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Chile’s president shakes up Cabinet, replaces five ministers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — President Gabriel Boric shook up his Cabinet on Friday, replacing five of his 24 ministers on the eve of beginning his second year in power, announcing the change two days after Chile’s lawmakers rejected a proposed tax overhaul for financing most of his government program.It was the second time Boric has carried out a major Cabinet reshuffle. The previous overhaul came in September when 62% of voters rejected a new constitution that had been championed by the president. Antonia Urrejola was removed Friday as foreign affairs minister and replaced by Alberto van Klaveren, a career diplomat who was assistant secretary for foreign affairs in 2006-2009. The president also named new ministers to oversee the ministries of Public Works, Culture, Science and Sports. Boric, who has suffered a sharp drop in his approval rating since taking office as the country’s youngest ever president, acknowledged his administration is facing problems.“We’ve had difficult...

Unal converts 2 penalties, 10-man Getafe draws at Cadiz 2-2

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Enes Unal scored his second penalty on the final kick of the match to snatch 10-man Getafe a 2-2 draw at Cadiz in the Spanish league on Friday.Cadiz was eyeing a win that would have lifted it into 12th place until a final long ball by the undermanned Getafe ended up landing on the arm of Cadiz defender Luis Espino. After a video review, the referee sent Unal to the spot where he converted to split the points.The Turkish striker has achieved back-to-back braces and 12 goals in the league this season.Rubén Sobrino headed Cadiz in front in the 39th minute. Unal leveled from the penalty spot following a handball by Gonzalo Escalante in the 61st.Rubén Alcaraz made it 2-1 for Cadiz in the 82nd when he converted a spot kick after Domingos Durante was sent off from a second yellow card for a handball.Cadiz’s Iza Carcelén was shown a direct red card after the final whistle for his aggressive behavior toward a Getafe player.Cadiz and Getafe were left in 15th and 16th place...

Irán y Arabia Saudita, archienemigos por años, aceptan terminar con hostilidades en un acuerdo mediado por China

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

(CNN) — Arabia Saudita e Irán anunciaron este viernes que pactaron restablecer lazos diplomáticos tras siete años de hostilidades, en un acuerdo entre los archienemigos regionales que podría tener amplias implicaciones para el Medio Oriente.Riad y Teherán tienen previsto reabrir sus embajadas en un plazo de dos meses en virtud de un acuerdo mediado por China, según informaron Arabia Saudita e Irán en una declaración conjunta tras las conversaciones mantenidas este viernes en Beijing.También esperan volver a aplicar un pacto de seguridad firmado hace 22 años por el que ambas partes acordaron cooperar en la lucha contra el terrorismo, el narcotráfico y el lavado de dinero, así como reactivar un acuerdo comercial y tecnológico de 1998.Mukaab: el plan futurista de Arabia Saudita para modernizar su capitalEl anuncio de este viernes es también una victoria diplomática para China en una región del Golfo que durante mucho tiempo se ha considerado parte del dominio de influencia de Est...

No Labels secures ballot access in Oregon for ‘unity ticket’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — No Labels, a group that could shake up the 2024 presidential race with a bipartisan “unity ticket,” secured access to the ballot Friday in Oregon, at least the third state to approve its application to become a political party.No Labels says it is seeking ballot access in many states and will use it to run a Republican and Democrat for president and vice president “if the two parties select unreasonably divisive presidential nominees.” The group’s leaders have not publicly named specific candidates. Arizona recognized No Labels as a party on Tuesday and Colorado did so in January. The push has spooked Democrats and anti-Donald Trump Republicans, who worry a No Labels candidate would tip the scales in favor of Trump or a Republican like him. The center-left group Third Way said in a memo this week that Biden won voters who didn’t like either major-party candidate by 15 points over Trump; Democrat Hillary Clinton lost those voters by 17 points in t...

Jonathan David nets hat trick as Lille draws with Lyon 3-3

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

LILLE, France (AP) — Lille striker Jonathan David notched a hat trick to become the top scorer in the French league and Lyon substitute Alexandre Lacazette netted two late goals to salvage a 3-3 draw on Friday.David raised his league tally to 19, one more than Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe.Lille remained in sixth place, level on points with Rennes in the last European spot, while Lyon moved into eighth place on goal difference.David put the host ahead in the 46th minute by converting a low cross from Jonathan Bamba.The Canada striker dedicated his goal to Tiago Djalo, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Lens last weekend, by holding up his teammate’s shirt to the crowd.David then doubled the lead with a penalty in the 61st after Rayan Cherki’s cynical foul on Gabriel Gudmundsson.Lyon capitalized on a poor clearance from Benjamin Andre to pull one back in the 64th when Bradley Barcola fired home a diagonal strike.David restored Lille’s two-goal le...

