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Russia’s defense ministry says Wagner private army backed by Russian troops seized the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut (CORRECTS: Restores dropped letter at end of Bakhmut.)

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s defense ministry says Wagner private army backed by Russian troops seized the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut (CORRECTS: Restores dropped letter at end of Bakhmut.).Source

Marseille loses ground to Lens in Champions League chase; Nantes beaten at home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Marseille fell behind Lens in the race for an automatic Champions League place from the French league when it lost at Lille 2-1 on Saturday.Lille closed the gap on Monaco in the chase for fourth and a Europa League place.Third-placed Marseille was two points behind Lens, which can take a step closer to guaranteeing Champions League entry by winning at Lorient on Sunday.Marseille was without playmaker Dimitri Payet — suspended after slapping an assistant coach from Lens this month — but took the lead in the 29th minute through right back Jonathan Clauss.He clipped the ball over the goalkeeper after being sent clear by Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi.Canada striker Jonathan David equalized from the spot in the 50th with his 22nd league goal after a defensive mix-up led to a foul by goalkeeper Pau Lopez. Clauss picked out Alexis Sanchez and he found the net with a low shot from inside the penalty area, but his goal was ruled offside following a video review.Jonathan ...

Camp Nou clamors for Messi to return to Barcelona during rare loss to Sociedad

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — With the Spanish league title in hand, Barcelona’s fans quickly moved on to what they want next: The return of their all-time favorite player.“Messi! Messi! Messi!” resounded at Camp Nou — in minute 10 for Lionel Messi’s old No. 10 shirt — during Saturday’s game against Real Sociedad that ended with a rare 2-1 loss to the Basque visitor.The loss did little to dampen the festive atmosphere after the final whistle when Sergio Busquets as team captain received the Spanish league trophy from federation president Luis Rubiales and presented it to the crowd with his teammates. It was Busquets’ 32nd and last title before the midfielder leaves Barcelona this summer.Last week, Barcelona clinched its first major title since Messi had to leave due to the club’s wretched financial situation two years ago and join Paris Saint-Germain.But with Messi set to leave Paris this summer, Barcelona’s fans are hoping – perhaps naively considering the likely blockbuster ...

MATCHDAY: City to celebrate EPL title, PSG can clinch French league

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:ENGLANDManchester City will be in the mood to celebrate in its first game since being confirmed as Premier League champion again. Arsenal’s loss at Nottingham Forest on Saturday ensured City goes into its home match with Chelsea with an unassailable four-point lead. City’s players will lift the trophy after what they hope will be a 12th straight win. In other matches, Leeds starts in the relegation zone going into a trip to West Ham, and sixth-placed Brighton can effectively secure a spot in next season’s Europa League with a win at home to already-relegated Southampton.FRANCEParis Saint-Germain can clinch a record 11th league title with a victory at relegation battler Auxerre if second-placed Lens fails to win at Lorient. Auxerre has more to play for than mid-table Lorient as it is only one point above Nantes in 17th place and the final relegation spot. PSG striker Kylian Mbappé looks to move clear of Lyon st...

Hombre gana premio de lotería de US$ 50.000 en Maryland por segunda vez en 2 meses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

(CNN) — La mayoría de las personas no tienen la suerte de ganar un premio de lotería de US$ 50.000, pero un hombre de Pensilvania lo hizo dos veces en cuestión de semanas.Ambas ganancias fueron en Maryland, donde compró boletos de US$ 20 mientras hacía trabajos de construcción, dijo la lotería del estado en un comunicado de prensa.“Compro uno o dos boletos al menos una vez a la semana, ya sea en casa o aquí”, dijo el ganador en el comunicado de prensa. “Sin embargo, toda mi suerte en la Lotería parece estar en Maryland”.El hombre se ha llevado a casa más de US$ 1 millón en premios de lotería de Maryland durante la última década, dijo la lotería en el comunicado de prensa.De no tener hogar a ganar US$ 5 millones en la lotería: la historia de una mujer en CaliforniaA pesar de su premio reciente de US$ 50.000, se sorprendió al ganar nuevamente. De los tres boletos instantáneos que compró en una tienda Highs en Upperco, Maryland, el tercero que escaneó fue el boleto dorado.“Estaba...

