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Report: Over 250 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

More than 250 million people faced severe hunger last year, with people in seven countries on the brink of starvation, according to a United Nations-led report published on Wednesday.The fallout of the war in Ukraine, including high food prices, was the major driver of hunger, particularly in the world’s poorest countries, which have still not recovered from economic shocks triggered by COVID-19. Conflicts were another key factor, along with climate change and extreme weather events. Some 258 million people in 58 countries or territories faced crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity in 2022 — a sharp increase from 193 million in 2021.Last year was the fourth year in a row that the number in urgent need of food aid has risen, according to the Global Report on Food Crises released today by the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, the World Bank, the EU, the U.S. and members of the Global Network against Food Crises. “The latest figures ...

In mega mafia raid across Europe, cops arrest 100+ suspects

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

Dozens of people were arrested Wednesday across Europe in a sprawling probe against members of the ‘Ndrangheta, a mafia organization from the southern Italian region of Calabria. Police swooped in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal and Belgium.In Italy, 108 people suspected of participation in a mafia-type association were arrested by Calabria’s regional police on a range of charges, including arms and international drug trafficking, Italian newswire ANSA reported.In Germany, police forces carried out more than 30 arrests in five different regions, raiding dozens of houses, apartments and offices, the police of North Rhine-Westphalia said in a statement.Some 20 houses were raided in Belgium, the federal public prosecutor’s office said in a statement, adding that the operation targeted “over one hundred alleged members of the Calabrese mafia.”The operation followed a joint investigation by Europol and the EU’s judicial cooperation agency, Euro...

Arrest made in bomb threat, extortion plot against Harvard University

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

Federal investigators have arrested a man who they say was involved in a bomb threat and extortion plot against Harvard University. According to an FBI affidavit, William Giordani is seen placing an explosive device in the Science Center Plaza on April 13, the same day Harvard police received a threatening call stating, “There are three bombs planted around the Harvard campus.” The caller said the bombs would be detonated if demands were not met. They then added, “You should begin preparing a large bitcoin transaction as soon as possible.”Harvard Police evacuated the area and detonated the device. A picture shows a tool bag containing wires, fireworks, and a digital lock. Giordani told authorities he answered a Craigslist ad asking for someone to deliver a package to a Harvard student. The FBI tracked Giordani to a Home Depot in Dorchester that day. Surveillance video and receipts show him buying a similar bag and wires under the name of the person who posted...

MBTA releases video of equipment falling on woman at Harvard station, says object has not been in use for 10 years

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

The MBTA has released footage of an incident involving heavy equipment falling from a column at Harvard station, striking a person in the process on Monday.The footage showed about two dozen people waiting at a Red Line platform when a person wearing a white coat and backpack approached a column.Almost immediately after the person leaned against a column in the background, a large piece of equipment dropped from above, appearing to strike the individual, who could be seen immediately grabbing their head and walking out of view.RELATED: Woman taken to hospital after heavy equipment falls at Harvard MBTA stationShortly before the footage was released to 7NEWS, an MBTA spokesperson sent out a new update on the incident. Earlier in the day, MBTA officials announced they had determined that a corroded support strap led to the utility box falling, making contact with a woman below.The victim, described as a woman in her late 20s, suffered non-life-threatening injuries according to the Cam...

The Texas massacre suspect was found hiding in a closet just miles from the crime scene, authorities say

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

(CNN) — Francisco Oropesa, the man suspected of gunning down five people in a neighboring home in Texas, including a 9-year-old boy and his mother, was captured Tuesday evening after a tip helped lead authorities to his whereabouts, ending a dayslong search for the fugitive, officials announced.Ultimately, law enforcement found him stowed under a pile of laundry in the closet of a home just miles from the Cleveland, Texas, residence where the attack took place, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Tuesday.The San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was discovered in the town of Cut and Shoot, but the FBI Houston office tweeted that he was found in the neighboring city of Conroe.Oropesa — a Mexican national — is accused of gunning down five people on Friday after he was asked to stop shooting his rifle outdoors near a neighboring home.Wilson Garcia, whose wife and son were killed in the attack, told CNN he and ...

