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Azerbaijan says peace with Armenia is within reach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

Top Azerbaijani officials have rejected claims a new conflict with Armenia is imminent, denying speculation the South Caucasus nation might use force to seize a strategically important transport corridor inside the neighboring country, insisting instead that a lasting peace deal could soon be signed.Following talks with Russian counterparts on Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, said that “there are real chances for the conclusion of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia within a short period of time” after Azerbaijan took control of the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh last month in a lightning war.The proposed agreement would end three decades of conflict that has dragged in global powers like Russia, the EU and U.S. — while flying in the face of speculation Azerbaijan could use military force to secure the so-called Zangezur Corridor, an as-yet unrealized road and rail link between mainland Azerbaijan and its exclave, Nakhchivan...

Police investigating after crucifix vandalized at Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

Boston police are searching for the person who vandalized an exterior crucifix at the historic Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston overnight.The arms of Jesus on the crucifix were broken and left dangling and video posted online shows someone swinging back and forth from the crucifix, trying to pull it down.A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston said, “Unfortunately, the Cathedral experienced vandalism at the exterior crucifix … It’s now in the capable hands of the BPD. The Archdiocese will work with the Cathedral to assess the damage.”The Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the largest Catholic church in New England.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

UN warns Gaza blockade could force it to sharply cut relief operations as bombings rise

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday that without immediate deliveries of fuel it will soon have to sharply cut back relief operations across the Gaza Strip, which has been blockaded and hit by devastating Israeli airstrikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel more than two weeks ago.The warning came as hospitals in Gaza struggled to treat masses of wounded with dwindling resources, and health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory said the death toll was soaring as Israeli jets continued striking the territory overnight into Wednesday.The Israeli military said its strikes had killed militants and destroyed tunnels, command centers, weapons storehouses and other military targets, which it has accused Hamas of hiding among Gaza’s civilian population. Gaza-based militants have been launching unrelenting rocket barrages into Israel since the conflict started.The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said the airstrikes kil...

Teen accused of making threats against Chelsea school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

A 14-year-old is facing a criminal charge after police say he threatened to shoot up Shore Educational Collaborative in Chelsea following a fight with another student.The teen is also accused of making another threat the next day and posting a post to social media featuring guns.He’s been charged with making a bomb threat and has been ordered to stay at home, where he is being monitored with GPS.

Ravens film study: Rookie WR Zay Flowers joins Ja’Marr Chase with historic start — and continues to get open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

Before Sunday’s game against the Lions, Ravens rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers and second-year Detroit defensive quality control coach Wayne Blair shared a hug and took a picture together on the field at M&T Bank Stadium. Blair was an assistant coach for the first three years of Flowers’ high school career at NSU University School in Davie, Florida, and this was the first opportunity the two had to catch up since they made their way to the NFL.Once the game started, Blair saw plenty more of Flowers, who had four catches for 75 yards in Baltimore’s 38-6 blowout win.Flowers’ performance was also historic. He became just the second receiver since 1970 to tally at least 50 yards from scrimmage in each of his first seven games in the league. The other? Cincinnati Bengals star and 2021 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase.How has Flowers gotten off to such a fast start?There are layers to the answer — from obvious talent and speed, to his...

OBF: For these Celtics, it’s Banner 18 or bust

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

Last season, the Celtics had “Unfin18hed Business.”This season, it’s “Banner 18 . . . Or Else.”“Wait Until Next Year?”Not this time.The 2023-24 Celtics are the Tom Brady-in-his-prime Patriots.The expectation shared by everyone within the reach of Mike Gorman’s voice is universal: Anything less than a title equates to failure, shame and humiliation.Doc Rivers had “ubuntu.”Atmospheric anticipation has carried Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics toward “seppuku.”Metaphorically, anyway.If the Celtics aren’t going to win 16 games this postseason, they might as well move the franchise to Las Vegas during the All-Star Break and spare us another stress-filled springtime.The Celtics have done everything this offseason within their authority to build a team they believe will, er must, snag Banner 18.Wyc Grousbeck gave Brad Stevens the Green Team’s American Express Black card. Stevens spent lavishly on Jaylen Brown’s max contract, an extension for Kristaps Porziņģis, and Jrue Holiday’s moving expenses.Stev...

