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Boris Johnson can’t hand over his WhatsApps because he’s forgotten his passcode

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

LONDON — Boris Johnson has been unable to give key WhatsApps to the U.K.’s official coronavirus inquiry because he cannot remember the passcode to his old iPhone, it was reported Thursday.According to the Times of London, the ex-PM doesn’t remember with “100 percent confidence” the code to access his former device, which he stopped using in May 2021 amid security concerns. A spokesperson for Johnson did not dispute the paper’s account.The Times reported that there are concerns the device will automatically disable and potentially erase its contents if the wrong code is entered. The U.K.’s COVID inquiry has requested all of Johnson’s pandemic WhatsApps and diaries. The Cabinet Office challenged the inquiry’s demand — claiming the material was “unambiguously irrelevant” — but lost their legal challenge last week.The government was given until 4 p.m. last Monday to hand over all material to the inquiry. But much of the materia...

Service resumes on stretch of Red Line after fire response to disabled train at Charles/MGH

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

Buses temporarily replaced subway service on a stretch of the Red Line for part of the Thursday morning commute after firefighters responded to a disabled train at the Charles/MGH MBTA station, which remains closed while crews clean up.Fire crews responding to a reported fire underneath a train around 5:45 a.m. found that all passengers had already self-evacuated and there were no injuries. Power was turned off to the third rail so that firefighters could investigate what was causing the fire, the MBTA said in a statement.Deputy Fire Chief James Greene said a broken water pipe in the station initially hindered crews ability to fight the fire but it was quickly extinguished.Service has since resumed between Harvard and Broadway stations. Charles/MGH will be bypassed to allow crews to clean up. Shuttles will be available at Park and Kendall stations for service to Charles/MGH.Riders can use Green Line service from Union Square/Medford for alternate service inbound.They can also use B...

Ted Williams Tunnel temporarily shuts down for medical transport

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

The Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston temporarily shut down around 8:15 a.m. Thursday for a medical transport, MassDOT said. The shut down is expected to have major impacts on the morning commute.Stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.https://twitter.com/realpolikseni/status/1679468173299527681https://twitter.com/MassDOT/status/1679460734734925828No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Lawyer accused of North End sex assaults due to face charges in court

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

A New Jersey man charged in a series of sexual assaults in Charlestown in the 2000s will be back in court Thursday to face charges stemming from additional assaults in the North End.Matthew Nilo, 35, is facing new charges following his June 15 release after posting $500,000 bail. The charges stem from five attacks on four women in the North End. One of the victims was attacked twice, 11 days apart. The attacks occurred in January 2007, July 2007, January 2008 and July 2008.Prosecutors say DNA evidence links Nilo to the attacks. His lawyer is questioning the legality of how the DNA evidence was obtained.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Five takeaways from the Orioles’ 2023 MLB draft

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

The Orioles’ rebuild is long gone, and this week provided more evidence.In each of the organization’s first four seasons under executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, the MLB draft was one of the most important events each year. The three days of the 2023 draft, however, were overshadowed by the goings-on of the big league club and its players.On Sunday, several hours before they drafted Vanderbilt center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. and two other college players, the Orioles routed the Minnesota Twins to end the first half of the season on a five-game winning streak, entering the break with the third-best record in the majors and the franchise’s best start since 1997.Days 2 and 3 of the draft were outshined even more by the All-Star Game festivities. While he lost in the first round, Adley Rutschman’s 27-homer performance during Monday’s Home Run Derby captivated the baseball world. The following night, Rutschman and three other Oriol...

