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Firefighting plane crashes in Greece as blazes rage out of control and new evacuations are ordered

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

By MICHAEL VARAKLAS and DEREK GATOPOULOS (Associated Press)RHODES, Greece (AP) — A Greek air force’s water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece on Tuesday, with both pilots feared dead, as authorities battled blazes that have been raging for days across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures.A state ERT TV video showed the CL-215 aircraft releasing its load of water on the island of Evia before its wingtip apparently snagged in a tree branch. Moments later it disappeared into a deep fold in the ground from which a fireball erupted.The air force said a search and rescue operation was underway, but the prospects were not good for the two pilots as the plane had no ejection system.A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) across parts of the country Tuesday amid a string of evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days.A fire service spokes...

Bruins’ great Patrice Bergeron calls it a career

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

One of the most distinguished careers in Boston Bruins’ history has come to an end.After 20 seasons in pro hockey, Patrice Bergeron announced his retirement on Tuesday, a day after his 38th birthday. Bergeron shared the news through the team on social media.“For the last 20 years I have been able to live my dream every day. I have had the honor of playing in front of the best fans in the world wearing the Bruins uniform and representing my country at the highest levels of international play,” he said in a statement, which he signed Patrice Bergeron-Cleary. “I have given the game everything that I have physically and emotionally, and the game has given me back more than I could have ever imagined.“It is with a full heart and a lot of gratitude that today I am announcing my retirement as a professional hockey player.”During what was most likely a Hall of Fame career, Bergeron became the gold standard for two-way excellence, receiving 11 nominations for the Selke Award, given to ...

Bergeron’s retirement statement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron, 38, announced his retirement Tuesday morning, issuing a statement delivered through the Bruins’ social media channels:“When I was around 12 years old a teacher asked everyone in my class to write about our dreams. For me, my dream was already clear: to become a professional hockey player.Steve Conroy: Bruins’ great Patrice Bergeron calls it a careerI was probably a little naive growing up, because in my mind this dream was never a question of if, but when it would happen. The path to making my dreams come true was not easy. I faced adversity and made so many sacrifices, but throughout it all my love for the game only grew and my determination to achieve my goals always remained strong.For the last 20 years I have been able to live my dream every day. I have had the honor of playing in front of the best fans in the world wearing the Bruins uniform and representing my country at the highest levels of international play. I have given the game...

Police investigating body of man found washed ashore in Salisbury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

Police in Salisbury are investigating after the body of a man washed up on shore at the center of the summer beach community.The body was discovered by a person walking along the beach in front of Ocean Front Drive  at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday.Police responded and pulled the body from ankle deep water. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.The victim has not been identified.The death is being investigated by State Police detectives, the Essex DA’s office and Salisbury Police.

Bill Belichick provides update on Patriots key starters head of training camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots have one less thing to worry about as they get ready for training camp practices to being Wednesday morning.Starting defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, who skipped mandatory minicamp, has reported for training camp, ESPN reported Tuesday morning. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was hopeful Tuesday morning that the circumstances that kept Guy out of minicamp — a situation reportedly believed to be “contract related,” per ESPN — were resolved.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains why the Patriots extended DeVante Parker, Ja’Whaun Bentley New England Patriots | Bill Belichick expects Patriots CB Jack Jones to practice amid legal situation New England Patriots | Patriots training camp 2023 preview: Bold predictions, breakout players and cut candidates New England Patriots | Patriots training camp countdown No. 1: What will Bill O’Brien’...

Blazes burn near Invermere, Cranbrook, Kamloops, as B.C. faces record wildfire season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

VANCOUVER — A wildfire in southeastern British Columbia that was first spotted Monday afternoon has charred three square kilometres in less than 24 hours and is threatening more than 1,000 properties, including a ski resort, west of Invermere.The BC Wildfire Service says smoke and challenging flying conditions have prevented accurate mapping of the blaze in mountains 10 kilometres west of Invermere and seven kilometres north of Panorama Mountain Resort.The Regional District of East Kootenay ordered evacuations late Monday for 25 properties and several recreation sites.People in more than 1,000 other properties, including the resort, have been told to be ready to leave on short notice.Strong winds are complicating firefighting efforts around Invermere and on the St. Mary’s River wildfire near Cranbrook, about 130 kilometres to the south.But the wildfire service says control lines are holding on the 41-square kilometre Cranbrook-area blaze, although evacuation orders and alerts ...

Stock market today: Wall Street holds steady ahead of Big Tech profit reports

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting Tuesday as Wall Street waits to hear from some of its most influential companies, and whether their huge rally this year was justified.The S&P 500 was 0.1% higher in morning trading, near its highest level in more than 15 months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 21 points, or 0.1%, at 34,432, as of 10:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher.General Electric was helping to lead the market as earnings reporting season picks up momentum. GE rallied 6.2% after it reported stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected. It also raised its forecasts for full-year revenue and profits.Another industrial giant, 3M, rose 5.4% after the maker of Scotch-Brite and Post-It raised its forecast for profits for the full year thanks in part to cost cutting efforts. Home builder PulteGroup climbed 5.9% after reporting stronger profit for the spring than expected. On the losing side of Wall Street were airline stocks, led by A...

Nigeria’s suspended Central Bank governor appears in court more than a month after his arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s suspended Central Bank governor appeared in court on Tuesday in the economic hub of Lagos on charges of illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition. Godwin Emefiele was suspended in early June by Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu and subsequently detained by Nigeria’s secret police. He was brought to the court in Lagos, carrying a Bible, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The presiding judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Lagos, then granted him bail despite objections from the attorney general’s office. The case was adjourned until November and the start of Emefiele’s trial.Emefiele’s appearance in court was his first in public since June 10, when he was detained by Nigeria’s secret police. The secret police had filed two counts of illegal possession of a firearm and live ammunition against Emefiele. The charge was a far lesser offense than the alleged terrorism financing and economic crimes which the ...

Judge says she won’t change ruling letting NFL coach’s racial discrimination claims proceed to trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge said Tuesday that she’s not changing her decision to let NFL Coach Brian Flores put the league and three of its teams on trial over his claims that he and other Black coaches face discrimination.Judge Valerie Caproni’s written ruling in Manhattan federal court came after both sides in the case asked her to reconsider her March decision.The judge ruled then that claims by two coaches who joined the Flores lawsuit after it was filed early last year must proceed to arbitration, where NFL Commission Roger Goodell will presumably serve as arbitrator.She said Flores can proceed to trial with his claims against the league and three teams: the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans.In February 2022, Flores sued the league and several teams, saying the league was “rife with racism,” particularly in its hiring and promotion of Black coaches.When she ruled in March, Caproni wrote that descriptions by the coaches of their experiences of racial...

Drew Barrymore will host the National Book Awards, where Oprah Winfrey will be a guest speaker

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Barrymore, whose honors include a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award, will be presiding over a more literary ceremony this fall. Barrymore will be hosting the 74th annual National Book Awards, the National Book Foundation announced Tuesday. And Oprah Winfrey, a previous winner of an honorary National Book Award, will be a guest speaker. Barrymore and Winfrey both have long histories of championing books and reading. Winfrey’s book club picks have helped dozens of works become bestsellers, while Barrymore has praised books by Tina Fey and David Sedaris, among others. “Throughout their careers, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey have each demonstrated their enduring belief that books have the power to change readers’ lives — by opening doors, sparking conversations, and building community,” David Steinberger, chair of the Board of Directors of the National Book Foundation, said in a statement. “This belief echoes the mission of the National Book Founda...