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As Ukraine reels from dam strike, UN celebrates Russian language day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

Ukraine to the U.N.: Think before you tweet.The United Nations faced blowback on social media Tuesday after tweeting that it was celebrating “Russian language day” — on the same day Kyiv accused Russia of blowing up a major dam on the Dnieper River, threatening an ecological and humanitarian disaster.“Tuesday is Russian Language Day,” the U.N. wrote on Twitter. “Follow @UnitedNationsRU for updates on the UN’s work in Russian.”The tweet sparked dozens of furious comments, including from Ukrainian officials, in a classic case of being ratioed — a social media phenomenon when a post receives a deluge of negative responses and reactions, and few positive ones.“@UnitedNationsRU tweets about cultural diversity, ignoring the biggest catastrophe in Europe in decades caused solely by Russia. Why be silent?” said Oleg Nikolenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian foreign ministry.Earlier on Tuesday, Ukraine accused Russia of bombing the Nova K...

SUV barrels through martial arts studio in Southbridge, crashes into ravine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

A driver barreled through a martial arts studio in Southbridge, punching a hole in the building in a crash caught on camera Monday afternoon. The SUV ended up in a ravine below, with its driver ejected onto a nearby riverbank.Emergency crews responded and the driver was rushed to a hospital. The business’ owner also rushed to the scene, where he noted concern for the driver and said he was thankful no one was inside the studio at the time of the crash.“I just wanted to make sure the driver was okay,” said Hector Arvelo. “You don’t want anyone to get hurt. Everything else, it’s wood. It’s replaceable.”Arvelo owns Arvelo Martial Arts Academy and said he received a phone call telling him what happened.Southbridge police said they responded alongside firefighters around 1:40 p.m. at the intersection of Pleasant Street and River Street. Police said the SUV appeared to speed through the area with no signs the driver tried to brake, leading them to believe he ma...

Rape trial of former state prosecutor set to begin in Boston

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

The trial for a former Boston attorney accused of rape is set to begin Tuesday in Boston.Gary Zerola, 51, a former criminal defense lawyer who was once named one of “People” magazine’s most eligible bachelors, is accused of raping a woman in 2016 in Boston after a concert. His attorney says the victim was affectionate toward Zerola and called the allegations false.Zerola is already facing charges in Suffolk Superior Court for the alleged rape of a different woman in 2016, and had posted $10,000 bail in that case, according to the office of the Suffolk County District Attorney.

Smoky Sun & Storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

A colorful sunrise it was for many towns and cities this morning as smoky skies from the Canadian wildfires have made their presence felt, allowing for the added orange and red hues. With the smoke particles making their way down to ground level, there is an air quality alert in place for today.It’s a mix of smoky sun and clouds today with scattered showers and storms bubbling up this afternoon. As cold air aloft is still prevalent across New England, the daytime heating into the low to mid 70s will drive the instability that fuels the showers/storms. With that said, we will still have a lot of dry hours from town to town, just be mindful of that 15-30 minute period, where thunder/lightning, a downpour and even small hail is possible. As the are of low pressure to our northeast, continues to wobble around tomorrow, it’s push is a bit farther southwest. That’ll place most of the smoke to the west of us tomorrow, improving the air quality. However, it’ll also r...

Great white sharks lurked near swimmers, surfers 97% of the time in drone study. What does this mean for Cape Cod?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

As great white sharks make their way back north to Cape Cod for the summer and fall, shark researchers have released “shocking” results from a 2-year drone study — showing that apex predators came very close to people, but simply moved around them or ignored them completely.The study along southern California beaches looked at how close juvenile white sharks get to humans, such as waders, swimmers, surfers, and stand-up paddle boarders.The researchers from Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab revealed that at juvenile white shark aggregation sites, people were near sharks on 97% of the days surveyed. And during the two-year drone study, there were no reported shark bites in any of the surveyed locations.“Frankly, we were shocked,” Christopher Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of CSULB Shark Lab, told the Herald on Monday. “Sharks would interact with people every single day, multiple times a day, and they would just swim by.“It was sho...

