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How to experience Europe’s Northern Lights by rail

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

Scott Hartbeck | (TNS) TravelPulseDespite conventional wisdom, Europe is still a dream come true come wintertime. From the merriment of myriad Christmas markets to joyous carnival celebrations, the continent shines bright during the season of darkness.But nothing dazzles quite like the Northern Lights.At their best during the winter months, the Northern Lights are a thrill to those lucky enough to gaze upon them, and the colorful display happens to be entering a period of increased activity.While finding them is an inexact science due to the famously fickle nature of the lights, many locations across the northern tier of the continent offer travelers increased odds all winter long.And since seeing Europe by rail is always a thrill and you can reach almost any corner of the continent on a train, why not combine the two experiences for a winter trip you will remember forever?Think days spent gazing out the window at winter wonderlands and nights chasing the magical lights outdoors and...

Bailey Zappe says players don’t know which Patriots QB will start

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

FOXBORO — Apparently Bill Belichick isn’t just keeping the Patriots’ starting quarterback decision a mystery to the media.When asked if players know who will start at quarterback in Week 12 against the Giants, Bailey Zappe answered, “no.”Jones and Zappe both took reps at quarterback in front of the media this week. Jones, Zappe and Will Grier took first-team reps during the bye week. Rookie Malik Cunningham told the Herald this week that he hasn’t regularly practiced at quarterback since Week 6.Zappe was asked if he finds it unusual that Belichick hasn’t told the team.“That’s Coach Belichick’s decision,” Zappe said. “He’s the head coach for a reason. He makes those decisions, and we just play football.”Jones told the media this week that his plan was to start. What’s Zappe’s plan?“Yeah, my plan every week is just to be prepared, take every rep like it’s a game rep,” Zapp...

Protesters on Nantucket cheer, jeer Bidens before early dinner out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

Seems some in Nantucket decided put their sherry down and head into town to greet President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden as they headed into the Brotherhood of the Thieves restaurant.The White House pool report from Friday afternoon stated: “As POTUS and FLOTUS walked up Broad Street there were large groups of people gathered. Some protesters — maybe a handful — yelled ‘Free Palestine’ and “Ceasefire.'”The pool reporter added, “many other people were cheering.”At 2:42 p.m., the Bidens walked into the restaurant named after a riot on the island in 1842 after abolitionists objected to the town’s continued refusal to integrate the schools. The menu runs from $36 for a lobster roll to $8 for a cup of clam chowder.Before the late lunch or early dinner, Biden spoke about the hostage release in Israel he said a “goal” is to have more people released.“We expect more hostages to be released tomorrow, and more the day ...

Patriots-Giants injury report: Trent Brown among 7 Patriots questionable, none out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

The Patriots listed seven players on their final injury report Friday, including left tackle Trent Brown and wide receiver DeVante Parker. All seven are officially questionable.Brown and Parker were limited in practice all week. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore was removed from the list with a knee injury, indicating he’s been cleared. In New York, wide receiver Darius Slayton and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are doubtful. Lawrence did not practice once this week.Both teams’ complete injury reports are below.GIANTSOutOL Evan Neal, AnkleDoubtfulDL Dexter Lawrence, HamstringWR Darius Slayton, NeckQuestionableRB Eric Gray, AnkleRelated ArticlesNew England Patriots | Bailey Zappe says players don’t know which Patriots QB will start New England Patriots | Malik Cunningham says he’s not part of Patriots QB plans ahead of Week 12 New England Patriots | Patriots preparing to face ‘unique’ force in middle of...

Optical phenomenon: Sundog spotted above San Diego County mountain range

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A parhelia hovered above the tips of the Pinyon Mountains in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park this week, creating an atmospheric optical phenomenon.A parhelia, which means "with the sun," is also known as a sundog or a mock sun. As described by the National Weather Service (NWS), "sundogs are colored spots of light that develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals." How are freeway exits numbered in California and why? Sundogs can occur anywhere, anytime of the year. They aren't exclusive to cold climates, but rather seen when cirrus clouds form in the sky."They are located approximately 22 degrees either left, right, or both, from the sun, depending on where the ice crystals are present," NWS explained further.The colors usually go from red closest to the sun, out to blue on the outside of the sundog, which can be noticed in the image captured by Sicco Rood on Wednesday, Nov. 22. A sundog above the Pinyon Mountains. (Photo: Sicco Rood / Image ...

