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Strong earthquake kills at least 13 in Ecuador, 1 in Peru

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — A strong earthquake shook southern Ecuador and northern Peru on Saturday, killing at least 14 people, trapping others under rubble, and sending rescue teams out into streets littered with debris and fallen power lines.The U.S. Geological Survey reported an earthquake with a magnitude of about 6.8 that was centered just off the Pacific Coast, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s second-largest city. One of the victims died in Peru, while 13 others died in Ecuador, where authorities also reported that at least 126 people were injured.Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso told reporters the earthquake had “without a doubt … generated alarm in the population.” Lasso’s office in a statement said 11 of the victims died in the coastal state of El Oro and two in the highlands state of Azuay. In Peru, the earthquake was felt from its northern border with Ecuador to the central Pacific coast. Peruvian Prime Minister Alberto ...

Langer leads at Newport in bid to break Champ victory record

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Bernhard Langer remained in position Saturday in the Hoag Classic to break a tie with Hale Irwin for the PGA Tour Champions victory record.Langer played the final five holes in 5 under — going birdie-eagle-par-birdie-birdie — for a 5-under 66 and one-stroke lead with a round left. The 65-year-old German star tied Irwin at 45 victories a month ago in the Chubb Classic in Florida.“Just really played well, gave myself lots of opportunities,” Langer said. “And like the eagle, as good as three shots as I can possibly pull off.”Langer opened with a 64 on Friday for a share of the first-round lead with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Chris DiMarco. Jimenez shot a 67 on Saturday to fall a stroke back with Doug Barron (66) at Newport Beach Country Club.Langer won at the course in 2008. On Saturday, he offset three birdies with three bogeys on the first 13 holes. He pitched in for birdie on the par-3 eighth.“The chip-in on 8, or the pitch-in, it was a miracle,” Lan...

MATCHDAY: Barcelona hosts Madrid; Arsenal can stretch lead

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:SPAINBarcelona hosts Real Madrid in the Spanish league aiming to deal a heavy blow to its rival’s title defense. Madrid trails Barcelona by nine points and needs to win the latest “clasico” at Camp Nou. Barcelona won’t be able to count on midfielder Pedri González, who coach Xavi Hernández says has not recovered from his leg injury in time. Karim Benzema will be available for Real Madrid despite the knock he took after scoring in his team’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League. A win by Barcelona would put it well on its way to winning its first league title since 2019 and since the exit of Lionel Messi. Real Sociedad, Real Betis, and Villarreal will all try to rebound from their respective eliminations from European competition this week. Fourth-place Sociedad welcomes Elche, while fifth-place Betis hosts Mallorca. Villarreal is at Osasuna.ENGLANDArsenal can go into the international break with an eight-point l...

Miami uses big rally to beat Oklahoma State in March Madness

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Haley Cavinder scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half and made what proved to be the decisive free throw with 8.9 seconds left to pull off a 17-point second half rally Saturday that gave ninth-seeded Miami a 62-61 victory over eighth-seeded Oklahoma State.The comeback was tied for the fifth-largest comeback in tourney history. But it wasn’t over until Naomie Alnatas’ 10-footer rolled off the rim at the buzzer following a 5-second call on the Hurricanes.Miami (20-12) will play top-seeded Indiana on its home court Monday night with a ticket to the Sweet 16 at stake.Cavinder also had eight rebounds and six assists while Jasmyn Roberts added 12 points and Destiny Harden had 11 points and five rebounds.Anna Gret Asi led Oklahoma State (21-12) with 16 points and four 3-pointers including one with 5.3 seconds to go that gave the Cowgirls a shot to win it.No. 1 INDIANA 77, TENNESSEE TECH 47BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Sydney Parrish scored 19 points and had eight...

Stanford’s VanDerveer, McPhee-McCuin of Ole Miss keep giving

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — They are two coaches spreading goodwill from opposite sides of the country, the legend and the lady who vows to be one and considers herself a key figure in the future of women’s basketball.When Tara VanDerveer’s top-seeded Stanford team had eliminated surprising Sacred Heart in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Hall of Fame coach took a moment in the handshake line to offer her encouragement and best wishes to coach Jessica Mannetti and her star freshman guard, Ny’Ceara Pryor.Mississippi coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has received that same kindness from VanDerveer, who went out of her way to welcome the Rebels to campus this week. Now, these two community-focused coaches will face off when the top-seeded Cardinal (29-5) take on No. 9 seed Ole Miss (24-8) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen at next weekend’s Seattle Regional.Stanford star Cameron Brink returned to the practice floor and...

