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Several stars at the Women’s World Cup honed their skills with US collegiate teams

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Christine Sinclair. Megan Rapinoe. Sarina Bolden. Like many players in the Women’s World Cup, all three stars built their skills at the U.S. collegiate level.Of the 736 players competing at this year’s Women’s World Cup, 137 have roots in American college-level soccer, according to the NCAA. The total includes 16 players who currently compete for Division I schools or lower divisions. Across the 32 teams that qualified for the group stage, more than one in every six players has had a career stop at an American school.Not all the NCAA athletes in the tournament are tied to the United States. Canada has 22 of 23 athletes who played or still play on U.S. college teams, most of any team in the tournament. That includes Sinclair, the the all-time leader in international goals for men and women, who played at the University of Portland. The United States ranks second with 20 players. Rapinoe also played at Portland, but Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman, and L...

EE.UU. ordena abandonar Haití al personal no destinado a emergencias

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

(CNN) — El Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos ordenó el jueves la salida de Haití del personal que no sea de emergencia, en el marco del deterioro de la situación de seguridad en el país.“El 27 de julio de 2023, el Departamento de Estado ordenó la salida de los familiares de los empleados del Gobierno de EE.UU. y de los empleados del Gobierno de EE.UU. que no sean de emergencia”, dijo la agencia en un aviso de viaje actualizado.“Los ciudadanos estadounidenses en Haití deben salir de Haití tan pronto como sea posible por transporte comercial u otras opciones de transporte privado disponibles, a la luz de la actual situación de seguridad y los desafíos de infraestructura”, insta el aviso de viaje. “Los ciudadanos estadounidenses que deseen salir de Puerto Príncipe deben estar atentos a las noticias locales y hacerlo solo cuando se considere seguro”.La orden sigue a un aviso de viaje emitido el jueves por la embajada de EE.UU. en Haití, e...

Singapore hangs first woman in 19 years after she was convicted of trafficking 31 grams of heroin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore conducted its first execution of a woman in 19 years on Friday and its second hanging this week for drug trafficking despite calls for the city-state to cease capital punishment for drug-related crimes. Activists said another execution is planned next week.Saridewi Djamani, 45, was sentenced to death in 2018 for trafficking about 31 grams (1 ounce) of diamorphine, or pure heroin, the Central Narcotics Bureau said. It said the amount was “sufficient to feed the addiction of about 370 abusers for a week.”Singapore’s laws mandate the death penalty for anyone convicted of trafficking more than 500 grams (17.6 ounces) of cannabis and 15 grams (0.5 ounces) of heroin. Djamani’s execution came two days after that of a Singaporean man, Mohammed Aziz Hussain, 56, for trafficking around 50 grams (1.7 ounces) of heroin.The narcotics bureau said both prisoners were accorded due process, including appeals of their convictions and sentences and petitions for...

Hong Kong court rejects government-requested ban on protest song ‘Glory to Hong Kong’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — A Hong Kong court rejected a ban on broadcasting or distributing the protest song “Glory to Hong Kong,” in a landmark decision that rejected a challenge to freedom of expression in the city.The song was written during mass protests against the government in the Chinese territory in 2019 and its lyrics call for democracy and liberty. The song has since been mistakenly played at several international sporting events instead of China’s national anthem, “March of the Volunteers.”Judge Anthony Chan on Friday refused to grant the ban, which would have targeted anyone who uses the song to advocate for the separation of Hong Kong from China. In seeking the court order, the government also sought to ban actions that use the song to incite others to commit secession and to insult the national anthem, including such acts carried out online. Critics earlier voiced worries that the ban the government asked for would have a far-reaching impact on the city’s freedoms o...

In the news today: Statistics Canada to release latest GDP numbers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Statistics Canada to release GDP figures for MayStatistics Canada is set to release its latest reading on how the economy fared in May, as well as a preliminary glimpse for the second quarter.The federal agency’s early estimate suggests real gross domestic product grew 0.4 per cent in May, driven in part by the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors.That compares with an April reading that showed the economy was virtually unchanged, while it grew a slight 0.1 per cent in March.The Bank of Canada has been working to slow the economy by raising interest rates in an effort to bring inflation back within its target range.—Here’s what else we’re watching …MP wants Calgary Stampede funding pulledA Liberal member of Parliament says he’s calling on the federal government to halt funding to the Calgary Stampede, saying it has lost ...

