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Zelenskyy issues plea for support during Washington visit as Ukraine funding stalls in Congress

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy kicked off a quick visit to Washington on Monday, warning in a speech to a defense university that Russia may be fighting in Ukraine but its “real target is freedom” in America and around the world. He also issued a personal plea for Congress to break its deadlock and approve continued support for Ukraine.His time in Washington, which will include meetings on Tuesday at the White House and with Congress, is part of a last-minute push by the Biden administration to convince lawmakers to pass a supplemental funding bill, as officials warn that the money for Ukraine is running out.President Joe Biden has asked Congress for $61.4 billion for wartime funding for Ukraine as part of a $110 billion package that also includes money for Israel and other national security priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over U.S. immigration policy and border security. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion for its fight...

1 in 5 players at Women’s World Cup abused online, FIFA says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — Players at the Women’s World Cup were 29% more likely to receive online abuse than those at the men’s tournament in 2022, said a report published on Monday.One in five players (152) at the Women’s World Cup received “targeted discriminatory, abusive or threatening messaging,” according to FIFA and global players’ association FIFPRO.They released data from FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which tries to help shield players, teams and officials from online abuse and hate speech.Almost 50% of “detected and verified” abusive messages were homophobic, sexual and sexist, SMPS added.“The abuse that persists online impacts football players all over the world and it cannot be ignored. This toxic online environment is a risky place to be in for players and it affects their mental health and wellbeing,” FIFPRO president David Aganzo said. “Football has a responsibility to protect the players around their workspace.”The SMPS was launche...

Empoli draws with Lecce in Serie A game of costly defensive errors

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

ROME (AP) — Empoli drew at home to Lecce 1-1 and extended the visitor’s winless run to 10 matches in Serie A on Monday.It was the fourth game in a row Lecce drew and it moved to 17 points, five ahead of Empoli, which sat one place above the relegation zone.It could have been different for Lecce after it took the lead in the 64th minute thanks to a goalkeeping error by Etrit Berisha. Zambian winger Lameck Banda tried his luck from almost 30 meters out, and although the shot appeared to pose little danger it bounced right in front of Berisha and between his legs.Empoli, though, struck back seven minutes later with an equally fortunate goal. Defender Hamza Rafia stuck out a leg to stop a cross from the right but the ball hit his knee and deflected in over his own keeper.Inter Milan leads the league, two points ahead of Juventus.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/SoccerSource

Rishi Sunak faces a revolt in the UK Parliament over his Rwanda plan after a grilling on COVID-19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a rebellion from restive lawmakers over his signature immigration policy, while fending off tough questions Monday about his judgment during the COVID-19 pandemic.The twin pressures add up to one of the toughest weeks of Sunak’s 13 months in office, with both his present authority and past record at stake.Legislation intended to salvage Sunak’s blocked plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda faces a vote in the House of Commons on Tuesday. While disparate groups of Conservative lawmakers met in Parliament to pick holes in the bill, Sunak was undergoing a six-hour grilling at the U.K.’s pandemic inquiry, where he denied taking risks with public health.Sunak was Treasury chief to Prime Minister Boris Johnson when the pandemic hit, and backed a discount initiative that encouraged people to go back to restaurants in August 2020 after months of lockdown.The government’s scientific advisers have told the judge-led inquiry that they w...

Biden announces 3 decommissioned Philadelphia fire companies are reopening with federal funds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Monday that three decommissioned fire companies were being reopened with federal funding, including a ladder truck that would have been the closest responder to a deadly rowhouse blaze started when a Christmas tree caught fire last year. The fire in the Fairmount neighborhood last year killed three adults and nine children, and was the worst fire in Philadelphia in more than a century. Mayor Jim Kenney said firefighters sat on the stoop in tears, unable to save all the victims. Biden said that had the company been operational, it might have turned out differently. “This neighborhood once again has a ladder company on-call 24 hours a day,” Biden said. “On the day of the Fairmont fire, if the company hadn’t been decommissioned Ladder 1 would have been the closest truck to the fire. God only knows whether it would have been able to get there earlier … and maybe save some lives.” The president’s brief remarks — roughly ...

