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Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal has historical significance for Washington and Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Texas (12-1, Big 12) vs. No. 2 Washington (13-0, Pac-12), Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Texas by 4 1/2Series record: Texas leads 3-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?A berth in the national championship game in Houston on Jan. 8. By advancing, Washington would get a shot at its third national title in program history, and its last as a member of the Pac-12 before moving next season to an expanded Big Ten. Texas is looking to claim its fifth national title, and its last as a member of the Big 12 before moving to the SEC.KEY MATCHUPWashington’s offensive line against the Texas defensive front. The Huskies this season took home the Joe Moore award, which recognizes the top offensive line in all of college football. They’ve allowed just 11 sacks in a high-octane offense that helped quarterback Michael Penix Jr. lead the nation in yards passing with 4,218. The Texas defensive line is anchored by arguably the best set of tackles in the count...

EEUU y México se reunirán en enero en Washington para hacer frente al creciente flujo de migrantes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

MATAMOROS, México — Los representantes de los gobiernos de Estados Unidos y México se reunirán en enero en Washington para avanzar en los esfuerzos para hacer frente al creciente flujo migratorio, que se ha convertido en un dolor de cabeza para el gobierno de Joe Biden en medio de la campaña electoral estadounidense.Ese fue uno de los puntos acordados en el encuentro que sostuvo el presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador con el secretario de Estado estadounidense Antony Blinken, señaló un comunicado conjunto de ambos gobiernos que se dio a conocer el jueves.La reunión coincidió con el desmantelamiento que realizaron autoridades mexicanas de un precario campamento de tiendas de campaña abandonadas por migrantes ubicado a lo largo del río Bravo en la localidad fronteriza de Matamoros, evento que probablemente podría ser una señal de las acciones que se avecinan del lado de México para atender el creciente número de migrantes que llegan a la frontera sur de Estados Unidos.El cierre temp...

Arsenal misses chance to go top of Premier League with 2-1 loss at Fulham

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal fell to a second straight loss with a 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Sunday, missing out on a chance to end the year atop the Premier League table.Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead after just five minutes, but the visitors were toothless after that as Raul Jimenez equalized in the first half and Bobby De Cordova-Reid poked in the winner in the 59th.Arsenal topped the standings at Christmas but enters 2024 in fourth place after this defeat followed its first home loss of the season against West Ham on Thursday. A win at Fulham would have lifted Mikel Arteta’s team provisionally above leader Liverpool in a tightly packed top four.But the Gunners have won just one of their last five league games and this was perhaps the most listless performance in that stretch. Arteta will have to ponder whether to look for attacking reinforcements in the January transfer window after his team struggled to create any quality chances after its early goal – even after switching to a back ...

Russia launches fresh drone strikes in Ukraine after promising retaliation for Belgorod attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a fresh drone assault on Ukraine after promising that strikes on the Russian border city of Belgorod that killed 24 people Saturday “would not go unpunished.”The Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday that it had shot down 21 of 49 drones launched by Russian forces overnight.The retaliatory Russian attack wounded 28 people in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. A hotel, kindergarten, apartment buildings, shops and administrative buildings sustained damage, according to the regional prosecutor’s office.Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had targeted “decision-making centers and military facilities” in Kharkiv. The ministry said the hit on the Kharkiv Palace Hotel had “destroyed representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate and Ukrainian Armed Forces” involved in the “terrorist attack” in Belgorod.Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said a British journalist was among the wounded, while public...

Colorado's paid family leave program starts January 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Workers across Colorado will be able to take advantage of the state's paid family leave program starting Jan. 1, 2024.In 2020, voters approved Proposition 118, which paved the way for the state-run Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program.The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) explained that the program will ensure that workers will have access to paid leave to take care of themselves or their families during life circumstances that take them away from work.This includes things like maternity and paternity leave, medical leave, as well as caring for a loved one with a serious health condition.People will be able to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave. People who suffer from complications of pregnancy or childbirth may also be eligible for an additional four weeks.In the case of parental leave, it may be taken anytime within the first 12 months after a birth, adoption or foster care placement. Why plastic bags may start disappearin...

