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Top diplomats of Baltics and Ukraine to boycott OSCE talks over Russian foreign minister’s presence

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — The foreign ministers of the three Baltic states and of Ukraine said Tuesday they will boycott a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe being held this week in North Macedonia, in objection to the participation of Russia’s foreign minister.The top diplomats of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement, saying they “deeply regret the decision enabling the personal participation” of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.“It will only provide Russia with yet another propaganda opportunity,” they said.Lavrov said Monday that he planned to travel to North Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, for the OSCE foreign ministers’ meeting, which would mark a rare visit to a NATO member country since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He also has visited NATO member Turkey, which has no ban on Russian flights. In September, he was in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly.Ukraine al...

NCAA FBS Individual Scoring

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

ScoringGPAT AFGFGAPtsAvgB.Corum, Michigan1200013211.0K.Robinson, San Jose St.1100012010.9A.Jeanty, Boise St.1000010810.8B.Auburn, Texas1245283312910.8O.Gordon, Oklahoma St.1200012610.5R.Davis, Kentucky1200012010.0J.Pizano, UNLV125023251199.9P.Woodring, Georgia125920231199.9N.Burnette, North Carolina10421819969.6R.Bond, Texas A&M124623321159.6A.Hale, Oklahoma St.123826321149.5L.Webb, South Alabama110001049.5H.Mevis, Missouri113822281039.4M.Lantz, Georgia Southern124223281119.2D.Ramos, LSU127312151099.1J.Croskey-Merritt, New Mexico120001089.0A.Estime, Notre Dame120001089.0R.Harvey, UCF120001089.0C.Rogers, SMU11551520999.0Z.Schmit, Oklahoma126414201068.8A.Borregales, Miami124221251048.7W.Reichard, Alabama125018211048.7R.Fitzgerald, Florida St.125715161028.5G.Nicholson, Miami (Ohio)123423231028.5B.Watson, Memphis120001028.5A.Felkins, Penn St.12451822998.2M.Hughes, Appalachian St.12511619998.2J.Love, Virginia Tech12392022998.2R.Ali, Marshall11000908.2C.Campbell, Tennessee12441823988....

Partial structural collapse at Atlantic Technical College in Coconut Creek; no injuries reported

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

Coconut Creek Fire Rescue responded to a partial structural collapse at Atlantic Technical College, a high school and post-secondary institution within the Broward County Public School system. Officials said the incident occurred Tuesday morning in a breezeway connecting two buildings at the campus located at 4700 Coconut Creek Parkway.7Skyforce hovered over the scene, where part of the attached breezeway appeared to have caved in.Broward County Schools Superintendant Peter Licata was briefed on the situation and spoke to the media. “Crews are on site. We’re trying to clear the debris as much as possible,” he said. “We had students make sure they stay away from that area, but it’s just an overweight of debris and removal of roofing construction in that area.” Licata added that the information he provided to the public is all the knowledge he has of the incident so, the reports are subject to change.Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in co...

Gumby, a kitten with deformed legs, seeking forever home at MSPCA

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

BOSTON, Massachusetts (WCVB) — The MSPCA-Angell is seeking very special adopters for a unique kitten named Gumby, who arrived in Massachusetts from Texas earlier this month needing medical care and a new home.“We’ve never seen a cat quite like this,” Dr. Rebecca Fellman, MSPCA-Angell lead clinician of community and shelter medicine, said. “Both of Gumby’s back legs are severely deformed with muscle contracture that limits his joint mobility, but he still manages to get around — often on all fours.”Courtesy MSPCA-AngellShelter staff say that Gumby is very sweet and loving — even playful — and can walk and use the litterbox.“At this point, he isn’t developing any sores, and it looks like surgery may not significantly improve his mobility, so it doesn’t make sense to put him through what will be a painful process at this time,” Fellman said.The MSPCA is looking for adopters who are willing to take on the unique challenges that come with adopting a kitten with Gumby’s medical need...

Monarch High students rally behind reassigned staff amidst transgender athlete investigation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

Monarch High School students are protesting in support of the trans community and reassigned staff members amid an investigation involving a transgender student allowed to play on the girls’ volleyball team. According to Broward County Public Schools, the school’s principal, James Cecil, and several staff members were reassigned to non-school sites pending an investigation into allegations of improper student participation in sports.7News sources indicate the investigation is linked to a biological male student who transitioned or is transitioning, violating Florida law that prohibits biological males from participating in female sports. The district’s statement, issued by John J. Sullivan, Chief Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer, did not specify details on the investigation’s nature.“The principal of Monarch High School and several staff members have been reassigned to non-school sites pending the outcome of an investigation into allegatio...

