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Pope Francis at 10 years: A reformer’s learning curve, plans

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — So much for a short pontificate.Pope Francis celebrates the 10th anniversary of his election Monday, far outpacing the “two or three” years he once envisioned for his papacy and showing no signs of slowing down.On the contrary, with an agenda full of problems and plans and no longer encumbered by the shadow of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis, 86, has backed off from talking about retiring and recently described the papacy as a job for life.History’s first Latin American pope already has made his mark and could have even more impact in the years to come. Yet a decade ago, the Argentine Jesuit was so convinced he wouldn’t be elected as pope that he nearly missed the final vote as he chatted with a fellow cardinal outside the Sistine Chapel.“The master of ceremonies came out and said ‘Are you going in or not?’” Francis recalled in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “I realized afterward that it was my unconscious resistance to going in.” He was elected the 266...

The Avolution Welcomes the Prime Ministers of India and Australia 1st Joint Statement on the Entry of Australian Hass Avocados to India

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

Storm threatens to flood San Bernardino County mountain communities amid state of emergency

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

Incoming rainstorms this weekend are raising fears over dangerous flooding in Southern California. The storm threatens to bring more damage to communities already struggling in the aftermath of a historic winter storm just weeks earlier.Federal help from FEMA was approved Friday for 34 storm-ravaged California counties including Los Angeles and San Bernardino.Residents were urged to take precautions as warmer temps will result in a ton of snowmelt, exacerbating flooding concerns.Officials are advising locals to fill up sandbags to protect their homes. A limited supply of free sandbags will be available at San Bernardino County fire stations. Those interested will need to bring their own shovel to fill the sandbags.However, officials say, “Homeowners should not depend on this supply and ideally should plan to purchase bags from home improvement and hardware stores. Purchase sandbags early and make them a part of your emergency supplies so they will be available when you need them.”Or...

Murder suspect escapes courthouse during jury selection, surveillance video shows

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

Authorities in Oregon have released security footage of a murder suspect’s escape from a Washington County Courthouse on Feb. 27.Edi Villalobos, 28, is set to stand trial for allegedly stabbing two people and killing one of them in April 2021, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. He faces several charges including second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.Officials say jury selection was taking place on the day of Villalobos' attempted escape. The jury was out of the room on a break, and Villalobos had just been taken to the bathroom. DA denies claim the gun used in ‘Rust’ shooting was destroyed Sgt. Danny DiPietro of Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Villalobos was put in restraints before going to the bathroom, but they were removed once the suspect returned to the courtroom, as required by Oregon law.Just seconds after the shackles were removed, the suspect bolted from the first-floor courtroom and out the front door of the building, surv...

TODAY’S WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC LEADERS

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSICBATTING_J Bowey, Australia, 1.000; K Fan, Taiwan, 1.000; T Yamada, Japan, 1.000; M Mensik, Czech Republic, .667; R Wingrove, Australia, .667; N Wu, Taiwan, .625; S Ohtani, Japan, .571; Y Mujica, Cuba, .556; 8 tied at 0.5RUNS_J Ramos, Panama, 5; Y Guibert, Cuba, 5; K Kondoh, Japan, 4; T Kennelly, Australia, 4; Y Chang, Taiwan, 4; L Nootbaar, Japan, 4; D George, Australia, 4; 11 tied at 3RBI_Y Mujica, Cuba, 6; E Yang, South Korea, 5; R Glendinning, Australia, 5; M Yoshida, Japan, 5; N Lopez, Italy, 5; M Muzik, Czech Republic, 4; R Wingrove, Australia, 4; Y Moncada, Cuba, 4; 12 tied at 3HITS_N Lopez, Italy, 6; N Wu, Taiwan, 5; Y Mujica, Cuba, 5; Y Drake, Cuba, 5; R Tejada, Panama, 5; J Ramos, Panama, 5; 15 tied at 4DOUBLES_S Ohtani, Japan, 2; Y Mujica, Cuba, 2; B Kang, South Korea, 2; R Tejada, Panama, 2; A Despaigne, Cuba, 2; M Mastrobuoni, Italy, 2; S Frelick, Italy, 2; J Santamaria, Panama, 2; J Cao, China, 2; 26 tied at 1TRIPLES_Y Gracial, Cuba, 1; T Nakano, J...

