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UK seeks to contact 3 British men detained in Afghanistan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The U.K. government is seeking to make contact with three British nationals detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, authorities said Sunday.The three men include a charity worker, a thrill-seeking tourist and a third person whose family has asked that he not be identified, according to the Presidium Network, a British charity that works in conflict zones and is representing the families of two of the detainees. The Mail on Sunday newspaper first reported the story.“We are working hard to secure consular contact with British nationals detained in Afghanistan, and we are supporting families,” Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement.The British government warns against all travel to Afghanistan, saying that there is a heightened risk of terrorism, kidnapping and detention by government authorities. Britain’s ability to provide consular support for detainees is “extremely limited” as the country has no consular officials in the country, according to travel advice upda...

American University picks George Mason asst. basketball coach to lead Eagles

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

American University has hired D.C. native Duane Simpkins as its head basketball coach after eight seasons spent on George Mason’s staff, the university confirmed Saturday.Simpkins comes to the university after several seasons at D.C. area basketball programs at the collegiate and K-12 levels. Before this new position, he was the assistant basketball coach at George Mason University.More Local NewsMore College Basketball NewsHe’ll replace recently-fired coach Mike Brennan at American University, who was let go after 10 seasons spent leading the team.In a news release, American University Director of Athletics and Recreation Billy Walker praised the decision to bring Simpkins on as the new head coach.“His close ties to the area as a coach and player, along with a tremendous recruiting acumen and unbending character, make him an ideal choice to lead our program,” Walker said. “Duane is truly a changemaker.”9 Dec 1995: Guard Duane Simpkins #10 of the ...

Rajasthan thumps Hyderabad by 72 runs in IPL

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — Rajasthan Royals showed plenty of batting muscle at the top of the order while Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed 4-17 in a resounding 72-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening Indian Premier game on Sunday.Jos Buttler plundered 54 off 22 balls inside the batting powerplay while his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (54) and captain Sanju Samson (55) also scored heavily to contribute to Rajasthan’s strong total of 203-5.Hyderabad finished on a disappointing 131-8 after Trent Boult (2-21) dismantled the home team’s batting by claiming two wickets in his first over before conceding a run and Chahal later ran through the middle-order, claiming the key wickets of Harry Brook (13) and Mayank Agarwal (27).Chahal raised his wicket tally in the IPL to 170 – joint second most with Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga – when he had Adil Rashid stumped and then clean bowled Bhuvneshwar Kumar with a perfect googly.“We knew 200 was a good score on this wicket,” Chahal said. “My ...

Leicester fires Rodgers with team battling relegation in EPL

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

Relegation-threatened Leicester fired manager Brendan Rodgers on Sunday in a late-season bid to preserve its Premier League status after the team’s sharp decline.Leicester’s leadership took the decision with a heavy heart, hailing Rodgers as “one of the most successful managers in the club’s history” while — in the same statement announcing his departure — saying it was a necessary move if the team was to stay in England’s lucrative top division.Rodgers has been in charge for four years and led Leicester to its first FA Cup title in 2021 as well as back-to-back Europa League qualifications.Such has been the drop-off this season that Rodgers leaves with Leicester having plunged to third-to-last place with 10 matches remaining after losing five of its last six league games.“It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management,” Leicester chairman Aiyaw...

Blinken, in rare call with Lavrov, urges Kremlin to release detained US journalist and another imprisoned American

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Blinken, in rare call with Lavrov, urges Kremlin to release detained US journalist and another imprisoned American.Source

El papa Francisco participó en la misa de Domingo de Ramos en la Plaza de San Pedro

