diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, previously said they didn’t expect China to be invited this year. “We definitely should have a dialogue with countries who are willing to have a dialogue … When you look at China, it is an open question, given all we know about the connections between Russia and China,” Billström said. The Swed...

85-year-old accused of hitting Acton teen and taking off allegedly bought alcohol before getting behind wheel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

The 85-year-old Maynard woman accused in a hit-and-run that injured a teen in Acton last year allegedly bought alcohol before getting behind the wheel, according to prosecutors.In court, the prosecution said there was plenty of evidence showing it was Joan Hurley who drove the car that hit 13-year-old Cesar Soto on Great Road last November.A plea of “not guilty” was entered on her behalf Thursday as the prosecutors laid out the case against her, detailing how Hurley had visited a café she frequents often the day of the crash. Café employees told police Hurley usually leaves before it gets too dark. Also mentioned in court was a receipt with Hurley’s name on it that showed she bought shots of alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Hurley is facing charges that include leaving the scene of personal injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and a crosswalk violation. In court, Hurley’s attorney accepted the conditions of not driving without a valid licens...

Yankees’ Carlos Rodon to start season on injured list due to left forearm strain

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

The Yankees will have to wait a bit to deploy their new ace.Carlos Rodon will begin the season on the injured list due to a mild left forearm strain, GM Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday at the Yankees spring complex in Tampa. The former No. 3 overall pick will be shut down from throwing for 7-10 days.“In a perfect world [Rodon returns] sometime in April,” Cashman said Thursday. “I’m glad our trainers jumped on it, I’m glad our trainers said something. The finding was something but not significant or serious…“If this was in season, pennant race, late in the game he’d probably still be up and running. He had this last May with the Giants and he didn’t miss any time with it.”The southpaw has made just one spring appearance where he allowed five runs during two-plus innings against the Braves on March 1.Rodon signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yanks this past winter after two consecutive All-Star appearan...

Jets will release Braxton Berrios, make trade for Ravens safety Chuck Clark: source

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

As Aaron Rodgers watch rolls on, the Jets made a transaction to generate more salary cap space. Gang Green also acquired a much-needed veteran safety.The Jets will release wide receiver and returner Braxton Berrios after four seasons.Gang Green also agreed to send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Ravens for safety Chuck Clark. According to sources, both transactions will be processed at the start of the new league year, March 15.After having a career year in 2021, last season was anything but for Berrios. He struggled with drops, missed assignments and muffed returns.Berrios caught 18 receptions for 145 yards and recorded two rushing touchdowns for the Jets last season. He also averaged 11.4 per punt return and 23.1 per kick return for the Jets.In 2021, Berrios caught a career-high 46 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns. He also averaged career-highs in punt (13.4) and kick returning (30.4) as he was a first-team All-Pro returner.Cutting Berrios will save the Jets $5 million in...

Ravens reportedly agree to trade starting safety Chuck Clark to New York Jets in cap-clearing move

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

The Ravens reportedly made their first move to clear salary cap space Thursday, agreeing to trade durable safety Chuck Clark to the New York Jets for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick.The move, reported by ESPN and NFL Network, will not become official until Wednesday when the league year begins, but it would save the Ravens about $4.1 million on their 2023 salary cap. Baltimore needed to clear about $9 million by Wednesday to comply with the cap, and Clark, 27, was entering the last year of his deal.The 2017 sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech became a starter in 2019 and played every defensive snap each of the past three seasons. He made 101 tackles, defended four passes and forced a fumble for a pass defense that ranked 11th in Football Outsiders’ DVOA in 2022.Clark was unhappy when the Ravens signed Marcus Williams in free agency last offseason then used a first-round pick on Kyle Hamilton. But coaches praised his professionalism in the wake of those moves, and he ultimate...

