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Will US allow Lebanese Army to deter Israeli violation of national sovereignty?A judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship scheduled for later this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference to challenge the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Judge Crews referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player in his ruling and noted that no defendant disputed that San Jose State rosters a transgender woman volleyball player. He said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting that the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a forfeit in league standings. He also said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 – making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a political campaign year. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. San Jose State is seeded second. The judge's order maintains the seedings and pairings for the tournament. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. Crews served as a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as a federal judge in January of this year. ____ Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-25T21:30:35+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-25T21:30:35+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-26T08:01:48+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22109/news/agriculture/how-can-rwandas-near-extinct-traditional-food-crops-be-salvaged", "headline": "How can Rwanda’s near-extinct traditional food crops be salvaged?", "description": "Agricultural scientists and traditionalists have pointed at the need for protecting traditional food crops that are slowly disappearing in Rwanda, yet...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22109/news/agriculture/how-can-rwandas-near-extinct-traditional-food-crops-be-salvaged" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/25/64831.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/25/64831.jpg" }, "articleBody": "Agricultural scientists and traditionalists have pointed at the need for protecting traditional food crops that are slowly disappearing in Rwanda, yet they have numerous advantages in terms of nutrition and climate resilience. Food crops like millet, sorghum, certain types of pumpkin as well as vegetables like Isogi (cleome gynandra) and particular indigenous tubers are getting harder to find in the country, and some experts say the situation may worsen. ALSO READ: FAO promoting traditional Rwandan cuisine with new recipe book Globally, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 75 percent of the genetic diversity of agricultural crops has been lost since the beginning of the 20th century. The main cause of this, the FAO says, is loss is the replacement of traditional varieties with commercial and high-yielding varieties. In an interview with The New Times, agricultural scientist Pacifique Nshimiyimana, who heads the Alliance for Science Rwanda, pointed at the importance of protecting traditional crops, saying it goes beyond food production and touches the maintenance of biodiversity and the balance of ecosystems. “No living organism should be lost as each plays a role in the ecosystem,” he explained. For him, besides providing food, such plants serve as a habitat for insects which in turn support the wider environment. He argued that through agricultural technologies, Rwanda could revive traditional food crops under threat, as he cited the example of the American chestnut tree which was nearly extinct, but was restored through biotechnology usage. ALSO READ: Disappearing traditional crops pose threat to food security, experts warn What farmers, traditionalists say Bernard Bizimana, a 60-year-old farmer from Rulindo District, in an interview with The New Times, shed light on the challenges that characterise the farming of traditional crops today as compared to the past years. “When I was in my 20s, it was much easier to grow these traditional crops,” he said. “I grew up watching my parents plant traditional crops like sorghum and millet. They used to make bread from these grains, and it provided them with the energy to live long, healthy lives. Many of them would even reach 100 years,” he added. However, he pointed out that seeds for such traditional crops have become increasingly scarce, as the government has introduced specific regulations on which crops should be planted in designated areas, and unfortunately, traditional varieties are often excluded.” ALSO READ: New book showcases Rwanda’s gastronomy, culinary treasure “If these traditional crops were more recognised and supported, it would not only benefit us economically but also help preserve an important part of our culture,” he noted. Modeste Nzayisenga Rutangarwamaboko, a traditionalist and cultural researcher, expressed concerns about the decline of traditional crops, noting that it has also led to the loss of some traditional practices related to food, drink, and livestock. For example, he said sorghum which was once considered the ‘king's food’ is becoming more scarce, with much of it now imported from neighbouring countries. ALSO READ: Rwanda to plant 63 million indigenous trees for carbon market RAB takes measures to protect traditional cash crops Florence Uwamahoro, Deputy Director General for Agriculture at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), says Rwanda is taking measures to conserve traditional food crops. “RAB has a dedicated genetic resources management program that safeguards and conserves traditional crops through our national germplasm collection,” she said. The initiative, according to her, plays a key role in protecting crops such as sorghum and millet which are vital not only for food security but also for maintaining biodiversity. She also noted that the government has signed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of endangered traditional crops. In addition, the country is also participating in the Nagoya Protocol which ensures fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources. ALSO READ: How agricultural biotechnology could boost food security RAB has also established a national genebank focusing on long-term preservation of the traditional crops. “We have collected over 500 varieties of traditional crops from across the country and stored them in the genebank,” she noted.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Charles Nyandwi" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