No. 8 Arizona beats Arizona St, gets title rematch with UCLA

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Azuolas Tubelis scored 17 points and No. 8 Arizona beat Arizona State 78-59 on Friday night in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament semifinals.The Wildcats (27-6) get a championship rematch with No. 2 UCLA on Saturday night. Arizona beat the Bruins 84-76 last year for the title.Arizona State (22-12) has to hope its resume is good enough to sway the committee Sunday when it assembles the 68-year NCAA Tournament field.Arizona second-year coach Tommy Lloyd remained perfect in Las Vegas, where he is 8-0, including 7-0 at T-Mobile Arena and 5-0 in the Pac-12 Tournament.Oumar Ballo added 14 points, 10 rebounds for the Wildcats. Cedric Henderson Jr. also scored 14 points, and Pelle Larsson had 11.Frankie Collins and Jamiya Neal each scored 11 points for Arizona State.Though this game was close most of the way, it wasn’t nearly as intense as the most recent meeting. Arizona State won that Feb. 25 meeting in Tucson when Desmond Cambridge Jr. made a 60-foot shot at the buzz...

Tyger Campbell lifts No. 2 UCLA past Oregon in Pac-12 semis

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — UCLA’s future in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament hung in the balance after it lost yet another player to injury and faced an Oregon team that wouldn’t go away.Then point guard Tyger Campbell began to look for his shot.Campbell scored 20 points after halftime, including all seven during a key second-half run, and finished with a career-high 28 to lead second-ranked UCLA past Oregon 75-56 in the Pac-12 semifinals on Friday night.“Coach called some great plays, and our bigs were getting me open on our ball screens,” Campbell said. “Then we were able to get the switch so I could get the shot that I wanted. I was really just trying to make anything happen. I believe in myself as a player, and any shot I take I feel like it’s going to go in, and they just went in today.”The Bruins (29-4) will play No. 8 Arizona in Saturday’s title game. UCLA has won 12 straight and 26 of 28, and one more victory likely would secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.Or...

Bomb kills 1, wounds 5 at press award event in Afghanistan

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — A bomb exploded on Saturday during an award ceremony for journalists in Afghanistan’s Mazar-e- Sharif city, killing at least one person and wounded five others, a Taliban police spokesman said.The blast occurred at the Tabian Farhang center in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, as journalists gathered for the award event at 11 a.m., said Mohammad Asif Waziri, the Taliban-appointed spokesman for Balkh police. It came two days after a bomb in Mazar-e-Sharif killed the provincial governor, Daud Muzmal, and two others. Four were wounded.The identify of the fatality in Saturday’s blast was not immediately known but journalists were among the five wounded. They included Najeeb Faryad, a reporter for Aryana News television station, who said he felt like something hit him in the back, followed by a deafening sound before he fell to the ground. No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the regional affiliate of the Islam...

Florida Atlantic and UAB meet in C-USA Championship

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

UAB Blazers (25-8, 14-6 C-USA) vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (30-3, 18-2 C-USA)Frisco, Texas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: The Florida Atlantic Owls square off against the UAB Blazers in the C-USA Championship.The Owls’ record in C-USA games is 18-2, and their record is 12-1 in non-conference games. Florida Atlantic is 22-3 against opponents with a winning record.The Blazers’ record in C-USA play is 14-6. UAB ranks fifth in college basketball with 11.7 offensive rebounds per game led by KJ Buffen averaging 2.8.TOP PERFORMERS: Johnell Davis is shooting 49.5% and averaging 13.4 points for the Owls. Alijah Martin is averaging 14.0 points over the last 10 games for Florida Atlantic.Jordan Walker is shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc with 4.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Blazers, while averaging 23.6 points and 4.2 assists. Buffen is averaging 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds over the past 10 games for UAB.LAST 10 GAMES: Owls: 9-1, averaging 82.0 points, 33.2 rebounds, 14....

Virginia Cavaliers face the Duke Blue Devils in ACC Championship

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:35 GMT

Duke Blue Devils (25-8, 14-6 ACC) vs. Virginia Cavaliers (25-6, 15-5 ACC)Greensboro, North Carolina; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Virginia -2; over/under is 123BOTTOM LINE: The No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers take on the No. 21 Duke Blue Devils in the ACC Championship.The Cavaliers are 15-5 against ACC opponents and 10-1 in non-conference play. Virginia is 3-2 in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Blue Devils are 14-6 in ACC play. Duke scores 72.9 points while outscoring opponents by 8.5 points per game.TOP PERFORMERS: Jayden Gardner is averaging 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Armaan Franklin is averaging 12.7 points over the last 10 games for Virginia.Kyle Filipowski is scoring 15.3 points per game and averaging 8.9 rebounds for the Blue Devils. Jeremy Roach is averaging 13.7 points and 2.0 rebounds over the last 10 games for Duke.LAST 10 GAMES: Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 64.4 points, 28.6 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 7.5 steals and 3.7 blocks per game ...