The mother of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán has died in Mexico, official confirms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The mother of convicted drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has died in the northern state of Sinaloa, a federal official confirmed Monday.The official was not authorized to speak on the record, but President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged her death and offered his “respect” to the family.Often criticized for his frequent trips — about five so far — to the drug lord’s home township of Badiraguato, Sinaloa, López Obrador added in his daily briefing that “any human being who dies deserves respect and consideration for their family.”Local media reported Loera died at a private hospital in Culiacán, Sinaloa, which is home to the cartel of the same name that her son helped to lead for about two decades before his arrest and extradition to the United States in 2017. The hospital declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.Loera reportedly led a quiet life including frequent religious activities, but she rose to fame after she shook hands with Ló...

College Football All-American, List

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

The Associated Press College Football All-America list, selected by a panel of 18 college Top 25 poll voters:2023 AP All-America TeamFIRST TEAMOFFENSEQuarterback — Jayden Daniels, fifth-year, LSU.Running backs — Ollie Gordon II, second-year, Oklahoma State; Cody Schrader, sixth-year, Missouri.Tackles — Joe Alt, third-year, Notre Dame; Olu Fashanu, fourth-year, Penn State.Guards — Cooper Beebe, fifth-year, Kansas State; Zak Zinter, fourth-year, Michigan.Center — Jackson Powers-Johnson, third-year, Oregon.Tight end — Brock Bowers, third-year, Georgia.Wide receivers — Malik Nabers, third-year, LSU; Marvin Harrison Jr., third-year, Ohio State; Rome Odunze, fourth-year, Washington.All-purpose player — Travis Hunter, second-year, Colorado.Kicker — Graham Nicholson, third-year, Miami (Ohio).FIRST TEAMDEFENSEEdge rushers — Laiatu Latu, fifth-year, UCLA; Jalen Green, fifth-year, James Madison.Interior linemen — T’Vondre Sweat, fifth-year, Texas; Jer’Zahn Newton, fourth-year, Illi...

Nicki Minaj tour coming to Denver's Ball Arena next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Just after Nicki Minaj released her newest album, the rapper announced that she will be taking the stage at Ball Arena for her biggest tour yet. She performs next year, but it's actually not too far away.She'll be performing at Ball Arena on Sunday, March 3, 2024.The hip-hop artist has been performing for over a decade. She became “the first woman to score 100 Billboard Hot 100 Hits” and also holds the record for the “Most Billboard Hot 100 Entries Among Women in the 2010s.” These Colorado locations have the best chance for a white Christmas You might recognize one of her most famous songs "Super Bass" which hit over one billion YouTube views. Her more recent songs include "Barbie World" and "Super Freaky Girl."Her tour "Pink Friday 2 World Tour" will be her largest tour to date, with concerts starting in North America and across Europe.Presale tickets are available on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. and general sale tickets are on sale starting Friday, Dec. 15 at 9 a....

Puppy recovering at local hospital after suffering attack from other dogs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

A six-month-old pitbull puppy is recovering from her injuries at an animal hospital after being attacked by other dogs in the backyard of 1507 Coolidge Street in HollywoodHollywood Police responded to a neighbor’s call on December 7th after receiving an animal complaint. The neighbor said he heard multiple dogs fighting and saw one of the dogs injured. Police and the city’s code enforcement have been unable to get in contact with the owner of the dog. They removed the puppy from the home and drove it to VCA Hollywood for treatment. The owner of the puppy has received code violations for failing to provide proof of rabies as well as failure to provide medical care. Officials said the city has filed a petition to remove the animal from the owner’s custody and transfer it to an animal organization. So far, the rescue group that is taking care of the puppy is facing a $4000 veterinary bill and is seeking donations to cover the vet bills.If you want to help, Paws 2 Care...

Police seek help from public in locating 16-year-old girl reported missing from Sunny Isles Beach

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:14 GMT

The Sunny Isles Beach Police Department is seeking the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Yuliia Smal.According to police, Yuliia Smal is believed to be a runaway. Smal is described as standing 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 120 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a green bronze jacket and dark leggings.She was dropped off by her parents in Sunny Isles Beach on Monday, Nov. 27. Police said that while Smal had regular contact with her parents until Saturday, Dec. 2, she has since turned off her phone, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Yuliia is known to frequent the Hollywood and Hallandale Beach area.If you have any information or have seen Yuliia Smal, please contact Detective Keith Burrows at (305) 947-4440.