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We don’t want to join Russia, breakaway Georgian region warns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

Georgia’s separatist-held region of Abkhazia has firmly rejected suggestions it could be annexed by Russia, insisting that its autonomy from Moscow is not up for discussion.In a statement issued by the unrecognized South Caucasus state’s foreign ministry on Thursday, officials said that while it is “a steadfast ally of the Russian Federation,” its self-proclaimed statehood “is not a subject for debate.”The comments come shortly after the deputy chairman of the Kremlin’s Security Council, former president Dmitry Medvedev, hinted that Moscow could seek to absorb the two Russian-backed breakaway regions of neighboring Georgia — Abkhazia and South Ossetia.“The idea of joining Russia is still popular. And it may well be implemented, if there are good reasons for it,” said Medvedev, who has been one of the most enthusiastic cheerleaders of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.However, despite the presence of thousands of Moscow’s troops...

2 killed in Maine training flight crash identified as student pilot and instructor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

LITCHFIELD, Maine (AP) — Authorities identified the two people killed in a Maine plane crash as a flight instructor and student.The Beechcraft cargo plane crashed in a field in the town of Litchfield on Tuesday. Federal authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.Authorities said the crash happened during a training exercise. According to police, Jumaane Omar Stanley Melville, a 37-year-old student pilot from St. Petersburg, Florida, was flying the plane with instructor pilot James Shepherd-Kegal, 69, of North Yarmouth, the Bangor Daily News reported.The National Transportation Safety Board has said a preliminary report about the crash will likely be available in two to three weeks. The plane crashed near a small airport in Litchfield, not far from the state capital, Augusta.

Massachusetts man gets lengthy sentence for repeated sexual abuse of girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to up to 45 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a young girl over a period of six years and photographing the abuse, prosecutors said.Kevin Najera Jimenez, 34, of Attleboro, was sentenced by a judge on Wednesday following his conviction by a Fall River Superior Court jury on multiple charges including forcible child rape and indecent assault and battery, according to a statement from the office of Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.The conviction came after a two-week trial and 2 1/2 hours of jury deliberations.“The defendant’s behavior was outrageous and demented,” Quinn said. “I commend the victim for persevering through this very difficult ordeal. A lengthy prison sentence was more than warranted.”The victim testified that she was subjected to near-daily sexual abuse from 2012 through 2018. The defendant was the girl’s caretaker while her mother was at work, authorities said.He isolated the gi...

Crews respond to tractor-trailer rollover crash on Mass. Pike in Weston

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

Emergency crews were called to a tractor-trailer rollover on the Mass. Pike in Weston overnight that sent a second vehicle into the woods.Troopers responding to the crash could be seen assisting with clearing the overturned tractor-trailer and the other vehicle, which had a smashed windshield. The scene was cleared around 3:30 a.m. Friday.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-and and online for the latest details.

Orioles newcomer Jacob Webb emerging as a reliable reliever: ‘They wanted me for a reason’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

In a matter of three days, Jacob Webb went from being rejected by a team with a small chance of making the playoffs to being accepted by one with the best record in the American League.The Los Angeles Angels acquired three pitchers at the trade deadline, a collection of moves that bumped Webb out of their bullpen plans. He was designated for assignment and subsequently turned down by 13 other clubs during the waiver process.The lone team in the AL that wanted Webb: the Orioles.The process of being designated for assignment and changing teams in the middle of the season, Webb said, was a “shock.” He grew up an Angels fan and enjoyed his time with the organization playing alongside all-time greats Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.However, the disappointment of being put on waivers quickly turned to excitement once he saw the team that claimed him.“They picked me up for a reason,” Webb said. “It’s nice to have some confidence behind you.”That confi...

Five things to watch in Patriots’ preseason finale vs. Titans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

Mac Jones received a ton of snaps in the Patriots’ final training camp session of the summer on Wednesday, which makes us wonder how much (if at all) we’ll see the starting QB in Friday’s third and final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.Jones could certainly use some more live reps, but he’s had a strong summer, and it might not be worth risking him behind an offensive line still missing key starters due to injuries.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Julian Edelman set to reunite with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski on FOX Sports New England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 29: Razor-sharp Mac Jones tosses 2 TDs to close final preseason practice New England Patriots | Patriots waive recent addition, place wide receiver on injured reserve New England Patriots | Patriots’ Jack Jones hopes to be available Week 1 amid gun charges New England Patriots | How Ezekiel Elliott sees his role with Rh...

Spanish soccer president refuses to resign despite kissing a player on the lips at Women’s World Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The president of the Spanish soccer federation refused to resign Friday despite an uproar for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final.Luis Rubiales told an emergency general assembly of the federation “I won’t resign” four times in quick succession and claimed he was a victim of a witch hunt by “false feminists.”Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the award ceremony after Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, Australia, marring the title celebrations with his actions.Several Spanish media outlets had reported on Thursday that Rubiales was planning to step down.Instead, he said the kiss was “mutual and with the consent” of Hermoso. He received various applause from the overwhelming male assembly.Hermoso had said in a video streamed on social media after the kiss last Sunday that “I didn’t like it, but what can I do.”THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.BARCELONA, Spain (AP...

Kremlin denies role in plane crash believed to have killed Russian mercenary leader Prigozhin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, on Friday rejected allegations that the Kremlin was behind a plane crash that is presumed to have killed mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose brutal fighters were feared in Ukraine, Africa and Syria and conducted a brief but shocking mutiny in Russia two months ago.Prigozhin, who was listed among those on board the plane, was eulogized by Putin, even as suspicions grew that the Russian leader was behind a Wednesday crash that many saw as an assassination.A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that the plane was downed by an intentional explosion. One of the U.S. and Western officials who described the initial U.S. assessment said it determined that Prigozhin was “very likely” targeted and that the explosion falls in line with Putin’s “long history of trying to silence his critics.”The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, did not offer any details abou...

Lebanon’s interim central bank chief vows not to lend money to government, calls for economic reform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s interim central bank governor called on the country’s ruling class Friday to quickly implement economic and financial reforms warning that the central bank won’t offer loans to the state and does not plan on printing money to cover the huge budget deficit to avoid worsening inflation.Wassim Mansouri’s comments came nearly a month after he took over the leadership at the central bank after the term of his predecessor, Riad Salameh, ended on July 31.Lebanon is in the grips of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. Since the financial meltdown began in October 2019, the country’s political class — blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement — has been resisting economic and financial reforms requested by the international community.Since taking office, Mansouri has been urging the government to pass some reforms, cautioning that the central bank cannot continue to spend money to fund the government’s budget deficit.“Every day...

Australian, US, Filipino forces practice retaking an island in a drill along the South China Sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:36 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Australian and Filipino forces, backed by U.S. Marines, practiced retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill Friday on the northwestern Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles watched the mock beach landings, assaults and helicopter insertion of forces on a Philippine navy base with 1,200 Australians, 560 Filipinos and 120 U.S. Marines participating.On Monday, Australian, Filipino and American forces conducted air assault maneuvers in Rizal town in western Palawan province, which also faces the South China Sea.The three countries are among the most vocal critics of China’s increasingly aggressive and confrontational actions in the disputed waters, but the Philippine military said Beijing was not the envisioned target of the combat drills, the largest so far between Australia and the Philippines.“It’s an important aspect...