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Belgium’s trans-friendly reputation faces far-right rise

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

BRUSSELS — Belgium has built a reputation as among the most progressive EU countries on trans rights.For the past five years, people there can legally change their gender and name without medical certification. Its current government includes a transgender politician in a leading position.And, just recently, the city of Ghent in Belgium’s northern Flanders region polished those progressive credentials by granting city officials a month of leave to undergo gender transition.But that polish may rub off if far-right Vlaams Belang gains power in government.Vlaams Belang or “Flemish Interest,” a separatist party that dominates Flanders, has been leading in polls. The party has expressed concern over a “growing trend of minors identifying as transgender” and called for “hormone therapy and sex surgery to be halted for underage patients until clear and concrete research has been carried out.”With elections on the horizon, there are fears that Vlaams Belang ...

Georgia’s EU dreams live or die with Mikheil Saakashvili

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

TBILISI, Georgia — Almost every day, Giuli Alasania makes the drive down a dusty highway through the Georgian capital to visit her son, former President Mikheil Saakashvili, in hospital.“It’s ironic,” she says, fussing over the plastic pots of stewed beans and salads she is bringing for his lunch, “when he was president, he built this clinic. Now he’s dying in it.”Ailing and imprisoned, Saakashvili holds Georgia’s future in his hands.Confined to his hospital room, he told POLITICO that his life or death will have an enormous impact on whether Georgia has a realistic chance of joining the European Union, in a scribbled note passed to his legal team.“I am fighting for my life and for this country,” he wrote, “of course, they might still drive me to a lethal outcome and it would be a terrible signal in this hybrid war for the entire region and embolden autocracies and wannabe despots.”Saakashvili’s enormous influence — a decade after he left the presidency — comes despite h...

Boston Healthcare for the Homeless providing care to most during high heat

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

Boston Healthcare for the Homeless teams were out in the city over the last few days providing care to individuals who were out in the extreme heat.Dr, Rebecca Lee of the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program said staffers aim to provide care to those who are outside year-round and choose not to participate in the shelter program or go to a cooling center for a variety of reasons.“In Boston that means some pretty extreme temperatures,” she said.The street team is helping individuals in the city who could be dealing with dehydration and other heat-related illness. People looking to help out can donate water or a gift card to the program.

J.D. Davis homers in 9th to give the Giants a 3-2 win over the Red Sox

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — J.D. Davis homered on the first pitch from Maurico Llovera in the ninth inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.After the Red Sox tied it in the top of the ninth on Justin Turner’s two-run single against All-Star closer Camilo Dovall that deflected off diving second baseman Casey Schmitt’s glove and rolled into center field, Davis came through for San Francisco with his second game-ending hit of the season.Llovera (1-1) was acquired by Boston from San Francisco earlier this week.Giants slugger Wilmer Flores continued his hot streak with three hits and an RBI and made a terrific defensive play at first base.Marco Luciano added two hits as the Giants remained unbeaten when using Ryan Walker as an opener this season. San Francisco won for third time in 10 games.Doval (3-3) got the win after blowing the save.Justin Turner doubled for Boston, the 20th time in the last 22 games that the versatile two-time All-Sta...

Justin Turner ties game in ninth, but Red Sox fall 3-2 on Giants walk-off home run

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

The San Francisco Giants let the Red Sox hang around all game, and for a brief moment it looked like it might cost them. After being held to just three hits through the first eight innings, the Red Sox finally broke out and tied the game in the ninth, with Justin Turner coming through in the clutch again with a game-tying two-run single.But in the bottom of the ninth, the Giants only needed one pitch to put the Red Sox away.J.D. Davis crushed the first pitch he saw from Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen for a walk-off solo home run, giving the Giants the 3-2 win on a day where they finished 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners on base.In the process, San Francisco snapped Boston’s five-game winning streak, setting up a big rubber match on Sunday to conclude the series.Sean Manaea, who threw a no-hitter against the Red Sox the last time he faced them in the Bay Area during his time with Oakland, continued his dominance over Boston. Coming on in the third...

