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Georgia: A border in my backyard

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

All Georgians can do is gaze toward the snowy mountains and remember where they once used to swim, walk and graze their cattle, carefree.By Clément GirardotPhotographs by Julien Pebrel/MYOP for POLITICOClément Girardot is a freelance writer focusing on international reporting, especially from the South Caucasus and Turkey. His work has appeared in various publications, including the Guardian, Al Jazeera, Le Monde and Wired.“In our free time, we would go for a swim in the Ksani river or take a walk in the mountains,” kindergarten teacher Mariam Javakhishvili said, recalling her childhood in the Georgian village of Odzisi.Despite its peaceful rural setting, nestled in a bucolic valley 30 kilometers from Tbilisi’s northern suburbs, Odzisi has been deeply impacted by the conflict over the disputed territory of South Ossetia.“Now, I wonder how I could let my kids go there,” she said.Valia Vanishvili lived in Khurvaleti until the day Russian soldiers told her and her husband, D...

Medical examiner’s office investigating after body dropped off stretcher in Dorchester

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

New video shows a body falling off of a stretcher carried by professionals from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the stretcher damaged a car parked on the street.The incident wasn’t mentioned in a report, and the owner of the vehicle said she wants acknowledgement. Victoria Scott owns the white Honda Accord parked on Lonsdale Street. “They brought the stretcher down the stairs. The body tipped over on the stretcher, wasn’t strapped in. The stretcher fell over, hit my car,” Scott said.Scott’s neighbor took the video after hearing a loud thud outside. She said the video shows the stretcher leaving a scratch on her car. “I was upset for two reasons, one that’s not right. That’s a human being,” she said, “but then secondly, they damaged my car and they’re workers of the medical examiner’s office, and there was not one mention of any of that happening in the report.” The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told 7News it is “aware of a matter related to ...

Hull police sergeant arrested, placed on leave

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

A Hull Police sergeant is off the job, accused of attacking his neighbor during a dispute.The Hull Police Department says Sergeant Scott Saunders was arrested last month while he was off-duty.They say he’ll remail on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.In our previous story about this incident, we used a picture of an officer who is not Sergeant Scott Saunders.Unfortunately, a spokesperson for Hull Police misidentified the officer to us. We regret the error.

Orioles crush Mets, 10-3, as James McCann gets revenge with career-high-tying 5 RBIs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

When the New York Mets sent catcher James McCann to the Orioles this winter, they weren’t seeking a top prospect; Baltimore returned a rookie-level outfielder who had yet to get out of the Dominican Summer League. They weren’t looking to save money; the Mets agreed to pay all but $5 million of the $24 million owed to McCann over the next two years.New York simply wanted to get rid of him.The trade freed up a roster spot amid an offseason that featured record spending, with the Orioles using the circumstances to secure a veteran backup for young star Adley Rutschman. McCann has served well in the role, with his work behind the plate and in meetings drawing praise from pitchers and manager Brandon Hyde. His offense, a trait of lesser importance for backup backstops, has still left plenty to be desired, but perhaps he was saving his best for vengeance.In the Orioles’ 10-3 victory over New York on Friday night at Camden Yards, McCann tied his career high with five RBIs...

Gregory Santos is making a name for himself and embracing closing opportunities with the Chicago White Sox

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

Chicago White Sox reliever Gregory Santos recalled a conversation he had with manager Pedro Grifol.“He said, ‘Do you think you have the guts to go out there and close games?’ ” Santos said through an interpreter Wednesday in Arlington, Texas. “I said, ‘Yeah, of course. That’s what I want to do.’ He said, ‘Well, don’t worry. Your chance is going to come. Keep working, keep doing your job.’”Santos was called on for the ninth inning in a game last week against the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field.The Sox held a 3-0 lead on July 28. Santos surrendered a single to José Ramírez leading off the inning. With two outs, he hit Will Brennan. Santos rebounded and struck out Oscar Gonzalez for his second career save. His first was July 2 at Oakland. But he savored last week’s a little more.“I can tell you that I liked better the one experience at home,” Santos said. “The atmosphe...

