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Back in full force, UN General Assembly shows how the most important diplomatic work is face to face

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — There are two opposing theses about the U.N. General Assembly: It’s a place that shows the true power of words, where leaders inspire action with rousing speeches on the urgent issues of our times; or it’s a talking shop, where leaders perform for domestic audiences with political rhetoric on the cause of the day.These dueling viewpoints were tested when the coronavirus pandemic shut down much in-person diplomacy for several years. After three years of virtual, then hybrid General Debates, the scores of top leaders who attended the annual U.N. summit this week exhibited the return of in-person diplomacy, and provided ammunition to those who advocate for its importance.It wasn’t just drama, like whether Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy would be addressing the Security Council in the presence of Russia’s top diplomat (the two ultimately did not cross paths). Many of the formal speeches delivered before the green stone in the General Assem...

Instant Analysis: Texas leaves Waco for final time with resounding victory over Baylor

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It was a dominant performance by No. 3 Texas in a 38-6 victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Conference opener Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco.Texas stuffed Baylor's running game to allow just 60 yards while the high-flying Longhorns offense piled up more than 500 total yards.Noah Gross and Billy Gates broke down the win and looked ahead to the Longhorns' next opponent, the Kansas Jayhawks, who they'll play at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Texas State Bobcats come from behind to beat Nevada 35-24 behind Mahdi's 216 yards

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — Ismail Mahdi rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns and Texas State scored 35 unanswered points to rally for a 35-24 victory over Nevada on Saturday.Brandon Talton kicked a 30-yard field goal and KK Meier returned an interception 98 yards for a touchdown to give Nevada (0-4) a 10-0 lead after one quarter. The Wolf Pack took a 17-0 lead into halftime after Zac Welch recovered a fumble in the end zone. No. 3 Texas blows out Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener before next year’s SEC move Texas State (3-1) took the opening kickoff of the second half and put together a 10-play drive, capped by TJ Finley's 25-yard touchdown pass to Joey Hobert to get on the scoreboard. Finley connected with Kole Wilson for a 77-yard touchdown, needing just two plays on the Bobcats' next possession to close within 17-14. Mahdi scored on a 46-yard run and the Bobcats took a 21-17 lead into the final quarter.Mahdi scored again on a 36-yard run with 8:30 left to play and Malik Horns...

Aggies lose starting QB in 2nd quarter, still beat Auburn 27-10

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Max Johnson threw for 123 yards and two second-half touchdowns after taking over for an injured Conner Weigman to lead Texas A&M to a 27-10 win over Auburn Saturday.“We won the game and still didn’t play close to what we’re capable of,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Hopefully we’ll get better and move on from here.” No. 3 Texas blows out Baylor 38-6 in final Big 12 opener before next year’s SEC move Weigman threw for 70 yards before he was injured on a hit late in the second quarter. He limped to the locker room, looking to have trouble putting any weight on his right foot, and the team said he had a lower leg injury.Fisher said X-rays were negative but that he didn't know how long Weigman would be out.Johnson took over for the third quarter and got right to work, leading Texas A&M (3-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) on a 46-yard drive capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass to younger brother Jake Johnson to make it 13-3 with about 10 minutes left in t...

Winning $5.4 million Powerball ticket sold in Southern California

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

One lucky Southern Californian is the state’s newest millionaire after the numbers for the $725 million Powerball jackpot were drawn Saturday night.The winning numbers were 1, 12, 20, 33, 66 and the Powerball was 21.One ticket matched five numbers and will take home $5,422,749. The winning ticket was sold at Thirst Quencher Liquor in Burbank.Since the ticket was missing the Powerball number, the main jackpot will increase to an estimated $785 million for Monday night’s drawing.Five other lucky Californians hit four numbers plus the Powerball and will take home $22,588.Saturday night’s jackpot was the eighth-largest in the game’s history and the third-largest in 2023, coming in behind a $754.6 million jackpot in Washington in February, and a $1.08 billion prize won by a ticket in California in July (which has yet to be claimed). Powerball is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only five of these jurisdictions have never sold a...