Crime Briefs: Worcester man charged with having machine gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

Jose Rivera, 24, of Worcester, was charged in federal court in Boston with unlawful possession of a machine gun after prosecutors say he was found in possession of a pistol turned into a machine gun.A federal agent alleges that a Tuesday search of Rivera’s residence on Pilgrim Avenue turned up a Glock Model 23 .40 caliber pistol converted with a switch — which an affidavit states makes the gun capable of firing 20 rounds per second with a single pull of the trigger, according to the agent’s affidavit in the case.‘Master thief’ fails againSean Murphy, 58, calls himself a “master thief,” but that didn’t stop him from getting caught four years ago for the 2008 theft of gold and New York Giants Super Bowl rings from a jewelry store in Attleboro and it didn’t stop him from getting caught conning people out of charity money while out on probation.Murphy, who spent two years in prison and was in the middle of his five years of probation for the Attleboro heist, pretended to be a homeless v...

Suspect breaks into Old Town restaurant: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A suspect broke into a restaurant in Old Town Thursday morning, authorities said.According to the San Diego Police Department, a call came in around 5 a.m. reporting that an individual had forcefully entered Rockin’ Baja Lobster, located at 3890 Twiggs St.  Man suspected of motorcycle theft, drug possession Authorities say the surveillance video at the restaurant shows a suspect breaking in through a patio window. Police search for suspect who broke a window at Rockin’ Baja Lobster. (Photo: OnScene.TV)A suspect has not yet been found or arrested, SDPD said. A suspect description has not been provided at this time.The amount of property damage and/or any other losses experienced by the restaurant have not yet been determined. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Maple Leaf Foods expecting modest annual growth in its plant-based protein

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. said it’s expecting modest annual growth in its plant-based protein category as the company reported a loss for its latest quarter, due in part to weaker pork markets and a cyberattack.The Mississauga, Ont.-based food processing company raised its quarterly dividend to 21 cents, up from 20 cents, as it reported a loss of $41.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The increased payment to shareholders came as Maple Leaf said its loss for the quarter ended Dec. 31 amounted to 34 cents per share compared with a profit of $1.9 million or two cents per share in the last three months of 2021. Sales totalled $1.19 billion, up from $1.12 billion a year earlier.“Our supply chains are normalizing now, the imbalance in our pricing for inflation is now coming into line and important Asian regions have opened up again for us,” Maple Leaf Foods chief executive Michael McCain said in a statement. “These unprecedented markets will ...

Canadians making fewer trips to the grocery store as inflation pinches: report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

A new report by RBC says Canadians are on average making fewer grocery store runs as food inflation persists, but still spending roughly the same amount per tripRBC’s consumer spending tracker shows the average number of grocery transactions in February was up 8.4 per cent relative to pre-pandemic levels, compared with a roughly 13 per cent bump relative to pre-pandemic levels seen toward the end of November 2022.Economist Carrie Freestone says it could show some Canadians are being cognizant of rising prices and making fewer trips to the store as they feel the pinch of inflation.RELATED: Grocery CEOs deny accusations that food price inflation is driven by profit mongeringThe report also says discretionary spending held steady through February.Restaurant spending remains strong despite a slight decline over the last three months, while Canadians continue to book trips despite flight costs rising 28 per cent from pre-pandemic levels.RBC says spending growth on international tra...

John Paul abuse claims trigger angry reaction from Poland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:17 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The fallout over an explosive television report alleging that St. John Paul II covered up clergy sex abuse cases escalated Thursday, with Poland’s Catholic Church strongly defending “one of the greatest Poles” and the Polish government inviting the U.S. ambassador for talks.A report this week on TVN24, which is owned by the U.S. company Warner Bros. Discovery, named three priests whom John Paul allegedly moved around during the 1970s after they were accused of abusing minors. At the time, John Paul was Archbishop Karol Wojtyla, the head of the church in Krakow in southern Poland. John Paul is revered in the predominantly Roman Catholic country for his role in helping to bring down communism, and the TVN report ignited a national debate about his legacy at a time when the Polish Catholic Church overall has been undergoing a reckoning with its own record of clergy sexual abuse. A heated debate erupted Thursday in parliament debating his legacy. Government figures...