Fernandez leads Canada to United Cup win over Chile. Pegula stunned by GB’s Boulter but US wins tie

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Fernandez leads Canada to United Cup win over Chile. Pegula stunned by GB’s Boulter but US wins tie SYDNEY (AP) — Former U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a 2-1 victory over Chile in its opening United Cup match on Sunday.Fernandez defeated Daniela Seguel 6-3, 6-2 before Nicolas Jarry leveled the Group B tie for Chile by beating Steven Diez in straight sets in Sydney. Diez had replaced Felix Auger-Aliassime who was rested with a minor knee issue.Fernandez and Diez then clinched the deciding mixed doubles against Seguel and Tomás Barrios Vera 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 to seal the tie for the Canadians.“I’m extremely happy with the way I played,” world No. 35 Fernandez said after her 73 minute win over Seguel. “It wasn’t the greatest match because it is my first match of the season, the nerves, but I’m extremely happy with the way that I was able to manage it.”In Perth, Great Britain’s Katie Boulter stunned fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula in Group C rallying from a set down to win 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in nearly three hours.The Americans drew level when 10th-ranked Taylor Fritz...

Opinión: Soy un ex rehén. Esto es lo que pensé cuando vi a Hamas liberar rehenes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Opinión: Soy un ex rehén. Esto es lo que pensé cuando vi a Hamas liberar rehenes Nota del editor: Ana Diamond trabaja con el Laboratorio de Extremismo y Desinformación de Oxford y Red Team Network en OpenAI. También es cofundadora de la Alianza contra la toma de rehenes por parte del Estado y ha soportado más de 200 días en régimen de aislamiento como rehén en Irán entre 2016 y 2018. Las opiniones expresadas en este comentario son suyas. Lea más opinión en CNN.(CNN) —  En el verano de 2014, cuando tenía 19 años y era estudiante universitaria en Londres, viajé a Irán para visitar a unos familiares. En aquel momento yo era ciudadano de Irán, Finlandia y el Reino Unido. Poco después de mi llegada, me preguntaron sobre mi participación en la política local británica como joven conservadora, así como sobre mis viajes tanto a Estados Unidos como a Israel como estudiante de intercambio. Aunque no estaba involucrada ni interesada en los asuntos iraníes, ahora me percibían como “un infiltrada”, me trataban como una amenaza a la seguridad nacional y me decían que no...

US Navy sinks Houthi rebel boats after Red Sea attack on container ship

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

US Navy sinks Houthi rebel boats after Red Sea attack on container ship The U.S. Navy destroyed three boats carrying Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on Sunday after fighters attempted to board a container ship in the second attack against the vessel this weekend.Helicopters from two destroyers, the USS Eisenhower and USS Gravely, were dispatched after the Maersk Hangzhou issued a distress call at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, the ship’s second request for help in 24 hours.Four small boats arriving from Yemen had got to within 20 meters of the Danish-owned vessel and attempted to board it, according to CENTCOM, and fired on U.S. helicopters as they approached. “The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense, sinking three of the four small boats, and killing the crews,” it said, adding that there was “no damage to U.S. personnel or equipment.” On Saturday, Washington said it had shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles after the Maersk Hangzhou issued its first distress call and ...

Preparations underway for First Night festivities on City Hall Plaza

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Preparations underway for First Night festivities on City Hall Plaza Crews were hard at work preparing City Hall Plaza to host Boston’s First Night festivities.This year’s celebration has been moved to City Hall Plaza due to ongoing construction at Copley Square.The free and family-friendly event will feature performances, ice sculptures, fireworks, and more. The City is a partner of the New Year’s Eve event, which is formally run by Boston Celebrations, Inc, and managed by Conventures, Inc. All parties are taking steps to ensure public safety as Boston celebrates the New Year. “First Night is a beloved tradition in Boston and beyond, having created delightful experiences for neighborhood residents and visitors from around the world,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “Our newly renovated City Hall Plaza is the perfect venue to welcome families from all over to ring in the New Year. I encourage all our residents to celebrate safely as we welcome 2024.”New this year, there will be programming inside Boston City Hall, comedy at ...

