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Iran sentences 2 journalists for allegedly collaborating with US. Both covered Mahsa Amini’s death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in Iran sentenced two journalists to up to seven years in prison for collaborating with the U.S. government and other charges, local reports said Sunday. Both women have been imprisoned for over a year following their coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in Sept. 2022.The sentencing can be appealed within 20 days. The two journalists, Niloufar Hamedi, who broke the news of Amini’s death for wearing her headscarf too loose, and Elaheh Mohammadi, who wrote about her funeral, were sentenced to seven and six years in prison, respectively, the judiciary news website Mizan reported Sunday. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the decision to sentence the two journalists and reiterated its call for their immediate release.“The convictions of Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi are a travesty and serve as a stark testament to the erosion of freedom of speech and the desperate attempts of the Iranian ...

Meronk earns 3rd European tour win of the season to send a message to doubters after Ryder Cup snub

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

SAN ROQUE, Spain (AP) — Adrian Meronk wanted to show his worth after not making the Ryder Cup. He proved some of his doubters wrong on Sunday by winning the Andalucia Masters for his third European tour victory of the season.After the disappointment of not being picked for the European team that defeated the United States in Rome three weeks ago, Meronk overcame two bogeys in his first three holes to shoot a final-round 6-under 66. He finished at 16 under for the tournament to earn a one-stroke win over Matti Schmid (71) at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in southern Spain.Meronk followed up the slow start by making two eagles on the front nine, including a hole-out from 121 yards on the par-4 ninth hole. He then had four birdies on the back nine, including one on the par-3 17th to take over the lead for good.It was a win to help prove a point after the Ryder Cup snub.“Well, I hope so,” the 30-year-old from Poland said. “I’m just glad the Ryder Cup and all the talks about it are ov...

49ers-Vikings game puts Iowa pals George Kittle and T.J. Hockenson on prime-time stage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The starting offense for the San Francisco 49ers offense was cycling through the narrated intros during a recent nationally televised game, when a mischievous-looking face popped up on NBC’s broadcast for his turn at telling the 26 million viewers where he learned his craft.“George Kittle, Tight End University,” was how this player with the long blond hair draping over his shoulder pads confidently presented himself.Just in case Kittle’s clever bit caused any confusion for the casual fans: He went to Iowa, the hard-nosed program that has proudly been producing NFL tight ends in the heartland of America as well as any college team around. The Hawkeyes have practically built their scheme around the players at this long-underappreciated position that blends the flash and grit of the game as no other.“My first day on campus, they told me if I didn’t learn how to run block, I’d never touch the field. So I made it a passion of mine,” said Kittle, who was a f...

Anze Kopitar proud of reaching Kings’ games played record in season of many possible milestones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anze Kopitar is likely to reach many milestones this season. The one he accomplished Saturday night has a bit more significance.Kopitar skated in his 1,297th game to become the Los Angeles Kings leader in games played. He surpassed former teammate Dustin Brown during the Kings’ 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins.“It’s up there with all of them really. To be fairly durable during my career and to do it just here is something I take pride in,” Kopitar said. “It is a big honor to be with one franchise and to be successful and to do it along Brownie, Drew (Doughty) and Quicky (Jonathan Quick) for quite a few years. A brotherhood was created, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s a humble feeling.”The Kings selected Kopitar with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Draft. He is one of 10 players from that draft who are still playing. That includes Pittsburgh superstar Sydney Crosby, the top overall pick that year, and Quick, who went to the Kings in the third round. Q...

Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka out after operation on fractured hand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

MUNICH (AP) — Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka will the team’s upcoming matches after fracturing his hand during the 3-1 win at Mainz in the Bundesliga.Bayern said Sunday that a scan confirmed the extent of the injury and the player “underwent a successful operation.” The club did not say how long the player will be out.Goretzka, who returned from international duty with Germany with an ankle injury, suffered the hand injury shortly after scoring Bayern’s third goal in Mainz.Defender Bouna Sarr replaced Goretzka with Konrad Laimer pushing up into central midfield. The Austrian midfielder will likely take Goretzka’s place beside Joshua Kimmich while the Germany midfielder is absent.Bayern visits Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

Norma se debilita a tormenta tropical tras tocar tierra en México, mientras Tammy se cierne sobre las islas de Sotavento

