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UN urges Israel and Palestinians to halt West Bank violence in statement backed by US and Russia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council urged Israel and the Palestinians on Tuesday to avoid actions that can further inflame tensions in the volatile West Bank. The statement was backed by both the United States and Russia in a moment of unity on a divisive issue, reflecting the widespread international concern at the escalating violence especially by Israeli forces and settlers.The statement followed what U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland called “an alarming spike in violence” in the West Bank that led to numerous Palestinian and Israeli casualties. He warned the council that “unless decisive steps are taken now to rein in the violence, there is a significant risk that events could deteriorate further.”Wennesland said he was particularly alarmed by “the extreme levels of settler violence, including large numbers of settlers, many armed, systematically attacking Palestinian villages, terrorizing communities,” sometimes with support from Israeli forces.Council members calle...

Father saves his 2 children from their burning apartment building in Illinois

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WSVN)- An Illinois father made a courageous call to save his children when their apartment building went up in flames, they were trapped on the top floor with no way out until the father saw a window of opportunity at their Peoria Illinois home.The family woke up to the flames at their Illinois home and the father was left with no choice but to make a scary decision.“If I close my eyes, all I see is fire and my kid dropping,” said Kaleb Martin, Father to his daughter. Martin hasn’t gotten much sleep this week, since the night he and his family were woken up by the fire alarm.“As soon as I opened the front door, the flames were right there in the hallway. There was no, absolutely no chance of getting down the hallway. They were there,” said Martin. He leaped into action by breaking and opening a window to get his family fresh air. Peoria County deputies tried to get into the building, but the fire was already too strong that left only one w...

No bail for Newton man facing murder charge in gruesome triple homicide

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

A 41-year-old Newton man charged in connection with the deaths of three elderly people in Newton over the weekend appeared in court via Zoom Tuesday.Christopher Ferguson was ordered held without bail and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan previously announced Monday afternoon that police had arrested Ferguson in connection with the apparently random triple homicide at a home on Broadway Street.Ferguson has been charged with at least one count of murder, among other charges.Gilda “Jill” D’Amore and her husband Bruno D’Amore were scheduled to renew their wedding vows on Sunday as part of celebrations for their 50th wedding anniversary. Ryan said a friend then found the D’Amores in their home with Lucia Arpino, Gilda’s mother, after the couple did not arrive at their church as planned. Inside the D’Amores’ home, Ryan said investigators found “obvious signs of struggle” as well as apparent knife injuries and ...

Lawyer accused of series of sex assaults in Charlestown indicted in more attacks

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

A New Jersey man charged earlier this month in a series of sexual assaults in Charlestown in the 2000s was indicted Tuesday on new charges connected to a spate of rapes and sexual attacks in the North End in 2007 and 2008, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.Matthew Nilo, 35, was indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on seven charges—one count of rape, one count of aggravated rape, three counts of assault with intent to rape and two counts of indecent assault and battery. The alleged attacks occurred between January 2007 and July 2008Nilo will be formally charged on the new counts at his next court appearance July 13. Nilo was released June 15 after posting $500,000 bail.The charges stem from five attacks on four women in the North End. One of the victims was attacked twice, 11 days apart. The attacks occurred in January 2007, July 2007, January 2008 and July 2008.The incidents followed a similar pattern. The victims were attacked while they were walking alone, in the...

The Great Grift: More than $200 billion in COVID-19 aid may have been stolen, federal watchdog says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives, according to new estimates from a federal watchdog investigating federally funded programs that helped small businesses survive the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years.The numbers issued Tuesday by the U.S. Small Business Administration inspector general are much greater than the office’s previous projections and underscore how vulnerable the Paycheck Protection and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs were to fraudsters, particularly during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.The inspector general’s report said “at least 17 percent of all COVID-EIDL and PPP funds were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.” The fraud estimate for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is more than $136 billion, which represents 33 percent of the total money spent on that program, according to the report. The Paycheck...

