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Gymnastics leader visits Ukraine as Olympic standoff deepens

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The president of the International Gymnastics Federation has visited Ukraine for talks with senior political figures amid a standoff over Russian athletes’ eligibility for Olympic qualifying events.FIG president Morinari Watanabe met with the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, and sports minister Vadym Guttsait, according to an account of the meeting published on the presidential website late Saturday. The statement said Watanabe was urged not to support Russian participation at the Paris Olympics next year.The visit came four days after the International Olympic Committee recommended that international sports governing bodies like the FIG readmit athletes from Russia and Belarus as neutrals without national symbols as qualifying for the Paris Olympics ramps up. They would remain excluded from team sports and athletes who are members of the Russian military would be barred, under IOC recommendations. The IOC says it hasn’t ma...

Blinken urges Russia to release two detained Americans

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged his Russian counterpart, in a rare phone since the Ukraine war, to immediately release a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained last week as well as another imprisoned American, Paul Whelan, the State Department said Sunday.In the call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Blinken conveyed “grave concern” over the Kremlin’s detention of journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage allegations, according to a State Department summary of the call. Blinken called for his immediate release.Blinken also sought the immediate release of Whelan, whom the statement said was wrongfully detained.Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges that his family and the U.S. government have said are baseless. He is serving a 16-year sentence.Blinken and Lavrov also discussed “the importance of creating an environment that permits diplomatic missions to c...

Saudi Arabia says it will cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day from May until end of 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia says it will cut oil production by 500,000 barrels per day from May until end of 2023.Source

UK seeks to contact 3 British men detained in Afghanistan

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government is seeking to make contact with three British nationals detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, authorities said Sunday.The three men include a charity worker, a thrill-seeking tourist and a third person whose family has asked that he not be identified, according to the Presidium Network, a British charity that works in conflict zones and is representing the families of two of the detainees. The Mail on Sunday newspaper first reported the story.“We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan, and we are supporting families,” Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement.The British government warns against all travel to Afghanistan, saying that there is a heightened risk of terrorism, kidnapping and detention by government authorities. Britain’s ability to provide consular support for detainees is “extremely limited” as the country has no consular officials in the country, according to travel advice upda...

American University picks George Mason asst. basketball coach to lead Eagles

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

American University has hired D.C. native Duane Simpkins as its head basketball coach after eight seasons spent on George Mason’s staff, the university confirmed Saturday.Simpkins comes to the university after several seasons at D.C. area basketball programs at the collegiate and K-12 levels. Before this new position, he was the assistant basketball coach at George Mason University.More Local NewsMore College Basketball NewsHe’ll replace recently-fired coach Mike Brennan at American University, who was let go after 10 seasons spent leading the team.In a news release, American University Director of Athletics and Recreation Billy Walker praised the decision to bring Simpkins on as the new head coach.“His close ties to the area as a coach and player, along with a tremendous recruiting acumen and unbending character, make him an ideal choice to lead our program,” Walker said. “Duane is truly a changemaker.”9 Dec 1995: Guard Duane Simpkins #10 of the ...

Rajasthan thumps Hyderabad by 72 runs in IPL

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — Rajasthan Royals showed plenty of batting muscle at the top of the order while Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed 4-17 in a resounding 72-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening Indian Premier game on Sunday.Jos Buttler plundered 54 off 22 balls inside the batting powerplay while his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (54) and captain Sanju Samson (55) also scored heavily to contribute to Rajasthan’s strong total of 203-5.Hyderabad finished on a disappointing 131-8 after Trent Boult (2-21) dismantled the home team’s batting by claiming two wickets in his first over before conceding a run and Chahal later ran through the middle-order, claiming the key wickets of Harry Brook (13) and Mayank Agarwal (27).Chahal raised his wicket tally in the IPL to 170 – joint second most with Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga – when he had Adil Rashid stumped and then clean bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a perfect googly.“We knew 200 was a good score on this wicket,” Chahal said. “My ...

Leicester fires Rodgers with team battling relegation in EPL

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

Relegation-threatened Leicester fired manager Brendan Rodgers on Sunday in a late-season bid to preserve its Premier League status after the team’s sharp decline.Leicester’s leadership took the decision with a heavy heart, hailing Rodgers as “one of the most successful managers in the club’s history” while — in the same statement announcing his departure — saying it was a necessary move if the team was to stay in England’s lucrative top division.Rodgers has been in charge for four years and led Leicester to its first FA Cup title in 2021 as well as back-to-back Europa League qualifications.Such has been the drop-off this season that Rodgers leaves with Leicester having plunged to third-to-last place with 10 matches remaining after losing five of its last six league games.“It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management,” Leicester chairman Aiyaw...

Blinken, in rare call with Lavrov, urges Kremlin to release detained US journalist and another imprisoned American

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blinken, in rare call with Lavrov, urges Kremlin to release detained US journalist and another imprisoned American.Source

El papa Francisco participó en la misa de Domingo de Ramos en la Plaza de San Pedro

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

(CNN) — El papa Francisco participó en la misa de Domingo de Ramos en la Plaza de San Pedro el domingo, solo un día después de su alta del hospital por bronquitis.Unos 30.000 fieles estuvieron presentes, según el Vaticano, portando las tradicionales hojas de palma y ramas de olivo.Francis permaneció sentado durante la mayor parte de la misa debido a un problema continuo en la rodilla. El Cardenal argentino, Leonardo Sandri, Vicedecano del Colegio Cardenalicio celebró misa en el altar.La voz del papa Francisco fue un poco más suave de lo habitual cuando pronunció la homilía, hablando de aquellos que han sido abandonados por la sociedad.“Pueblos enteros son explotados y abandonados; los pobres viven en nuestras calles y miramos para otro lado”, dijo el papa. “Los migrantes ya no son rostros sino números; los presos son repudiados; personas descartadas como problemas. Innumerables otros abandonados están entre nosotros, invisibles, escondidos, descartados con guantes blancos: los...

Crash investigation closes southbound lanes of Wadsworth Boulevard

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:54:06 GMT

ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — All southbound lanes of Wadsworth Boulevard are closed at West 77th Avenue in Arvada due to a crash. The Arvada Police Department is investigating a crash between a car and a bicyclist. APD said that due to the investigation, all southbound lanes of Wads are closed at West 77th Avenue. The area is just north of the Indian Tree Golf Club. Woman shot, killed near Aurora grocery store The driver did remain on scene, but the bicyclist is being transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Officers are asking drivers to avoid the area and to take an alternate route from Sheridan south to 72nd Avenue. For detours, visit the traffic map.APD estimates the road will be closed for two hours.This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.