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Las Vegas takes on Washington following Wilson’s 28-point game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

Washington Mystics (13-15, 6-9 Eastern Conference) at Las Vegas Aces (25-3, 15-1 Western Conference)Las Vegas; Friday, 10 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas hosts the Washington Mystics after A’ja Wilson scored 28 points in the Las Vegas Aces’ 104-84 win over the Dallas Wings.The Aces are 13-0 on their home court. Las Vegas is 18- when it turns the ball over less than its opponents and averages 11.4 turnovers per game.The Mystics are 4-10 in road games. Washington ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference shooting 32.2% from 3-point range.The Aces and Mystics square off Friday for the first time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilson is scoring 20.6 points per game and averaging 9.6 rebounds for the Aces. Kelsey Plum is averaging 21.5 points and 3.1 rebounds over the last 10 games for Las Vegas.Brittney Sykes is scoring 14.7 points per game and averaging 4.9 rebounds for the Mystics. Li Meng is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Washington.LAST 10 GAMES: Aces: ...

Beerensteyn says bye to USA as Netherlands prepare for Spain in Women’s World Cup quarterfinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn is happy to admit her first reaction on learning the United States had been knocked ou t of the Women’s World Cup was “bye!”It was raw and spontaneous relief, coupled with a little schadenfreude. The joy over someone else’s demise was, perhaps, understandable. The U.S. and Netherlands played out a tight 1-1 draw during the group stage in Wellington, where the Dutch will meet Spain on Friday in the quarterfinals. The group-stage match was a repeat of the 2019 final, when the United States beat Netherlands 2-0.Beerensteyn played in that final, which in part may explain her relief that she won’t have to play the United States again at this tournament. The Americans lost in a penalty shootout to Sweden after their round-of-16 game ended in a draw after extra time.“From the first moment I heard they were out I was just like ‘Yes! Bye!’” Beerensteyn said Thursday. “From the start of the tournament they … were alre...

“Responsabilizo al gobierno”, dice hermana de candidato presidencial en Ecuador

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador- Alexandra Villavicencio, hermana del asesinado candidato presidencial ecuatoriano Fernando Villavicencio, responsabilizó este miércoles al gobierno del conservador presidente Guillermo Lasso, por el crimen perpetrado este miércoles en Quito.La mujer, en declaraciones a periodistas, aseguró que su hermano no recibió la protección ofrecida por las autoridades, pese a que había denunciado las amenazas de muerte en su contra.Al momento del crimen, tras salir de un mitin en un coliseo de una zona céntrica de Quito, el candidato estaba custodiado por los agentes asignados para su protección, pero no había un refuerzo de policías.“Responsabilizo al gobierno, al ministro del Interior”, Juan Zapata, quien había garantizado una mayor seguridad para los ocho candidatos presidenciales de cara a los comicios del próximo 20 de agosto, añadió la hermana. Indignación en Ecuador: candidatos presidenciales lamentan asesinato de su rival ...

Egypt’s inflation reaches record high of 38.2% in July, government data shows

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s annual inflation rate reached a record high in July, as price hikes continue unabated in the cash-strapped North African country, official figures said Thursday.Consumer prices rose 38.2% from a year earlier, up from 36.8% in June, according to data released by the state-run Central Agency for Mobilization and Statistics.Average food and beverage prices, the main drivers of inflation, increased 68.2% over the past 12 months, the agency’s data showed.Egyptians, particularly working-class households, are struggling to keep up with the rising prices, which have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, with most of its supplies traditionally coming from eastern Europe. But Russia pulled out of a wartime agreement in July that allowed Ukraine to ship its grain to the world.Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries have diversified their sources of wheat, the main ingredient for flatbread that is a staple of diets...

West African leaders plan to meet on Niger but options are few as a military junta defies mediation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African heads of state are scheduled to meet Thursday after Niger’s military junta defied their deadline to reinstate the nation’s deposed president, but analysts say the Economic Community of West African States may be running out of options as support fades for a military intervention.As Niger’s junta turns away most efforts at mediation, one analyst asserted that Russian meddling in the country has spiked in the two weeks since mutinous soldiers overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has refused to step down and is under house arrest. The junta announced a new government on Wednesday night. More than half of the 21 positions were filled by civilians. The rest were military appointments.Niger was seen as the last country in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert that Western nations could partner with to counter jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group that has killed thousands and displ...