Mets no match for James McCann, Orioles as Baltimore bashes Buck Showalter’s club, 10-3

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

BALTIMORE — The Mets got a glimpse into the future Friday night in Baltimore. The Orioles had to hit the reset button in 2019 and started to stockpile players in their farm system. Now, the O’s have the best record in the AL.Maybe it’s fitting that the same week the Mets decided to reset and load their farm system with talent they went into Baltimore. The team that developed talent won, defeating the Mets 10-3 in the first game of a three-game series at Camden Yards. It was the fourth straight loss for the Mets (50-59).It’s been a tough run for the Amazins’ since the Tuesday trade deadline, but there were positives to take from this one.The Mets battled back after the Orioles (68-42) took a 2-0 lead. The Mets are paying catcher James McCann $11 million to play for Baltimore and he thanked them with a two-run single off right-handed reliever John Curtiss in the fourth.But Francisco Lindor flared one into center field in the sixth with the bases loaded an...

Yankees can’t overcome Luis Severino’s latest first-inning struggles in loss to Astros

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

For the second time in as many starts, Luis Severino put the Yankees in an immediate hole that proved insurmountable.The struggling pitcher surrendered a three-run home run to Houston Astros rookie Yainer Diaz in the first inning Friday night, setting the tone for another ugly outing in the Yankees’ 7-3 loss in the Bronx.Severino also allowed a second-inning run when he hit Alex Bregman with the bases loaded, then served up a fifth-inning solo shot to Yordan Alvaraz that ended his night. The right-hander heard boos from the Yankee Stadium crowd as he exited Friday’s game.The 29-year-old Severino, a two-time All-Star and impending free agent, allowed five runs in four innings, dropping his record to 2-6 and inflating his ERA to 7.74.The rough performance came five days after Severino gave up nine runs — including seven in the first inning — in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles, after which he said he felt like “the worst pitcher in the game.”A day af...

‘Futuristic Teletubbies’: Young Orioles stars arrive for homestand with matching tracksuits, sunglasses

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

As the Orioles waited out last week’s lengthy rain delay against the New York Yankees, an idea was hatched. It began with Ryan Mountcastle buying a collection of cyclops sunglasses.The first baseman suggested to a handful of his teammates they all don a pair before a game, a show of the clubhouse camaraderie that has played a key role in their season. Then Colton Cowser chimed in to elevate the plan.“I was like, ‘But what if we had matching outfits?’” Cowser said. “That was the first thing I thought of.”An Amazon shopping spree later, Mountcastle, Cowser, Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson had all they needed for a standout image of the quartet walking in the Camden Yards tunnel on their way to the Orioles’ clubhouse before opening a homestand Friday. Each wore a pair of Mountcastle’s one-lens sunglasses with color-coordinated suede tracksuits, with Cowser in yellow, Mountcastle in purple, Rutschman in pink and Henderson in blu...

FAA sets up new process for Hawaii air tour operators to fly at lower altitudes after fatal crashes

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that it is setting up a new process for air tour operators in Hawaii to be approved to fly at lower altitudes after numerous fatal crashes in recent years. Current FAA regulations require air tour operators to fly at 1,500 feet (460 meters) unless they have authorization to go lower. The agency said in a news release that it has outlined the new process for securing that authorization, including recommendations for pilot training, qualifications and aircraft equipment. The FAA said it will thoroughly review each operator’s safety plan before it issues an authorization. “This process will help prevent situations where pilots encounter poor visibility and become disoriented,” said David Boulter, the FAA’s acting associate administrator for aviation safety.In 2019, a pilot and six passengers were killed when their helicopter crashed in turbulent weather near Kauai’s famed Na Pali Coast. A National Transportatio...

CP NewsAlert: B.C. port workers approve contract

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 15:18:29 GMT

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s port workers have voted almost 75 per cent in favour of accepting a contract offer, ending weeks of turbulent job action that stopped billions of dollars’ worth of goods from being shipped. The approval of the contract, which covers about 7,400 workers, comes after the union rejected a mediated settlement twice. More coming. The Canadian Press