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Table tennis plans to allow Russians back, on IOC advice

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Russian players are set to return to table tennis events after the sport’s governing body on Thursday followed the International Olympic Committee’s advice to let them compete as neutrals.The decision by the International Table Tennis Federation paves the way for players from Russia and its ally Belarus to end a year-long exclusion from competitions during Russia’s war in Ukraine. They could resume competing from May at the earliest “under strict conditions of neutrality” and can’t enter the world championships in late May because they have missed the qualification events, the ITTF said.Table tennis is following a framework presented by the IOC on Tuesday which also recommended excluding any Russians and Belarusians who are contracted to the military, and allowing them to only take part as individuals, not teams. The ITTF said it would create its own guidelines drawing on the IOC recommendations but didn’t commit to any spec...

Drug dealer found guilty of killing 9-year-old girl in UK

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A drug dealer was convicted Thursday of killing a 9-year-old girl in the English city of Liverpool when he fired at a man who was trying to push his way into her house to escape the gunman.Thomas Cashman, 34, was found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court in the fatal shooting of Olivia Pratt-Korbel on Aug. 22, 2022, as her mother tried to prevent the intended victim from barging into their home. He will be sentenced on Monday.Cashman admitted to being a “high-level” cannabis dealer but denied being the gunman. Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, and the target of the attack, Joseph Nee, were also injured in the shooting.“Thomas Cashman is a ruthless criminal who recklessly pursued another man, with no consideration of the consequences,” prosecutor Maria Corr said after the verdict. “He refused to display any guilt or remorse, denying his involvement throughout and putting Olivia’s family through the torment of a lengthy trial.”The case has shaken the city of Liverpo...

Former congressman, Senate candidate Galifianakis dies at 94

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A funeral will be held this weekend for former Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Galifianakis, who represented central North Carolina for several years before two unsuccessful Senate bids – the first against archconservative Jesse Helms. Galifianakis died on Monday at age 94, according to obituary information from Hall-Wynne Funeral Service in Durham. Galifianakis, who had Parkinson’s disease for several years, died at a Raleigh retirement community, a family spokesman, Jack Pinnix, told The News & Observer of Raleigh.A Durham native, son of Greek immigrants and Duke University graduate, Galifianakis was an attorney and ex-Marine first elected to the General Assembly in 1960. He was elected to Congress to 1966 and became a rising star in the party while serving three terms. In 1972, Galifianakis defeated U.S. Sen. B. Everett Jordan in the Democratic primary but that November lost to the Republican Helms, then a Raleigh television commentator. It became a watershed y...

AP Women’s Basketball Coach of Year List

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

2023 — Teri Moren, Indiana2022 — Kim Mulkey, LSU2021 — Brenda Frese, Maryland2020 — Dawn Staley, South Carolina2019 — Kim Mulkey, Baylor2018 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame2017 — Geno Auriemma, UConn2016 — Geno Auriemma, UConn2015 — Sue Semrau, Florida State2014 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame2013 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame2012 — Kim Mulkey, Baylor2011 — Geno Auriemma, UConn; Katie Meier, Miami; and Tara VanDerveer, Stanford2010 — Connie Yori, Nebraska2009 — Geno Auriemma, UConn2008 — Geno Auriemma, UConn2007 — Gail Goestenkors, Duke2006 — Sylvia Hatchell, North Carolina2005 — Joanne P. McCallie, Michigan State2004 — Joe Curl, Houston2003 — Geno Auriemma, UConn2002 — Brenda Oldfield, Minnesota2001 — Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame2000 — Geno Auriemma, UConn1999 — Carolyn Peck, Purdue1998 — Pat Summitt, Tennessee1997 — Geno Auriemma, UConn1996 — Angie Lee, Iowa1995 — Geno Auriemma, UConnSource

AP Women’s Coach of the Year Voting

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

(Selected by the 28-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25)Teri Moren, Indiana12Dawn Staley, South Carolina8Lynne Roberts, Utah5Kenny Brooks, Virginia Tech3Source

