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Ukraine hints Putin contriving second front as Hamas visits Moscow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that Russia is benefitting from war in the Middle East as senior officials from Hamas arrived in Moscow for talks.Addressing EU leaders meeting for a summit in Brussels, Zelenskyy said by video link: “We must do everything to prevent an even larger international fire from breaking out in the Middle East. The enemies of freedom are very interested in bringing the free world to the second front.”He added: “We must clearly see this scenario and counter it — together, of course. The sooner security prevails in the Middle East, the sooner we will restore security here — in Europe.”Zelenskyy spoke as a delegation from Hamas visited Moscow for talks on the release of the foreign hostages, including Russians, that the group is holding in Gaza, Russian news agencies reported.Mousa Abu Marzook, a founder and political leader of Hamas who now lives in Qatar, led the delegation that met with the Russian deputy foreign minister,...

Pentagon says 900 US troops have deployed or are deploying to Middle East amid heightened tensions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

(CNN) — Roughly 900 US troops have deployed or are deploying to the Middle East to bolster US force protection in the region, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday.“These include forces that have been on prepare to deploy orders, and which are deploying from the continental United States,” Ryder said. “Deployed and deploying units include a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery from Fort Bliss Texas, Patriot batteries from Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Patriot and Avenger batteries from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and associated air defense headquarters elements from Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos, Texas.”Ryder added that the deploying units would not be going to Israel and are “intended to support regional deterrence efforts and further bolster US force protection capabilities.” The Pentagon previously announced the deployment of the THAAD and Patriot batteries.As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, the US is seeking to send a strong message to adversa...

Governor Healey, Massachusetts State Police extend support to Maine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Victims of a mass shooting in Maine that’s claimed 18 lives are being treated at hospitals in Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey’s office said Thursday, and Massachusetts is ready to send law enforcement and human service workers, including grief counselors, to its New England neighbor.A manhunt is underway for 40-year-old Robert Card, the suspect in the killings Wednesday night at a restaurant and bowling alley.“So many people right now are going to be in need of grief counselors, are going to be in need of mental health services,” Healey told reporters at the State House on Thursday morning. “And I know the people of Massachusetts will step forward and support the great people of Maine … in this time.”The governor added, “We just need to step up and show our solidarity in terms of comfort, and in terms of support in this time, in the weeks and in the months ahead.”Law enforcement is in communication with Maine officials and ̶...

Police Arrest 57 At Pro-Palestine Sit-In At UMass Flagship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Fifty-seven pro-Palestine protestors at the University of Massachusetts Amherst were arrested by campus police Wednesday night for trespassing during a sit-in protest at the Whitmore Administration Building, where students demanded Chancellor Javier Reyes condemn the Israel Defense Forces’ attacks on Gaza and cut the university’s ties with defense contractor Raytheon Technology.Students rallied in front of the student union at 2 p.m. before marching to the Whitmore building to meet with administrators to present their demands. They remained inside the building after hours, in spite of “multiple verbal warnings” that the building was closing at 6 p.m., the university said in a statement. UMass Police arrested 56 UMass Amherst students and one UMass Amherst employee, the university said.“Our goal is to let the school know, let the administration know and let the chancellor know that we have a say in what our university is giving money to,” said Arsema Kifle, a founding member of...

Suspect accused of using hedge clippers in robbery, assaulting woman in another arrested in Manchester, NH

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Police in Manchester, NH say a man was taken into custody following a pair of robberies that happened on the same night.Farah Ibrahim, 28, was arrested after the Manchester Police Department said its officers were called to a robbery on Union Street on Monday, Oct. 23.According to authorities, police responded to Seven Days Market, where a caller had said he was approached by a man around 10:20 p.m. who was armed with a pair of “large hedge clippers.”The caller said the individual demanded his wallet, but left after being given just cash instead.Officials said a description of the suspect matched that of a man who robbed a Family Dollar store on Lincoln Street earlier that night – an incident that involved a woman being assaulted.“In that incident, a man tried to steal items from the store and when confronted by a female employee, punched the woman in the face,” the police department said in a news release.Following an investigation, police identified I...