Hong Kong police arrest 10 people accused of supporting overseas activists after 2019 protests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong police on Thursday arrested 10 people on suspicion of endangering national security through their alleged involvement with a now-defunct fund that aimed to help people arrested in 2019 pro-democracy protests, escalating a crackdown on dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.The four men and six women are suspected of conspiring to collude with the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund to receive overseas donations and provide financial support to people who fled Hong Kong or organizations that called for sanctions against the city, police said. A police statement did not identify the suspects or those alleged to be supported by them. The arrests further intensified the Hong Kong government’s crackdown on dissidents after the 2019 protests. More than 260 people have been arrested under a Beijing-imposed national security law, including many of the city’s leading pro-democracy activists.Last year, the fund’s former trustees including Roman Catholic Cardi...

At least 36 people have died in fires burning through Hawaii, county reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — At least 36 people have died in the Lahaina fire in Hawaii, Maui County wrote in a statement posted to the county website Wednesday evening. Wildfires, whipped by strong winds from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south, took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.Officials said earlier that 271 structures were damaged or destroyed and dozens of people injured.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — The sky was dark from smoke and flames were racing through the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina when Kamuela Kawaakoa got back to his apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water. He, his girlfriend Iiulia Yasso, and their 6-year-old son grabbed a change of clothes and ran as the bushes around them c...

Russia intercepts drones heading for Moscow for the second straight day

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Russian air defense systems on Thursday shot down two drones heading toward Moscow for the second straight day, officials said, with the attack disrupting flights at two international airports as Ukraine appeared to step up its assault on Russian soil.One drone was downed in the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow and another near a major Moscow ring road, according to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin and the Russian Defense Ministry, which blamed the attack on Ukraine.No casualties or damage were immediately reported.Domodedovo airport, south of the city, halted flights for more than two hours and Vnukovo airport, southwest of the city, stopped flights for more than two and a half hours and redirected some incoming aircraft to other airports, according to Russian news agencies.It wasn’t clear where the drones were launched, and Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment. Ukraine usually neither confirms nor denies such attacks.Firing drones at Moscow after more than 17 m...

In the news today: Fed’s clean electricity regulations and autoworkers talk contracts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…Clean electricity regulations expected todayEnvironment Minister Steven Guilbeault is expected to announce the country’s draft clean electricity regulations today. The government has set a target of making the electricity grid net-zero by 2035, and the regulations are meant to help guide the way.It has been seeking feedback on the regulatory framework for nearly a year and will consult on the draft regulations once they are released.A net-zero grid is a critical part of reaching Canada’s overall climate goals, because, without clean electricity, things like zero-emission vehicles are still generating greenhouse gases through the power they use.Unifor, Detroit Three to kick off contract talksUnifor and the Detroit Three automakers are set to kick off talks today for the next three-year contracts for autoworkers.The official handshakes that will start...

Lebanese army takes Hezbollah truck containing munitions after 2 die in clashes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:48 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s army moved a truck that had carried Hezbollah munitions from the road where it crashed to a military post early Thursday after clashes at the scene killed two people.The truck overturned on a mountain road near the Lebanese capital in the Christian town of Kahaleh on Wednesday, on the highway that links Beirut to the eastern Bekaa Valley. Lebanese troops immediately cordoned off the truck filled with large boxes, which residents suspected belonged to the Iran-backed militant group.Two people died in brief clashes after the truck overturned. The army confirmed the truck held munitions, but its brief statement did not say what the munitions were or who owned them. It did not mention Hezbollah and said an investigation is ongoing over the clashes.However, Hezbollah said in its statement that the truck belonged to them without saying whether it had weapons inside it. It said local gunmen attacked people in the truck, leading to an exchange of fire that fata...