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Israel says 11 more hostages have returned from captivity in Gaza

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli military says 11 hostages have been released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip and returned to Israeli territory.Military officials said late Monday that the hostages were on Israeli soil and undergoing initial medical checks before being reunited with their families.It is the fourth such release under a cease-fire deal with the Hamas military group. Israel is to free 33 Palestinian prisoners later Monday.The cease-fire had been set to expire early Tuesday. But Qatar, which has been mediating between the sides, said they agreed to extend the truce by two more days.The war broke out Oct. 7 when Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 240 others captive. Israel declared war, and over 13,000 Palestinians have been killed in weeks of Israeli strikes, according to health authorities in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.Israeli media said the hostages included two women and nine children. Two of the childr...

Greek PM slams Sunak as row over Elgin Marbles escalates

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

ATHENS — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis lashed out at his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Monday in what would appear to be a bitter escalation of a long-running dispute over the Parthenon Marbles.The two were scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but Sunak called off their meeting late on Monday, a move Greek government officials attribute to Mitsotakis’ recent strong insistence upon the return of the ancient sculptures from the British Museum.“I express my annoyance that the British prime minister cancelled our planned meeting just hours before it was due to take place,” Mitsotakis said.“Anyone who believes in the rightness and justice of his positions is never afraid of confronting arguments,” he added, noting that Greece’s position on the issue of the so-called Elgin Marbles was well known.The marble sculptures were removed from Athens by diplomat and art aficionado Lord Elgin in the 19th century and have been housed in London since then.Campaigners — most famou...

Boston man ordered to undergo evaluation after allegedly damaging historic headstones during vandalism spree, including Paul Revere’s

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

A suspect accused of going on a vandalism spree throughout Boston on Saturday night was ordered by a judge to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after appearing in court on Monday.Lawrence Hawkins, 46, of Boston was placed under arrest by Boston Police officers at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26 and charged with multiple counts of destruction of property, and destruction of a place of worship.“This is an individual who, over the weekend, was his own one-man crime spree down in downtown Boston,” prosecutor Samuel Jones told the court during Hawkins’s arraignment. “He took bricks and rocks and threw them into businesses throughout the Commonwealth.”Authorities were first called to the area of 125 Charles St. South around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night for a report of breaking and entering. Officers saw the front door of the business smashed and located a brick inside. After checking video surveillance a description of the suspect was circulated.About 30 minute...

Man accused in deadly shooting at Worcester massage business faces a judge

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

A man accused of shooting and killing a woman inside a massage business in Worcester faced a judge on Monday in connection with the incident. Investigators said the shooting happened on Thursday at the massage business on Pleasant Street. In court, prosecutors said surveillance cameras were ultimately crucial in identifying a suspect.“There’s video surveillance out front that shows his vehicle pull up to the establishment around two o’clock in the morning,”said prosecutor Terry McLaughlin. “Then, [it] shows him enter the building.”Worcester police on Thursday said officers first responded around 11:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a female “experiencing a possible medical issue.”Officers rendered medical aid, according to police, until the unconscious female was pronounced dead. Worcester police said the death “appear[ed] to be suspicious.” In an update on Friday, police said officers arrested 31-year-old Marcel Santos-Padgett of Leicester on an outstanding warrant as p...

Charges dropped against man accused of intentionally crashing car at Alewife garage

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

Charges have been dropped against a Medford man accused of intentionally crashing his car at the top of the Alewife station parking garage in Cambridge earlier this year. The crash happened on Feb. 4 and left the car teetering over the edge of the garage’s fifth floor. The crash also sent a cement slab tumbling onto the ceiling of the Alewife station itself, forcing officials to temporarily close the station. Initially charged in connection with the crash, prosecutors this week said the driver has complied with mental health treatment. The judge subsequently allowed the case to be dismissed. Officials in February said a 14-year-old girl suffered a minor hand injury as a result of the crash and falling debris.At the site of the crash, the MBTA Transit Police Department said, a responding officer first found a man lying alone on the ground by the car’s driver’s side door. Police said the man was “conscious but not alert” and stopped breathing shortly after being found. ...

