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West goes easy on Russia to save the G20

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

NEW DELHI — G20 leaders wrapped up two days of high-level talks in India accomplishing what they had set out to achieve — a final summit declaration that all sides could endorse. But many were left asking — at what cost?As the ink dried on the 35-page summit communiqué hashed out over weeks of negotiations by the world’s most influential countries, G20 members were battling a chorus of criticism about the omission of any specific reference to Russia’s role as aggressor in the war on Ukraine.  The G20 had “nothing to be proud of” when it came to the failure to denounce Russia specifically in the joint statement i New Delhi, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko. Svitlana Romanko, founder and director of the pro-Ukraine group Razom We Stand, called the communiqué “weak” and “cowardly by not even mentioning Russia or its ongoing war crimes.”But Western officials defended the result, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak touting the do...

Elon Musk’s social media site X sues California over the state’s content moderation law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

Elon Musk’s social media platform formerly known as Twitter has sued the state of California over a law requiring social media companies to publish their policies for removing offending material such as hate speech, misinformation and harassment.The first-of-its-kind legislation was signed into law a year ago by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In a lawsuit filed Friday against state Attorney General Robert Bonta, X Corp. challenges the “constitutionality and legal validity” of the law, saying it violates the First Amendment.The California law requires social media platforms to post their content moderation policies — which they already do — and twice a year submit a report to the state on how they address hate speech, racism, misinformation, foreign political interference and other issues.The law, “compels companies to engage in speech against their will, impermissibly interferes with the constitutionally-protected editorial judgments of companies such as X Corp.” and has pr...

US Open women’s final: American Coco Gauff rallies to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in dramatic finish

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

Queens, New York (CNN) — Coco Gauff, the world No. 10 women’s singles player, has defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 with a dramatic comeback in the women’s US Open final.The star-studded crowd erupted with applause after Gauff’s home-turf victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. The win is 19-year-old Gauff’s first career grand slam and makes her the first American teenager to win the US Open since 23-time major champion Serena Williams took the title in 1999.“I feel like I’m in shock at this moment,” said an emotional Gauff after her win. “God puts you through tribulations and trials, and that makes this moment sweeter than I would have imagined.”She thanked her family, her team, and “the people who didn’t believe in me.”Bidding for her second major title of the year, the soon-to-be women’s world No. 1 Sabalenka made quick work in the first set, breaking Gauff’s serve three times to win 6-2 in dominant fashion.However, with the packed crowd chanting “L...

‘I wasn’t walking’: Quincy teen runs 5K a year after devastating spinal cord injury

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

A teenager from Quincy had her chance at a victory lap at the 16th annual Franciscan Children’s 5K.But a year ago, she wasn’t even sure she’d ever walk again.“I wasn’t walking,” she said. “I was in recovery from my injury.”Evonne Woodfin suffered a devastating spinal injury on a family vacation in June 2022 while the 18-year-old was cliff jumping. After the accident, she was airlifted to Boston’s Franciscan’s Children’s Hospital for surgery. Followed by months of intensive rehab with her physical therapist Kayleigh, Evonne slowly began her journey of walking again. “At first I hated her, but now I have so much thanks to her,” Evonne said.Evonne was soon able to dance at her senior prom and walk across the stage to receive her diploma.“Probably one of the harder conversations, preparing Evonne and her family to go home not completely walking and using a wheelchair still. It really motivated her to work harder,” said Kayleigh Duggan, a physical therapist at Franciscan...

Bruce Arena quits as coach of the New England Revolution citing ‘difficult’ investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Bruce Arena quit as coach of the New England Revolution on Saturday night, six weeks after he was placed on administrative leave by Major League Soccer for what it said were “allegations that he made insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”The 71-year-old, a member of the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame, did not detail the allegations. The league said Aug. 1 it had placed him on leave.MLS did not detail its findings except to say in a statement that the probe “confirmed certain of these allegations.” The league said if Arena wants to accept a future position within MLS, he must petition the MLS commissioner.“The investigation has been a hard and difficult process, for me and my family, but hearing from so many who have been part of my career truly has been gratifying and has helped make this decision easier,” he said in a statement released by the team. “I know that I have made some mistakes and moving forward, I plan to spend some time reflecting on this s...

As Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace enter the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday, will Sammy Sosa be next?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace will enter the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday during a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field, joining former teammates Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson, among others.Dunston was honored Friday at Wrigley with a video tribute, while Grace had his tribute during Saturday’s game.Dunston said he was humbled by the honor, though he didn’t consider himself in the same group as Sandberg, Dawson, Grace, Fergie Jenkins and others. Dunston spent 12 years on the North Side and became a fan favorite for the way he played the game.“I put it out there every day and tried my hardest,” Dunston said. “I wasn’t always the best, but I always put the team first, before myself, just like I put my family before myself. I think they appreciate the way I played.”The next big question is whether Sammy Sosa will make the Class of 2024, which will be voted upon after this season. The inductees will be announced at the Cubs Convention in Ja...

NFL notes: Can Tom Brady’s return spark Patriots’ search for a new identity?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

Three and a half years later, he lives on the walls and in the whispers.What was it like playing with Tom Brady?What was he like?Only eight Patriots players know those answers now. This week, from Matthew Slater to David Andrews, those eight told reporters what they’ve been telling young, inquiring teammates ever since Brady left in March 2020. Their answers overlapped, of course, as they have for years.How fiery, yet personable Brady was. How he knew everyone’s name. How he greeted new teammates within hours or days of their arrivals, already armed with tidbits about their personal life or college and pro careers.How Brady connected; himself to a locker room, a team to itself and belief into becoming for 20 years.Brady’s connection to the modern Patriots, however, has begun to wane. Like all legends, he inevitably slips from man to memory with the passage of time. Inside the building, Brady’s influence carries only through stories and pictures.On Wednesday, ...

Biden opens Vietnam visit by saying the two countries are ‘critical partners’ at a ‘critical time’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

HANOI (AP) — President Joe Biden opened a brief visit to Vietnam on Sunday by telling the country’s leadership that the two nations have a chance to shape Indo-Pacific for decades to come.Biden said he hoped progress could be made on climate, the economy and other issues during his 24-hour visit. “Vietnam and the U.S. are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time,” Biden told Nguyễn Phú Trọng, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, during the public portion of their meeting at party headquarters. Trọng agreed that their meeting presented an “excellent opportunity“ to expand bilateral ties. He thanked Biden for inviting him to visit Washington soon. Vietnam is elevating its relationship with the U.S. to the status of being a comprehensive strategic partner, which one of Biden’s top national security advisers said represents Vietnam’s highest tier of international partnership. Other countries that Vietnam has extended the designation to includ...

Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers and target Kyiv

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian NGO, while dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Road to Relief said Canadian Anthony Ihnat died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously injured. Road to Relief added that it could not trace the whereabouts of the van’s fourth passenger, Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization’s director. Hours later, Spain’s Acting Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told Spanish media that authorities in Madrid had rec...

A magnitude 3.9 aftershock rattles Morocco as rescuers seek survivors in ancient cities and towns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:11:51 GMT

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — A magnitude 3.9 aftershock rattled Moroccans on Sunday as they prayed for victims of the nation’s strongest earthquake in more than a century and worked to rescue survivors while soldiers and workers brought water and supplies to mountain villages in ruins. More than 2,000 people are dead — a number that is expected to rise.The United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were affected by Friday night’s magnitude 6.8 quake and some Moroccans complained on social networks that the government wasn’t allowing more help from outside. International aid crews were prepared to deploy, but remained in limbo waiting for the Morocco government to request their assistance.“We know there is a great urgency to save people and dig under the remains of buildings,” said Arnaud Fraisse, founder of Rescuers Without Borders, who had a team stuck in Paris waiting for the green light. “There are people dying under the rubble, and we cannot do anything to save them.”Those ...