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China’s Xi says reunification with Taiwan ‘inevitable,’ ahead of crucial vote on island

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country’s reunification with Taiwan was “inevitable” in his New Year’s address on Sunday, just weeks before the self-ruled island holds elections that could reshape relations between the two.“The reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability,” Xi said; “China will surely be reunified,” according to the official translation of his speech.“All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” the text adds.Though Taiwan split from China amid civil war in 1949, Beijing considers the self-ruled island of 23 million its “sacred territory” and hasn’t ruled out the use of force in bringing the island under its control. China has increasingly ramped up its rhetoric around Taiwan and increased military pressure on the island with regular drills in recent mont...

Week 17 updates: Cole Kmet is active for the Chicago Bears and likely to extend his consecutive games streak vs. the Atlanta Falcons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

The 6-9 Chicago Bears will play the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field in a Week 17 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, CBS-2).Inactives announcedBears tight end Cole Kmet is active for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.Kmet dealt with a knee injury during the week and was listed as questionable. He never has missed a game in four seasons with the Bears, a streak of 65 straight entering Sunday.Bears center Lucas Patrick is also active after being listed as questionable with a knee issue. Left guard Teven Jenkins will return after clearing concussion protocol.Running back D’Onta Foreman, however, is inactive after practicing all week. The Bears will rely on Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson instead.As the Bears announced Friday, they will be without wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who is in concussion protocol. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates, safety Quindell Johnson, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter and quarterback Nathan Peterman also are...

Boston Wine Expo’s revamped format aging well

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

The Boston Wine Expo returns in March with various vendors, tastings, and other events, spearheaded by show director Raffaele Scalzi.The two-day expo running from March 2-3 at the Park Plaza Hotel is anticipating more than 4,000 attendees and over 100 wineries represented. While the expo has more than 20 years of existence, Scalzi took the organizational reins in 2018.Before Scalzi took over, the expo would feature around 400 vendors and roughly 12,000 attendees. With recent modifications to heighten the event’s exclusivity, Scalzi believes it will enhance the overall quality of the expo.“We hit that 4,000 attendee projection last year, so we know that there was an audience here in Boston,” he told the Herald. “We know that even though the expo had a little pause, this affluent and knowledgeable wine community is still here.”Modifications include splitting the two-day events into multiple sessions to ensure a safer environment, a more optimal tasting space for attendees and to deter...

Boston Herald EMass girls basketball Top 25 rankings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

Here is the first in-season installment of the Boston Herald EMass Top 25 girls basketball rankings. Records are through Saturday, December 30 and are as close to accurate as we could ascertain. Only games that count towards tournament seeding are stated. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to report their scores to Arbiter.1. St. Mary’s (7-0)2. Cathedral (5-1)3. Foxboro (5-1)4. Bishop Feehan (3-2)5. Central Catholic (5-1)6. Bishop Fenwick (5-1)7. Medfield (4-1)8. Andover (5-1)9. Pentucket (3-1)10. Notre Dame (4-0)11. Billerica (5-0)12. Norwood (4-0)13. Framingham (6-1)14. Winchester (5-1)15. Peabody (3-0)16. Bridgewater-Raynham (4-0)17. Dartmouth (5-0)18. Walpole (4-2)19. Needham (5-1)20. Sandwich (6-0)21. Acton-Boxboro (5-1)22. Weymouth (4-2)23. Norwell (3-1)24. Wellesley (3-1)25. Bedford (4-0)   

Tom Brady thought about unretiring in May before friends forced his hand?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

Tom Brady could have been suiting up this weekend if it weren’t for his pesky friends.As an addendum to his end-of-year Instagram post, Brady revealed (possibly in jest) that he nearly unretired for a second time in May.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Healthy-scratch Trent Brown among Patriots’ Week 17 inactives vs. Bills New England Patriots | Patriots make series of roster moves ahead of Week 17 matchup with Bills New England Patriots | Four Patriots players who can build off momentum Week 17 vs. Bills New England Patriots | Patriots-Bills preview: Can Bill Belichick upset Josh Allen and Co. again? New England Patriots | NFL notes: 9 Patriots share Bill Belichick’s impact on them “PS: The only downside to 2023 was when I was about to unretire in May and my friends threw a surprise retirement party. Kind of forced my hand ,” Brady wrote in parentheses. View this pos...

