PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s main ethnic Serb party on Tuesday said its ban from the upcoming general election is “institutional and political violence” against the ethnic minority. Zlatan Elek of Srpska Lista, or Serb List, said the move was “done on the orders of Albin in order to gain some easy political points,” adding they would appeal the decision. Elek was referring to Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti. The Central Election Commission declined to certify Srpska Lista, justifying the move by pointing to its nationalist stance and close ties to Serbia. The Srspka Lista party has nine out of the 10 lawmakers the ethnic Serb minority currently has in the 120-seat parliament. Kosovo holds a parliamentary election on Feb. 9 , which is expected to be a key test for Kurti, whose governing party won in a landslide in 2021. European Union-facilitated negotiations to normalize ties with neighboring Serbia are a top priority for any Cabinet in power after the polls. Western powers also expressed concern about the move, fearing it may further aggravate the already tense ties between Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo was a Serbian province until a war broke out between Serbian government forces and ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo, which left about 11,400 dead, mainly ethnic Albanians. NATO’s 78-day bombing campaign in 1999 ended the war and pushed Serbian forces out. Kosovo proclaimed independence in 2008, which Serbia doesn’t recognize. Belgrade still considers Kosovo as its province and has a major influence on the ethnic Serb minority living there. Serb President Aleksandar Vučić criticized the move to ban the party, saying “Kurti is trying to root out the Serb people from (our) southern province.” Kurti considers the Srpska Lista as the “political branch of Milan Radoicic and of Serb state terrorism.” Radoicic, a politician and wealthy businessman with ties to Serbia’s ruling populist party and Vučić, was among 45 people charged in Kosovo in connection with a gunfight last year in which a Kosovar police officer was killed following an incursion by heavily armed Serb gunmen. He is free and under investigation in Serbia, which refuses to extradite him to Kosovo. The prime minister accused the Serb party of being behind all the incidents in the four northern municipalities, where most of the ethnic Serb minority lives. “Srpska Lista unfortunately represents Serbia's widest and the highest level of intervention into Kosovo’s internal affairs and in our democratic elections,” he said at a news conference. Kurti accused Belgrade of being behind two terrorist groups on their “planning, financing and offering logistics” to commit terror attacks in Kosovo. Vučić has planned other attacks in Kosovo during the new year festivities and Orthodox Christmas to deflect attention from the “internal tensions in Serbia, the continuous opposing protests ,” according to Kurti. Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. Follow Llazar Semini at https://x.com/lsemini

Aaron Rodgers insists there's nothing uncertain about his status for the New York Jets' game Sunday at Buffalo. “There's no way I'm not playing,” the quarterback said during a video call Tuesday. Rodgers acknowledged he has “a little MCL” issue in a knee, but added: “I've had a lot worse. I lucked out. I avoided major stretchage of the MCL.” Rodgers was hurt in the Jets’ 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday but remained in the game. “I’m gonna play,” Rodgers said of the game against the Bills. “It feels pretty good.” Rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu’s promising first season is over, though, as the first-round pick was placed on injured reserve with an injury to the plantar fascia in his left foot. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier Tuesday that it was “just too early to tell” what Rodgers' availability might be, but he was optimistic about the 41-year-old quarterback's chances. “If I’m a betting man," Ulbrich said, “I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers to play.” Rodgers said he didn't need an MRI on the knee, the latest ailment in what has been an injury-filled season. He earlier dealt with knee, hamstring and ankle issues that hindered his play at times. One of the four-time MVP's goals entering the season was playing in all 17 games after being limited to four snaps in his debut last year because of a torn Achilles tendon. “I definitely felt like at midseason that was going to be difficult,” Rodgers said of playing in every game. “But right now, it looks like, for sure, 16. And hopefully get through this one and get to 17.” The Jets held a walkthrough Tuesday and their next full practice is Thursday, giving Rodgers some extra time to recover. Rodgers has 24 touchdown passes and eight