Macron unveils plan to save water amid climate change toll

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

SAVINES-LE-LAC, France (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron launched a broad plan on Thursday to ensure that France has sovereignty over its water resources, growing increasingly scarce because of climate change, challenging farmers, drying lakes and leaving some households without water running from their faucets.The water problem is urgent, he said, affirming that climate change will deprive France of 30% to 40% of available water by 2050.Macron’s trip to a town in the Hautes-Alpes region of southwest France that that has suffered water shortages gave him a chance to change the topic and briefly escape the daily criticism and protests triggered by his decision to revise the pension system and increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. It also was an opportunity to address climate change, a topic that concerns youth. Students and other youth have been increasingly present at protest marches, but have enlarged their demands to address an array of topics like ecology and climate ch...

Mangoes, oranges cause 'sticky' situation on I-70 after crash

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — Officers in Idaho Springs ran into a "sticky" situation when they responded to a messy crash on Interstate 70.A crash involving a pickup truck on I-70 near mile marker 240.5 Wednesday at 9:50 p.m. left copious amounts of oranges and mangoes littered all over the highway. "During the initial crash, rogue fruit who were apparently attempting to evade being 'juiced,' rolled onto the westbound lanes striking a passenger vehicle traveling the other direction which caused minor damage," said the Idaho Springs Police Department. Rockies opening day game delayed due to rain The driver transporting the abundant fruit was identified as a 19-year-old from Mexico. ISPD cited him for careless driving.In order to clean up the runaway produce, Colorado Department of Transportation snow plows responded to clear the mess up.ISPD said that another crash occurred while they were responding to the fruit. A semitruck allegedly rear-ended a vehicle, but thankfully no injur...

Miami Seaquarium, Friends of Lolita announce agreement to return orca to native waters

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

In a groundbreaking move, the Miami Seaquarium, now under the management of The Dolphin Company, has entered into a formal and binding agreement with Friends of Lolita, a non-profit organization co-founded by environmentalist and philanthropist Pritam Singh, to bring Lolita the orca back to her native waters. This comes after a conference at the Miami Intercoastal Hotel discussed the future of the marine mammal.The collaboration has the potential to transform Lolita’s life, thanks in part to a generous contribution from philanthropist Jim Irsay, the owner and CEO of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Eduardo Albor, CEO of The Dolphin Company, Singh, and Irsay will work together to make the relocation a reality.“It has always been our commitment at The Dolphin Company that we place the highest priority on the well-being of animals, above all else,” said Albor. “Finding a better future for Lolita is one of the reasons that motivated us to acquire the Miami Sea...

Russia seeking munitions from North Korea, White House says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

Russia is seeking to acquire more munitions from North Korea to bolster its war on Ukraine, the White House revealed on Thursday.The development comes as Moscow has sought help from other countries such as Iran as it continues to expend equipment and ammunition on the battlefield.In a briefing with reporters, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Vladimir Putin would likely send food to Pyongyang in exchange for the munitions.“We remain concerned that North Korea will provide further support and Russia’s military operations against Ukraine and we have new information that Russia is actively seeking to acquire additional munitions from North Korea,” he said.Also on Thursday, the Biden administration sanctioned Slovakian arms dealer Ashot Mkrtychev for attempting to broker the deal between Russia and North Korea.“Schemes like the arms deal pursued by this individual show that Putin is turning to suppliers of last resort like Iran and the DPRK,” Treasury Secretary Jane...

Britain’s joining CPTPP. So what the hell is it?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:15:57 GMT

LONDON — It’s not every day post-Brexit Britain gets to talk up a trade win. But it’s about to join an Asia-Pacific trade bloc stretching from balmy Malaysia and Singapore to snowy Ottawa, Canada, in what’s being hailed as a major moment in its life outside the EU.So what exactly is the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) — and why did the U.K. get its foot in the door?CPTPP-what?CPTPP is an 11- (and soon to be 12) member bloc whose existing members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Canada. The deal started life under the Obama administration in 2015 as the TPP. But, railing against trade during his 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump called the pact “a rape of our country” and pulled out of talks days after he took office in 2017. The tongue-twisting title was dreamt up by Canada, which wanted to underscore the “progressive” nature of...