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Sunak raises ‘humanitarian pauses’ with Netanyahu

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said Britain “will continue to do everything we can” to get aid into Gaza as it emerged the country is discussing plans with France and the Netherlands to send shipments directly by sea to the besieged and blockaded Palestinian territory. Israel, which controls Gaza’s air, land and sea borders, imposed a “complete siege” on the territory in early October after an attack by Hamas. In doing so it cut off fuel, water and electricity — and stopped aid delivery of food and medicine — to 2.2 million people. The majority of Gaza’s residents rely on humanitarian assistance, and before the Israel-Hamas war hundreds of aid trucks crossed into Gaza daily. Since the outbreak of hostilities, however, only dozens have been allowed across the border. Sunak’s statement comes after the first British nationals crossed the Rafah border crossing from Gaza into Egypt, following days of uncertainty about when foreign n...

Rishi Sunak defends Elon Musk ahead of AI summit face-to-face

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended his decision to invite tech tycoon Elon Musk to a livestreamed conversation to mark the end of his two-day AI Safety Summit this week.The billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and X is expected to attend both days of the summit before joining the U.K. PM for a tête-à-tête on Thursday evening to reflect on efforts to manage the risks of advanced AI.“I think actually if you listen to what Elon Musk is saying, he’s someone who for a long time has been talking about the potential risk of AI and its existential risks,” Sunak told POLITICO’s Power Play podcast. “But he also talks very passionately as he did today about the incredible benefits that AI can bring — and what I want to do is make sure people are reassured.”Pressed again on whether it was appropriate for Sunak to give a “special welcome for someone who is criticized for spreading disinformation and endorsing unverified posts,” the ...

Neighbors in Medford react to attack on postal worker as search for suspects continues

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

Authorities are continuing to gather surveillance video as the search for a group of suspects who attacked a mail carrier in Medford continued on Wednesday.US Postal Service officials said a letter carrier was delivering mail in the area of Arden Road and Winthrop Street just before noon on Tuesday when a group of “several unidentified suspects” attacked the victim, leaving the carrier with significant but not life-threatening injuries.Medford police at the time said he suffered serious facial injuries, and noted that the suspects appeared to steal the master key for the mail box(es) on the carrier’s letter route.While the suspects’ getaway car was later found in Lowell, a large backpack was also found four houses down from the scene of the attack.“I saw it, I came inside and told my husband, I said ‘Is that your bag, I’ve never seen it before,’ and he said ‘No,’ so that’s when we called the police,” Michelle Ab...

Father held without bail after arrest in connection with 4-year-old son’s shooting in Cranston, RI

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

A Rhode Island father was in court Wednesday, one day after his arrest in connection with the shooting of his 4-year-old son in Cranston.Michael Jones, 33, was arraigned on felony charges of assault with a handgun, assault on the body of a juvenile and possession of a handgun after being convicted of a violent crime. Jones was being held without bail as of Wednesday afternoon and is due back in court next week. Cranston police in a statement said emergency crews first responded to a home on Queen Street around 10:15 a.m. Tuesday after receiving a 911 call reporting a four-year-old boy had been shot. “The caller indicated the father was responsible for the shooting,” police said. Police said officers arrived to find Jones holding his son with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The child was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and remained in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon. Police said authorities took Jones into custody. Cranston police said investiga...

Cold tonight, still cool tomorrow

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

It was a chilly day with showers. Western Mass and even some towns in central Mass saw their first snowflakes of the season. Meanwhile, graupel was reported in Plymouth County. Tonight it’s cold with temperatures dipping below freezing. Tomorrow it stays cool. Temperatures will be more seasonable this weekend.Tonight will be our coldest night of the season so far! The wind will taper off and the skies will clear allowing our temperatures to drop from our chilly, below-average highs from today. Neighborhoods away from the coast will experience a hard freeze as temperatures fall below 28°. Along the coast, including Boston and the Cape, it’ll be chilly with temperatures in the 30s.High pressure is nearby tomorrow keeping us dry and allowing a light wind and clear skies. Temperatures will be in the mid/upper 40s. For reference, Boston’s average high tomorrow is 56°. After a cold start Friday morning, temperatures will be more seasonable. The wind will switch out of th...

