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A US Navy vet from Southern California got unexpected help while jailed in Iran. Once released, he repaid the favor

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael White had only recently arrived in a grim Iranian jail when a curious fellow prisoner, an English-speaking Iranian, approached him in the courtyard for a conversation.The American did not reveal much at first, but it was the beginning of an unlikely friendship between White, a Navy veteran imprisoned on spying charges he says were unfounded, and Mahdi Vatankhah, a young Iranian political activist whose positions on social issues had drawn his government's ire.As the men connected behind bars over a shared interest in politics and human rights, they developed a bond that proved vital for both.Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing White's mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her son's status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhah’s admission to the United States, allowing the men t...

School investigates teacher’s use of a racial slur in a classroom

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

Click here for updates on this storyWEST HARTFORD, Connecticut (WFSB) — A mother is speaking out after a West Hartford middle school teacher allegedly used racial slurs in the classroom.An 8th grade student was sitting in class last week when he says his teacher used racial slurs directed at him.“He’s still confused and there’s a level of sadness with him, and my kid is not a sad kid,” said Che’La’Mora Hardy, the boys mother. “I can see that this has impacted him,and he’s just looking for support right now.”When he came home from school September 1, she says he was completely distraught.“He’s just flailing about, pacing, mom you’re not going to believe this, couldn’t gather himself,” Hardy said.He told his mom, in first period, his teacher was going over rules of the class.“She said number 4, no profanity in the classroom. He was like, ‘oh, we don’t curse. Why is that even a rule?’ He was really confused about that,” said Hardy.That is when she says the teacher outright said a racia...

Biden says Vietnam deal is about global stability, not containing China

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

By Josh Boak and Aamer Madhani | Associated PressHANOI — President Joe Biden insisted Sunday that he is not trying to start a “cold war” with China as he made his first visit to Vietnam, saying his goal is to provide stability around the world by building U.S. ties with Vietnam and other Asian countries.“We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. That’s what this trip is all about,” Biden said at a news conference. “It’s not about containing China. It’s about having a stable base.”The U.S. president came to Hanoi as Vietnam is elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status as a comprehensive strategic partner, evidence of how far the relationship has evolved from what Biden referred to as the “bitter past” of the Vietnam War.The expanded partnership reflected a broader effort across Asia to counter China’s influence as Biden has said Vietnam wants to show its independence and U.S. companies want an alternative to Chinese fact...

Hundreds come out to Hoyer’s annual bull roast — so did climate protesters

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) speaks Sept. 8, 2023, at his annual bull roast at Newton White Mansion in Prince George’s County. Photo by William J. Ford. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D) speaks Sept. 8, 2023, at his annual bull roast at Newton White Mansion in Prince George’s County. Photo by William J. Ford. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) enjoys his annual bull roast in Prince George’s County because he gets to hug, shake hands and nibble on hot food alongside fellow Democrats and other friends.The event celebrates various accomplishments made during the year and coincides with his birthday in June, but was postponed due the poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires. It resumed Friday as orange, red and white balloons were stationed at ...

Veteran Portuguese rider Rui Costa wins Vuelta 15th stage as American Sepp Kuss retains overall lead

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

LEKUNBERRI, Spain (AP) — Portuguese veteran Rui Costa sprinted to victory in the 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, while American Sepp Kuss retained the overall lead of the three-week race on Sunday.Costa was part of a group of three riders at the front and managed to hold off Lennard Kämna and Santiago Buitrago to the line in the 158.5-kilometer (98.5-mile) hilly ride from Pamplona to Lekunberri.Costa and Buitrago earlier broke away from a larger group of 15 riders but were reeled in by the streaking Kamna who took the lead only to crash and give back the lead to the chasing pair. The German, who won the ninth stage, recovered to launch a sprint to the line but could not hold off Costa. Kuss will wear the leading rider’s red jersey for a seventh straight day when the tour resumes after a rest day on Monday. The American rider finished in the main peloton to retain his lead of 1 minute, 37 seconds over Jumbo-Visma teammate Primoz Roglic.Kuss is the first American to lead a Gra...

