UN nuclear agency slams Iran for barring ‘several’ inspectors from monitoring its program

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

UN nuclear agency slams Iran for barring ‘several’ inspectors from monitoring its program BERLIN (AP) — The U.N. nuclear watchdog harshly criticized Iran on Saturday for effectively barring several of its most experienced inspectors from monitoring the country’s disputed program.The strongly worded statement came amid longstanding tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is tasked with monitoring a nuclear program that Western nations have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists the program is peaceful.Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said Iran had withdrawn the designation of “several experienced Agency inspectors,” barring them from taking part in the monitoring of its program.“Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency’s most experienced inspectors designated for Iran,” he said.Grossi went on to “strongly condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure,” saying it “constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already ...

Mount Evans, a Colorado mountain tied to an 1864 atrocity, is officially renamed

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Mount Evans, a Colorado mountain tied to an 1864 atrocity, is officially renamed DENVER (KDVR) – The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has renamed Mount Evans as Mount Blue Sky, making the new name official during the Council of Geographic Names Authorities conference Friday afternoon.The change was years in the making, gaining traction in 2020 as part of a widespread movement to address past atrocities. It was a popular national monument — until it was robbed to extinction During the meeting, officials had discussed six different options for the name of iconic 14,271 "fourteener" mountain peak."I think there's an overwhelming agreement that the name has to be changed," Chris Hammond, a member of the Domestic Names Committee, said."I do hope that whatever name we pick does start the healing process," member Andrew Flora added.Why was Mount Evans renamed?Mount Evans was named after Colorado Territorial Gov. John Evans in 1895. But attitudes toward Gov. Evans later soured due to his treatment of Native populations, and a push to rename the peak began gaining tracti...

Opposition leader: All Signs Point to the End of the Mullahs’ Regime in Iran

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Opposition leader: All Signs Point to the End of the Mullahs’ Regime in Iran Addressing thousands of representatives of the Iranian diaspora in Europe, the Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi said on Friday that all signs point to the end of the ruling theocracy.Rajavi was addressing a major conference in Brussels on Friday on the eve of the first anniversary of the Iranian people’s uprising that began after the tragic death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. According to Rajavi, the uprising highlighted the potential for the regime’s downfall and has put the Iranian people on the cusp of a new era in their history, backed by four decades of organized resistance.Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, former Colombian presidential candidate and former hostage Ingrid Betancourt, former German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung, and the former French Foreign Minister Michèle Alliot Marie were among the international dignitaries who participated in the summit organized by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (...

Shohei Ohtani’s locker at Angel Stadium cleared out; will miss the remainder of season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Shohei Ohtani’s locker at Angel Stadium cleared out; will miss the remainder of season Less than a week after receiving news that star slugger Mike Trout may be traded if he wants it, Los Angeles Angels fans are now bracing for All-Star pitcher Shohei Ohtani's departure. That rumor became closer to reality on Friday as Ohtani's locker at Angel Stadium was seemingly cleared out, and it was confirmed on Saturday afternoon that he would miss the remainder of the season, which may mark the end of his Angels career. Southern California high school girls flag football teams make official debut Although he was at the stadium before the game, according to AP, the three-time MLB All-Star's locker was “largely empty afterward.” The Los Angeles Times reported that what remained in Ohtani’s locker included a bottle of cologne, some Angels merchandise and his Seattle All-Star Game duffle bag, which appeared to be packed. "Even Ohtani's water jug was in the garbage," the L.A. Times said.Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to the plate during the fi...

Southern California high school girls flag football teams make official debut as popularity continues to rise

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Southern California high school girls flag football teams make official debut as popularity continues to rise Thousand Oaks and Agoura High Schools have been battling on the gridiron since the 1960s in boys football, but a new group of players took to the field on Thursday.Girls flag football was recently sanctioned as a high school sport in California after a unanimous vote from the California Interscholastic Federation last spring.According to Thousand Oaks High School girls football head coach Mike Leibin, the program was popular from the start. “The second day we got out here, we had 51 girls,” he said. “Obviously there’s a big interest...it’s popped up at virtually every school.”  COVID outbreak forces cancellation of high school football game Coaches aren’t the only ones going all in on the gridiron; the girls are having a blast too. “It’s nice to have another opportunity and learn new skills,” said Morgan Humphrey, who plays running back and strong safety for Thousand Oaks. Unlike the boys, there is no blocking, tackling or kicking in the girls’ game. Teams pla...

