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Nordic countries shiver in extreme cold as western Europe floods

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

By Jan M. Olsen | Associated PressCOPENHAGEN, Denmark — Europe experienced stark weather contrasts on Wednesday, with extreme cold and snowstorms disrupting transportation and closing schools in Scandinavia while strong winds and heavy rain in western Europe caused flooding and at least one death.Temperatures fell below minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Nordic region for a second day in a row Wednesday. In Kvikkjokk-Årrenjarka in Swedish Lapland, the mercury dropped to minus 43.6 C (minus 46.5 F), the lowest January temperature recorded in Sweden in 25 years, Sweden’s TT news agency reported.Extremely cold temperatures, snow and gale-force winds disrupted transportation throughout the Nordic region, with several bridges closed and some train and ferry services suspended. Several schools in Scandinavia were closed.Police across most of Denmark urged motorists to avoid unnecessary trips as wind and snow battered the northern and western parts of the c...

USA Boxing new transgender athlete policy receives backlash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

(NewsNation/KRON) — Updates to USA Boxing's rulebook have sparked criticism over the federation’s policy regarding transgender athletes. The policy was written in 2022 but added to the federation’s rulebook this week. It’s based on the November 2021 International Committee Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. That framework allows the international federation for each sport to determine transgender athletes' eligibility.“Since boxing’s IF (International Federation) has not determined transgender eligibility and boxing is considered a combat sport, USA Boxing’s overriding objective is the safety of all boxers and fair competition between all boxers,” USA Boxing wrote in an August 2022 release.Per the federation’s policy, minors must compete as the gender assigned to them at birth. The new USA Boxing rule will allow transgender women boxers to compete with cisgender women, which received backlash from many professi...

Marin County sheriff warns of 'jury duty' scam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Scammers are targeting Marin County residents with bogus threats about failing to show up for jury duty.The Marin County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook Wednesday, "They are at it again! This time related to Jury Duty. We have had a rise in calls related to a phone scam, where someone pretends to be an MCSO staff member." Fraudsters tell whoever answers the phone that a warrant was issued for failing to show up to court for jury duty. The caller then demands money for a "fine," or demands payments via gift cards and other cashless forms of payment, MCSO wrote. "This is never something MCSO, or any other law enforcement agency, would do. Please don't fall victim to their threats," the Sheriff's Office warned.If you believe you fell victim to the scam, provided banking information, or suffered a financial loss, you are encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Office.

Adam Schiff lands United Farm Workers endorsement in Salinas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

(KRON) -- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) was in Salinas Wednesday morning where he received an endorsement from the United Farm Workers union. The endorsement was another boost for Schiff in his bid to win the United States Senate seat occupied for decades by the late Dianne Feinstein."I'm proud to receive the endorsement of United Farm Workers!" Schiff posted on Facebook. "Rain or shine, farm workers feed the nation. In the U.S. Senate, I look forward to working arm in arm with UFW for better pay and safer working conditions for these essential workers who put food on our table."UFW is the largest farmworkers union in the country, representing thousands of workers across the State of California. Recent polls have seen Schiff gain ground as a clear front runner in California's Senate race. According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll from mid-November, Schiff was supported by 21% of those surveyed.

Md. oral surgeon sentenced to 45 years for supplying drugs that led to girlfriend’s overdose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

The family of Sarah Harris called oral surgeon James Ryan a "monster" and "predator" who led her down a deadly road of addiction.(WTOP/Mike Murillo) The family of Sarah Harris called oral surgeon James Ryan a "monster" and "predator" who led her down a deadly road of addiction.(WTOP/Mike Murillo) A 50-year-old Germantown, Maryland, oral surgeon was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years in prison, after he was convicted last year of supplying and administering powerful drugs to his girlfriend that led to her death.During a four-hour sentencing hearing in Montgomery County Circuit Court, the family of Sarah Harris called James Ryan a “monster” and a “predator,” saying the oral surgeon led Harris do...

Justin Fields and Bears hope to finish strong by keeping Packers out of the playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The uncertain future Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields faces is relatively clear to him for one more week.Fields wants to finish the season with a win, help the Bears prevent the Green Bay Packers from making the playoffs and then he can worry about whether he’ll be back with his current team next season.“I think it’d be great,” Fields said. “We know Green Bay’s playing for a lot, what’s at stake. They’re playing for a playoff spot right now, so I just think that with all of that on the table it would be a great feeling to end the season with a win in Lambeau up there.“We’re just going to take it day by day, worry about the rest of today and tomorrow, and of course leading up to Sunday get ready to play ball.”Fields didn’t mind stoking the flames of the rivalry a bit more.“It’s going to be a fun environment to walk into their home field,” Fields said. “I know their fans are going to be loud because there’s not much to do in Green Bay except watch footb...