interceptions this season, and he's one TD throw from becoming the fifth player in NFL history with 500 for his career in the regular season. While his plans for the final two games appear clear, his playing future beyond this season is uncertain. Rodgers has another year left on his deal with the Jets, but the team is looking for a new general manager and head coach. Whether the quarterback will be part of the new regime's plans will be a major storyline this offseason. During an appearance Monday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers suggested he could be released the day after the regular season ends. He said there's also a chance he could be retained but acknowledged he's going to take some time to decide if he even wants to play in a 21st NFL season. “I think anything is truly possible,” Rodgers said Tuesday of potentially being released. "Whether it happens or not, I’m sure that there will be decisions that, I don’t think there will be surprises where there’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what we want to do with certain people.’ I think there’s going to be some decisions that want to be made the day after the season or a couple days after the season, so I don’t know. I’m just not naive. “There’s not zero percent in my mind. I don’t think it’s a high percentage. I think there’s probably a conversation to be had, but I’m just not naive to that being a zero percent chance. I think it’s more than a zero percent chance and less than a certainty, so somewhere in the middle.” Rodgers said he hasn't spoken recently to owner Woody Johnson and doesn't necessarily think the lack of any indication of whether he's wanted back means he won't be. “I would be surprised if there was a conversation now because there’s so many uncertainties,” he said. “There’s a GM that has to get hired, I would assume first, and then he’s going to be part of hiring the head coach, so I have to be in the plans of multiple people, starting with the ownership and then the GM and then the head coach." Rodgers added that if he's told the Jets want him back, it would mean they see him as an important part of trying to change the culture of a team that hasn't made the postseason in 14 years. “That’d be special to hear that,” he said, “but if they don’t, again, no offense at all will be taken.” Fashanu had a solid first NFL season after being the 11th overall draft pick in April out of Penn State. He began the year as veteran Tyron Smith's backup before filling in at right tackle for two games when Morgan Moses was injured. Fashanu, who played only left tackle in college, also stepped in at right guard for an injured Alijah Vera-Tucker against Houston. When Smith was lost for the season with a neck injury last month, Fashanu took over as the starter and excelled in five starts. He was hurt midway through the fourth quarter against the Rams and was seen on crutches in the locker room after the game. Ulbrich said he believed Fashanu would need surgery, but the team later clarified that a procedure won't be required. “It's unfortunate,” Ulbrich said. “He's having a great rookie season. But at the same time, these injuries sometimes give you an opportunity to step back and really start absorbing some of the information as you were kind of thrown into the fire. He'll use it as an opportunity to grow, I know that.” The Jets signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad and he'll compete with Anders Carlson for the job this week. Ulbrich said Greg Zuerlein, on IR since late October with a knee injury, also could be in the mix. Carlson, the fourth kicker used by the Jets this season, missed an extra point and a 49-yard field goal try late in the fourth quarter against the Rams. He is 8 of 10 on field goal tries and 9 for 11 on extra points in five games with New York. “We'll see how it goes and we'll put the best guy out there,” Ulbrich said. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflEnvironmental diplomacy Fortunately, after a decade’s struggle with smog, Pakistani Punjab has understood the urgency of climate action The art of downplaying a dilemma or a disaster has been mastered by Pakistani politicians. They have done so in the past – and continue this trend with the ongoing smog disaster. The public, unfortunately, mirrors this insensitivity. During Covid-19 lockdowns, people turned the streets into sightseeing tours with their families. Now, when Punjab’s government closed schools to safeguard children and reduce emissions, parents were seen taking their children to parks. This mutual insensitivity is exacerbating an already dire crisis. For a crisis like this, we need to have clarity and a united front. For far too long, developed nations have denied billions across the globe, in South Asian countries like Pakistan in particular, the right to a future safeguarded by climate-conscious