Rune follows win over Djokovic by reaching Italian Open final against dancing Medvedev

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

ROME (AP) — Holger Rune’s run at the Italian Open has already been extraordinary. And it’s not done yet.The 20-year-old Dane recorded his second victory over Novak Djokovic in little more than six months in the quarterfinals. Then he rallied past Casper Ruud 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinals on Saturday.On Sunday, Rune will be looking to top it all off with a third consecutive victory over a top-five player at the Foro Italico when he faces Daniil Medvedev for the trophy.Rune improved to 7-1 in his career against players ranked in the top five.“I play some of my best tennis when I play the top guys of the world,” Rune said. “You need it against those players.”Medvedev beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-5, 7-5 in a match that was suspended for a total of nearly 4 ½ hours due to rain over two separate stoppages late in the first set.Up next on Campo Centrale, Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina was scheduled to play Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine in the women’s final, which was supposed to...

PGA Live Updates | Corey Conners bogey-free and leading PGA Championship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Canadian Corey Conners’ steady bogey-free play through the first eight holes of the third round of the PGA Championship has him sitting atop the leaderboard.With persistent rain finally stopping at Oak Hill, Conners birdied No. 8 to move to 6 under for the tournament. He opened the day tied with Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler.Scheffler has plunged to 1 under for the tournament after posting four bogeys through his first eight holes. Hovland sits second at 4 under, tied with Justin Rose.Rose has made the biggest surge of the day so far. He’s 3 under through 12 holes.Conners is the lone player to not record a bogey in the third round. He’s from the farm town of Listowel, Ontario, which is located about a 2-hour drive west of Toronto, and about a 4 1/2-hour drive from Oak Hill.Conners is a two-time PGA Tour winner with his best finish at a major a tie for sixth at the 2022 Masters.___The winner of the PGA Championship will be getting $3.15 million.The...

Virginia ABC honors beverage lottery winners despite ‘statistically abnormal’ results

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority said it will honor the results of its lottery drawing for four limited availability beverages last month, which revealed “statistically abnormal” results.In a lottery featuring potential prizes of George T. Stagg Bourbon, Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye and William Larue Weller Bourbon, results revealed that two people won all four products, 50 people won three products and 229 people won two products.Customers were able to enter any or all of the available drawings for the four products from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Drawings for each lottery product are separate and conducted independently.According to Virginia ABC, of 37,485 entries for the George T. Stagg Bourbon, 770 bottles were awarded; of 35,492 entries for the Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old, 48 bottles were awarded; of 35,828 entries for the Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, 286 bottles were awarded; and of 37,416 entries for the William Laru...

Protesters decrying Florida abortion ban march to Fort Lauderdale City Hall

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

Protesters came together in downtown Fort Lauderdale to take part in a rally for reproductive rights.Demonstrators representing several nonprofit organizations marched to City Hall along North Andrews Avenue on Saturday afternoon with their message against abortion restrictions.Protesters said they want the issue on the 2024 ballot.“It’s about women having control over their own body. That’s the bottom line,” said protester Leslie Sheffield. “This is human rights, reproductive rights; this isn’t right or wrong. This is civil rights.”Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a six-week ban on abortion with few exceptions in a private ceremony held April 13.The law is set to go into effect if the state’s current 15-week-ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge.

Report: Florida SBA moved state pension money into higher risk investments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:31:46 GMT

The Florida State Board of Administration is reportedly making a money move considered risky. It hopes it will pay off for some retirees collecting a pension.Over the past few months, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has crossed the state, signing into law several bills passed by the state Legislature, making stops around the country and even abroad in anticipation of what could be an imminent presidential run.However, with the attempt to raise his national profile comes new scrutiny.The investigative journalism site The Lever, which identifies itself as an outlet focusing on money in politics, reported that the SBA, which is the DeSantis administration’s pension board, moved state pension money into higher risk investments. These are the pensions earmarked for employees such as firefighters and teachers.“They’re high fee. They have very little transparency,” said Matthew Cunningham-Cook with The Lever, “and some of those private equity and hedge fund managers...