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Thousands protest ‘culture of violence’ in Serbia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Thousands of demonstrators took to Belgrade’s streets on Saturday in the fifth protest against what they claim to be escalating violence spurred on by the country’s ruling party.The movement called “Serbia against violence” was triggered after two mass shootings last month. They are the biggest since demonstrators toppled strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.Protesters expressed anger at the ruling party over a culture of violence they say is spurred by government-controlled media outlets. The demonstrators are asking for the government to revoke the broadcasting licenses of channels promoting violent content, and for a ban on newspapers that attack political dissidents. They are also seeking the resignations of the interior minister and the head of the intelligence services.“I’m here for all of us, especially my children. So they don’t need to protest, but work and live in their country like they should,” 33-year-old mathematician Bojana Popovic told AFP during the rall...

Three sand cat kittens born at North Carolina Zoo

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

(CNN) — Animal lovers can now witness three times the cuteness at the North Carolina Zoo.Three sand cat kittens were born on May 11 to first-time mother Sahara, 3, and father, Cosmo, 9, according to the North Carolina Zoo.The weeks-old kittens, who were tiny enough to fit in a person’s palm at birth, are starting to explore their home at the zoo’s Desert Habitat, according to zoo officials.The public will soon get a chance to weigh in on what their names should be in a poll, the zoo said, adding details would be shared on its social media pages and website.The kittens mark the North Carolina Zoo’s third animal birth in less than two weeks. A baby male giraffe calf was born on May 20 and a baby male chimpanzee was born the following day.Cosmo and Sahara were paired through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Sand Cat Species Survival Plan, “which aims to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of sand cats to increase their numbers,” the North Carolina Zoo ...

MBTA to conduct evacuation drill at Braintree, will simulate train striking vehicle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

The MBTA will conduct an emergency evacuation drill in Braintree Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to noon.The exercise will simulate a train making contact with a vehicle and derailing on the track next to the main rail.The MBTA says businesses in the area should expect increased activity.

Crews investigating house fire in Medford

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

A home in Medford on Dartmouth Street was a blaze Saturday, leaving significant damage to the roof area and two people sent to the hospital.The fire started on the third floor, and two residents were treated for minor smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Spencer church destroyed in fire relocates for its Sunday services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Services for the First Congregational Church of Spencer will be taking place elsewhere Sunday after a blazing fire completely destroyed their 160-year-old church on Friday. Sunday worship will meet at 10 a.m. on Washburn Square at the First Congregational Church in Leicester.Fire officials say they believe that a lightning strike caused the blaze, but the fire is still under investigation. Crews battled the flames for hours, and no injuries were reported.

Khalil Herbert eyes RB1 job in a crowded Chicago Bears backfield picture: ‘We’ve got a really strong group’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

The Chicago Bears figured to be in the market for a running back when David Montgomery exited via free agency and they signed two, adding D’Onta Foreman and Travis Homer.That provided competition for Khalil Herbert, who led all NFL running backs averaging 5.7 yards per carry in 2022, his second season. While that might have seemed like a full backfield, the Bears then dipped into a talented group in the draft, selecting Texas’ Roschon Johnson in the fourth round, an investment that hints to high hopes for his future.“Not really,” Herbert said when asked if the addition of Johnson surprised him. “You know how things go in the NFL now. They’re doing things running back by committee. You need one, two, three really good guys that really carry the rock and there be no drop-off. We’ve got a really strong group. I’m excited to see what we can do.”Running backs coach David Walker said Herbert will get the first reps with the starters as...

Column: Javier Báez is enjoying life again in Detroit — and playing a villain on the South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Javier Báez took some of his Detroit Tigers teammates on a tour of Chicago during Thursday’s off day, including a boat trip on the lake.Despite being traded during Cubs President Jed Hoyer’s summer sell-off in 2021, Báez still has the city on his mind.“The city and the people, man, the way everybody loves their sports here, not just baseball, and they really care about it, and they support everybody,” he said Friday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “We had an off day and just kind of went around the city, took all the boys. They were really excited at how nice people are here.”Was Báez still recognized on the streets?“A few (times),” he said. “You can’t hide from that.”It’s hard to imagine, but nearly 12 years have passed since former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry drafted Báez with the No. 9 pick of the 2011 draft. In his last act as GM, Hendry signed Baez to a $2.7 million bonus. Four days later,...

‘What he’s done has motivated everybody’: Liam Hendriks’ journey from cancer diagnosis to his Chicago White Sox return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Liam Hendriks did not want to rule out the first two months of the season.The Chicago White Sox closer, undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, shared those sentiments with general manager Rick Hahn in the team parking lot on the first day of spring training in Glendale, Ariz.“I also prefaced it with the fact, ‘Look, I understand it’s a business. I’m not asking for any special treatment or anything like that,’ ” Hendriks said Wednesday of attempting to make a case for avoiding the 60-day injured list. “ ‘But if there’s a chance I don’t have to go on, I would really appreciate not going on purely for my mindset because then I have something to beat.’ ”Hahn talked to someone who was part of the rehabilitation.“And they were like, ‘He’s committed,’ ” Hahn said Monday. “‘It is every bit possible that he’s going to be back within those 60 days.’”Day 6...

Police investigate after man shows up in hospital with gunshot wound

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

Police are investigating after a man walked into a hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. Police say the man showed up at an area hospital just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning with serious wounds. Investigators believe the shooting took place in the area of Midland Avenue and Sheppard Avenue East. No further details or suspect information has been released. Police are canvassing the area and anyone with information is asked to contact them.

Indian railways official says error in signaling system led to crash that killed 275 people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:21:27 GMT

BALASORE, India (AP) — The derailment in eastern India that killed 275 people and injured hundreds was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks and crash into a freight train, officials said Sunday.Authorities worked to clear the mangled wreckage of the two passenger trains that derailed Friday night in Balasore district in Odisha state in one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters in decades.An Odisha government statement revised the death toll to 275 after a top state officer put the number at over 300 on Sunday morning. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to reporters.Jaya Verma Sinha, a senior railway official, said the preliminary investigations revealed that a signal was given to the high-speed Coromandel Express to run on the main track line, but the signal later changed, and the train instead entered an adjacent loop line where it rammed into a freight loaded with iron ore. Th...