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Belgian EU official gets shot in Sudan

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

Wim Fransen, the head of the EU’s humanitarian agency in Sudan, was shot amid fighting in the country’s capital Khartoum on Tuesday, a European Commission spokesperson said Wednesday. The spokesperson confirmed Fransen was injured but declined to offer any details on the incident or on his current condition citing “security reasons.”The New York Times reported late Tuesday that Fransen, a Belgian, had been seriously wounded by a gunshot and was receiving medical attention, but that his life was not in danger, quoting four people familiar with the situation.Fransen, who is the head of the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) office in Sudan, is the second EU official to be hurt in violence between rival military factions which erupted in Khartoum over the weekend.On Monday, Aidan O’Hara, the EU’s envoy to Sudan, was “assaulted” in his home. According to a spokesperson from the EU’s diplomatic service, O’...

Tiny troubles: Toddler infiltrates White House grounds

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

(CNN) — A tiny intruder infiltrated White House grounds Tuesday, prompting a swift response from the US Secret Service.Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service, said a toddler crawled through the fence on the north side of the White House, setting off security alerts.“The Secret Service Uniformed Division today encountered a curious young visitor along the White House north fence line who briefly entered White House ground,” Gugliemli said. “The White House security systems instantly triggered Secret Service officers and the toddler and parents were quickly reunited.”It’s not the first time a toddler has crawled through the White House fence. There was a similar incident in 2014 when a toddler squeezed through the White House fence just before then-President Barack Obama was about to address the nation on Iraq. The breach prompted a temporary lockdown and delayed the briefing.“We were going to wait until he...

Chicago Bears Q&A: What are the pros and cons of trading down? What about moving up? Odds Ryan Poles lands Jalen Carter?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

We’re only eight days from the centerpiece event of a significant Chicago Bears offseason: the NFL draft on April 27-29 in Kansas City, Mo.Who will the Bears pick at No. 9, or will they trade down again — or even back up? And where does Kansas City’s famed barbecue rank among NFL cities? The Tribune’s Brad Biggs tries to answer them all in his weekly Bears mailbag.What are the pros and cons of the Bears trading down in the first round? — Kenny B., PeoriaThe most obvious motivation for trading down would be to add more depth to this draft class and potentially to the cache of 2024 picks, depending on how far down the board Ryan Poles is willing to slide. The Bears have a pretty big gap from their first pick at No. 9 and their next selection at No. 53, the pick they received from the Baltimore Ravens in the Roquan Smith trade. If Poles can trade down and feel confident about the player he can land and bridge that gap before the second pick, that might be ...

Dolphins NFL draft options: Edge rushers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

The South Florida Sun Sentinel continues its eight-part series previewing top players in the 2023 NFL draft (April 27-29) with edge rushers. As the game has leaned toward offenses passing more, defenses have leaned more toward acquiring good edge rushers, the guys who put pressure on the quarterbacks and disrupt the passing game.Yes, the shutdown cornerback is still a vital part of limiting the passing game, but edge rushers cause greater upheaval.Look no further than the Dolphins as evidence.The Dolphins gave up a first-round pick in November to obtain edge rusher Bradley Chubb. They paired him with fellow edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, a 2021 first-round pick, and they’re hoping to cause havoc up front.The edge rusher is vitally important in today’s NFL.Will Anderson Jr., AlabamaAnderson (6 foot 3, 253 pound) is one of the most decorated players in recent history, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy twice, being named SEC Defensive Player of the Year twice, as well as win...

Dolphins have strong D-line but need to lock up Christian Wilkins with extension

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

The Miami Dolphins’ defensive line should undoubtedly be a strength of the team once again in 2023, but there’s a glaring remaining task — or two — that should be checked off the to-do list this offseason.The Dolphins need to reach a long-term extension with standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who is set to play on the fifth year of his rookie contract in 2023 after that option was exercised last offseason. And, in the same breath, it might be in the franchise’s best interest to also reach a deal with fellow defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who similarly heads into a contract year this fall.The combination of the two 27-year-olds that have blossomed since they were brought together late in the 2019 season could spearhead Miami’s defensive front for years to come.Both Wilkins and Sieler are under contract through at least the 2023 season. Nose tackle Raekwon Davis, a 2020 second-round pick, enters the final year of his rookie deal. Defensive ...