Baylor overcomes 18-point deficit to advance over Alabama

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

STORRS, CONN. (AP) — Ja’Mee Asberry scored 26 points, including three key foul shots in the final minute, and No. 7 seed Baylor overcame an early 18-point deficit to beat Alabama 78-74 on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Sarah Andrews and Caitlin Bickle each added 14 for the Bears (20-12), whose rally tied for the third biggest comeback in tournament history. Baylor closed the game on a 7-0 run, all from the foul line. The Bears will face No. 2 seed UConn in the second round Monday night. Brittany Davis tied a career high with 33 points for Alabama (20-11), which closes its season on a five-game losing streak.The Crimson Tide led 22-4 after a quarter and by 11 at halftime. But the Bears opened the third quarter on a 16-3 run and took the lead at 46-44 on a 3-pointer from the left wing by Andrews, one of her four on the evening.Alabama fought back and led 59-54 after 30 minutes. But Baylor held Alabama without a field goal for more than four minutes in the ...

Coast Guard searching for man last seen in water near Miami Marine Stadium

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

Authorities seek the public’s help in their search for a man who went missing and was last seen in the water off Virginia Key.According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 21-year-old Enoch Tong was last seen in the water near Miami Marine Stadium on Saturday,Officials said Tong was wearing a white floral shirt and pink shorts at the time he went missing. He was not wearing a life jacket.Local partner agencies are assisting USCG crews in their search for Tong.Officials urge anyone with information on his whereabouts to call USCG Sector Miami at 305-535-4472.

Panthers have 4-goal 3rd in 4-2 comeback win over Devils

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Reinhart scored two of Florida’s four third-period goals and the Panthers rallied to beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday night.Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk also scored and Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves. The Panthers kept pace in the Eastern Conference wild-card race, extending their points streak to six at 5-0-1.Nico Hischier and Jesper Boqvist scored in the second period for New Jersey and rookie goalie Akira Schmid made 36 saves. The Devils have lost three straight.Hischier opened the scoring while killing a penalty, intercepting an errant pass at the top of the offensive zone and charging in on Bobrovsky at 2:16.A little over five minutes later, Boqvist scored, with Bobrovsky and a couple of his teammates down on the ice after the goalie’s previous save.Florida got on the board at 6:14 of the third on an odd play when Brandon Montour’s shot from the point hit Marc Staal as he was going toward the net. The puck dropped ri...

Bill Browder calls on EU to act on Georgia as Saakashvili’s health declines

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

Billionaire businessman and Kremlin critic Bill Browder is turning his focus to a new target — Georgia — and is urging the EU to sanction those responsible for the condition of detained former President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose health is deteriorating rapidly.  In an interview with POLITICO’s EU Confidential podcast, Browder said it was time for the EU to expand the reach of its human rights sanctions to cover people in Georgia. Saakashvili is a personal enemy of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his case is rapidly becoming a barometer of whether the governing Georgian Dream party in Tbilisi is willing to engage with the EU and the U.S. Georgian Dream’s critics complain that it is deliberately sabotaging the country’s EU aspirations to avoid rocking the boat with Moscow.Saakashvili is serving a six-year sentence for abuse of power, and there is increasing concern for his wellbeing. Medical reports seen by POLITICO late last year revealed traces of “mercur...

7 myths standing in the way of Ukraine’s victory

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:23:25 GMT

Gabrielius Landsbergis is the minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania.Despite all the cruelty and hatred unleashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime, Ukraine continues to resist its aggressor — and it is ready to fight until victory.A year ago, many doubted Ukraine. They suggested that in days — at most weeks — Russia would seize Kyiv. And some of those voices who proved to be so manifestly wrong then are now brandishing “peace plans,” nudging Ukraine to accept concessions on its sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for Russia’s agreement to end the war.But these “peace plans” are based on prevailing myths that we must confront before they become a reality.First myth — Ukraine is unable to reclaim its territories.Ukraine has already busted that claim by retaking territory from Russia’s control — from the outskirts of Kyiv to Kharkiv and Kherson. Ukrainians have the will to fight and an effective strategy to reclaim all of what belongs to them. Instead, it is...