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

(CNN) — Norma se debilitó hasta convertirse en tormenta tropical este sábado, tras causar vientos huracanados, inundaciones repentinas y marejadas en la costa mexicana del Pacífico. Mientras tanto, otro ciclón tropical de finales de temporada seguía amenazando a naciones insulares del Atlántico.Norma tocó tierra este sábado por la tarde como huracán categoría 1 con vientos de 129 km/h en el extremo sur del estado mexicano de Baja California Sur, que incluye Cabo San Lucas, según informó el Centro Nacional de Huracanes (NHC por sus siglas en inglés).Mientras tanto, en el Atlántico, el huracán Tammy tocó tierra en Barbuda como categoría 1 este sábado por la noche, con vientos máximos sostenidos de 137 km/h. Tammy ha desencadenado advertencias de huracán, con fuertes vientos y lluvias torrenciales en partes de las islas de Sotavento, una cadena de varias naciones y territorios insulares entre el mar Caribe y el Atlántico abierto.Ninguna de las dos tormentas supone una amenaza par...

Rhine derby sees Cologne beat Gladbach 3-1 for 1st Bundesliga win this season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Florian Kainz scored two penalties as Cologne claimed its first Bundesliga victory of the season with a 3-1 Rhine derby win over 10-man Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday.He needed three attempts, however.Gladbach ‘keeper Moritz Nicolas, who conceded the second penalty for punching Luca Waldschmidt instead of the ball, saved Kainz’s spot kick in the 75th. But the goalkeeper was penalized for moving forward off his line, giving Kainz the chance to take it again. Kainz fired inside the left post at the second attempt.Waldschmidt sealed the win with Cologne’s third goal in off the bottom of the right post in injury time.The late drama came after Gladbach midfielder Kouadio Koné had been sent off after a VAR check for a dangerous tackle on Dejan Ljubičić.It was a game to forget for Koné, who conceded the first penalty through VAR for hand ball.Kainz opened the scoring from the spot in the ninth minute, but Cologne failed to convert more chances in the first half and Nico E...

Blinken says US is ready to respond to escalation or targeting of US forces during Israel-Hamas war

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday the United States expects the Israel-Hamas war to escalate through involvement by proxies of Iran and asserted that the Biden administration is prepared to respond if American personnel or armed forces become the target of any such hostilities.“This is not what we want, not what we’re looking for. We don’t want escalation,” Blinken said. “We don’t want to see our forces or our personnel come under fire. But if that happens, we’re ready for it.”Blinken’s warning came as Israel’s military response to a deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on civilians in communities in southern Israel entered its third week. Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza overnight and into Sunday, as well as two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank allegedly used by militants as the war threatened to engulf more of the Middle East. Israel has traded fire with Lebanon’s Hezboll...

Swift bests Scorsese at box office, but ‘Killers of the Flower Moon” opens strongly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — In a movie match-up almost as unlikely as “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” Martin Scorsese took on Taylor Swift in cinemas over the weekend. And while the box office belonged for a second time to “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” got off to a strong start in Apple Studios’ first major theatrical gambit.After a record-breaking opening weekend of $92.8 million, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” took in an estimated $31 million over the weekend from 3,855 locations, according to AMC Theaters. In an unconventional deal, the theater chain is distributing Swift’s concert film, and playing it only Thursdays through Sundays.Most Swifties rushed to see the film on opening weekend, when a large percent of sales were driven by advance ticketing. Sales dropped a steep 67% in its second weekend, potentially signifying that “The Eras Tour” was predominantly an opening-weekend phenomenon.But “The Eras Tour” has still proved to be a movie event unlike any...

European cities see vigils to oppose antisemitism and rallies seeking relief for Gaza

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:48 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of people joined vigils in Berlin and London on Sunday to oppose antisemitism and support Israel, while in Paris and other cities, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanded a cease-fire and relief for people in the besieged Gaza Strip.Some of those who gathered in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate carried Israeli flags or posters with photos of some of the more than 200 people seized by Hamas as hostages during the militants’ deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel.“It is unbearable that Jews are living in fear again today — in our country of all places,” President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the crowd, estimated at 20,000 by organizers and 10,000 by police. “Every single attack on Jews, on Jewish institutions is a disgrace for Germany. Every single attack fills me with shame and anger.”Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz inaugurated a new synagogue in the eastern city of Dessau and said he was “outraged” by the upsurge in antisemitism since ...