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The warm embrace and the cold shoulder: China mines Europe’s fractures during joint visit

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

BEIJING — It was a tale of two visits.French President Emmanuel Macron was given the full red-carpet treatment this week in Beijing, fêted at a state banquet, and greeted by military parades and firing cannons on Tiananmen Square. When Macron’s plane touched down, China’s foreign minister personally welcomed him.When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived, she got the ecology minister — at the regular passenger exit.It was a pattern on display again and again on Wednesday and Thursday, as China tried to play divide and conquer with the two leaders, who had teamed up on the visit to try and present a united European front.While Macron’s schedule was overflowing, von der Leyen’s was bare-bones. While Macron was attending a lavish state banquet Thursday night with Chinese President Xi Jinping, von der Leyen was giving a sober press conference at the EU delegation’s own headquarters. While state media trumpeted the Sino-French relationship, Chinese social media ...

Manhole explosion causes widespread power outages in Newton

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

A manhole explosion prompted widespread power outages in Newton Thursday afternoon, police said. The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. near Walnut and Lakewood Streets in the Newton Highlands area, according to police.The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported 4,648 customers without power in Newton as of around 3:45 p.m.No further information was immediately available. This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

‘AirDropped’ photos prompt evacuation of Stoughton High School during all-school assembly

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

Some 1,200 students and staff safely evacuated and returned to Stoughton High School Thursday after several students reportedly received “AirDropped photos of explosive devices,” police said.In a joint statement, the Stoughton Police Department and school officials said the high school was evacuated Thursday morning after multiple students received images of what were originally reported to be explosive devices. The images appeared on their phone via AirDrop – an iPhone feature that allows users to share images that have AirDrop enabled.Authorities said the images were shared by an “unknown individual” during an all-school assembly around 8:30 a.m., prompting a call to police and the evacuation of the school.Students and staff were moved to O’Donnell Middle School as an investigation and sweep of the facility got underway.Police went on to determine that the photo(s) in question was a “generic online image” that “made no specific...

Massachusetts woman pleads guilty to baby death in 1985

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

HOULTON, Maine (AP) — A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter in the death of her infant daughter, Baby Jane Doe, found in a gravel pit 37 years ago in northern Maine.Lee Ann Daigle, 58, of Lowell, Massachusetts, was arrested last year after police cracked the case thanks to years of police work and advancements in DNA technology.Her name was Lee Ann Guerrette when a newborn baby was dragged by a dog to a home in Frenchville and police were alerted to the grisly discovery on Dec. 7, 1985. Detectives tracked the dog’s path to a gravel pit where the baby had been born and abandoned in sub-zero temperatures.The death remained a mystery for decades until Daigle’s indictment last year on a charge of murder. She’ll be sentenced at a later date in Superior Court.

Gaming Commission denies DrafKings bid to allow bets on Boston Marathon

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

The group behind the Boston Marathon and the state’s gaming commission both strongly disagreed with a proposal by DraftKings to take bets on this year’s race.“At this moment, there is not sufficient time for the Boston Athletic Association, nor its many partners and agencies, to coordinate and fully ensure proper protocols are in place to support such a proposal,” the BAA said in a letter to the commission revealed during their regular meeting Thursday. “The (BAA) has not been consulted on this matter and have concerns related to this proposal.”With just 11 days to go before the April 17 start of the 127th Boston Marathon, a request by Boston based bet taker DraftKings to accept wagers on the long distance run was met with fairly swift resistance by the state’s gaming commission, after it was revealed the mobile bookie hadn’t bothered to ask the group that runs the race whether betting on the event was a good idea in the first place.According to their request to the commission, the ...