Red Sox notebook: The art of Jarren Duran’s steals

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

A year away from the 20th anniversary of their historic 2004 ALCS comeback, the Red Sox know how much a stolen base can change the game.But stolen bases were becoming a relic, putting the ‘past’ in ‘America’s Pastime.’They certainly don’t make ’em like Rickey Henderson, anymore. The Hall of Famer (and member of the 2002 Red Sox) stands atop Major League Baseball’s all-time list with 1,406 career steals (no one else has ever come close to quadruple digits), including had three seasons of 100 or more steals and 14 seasons of at least 50. The last 70-steal season was Jacoby Ellsbury in 2009. No runner has reached 50 in a single season since Dee Strange-Gordon, who stole 60 in 2017.Eager to turn back the clock and speed things up, MLB decided to jumpstart the proverbial jalopy.After a trial run in the minor leagues, larger bases made their MLB debut this season.The change paid immediate dividends. Oakland A’s outfielder Esteury Ruiz ...

Former Patriots QB reportedly dies in drowning accident

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

Former Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned in Florida on Tuesday, according to reports.According to Deltaplex, Mallett, 35, was transported from a beach to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Will Patriots CB Jack Jones go to prison? Here’s what we know New England Patriots | Patriots CB Jack Jones arrested for trying to bring firearms onto flight at Logan Airport New England Patriots | Mac Jones, a breakout defender and 4 takeaways from Patriots minicamp New England Patriots | DeAndre Hopkins reportedly leaves ‘productive’ Patriots visit without a deal, could still sign New England Patriots | Bill Belichick cancels final Patriots minicamp practice for team outing The Patriots selected Mallett in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of the University of Arkansas. He served as Tom Brady’s top backup from 2012-13 before be...

Instagram and Facebook are adding more parental controls. Critics say they aren’t enough

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

By BARBARA ORTUTAY (AP Technology Writer)Instagram and Facebook’s parent company Meta is adding some new parental supervision tools and privacy features to its platforms as social media companies face increasing scrutiny over their effects on teen mental health. But many of the features require minors — and their parents — to opt in, raising questions about how effective the measures are.Instagram will now send a notice to teens after they block someone, encouraging them to let their parents “supervise” their account. The idea is to grab kids’ attention when they might be more open to parental guidance. If a teen opts in, the system will let parents set time limits, see who their kid follows or is followed by, and allows them to track how much time the minor spends on Instagram. It does not let parents see message content.Instagram launched parental supervision tools last year to help families navigate the platform and find resources and guidance....

Matthew Nilo, alleged Charlestown serial rapist, faces new charges tied to North End rapes

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

The New York City attorney accused in a string of sexual assaults in Charlestown now faces charges that are tied to a spate of rapes and sexual attacks in the North End, according to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office.Matthew Nilo, 35, of New Jersey, has been indicted by a Suffolk County grand jury on seven charges connected to alleged rapes and sexual attacks in the North End in 2007 and 2008. The series of Charlestown rapes were also in the same time period.The new charges stem from five attacks on four women in the North End, according to the Suffolk DA’s Office.One of the victims was attacked twice, 11 days apart. The attacks occurred in January 2007, July 2007, January 2008, and July 2008.The incidents followed a similar pattern, prosecutors noted. The victims were attacked while they were walking alone, in the dark, either at night or early in the morning. The attacks happened when Nilo was living in the North End.The new seven charges are: one count of rape, o...

Orioles minor league All-Stars: New major leaguer Jordan Westburg, new No. 1 Jackson Holliday highlight top first-half performers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:21:37 GMT

Within a day after the first half of the minor league season ending, Jackson Holliday reached the top of one ranking of baseball’s top prospects, Jordan Westburg ascended to the majors, and Holliday and Heston Kjerstad were named as participants in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.Such is the state of the Orioles’ top-ranked minor league system, where accolades can come in quick succession. Holliday is MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect, Westburg is a major leaguer, Kjerstad has reestablished himself as a rising talent and many others join them in marching toward Camden Yards, where the Orioles hold the American League’s second-best record.“This is what healthy organizations do,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “They have not just a talented major league team, but they have guys competing in the minor leagues, also.“We have a lot of fun guys to watch right now and more guys who will be making their debuts for the next couple years.”To...