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Long-serving Montenegro president seeks re-election

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Voters in Montenegro are casting ballots Sunday in a presidential election marked by political turmoil and uncertainty over whether the small NATO member state in the Balkans will unblock its bid to join the European Union or seek to improve ties with Serbia and Russia.Analysts predict that Montenegro’s presidential election will not produce a clear winner and that incumbent Milo Djukanovic, 61, will face one of several challengers in a runoff vote in two weeks. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Montenegro, the ballot is seen as a key indicator of popular sentiments ahead of an early parliamentary election set for June 11.Djukanovic’s opponents include a leader of the staunchly pro-Serbia and pro-Russia Popular Front party, Andrija Mandic, economist Jakov Milatovic of the newly-formed Europe Now group and former parliament speaker Aleksa Becic.Observers say Milatovic, who served in the government elected after the 2020 parliamentary vo...

UCLA women roll to 67-45 win over Sacramento State

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kiki Rice had 15 points, Emily Bessoir added 14 and fourth-seeded UCLA rolled to a 67-45 victory over No. 13 seed Sacramento State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night.Charisma Osborne had 11 points, 12 rebounds and five assists for the Bruins (26-9), who will face fifth-seeded Oklahoma on Monday with the winner advancing to the Greenville 1 Regional.Isnelle Natabou had 16 points and eight rebounds for Sacramento State (25-8). Kahlaijah Dean scored 11 points, but was 3 of 19 from the field.UCLA jumped out to a 16-2 lead midway through the first quarter on the strength of a 14-0 run. Rice had seven points in the first four minutes and 10 at the end of the first quarter, including a 3-pointer with 2:40 remaining that extended the Bruins’ advantage to 23-6.UCLA also had a 17-point lead at halftime and was up by as many as 24 late in the fourth quarter.Neither team shot well: UCLA was 29 of 70 while Sacramento State went 17 for 50. The Bru...

US Soccer again fails to make president position a paid job

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation failed for the second straight year to approve a by-law amendment that would have given its president a $125,000 annual salary instead of remaining an unpaid position.The proposal received 62.87% approval at this week’s USSF annual general meeting, falling short of the two-third vote necessary for adoption, the federation said Saturday.Last year, the proposal received 58.91% approval.Former women’s player Cindy Parlow Cone became president in 2020 and is starting the second year of a four-year term. JT Batson took over as CEO last September.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Leerdam helps Galaxy earn 1-1 draw with Whitecaps

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Kelvin Leerdam scored in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time to help the Los Angeles Galaxy earn a 1-1 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.Leerdam’s goal was unassisted for the Galaxy (0-1-2) and came after Tristan Blackmon took a pass from Julian Gressel and scored in the 14th minute to give the Whitecaps (0-2-2) an early lead.The Galaxy fall to 4-4-3 in their last 11 home matches against Vancouver. LA beat Vancouver seven straight times from 2011-14. The Galaxy came into the match with a 4-0-3 record in their last seven matches at home dating to last season. The loss ends the Galaxy’s longest unbeaten run at home since a nine-match streak in 2018.Vancouver snaps a streak of four straight losses on the road. The Whitecaps are 0-5-5 in their last 10 matches away from home. They have just four road wins since the 2021 season. That ties them with Houston and Toronto for fewest in the league.LA outshot Vancouver 20-12 with a 6...

Serbia, Kosovo reach pact on implementing peace plan, EU’s Borrell says

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement Saturday on implementing an EU-backed deal to normalize relations, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. “We have a deal,” Borrell tweeted late Saturday after 12 hours of talks by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and EU officials in Ohrid, North Macedonia.“Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on the implementation annex of the agreement on the path to normalization of relations,” Borrell said. “The parties have fully committed to honor all articles of the agreement and implement their respective obligations expediently and in good faith.”The two leaders held separate meetings with Borrell before a three-way session. Both sides had agreed to the underlying deal in Brussels last month.Kosovo and Serbia have been in EU-backed talks for nearly a decade since Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Serbia still regards Kosovo as a breakaway state and flare-ups between the two have...

Macron’s leadership at risk amid tensions over pension plan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

PARIS (AP) — A parody photo appearing on protest signs and online in France shows President Emmanuel Macron sitting on piles of garbage. The image references the trash going uncollected with sanitation workers on strike, but also what many French people think about their leader. Macron, 45, had hoped his push to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 would cement his legacy as the president who transformed France’s economy for the 21st century. Instead, he finds his leadership contested, both in parliament and on the streets of major cities.His brazen move to force a pension reform bill through without a vote has infuriated the political opposition and could hamper his government’s ability to pass legislation for the remaining four years of his term.Demonstrators hoisted the parody photo at protests after Macron chose at the last minute Thursday to invoke the government’s constitutional power to pass the bill without a vote at the National Assembly. He has remained silen...