Donald Trump set to testify again next month in his civil fraud trial

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — After a scorching first turn on the witness stand, former president Donald Trump plans to testify again next month in his civil fraud trial, his lawyers said Monday.He is to return Dec. 11, defense attorney Christopher Kise said.Trump was called to testify last time by his adversaries in the lawsuit, the New York attorney general’s office. This time, the Republican 2024 presidential front-runner’s own lawyers will open the questioning and can ask about a wider range of subjects than they could on cross-examination.Not that those limitations stopped Trump from lambasting the suit and defending himself and his business against Attorney General Letitia James’ claims. Her lawsuit says he and his company misled lenders and insurers by giving them financial statements that greatly inflated his asset values and overall net worth.“I’m worth billions of dollars more than the financial statements,” Trump insisted on the stand last time. “...

As lease nears end, Orioles and Maryland may consider development rights separately

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

With their lease expiring in five weeks, the Orioles and the state are considering separating out the complex — and potentially contentious — issue of stadium-area development rights and proceeding for now with a scaled-down lease binding the team to Baltimore for the long term, according to two people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.Such an approach would represent a pivot from a nonbinding memorandum of understanding the parties signed Sept. 27 calling for not only keeping the team at Camden Yards for at least 30 more years, but granting the Orioles rights to develop land around Camden Yards, including the warehouse and Camden Station.Moving forward on a lease alone — the parties call it a “facilities use agreement” — could have political and practical advantages for first-year Gov. Wes Moore, allowing him to follow through on his assurances that a binding agreement will be in place before the current two-year lease extension expires D...

Mac Jones currently focused on ‘process’ of becoming Patriots starting QB

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

The Patriots’ perpetual quarterback controversy is lingering into a third week.Quarterback Mac Jones, in his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Jones and Mego with Arcand” program was asked if he’s the Patriots’ starter.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Devin McCourty says he would want new quarterback for Patriots defense New England Patriots | Bill Belichick won’t rule out Patriots signing QB, kicker help New England Patriots | Bill Belichick responds to ESPN rumor he’s already picked his next team New England Patriots | Why Conor McDermott started over Trent Brown in Patriots’ loss to Giants New England Patriots | Callahan: Under Bill Belichick’s watch, the Patriots have become the NFL’s worst team “Um, look. You always ask me, right? I think the biggest thing for me is that’s a result. I’m going to focus on the pr...

Massachusetts high school football super bowl tickets, schedule, parking and more

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

For the 16th year, Gillette Stadium and the Kraft family will welcome high school football teams from across the state to make memories and compete for a state title as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) State Football Championships, presented by Cross Insurance, return to the home of the New England Patriots and Revolution on Wednesday, Nov. 29; Thursday, Nov. 30 and Friday, Dec. 1.The three days of action features state title games from all eight divisions, providing student-athletes from 16 MIAA high schools and their respective communities with a championship game experience of a lifetime on the home turf of the six-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and New England Revolution. After more than 100 playoff football games across the state over a four-week span, 16 teams earned the chance to compete in one of the most exciting, action-packed stretches of football in New England, culminating when they take the Gillette Stadium field for their re...

7 of the best ways to use points and miles for travel

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:30:22 GMT

Ariana Arghandewal | (TNS) BankrateIf I had a point for every time I got asked about the best way to use points for travel, I’d have enough to fly around the world. Twice. After a decade in this racket, I know how to stretch my points as far as possible.Used correctly, points can be more valuable than cash. You can use them for everything from a staycation at an extended-stay hotel to a first-class trip to the Maldives. You can plan a cross-country road trip with motel pit stops or literally fly around the world. The key is to know what your points are worth and to use them wisely. As a general rule, you should aim to get at least 1 cent of value out of each point (though that won’t always be possible).If you’ve been saving up your points and wondering how best to use them for travel, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about maximizing value from your points and miles.1. Use points and miles for international business- and first-class ticketsInternational busi...