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EU confirms official from Sweden detained in Iran

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

The European Union has confirmed that a Swedish man working for its diplomatic service has been detained in Iran for more than 500 days and vowed to work "relentlessly" to secure his release.Johan Floderus, a 33-year-old official based in Brussels, was arrested in Tehran in April 2022 while on holiday.Iran announced three months later that it had arrested a Swedish national on espionage charges but did not name him.His identity was also kept secret by the EU and Sweden's government.But on Monday it was revealed in a report by the New York Times.The Swedish foreign ministry subsequently confirmed that a Swedish citizen in his 30s had been "arbitrarily deprived of his freedom" and urged Iranian authorities to release him. It said it could not go into any more detail because doing so "would complicate the handling of the case".As he arrived at a meeting in the Spanish city of Cadiz on Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters that Mr Floderus was inde...

UK rejoins EU science research scheme Horizon

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

The UK is to rejoin the EU's flagship scientific research scheme, Horizon, the government has announced. UK-based scientists and institutions will be able to apply for money from the £81bn (€95bn) fund.Associate membership had been agreed as part of the Brexit trade deal when the UK formally left the EU in 2020. However, the UK has been excluded from the scheme for the past three years because of a disagreement over the Northern Ireland Protocol.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "With a wealth of expertise and experience to bring to the global stage, we have delivered a deal that enables UK scientists to confidently take part in the world's largest research collaboration programme."We have worked with our EU partners to make sure that this is the right deal for the UK, unlocking unparalleled research opportunities, and also the right deal for British taxpayers."Thursday's announcement also states that the UK will associate to Copernicus, the EU's £8bn (€9bn) Earth observation program...

Dear Abby: Why do I meet so many dumb men?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I’m a 57-year-old, attractive, single, childless woman. Why is it that the men I meet are just plain dumb?Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: The houseguests know my sheet rule but they refuse to comply Advice | Dear Abby: I’m worried about my 12-year-old’s serious dating Advice | Dear Abby: This boy makes me so happy. Must we break up because of his parents? Advice | Dear Abby: I thought I’d get over my husband’s misdeed but it haunts me Advice | Dear Abby: She decided I can’t be near her children They have the conversational skills of 5-year-olds and the same juvenile behavior. They are either emotionally unavailable and just after sex, or at the opposite end of the spectrum — available emotionally, but the sex is just … OK.I cannot be the first woman to ask the question: Are boys just dumb?— SMARTER THAN I THINK IN IOWADEAR SMARTER: As a...

Nationals and Dodgers play to decide series winner

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers (86-55, first in the NL West) vs. Washington Nationals (64-78, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: TBD; Nationals: Trevor Williams (6-9, 5.21 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 102 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Nationals -124, Dodgers -103; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: Both the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday.Washington has a 31-42 record in home games and a 64-78 record overall. The Nationals are 23-13 in games when they hit at least two home runs.Los Angeles has an 86-55 record overall and a 39-31 record in road games. The Dodgers have the fourth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .257.The teams play Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Dodgers are ahead 3-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Lane Thomas has 32 doubles, three triples and 24 home runs while hitting .285 for the Nationals. C.J. Abrams is 10-for-39 with a triple and tw...

Reds host the Cardinals on home losing streak

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

St. Louis Cardinals (63-79, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Cincinnati Reds (73-71, third in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.63 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 114 strikeouts); Reds: Hunter Greene (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -116, Cardinals -103; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds take on the St. Louis Cardinals looking to stop their three-game home slide.Cincinnati is 35-39 at home and 73-71 overall. The Reds have a 47-14 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.St. Louis has gone 32-39 on the road and 63-79 overall. The Cardinals have the seventh-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .329.Sunday’s game is the 10th meeting between these teams this season. The Cardinals have a 5-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Hunter Renfroe leads Cincinnati with 20 home runs while slugging .430. Christian Encarnacion-Strand is 14-for-38 with two home runs and six RBI ...