Oklahoma State and Eastern Washington play in NIT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

Eastern Washington Eagles (23-10, 16-2 Big Sky) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (19-15, 8-10 Big 12)Stillwater, Oklahoma; Sunday, 2 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Eastern Washington Eagles meet in the National Invitation Tournament.The Cowboys’ record in Big 12 play is 8-10, and their record is 11-5 against non-conference opponents. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in rebounding, averaging 34.0 boards. Moussa Cisse leads the Cowboys with 8.2 rebounds.The Eagles are 16-2 against Big Sky teams. Eastern Washington is 4-2 in games decided by less than 4 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryce Thompson is averaging 11.6 points for the Cowboys. Caleb Asberry is averaging 13.5 points over the last 10 games for Oklahoma State.Casey Jones is averaging 7.5 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Eagles. Steele Venters is averaging 16.7 points over the last 10 games for Eastern Washington.LAST 10 GAMES: Cowboys: 4-6, averaging 66.2 points, 34.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 4.4 steals and 4.0 block...

Marquette Golden Eagles play the Michigan State Spartans in second round

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

Michigan State Spartans (20-12, 11-8 Big Ten) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (29-6, 17-3 Big East)Columbus, Ohio; Sunday, 5:15 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Marquette -2.5; over/under is 140BOTTOM LINE: The No. 6 Marquette Golden Eagles and Michigan State Spartans meet in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Golden Eagles’ record in Big East games is 17-3, and their record is 12-3 against non-conference opponents. Marquette is 6-2 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Spartans are 11-8 against Big Ten opponents. Michigan State is eighth in the Big Ten scoring 70.3 points per game and is shooting 45.1%.TOP PERFORMERS: Kam Jones is averaging 15.1 points for the Golden Eagles. Tyler Kolek is averaging 17.2 points, 7.2 assists and 1.9 steals over the past 10 games for Marquette.Tyson Walker is averaging 14.5 points for the Spartans. Joey Hauser is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games for Michigan State.LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Eagles: 10-0, averaging 77.4 points, 29.2 reb...

Xavier Musketeers and Pittsburgh Panthers play in NCAA Tournament second round

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

Pittsburgh Panthers (24-11, 14-6 ACC) vs. Xavier Musketeers (26-9, 15-5 Big East)Greensboro, North Carolina; Sunday, 12:10 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Xavier -5; over/under is 151.5BOTTOM LINE: The No. 13 Xavier Musketeers and Pittsburgh Panthers play in the NCAA Tournament second round.The Musketeers’ record in Big East play is 15-5, and their record is 11-4 in non-conference games. Xavier is second in the Big East with 25.9 defensive rebounds per game led by Zach Freemantle averaging 6.6.The Panthers’ record in ACC games is 14-6. Pittsburgh ranks fourth in the ACC giving up 69.3 points while holding opponents to 41.9% shooting.TOP PERFORMERS: Souley Boum is averaging 16.5 points and 4.3 assists for the Musketeers. Colby Jones is averaging 15.4 points over the last 10 games for Xavier.Jamarius Burton is averaging 15.2 points and 4.2 assists for the Panthers. Blake Hinson is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.LAST 10 GAMES: Musketeer...

North Texas squares off against Sam Houston in NIT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:58:31 GMT

Sam Houston Bearkats (26-7, 14-4 WAC) at North Texas Mean Green (27-7, 16-4 C-USA)Denton, Texas; Sunday, 4 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: The North Texas Mean Green and the Sam Houston Bearkats meet in the National Invitation Tournament.The Mean Green’s record in C-USA games is 16-4, and their record is 11-3 in non-conference games. North Texas scores 64.4 points and has outscored opponents by 8.8 points per game.The Bearkats’ record in WAC play is 14-4. Sam Houston ranks second in the WAC shooting 38.2% from 3-point range.TOP PERFORMERS: Tylor Perry averages 3.0 made 3-pointers per game for the Mean Green, scoring 16.9 points while shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc. Kai Huntsberry is averaging 12.1 points over the past 10 games for North Texas.Donte Powers is shooting 41.1% from beyond the arc with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Bearkats, while averaging 11.1 points. Qua Grant is shooting 41.0% and averaging 16.1 points over the past 10 games for Sam Houston.LAST 10 GAMES:...