Statistics Canada to release GDP figures for May, preliminary Q2 figure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada is set to release today its latest reading on how the economy fared in May, as well as a preliminary glimpse for the second quarter.The federal agency’s early estimate suggests real gross domestic product grew 0.4 per cent in May, driven in part by the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors.That compares with an April reading that showed the economy was virtually unchanged, while it grew a slight 0.1 per cent in March.The Bank of Canada has been working to slow the economy by raising interest rates in an effort to bring inflation back within its target range.It most recently raised its key rate on July 12 by a quarter of a percentage point to five per cent, the highest it’s been since 2001. The Bank of Canada has said that future rate decisions, including its next one on Sept. 6, will be dependent on what economic data shows.   This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2023.The Canadian Press

Montreal’s new, for-profit light-rail system: national model or cautionary tale?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

Montreal’s new light-rail train network stands out among major transit projects in Canada: it opened within a relatively short time frame and government didn’t get in the way. Eight years after its conception, the first branch of what will become a 67-kilometre electric rail system — called the Réseau express métropolitain, or REM — is entering service this weekend, bucking a trend of faltering transit projects in several Canadian cities. Its proponents point to the REM as a national model, but it’s unclear whether the three main factors that helped push the project forward are palatable elsewhere in the country: the network was built for profit; the province passed a law restricting lawsuits linked to land expropriations; and the train’s path follows existing commuter rail tracks and extends through low-density corridors in the metro area — a route critics say may fail to meet mobility needs.“The REM model is really one of a kind in Canada,” says Matti Siemiatycki...

Daily horoscope for July 28, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Sagittarius.Happy Birthday for Friday, July 28, 2023:You are independent, competitive and adventurous! You want to prove that you’ve got what it takes. This is a year of service for you, which means you will make a difference in the lives of others. This also means it’s important to take care of yourself. Is it time for a makeover?ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★This is a challenging day. The Moon is at odds with your ruler Mars, which means you have a short fuse today. People will seem to be irritating. (Probably because they are.) Think of it as an opportunity for you to practice patience, which is a great virtue. Tonight: Cancellations?TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★Parents need to be patient with their kids today, because everyone is a bit short-tempered. Likewise, romantic partners might experience a bit of strife. Arguments about how to handle a social occasion or something to do w...

Building a Climate-Resilient Future: New guidelines to help EU countries update their climate adaptation strategies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

The European Commission today adopted a new set of guidelines to assist Member States in updating and implementing comprehensive national adaptation strategies, plans and policies, in line with the European Climate Law and the EU Strategy on adaptation to climate change.From extreme heatwaves and devastating droughts, to deadly forest fires and rising sea levels eroding coastlines, the inevitable impacts of unchecked climate change are well known and starting to manifest themselves. The latest findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report underlined the urgency to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Today's guidelines aim to help member states upgrade their preparations for this emerging reality of rapidly intensifying impacts.European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “The weather events many Europeans are experiencing these days will become more extreme and more frequent if climate change continue...

Miss Manners: Am I the only one bothered by how the kids say no?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:21:41 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am puzzled by an answer I get from my young adult children when I ask them a question.Q: “Would you like some coffee?”A: “I’m OK.”Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: It was a bad time for me, and I can’t believe my friend was so heartless Advice | Miss Manners: In a moment of forgetfulness, I made a mortifying offer to a friend Advice | Miss Manners: This shopper was rude to the cashier. Should I have scolded her? Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tip a server who irritates me? Advice | Miss Manners: Should I reveal my suspicions about how my ex died? Q: “I’m going for a walk, would you like to join me?”A: “I’m OK.”I’ve surmised that it means “no, thank you.” When asked the other day if I needed the trash taken out, I replied, “I’m not OK,” thinking that it meant “yes, ple...