IndyCar to run $1 million all-star race at The Thermal Club in 2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) — IndyCar will hold an all-star race next year at the Thermal Club in Southern California, with $1 million guaranteed to the winner of the made-for-TV exhibition.The $1 Million Challenge will be held on March 24 and air on NBC, with practice and qualifying the previous two days.IndyCar at the start of this year tested at The Thermal Club outside Palm Springs to gauge interest from membership in eventually hosting a race. Most of the competitors were pleased with the facility, a 490-acre development that includes four asphalt racetracks located behind an 18-foot sound wall in an unincorporated town in the Coachella Valley.John Rogers, owner of The Thermal Club, said the February test paved the way for the $1 Million Challenge.“The teams, drivers and the entire paddock are true professionals, and we look forward to developing our relationship with them in the future,” Rogers said. “This marquee racing challenge in March promises to be special for ever...

Boulder was buzzing following Buffs big win against rival Nebraska

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

BOULDER, Colo. (KDVR) -- Boulder was the center of the universe for fans of the University of Colorado Buffaloes football on Saturday.The Buffs secured another win and left the abundance of Nebraska Cornhuskers fans in Boulder unhappy with a loss to their longtime rivals. Burglar accused of University Hill break-ins during Buffs game The resounding 36-14 win for Colorado reinforces their position as a top-25 football program two games into a season rife with hope.CU is ranked at No. 22 in the AP poll.On the streets of Boulder, fans of both Colorado and Nebraska enjoyed the warm, sunny day while Buffs fans relished in their victory, which already set their record better than it was last season (1-11). Back to football: CU Buffaloes games, watch parties The Buffs upset TCU winning the first away game, and the team has yet to lose.CU Boulder recently announced its move to the Big 12 conference, but that won’t be in effect until next year, making this football season its l...

Habitat for Humanity building new neighborhood with affordable housing for 20 families

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

Twenty families are one step closer to calling a new home their own as construction is set to begin at BBI village, a new habitat Broward Community in Fort Lauderdale. “Within this space, we’re not just building homes, we’re building futures,” said Robert Taylor of Burdette Beckmann, Inc. “We can provide working families with a path toward lasting financial stability through homeownership.”By next year, an empty lot will be transformed into a 20-townhome neighborhood, almost 100 people will call BBI Village their home. “It’s a journey as most of you know that includes a lot of work on the homeowners’ part, comprehensive education and ensuring that their families have the tools and the knowledge needed for a brighter future,” continued Taylor. South Florida is going through an affordability crisis, which is why the Taylor Family along with BBI have built over two-dozen homes with Habitat for Humanity over the years. TheyR...

Vienna seeks to calm Selmayr ‘blood money’ furor

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg signaled his government was de-escalating a row with the EU’s senior representative in the country, Martin Selmayr, who last week accused Vienna of paying “blood money” to Moscow by continuing to purchase large quantities of Russian gas.“Everything has already been said about this,” Schallenberg said over the weekend in a written response to questions from POLITICO on the affair. “We are working hard to drastically reduce our energy dependency on Russia and we will continue to do so.”Austrian officials insist that the country’s continued reliance on Russian gas is only temporary and that it will wean itself off by 2027 (over the past 18 months, the share of Russian gas in Austria has dropped from 80 percent to an average of 56 percent). Some experts question the viability of that plan, considering that OMV, the country’s dominant oil and gas company, signed a long-term supply deal with Gazprom under former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz th...

The Vatican beatifies a Polish family of 9 killed by the Nazis for sheltering Jews

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:21:42 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — In an unprecedented move, the Vatican on Sunday beatified a Polish family of nine — a married couple and their small children — who were executed by the Nazis during World War II for sheltering Jews. During a ceremonious Mass in the village of Markowa, in southeastern Poland, papal envoy Cardinal Marcello Semeraro read out the Latin formula of the beatification of the Ulma family signed last month by Pope Francis. In his homily Semeraro noted that for their “gesture of hospitality and care, of mercy” the Ulmas “paid the highest price of martyrdom.” A contemporary painting representing Jozef and a pregnant Wiktoria Ulma with their children was revealed near the altar. A procession brought relics taken from their grave to the altar. It was the first time that an entire family has been beatified. At the Vatican, speaking to the public from a window in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said the Ulmas “represented a ray of light in the darkness” of the war and should...