Sluka accounts for 6 touchdowns, including 3 TD passes to Coker; Holy Cross beats Yale 49-24

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Sluka accounts for 6 touchdowns, including 3 TD passes to Coker; Holy Cross beats Yale 49-24 Matthew Sluka threw four touchdowns passes, including three to Jalen Coker, and added rushing TDs of 19 and 18 yards to help Holy Cross beat Yale 49-24 on Saturday. Sluka completed 23 of 30 passes for 275 yards and finished with 14 yards rushing on 98 carries for Holy Cross (2-1), which in ranked No. 5 in the FCS coaches poll. Coker caught nine passes for 124 yards. Jack Bosman capped a 21-play, 63-yard drive when he kicked a 28-yard field goal that gave Yale a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Crusaders responded with a 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated when Coker scored on a 2-yard reception about 5 minutes later and Sluka’s second TD run made it 21-10 with 1:44 left in the first half. Nolan Grooms hit Mason Tipton for gains of 33 and 21 yards before the duo connected for a 5-yard touchdown pass that trimmed Yale’s deficit to four points at halftime, but the Crusaders scored 21 unanswered points in the second half. Grooms finished 12-of-17 passing for 112...

Prison escapee from Wisconsin arrested in Alexandria

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Prison escapee from Wisconsin arrested in Alexandria A man who escaped from a Wisconsin prison earlier this week was arrested by police in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday, according to the city’s police department.38-year-old Dustin Bone escaped Monday from Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in Oneida, Wisconsin, where he had been serving a seven-year sentence for armed robbery since 2016, according to a news release from Alexandria police.Shortly after 5 p.m. on Friday, officers said they identified the license plate of a stolen vehicle by using License Plate Reader technology. Police arrested Bone, the driver of the vehicle, without incident.“This arrest is a great example of how we use the newest technology tools in our continued effort to keep our community safe,” said Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes in the news release.Bone is currently in the custody of Alexandria police, according to the release.Source

Wilson penalty gets Newcastle back to winning ways with 1-0 victory against Brentford

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Wilson penalty gets Newcastle back to winning ways with 1-0 victory against Brentford NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Fresh from signing a new contract, Callum Wilson struck from the penalty spot as Newcastle beat Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday. Wilson has just signed a one-year extension to keep him at the club until 2025. And he quickly began to repay the faith Newcastle showed in him with the winner against Brentford at St. James’ Park. It was the Magpies’ first win since the opening game of the season and ended a three-match losing run. Wilson converted a 64th-minute penalty and Eddie Howe’s team moved up to 11th in the standings. Newcastle had not won since routing Aston Villa 5-1 on Aug. 12 and had since slipped to defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.The win should help boost confidence ahead of the team’s Champions League opener against AC Milan on Tuesday.Newcastle was awarded a penalty after Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken’s clumsy challenge on Anthony Gordon.Wilson, who was made to wait before t...

Packers LB Quay Walker clears concussion protocol, expected to play Sunday at Atlanta

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Packers LB Quay Walker clears concussion protocol, expected to play Sunday at Atlanta GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker has cleared concussion protocol, making him available to play Sunday in Atlanta.The Packers announced the change in Walker’s status Saturday. The 2022 first-round pick from Georgia had left the Packers’ season-opening 38-20 victory at Chicago after scoring on a 37-yard interception return.Green Bay also elevated safety Innis Gaines and running back Patrick Taylor from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game with the Falcons. Taylor’s elevation could provide the Packers some insurance in the event running back Aaron Jones is unable to play.Jones hasn’t practiced all week and is listed as questionable on the Packers’ injury report due to a hamstring injury. Offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and wide receiver Christian Watson (hamstring) also are questionable.Watson didn’t play against the Bears but practiced on a limited basis Friday.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSource

Rennes rallies from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Lille. Struggling Lens hosts Metz

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 23:18:59 GMT

Rennes rallies from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Lille. Struggling Lens hosts Metz PARIS (AP) — Rennes rallied from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Lille and remain unbeaten in the French league after five games.However, four of those games have been draws and it could have been worse Saturday as Lille went ahead through 17-year-old center half Leny Yoro in the 33rd minute. He was paired alongside Samuel Umtiti, the former Barcelona and France defender who won the World Cup with Les Bleus in 2018.Yoro almost scored again in the 62nd when his shot was well saved, but right back Bafodé Diakité followed up to make it 2-0 to the visitors.In a match where defenders stood out with their scoring ability, Rennes right back Lorenz Assignon pulled a goal back in the 74th and then set up striker Ibrahim Salah for a 90th-minute equalizer.Lille is in fifth place with eight points while Rennes is one point back in sixth spot.Lens, still looking for its first win of the season, hosted promoted Metz later Saturday.Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain lost 3-2 at home to Nic...