Phillies and Marlins meet to determine series winner

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

Miami Marlins (73-69, third in the NL East) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (78-63, second in the NL East)Philadelphia; Sunday, 1:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Steven Okert (3-1, 3.44 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 65 strikeouts); Phillies: Ranger Suarez (2-6, 3.91 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 94 strikeouts)BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Philadelphia has gone 42-27 in home games and 78-63 overall. The Phillies are 26-11 in games when they did not give up a home run.Miami has a 33-37 record on the road and a 73-69 record overall. The Marlins have gone 37-12 in games when they did not give up a home run.Sunday’s game is the 13th time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 6-6.TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Schwarber leads the Phillies with 59 extra base hits (16 doubles, a triple and 42 home runs). Trea Turner is 16-for-40 with a double, a triple, eight home runs and 18 RBI over the past 10 games.Luis Arraez leads the M...

Braves square off against the Pirates in series rubber match

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (66-76, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (92-49, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Luis L. Ortiz (4-4, 4.90 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Braves: Allan Winans (0-0)BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Atlanta is 46-25 at home and 92-49 overall. Braves hitters are batting a collective .276, the best team batting average in MLB play.Pittsburgh has a 32-39 record on the road and a 66-76 record overall. The Pirates are 27-8 in games when they hit two or more home runs.The matchup Sunday is the seventh meeting between these teams this season. The season series is tied 3-3.TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Olson leads Atlanta with 48 home runs while slugging .603. Ronald Acuna Jr. is 15-for-44 with six home runs and 12 RBI over the last 10 games.Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with a .268 batting average, and has 30 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs, 43...

DC area prepares for another round of afternoon storms

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

Ominous storm clouds were captured overhead on Saturday afternoon Sept. 9, 2023. (Courtesy, Carol Brown)(Courtesy Carol Brown) Ominous storm clouds were captured overhead on Saturday afternoon Sept. 9, 2023. (Courtesy, Carol Brown)(Courtesy Carol Brown) Forecasters expect another round of wet weather on Sunday after severe storms brought flash flood warnings and widespread power outages to the D.C. area. Here’s what you need to know.WTOP Meteorologist Briana Bermensolo said Sunday’s weather will likely include another chance for storms with “pockets of steady rainfall.” Those rains could bring about another wave of watches for the area.“Heavy downpours and storms will continue through...

Brayden Schager throws 4 TD passes to help Hawaii beat Albany 31-20

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Brayden Schager completed 23 of 40 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns to help Hawaii beat Albany 31-20 Saturday night. Schager threw a 34-yard scoring strike down the right sideline to Jalen Walthall, who made a one-hand finger-tips catch as he dragged a defender into the end zone to give the Rainbow Warriors a 24-17 lead with 6:10 left in the third quarter. Schager threw a 4-yard touchdown pass that capped a nine-play, 74-yard drive and gave Hawaii a 10-7 lead with 7 second left in the first quarter and, after Albany’s Larry Walker Jr. returned an interception — one of three thrown by Schager on the day — 35 yards for a touchdown in the second, connected with Steven McBride for a 30-yard touchdown strike before John Opalko kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 17-all as time expired in the first half. Opalka added a 32-yard field goal with 3:32 left in the third quarter that trimmed the deficit to 24-20 but Schager found McBride for another TD, this tim...

Caleb Williams propels No. 6 USC to a 49-point first half in a 56-10 victory over Stanford

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 02:28:32 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — After well over a century of competition, nobody knows when Southern California and Stanford will meet again on a football field.The Trojans are headed into this rivalry’s hiatus with all of the bragging rights after a blowout victory that demonstrated both programs’ current place in the process of building a champion.Caleb Williams passed for 281 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score while playing only the first half, Zachariah Branch returned a punt 75 yards for a TD, and No. 6 USC routed Stanford 56-10 on Saturday night.MarShawn Lloyd and Austin Jones also rushed for scores, and Dorian Singer, Brenden Rice and Lake McRee caught TD passes while their Heisman Trophy winner led USC (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) to one of the most prolific first halves in school history.“That was one of our more complete halves, where guys were firing on all cylinders,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “All three sides of the ball just surged and got the momentum and kept i...