Queen of Denmark announces surprise abdication in New Year’s address

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark used her New Year’s address on Sunday to unexpectedly announce her abdication on live television.The queen, who has reigned for 52 years, said she will abdicate on January 14 and will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.The 83-year-old queen, who took over the throne in 1972, is the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.

China’s Xi says reunification with Taiwan ‘inevitable,’ ahead of crucial vote on island

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country’s reunification with Taiwan was “inevitable” in his New Year’s address on Sunday, just weeks before the self-ruled island holds elections that could reshape relations between the two.“The reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability,” Xi said; “China will surely be reunified,” according to the official translation of his speech.“All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” the text adds.Though Taiwan split from China amid civil war in 1949, Beijing considers the self-ruled island of 23 million its “sacred territory” and hasn’t ruled out the use of force in bringing the island under its control. China has increasingly ramped up its rhetoric around Taiwan and increased military pressure on the island with regular drills in recent mont...

Week 17 updates: Cole Kmet is active for the Chicago Bears and likely to extend his consecutive games streak vs. the Atlanta Falcons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

The 6-9 Chicago Bears will play the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field in a Week 17 matchup. Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (noon, CBS-2).Inactives announcedBears tight end Cole Kmet is active for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.Kmet dealt with a knee injury during the week and was listed as questionable. He never has missed a game in four seasons with the Bears, a streak of 65 straight entering Sunday.Bears center Lucas Patrick is also active after being listed as questionable with a knee issue. Left guard Teven Jenkins will return after clearing concussion protocol.Running back D’Onta Foreman, however, is inactive after practicing all week. The Bears will rely on Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson instead.As the Bears announced Friday, they will be without wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who is in concussion protocol. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates, safety Quindell Johnson, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter and quarterback Nathan Peterman also are...

Boston Wine Expo’s revamped format aging well

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

The Boston Wine Expo returns in March with various vendors, tastings, and other events, spearheaded by show director Raffaele Scalzi.The two-day expo running from March 2-3 at the Park Plaza Hotel is anticipating more than 4,000 attendees and over 100 wineries represented. While the expo has more than 20 years of existence, Scalzi took the organizational reins in 2018.Before Scalzi took over, the expo would feature around 400 vendors and roughly 12,000 attendees. With recent modifications to heighten the event’s exclusivity, Scalzi believes it will enhance the overall quality of the expo.“We hit that 4,000 attendee projection last year, so we know that there was an audience here in Boston,” he told the Herald. “We know that even though the expo had a little pause, this affluent and knowledgeable wine community is still here.”Modifications include splitting the two-day events into multiple sessions to ensure a safer environment, a more optimal tasting space for attendees and to deter...

Boston Herald EMass girls basketball Top 25 rankings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:52 GMT

Here is the first in-season installment of the Boston Herald EMass Top 25 girls basketball rankings. Records are through Saturday, December 30 and are as close to accurate as we could ascertain. Only games that count towards tournament seeding are stated. Coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to report their scores to Arbiter.1. St. Mary’s (7-0)2. Cathedral (5-1)3. Foxboro (5-1)4. Bishop Feehan (3-2)5. Central Catholic (5-1)6. Bishop Fenwick (5-1)7. Medfield (4-1)8. Andover (5-1)9. Pentucket (3-1)10. Notre Dame (4-0)11. Billerica (5-0)12. Norwood (4-0)13. Framingham (6-1)14. Winchester (5-1)15. Peabody (3-0)16. Bridgewater-Raynham (4-0)17. Dartmouth (5-0)18. Walpole (4-2)19. Needham (5-1)20. Sandwich (6-0)21. Acton-Boxboro (5-1)22. Weymouth (4-2)23. Norwell (3-1)24. Wellesley (3-1)25. Bedford (4-0)