Tuesday’s high school roundup/scores: Molly Driscoll (3 goals) powers Watertown to another win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

In Middlesex League field hockey action, Molly Driscoll finished with three goals as Watertown (16-0) blanked Stoneham, 5-0.Ava Goodwin recorded a hat trick to lead Reading to a 4-0 victory over Arlington.In South Coast Conference action, Karissa Albin and Emily Carr both finished with a hat trick while Tatum Swanson added three assists to lead Somerset Berkley (15-0-1) to a 10-1 win over Case. Megan Smith’s goal for Case was the 100th of her career.Alivia Barnes finished off two goals, while Quinn Jordan and Sadie Clarkin each added a goal with an assist as Sandwich (15-0-1) beat Cohasset, 5-0, for the South Shore League title.Avery Johnsen scored twice and Makenna Metcalf scored the eventual game-winner for Falmouth in a 3-2 nonleague win over Notre Dame Academy of Hingham. … Erin Cottam erupted for seven goals, powering Oliver Ames to an 8-0 win over Weymouth.In the CMADA Tournament Class A quarterfinals, Julianna Casucci and Amelia Blood each tallied a pair of goals to lead Uxbr...

Poland’s Tusk visits Brussels, seeking initiative in repairing ties with EU and unlocking funds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Donald Tusk, the opposition candidate who may become Poland’s next prime minister, sought to repair Warsaw’s ties with the European Union during a series of meetings in Brussels that also centered on unlocking billions of euros in funds that were frozen due to democratic backsliding under the outgoing nationalist government.Tusk arrived in Brussels a day after he and other leaders of an opposition bloc that collectively won the most votes in Poland’s Oct. 15 parliamentary election announced that they were prepared to govern together with Tusk as prime minister.“The goal today is to rebuild my country’s position in Europe, to strengthen the European Union as a whole. The results of the elections in Poland and the incredible turnout, including among the youngest voters in Poland, made it clear to all of Europe, I think, that democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression, European unity are still important to our people,” Tusk said.Depending on whom Pres...

New era of Raptors will dawn as Toronto kicks off 2023-24 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

A new era of the Toronto Raptors will dawn on Wednesday when they kick off the 2023-24 NBA season. But just what this new version of the team will look like is still unknown.Nick Nurse was fired as Toronto’s head coach on April 21, shortly after the Raptors were bounced from the play-in tournament by the Chicago Bulls. Months later, veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, Toronto’s de facto captain for the past three seasons, left the team for the Houston Rockets via free agency.Those two departures effectively brought the championship era of the Raptors to an end, although some key players like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby remain from the 2019 NBA Finals team. New head coach Darko Rajakovic and recently signed point guard Dennis Schroeder will lead a very different team on to the court Wednesday when Toronto hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scotiabank Arena in both teams’ season opener.“I wish our fans could really see our team in the gym in the last couple of...

Stock market today: World shares mixed after China pledges more support for slowing economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:43:20 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — World shares were mixed Wednesday after China pledged more spending to energize its economy. Benchmarks fell in Paris, Frankfurt, Sydney and Seoul but rose in London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. U.S. futures were mixed and oil prices turned higher. China plans to issue 1 trillion yuan ($139 billion) in government bonds to finance new construction and other projects as part of an effort to spur faster economy growth. The aim is to drive more domestic spending and “further cement the recovery momentum of the Chinese economy,” the official Xinhua News Agency quoted Zhu Zhongming, a vice minister of finance as saying. “This decision suggests a commitment to supporting economic growth and addressing fiscal challenges at various levels of government. It also hints at a potential future shift in China’s fiscal approach,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary.However, officials said the funds would not be channeled into China’s ailing property sector, whic...