Mother of Salem State student killed in shooting says basketball was his passion

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

While family members and friends mourn, an 18-year-old Salem State University student killed in a shooting Wednesday morning is being remembered as a star basketball player who contributed both on and off the courtCarl Hens Beliard grew up in Worcester. On Wednesday, his mother, his coach and even Gov. Maura Healey spoke about his impact.“Everybody loved him,” said Beliard’s mother, Altagrace Beliard. “He was such a good kid.” The Essex District Attorney’s Office said Carl was found inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds around 1:30 a.m. after officers were called to Forest Avenue for a report of a shooting.According to the DA’s office, Carl was pronounced dead after he was taken to Salem Hospital.Carl’s mother said basketball had been her son’s passion since he was just two-years-old. He dreamed of becoming a basketball star, his mother said said. And he was determined. “He never gave up,” Altagrace Beliard. “No matter how hard it was, he kept pushing himself.”&nb...

North End shooting suspect Patrick Mendoza to remain behind bars for 6 months

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

A request to release the North End restaurant owner accused of shooting at a man outside a popular bakery over the summer to the custody of his family has been struck down in court.Suffolk Superior Court Judge Katie Rayburn on Wednesday ordered the alleged shooter, Patrick Mendoza, 54, to remain behind bars until next May, a day after the suspect pleaded not guilty to charges related to the July 12 shooting outside of Modern Pastry on Hanover Street.The incident allegedly involved a man Mendoza is said to have had a long-simmering relationship with. While no one was injured, Modern sustained damage to its window.Mendoza, whose family owns Monica’s Trattoria on Prince Street, has been held without bail since late July after he was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery.The long-time North End resident also faces charges of carrying a firearm without an FID card or license, possession of ammuniti...

MIAA statewide girls soccer tournament pairings

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

   MIAA STATEWIDE GIRLS SOCCER TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS DIVISION 1SEEDS: 1. Natick (16-1-1); 2. Bishop Feehan (16-0-1); 3. Hopkinton (17-0-1); 4. Wellesley (13-5-0); 5. Brookline (13-3-2); 6. Franklin (16-2-0); 7. Acton-Boxborough (11-3-2); 8. Winchester (15-2-1); 9. Concord-Carlisle (13-3-2); 10. King Philip Regional (15-3-0); 11. Algonquin (10-4-4); 12. Needham (8-5-5); 13. Newton North (9-4-5); 14. Arlington (12-5-1); 15. Shrewsbury (9-5-4); 16. Weymouth (7-7-4); 17. Belmont (10-3-6); 18. Central Catholic (14-3-1); 19. Braintree (4-11-3); 20. Marshfield (10-4-5); 21. Woburn Memorial (9-4-5); 22. Lexington (7-8-3); 23. Durfee (13-3-2); 24. Bridgewater-Raynham (12-3-3); 25. Andover (7-6-5); 26. Framingham (2-10-6); 27. Westford Academy (7-7-2); 28. Newton South (4-9-4); 29. Wachusett Regional (7-8-3); 30. Plymouth North (5-7-6); 31. Beverly (6-9-3); 32. Boston Latin (7-7-2); 33. Waltham (10-7-1); 34. North Andover (7-7-4); 35. Cambridge Rindge & Latin (5-5-6); 36...

USD athletic director resigns

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- University of San Diego announced Wednesday that its athletic director, Bill McGillis, is leaving the program.McGillis served the role for seven years, during which USD teams made 23 NCAA championship appearances and captured 17 West Coast Conference and Pioneer Football League championships. McGillis most recently earned the 2023 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Cushman & Wakefield Athletics Director of the Year Award."My wife, Margie, and I decided that now is the right time to step away, hit reset and embark on exciting new opportunities that are ahead," McGillis is quoted as saying in a news release. "I have treasured my seven years at the University of San Diego. USD is a special place with a community of amazing students, faculty, staff and alumni. I will be forever grateful to President Harris, our Board of Trustees, university colleagues, our outstanding Athletics administrative team and an incredible group of head and assistant coac...

Upcoming mortgage renewals part of why BoC held rate at 5%: Macklem

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 07:08:34 GMT

OTTAWA — Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says the central bank held its key interest rate at five per cent in part because of the effect a wave of upcoming mortgage renewals is expected to have on the economy.Macklem appeared before a Senate committee alongside senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers following the Bank of Canada’s most recent interest rate decision and monetary policy report.The governor says the central bank maintained its policy rate because it knows the effect of previous rate hikes are still filtering through the economy, including through mortgage renewals. As more people renew their mortgages at higher interest rates, households are expected to feel the squeeze from rate hikes more directly, leading to more softness in the economy. Macklem says the Bank of Canada does not want to see the country enter a recession, but a period of slower growth is necessary to fight inflation. Recent data from Statistics Canada suggests the economy may have teetered in...