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Jill Biden to travel to Paris to commemorate US rejoining UNESCO after Trump exit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

(CNN) — First lady Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Paris next week to celebrate the U.S. rejoining UNESCO, according to senior administration officials, in a visit that will highlight the national security imperative of American involvement in such coalitions and emphasize the role of U.S. leadership in the world.President Joe Biden is deploying the first lady, a top surrogate, to commemorate the occasion that reverses a Trump-era decision as he seeks to reassure allies that “America’s back” and signal the White House’s reaffirmed commitment to the organization.The U.S. withdrew from UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – during the Trump administration, with the State Department at the time citing anti-Israel bias and mounting membership dues owed to the international body. The organization promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication, and also designates “world heritage” sites.Then-U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Hal...

Rahm back in contention after Royal Liverpool course record 63 at British Open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

HOYLAKE, England (AP) — The hug Jon Rahm gave his parents after finishing his round at the British Open on Saturday felt a lot better than the one gave he gave them a day earlier.On Friday, he struggled just to make the cut. This time, he shot the lowest round ever at Royal Liverpool at the Open to put himself back in contention to win the claret jug.“Today it wasn’t a consolation hug,” Rahm said after an 8-under 63 that was his best ever round in any major. “Days like these are a lot of fun.”It was a stark contrast to the frustration over the first two days. Rahm left Hoylake upset with his misses, and complaining about the amount of people who got in his way while he played with Rory McIlroy.“I was playing good golf and I knew what I was capable of,” Rahm said. “I was frustrated because … of the mistakes that I made. I gave up the shots at major championships that are very costly, and that’s mainly it. That’s what I was feeling.”It was different on Saturday.Rahm began ...

Power wins pole position for both races of IndyCar doubleheader at Iowa Speedway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Will Power put together two fast laps Saturday to win both pole positions for this weekend’s IndyCar Series doubleheader at Iowa Speedway.The lineups for the series’ lone doubleheader were determined by individual lap speeds — the first lap determined the lineup for Saturday’s 250-lap race, with the second lap setting the lineup for Sunday’s 250-lap event.Power’s first lap was 181.426 mph, and then he followed that with a lap of 181.578 mph.“It is very cool this year, because I’m trying to win this race,” said Power, the defending series champion who has never won at Iowa. “I’ve been trying for a long time. I’m stoked to be starting up front. No better spot, obviously.”Power led a Team Penske sweep of the top three spots for Saturday’s race. Scott McLaughlin was second with a first lap of 180.334 mph, while Josef Newgarden, a four-time winner at Iowa, was third at 180.081. The three were the only drivers to average above 180 mp...

Thanks to DQ, Chase Elliott tries to defend NASCAR win at Pocono earned without leading a lap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Chase Elliott had just landed from the plane ride back from Pocono when texts started coming in from friends congratulating him on his latest NASCAR victory.Hold up.What victory?“No, we ran third,” Elliott said he replied.Finished third, yes — but won the Pocono race, all because of a bizarre disqualification that stripped Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch of their 1-2 finishes and sent Elliott to victory.And he never led a lap.Hamlin was the first disqualified Cup winner since April 17, 1960, when Emanuel Zervakis’ victory at Wilson Speedway in North Carolina was thrown out because of an oversized fuel tank.The NASCAR inspection team found issues in both JGR Toyotas that affected the aerodynamics and tossed out the finish.Hamlin’s win gave him the career lead — for a few hours, at least — at Pocono with seven. Hamlin’s young daughter burst into tears of joy and he sent her to retrieve the checkered flag. Taylor Hamlin clutched the flag as ...

Pipe burst causes Hollywood roadway to flood and shut down for repair

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

A bad break flooded a road in Hollywood.The pipe burst on Friday when a telecom company hit the line at North 17th Avenue between Fillmore and Taylor Streets.A telecom crew hit the eight-inch water main line to an unoccupied building. No customers were impacted and no boil water advisory was issued. According to the City of Hollywood, the roadway remains closed for the next few days for repairs to take place.

