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‘Annoying sideshow’: Hungary frustrates NATO allies 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

Hungary’s blocking of Sweden’s NATO bid is puzzling — and irritating — Western officials. After months of delays, Hungarian legislators signed off on Finland’s NATO accession just before Turkey did. But the country continues to join Turkey in putting off a decision on Sweden.The Hungarian parliament is withholding support for the Swedish bid, it says, because Stockholm has criticized the country’s democratic credentials. Stockholm sits on a “crumbling throne of moral superiority,” a spokesperson for the Hungarian government recently wrote.But behind the scenes, officials and experts say that beyond domestic political calculations, Budapest’s move goes back to its ties to Ankara and Moscow. Western allies take Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán far less seriously than Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, they say. Allies have been struggling to understand Hungary’s ever-changing rhetoric.There is “zero understanding” for Budapest’s position on Sweden’s NATO membe...

Are you not entertained? Macron comments spark global backlash — again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

Oops, he’s done it again.In an interview on his way back from a state visit to China, French President Emmanuel Macron set foreign policy circles alight by saying that Europe should avoid being America’s follower — including on the matter of Taiwan’s security.Coming after chummy photo-ops with Chinese President Xi Jinping and as China was unleashing a simulated attack on Taiwan, which the U.S. has pledged to defend, the comments set off a firestorm of reactions, with everyone from Senator Marco Rubio to former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul weighing in.But for people who have followed Macron for years, the episode had a strong feeling of déjà vu. Once again, a bombshell interview prompted a global outcry, followed by attempts to “clarify” or re-translate the French leader’s thinking. It was a repeat of when Macron told The Economist, back in 2019, that NATO was experiencing “brain death,” and of when he insisted on offering R...

Bruins top NHL season points mark, beating Capitals 5-2

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Brad Marchand and Tyler Bertuzzi had power play goals and the Boston Bruins broke the NHL points record with a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night in their regular-season home finale.Under chants of “We want the Cup!” the Bruins’ won their seventh straight to push their points total to 133, one more than the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. Those Canadiens played in an era without overtime and shootouts.The Bruins broke the mark a game after setting the NHL victory’ record with 63 on Sunday at Philadelphia, breaking a tie with the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning.Tomas Nosek, Garnet Hathaway and Jake DeBrusk also scored for Boston on Tuesday night in win No. 64.A night after reaching 60 goals in season for the first time, David Pastrnak posted his 50th and 51st assists. Linus Ullmark finished with 19 saves, with left the game with just over nine minutes left with an undisclosed issue. Marchand and Patrice Bergeron added as...

‘Patriots Day’ screening honors life of fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

The stepfather of fallen MIT Police Officer Sean Collier spoke at a special screening of the movie Patriots Day on Tuesday, marking a surreal and somber anniversary 10 years after the Boston Marathon bombing and its immediate afterlife.Ten years since the bombings means ten years since Joe Rodgers lost Collier, his stepson, who was killed during the manhunt for the marathon bombers. “We try to focus on the positive,” Rogers said. “So, we remember Sean and all the things he did and what he meant to us.”Boston’s Fisher College honored Collier’s live with the screening of Patriots Day. The 2016 movie starring Mark Wahlberg is an adaptation of the best-selling book “Boston Strong,” which chronicles the marathon bombing and efforts by law enforcement to track the bombers down. “We began the book project, myself and my co-author Dave Wedge, while the smoke was still rising on Boylston Street and we got a lot of criticism for that,” book author Casey Sherman said. “People said it...

Dansby Swanson exits the Chicago Cubs’ 14-9 win in the 6th inning with tightness in his lower left side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson’s durability has become intertwined with his game.He started all but one game the last three seasons for the Atlanta Braves, playing more than 3,318 innings at one of the most demanding positions. So some concern is inherent when Swanson pulls himself out of a game.Swanson exited Tuesday’s 14-9 victory against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning because of tightness in his lower left side.Before the inning, Swanson, positioned on the infield grass at the edge of the dirt, made one warmup throw to first baseman Trey Mancini, turned toward the Cubs dugout and signaled he needed to be replaced. The quick sequence was captured by Marquee Sports Network’s camera behind home plate.The game was briefly delayed because Nick Madrigal did not appear to know he needed to enter the game. Nico Hoerner shifted to shortstop and Madrigal took over at second base.Swanson’s four-hit game — his first since July 1 with Atlanta ...