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

(CNN) — El papa Francisco participó en la misa de Domingo de Ramos en la Plaza de San Pedro el domingo, solo un día después de su alta del hospital por bronquitis.Unos 30.000 fieles estuvieron presentes, según el Vaticano, portando las tradicionales hojas de palma y ramas de olivo.Francis permaneció sentado durante la mayor parte de la misa debido a un problema continuo en la rodilla. El Cardenal argentino, Leonardo Sandri, Vicedecano del Colegio Cardenalicio celebró misa en el altar.La voz del papa Francisco fue un poco más suave de lo habitual cuando pronunció la homilía, hablando de aquellos que han sido abandonados por la sociedad.“Pueblos enteros son explotados y abandonados; los pobres viven en nuestras calles y miramos para otro lado”, dijo el papa. “Los migrantes ya no son rostros sino números; los presos son repudiados; personas descartadas como problemas. Innumerables otros abandonados están entre nosotros, invisibles, escondidos, descartados con guantes blancos: los...

Crash investigation closes southbound lanes of Wadsworth Boulevard

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — All southbound lanes of Wadsworth Boulevard are closed at West 77th Avenue in Arvada due to a crash. The Arvada Police Department is investigating a crash between a car and a bicyclist. APD said that due to the investigation, all southbound lanes of Wads are closed at West 77th Avenue. The area is just north of the Indian Tree Golf Club. Woman shot, killed near Aurora grocery store The driver did remain on scene, but the bicyclist is being transported to a local hospital for their injuries. Officers are asking drivers to avoid the area and to take an alternate route from Sheridan south to 72nd Avenue. For detours, visit the traffic map.APD estimates the road will be closed for two hours.This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Woman shot, killed near Aurora grocery store

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — A woman died from an apparent gunshot wound near a grocery store in Aurora, and now police are investigating the circumstances around her death.According to the Aurora Police Department, officers were flagged down by a neighbor on Saturday just after 6:30 p.m. about a woman who was bleeding near East 6th Avenue and North Del Mar Circle. The area is next to Del Mar Park.An APD officer found a 36-year-old woman who was critically injured. The officer performed CPR before rushing her to a hospital. The woman was pronounced dead at the hospital from a gunshot wound. Man found dead was stabbed 27 times, woman arrested Detectives with Aurora's Major Crime Homicide Unit are investigating the incident. Investigators are looking at the circumstances leading up to the incident, and no arrests have been made yet. APD is asking anyone who lives in the East 6th Avenue and Del Mar Circle area to review their surveillance footage from between 6-6:30 p.m. Saturday and noti...

Swiss prosecutors open probe into UBS takeover of Credit Suisse

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

Swiss prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible illegal activity in connection with government support for UBS’s rushed takeover of Credit Suisse.The two banks agreed to merge in March as part of an emergency deal targeted at avoiding a national financial crisis that could have had a knock-on effect globally.“The Federal Prosecutor’s office wants to proactively fulfill its mission and responsibility to contribute to a clean Swiss financial center and has set up monitoring in order to take immediate action in any situation that falls within its field of activity,” the authority said in a statement.Last month, Zurich-based UBS was forced by Swiss authorities to take over its longtime domestic rival Credit Suisse in a deal that creates a new bank.The prosecutor’s statement said that the intention of the probe was to “analyze and identify any criminal offenses” associated with the deal, adding that various bodies had been contacted to provide clarifications and inform...

Viejas Arena comes alive as fans celebrate historic Aztecs win

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:45:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State University men’s basketball team is headed to the NCAA Championship, after beating Florida Atlantic in Saturday’s Final Four game.The crowd erupted with cheers and thousands rushed onto the court Saturday afternoon at the Viejas Arena watch party.Fans celebrated the SDSU team making history, once again. Read more: Aztecs advance to NCAA championship Saturday's victory gives the team its first shot at the NCAA championship title.“They doubted us, they said we couldn’t do it. Let’s go San Diego, let’s go!" said one fan.The win also gives fans a much-needed reason to celebrate.  "You know with COVID, we didn’t have games the first couple of years," explained another fan. "So coming back and seeing all of this, it’s really amazing.”  The Aztecs appeared to be falling behind at one point during the game and fans experienced a roller coaster of emotions. “I’m hoping that we stay positive," said one fan during crunch time. "I still have a lot of...