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After summer heat, economic chill

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

BRUSSELS — While Europe counts the cost of wildfires and record high temperatures, governments are facing up to a decidedly frosty fall and winter.Buffeted by rising borrowing costs and a decline in business and consumer confidence, the eurozone economy is weakening rapidly. Interest rates this week were increased to record-equaling levels, inflation is falling but remains stubbornly high, and, on Friday, there came a fresh warning from the European Commission about the sluggishness of growth.It all adds up to a bleak picture that suggests the cost-of-living crisis triggered first by the fallout from the COVID pandemic and then by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will seep into the winter, making life difficult for millions of European citizens and putting pressure on political leaders from Paris to Berlin and Brussels.“After stagnating at the start of the year, growth is likely to remain subdued” over the course of the year,  EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentilo...

Yankees Notebook: Oswald Peraza, Willie Calhoun caught in roster shuffle with Aaron Judge’s return

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

BALTIMORE — With Aaron Judge back in the mix, the Yankees had to make a few roster moves on Friday.The Yankees activated Judge for their series opener in Baltimore. To make space on the big league roster, they demoted infield prospect Oswald Peraza.The Yankees could have removed an outfielder with Judge back, but maintaining depth was important there, as he will need some DH and off days as he returns from a torn ligament in his right big toe that’s not 100% healed yet.Outfielders Greg Allen, Billy McKinney and, to a lesser extent, Jake Bauers could have all been alternatives for Peraza, but none of them have options. Peraza does, so he became the odd man out again after losing the Yankees’ starting shortstop battle to Anthony Volpe in the spring.While Peraza has played well at Triple-A, he hasn’t done much with limited major league opportunities this season. Still, Aaron Boone is pleased with the professionalism Peraza has shown all year as he’s bounce...

Wake up: MBTA employee suspended for sleeping on the job

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

An MBTA employee accused of sleeping on the job has been suspended, an agency spokesperson said.The suspension comes after a video came to light showing an employee sleeping in his car during work hours on what appeared to be multiple occasions. A T employee who asked to remain anonymous shared the video with the Herald.On Friday, after viewing the video, MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said the employee is off the job for the time being, but would not confirm the job title or name that was provided to the Herald. The employee in question is a bus inspector, according to the source who shot the video.“The MBTA is committed to delivering high-quality service and takes allegations of employee misconduct seriously,” Pesaturo said in a statement. “This employee has been suspended with pay while the MBTA conducts an investigation.”Violations of safety-related rules can result in suspensions ranging from three to 70 days, followed by termination, he said in a prior statement.This employee ...

Lucas: Bay State bullied by Ayotte, DeSantis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

Gov. Maura Healey ought to put the Massachusetts National guard on alert.That is because if Republican Kelly Ayotte is elected governor of New Hampshire, the Bay State could be caught in a two-front “war.”Under Healey the state is already involved in a war of words with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida.New Hampshire could be next if Healey is up to the challenge. She is, after all, from New Hampshire.The Florida war began with the exodus of thousands of Massachusetts residents seeking lower taxes, less crime and a better quality of life, abandoned Massachusetts for the Sunshine state. They are still fleeing.The problem was exacerbated when DeSantis boldly flew in 50 illegal immigrants, mostly Venezuelans, into toney Martha’s Vineyard, catching everyone off guard.Martha’s Vineyard residents welcomed them,  but could not get them off the island fast enough.Despite a lawsuit from a civil right group accusing DeSantis of conducting a “fraudulent and illegal scheme” by sending the illegal i...

Mets Notebook: Reed Garrett takes roster spot of traded David Robertson

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

Reed Garrett might be taking the place of David Robertson on the Mets’ roster, but the right-hander won’t be taking on his role in the bullpen.The Mets called up the minor league journeyman to take the spot of Robertson on the roster Friday afternoon after the veteran reliever was traded to the Miami Marlins for two rookie-level prospects one night prior. The clubhouse knew this was coming, even if they wanted the front office to keep the group together to give them a chance to get back into the playoff race, and one of the main reasons the Mets are forced to sell this weekend is because the bullpen has been so bad outside of Robertson, Brooks Raley and Adam Ottavino.But the Mets have to move on and figure out new bullpen roles, especially since Raley and Ottavino will likely be traded this weekend as well. That would leave right-hander Drew Smith as the only reliever with high-leverage experience and Smith has not shown that he can handle those innings. Save opportuniti...