Two Del Mar race horses euthanized after injuries; mark first deaths of season

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Two horses competing at the Del Mar Racetrack have been euthanized within the first week of the 2023 season -- both after sustaining injuries during workout sessions.The first fatality occurred on Friday, a spokesperson for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club confirmed. The horse, a five-year-old mare named Nevisian Sunrise, was exercising when she lost her rider and ran off, later crashing into a fence post.In the collision, the mare, who had finished third in last Saturday's Osunitas Stakes race, sustained severe injuries that veteriarians believed ultimately required euthanasia, Club spokesperson Mac McBride said in a statement to FOX 5. These county parks will be closed to visitors next month "(It was) a freak accident," McBride added. "Attending veterinarians felt there was no choice but to humanely euthanize her."Just a day later, on Saturday, a second horse also sustained a non-operable musculoskeletal injury during a workout on the main track and was later euthanize...

Rangers get Scherzer from Mets in all-in blockbuster from surprise AL West leaders, AP source says

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

The Texas Rangers acquired three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in a blockbuster trade with the New York Mets on Saturday night, an all-in move for the surprise leaders in the AL West, a person with knowledge of the deal said.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been announced.The Rangers added the 39-year-old Scherzer with another former Mets pitcher with Cy Young credentials, two-time winner Jacob deGrom, sidelined by Tommy John elbow surgery, possibly all the way through the end of next season.According to multiple reports, the deal nets New York one of the top Texas prospects in infielder Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. As part of the deal, Scherzer agreed to opt in on the final year of his contract in 2024 at $43 million, according to reports that also said the Mets were paying about $35 million of the remaining $58 million on the right-hander’s contract. The Mets, one of baseba...

In summer heat, bear spotted in Southern California backyard Jacuzzi

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — With the summer heat wave in full swing in Southern California, a backyard pool is a tempting place to take a dip.Even for a bear.Police in the city of Burbank responded to a report of a bear sighting in a residential neighborhood and found the animal sitting in a Jacuzzi behind one of the homes.After a short dip, the bear climbed over a wall and headed to a tree behind the home, police said in a statement Friday.Police released a video of the animal in the neighborhood, which is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Los Angeles and near the Verdugo Mountains.The Burbank police have issued warnings for residents to avoid bears and to keep all garbage and food locked up to discourage bears from coming to their residences.The Associated Press

Canadian 4x100m men’s relay team finally receives Olympic silver medals

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

The Canadian men’s 4×100-metre relay team received its Olympic silver medals Saturday at the Canadian national trials in a medal reallocation ceremony.The group of Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Jerome Blake had initially earned bronze in the event at the Tokyo Games two years ago.However, an official upgrade came in May 2022 following the disqualification of the British team due to a doping violation by team member CJ Ujah.The group received it at McLeod Stadium in Langley in front of cheering fans, with the original Tokyo race broadcast on the big screen display before the medals were awarded.“I forgot how heavy this was,” said Brown while lifting the medal following the ceremony.“When we were in Tokyo there wasn’t a lot of fans and a lot of support so it was pretty empty. You could hear an echo in there. Here, our fans, our people that support us — our families are here, our friends our here — it’s a special moment to rel...

Chicago celebrates final Silver Room Block Party

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 11:48:13 GMT

CHICAGO — A well-known multicultural, family-friendly music and arts festival on the South Side is coming to an end after nearly two decades.The Silver Room Block Party extended nearly 10 blocks down the lakefront on the South Side this summer, and has been a Chicago staple for 18 years. But with the growth experienced by the festival over time, a hefty price tag for the event organizer has come with it, leading him to say it's a wrap for the summer attraction after this year."It's been a long run," said Eric Williams, founder of the Silver Room Block Party. "It was never meant to be this. It was meant to be 100 people and I think over time it just became a lot of work for me, a lot of money putting this together [so], it's time to take a step back."The Silver Room Block Party got its start in Wicker Park in 2002. It was then moved to Hyde Park for several years before being relocated to its current location — Oakwood Beach near 39th Street. More from Jewell: Faith, community lead...