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Russia’s ‘cynical’ actions at border aim to sow discord, Finland says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

Russia’s attempts to flood the Finnish border with migrants are “deliberate, cynical, hybrid actions” aimed at sowing anxiety and discontent, said Finland’s Minister of European Affairs Anders Adlercreutz. “It’s not really about trying to get a lot of people across the border,” Adlercreutz said in an interview Thursday. “It’s a proof of concept, making us aware that it views this kind of hybrid action as a tool that it can use, whenever it feels that it’s appropriate or needed.”On Tuesday, Finland completely closed its border with Russia for two weeks amid growing accusations that Moscow was encouraging asylum seekers to travel across its frontier into the EU and NATO country. Since then, Adlercreutz said, the “situation has calmed down,” with virtually no traffic at the border, which he called another indication that the actions were deliberate.While Adlercreutz said the number of migrants itself was not large enough to overwhelm Finland’s resources — approx...

Philippines says China has executed two Filipinos convicted of drug trafficking despite appeals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China has executed two Filipinos for drug trafficking despite high-level Philippine government appeals to commute their death sentences to life in prison, the Philippine government said Saturday.The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila did not identify the two Filipinos, citing the wishes of their families for privacy. It added that it did not announce the Nov. 24 executions until the Philippine government was formally notified by China.No other details were immediately given by Chinese or Philippine authorities about the executions and the drug trafficking cases. The DFA said that from the time the two Filipinos were arrested in 2013 until their 2016 convictions by a lower Chinese court, it provided all possible help, including funding for their legal defense.“The government of the Republic of the Philippines further exhausted all measures available to appeal to the relevant authorities of the People’s Republic of China to commute their sentences to li...

Biden rule aims to reduce methane emissions, targeting US oil and gas industry for global warming

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Saturday issued a final rule aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy. The Environmental Protection Agency said the new rule will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants generated by the oil and gas industry, promote use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies and deliver significant public health benefits in the form of reduced hospital visits, lost school days and even deaths. Air pollution from oil and gas operations can cause cancer, harm the nervous and respiratory systems and contribute to birth defects. EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House Climate adviser Ali Zaidi announced the final rule at the United Nations climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, the main component in natural gas and ...

Dear Abby: I am furious that the bride disinvited my little girl from the high-profile wedding

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My young daughter’s half-sister was married last year to a famous athlete.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My husband invites his friends and waltzes away from the hassle Advice | Dear Abby: Should my children forgive my cheating ex-wife? Advice | Dear Abby: I accidentally opened my son-in-law’s mail. Should I tell what I learned? Advice | Dear Abby: I’m tired of older people sneering about smartphones Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t believe my son spoke to his partner that way Initially, they invited my daughter to the wedding. A week later they disinvited her!There is a 20-year gap in their ages, but my daughter looks up to her half-sister. Her feelings were really hurt. My feelings may have been even more hurt. All the other siblings were there, as well as several other family members.We were never told why my daughter was disinvited. Her father did not stand up to h...

CIF NorCal football: Palo Alto, Miramonte end season in regional play

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

Palo Alto had a game-tying 2-point conversion called back with less than two minutes to play in the CIF NorCal 6-AA regional Friday night, and that was the difference in a 28-26 loss to St. Vincent de Paul.The Vikings had just scored a touchdown on a pass from freshman quarterback Justin Fung to Jason Auzenne, then appeared to tie the game at 28-28 with the 2-point conversion. But Palo Alto was whistled for an illegal shift, and the second 2-point attempt failed.“The play was executed, but we couldn’t stand still for a second,” Palo Alto coach David DeGeronimo said. “It was the right call.”The Vikings finish the season at 8-6. St. Vincent de Paul (12-2) will play for the 6-AA CIF State title next weekend against Wasco, which is located about 25 miles northwest of Bakersfield.St. Vincent de Paul shot out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Vikings had cut the lead to 21-20 at halftime on a touchdown by Jeremiah Madrigal, who scored on a fourth-down play. The Mustangs made it...

Valparaiso visits Belmont following Stafford’s 20-point outing

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

Valparaiso Beacons (4-3, 0-1 MVC) at Belmont Bruins (5-3, 1-0 MVC)Nashville, Tennessee; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bruins -15.5; over/under is 153.5BOTTOM LINE: Valparaiso faces the Belmont Bruins after Isaiah Stafford scored 20 points in Valparaiso’s 83-65 loss to the Drake Bulldogs.The Bruins are 2-0 on their home court. Belmont averages 12.5 turnovers per game and is 1-2 when it wins the turnover battle.The Beacons have gone 0-1 against MVC opponents. Valparaiso is 2-3 in games decided by 10 points or more.Belmont averages 82.9 points, 14.2 more per game than the 68.7 Valparaiso gives up. Valparaiso averages 6.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 fewer made shots on average than the 8.1 per game Belmont allows.The Bruins and Beacons square off Saturday for the first time in conference play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Cade Tyson is scoring 18.6 points per game and averaging 4.6 rebounds for the Bruins. Ja’Kobi Gillespie is averaging 1.6 made 3...

Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks play the Temple Owls

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

Temple Owls (4-2) vs. Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks (5-2)Philadelphia; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawks -5.5; over/under is 144.5BOTTOM LINE: The Saint Joseph’s (PA) Hawks play the Temple Owls at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Hawks are 5-2 in non-conference play. Saint Joseph’s (PA) is second in the A-10 with 18.1 assists per game led by Lynn Greer III averaging 4.9.The Owls have a 4-2 record in non-conference games. Temple averages 80.2 points while outscoring opponents by 5.0 points per game.Saint Joseph’s (PA) makes 44.8% of its shots from the field this season, which is 3.1 percentage points higher than Temple has allowed to its opponents (41.7%). Temple scores 15.9 more points per game (80.2) than Saint Joseph’s (PA) allows to opponents (64.3).TOP PERFORMERS: Erik Reynolds II is scoring 17.3 points per game and averaging 2.0 rebounds for the Hawks. Cameron Brown is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers for Saint Jos...

Houston Christian visits Rice after Evee’s 29-point game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

Houston Christian Huskies (0-5) at Rice Owls (2-5)Houston; Saturday, 5 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Owls -18; over/under is 169.5BOTTOM LINE: Rice hosts the Houston Christian Huskies after Travis Evee scored 29 points in Rice’s 98-78 win over the UT Martin Skyhawks.The Owls have gone 2-1 in home games. Rice is 2-5 against opponents over .500.The Huskies have gone 0-3 away from home. Houston Christian averages 17.2 turnovers per game and is 0-1 when turning the ball over less than opponents.Rice is shooting 44.4% from the field this season, 5.6 percentage points lower than the 50.0% Houston Christian allows to opponents. Houston Christian’s 43.8% shooting percentage from the field this season is 4.9 percentage points lower than Rice has given up to its opponents (48.7%).TOP PERFORMERS: Evee is scoring 16.9 points per game and averaging 3.6 rebounds for the Owls. Noah Shelby is averaging 1.3 made 3-pointers for Rice.Jay Alvarez is averaging 16.5 points for the Huskies...

Matan a dos personas sin hogar y hieren a otras tres durante un tiroteo en Las Vegas

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

(CNN) — Las autoridades de Las Vegas están tratando de determinar quién mató a dos personas sin hogar e hirió a otras tres en un tiroteo en un campamento de personas sin hogar el viernes por la noche, dijo la policía.Un hombre disparó contra el campamento en torno a las 05.35 p.m. en Sandhill Road y Charleston Boulevard, cerca del extremo oriental de la ciudad, alcanzando a cinco personas sin hogar, dijo el teniente de la policía de Las Vegas Mark Lourenco.Los tres supervivientes sufrieron heridas que no ponen en riesgo sus vidas, dijo Lourenco. Los nombres y edades de los cinco heridos no se supieron de manera inmediata.El viernes por la tarde no estaban claros los detalles sobre los motivos del tiroteo.El tiroteo se produce mientras la policía de Los Ángeles busca a un sospechoso que cree que disparó mortalmente a tres personas sin hogar en esa ciudad esta semana. Los tres murieron en tiroteos separados, y se cree que estaban solos y durmiendo cuando fueron atacados, dijo el...

Min Woo Lee and Rikuya Hoshino share lead after contrasting 3rd rounds at Australian Open

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:58:06 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Min Woo Lee made a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole to keep his bid of winning back-to-back titles on track despite a challenging day in the third round of the Australia Open on Saturday.Lee produced a trademark dazzling chip from the bunker and then rolled in for birdie on the par-5 18th to move back to the top of the leaderboard at 13-under with Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino.The 25-year-old Western Australian’s adventurous day included four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey for a round of 70 which included a number of shots from difficult lies in fairway rough or bunkers at The Australian course.In contrast, Hoshino — who finished runner-up to Lee at last week’s Australian PGA Championship — was bogey-free and steadily climbed the leaderboard with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 14th in a round of 65.“Last week I couldn’t make the birdie on the back nine, but this week I have more birdies at the back nine to make the winning (possible),” Hoshino said. “This i...