Biden, EU leader launch talks to ease rift on EV subsidies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a potential boost for electric vehicles, President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday they’ve agreed to open negotiations on the use of European minerals critical in the production of batteries for EVs that are eligible for U.S. tax credits.The two sides agreed to start talks on easing differences between the U.S. and European Union over electric vehicle tax credits included in Biden’s roughly $375 billion clean energy law that passed last year. The legislation includes incentives for the purchase of vehicles — if they are largely manufactured in the United States.After her meeting with Biden, von der Leyen said if the deal is completed it will lead to critical raw materials sourced in the European Union being treated as if they were sourced in the United States“It is important on both sides of the Atlantic to know what kind of incentives are being given to the clean tech industry, to make sure that we join forces ...

No. 1 Houston beats ECU in AAC, gets back-to-back 30 wins

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Marcus Sasser was playing again in March for top-ranked Houston, and the Cougars could have been in big trouble without him in the American Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals. Two days after being named the league’s top player, Sasser scored 24 of his 30 points in the second half Friday as the Cougars overcame their worst-shooting game all season to beat East Carolina 60-46 for their 30th win of the season.“It just shows his character and the type of person he is,” guard Jamal Shead said. “He never lets a lot of things get to him, and just showing out good he is that second half.”Sasser was a starter on the Cougars’ 2021 Final Four team but missed their run to the NCAA Elite Eight last year because of a broken bone in his left foot before Christmas.“Just being back out there with my teammates during March is always a good experience, a fun experience,” said Sasser, who was 9-of-15 shooting. The Cougars (30-2), a sure-bet No....

Homeless camp with kitchen, shelves, closet rods found inside bridge over I-70

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) — Wheat Ridge Police estimate about six people had been living inside a bridge that goes over Interstate 70 in Jefferson County.“It’s pretty unbelievable. I don’t think most of our officers, including our command staff, who’s been here over 30 years, had ever seen anything like that,” Wheat Ridge Police public information officer Joanna Small said. Are people already waiting in line for Casa Bonita to reopen? Last month, WRPD said one of its community officers spotted a person crawling into an access tunnel for the Colorado 58 flyover near 44th Avenue and Youngfield Street. According to WRPD, the bridge has interior compartments the Colorado Department of Transportation uses to access parts of the roadway for repairs and inspection. “And what they discovered was section after section of trash, garbage, items. People using this as kind of like a makeshift living environment,” Small said.Body camera video showed tunnel conditionsBody camera video shows hoar...

Biden FAA nominee doesn’t need waiver, DOT tells Republicans

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

President Biden’s nominee to lead the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t need a waiver from Congress to be confirmed, the Biden administration told lawmakers Thursday.Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, has insisted that FAA nominee Phil Washington must secure a waiver due to his retired military status, citing federal law that says the FAA administrator must be a civilian. Republicans would likely vote down the waiver, dooming his nomination.In a letter to Cruz obtained by The Hill, Department of Transportation general counsel John Putnam said that Washington has “engaged in solely civilian pursuits and clearly fits the plain and widely understood meaning of the word” since retiring from the U.S. Army in 2000 after 24 years of service. “No further analysis is required to confirm Mr. Washington’s eligibility,” Putnam wrote. “If Congress had wanted to impose additional restrictions on individuals with prior service in the milita...

Pats safety Devin McCourty retiring after 13 NFL seasons

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:12:50 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Devin McCourty has only known one home during his NFL career since being selected by the New England Patriots as a first-round draft pick out of Rutgers in 2010.Three Super Bowl rings and 13 seasons later, he’s walking away from the sport as one of the Patriots’ most decorated and respected players on and off the field.The veteran safety announced his retirement in an Instagram video Friday, calling his career “a great ride.”“It’s always tough to kind of come to the end,” McCourty told his twin brother, Jason, in the video. “This whole offseason has been back and forth for me mentally, probably not even sharing as much of the thoughts that I was just going between from one day to the next day. But ultimately, I think this is the best decision for me, my family, for my career.”McCourty, 35, went into the offseason wavering about his future with the Patriots along with fellow longtime captain Matt Slater. The 37-year-old Slater ultimately made the de...