Hot Property: LEED-certified Somerville home ideally located

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

Somerville just welcomed its first LEED-certified single-family home — a spiffy corner lot at 22 Harvard Street.While eco-friendly homes are a cause for celebration, buyers have even more to get excited about, starting with a covetable location.Located about a mile from Union Square and the Harvard campus and steps away from Somerville’s trendiest restaurants and mainstays, the new owners will never want for things to do, see, and savor. High walk and bike scores, as well as proximity to T stops, make it easy to get around but drivers will especially appreciate the one-car attached garage with an electric charger already installed.For sleek new construction with all the bells and whistles, 22 Harvard Street has also managed to avoid the pitfalls of new builds. You’ll see no washed-out millennial gray tones here. Instead, warm but modern wood accents and cabinetry play nicely with unexpected pops of color and interesting fixtures.The main living space enjoys an open floor plan that c...

Evacuation kits: What to put in a go-bag, plus what supplies to keep at home and in the car

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

A go-bag is a key piece of preparing for an earthquake, a wildfire or anything other evacuation order.WHAT ARE THE KITS YOU NEEDGo-bag: Daypack or small duffel light enough to be carried – one for each member of the household. This should contain necessities if you have to leave your home suddenly because of earthquake, wildfire, flooding or other evacuation order. Keep it packed and ready to grab and go.Car kit / work kit: Basics for at least 24 hours in each vehicle and at your workplace, in case you’re away from your go-bag.Stay kit: A box of larger items for a stay of three days either in or near your home during an emergency or to put in your vehicle before you drive to safety.WHERE SHOULD THEY BE KEPTThough it seems convenient to keep the go-bag in your car, consider a) whether the car is sure to be near you at the crucial time and b) the security implications of keeping personal documents and valuables in your vehicle. For most people, it will make more sense to have a smalle...

Chicago Bulls are in the NBA play-in tournament. Here’s how it works — and who they’ll play.

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

The Chicago Bulls are locked into the 10th seed for the NBA play-in tournament, a battle for the last two playoff seeds in each conference. Here’s an explainer about the history of the event and how it works — and where the Bulls stand.When did the play-in begin?The NBA introduced the idea after the restart of the pandemic-delayed 2019-20 season, with a team needing to be within four games of the No. 8 seed to force a play-in for the last playoff spot in the conference.The Memphis Grizzlies finished a half-game behind the No. 8 seed Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference, and the Blazers won the first game of a play-in, thus earning the final playoff spot. In the East, the ninth-place Washington Wizards finished 7½ games behind the eighth-place Orlando Magic, meaning a play-in was unnecessary.How has the tournament evolved?The next year, the NBA expanded its play-in rules, with only the top six seeds in each conference guaranteed of a playoff spot and the ...

Jets sign former Packers backup quarterback Tim Boyle to a 1-year deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

The Jets acquired a former Packers quarterback on Thursday afternoon.Just not the one many have been waiting for.The Jets and Tim Boyle agreed to a one-year deal, according to a source. NFL Network was the first to report Boyle’s contract with the Jets.Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky, Boyle has been a league journeyman. In 2018, Boyle signed with the Packers and became the team’s third-string quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and then backup DeShone Kizer. He spent three seasons in Green Bay (2018-20).Then Boyle moved on to another NFC North organization as he signed with the Lions in 2021 and backed up Jared Goff. That year, Boyle started three games in place of Goff and passed for 526 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions during that span. Boyle was waived by the Lions after final cuts in 2022 but was placed on the team’s practice squad.The Bears signed Boyle off the Lions’ practice squad late last season and...

Ex-Patriots assistant Dante Scarnecchia entering Patriots Hall of Fame

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:07:53 GMT

Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia will be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as a contributor later this year, the team announced Thursday.Scarnecchia ended his career as the NFL’s longest-tenured coach when he retired after the 2019 season. He is a 36-year coaching veteran, who spent 34 seasons with the Patriots and won five Super Bowls. Scarnecchia is widely viewed as one of the greatest offensive line coaches of all time.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots 7-round mock draft: Bill Belichick trades up, fills major needs with 11 picks New England Patriots | Jayson Tatum among three Celtics starters ruled out Wednesday against Raptors New England Patriots | Guregian: Level of Patriots dysfunction growing by the minute New England Patriots | Bill Belichick reportedly shopped Patriots QB Mac Jones to 4 teams in trade talks New England Patriots | NFL notes: There’s a lo...