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Blinken: Russia must free 2 detained Americans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged his Russian counterpart, in a rare phone call between the diplomats 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. U.S. officials said they were considering a similar determination for Gershkovich that could be made at any time. Should that happen, his case would be largely transferred to the office of the U.S. Special Presidential for Hostage Affairs.Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive, has been...

Can Mets find production against lefty pitching?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

MIAMI — Last season, the Mets hit .246 against left-handed pitching. It was neither good nor bad, it was exactly in the middle, foed for the 15th-best mark in the league. Or the 15th-worst mark, if you’re more of a glass-half-empty type of person. The .717 OPS was also toward the bottom half of the league.The struggle against southpaw pitching was well-documented last season and alarm bells sounded all over again this weekend after the Mets managed only two hits off Miami Marlins left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Friday night in a 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins at LoanDeport Park. They answered some questions Saturday when they took four runs off of two left-handed relievers in a 6-2 win, but this particular storyline might be one that follows the Mets through the early part of the season if the trend continues.The Mets offense is balanced across both sides of the plate, but the 2023 lineup is almost identical to 2022′s. The club made a few tweaks to try and combat this ...

Northeastern University student seriously injured in ‘tragic accident’ in Mission Hill

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

A Northeastern University student suffered life-threatening injuries in a “tragic accident” in Mission Hill Saturday night, according to officials.The woman was seriously injured when she fell from a window at a Judge Street residence.“At about 6:58 PM, on Saturday, April 1, 2023, Officers responded to Judge Street for a report of an adult female who fell from a window,” a Boston Police spokesperson said in a statement.“The victim was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries,” the BPD spokesperson added. “Preliminary no foul play.”A Northeastern University spokesperson confirmed that the woman who fell out of the window is a student at the school.“We can confirm that a Northeastern student was involved in what appears to be a tragic accident Saturday evening,” the university spokesperson said in a statement.“We are awaiting confirmation from the hospital on the student’s current condition,&...

A look back at some of the greatest buzzer-beaters in March Madness history

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- San Diego State University's men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Championship after Aztecs guard Lamont Butler sank a last second buzzer-beater in Saturday’s Final Four game.This marks the first time in team history that SDSU not only advanced beyond the Elite Eight, but forged ahead as finalists vying for the title of Division I National Champions. Viejas Arena comes alive as fans celebrate historic Aztecs win San Diego State guard Lamont Butler scores the game winning basket against Florida Atlantic in a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)In honor of the Aztecs historic win against Florida Atlantic, which was secured by that heart-wrenching jump shot, FOX 5 is taking a look back at some of the greatest buzzer-beaters in March Madness history.Arkansas vs. Louisville (1981)Ulysses Cleon "U.S." Reed knocked in a buzzer-beat from half court for the Arkansas Razorbacks...

Finland’s center-right claims victory in tight election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s center-right National Coalition Party claimed victory with 97.7% of votes counted in Sunday’s extremely tight three-way parliamentary race, appearing to beat the ruling Social Democrats led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin.With the top three parties expected to each get around 20% of the vote, no party is in position to form a government alone. “Based on this result, talks over forming a new government to Finland will be initiated under the leadership of the National Coalition Party,” said the party’s leader Petteri Orpo, as he claimed victory surrounded by supporters.The National Coalition Party was on top with 20.7%, followed closely by the right-wing populist party The Finns with 20.1%, while the Social Democrats garnered 19.9%. Marin remains popular at home but her party’s views on the Finnish economy, which emerged as the main campaign theme, were being challenged by conservatives.Over 2,400 candidates from 22 parties were vying for the ...

SIU investigating circumstances surrounding Brampton man’s death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

The Special Investigations Unit has been called in to look into the death of a 34-year-old Brampton man early Sunday morning. According to the police watchdog, Peel police responded to a disturbance at an apartment in the area of Kennedy Road North and Vodden Street East at around 4 a.m.The SIU says that shortly after the man was detained by police under the Mental Health Act, he went into distress and was without vital signs. Police began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived and transported the man to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The SIU is asking anyone who may have information, including photos or video of the incident, to contact them. The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

Sex abuse case against ex-Alaska attorney general thrown out

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A judge dismissed a sex abuse case against former acting Alaska Attorney General Clyde “Ed” Sniffen, citing the statute of limitations in place when the alleged abuse happened over 30 years ago.The case, thrown out on Friday, involved allegations that Sniffen, 58, sexually abused a then-17-year-old student in 1991 when he was 27 and the alleged victim’s coach of her high school’s mock trial competition team in Anchorage. Sniffen had pleaded not guilty. Alaska does not currently have a statute of limitations in place for sexual abuse of minors. However, in an order on Friday, Superior Court Judge Peter Ramgren said that in 1991 there was a five-year limit on bringing charges of sexually abusing minors, the Anchorage Daily News reported. He said that changes made to the statute of limitations by state lawmakers for certain crimes in 1992 and 2001 did not apply to Sniffen’s case, siding with the defendant’s lawyer.Sniffen was appointed Alaska’s top ...

WATCH: Aerial video shows tornado's path of destruction in Illinois, Indiana

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) - The scope of the damage from the deadly tornado that hit communities along the Illinois and Indiana border Friday night is made even more visible from the air. The tornado went from Robinson, Illinois, to Sullivan County in Indiana, killing a total of six people and injuring others. The US leads the world in weather catastrophes. Here’s why WTWO/WAWV General Manager Tim Sanders flew over the path of destruction, and said he noticed a lot of debris had been pulled out into fields, which showed how far the storm could carry objects. "There was a 1,000-gallon propane tank that was out in the field," Sanders said. Tales of survival come out of deadly storm in Illinois Tornadoes killed at least 27 people as they touched down across the Midwest and the South. Confirmed or suspected tornadoes in 11 states destroyed homes and businesses, splintered trees and laid waste to neighborhoods. It could take days to make a count of all the tornadoes from recent ...

After 2 winless years, record-setting jackpot finally won

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) - It's been nearly two years since someone won the jackpot playing Lotto America, a draw game played in 13 jurisdictions. That all changed on Saturday. A ticket purchased in Dubuque, Iowa, matched the winning numbers - 2-38-43-46-51 and Star Ball 7 - to claim the April Fools' Day prize, worth $40.03 million. The jackpot, which had been building since July 2021, overwhelmingly set a record. Previously, that record was held by a $22.82 million prize won in March 2018 by a Minnesota family, according to the Iowa Lottery.The Iowa Lottery confirmed Sunday that the winning ticket was purchased at Eichmans, a family-owned restaurant and convenience store on U.S. Highway 52.   He won a $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot. Why did he only receive $997.6 million? “You hear all the time: what are the odds? Well, it happened here,” owner Stacy Eichman told the lottery. “Honestly, I’m still processing. It’s hard to believe.”  The winner, whenever they come forward...

Announcing the 2023 African Writers Awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:22 GMT