Battenfeld: Chris Sununu’s exit from 2024 field lands with predictable thud

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s predictable withdrawal from the 2024 presidential field landed with a thud – the latest contribution from milquetoast Northeast Republicans.To say Sununu’s announcement landed with a thud is even giving it too much impact. Almost no one thought he was really going to run anyway. Well, maybe CNN bit on it.It comes the same day former Vice President Mike Pence announces his White House bid and the day before former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum wades into the 2024 battle. That’s right, Burgum.Sununu said he decided not to run because he didn’t want to expand the crowded field any more, making it easier for Donald Trump to win the nomination.“The stakes are too high for a crowded field to hand the nomination to a candidate who earns just 35% of the vote, and I will help to ensure this does not happen,” he tweeted.Sununu also got on his favorite network to scold Republicans who are in the race, saying they should get o...

The Longest Day: ‘Memories keep going forever’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

The Herald “Extra” declared on June 6, 1944, that the “greatest overseas military operation in the history” of the world had been unleashed in northern France. That paper cost 3 cents.A small U.S. carrier was lost in the Pacific, “underground leaders” in Europe were told to report to their leaders “with speed,” and Nazi propagandists announced a D-Day playlist for the invading troops.The joke would be on them, history tells.“All the GIs were running like crazy so they wouldn’t get killed. That was a sad scene,” Richard Egan, an Army reconnaissance driver with the 296th Engineers, said in 2019 of that morning on Omaha Beach.“These memories keep going on and on forever,” he told this reporter. He did urge all never to forget this day.“The eyes of the world are upon you,” Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Order of the Day” states, according to the National Archives, adding: “The free men of the world are marching...

Environment Canada warns of poor air quality for GTA due to wildfire smoke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

A special air quality statement remains in effect for the GTA and much of Southern Ontario as wildfire smoke blankets the region.Environment Canada is warning that the high levels of air pollution can prove harmful to people’s health and is advising residents take steps to reduce their exposure. The smoke is a result of forest fires burning in the eastern part of the province as well as fires in Quebec.“Stop outdoor activities and contact your health care provider if you or someone in your care experiences shortness of breath, wheezing, severe cough, dizziness or chest pains,” reads the air quality statement. “Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.”“People with lung disease or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke.”Special Air Quality Statement continues for a large portion of southern Ontario to...

Norway climber sets new goal to scale all 14 tallest peaks within 3 months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Norwegian who is aiming to be the fastest climber to scale all the world’s 14 highest mountains said Tuesday that she can achieve her goal in half the time she initially planned. Kristin Harila, on return to Nepal’s capital from the mountains on Tuesday, said she is setting a new target of scaling the peaks in three months, having already climbed eight of them in 40 days. She is attempting to beat the 2019 record set by a male climber, who did in little more six months. Harila, 37, is yet to climb Mount Manaslu in Nepal, which she hopes to do in the next few days, and then the five remaining peaks in Pakistan, including K2, the second highest in the world. She also reached K2 last year. “I believe we can do it, if we do Manaslu now and the five in Pakistan, we can do in three months. So yes, three months is possible if we do Manaslu now,” she said.“We are very happy we have made eight and we are all safe and everyone is good,” she said. She began in April b...

EU warns of ‘solidarity fatigue’ despite warm welcome for millions of Ukraine refugees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:30 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Despite the warm welcome given millions of Ukraine refugees in the European Union since the Russian invasion, EU officials said Tuesday there are some fears of wavering support caused by a slowing economy that especially affects poor families and the creeping influence of Russian propaganda. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson stressed that support for the 4 million Ukraine refugees being cared for in the bloc is steadfast, but a special report said “what we might call ‘solidarity fatigue’ is beginning to set in in some member states.” “The cost of living crisis has hit low- and medium-income families in host societies and created a context in which Russian propaganda could be more successful,” special EU adviser on Ukraine Lodewijk Asscher said in the report. Russian President Vladimir Putin “has a huge interest in influencing public opinion on displaced persons from Ukraine. The discourse on migration refugees can be weaponized to sow division w...