actions. We are pretty much aware of a dark reality: our world has known weather warfare before. In the past, it was deliberate – an act of war. But if, today, developed nations refuse to extend a hand to regions like ours, then – while unintended – the outcome will be no less destructive. Make no mistake: this is not just an environmental crisis; this is climate warfare. And it is more dangerous than Fifth Generation Warfare and more unpredictable than any nuclear conflict. This requires stronger collaborations in the shape of regional climate diplomacy, partnerships that cross borders, and a commitment that transcends politics. South Asian countries like India and Pakistan have strived on every possible stage: economic front, sports arenas, and technological innovations. Competition is essential; it is survival. But there is one stage where competition must cease and cooperation must prevail: climate action. In this fight for our shared future, we cannot afford divisions, pride, or reluctance. The partnership between India and Pakistan would be of key importance, if it happens. Similarly, time is of the essence. Fortunately, after a decade’s struggle with smog, Pakistani Punjab has understood the urgency of climate action through Chaudhry Rehmat Ali’s Now or Never, and we expect our neighbour to do the same as Nehru’s Now or Never. This climate diplomacy is far greater than opening onion trade between the two countries – because climate is the new peace dialogue of the millennium. Climate is no longer just a part of any economy – it is our economy. Climate is no longer just another branch of governance - it is a mode of governance now. Climate should be our unbreakable stance on sustainability. To realise this vision, Punjab has crafted an all-encompassing climate policy: the Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024. This powerful declaration is a blueprint for action, grounded in the urgency of the moment and infused with the spirit of resilience. Time-sensitive initiatives of supreme significance have already been taken up with full funding from the Government of Punjab. Key components of this framework are set in motion, and every target is backed by the resources to make it real. Punjab is investing in climate finally. This policy plan was developed in close coordination with international bodies, organisations, donor agencies, stakeholders, and civil society, and now the most populous province is in a condition to collaborate, to create and adopt joint strategic actions that go beyond borders. We have already suffered for environmental crimes we didn’t commit. Pakistan doesn’t contribute even one per cent to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet, due to the actions of others, we are among the five most vulnerable nations to climate change. We, the citizens, call upon all our neighbours to come forward and work with us. You have a tremendous stake in this. I fully support exploring the universe and finding new planets to live on. But let’s not forget to fix the planet we already call home. The writer is a freelance journalist. He has also served as media adviser to the World Bank and Unicef-funded healthcare and tourism related projects in Punjab. He tweets/posts @EAAgop

Blokker family member is a part of group preparing restart with the retail store chain

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) — When the referee whistled for the free kick just outside the area, Atletico Madrid forward Julián Álvarez quickly picked up the ball and moved in position to take the shot. “When I saw the free kick, I told Rodri (Rodrigo De Paul) that I felt confident with the shot,” Álvarez said. “And it was a great goal.” Álvarez, Atletico's main signing in the offseason , has not been lacking confidence lately. The Argentina forward curled in the free kick shot in the 15th minute for the first of his two goals in the team’s 6-0 rout of Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday — the team’s biggest ever away win in European competitions. “We'll keep rotating who takes the free kicks,” said Álvarez, who also found the net in the 59th. It was Álvarez’s seventh goal in the last 10 matches, and third in his last three games across all competitions. The 24-year-old had a slow start to his first season with Atletico, scoring twice in 10 matches. “It was a matter of time before we started connecting well with each other,” said Álvarez, who joined Atletico after two seasons at Manchester City. “We have to stay on this path to keep improving.” Ángel Correa also scored two goals for Atletico, with Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann adding one each. “We know that in this format of the competition we need to keep adding the three points and scoring goals," Álvarez said. "It's important to get the points and the goals.” Atletico was sitting in 13th place in the 36-team league standings. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Oklahoma's throwback offensive approach against Alabama gets LSU's attentionAaron Rodgers insists there's nothing uncertain about his status for the New York Jets' game Sunday at Buffalo. “There's no way I'm not playing,” the quarterback said during a video call Tuesday. Rodgers acknowledged he has “a little MCL” issue in a knee, but added: “I've had a lot worse. I lucked out. I avoided major stretchage of the MCL.” Rodgers was hurt in the Jets’ 19-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday but remained in the game. “I’m gonna play,” Rodgers said of the game against the Bills. “It feels pretty good.” Rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu’s promising first season is over, though, as the first-round pick was placed on injured reserve with an injury to the plantar fascia in his left foot. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier Tuesday that it was “just too early to tell” what Rodgers' availability might be, but he was optimistic about the 41-year-old quarterback's chances. “If I’m a betting man," Ulbrich said, “I’m betting on Aaron Rodgers to play.” Rodgers said he didn't need an MRI on the knee, the latest ailment in what has been an injury-filled season. He earlier dealt with knee, hamstring and ankle issues that hindered his play at times. One of the four-time MVP's goals entering the season was playing in all 17 games after being limited to four snaps in his debut last year because of a torn Achilles tendon. “I definitely felt like at midseason that was going to be difficult,” Rodgers said of playing in every game. “But right now, it looks like, for sure, 16. And hopefully get through this one and get to 17.” The Jets held a walkthrough Tuesday and their next full practice is Thursday, giving Rodgers some extra time to recover. Rodgers has 24 touchdown passes and eight interceptions this season, and he's one TD throw from becoming the fifth player in NFL history with 500 for his career in the regular season. While his plans for the final two games appear clear, his playing future beyond this season is uncertain. Rodgers has another year left on his deal with the Jets, but the team is looking for a new general manager and head coach. Whether the quarterback will be part of the new regime's plans will be a major storyline this offseason. During an appearance Monday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers suggested he could be released the day after the regular season ends. He said there's also a chance he could be retained but acknowledged he's going to take some time to decide if he even wants to play in a 21st NFL season. “I think anything is truly possible,” Rodgers said Tuesday of potentially being released. "Whether it happens or not, I’m sure that there will be decisions that, I don’t think there will be surprises where there’s like, ‘Oh, I don’t know what we want to do with certain people.’ I think there’s going to be some decisions that want to be made the day after the season or a couple days after the season, so I don’t know. I’m just not naive. “There’s not zero percent in my mind. I don’t think it’s a high percentage. I think there’s probably a conversation to be had, but I’m just not naive to that being a zero percent chance. I think it’s more than a zero percent chance and less than a certainty, so somewhere in the middle.” Rodgers said he hasn't spoken recently to owner Woody Johnson and doesn't necessarily think the lack of any indication of whether he's wanted back means he won't be. “I would be surprised if there was a conversation now because there’s so many uncertainties,” he said. “There’s a GM that has to get hired, I would assume first, and then he’s going to be part of hiring the head coach, so I have to be in the plans of multiple people, starting with the ownership and then the GM and then the head coach." Rodgers added that if he's told the Jets want him back, it would mean they see him as an important part of trying to change the culture of a team that hasn't made the postseason in 14 years. “That’d be special to hear that,” he said, “but if they don’t, again, no offense at all will be taken.” Fashanu had a solid first NFL season after being the 11th overall draft pick in April out of Penn State. He began the year as veteran Tyron Smith's backup before filling in at right tackle for two games when Morgan Moses was injured. Fashanu, who played only left tackle in college, also stepped in at right guard for an injured Alijah Vera-Tucker against Houston. When Smith was lost for the season with a neck injury last month, Fashanu took over as the starter and excelled in five starts. He was hurt midway through the fourth quarter against the Rams and was seen on crutches in the locker room after the game. Ulbrich said he believed Fashanu would need