More Cool Air, Few Showers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

There’s certainly been no lack of chilly air and wet weather over the last several days and today, will feature more of the same. With that said, we’ll also have some breaks of sun and the showers won’t be as widespread as yesterday’s, but it’ll be a bit unsettled nonetheless. Highs today max out in the mid to upper 50s. Scattered showers are mainly near and north of the Mass Pike today, leaving many hours dry across Southeast Mass. The weather gets worse before it gets better as chilly air and patchy light showers and drizzle greet us tomorrow morning. While we’ll catch some dry hours in the afternoon, it’ll be a raw day with high temps struggling to get out of the upper 40s. Friday will feature some improvements, but not a huge warm-up as highs crack 50 once again with afternoon temps in the mid 50s. While a few spot light showers are possible, most of the day is dry. The biggest flip in the pattern moves in over the weekend. With more sun...

Worcester City Council approves stipend for police officers wearing body cameras

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

The Worcester City Council has approved a controversial stipend for police officers who wear a body camera. Under the new ordinance, which passed Tuesday with an 8-3 vote, each officer using the new cameras would get a $1,300 annual stipend. Those who support the stipend say the raise is only fair. But critics say it marks a step backward for accountability.The Worcester Police Department rolled out its body camera program on Feb. 27 after the Department of Justice previously announced it is investigating the department’s practices and use of force. 

Mansfield woman charged in connection with boyfriend’s death due back in court

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

Court proceedings connected to the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe are set to continue Wednesday, several weeks after the defense team for O’Keefe’s girlfriend filed a motion asking for records they believe exonerate their client.Karen Read of Mansfield has been charged with charges including second-degree murder. She has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors maintain Read and O’Keefe had been out drinking with friends, including another police officer, on the night O’Keefe died.O’Keefe’s body was later found in a snowbank outside the other officer’s home hours after Read dropped him off. Read, who is accused of backing her SUV into O’Keefe, has claimed she is innocent for more than a year. Her defense has now asked for cell phone records that they said show the sister-in-law of the homeowner in whose snow-covered yard O’Keefe’s body was found deleted a Google search for the phrase “hos (how) long to die in the cold.” Read’s defense said the search was made at 2:27 a...

Howie Carr: Hunter Biden in the White Trash Hall of Fame

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

Hunter Biden is white trash.That’s what Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called him the other day, and as archaic a phrase as it is, it’s perfect.Just like you can sometimes describe somebody in politics as a hack’s hack, Hunter Biden is white trash’s white trash.This guy has made millions working in his chosen profession – bagman for the Big Guy. Hey, he said it, not me, on the laptop that the deep state and state-run media lied was “Russian disinformation.”Hunter told his daughter he’d never ask her to do what Dementia Joe demanded he do – turn over half of all his collections.On the good days, like when Hunter got the millions from the Chinese energy company, he only had to hold “10% for the Big Guy.”But now he’s a starving artist. That’s what he told the judge in Arkansas on the hearing about his child-support payments to his illegitimate daughter by the Capitol Hill stripper.The 4-year-old girl’s name is Navy Joan. The Bidens don’t want her using their last name.During the holidays ...

2023 NFL draft superlatives: Best pick, biggest gamble, most improved division and more

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 11:00:50 GMT

The NFL draft is always a whirlwind. For the Ravens, it was even wilder than usual.On Thursday, news trickled out that quarterback Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year deal, ending a contract standoff that lasted two seasons and threatened to overshadow a third. Hours later, they made their first pick, taking Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers at No. 22 overall.In total, 259 picks were made across three days in Kansas City. As always, some stood out more than others. Let’s make sense of it all and hand out some awards:Best pick: Colts take Florida QB Anthony RichardsonIndianapolis landed the most athletic quarterback in NFL scouting combine history, and it didn’t even need to trade up to do it.Sure, there are enough flaws in Richardson’s game that made him the third quarterback off the board, but there’s a chance the Florida product ends up with the best career of them all. At 6 feet 4 and 244 pounds with a rocket arm and the speed of a wide receiver (he...