Fire officials investigating cause of deadly Braintree blaze

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Fire officials investigating cause of deadly Braintree blaze Fire crews are investigating a house fire in Braintree late Friday night that left a man dead, officials said.A passerby reported the fire on Hobart Avenue just after 4 a.m. and fire crews located an older man inside and pronounced him dead at the scene, officials said. “On behalf of the Braintree Fire Department, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones,” said Chief O’Brien. “I also want to point out that we found no working smoke alarms at the scene. Please, take a moment today to be sure you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home. Don’t start the new year without them.”The fire spread rapidly and caused major damage to the home but firefighters were able to contain it to the building of origin. A second alarm was struck shortly after arrival and firefighters battled the blaze for almost an hour before bringing it under control.The fire is being investigated by the Braintree Fire Department, Braintree Police Department, and S...

Woman dies in shooting at Mississauga nightclub

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Woman dies in shooting at Mississauga nightclub A woman has died after a shooting at a Mississauga nightclub.Peel police say they responded to the shooting in the area of Dixie Road and Eglinton Avenue East just after 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The victim was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries where she was pronounced dead. No further details, including whether the shooting happened inside or outside the nightclub, have been released.There is no suspect description at this time.Police have said there is no threat to public safety. The investigation is ongoing.POLICE INVESTIGATION: – Dixie Rd/Eglinton Av E #Mississauga – heavy police presence– no threat to public safety – TRAFFIC DISRUPTION: both east & west bound Eglinton Ave E closed between Dixie Rd & Burgoyne St– C/R at 1:36 am – PR23-0417964— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) December 31, 2023

Israeli strikes in central Gaza kill at least 35 as Netanyahu says war will continue for months

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

Israeli strikes in central Gaza kill at least 35 as Netanyahu says war will continue for months Israeli strikes in central Gaza killed at least 35 people Sunday, hospital officials said, as the military targeted areas in several parts of the territory a day after the country’s prime minister said the war will continue for “many more months,” resisting international calls for a cease-fire.The military said Israeli forces were operating in Gaza’s second-largest city, Khan Younis, and residents reported strikes in the central part of the tiny enclave, after Israel this week made that region the new focus of its war.The war has raised fears of a broader regional conflagration. The U.S. military on Sunday said it shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired toward a container ship by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. Hours later, four boats tried to attack the same ship, but U.S. forces opened fire, killing several of the armed crews, the U.S. Central Command said.Israel says it wants to destroy Hamas’ governing and military capabilities in Gaza, from where it launche...

While some Montreal streets boom, downtown is dotted with vacant storefronts

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

While some Montreal streets boom, downtown is dotted with vacant storefronts MONTREAL — Wellington Street in Montreal’s Verdun borough is booming, with cheerful shop facades lining a district bustling with pedestrians.With a commercial vacancy rate the local business association pegs at about six per cent, the street, named “coolest in the world” by Time Out magazine in 2022, is a success story in the city’s battle against the empty storefronts that plague many of Montreal’s main arteries. Marie-Ève Girard, spokeswoman for the local business association, said Wellington Street benefited not only from a surge of tourists after the Time Out rankings but also from aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led Verdun residents to explore their local streets. “Because people were at home, they rediscovered their neighbourhoods,” she said in a phone interview. “There was also a huge enthusiasm for buying local.” To spur even more demand, Girard’s group rents out a formerly vacant storefront one month at a t...

AFD: 10 people 'narrowly escape' east Austin house fire

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

AFD: 10 people 'narrowly escape' east Austin house fire AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire Department said a 10-person family escaped a home fire early Sunday morning. Firefighters said 10 family members "narrowly" escaped their heavily involved home on Adina Street in east Austin, AFD said on social media at 5:43 a.m. The fire is out, and the cause was ruled as improperly discarded smoking material. AFD estimated damages at $150,000 for the structure and $50,000 for the home's contents. Crews said eight adults and two children were displaced. Austin Police Department's Victim Services and Central Texas Red Cross are helping the family.

AFD investigating series of ‘suspicious’ fires in SE Austin

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 07:01:19 GMT

AFD investigating series of ‘suspicious’ fires in SE Austin AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Fire officials said a series of fires that occurred over the weekend in southeast Austin were being investigated as suspicious.According to the Austin Fire Department, four fires near the 5400 block of Jimmy Clay Drive were ruled to be incendiary and suspicious.AFD said while working a second fire at the Jimmy Clay Golf Course, additional fire crews responded to an apartment next door for a mattress and trash fire near a garage.Earlier Saturday, crews also responded to the golf course for a shed fire with four lawnmowers involved. An early estimate of equipment damage was at $400,000 in connection to the incident.AFD said multiple investigators responded to the scenes, and the investigation into the fires remained open. Officials said there was currently no suspect information available.