Chicago Bulls lean into a new tradition: Thor’s hammer award for defensive output. ‘You take on that challenge.’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

Throughout this week’s stretch of home games, DeMar DeRozan’s locker was decorated with a new acquisition — a replica of Thor’s hammer emblazoned with a Chicago Bulls logo.It’s a prized possession, one DeRozan had been eagerly awaiting a chance to brag about after a win against the Atlanta Hawks.“I don’t know how they keep score or how they go about it with numbers, but I got the hammer,” DeRozan said. “That’s all I know. I’m Thor for the week.”The hammer is a new tradition that reflects the Bulls coaching staff’s desire to award individual improvement on the defensive end of the court. It is awarded to a player after each five-game stretch of the season based on a variety of defensive statistics.Assistant coaches John Bryant and Josh Longstaff came up with the idea during the offseason, presenting it to coach Billy Donovan and the players as a way to motivate defensive improvement throughout the season.Th...

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II to step down from throne on Jan. 14

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II has announced her decision to abdicate the throne next month. The 83-year-old monarch, whose role is largely ceremonial, made the announcement on Sunday during her New Year’s speech.She said she would step down on Jan. 14, which is the anniversary of the 1972 death of her father, King Frederik IX, and her succeeding him on the throne. The Associated Press

German officials detain 3 more suspects in connection with a Cologne Cathedral attack threat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Three more people were detained Sunday in connection with a reported threat of an attack on the Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, German authorities said.The detentions came only days after a 30-year-old Tajik man was detained in relation to an alleged plot to attack the world-famous cathedral by Islamic extremists in the western German city.The suspects were detained in the western cities of Duisburg, Herne and Dueren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and their apartments were also searched there. No details about their identities were released. All of the detained suspects — including the Tajik who was arrested last week — allegedly belong to a larger network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.The attack was supposed to have been carried out with a car, dpa reported.North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul called the detention...

Fans call out Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson for claiming to try In-N-Out for the 'first' time: 'This is a lie'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – There’s a first time for everything. But if you’re Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, sometimes there are several “first times” for the same thing.Last weekend, Johnson shared a video to his social media accounts which purportedly documented his “first ever @innout burger experience.”“Rolled up in my pick up and tried to be cool af with my order,” Johnson captioned the posts, which he shared just before Christmas. “But I didn’t know the lingo, didn’t know who to pay, where to pay, didn’t know s---,” he wrote. In-N-Out Burger giving out free hot cocoa on rainy days The video, at just over two minutes long, appeared to show Johnson visiting two different locations for two separate “cheat day” meals. He was also recognized at both drive-thrus, and stopped to take pictures with staff.Many viewers lauded Johnsons for being so gracious and approachable during his visits, while others suggested he try some of their favorite In-N-Out menu items on his next cheat day.Some, however, see...

Sarkisian, DeBoer eager to get on the Sugar Bowl field and 'battle'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's almost here.After a month of recruiting, practicing, visiting family for the holidays and game planning, the Sugar Bowl kicks off Monday night with Washington and Texas squaring off in a College Football Playoff semifinal for a spot in the national championship. How Sarkisian, Texas continue to build a winning culture that transcends football It seems like ages ago when the Longhorns whipped Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Conference championship game and the Huskies beat rival Oregon for a second time this season to win the Pac-12, and both coaches are ready to get back under the lights."This has been a lot this month, so it's finally fun to be a day away from the ballgame," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said Sunday morning. "I know our players are excited to play in the game and they're looking forward to it. They feel like they've earned the opportunity to be in this position."Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer said his players are enjoying the moment. ...