DENVER (AP) — Travis Hunter made a pair of proclamations Thursday: He’s for sure entering the NFL draft after this season, but not until he sees Colorado all the way through the College Football Playoff — if the Buffaloes make it there. The first was already a given for the draft-eligible junior who plays both receiver and cornerback. The second is a risk-reward play for a projected high first-round pick who averages around 120 snaps a game. In years past, it took two extra postseason wins to capture a national title. Now, it could take up to four additional contests. That’s more of a chance to shine, but also more chance for an injury. “I don’t think nobody will opt out because you’re showing NFL teams that you’re more focused on something else, other than the team goal,” Hunter said of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. “So I don’t think players are going to opt out of the playoffs.” Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders chatted Thursday in a set of Zoom calls about turning around the program at Colorado (from 4-8 last season to bowl eligibility), chasing a Big 12 title, turning pro — Hunter acknowledged he will “for sure” — and, of course, the Heisman race, where Hunter is currently the odds-on favorite in an award each wants to see the other win. “He’s deserving of it, and if it’s between me and him, I want him to get it,” said Sanders, whose 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP ) travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face Kansas (4-6, 3-4) this weekend. “He does a lot of amazing things that have never been done before.” Countered Hunter: “I know he wants me to win it, but I also want him to win as bad as I want to win it.” Hunter is a generational talent shining on both sides of the ball. As a receiver, he has 74 catches for 911 yards and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has picked off three passes, even though teams are reluctant to throw his direction. Like he did in high school and now in college, he believes he can do both on the next level. But he understands the trepidation of the NFL team that picks him. “They don’t want their top pick to go down too early," Hunter said. “I like when people tell me I can’t do it, because they just motivate me to continue to do what I want to do.” Sanders is turning in a stellar season as well with 27 touchdown passes, one away from tying Sefo Liufau for the most in a single season in program history. He's projected to be one of the first QBs off the draft board. The future certainly looks bright at Colorado thanks to the legacies Sanders and Hunter under coach Deion Sanders. But that's a point to ponder later. “I can’t think too much forward past Saturday,” Shedeur Sanders cracked. “The main thing is winning the Big 12 championship. That’s the main thing we’re focused on." Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel
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The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More Shriya Saran stuns in a stunning display of ethnic wear How to make Kashmiri-style Methi Mutton at home 8 plant milks and how to consume them Shriya Pilgaonkar's stunning look commands all eyes Remembering RJ Simran Singh: The girl next door with timeless style How to make spicy Chicken Seek Kebabs at home Is your partner manipulative? How to know 10 Vedic baby names after Indian sages 10 Gen Z words that became popular in 2024 and what do they meanAs a former two-term Iowa State Senator (1979-1986) and school administrator (1995-2024), I am proud to report that we balanced our state and school district budget every year. I found this responsibility simple: We never spent more money than we collected in tax revenue. The last time Congress balanced the federal budget was in 2001. The two political parties in Congress have failed to balance the federal budget over the last 23 years. During the recent presidential campaign, both candidates proposed tax reductions. These proposals would only increase the national deficit. There are only three ways to balance the budget: • Reduce expenditures • Increase revenue • Combination of reduced expenditures and increased revenue The current US national debt of $34 trillion has many negative aspects: • US pays $2 billion a day in interest on its debt. • It will lead to higher interest rates. • It will slow economic growth and reduce business investment. • It will make it more expensive for businesses to borrow money • A high debt could leave fewer resources for military, diplomatic, and humanitarian operations. Each citizen would need to pay $102,000 to pay off the national debt. This is economic madness. It is time for the federal government to start paying down the national debt. If Congress is not willing to increase revenue, they need to reduce expenditures. Congress should only spend money they have first collected in revenue. It is time to hold each of our members of Congress accountable regardless of political party. Joseph E. Brown Sr., Clinton