Columbus Crew ask minimum $421 for individual tickets vs. Messi and Miami next season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Crew are asking a minimum $421 list price for individual tickets for next season’s Major League Soccer home game against Inter Miami and Lionel Messi.The $421 seats are located behind the end line in the bottom deck at Lower.com Field, according to a Ticketmaster webpage linked to the team’s website. The price does not include fees.Individual ticket prices increase to $746 plus fees for seats closer to midfield.The match vs. Miami is the only 2024 Crew home game with individual seats listed for sale. The date of the match has not been announced; last year, MLS announced its schedule on Dec. 20.Crew spokesman Rob McBurnett did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.The New York Red Bulls last week offered a holiday two-game ticket promotion involving next season’s home opener and their home match against rival New York City but included in small print that a match against Miami would not be included if it is the home opener....

Kazakhstan: EU’s helped us hold our own against Moscow, Beijing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

Growing ties with the West are helping Central Asian countries assert their independence in a region historically dominated by Russia and China, Kazakhstan’s deputy foreign minister said.“The fact the EU, the U.S. and the West generally have now recognized the importance of Kazakhstan and other countries in Central Asia [and] have now engaged in much more robust relationship building … help strengthen the agency of Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan in dealing with all other partners in the world,” Roman Vassilenko told POLITICO in an interview.At the same time, he added, “we will continue to be where we are geographically, we will continue to develop relations with Russia, with China, as an independent nation.”Kazakhstan is a member of the Moscow-led CSTO military alliance, but has carved out an independent foreign policy since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, offering to sell oil to the EU to replace lost Russian ...

Germany’s Scholz vows to ‘invest heavily’ in green transition despite budget crisis

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday that his government would still “invest heavily” in the modernization and green transition of his country’s economy, but provided no specifics on how his coalition would pay for it amid a budget crisis that has sharply curbed the government’s ability to spend.“We must now ensure that we in Germany manage to transform our economy and remain competitive as a strong industrialized country,” the chancellor told lawmakers. This means the government “must now invest heavily” and “do everything we can to finally drive forward the energy transition in Germany and Europe,” he said.The problem for Scholz is that the conservative opposition is unlikely to go along with proposals to loosen the legally-binding fiscal restrains German leaders have imposed on themselves, leaving the tripartite ruling coalition almost no way out of the budget crisis that doesn’t involve deep spending cuts...

TSA’s 2024 canine calendar will melt your travelin’ heart

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

(CNN) — It’s not often that the words “TSA” and “adorable” come together in the same sentence. Long lines, discarded items, a sometimes-grumpy atmosphere – not much to love there.But those two words are a natural pairing when it comes the Transportation Security Administration’s annual canine calendar. The agency announced its 2024 version on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday – and let’s just say these safety-minded, hard-working pooches are positively precious.The calendar honors the more than 1,000 explosives-detection canines working across the United States. Adorning the cover is Dina, winner of the 2023 cutest canine contest.This gal is a 3-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer who works at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. She was “one of several TSA canines who worked at Super Bowl LVII in Phoenix” back in February, according to a TSA news release.But the doggie love doesn’t stop at the cover. Inside are a year’s worth of dogs starting with Gina-Gina, a...

Man charged with fatal shooting in Wareham on Monday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:54:07 GMT

A man has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting and killing a person on Monday, the Plymouth DA’s office said Tuesday morning.Robert Gomes III has been charged with the murder and expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Wareham District Court, DA spokesperson Beth Stone said.Wareham Police initially reported the active crime scene at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, closing Main Street between Pierceville Road and County Road.At the time, the department stated the scene was “contained, and there is no threat to the immediate public.”The DA’s office reported an “active and ongoing” investigation into the fatal shooting in Wareham in a post on X, formerly Twitter, around 6:40 p.m. Tuesday.“This is not believed to be a random act of violence,” the DA’s post stated.The circumstances and motive of the shooting have not yet been stated by police or the DA’s office.— Developing