Move and groove at Dance Pluss, Fort Lauderdale’s performing arts attraction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

Looking to jazz up your night out? Then we know just the place where you can sway your night away.Dance Pluss in Fort Lauderdale will get you movin’ and groovin’.Take center stage with your BFFs, or beat your friends in a friendly round of basketball in the arcade.You can dance, you can jive and have the time of your life at Dance Pluss.Quintina King-Smith: “Dance Pluss is not a dance studio, Dance Pluss is not an entertainment venue, Dance Pluss is a dance attraction. We wanted it to be concerts, karaoke, dance parties, and poetry. We wanted to incorporate any performing arts.”Aside from performances, you can also unleash your star power with a dance party.Quintina King-Smith: “The dance parties consist of bringing in a hired choreographer, teaching you some moves, we do a dance battle.”Talayah Daniels: “It feels as if you’re in a sisterhood, nobody is going to judge you if you mess up, nobody is going to be jealous of you for doing g...

Run to Home Base race in Fenway Park a lifeline for supporting veterans and families

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

Former Olympian Ruben Sanca cruised to first place in Saturday’s Run to Home Base at Fenway Park. After crossing the finish line, the Dorchester resident thought about how the government needs to provide better care to his friends who are veterans.“When someone goes to fight for this country they should be provided all of the support they can, especially when it comes to medical care and well-being,” said Sanca, a long-distance runner who competed for Cape Verde in the 2012 London Olympic Games. “We are in a position where we have to support our veterans when they come back.”Sanca and more than 2,500 runners and walkers laced up their sneakers early Saturday to participate in the 14th annual Run to Home Base, raising close to $3 million to support veterans and their families.The event directly benefits Home Base, which Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner founded in 2009 in partnership with the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital.While the organization has served more than ...

East Boston Pop Warner football program struggling to stay afloat due to lack of funds, player interest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

The president of the East Boston Pop Warner football program is wholly confident that, for the first time in four years, she will see her players have a full season this fall.But even with that confidence, Debbie Raso says challenges continue to pile up against her program with increasing costs and decreasing interest from players and families to participate.Nick Moulaison, owner of Carmella’s Market, an Italian food spot in Eastie, this week donated $500 to the program and is challenging other local businesses to match his gift.Moulaison’s donation came after area philanthropist Ernie Boch Jr. donated $15,000 to the Boston Bengals, a Pop Warner program that practices at Roxbury’s Clifford Playground, near Mass and Cass, where people roam the streets, visibly buying, selling and using drugs.The Bengals had been on the verge of collapse due to unsanitary conditions at the park: needles, human feces and other trash. That has led a decline in interest from youth there, making it hard f...

Thousands protest mob assault of women who were paraded naked in remote Indian border state

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Thousands of people, mostly women, held a massive sit-in in India’s violence-wracked northeastern state of Manipur on Saturday to demand the immediate arrest of anyone who took part in the harrowing May assault of two women who were paraded around naked and molested by a mob in an attack that was caught on video.The leaders of religious and women’s groups addressed the nearly 15,000 protesters, who also called for the firing of Biren Singh, the top elected official in the state where more than 130 people have been killed since violence between two dominant ethnic groups erupted in early May. The protest was held in Churachandpur, a town 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Imphal, the state capital.Manipur has been the scene of a near-civil war that was sparked by Christian Kukis protesting against a demand by the mostly Hindu Meiteis for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups, as well as a guaranteed...

Toronto police officer struck in hit-and-run in King Street West and Jameson Avenue area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:16:01 GMT

A Toronto police officer has been struck by a vehicle in a hit-and-run in the King Street West and Jameson Avenue area on Saturday afternoon.The incident occurred at approximately 2:22pm and the driver fled the scene.POLICE INVESTIGATION:Jameson Ave & King St W2:22pm– officer struck by vehicle– driver fled the scene – unknown injuries – King St is closed from Close St to Springhurst Ave– delays in the area– consider alternate routes #GO1705698^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) July 22, 2023Paramedics transported the female victim to a local hospital in stable condition with unknown injuries.King Street is closed from Close Street to Springhurst Avenue and there are delays in the area.