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Maura Healey seeks national exposure, leaving crises at home to others

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

With the Sumner Tunnel closed and the MBTA in perpetual crisis, Gov. Maura Healey seems more interested in burnishing her national credentials than attending to problems at home.Healey, one of the first openly lesbian governors in the nation, spent a week in Ireland celebrating LGBTQ rights — positioning herself as one of the prominent leaders on that issue in the country.Even though she’s just in the first year of her term, Healey may already be getting tired of dealing with state issues like a late budget and legislative gridlock on tax relief.What could be in Healey’s future in the next few years is still unclear but running for a second term seems far, far away and less and less likely.Instead Healey could be waiting for a national appointment to the Biden administration or a U.S. Senate seat to open up.If Joe Biden doesn’t run again that would likely lead to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren mounting another presidential campaign that could take her out of her Senate seat. You’l...

Depression after traumatic brain injury may not be the same as depression from other causes: Brigham study

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

A new study suggests that depression after traumatic brain injury may not be the same as depression related to other causes, according to researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital.The study of 273 people found that brain circuits associated with depression were different between people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and those without TBI.“Our findings help explain how the physical trauma to specific brain circuits can lead to development of depression,” said study leader Shan Siddiqi, of the Brigham’s Department of Psychiatry and Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics.“If we’re right, it means that we should be treating depression after TBI like a distinct disease,” Siddiqi added. “Many clinicians have suspected that this is a clinically distinct disorder with a unique pattern of symptoms and unique treatment response, including poor response to conventional antidepressants — but until now, we didn’t have clear physiologica...

Earth’s average temperature matches record high set a day earlier

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

Earth’s average temperature on Wednesday remained at an unofficial record high set the day before, the latest grim milestone in a week that has seen series of climate-change-driven extremes.The average global temperature was 17.18 Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world’s condition. That matched a record set Tuesday, and came after a previous record of 17.01 Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) was set Monday.While the figures are not an official government record, “this is showing us an indication of where we are right now,” said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Sarah Kapnick. And NOAA indicated it will take the figures into consideration for its official record calculations.Scientists generally use much longer measurements — months, years, decades — to track the Earth’s warming, but the daily highs are an indication that cl...

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits China as part of efforts to sooth strained relations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing on Thursday for meetings with Chinese leaders as part of efforts to revive relations that are strained by disputes about security, technology and other irritants.Yellen planned to focus on stabilizing the global economy and challenging Chinese support of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, Treasury officials in Washington told reporters ahead of the trip.The secretary was due to meet with Chinese officials, American businesspeople and members of the public, according to Treasury officials. They gave no details, but said Yellen wouldn’t meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Yellen follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who met Xi last month in the highest-level U.S. visit to Beijing in five years. The two agreed to stabilize relations but failed to agree on improving communications between their militaries.Yellen earlier warned against economic decoupling, or disconnecting U.S. and Chinese industry and markets. Busines...

Wagner chief Prigozhin is in Russia weeks after mutiny, president of Belarus says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg and his Wagner troops have remained at the camps where they had stayed before a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the president of Belarus said Thursday.Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko helped broker a deal for Prigozhin to end his rebellion on June 24 in exchange for amnesty and security guarantees for himself and his soldiers and permission to move to Belarus.However, few details of the agreement have emerged, and the whereabouts and futures of the Wagner company’s chief and his private army have remained unclear. The Kremlin has refused to comment on Prigozhin’s location or movements since the abortive revolt.After saying last week that Prigozhin was in Belarus, Lukashenko told international reporters Thursday that the mercenary leader was in St. Petersburg and Wagner’s troops still were at their camps.He did not specify the location of the camps, but Prigozhin’s merc...

The Australian government distances itself from Donald Trump Jr.’s postponed tour

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s center-left government distanced itself Thursday from the postponement of Donald Trump Jr.’s speaking tour in Australia.His promoters said the eldest son of the former U.S. president was deferring visits to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane because his Australian visa was only approved on Wednesday, 24 hours before he was to board a flight.“It seems America isn’t the only country that makes it difficult for the Trumps,” said Turning Point Australia, a local version of the U.S. conservative political organization.Some conservatives accuse Australia’s Labor Party administration of delaying Trump Jr.’s visa process.But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was not responsible for Trump Jr.’s change of plans.“Donald Trump Jr.’s visa was dealt with in the normal way and, like anyone else, he was entitled to come here,” Albanese said. “The deferral of his travel is a matter for him.”More than 20,000 people had joined an online ...

Nigeria triggers national response plan for annual deadly floods; 14 states on alert

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The Nigerian government has activated its national response plan ahead of what’s expected to be another round of annual flooding related to climate change, with several states seen as hotspots on alert, authorities told The Associated Press on Thursday.After last year’s floods that killed more than 600 people, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency said it has begun to work ahead of what’s predicted to be another dangerous deluge. The agency has sought air support from the country’s air force and has activated its offices for quick response across the country, spokesman Manzo Ezekiel said.“As it is, the (flooding) outlook is still very gloomy and we are doing our best to raise awareness and get the various agencies to prepare accordingly,” said Ezekiel.The West African nation suffers deadly flooding every year often as a result of ignored environmental guidelines and inadequate infrastructure. However, last year’s floods worsened...

No more free coffee on your birthday? Companies rein in customer rewards programs – here’s why

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Reward programs, including birthday freebies and discounts, have long been a way for brands to build loyalty and incentivize spending. But now some companies are becoming a bit more stingy — and customers are taking notice.Last fall, for example, many balked at Dunkin’s decision to stop offering a free drink on their birthday and instead give them triple loyalty points on their purchase. On June 1, Sephora started requiring a $25 minimum purchase for online customers looking to claim a free gift and 250 loyalty points during their birthday month. And Red Robin added a dine-in only and $4.99 minimum purchase requirement for customers to get their free birthday burger.Changes to birthday rewards or redemption requirements aren’t new. Starbucks, which gives its rewards members a free drink or food item for their birthdays, progressively limited the timeframe for redeeming that gift over the years — from 30 days, to one week, to four days and, finally, to just th...

Toronto home sales and prices up from last June, down from May: TRREB

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

Toronto homebuyers that snapped up a property last month paid more on average than they did a year ago but less than they would have if they closed the deal in May, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board said Thursday.The Ontario housing board made the same observation about last month’s sales figures and attributed the trends to a mix of market conditions that have left interest in buying a home high but mortgage rates tough to grapple with and supply tight.“Home sales were hampered last month by uncertainty surrounding the Bank of Canada’s outlook on inflation and interest rates,” Paul Baron, the board’s president, said in a press release.“Furthermore, a persistent lack of inventory likely sidelined some willing buyers because they couldn’t find a home meeting their needs. Simply put, you can’t buy what is not available.”While 2023 opened with buyers sidelined as interest rates climbed and prospective sellers spooked from selling the...

ValleyCats ascending the East ahead of All-Star break

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:19:51 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Tri-City ValleyCats have been steadily clawing their way up the Frontier League East standings. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! With just four games remaining before the All-Star break, manager Pete Incaviglia likes what he's seen out of his squad in the first half of the season."I mean, obviously we'd love to be in first place," said Incaviglia. "But we're right in the thick of things, and right where we need to be. We need to continue to get better as a ball club. I'm very pleased with the way we're playing. I'm very pleased with the product on the field, and how the guys go about their business and compete every day."After posting just an 8-9 record in May, the ValleyCats ramped up their play in June to the tune of a 17-9 mark. And following an 18-4 beatdown of the Empire State Greys at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium Wednesday night, they improved their overall record to 28-19.Tri-City now finds itse...