Casas, Crawford lead Red Sox past Giants 3-2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

Triston Casas went down in a heap. The big Red Sox first baseman had just fouled a pitch right off his shin, and while it undoubtedly hurt like crazy Casas was able to gather himself and step back into the box.Then, he sent the next pitch he saw 435 feet into the center field bleachers.One of the hottest hitters in baseball since the All-Star break, Casas kept things going with another huge game to power the Red Sox to a 3-2 win over the San Francisco Giants to kick off their latest west coast trip. He went 2 for 4 with two RBI, crushing the solo home run along with a run-scoring ground rule double, and starting pitcher Kutter Crawford earned the win after delivering one of his best outings of the season.Casas started the scoring in the top of the second after Adam Duvall doubled down the left field line, bringing him in with a bomb to straightaway center that bounced off the warning track and into the outfield stands. He then homered his next time up to lead off the fifth, promptin...

Franks: GOP continues to chase away the Black vote

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

Maybe it is time to revamp your campaign, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. I am guessing you have the “A Team” of consultants. OK. What have they done for you lately?Is it possible that one of your consultants participated, aided, or abetted the campaign of the Arizona congressman who referred to Black Americans as “colored people”? (His words were unanimously stricken from the congressional record).Not trying to make mountains out of mole hills, but in close presidential elections it is often the little things – the perception of being out of touch – that can cause your defeat.For example, the Florida Board of Education is doing the GOP a disservice by “inferring” that slavery had some redeeming aspects for the enslaved. Clearly the educators have not been very well educated.Binge watching “Roots,” the TV mini-series of the 1970s, should be of help to them. Slaves learning from slavery? Remember how Kunta Kinte “learned” his name Toby? I guess you can say “learning” was “painful.”For...

Battenfeld: MBTA chief dishes out high-paying jobs with no bidding or advertising

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

The MBTA did not advertise or put out to bid four new high-ranking hires that could end up costing more than $1 million a year, officials admit.T General Manager Phillip Eng instead dished out the four new positions to cronies that he worked with at previous jobs in New York.Dennis Varley, the new “chief of stations” who worked with Eng at the Long Island Railroad, will be making $265,000 a year.Another Long Island Railroad official, Rod Brooks, the new “senior adviser for capital operations and safety,” will be making $120 an hour. If Brooks works a 40-hour week that comes out to more than $250,000 a year.Sam Zhou, the new “assistant general manager of engineering and capital,” who comes from the New York Department of Transportation, will also be making $265,000 annually.Doug Connett, the new “chief of infrastructure” who worked with Eng in New York, will be pulling down a mere $260,000 a year.Eng must be emulating the UMass system, which routinely hires “assistant vice chancellor...

Could top prospect Jackson Holliday join the Orioles this season? GM Mike Elias ‘wouldn’t rule it out.’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

The chances Jackson Holliday makes his MLB debut this season are small. But they’re not zero.Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said Friday he “wouldn’t rule it out” when asked if Holliday could play for Baltimore in 2023. However, Elias followed that by downplaying the possibility of the 19-year-old top prospect from jumping two more levels in the season’s final two months.“I wouldn’t rule it out, but, I mean, I don’t rule out anything, as you can probably tell,” Elias said during his pre-trade deadline news conference. “One step at a time. He’s in Double-A. He was in high school a year ago.”Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in last summer’s draft, has dominated every level of the minor leagues. The shortstop hit .396 with Low-A Delmarva to begin his first full professional season, posted a .940 OPS in 57 games with High-A Aberdeen and is now hitting .357 in 10 games with Doubl...

Bono: How to stop our kids from vaping

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:11 GMT

At a recent congressional hearing, Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, expressed concern about the illegal Chinese-manufactured flavored, disposable vaping products widely available nationwide. He noted that many of these products are made in unregulated facilities and could be laced with fentanyl — threatening the health and well-being of children.In response, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf said it is of great concern that the highly lethal drug is now ending up in illegal, foreign-made vapes and that the United States needs an all-of-government approach to protect kids from this threat.As a parent and grandparent, I couldn’t agree more.It is not that the government has done nothing, but it needs to do more.In 2020, the FDA removed flavored, cartridge-based e-cigarettes from store shelves.  Unfortunately, it did not include the illegal, flavored, disposable vapes that appeal to minors. As a result, these products continue to be produced and aggressively market...