Mets’ bats go cold in loss 4-2 to Padres

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

Down just 2-1 in the top of the ninth against the San Diego Padres, the Mets were still within striking distance. Even after Dennis Santana gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts, the Mets came back in the bottom of the frame, threatening to walk it off.But the comeback fell short when closer Josh Hader got Francisco Alvarez, the Mets’ top prospect, to strike out to end the game. The Mets fell 4-2 on Tuesday night at Citi Field, evening the series at 1-1.The Mets cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom of the ninth when Tommy Pham laced a single up the center to score Pete Alonso and advance Jeff McNeil to third base. But the theme of the game was the Mets’ inability to drive in runs and the ninth-inning theatrics came to an end with a loss.It was a dismal offensive showing for the Mets, who managed only five hits and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.Making his third start of the season, Peterson (0-2) set himself up for success with good counts and go...

Heat shrink in 116-105 loss to Hawks, now with all-or-nothing Friday game to salvage season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

One game, one chance, one night to salvage the season.That is what it has come down to for the Miami Heat.Failing to take advantage of the first of two chances to advance to the NBA playoffs from the play-in tournament, after falling 116-105 Tuesday night to the visiting Atlanta Hawks, it all comes down now to a Friday home game against the Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors.“At least we have a lot of experience,” coach Erik Spoelstra said of the type of moment that now follows. “We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, nothing about this season has been easy. So we’re going to do this the hard way.”Win Friday, and it’s on to the best-of-seven first round of the playoffs starting Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.Lose Friday, and no playoffs, just the lowest seed in next month’s draft lottery for non-playoff teams.“We’re aware of what’s at stake,” guard Tyler Herro s...

Winderman’s view: Roster flaws hit home at worst possible time for Heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

Observations and other notes of interest from Tuesday night’s 116-105 NBA play-in loss to the Atlanta Hawks:– All those clutch games within five points in the final five minutes?– All those games decided on the final possessions?– All those nights when it was Jimmy Butler to the rescue?– Through it all, it became evident that the margin of error for this team was razor thin.– Then came the immediate foul trouble at the outset Tuesday.– And then the shots that wouldn’t drop.– And then the undersized lineups that couldn’t measure up.– So now this: Now one final chance to make this season right on Friday night.– Beat the winner of Wednesday night’s game between the Bulls and Raptors and move into the best-of-seven first round as a No. 8 seed.– Or go into a dark, dark, dark offseason.– If nothing else, this was sobering.– A sobering reality of what this roster is not.– Not big enough.&#...

Garrett Whitlock, quiet Red Sox bats no match for perfect (11-0) Rays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

In his season debut, Garrett Whitlock looked like several other Red Sox starting pitchers in their own debuts two weeks ago.Outgunned by a low-budget American League East rival.The Baltimore Orioles lit up Corey Kluber and Chris Sale, and the Tampa Bay Rays gave Whitlock a thorough dunking in the Trop’s fish tank on their way to their 11th consecutive victory, 7-2.After the Red Sox and Rays carried a scoreless battle into the bottom of the eighth on Monday, the Rays took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and continued scoring in four of the next eight innings. Rob Refsnyder almost gave Whitlock a clean inning with a stupendous diving catch, but was unable to keep Wander Franco’s ball in his glove. It was eerily reminiscent of Adam Duvall’s ninth-inning incident on Sunday in Detroit, which fractured his wrist. Thankfully, Refsnyder emerged unscathed.The game got away from Whitlock in the bottom of the fifth, when he allowed back-to-back home runs to put the Rays ahe...

Padres to honor Johnny Ritchey with Pacific Coast League Uniforms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:25:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Johnny Ritchey breaking the professional baseball color barrier on the West Coast by wearing their Pacific Coast League uniforms on April 17, team officials said.Ritchey, who would have also been celebrating his 100th birthday next Monday, was a catcher with the Padres in 1948 and 1949, becoming the first African American player in the Pacific Coast League to be with his hometown team. He attended San Diego High School and San Diego State University.“Johnny was a San Diegan whose courage and bravery extended beyond breaking the color barrier to also serving his country during World War II," Padres CEO Erik Greupner said. "By wearing our 1948 Pacific Coast League uniforms on Monday night, we will honor Johnny’s legacy and accomplishments, which are a great source of pride for the Padres organization.” Padres City Connect jerseys draw fans in for second year The 1948 PCL Padres' uniforms feature a navy-blue script over ...