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UK spy chief says MI6 ‘doesn’t do culture wars’ but does want greater diversity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

The head of the U.K.’s Secret Intelligence Service said MI6 “doesn’t do culture wars.”In an interview with POLITICO in Prague, Richard Moore was asked why he added “he/him” to his Twitter bio and if MI6 had “gone a bit woke?” “I can say to you comprehensively that MI6 doesn’t do culture wars,” Moore said, “but what I do want is for my service to better represent the country we serve. That’s a noble aim, in my view, but it’s also an intensely practical aim. Diversity brings greater creativity, better problem-solving.”“And if you add the rather obvious point that if you have officers of ethnic minority, they might just give you some cultural insight that you might otherwise lack, as well as perhaps not looking like me on the streets of some other parts of the world.”Moore was speaking to POLITICO’s Anne McElvoy in a rare interview, which can be seen here.

State House to remain closed Wednesday after electrical fire prompts evacuations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

The Massachusetts State House will remain closed on Wednesday after a fire in a transformer room prompted an evacuation Tuesday afternoon, officials said. Massachusetts State Police said the building was evacuated and nearly all surrounding streets on Beacon Hill were closed as crews responded to what appeared to be an electrical fire that broke out around 2:15 p.m. in a sub-basement at the capitol building.In an update Tuesday evening, Superintendent of the State House Tammy Kraus said the building will be closed “Out of an abundance of caution while details of today’s fire continue to be investigated.”“We’re grateful for the efforts of the Boston Fire Department, Mass State Police and DCR Rangers to ensure the safety of all officials, staff and visitors and are working diligently to reopen the building as quickly and safely as possible,” Kraus said.Smoke was largely not visible outside the State House on Tuesday. Inside, though, state police spo...

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara to face charges related to Jamaica Plain crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara is expected in court Wednesday, where she’ll face charges related to a crash in Jamaica Plain last month.A police report released last week says Lara was driving at least 53 mph in an area on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain where the posted speed limit was 25 mph when she crashed through a fence and into a home on June 30.Police said Lara was driving with a revoked license and driving in an unregistered car. Lara, the police report said, has not had a valid Massachusetts driver’s license since 2013, when her license was suspended after she didn’t pay a fine penalizing her for not wearing a seatbelt.Lara recently apologized for her role in the crash.7NEWS sources said Lara’s son, who was hurt and needed stitches, was not buckled into a safety seat, as required by state law. The police report confirmed Lara’s son wasn’t properly restrained and said her son hit the armrest of the car seat in front of him.The report said La...

Trimming Rain Chances & Humidity

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

Well, well, what do we have here? A 7 day forecast with more dry than wet? Looks to appear that way. With that said, it’s not a perfect stretch of summer weather, but certainly one of the better runs we’ve have over that last several weeks. Let’s start with today. Smoky/hazy/foggy sunshine will yield to a mix of hazy sun and clouds this afternoon as highs head for the mid 80s. With temps in the 80s, dew points will fade back to the lower 60s this afternoon, allowing for a bit more of a comfortable summer’s day. While not a dramatic drop off, trimming the humidity a bit will be a welcomed change. We’ll also trim the rain chances this afternoon as just a spot shower/sprinkle is possible near the South Coast. The air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups today for a large part of New England thanks to some of that smoke. Tomorrow will be similar. Dew points fade into the lower 60s. Coastal afternoon temps run in the mid to upper 70s while we p...

Noda and Bleday homer in 2nd, A’s beat Red Sox 3-0 to end 8-game skid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Noda and JJ Bleday homered in the second inning and the Oakland Athletics ended an eight-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.The Athletics were much sharper a day after striking out a season-high 18 times while being held to one hit or fewer for the third time this season in a 7-0 loss to the Red Sox.Noda, who was 14-for-86 (.163) over his previous 25 games, homered off Boston starter Joe Jacques (1-1) leading off the second. After Aledmys Díaz reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by shortstop Yu Chang, Bleday hit his sixth homer and first off a left-hander this season.“He just continues to go out and grind,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “It’s not easy for any young player, especially a Rule 5-type player, to go in and have impact but Ryan’s done a nice job with just continuing to put his head down, continuing to work on his approach, continuing to try to get on base for us.”Lu...

SWAT standoff ends peacefully in Norwood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

A SWAT standoff with a barricaded subject came to a peaceful resolution in Norwood on Tuesday night after a large police presence gathered.Police say a person barricaded themselves in an apartment building on Northwest Drive for several hours.SWAT officers, K9 units, and state police responded to the scene.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Large police presence gathers amid investigation outside Everett restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

A large police presence gathered outside of a restaurant in Everett late Tuesday night after an incident prompted a police investigation.The area around Oliveira’s Steak Bar & Grill could be seen taped off with crime scene tape.A nearby resident told 7NEWS he heard what sounded like a gunshot prior to the police response.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Everett, St. Mary’s football teams to meet on Thanksgiving Eve

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

Here is the official press release on the newly scheduled Everett-St. Mary’s football game courtesy of Paul HalloranThe St. Mary’s football team was looking for a Thanksgiving opponent after Austin Prep moved to the NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) and is no longer able to schedule the Spartans. Everett did not play on Thanksgiving last year and was also in search of a holiday opponent.Problem solved.St. Mary’s will travel to Everett on Nov. 22 for a Thanksgiving Eve game vs. the Crimson Tide at Everett Memorial Stadium.“We both needed a game and this made sense for a one-year deal,” said St. Mary’s Athletic Director Jeff Newhall. “Everett has one of the best high school football traditions in the state, so this will be a great environment for our players and coaches.”The Spartans, who beat Austin Prep the day before Thanksgiving at Fenway Park last year, are coming off an MIAA Div. 6 state championship last fall, while Everett lost to Central Catholic ...

Patriots training camp countdown No. 7: Can Mac Jones return to form?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

Welcome to 7 Patriots training camp questions!Each day leading up to the start of camp, the Herald will explore one of the biggest questions facing the Pats this summer. Several pertain to the offense, which welcomed back Bill O’Brien this offseason and added JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Other questions cover the defense and special teams, units that might rely heavily on rookies and must overcome the loss of longtime captain Devin McCourty.Once the Patriots hit the practice field, here’s what they must learn before the season kicks off versus Philadelphia on Sept. 10.No. 7: Can Mac Jones return to form?The understated, unspectacular truth about quarterback play in the NFL is young passers are often made or broken by their environment.No quarterback can thrive without a stable offensive line or a capable cast of receivers or a competent play-caller. Just ask Mac Jones.As a rookie, Jones was drafted into a strong infrastructure and well-rounded roster. He beat ou...

OBF: Bill Belichick’s future in the hands of Mac Jones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:46:11 GMT

Cockroaches.Twinkies.Tom Brady.Those three items will be here long after the apocalypse, no matter what Robert Oppenheimer throws at us.It took about three sentences to reach Brady on the DeAndre Hopkins storyline depth chart after the Patriots came up losers in the two-team sweepstakes. The Patriots were outbid, or outclassed, or outhustled, and/or flat out-Patrioted by Tennessee.Remember the Titans? How can we forget?Long gone are the days when Bill Belichick would grunt, or Brady would wink, and players would manifest themselves at the Hertz counter at Logan Airport, ready to play for the Patriots at minimum wage. So many came to New England for whatever terms they could get.Those six Super Bowl rings were bought at an NFL pawn shop and partly financed by Brady’s willingness to adjust his deal to get the next big name.Most of us realize it’s been 1,627 days since the Patriots won a playoff game, and nearly 28 months since Brady jumped ship to Tampa Bay.Guess who isn’t counting?Pa...