Boston College looks to extend win streak against UConn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

The Boston College defense has been playing catchup in a variety of statistical categories except for the most important one.BC’s three-game win streak can be can be attributed in a large part to the Eagles’ success at getting off the field on third down.The defense held Georgia Tech to 3-of-11 on third down conversions in last Saturday’s 38-23 victory in an ACC match at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Eagles (4-3, 2-2) will look extend the trend when they host UConn (1-6) in a non-league regional grudge match on Saturday (noon) at Alumni Stadium.“We spend a lot of time on it and we are trying to throw at lot of different looks at people,” said BC head coach Jeff Hafley. “We are changing it up each week and there are times when we are really aggressive and we bring a lot of pressure.“We are spending a lot of time looking at protections and breaking things down.”BC actually had it most impressive day getting the opposing offense off the field on third down in a 31-29 loss to No. 5 Florida St...

Boston police arrest final J’Ouvert parade shooting suspect

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Police have arrested the final suspect involved in shooting near a Dorchester parade in August that left eight people injured.Boston Police on Wednesday arrested Hubman Hunter, 31, of Lynn, after they located him in Quincy, according to a brief police statement.Hunter is charged with eight counts of armed assault with intent to murder, carrying a firearm without a license (3rd offense), carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a firearm without a license with two prior violent or drug crimes and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.Hunter’s arrest follows those of Gerald Vick, 30, of Dorchester; Dwayne Francis, 30, of Dorchester; John Davis, 32, of Boston; Sebastian Fernandez, 21; Limondji Simon, 26, of Medford; Nakhi Cox-Obryant, 18, of Dorchester; and Maceo Withers-Brewer, 21, of Boston.Police responded to the area of 10 Talbot Ave. at 7:43 a.m. just as people were celebrating the J’ouvert parade...

Authorities release new image of Gardner man Aaron Pennington suspected of killing wife

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

Authorities have released a third image of Gardner’s suspected wife killer Aaron Pennington as they continue to seek the public’s help in locating him.The image released Thursday appears to show Aaron Pennington as captured by a doorbell-type home camera and is watermarked as having been captured on Oct. 11.This is the third image officials have released in their search for Pennington, 33, since they started their manhunt for him Sunday after discovering the body of his wife, Breanne Pennington, 30, on their bed in their home at 42 Cherry St. that morning. She had at least one visible gunshot to her head according to an arrest warrant affidavit and the casings of three bullets were found in the home, but no gun.“Don’t say anything. Be quite (sic) If she wakes up just say you’re getting nasal spray Get on side of bed — very close proximity to head Put hole in her head,” Aaron Pennington allegedly wrote in a note on his phone the evening before the murder, according ...

Orioles promote Matt Blood to oversee draft operations after losing Brad Ciolek to Nationals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

The Orioles stayed in-house to fill a key role in their baseball operations department.After losing director of draft operations Brad Ciolek to the Washington Nationals earlier this month, Baltimore on Thursday elevated Matt Blood to oversee the Orioles’ draft operations, among other player development-related duties, amid a flurry of promotions by the club.Blood, who joined the Orioles in September 2019, has been the organization’s director of player development for the past four years. His new title is vice president of player development and domestic scouting. In addition to overseeing draft operations, he will supervise the Orioles’ player development and scouting operations.Blood was one of a dozen members of Baltimore’s baseball operations department to be promoted Thursday. Replacing Blood as director of player development is Anthony Villa, who spent the 2023 season as the Orioles’ minor league hitting coordinator, a source with direct knowledge ...

UMass rested and ready for new-look Army offense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:51 GMT

UMass and Army are coming off similar lopsided beatdowns against ranked opponents, but the Minutemen had an extra week to recuperate.The Minutemen went into the bye week after being blitzed 63-0 by No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 14 at Beaver Stadium. Army suffered a similar fate when it was obliterated 62-0 by No. 15 LSU last Saturday at Tiger Stadium.Both Independent programs will look to regroup when the Minutemen (1-7) engage the Black Knights of Army (2-5) on Saturday (noon) at Michie Stadium. Army beat UMass 44-7 last season at McGuirk Stadium.“The good thing is obviously the guys get a chance to recoup in terms of the physical piece,” said UMass head coach Don Brown. “On Monday we reviewed the (Penn State) contest and then moved on to get a jump on Army.“Sometimes that (bye week) goes in a positive direction and sometimes in a negative direction and there is no predicting it. It all depends on what kind of health you have coming out of the contest and how well you played. Obviously,...