NFL Draft 2023: Lukas Van Ness and 7 potential Patriots pass rushers to watch

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

Welcome to Potential Patriots!Each day leading up to the NFL Draft on April 27, the Herald will introduce prospects the Patriots are likely targeting position by position. The Pats have 11 picks this year, starting at 14th overall, their highest selection in more than a decade. As for their other picks, the Patriots could pad their depth at virtually any position.Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ best prospect fits at edge rusher:CornerbacksWide receiversDay 1Lukas Van Ness, IowaHt/Wt: 6-5, 275Projected round: 1stScouting report: One of the most gifted athletes in the entire draft, Van Ness is bursting with potential and could play across the Patriots’ defensive line. He’s explosive, fast, fierce, powerful and plays with bend around the edge. The Pats hosted Van Ness on a pre-draft visit in Foxboro, surely with a stamp of approval from his head coach, Kirk Ferentz, a Bill Belichick confidant. Van Ness had two blocked punts last year and tallied 11 TFLs and 6.5 ...

US Navy sails first drone through Mideast’s Strait of Hormuz

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy sailed its first drone boat through the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies where American sailors often faces tense encounters with Iranian forces. The trip by the L3 Harris Arabian Fox MAST-13, a 13-meter (41-foot) speedboat carrying sensors and cameras, drew the attention of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, but took place without incident, said Navy spokesman Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins. Two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, the USCGC Charles Moulthrope and USCGC John Scheuerman, accompanied the drone. The trip saw the drone safely pass with the accompanying ships through the strait, a busy waterway between Iran and Oman which at its narrowest is just 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide. A fifth of all oil traded passes through the strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. “The Iranians observed the unmanned surface vessel transiting the strait in accordance with international law,...

UN: India’s population will be world’s largest by mid-year

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — India is on track to become the world’s most populous nation, surpassing China by 2.9 million people by mid-2023, according to data released by the United Nations on Wednesday.The South Asian country will have an estimated 1.4286 billion people against China’s 1.4257 billion by the middle of the year, according to U.N. projections. Demographers say the limits of population data make it impossible to calculate an exact date.China has had the world’s largest population since at least 1950, the year United Nations population data began. Both China and India have more than 1.4 billion people, and combined they make up more than a third of the world’s 8 billion people.Not long ago, India wasn’t expected to become most populous until later this decade. But the timing has been sped up by a drop in China’s fertility rate, with families having fewer children.Today, China has an aging population with stagnant growth despite the government retreating from its...

Luxembourg stands up for LGBT rights, chastises Hungary

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — Luxembourg’s openly gay prime minister used the dais of the European Union’s parliament on Wednesday to stand up for LGBT rights in the 27-nation bloc and chastised member state Hungary, which wants to curtail addressing the issue of homosexuality at school and in the media.“If there’s anyone in this house who thinks that you’ve become a homosexual by watching the television or listening to a song, then you’ve not understood anything. The most difficult (thing) for a homosexual is to accept themselves,” Bettel told legislators at Wednesday’s plenary session in Strasbourg, France.Bettel has often spoken about his sexuality and for two years already, he has been especially critical of Hungary.He already came out against Budapest in 2021 when a law was approved to prohibit sharing content on homosexuality or sex reassignment to people under 18 in school sex education programs, films or advertisements.The EU has accused populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of c...

Glencore open to improving Teck offer, but shareholders must reject plan to split

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:33:44 GMT

VANCOUVER — Glencore says it is willing to consider making improvements to its offer to acquire Teck Resources Ltd., but the Swiss company says shareholders of the Canadian miner must first reject a plan to separate its base metals and steelmaking coal businesses.In an open letter to Teck shareholders, Glencore CEO Gary Nagle says he believes that any such improvements are best considered following engagement by the Teck board of directors.Teck’s board has rejected Glencore’s unsolicited takeover offer that would see shareholders receive a stake in a combined metals company as well as a choice of cash or shares in a company that would hold their merged coal assets. The proposal represented a 20 per cent premium when it was first made.Instead, Teck is pursuing a plan it announced in February to split up its metal and steelmaking coal businesses into two companies, Teck Metals and Elk Valley Resources.The proposal will be voted on by shareholders on April 26. However, Glen...