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Zelenskyy meets Pope Francis at Vatican and seeks backing for Ukraine’s peace plan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

By FRANCES D’EMILIO (Associated Press)ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for his peace plan from the pontiff, who in the past has offered to try to help end the full-scale war launched by Russia a year ago.Zelenskyy held his hand over his heart and said it was a “great honor” to meet with the pope. Francis, using a cane for his knee problem, came to greet the Ukrainian president before ushering him into a papal studio near the Vatican’s audience hall. In a tweet after the 40-minute audience, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Francis for “his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians.” He said he spoke with the pontiff “about the tens of thousands of deported (Ukrainian) children. We must make every effort to return them home.” Last month, Ukraine’s prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, asked the pope to ...

Driver in wrong-way crash in Aurora dies at hospital police investigation is ongoing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

A driver died after a wrong-way crash in Aurora early Saturday, police said.The crash happened about 4:30 a.m. in the Laredo Highline area on North Airport Boulevard just south of East Colfax Avenue, the Aurora Police Department said in a news release.The driver of a black 2011 Smart car was northbound in the southbound lanes of Airport Boulevard when the vehicle collided with a gray 2014 Subaru Outback, police said.Both drivers were taken to a hospital, police said. The driver of the Smart car suffered fatal injuries and the driver of the Subaru was treated for minor injuries.An investigation is ongoing, police suspect DUI contributed to the crash. The name of the driver who died will be released by the Arapahoe County Corner’s Office after family is notified.Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has dash camera footage of the incident, and has not yet talked with police is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 (STOP).Saturday’s incident is the 20th...

DeSantis vies with Trump to sway Iowa conservatives, warns of a Republican ‘culture of losing’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and MICHELLE L. PRICE (Associated Press)SIOUX CENTER, Iowa (AP) — Warning of a Republican “culture of losing,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sought on Saturday to weaken former President Donald Trump’s grip on the GOP as the party’s leading presidential prospects collided in battleground Iowa.DeSantis, expected to announce his 2024 presidential campaign any day, made little effort to connect with voters one-on-one at a picnic fundraiser in Sioux Center as several hundred conservatives ate hamburgers. He focused instead on a formal speech promoting his willingness to embrace conservative cultural fights and sprinkled his remarks with indirect jabs at Trump.“Governing is not about entertaining. Governing is not about building a brand or talking on social media and virtue signaling,” said DeSantis, who wore a blue button-down shirt without a tie or jacket. “It’s ultimately about winning and producing results.”Tr...

Feds using hidden cameras in effort to nab San Francisco drug dealers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — In their endless bid to stop drug dealing in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood, authorities have added a new layer to the formula of sending undercover cops to buy drugs from whoever’s willing to sell: planting hidden cameras at the scene.Now, federal prosecutors are marching into court equipped with videos allegedly showing defendants selling drugs to undercover San Francisco police officers. In one case, the camera was planted literally right under the suspected dealer’s nose, as he counted out cash and handed an undercover officer a bag of methamphetamine.On March 8, an undercover officer arranged to buy 57 grams of methamphetamine from a man named Henry Alvarado for $500, prosecutors allege. The officer drove up to the meeting spot at Van Ness Avenue and Ellis Street in San Francisco, and invited Alvarado into his car. Video situated just below the passenger seat recorded everything, and police repeated the trick twice more that month in ...

Abortion fight: North Carolina governor vetoes 12-week limit, launches override showdown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In front of an exuberant crowd, North Carolina’s Democratic governor vetoed legislation Saturday that would have banned nearly all abortions in his state after 12 weeks of pregnancy.About 1,000 abortion-rights activists and voters watched on a plaza in the capital of Raleigh as Gov. Roy Cooper affixed his veto stamp to the bill in an unconventionally public display. The veto launches a major test for leaders of the GOP-controlled General Assembly to attempt an override vote after they recently gained veto-proof majorities in both chambers. The bill was the Republican response to last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.“We’re going to have to kick it into an even higher gear when that veto stamp comes down,” Cooper told the crowd. “If just one Republican in either the House or the Senate keeps a campaign promise to protect women’s reproductive health, we can stop this ban.”Andrea Long, a 42-y...

Islamic Jihad leader tells Egyptian TV station that cease-fire with Israel has been reached

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Islamic Jihad leader tells Egyptian TV station that cease-fire with Israel has been reached.Source

Wrexham’s Hollywood owners get their wish as Notts County promoted too

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Wrexham’s Hollywood owners got their wish.Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had thrown their support behind Notts County to gain promotion from the National League after seeing their own team win a tight title battle in England’s fifth tier.And McElhenney took to Twitter to congratulate Notts County after its penalty shootout victory over Chesterfield in the National League playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The match finished 2-2 after extra time.“Never a doubt,” tweeted McElhenney, the creator of TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” “Congratulations Notts County!!!!!!! What an extraordinary run. See you next year.”Wrexham and Notts County passed the 100-point mark in the regular season, the first time two teams reached that milestone in the same season.Wrexham sealed promotion on April 22.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Sweden’s Simon Forsstrom stays on course for wire-to-wire win at Soudal Open

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Swedish golfer Simon Forsstrom stayed on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the Soudal Open on the European tour by shooting 4-under 67 in the third round on Saturday.Belgium’s Thomas Detry was making a run at the title in his home country, however, after moving into second place — one stroke behind Forsstrom — with a round of 66.Forsstrom, who came through qualifying school at the end of last year to gain his tour card, was on 15 under overall as he goes for his first senior victory.The No. 429-ranked Forsstrom has made only one bogey all week — in his second round, in which he also shot 67 — and made three birdies in his final six holes on Saturday.Julien Brun of France and Jens Dantorp of Sweden both shot 67s and were tied for third place, three strokes from the lead. ___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

AC Milan’s troubles continue with loss at Spezia before 2nd leg of CL semifinal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

ROME (AP) — AC Milan’s troubles were extended after losing at relegation-threatened Spezia 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday, three days after falling to city rival Inter Milan by the same score in the Champions League semifinals.Przemysław Wisniewski and Salvatore Esposito scored their first Serie A goals late in the second half for Spezia.Wisniewski knocked in a rebound of a shot from Kelvin Amian that had hit the post following a corner, then Esposito curled in a free kick over Milan’s wall.Milan was left in fifth place — two points behind Inter and the final Champions League spot, with Inter hosting Sassuolo later.Inter Milan won the first leg of the “Euroderby” against AC Milan on Wednesday. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday at the San Siro.Earlier, Salernitana beat Atalanta 1-0 with a stoppage-time winner from substitute Antonio Candreva.Atalanta was in seventh place and five points below the Champions League places. Victory virtually sealed another season in the top-flight for...

‘You represent the best in us’: President Biden delivers Howard University commencement speech

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:49:30 GMT

President Joe Biden gave his commencement speech to Howard University’s Class of 2023 at D.C.’s Capital One Arena.“Today, I come here to Howard to continue the work to redeem the soul of this nation because it’s here where I see the future,” Biden said to the crowd.He became the first sitting president since Barack Obama in 2016 and seventh U.S. president to speak at Howard University’s commencement.Biden along with Rep. Jim Clyburn received the honorary Doctor of Letters from a university that has been a main focus for the president and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a Howard alum, during their time in office.During his speech, Biden called for unity and acceptance.“Love over hate, union over disunion, progress over retreat. To stand up against the poison of white supremacy as I did in my inaugural address to single out as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy,” he said.Biden’s speech comes...