Home

Fagioli apologizes for ‘naïve error’ after seven-month soccer ban for betting violations

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

TURIN, Italy (AP) — In his first public words since being implicated in a betting scandal, Juventus midfielder Nicolò Fagioli has apologized for a “naïve error” but also hit out at newspapers for writing what he called was “rubbish.”The statement, across two Instagram stories posted on Wednesday, came the day after Fagioli was banned for seven months by the Italian soccer federation for betting violations, and ordered to undergo treatment for a gambling addiction.“I thought I would start by apologizing not only to Juventus fans but to all fans in the world of soccer and sport for the naive error that I made,” Fagioli wrote. “But instead I am obliged to start with the rubbish that newspapers write about me just to put me in a bad light with thousands of falsehoods…or maybe better, just to get a couple more views. I will speak soon.”His suspension was reduced from the minimum of three years after he admitted betting on soccer matches — but never those involving his team — and ca...

US announces sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas members and its financial network in response to its Israel attack

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — US announces sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas members and its financial network in response to its Israel attack.Source

Are you a true Colorado sports fan?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — There is no such thing as silly superstitions or taking your favorite sports team too seriously. Compared to a lot of other Americans, you are not taking your team seriously enough. A new study shows that a shocking number of sports fans would do anything for love -- that is for the love of the game. Remembering Broncos superfan and ‘Mile High Monster’ Kerry Green The Harris Poll, on behalf of Vivid Seats, conducted an online survey asking over 2,000 people, 18 years or older what makes someone a true sports fan.Fans would choose sports over loveForty-five percent of Americans said that a romantic relationship is more likely to last if both partners are fans of the same sports team. While less than half of the survey believes this would affect the relationship, the survey also showed that fans would go to seemingly extreme lengths to support their team. Russell Wilson’s charity donates a million dollars In the survey, one out of five sports fans admitted they wou...

Valencia College’s spine-tingling approach to education

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

ORLANDO, Fla. (WSVN) — At Valencia College this semester, the Technical Theater Production class is taking a spine-tingling approach to education. Instead of traditional assignments, they’ve set an ambitious goal: to create the “Florida Museum of Cursed Artifacts” from scratch. What’s truly remarkable is that this eerie endeavor, which would typically require six months, is slated to be completed in just a month and a half, and it’s being crafted by 68 eager students.Once finished, the “Florida Museum of Cursed Artifacts” will transform into a hair-raising Halloween attraction, welcoming the public with free admission within Valencia’s Black Box Theater.Fred Lynn, an instructor, shared her enthusiasm for the project. “I love working with the kids. I love the interaction, and I love seeing their minds open up and their eyes smiling,” he said “When you tell them something or explain something, they’re like, ...

Rishi Sunak cools on plans to sign India trade deal in October

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

LONDON — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has cooled on plans to travel to India later this month to strike a trade deal as intense negotiations continue and conflict erupts in the Middle East.On Wednesday, three British officials confirmed reporting in the Financial Times that hopes of striking a U.K.-India trade pact this month have faded. None were authorized to speak on the record so were granted anonymity.Sunak has “always said he’d get the right deal, not one driven by arbitrary deadlines,” said one of the government officials.Sunak had planned to attend the India vs. England game at the Cricket World Cup on October 29 in northern India with his counterpart Narendra Modi.But negotiations over tariffs, services, investment, inter-company work visas and rules of origin are still in play — and the proposed signing ceremony risked being overshadowed by events in Israel and Gaza.De-escalating the Middle East “is, and should be, the only game in town right now,” said an industry figure cl...

NFL power rankings, Week 7: As Ravens bounce back, so does AFC North

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as Super Bowl contenders.Here are the rankings heading into Week 7:1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1, No. 2 last week)Last week: Win vs. Broncos, 19-8Up next: vs. ChargersPatrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce remain the main attraction, but it’s worth noting how well the defense is playing. After forcing three turnovers and holding the Broncos to 4.0 yards per play, Kansas City ranks ninth in defensive efficiency. Through six weeks, only the 49ers have allowed fewer points per game (14.7). Even when the offense doesn’t meet its high standard — such as going 1-for-5 in the red zone Thursday — the defense is there to pick up the slack.2. San Francisco 49ers (5-1, No. 1)Last week: Loss vs. Browns, 19-17Up next: at VikingsIf Jake Moody’s 41-yard field goal attempt i...

Ex-Treasury Secretary Lew, Biden’s pick to be US envoy to Israel, faces Senate confirmation hearing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is moving quickly to confirm Jacob Lew as ambassador to Israel, holding a hearing on his nomination Wednesday as President Joe Biden visits the region to reinforce U.S. support for Israel and try to ease tensions in its new war with Hamas. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing comes as the White House has told lawmakers that it is considering a request of between $90 billion and $100 billion for the wars in Israel and Ukraine and for Taiwan as it faces threats from China, according to four people familiar with the conversations. The request to Congress would cover a year, according to another person familiar with the Biden administration’s expected request. They were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter because the amount of the funding request is not final and they spoke on condition of anonymity.Lew, a treasury secretary under President Barack Obama, was nominated by Biden last month after Tom Nides left as ambassador in July. Democra...

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts up in September

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

OTTAWA — Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in September rose eight per cent compared with August.The housing agency says the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in September came in at 270,466 units, up from 250,383 in August.The increase came as the annual pace of urban housing starts rose nine per cent to 250,766 in September. The annual pace of multi-unit urban starts gained 10 per cent at 207,689, while the rate of single-detached urban starts increased three per cent to 43,077 in September.The annual rate of rural starts was estimated at 19,700 units.The six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts in September was 254,006, up 3.9 per cent from 244,511 in August.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2023.The Canadian Press

German soccer club Mainz suspends player for ‘unacceptable’ social media post about Israel-Hamas war

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

MAINZ, Germany (AP) — Bundesliga soccer club Mainz has suspended Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi for what it called an “unacceptable” social media post about the Israel-Hamas war.The club said on its website that it has “relieved Anwar El Ghazi of his training and matchday related duties” because of a post he shared Sunday that he since deleted. It does not say what the post contained, nor whether the player will return to play for the club.Mainz spokesperson Silke Bannick declined Wednesday to give further details, saying only that El Ghazi was “released from training and matchday activities. Please understand that we will not comment further beyond the official statement.”On its website, Mainz said: “In the post, El Ghazi stated an opinion on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that was deemed unacceptable by the club. Prior to making this decision, the club and the player had engaged in an in-depth discussion.”The 28-year-old El Ghazi, who previously played for PSV Eindhoven, As...

Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh plans to expand with a $45 million event venue

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:42 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh has announced plans to expand with a $45 million events venue.The entertainment project is part of the museum’s ‘Pop District’ initiative and would be built on an existing museum parking lot, according to Dan Law, the museum’s associate director. Museum officials presented plans for the project to the city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday.The proposed site would be around 58,000 square feet (17,500 square meters), including a first-floor concert venue with standing room for up to 1,000 people, a second-floor mezzanine, and an events space that could hold up to 360 people on the fourth floor. The third floor would be used for offices and support spaces.Rick Armstrong, a museum spokesman, said work on the project could begin as soon as spring 2024, but the timelines are “still flexible” as the project moves through the planning and design processes.The Associated Press