surgery, but the team later clarified that a procedure won't be required. “It's unfortunate,” Ulbrich said. “He's having a great rookie season. But at the same time, these injuries sometimes give you an opportunity to step back and really start absorbing some of the information as you were kind of thrown into the fire. He'll use it as an opportunity to grow, I know that.” The Jets signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad and he'll compete with Anders Carlson for the job this week. Ulbrich said Greg Zuerlein, on IR since late October with a knee injury, also could be in the mix. Carlson, the fourth kicker used by the Jets this season, missed an extra point and a 49-yard field goal try late in the fourth quarter against the Rams. He is 8 of 10 on field goal tries and 9 for 11 on extra points in five games with New York. “We'll see how it goes and we'll put the best guy out there,” Ulbrich said. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin admitted Tuesday that he hadn’t seen the video of receiver George Pickens’ scuffle with Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, but indicated that the Browns interfered with Pickens and prevented him from going up for the ball on the Hail Mary at the end of the game in whiteout conditions. Had Pickens caught the ball, the Steelers would’ve won 25-24 to improve to 9-2, and the Browns would’ve dropped to 2-9. But Newsome’s version of events is drastically different than that of Tomlin, who didn’t see the video of Pickens grabbing Newsome by the facemask, removing his helmet, and flinging him into the wall in front of the closed end of the stadium after Russell Wilson’s Hail Mary was knocked down by Grant Delpit and Denzel Ward. Newsome fought back, taking a few swings at Pickens to defend himself. The two were engaged from the start of the play when Pickens began grabbing Newsome’s facemask, until the fight in the end zone. More Cleveland Browns coverage Ranking the 5 best Cavs right now; Jameis Winston and the Browns’ 2025 QB room: Terry’s Talkin’ podcast Lance Reisland on Browns; Ethan Sands on Cavs: Tuesday’s Sports 4 CLE Browns-Steelers Snow Bowl: Darcy cartoons Week 13 NFL Preview: Find everything you need to know with our Week 13 NFL preview. “I heard about it,” Tomlin said during his press conference on Tuesday. “Certainly he was involved in the Hail Mary as a point man.” He was asked what the point man is. “The guy that highpoints the football,” Tomlin said. Was he in position to do so? “I think their actions had something to do with him not being in position to do that,” Tomlin said. Cleveland.com reported Saturday that the NFL is reviewing the incident, but Tomlin said he hasn’t heard from the league. Kevin Stefanski declined to comment on the incident. After the game, Newsome described Pickens as “a fake tough guy. He does a lot of that. The antics and stuff. Yeah, he didn’t even go up for the ball.” Pickens, held to four catches on seven targets for 48 yards, provided the Browns with some bulletin board material for the rematch in Pittsburgh on Dec. 8. “I don’t think the Cleveland Browns are a good team at all,” he said after the game. “I think the conditions kind of saved them today.” Newsome said he expected the NFL to look into it, even though he wouldn’t wish a fine upon a player. “I knew something like that should happen, especially with the guy not making any type of football effort,” Newsome told cleveland.com on Monday. “I assumed the league would look into it. Newsome said he himself shouldn’t be fined for the incident. “I was running and he had my facemask the whole time,” he said. “It’s one off those things where you obviously just can’t a let a guy just slam you, so you’ve got to fight back, but there’s definitely nothing. If I were to get fined over something like that, (I would appeal).” A first offense for fighting, if the NFL deems it that, is $39,501. Pickens has already been fined twice this season for facemask penalties, once for $10,230 against the Cowboys in Week 5, and once for $16,883 in Week 10 against the Commanders. Newsome said he was worried Pickens was going to take a swing at him with his helmet off. “That’s the real reason I stayed on so long, because he took my helmet off during the middle of the play,” Newsome said. “I didn’t have a helmet on, so I was like, ‘I’m not letting go until people grab him because I wasn’t about to let him hit me without a helmet on.” In addition to Pickens’ fight with Newsome, the two knocked over cleveland.com photographer Joshua Gunter, who was on his knees in front of the wall shooting the game. Pickens also engaged in some handsy with a fan in the stands before two security guards restrained him and separated him from the scrum. Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.Donald Trump's Tariff Tweets Shake Markets: Peso, Loonie, and Yuan in the Crossfire