Southern California student’s documentary leads to discovery of 10 half-siblings

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

A Cal State Northridge student’s documentary film led to the discovery of 10 half-siblings after she found out she was conceived using a sperm donor.The film, “#2276,” directed by student Sara Sims, 22, is now a finalist in the prestigious nationwide Student Academy Awards.“My film “#2276” is a story about me and my twin sister, Haley, finding out at age 17 that we, through an ancestry test, we were donor-conceived,” Sims explained.Sims set out to make a documentary about her roots and along the way, she learned much more than she could’ve ever imagined about her story.It all started with a project pitch for her senior thesis last fall. “My senior thesis students come in on the first day of class, and each of them has to pitch a story, an idea for a documentary film that can be produced within that semester,” said CSUN Film & TV Arts Professor Judy Korin.Sara Sims speaking to KTLA about her documentary film, "#2276." (KTLA)Sara Sims and her twin sister, Haley Sims, seen in ...

Berkeley: Armed robbery near UC Berkeley is fifth this month

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

Someone armed with a gun made off with a female victim’s tote bag as she was walking near UC Berkeley on Saturday afternoon — the fifth armed robbery or attempted robbery to occur near the campus in September.The robbery was reported at about 4:20 p.m. in the 2500 block of Warring Street, near Dwight Way, the UC Berkeley Police Department reported, citing a Berkeley Police Department report. The robber fled in a dark gray vehicle.The night before, at about 11:15 p.m. Friday, an attempted robbery occurred in the 2400 block of Channing Way, police said.Early Thursday morning at around 6 a.m. and about a block away from Friday night’s incident, three suspects, at least one of whom was armed with “an AR-15-type weapon,” approached a victim in the 2400 block of Telegraph Avenue and stole her wallet and phone, police said. The suspects fled in a Lexus SUV, driving northbound on Telegraph Avenue.Two armed robberies occurred earlier in the month on Sept. 7. Two...

Science paints a new picture of the ancient past, when we mixed and mated with other kinds of humans

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

What does it mean to be human?For a long time, the answer seemed clear. Our species, Homo sapiens — with our complex thoughts and deep emotions — were the only true humans to ever walk the Earth. Earlier forms, like the Neanderthals, were thought to be just steps along the path of evolution, who died out because we were better versions.That picture is now changing. In recent years, researchers have gained the power to pull DNA from ancient hominins, including our early ancestors and other relatives who walked on two legs. Ancient DNA technology has revolutionized the way we study human history and has quickly taken off, with a constant stream of studies exploring the genes of long-ago people.Along with more fossils and artifacts, the DNA findings are pointing us to a challenging idea: We’re not so special. For most of human history we shared the planet with other kinds of early humans, and those now-extinct groups were a lot like us. “We can see them as being fully human. But,...

Mid-Atlantic coast under flood warnings as Ophelia weakens to post-tropical low and moves north

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia was downgraded to a post-tropical low on Saturday night but continued to pose a threat of coastal flooding and flash floods in the mid-Atlantic region, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.Residents in parts of coastal North Carolina and Virginia experienced flooding Saturday after the storm made landfall near a North Carolina barrier island, bringing rain, damaging winds and dangerous surges.At 11 p.m. Saturday, the center said Ophelia, reduced to a weak form of a tropical storm, was located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) south-southwest of Richmond, Virginia, and about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Charlottesville, Virginia. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) with higher gusts.Coastal flood warnings and flood watches remained in effect for portions of the region, the center said. “The center of Ophelia is expected to turn toward the north-northeast and northeast, moving across eastern Virginia and the D...

Video shows SoCal deputy slamming girl on ground in violent brawl

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:31:05 GMT

A teen girl is hospitalized after being thrown to the ground by a sheriff’s deputy during a violent brawl in San Bernardino County Friday night.Authorities responded to a large fight that erupted during a football game at Victor Valley High School around 6:28 p.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.Cell phone video captured the violent confrontation as a deputy appears to body slam the teen girl before another teen boy gets into a scuffle with deputies.It all started when the first deputy to arrive discovered multiple fights were taking place at the time. Pepper balls were shot into the crowd in an effort to disperse the group. The move, however, was not effective and the crowds began heading toward the deputy, officials said.As additional deputies arrived, another pepper ball round was launched at the group. That’s when 16-year-old Faith Jeffers grabbed the pepper ball launcher from the deputy. A teen girl is hospitalized after being thrown to the gro...