Palestinian families rejoice over release of minors and women in wartime prisoner swap

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

BEITUNIA, West Bank (AP) — Over three dozen Palestinian prisoners returned home to a hero’s welcome in the occupied West Bank on Friday following their release from Israeli prisons as part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas.The procession of freed prisoners, some accused of minor offenses and others convicted in attacks, at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting, clapping, hand-waving, screaming frenzy. Fifteen dazed young men, all in stained grey prison sweatsuits and looking tight with exhaustion, glided through the streets on the shoulders of their teary-eyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing color and patriotic Palestinian pop music blared. Some of those released were draped in Palestinian flags, others in the green flags of Hamas. They flashed victory signs as they crowd-surfed.“I have no words, I have no words,” said newly released 17-year-old Jamal Brahma, searching for something to say to th...

‘We’re moving forward’: Ford insists 5-year-old promise to end Beer Store monopoly is coming

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

It’s looking more and more likely it will be last call for The Beer Store in Ontario. Premier Doug Ford said Friday he plans to finally make good on a five-year-old promise to bring beer and wine sales to the corner store.“We’re the only jurisdiction in the entire world that you can’t go into the retail store and buy a case of beer or a bottle of wine when you’re buying a steak for dinner or whatever you’re buying,” the premier said during a separate announcement in Mississauga on Friday. “It just doesn’t make sense so we’re moving forward with it.”Since the end of prohibition, beer in Ontario has primarily been sold at The Beer Store which began as a collection of Canadian brewers. These days, two multinational companies – Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch InBev – own a majority of the operation which has 424 locations across the province, giving it a huge competitive advantage. Related: Is this ...

Clarity an essential feature of a foreign influence registry: consultation summary

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

OTTAWA — Respondents to a public consultation favoured establishing a foreign influence transparency registry, but stressed a need for clarity on how it would work, the federal government said Friday.A newly released summary of the consultation says participants wanted a registry to appropriately define who has to sign on and to spell out what falls within the scope of covered activities. Following a flurry of media stories about alleged foreign interference, Public Safety Canada announced a consultation in March on how Canada could implement a foreign influence transparency registry. States might engage in interference to advance foreign political goals, and can employ people to act on their behalf without disclosing ties to the foreign state. Some believe that requiring these individuals to formally register with the government they are trying to influence, with the possibility of fines or even prison time for failing to comply, can make such dealings more transparent. The consult...

Malvern Family Resource Centre provides wide range of Scarborough community programming

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

When it comes to community gathering spaces in the Scarborough neighbourhood of Morningside Heights, the Malvern Family Resource Centre (MFRC) is arguably near the top.The place is a busy destination with seniors playing badminton with younger adults, delicious meals being prepped in the kitchen, intergenerational interactions and a sense of togetherness.Balasingham Arumujam has been coordinating the wood-burning art program at the centre for the past four years. He’s been in Canada since 2007.“I just want to give back something for the community, which I have learned and I started classes about three or four years back and number of students, seniors, especially seniors, and they have learned and they have mastered the art very well. And I am proud of it,” Arumujam told CityNews. “MFRC is a place where love is ‘overjoying,’ overflowing and the staff is very nice, very understanding,” he added.The participants of his program said it does more than just ...

A deer made its way to Toronto’s Union Station

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:16:23 GMT

Oh, deer. Some Toronto commuters were caught off guard on Thursday afternoon when a deer was caught in the headlights at Union Station.Just before 5 p.m., a deer was found nestled underneath a Milton GO train as several transit riders looked on.Deer at Union Station byu/mrdriedairbags intorontoA brief alert at Union Station read, “Wildlife on tracks.”Metrolinx says employees attempted to rescue the deer from underneath the train without success. The deer eventually left on its own and was not injured. For real doe, train delays were minimal. Clever Redditors were quick to poke fun at the situation, with one poster asking if the deer would ride for free.“They buy fare for a buck.”