Rams will sit Stafford, Kupp, Donald, Kyren in regular-season finale vs 49ers to rest for playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp and linebacker Ernest Jones will not play in the playoff-bound Los Angeles Rams’ regular-season finale at San Francisco.Carson Wentz will make his first start for the Rams (9-7) on Sunday, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday. Los Angeles also will be without Williams, the NFL’s second-leading rusher; Kupp, the Super Bowl 56 MVP; Donald, the seven-time All-Pro defensive lineman; and Jones, the Rams’ leading tackler.Tight end Tyler Higbee (dislocated shoulder) and swing tackle Joe Noteboom (plantar fascia) also will sit out Week 18 due to injury.The Rams have clinched their fifth playoff spot in McVay’s seven seasons, and earning a slightly higher seed clearly means little to the coach with most of the NFC playoff picture still in flux behind the top-seeded 49ers. Even beyond his resting stars, McVay made it clear he wants his key players to do as little as possible in a game with mi...

El Gobierno de Bukele dice que en 2023 hubo nueva baja de homicidios en El Salvador

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

(CNN Español) — El Salvador registró en 2023 un total de 154 homicidios, informó este miércoles el gabinete de seguridad del país centroamericano en rueda de prensa.El Gobierno dice que la tasa de homicidios en 2023 se redujo a 2,4 por cada 100.000 habitantes. En 2022, había sido de 7,8 y en 2021 de 18,1 por cada 100.000 habitantes.Según cifras de la Policía Nacional Civil, en 2022 contabilizó 495 homicidios. En 2021 fueron 1.147.El gabinete de seguridad de El Salvador dio a conocer los datos sobre los homicidios en una rueda de prensa y entregó a los medios a una presentación en PowerPoint que resume los datos pero no contiene información detallada sobre el comportamiento de la violencia, localidades donde ocurrieron los hechos, la calificación de los delitos, la situación legal de los acusados o detenidos, o cuántos de estos fueron condenados o exonerados, entre otros aspectos.Las organizaciones de derechos humanos aún no se pronuncian ante los datos divulgados por el Gobier...

La fiscal general de Ecuador afirma que la quiere matar la misma estructura criminal que asesinó a Fernando Villavicencio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

(CNN) –– La fiscal general de Ecuador, Diana Salazar Méndez, afirmó que está en curso un plan para asesinarla.La funcionaria señaló ––durante la audiencia de vinculación contra ocho personas dentro del caso Metástasis por delincuencia organizada asociada al narcotráfico y corrupción en diferentes instituciones del país–– que la estructura criminal responsable del asesinato del excandidato presidencial Fernando Villavicencio también buscaría acabar con su vida y miembros de su familia.La Fiscalía de Ecuador cierra recopilación de pruebas sobre asesinato de Villavicencio y se alista para el juicioVillavicencio ―quien se desempeñaba como periodista antes de incursionar en la política― fue asesinado el pasado 9 de agosto con varios disparos al salir de un mitin político en Quito. Semanas después del crimen, siete detenidos procesados por la muerte de Villavicencio fueron asesinados en dos cárceles de Ecuador, según informó el Servicio de Atención de Personas Privadas de la Libertad (SNA...

South Korean reliever Woo-Suk Go and San Diego Padres agree to $4.5 million, 2-year deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — South Korean reliever Woo-Suk Go and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday to a $4.5 million, two-year contract that includes a 2026 mutual option plus bonus and escalator provisions that could make the deal worth $9.4 million over three seasons if he closes regularly.The right-hander was 3-8 with a 3.68 ERA and 15 saves in 44 appearances last year for the Korean Baseball Organization champion LG Twins. Go and new Padres teammate Ha-Seong Kim were on South Korea’s World Baseball Classic roster but he did not make an appearance.Go was 19-26 with a 3.18 ERA and 139 saves in seven seasons with LG. He led the KBO with 42 saves in 2022.He’ll receive salaries of $1.75 million in 2024 and $2.25 million in 2025, and the deal includes a $3 million mutual for 2026 with a $500,000 buyout. The Twins get a $900,000 posting fee from the Padres, with more possible if he earns the performance bonuses or triggers the escalators.It’s not clear whether Go or recently...