Towson pitcher Ethan Pecko drafted by Astros after whirlwind three years: ‘He had his eye on the prize’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

Having grown up in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, Ethan Pecko is a fan of all things Philadelphia, especially the city’s professional sports franchises. And as a baseball player, he once attended a Phillies game in full uniform.“Baseball was a sport that always just kind of stuck with me,” he said. “I was a fan from 4 years old until now. As a kid, I moved up in age and other kids were there picking flowers. So that was definitely something I always wanted.”Pecko’s dream is now reality after the Houston Astros used the last pick of the sixth round (194th overall) of the Major League Baseball draft on Monday to select the Towson pitcher. He is the fourth-highest draftee in Tigers history, trailing pitchers Chris Nabholz (49th in second round by the Montreal Expos in 1988) and Chris Russ (94th in third round by the New York Yankees in 2000) and shortstop Richie Palacios (103rd in third round by Cleveland in 2018).Pecko, who doesn’t turn 21 until n...

2023 BMW X1 improves greatly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

As BMW tries to take a bite into Mercedes Benz’s piece of the review pie, it shows out in strides. In 2023, BMW takes the X1 into new levels with an all new design, look and upgrades. First, the color, San Remo Green Metallic, what a color; It’s absolutely gorgeous to say the least.As a 2023 updated model, the X1 is a really great vehicle and for the price, owning a BMW has never been so affordable. Paired with a potent 2.0 liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder and 7-speed dual clutch transmission ,the BMW X1 has phenomenal power and great gear ratios, making it easy to get out of the way, or make a pass when historically the X1 couldn’t. Unlike most 4-cylinders, get up and go is hard to find, or the lag is so bad that it takes too long to get going.With great space both in the front and for rear seat passengers, it’s the storage space that was so great, I thought I was driving an X3. A larger than ever kidney-shape grille shows the way on the X1 with its mul...

Fire breaks out on Red Line train; Disabled train on Green Line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

Either smoke or a small fire on a Red Line train this morning at Charles MGH interrupted service, forcing passengers to evacuate while firefighters put out the blaze.The fire broke out on the underside of a train at about 5:45 a.m. according to Deputy Chief James Greene who described it as a “small fire.”The MBTA, however said the driver stopped the train because of smoke.“There was no confirmed report of flames nor fire,” said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo.Greene said firefighters first secured the power and then “got water up on the fire.”All passengers were able to self-evacuate at the platform, Greene said and there were not injuries to report.Pesaturo said the smoke came from an air compressor control box on the train.Firefighters actually manually brought “cans” of water to the train to put out the fire, Greene said.Shuttle buses are providing service between Harvard and Broadway while the T moved the train out of the way. Service resumed at 7...

US applications for jobless benefits fall again as labor market continues to defy the Fed actions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits fell again last week as the labor market continues defy the Federal Reserve’s attempt to cool it through higher interest rates.U.S. applications for jobless claims fell by 12,000 to 237,000 for the week ending July 8, from 249,000 previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out some of the week-to-week ups and downs, fell by 6,750 to 246,750.Jobless claim applications are seen as a proxy for the number of layoffs in a given week.Overall, 1.73 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the week that ended July 1, 11,000 fewer than the previous week.For three weeks in late May and early June, jobless claims had appeared to reach a sustained, higher level, above 260,000. Even so, that increase may not have been enough for Fed officials to pivot from raising its main rate at its next meeting.The U.S. economy has added jobs at a frenetic pace since more than 20...

US wholesale prices for June point to further easing of inflation pressures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices in the United States decelerated again last month, the latest sign that inflationary pressures are easing in the face of the Federal Reserve’s streak of interest rate hikes.The government’s producer price index — which measures inflation before it reaches consumers — rose just 0.1% last month from June 2022, the smallest such increase since August 2020. And from May to June, prices rose an identical 0.1% after having fallen 0.4% from April to May.The index that the Labor Department issued Thursday reflects prices charged by manufacturers, farmers and wholesalers. It can provide an early sign of how fast consumer inflation will rise.On Wednesday, the government reported that consumer prices in June rose just 3% over the previous 12 months — the mildest such pace since early 2021. The slowdown was driven by easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries. Year-over-year consumer price inflation has steadily dropped sinc...