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US and Venezuela agree to release of 10 Americans – and convict ‘Fat Leonard’ – in exchange for release of Maduro ally

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The US has reached an agreement to secure the release of six wrongfully detained Americans and four other Americans held in Venezuela, senior US officials announced Wednesday,The deal will also include the extradition of Leonard Francis, the former military contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who orchestrated the largest corruption scandal in US Navy history.The deal marks another sign of significant thawing in relations between the US and Venezuela after months of high-level negotiations between the two countries. The thaw comes as the Biden administration contends with a worsening situation at its southern border, driven largely by Venezuelan migrants, that has pushed federal resources to the brink.Six of the Americans – Eyvin Hernandez, Savoi Wright, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella, Jason Saad, and Edgar Jose Marval Moreno – landed at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday night.“It does my heart good to see that you guys are back here on Americ...

5 takeaways from the Chicago Bulls’ 124-108 win, including Dalen Terry’s role and a LeBron James anniversary in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

As the final 15 seconds ticked down on a 124-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls earned their first standing ovation of the season on Wednesday.The praise came for good reason. The Bulls handily dispensed with a team that won the NBA Cup just 11 days before. They absorbed several offensive runs spurred by LeBron James and Anthony Davis to keep the Lakers from ever tying the game after taking the lead about four minutes into the first quarter.The season seemed all but lost after a 5-14 start, but the Bulls are now 7-3 in their last 10 games without maximum contract star Zach LaVine, who will remain sidelined until January with a foot injury.They still sit five games below .500 with a 12-17 record. But the consistency of their 3-point shooting paired with breakout performances from players like Coby White has buoyed the Bulls as they begin to climb in the Eastern Conference standings.Here are five takeaways from the game.1. LeBron James was stymied by Bulls’ d...

Wahlberg: Hold your fire Patriots Nation, Belichick’s still the GOAT

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

Dear Pats Nation,Before I begin, I want to stress that any mention of Tom Brady is in no way a slight of him, his legacy or my admiration for him as a person or player. This really has nothing to do with Tom Brady. It’s about Bill Belichick.Sad that I even have to preface it this way, but that’s what it’s come to nowadays. It seems one can’t speak glowingly of Coach Bill Belichick anymore without being treated like a Cowboys fan at an Eagles game — or worse. It’s no surprise that hysterical sports media pundits are rejoicing over Coach Belichick’s apparent “fall from grace.” They’ve been waiting to dance on his football grave for two decades. What is surprising, however, is how many Pats fans have subscribed to the Belichick slander.Did we get so used to winning that we are punishing Bill Belichick for our own unrealistic expectations?Did we get so used to winning that we forgot how easy it was to lose?Did we get so spoiled by all that winning, that we’ve become unaware of how much ...

Patriots’ cornerback depth has been tested by everything in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots rookie cornerback Alex Austin starting in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs is a great example of how sometimes the best-laid plans go awry.Austin was thrust into a surprise starting role Sunday when J.C. Jackson was active but didn’t appear on the Patriots’ sideline during the game. His agent, Neil Schwartz, told ESPN that Jackson is dealing with mental health issues. The cornerback was placed on the non-football illness list Tuesday.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Wahlberg: Hold your fire Patriots Nation, Belichick’s still the GOAT New England Patriots | Patriots-Broncos injury report: Hunter Henry among 4 out Wednesday New England Patriots | Rhamondre Stevenson among 3 Patriots starters missing at practice Wednesday New England Patriots | Bailey Zappe’s personal goal to finish Patriots season is an obvious one New England Patriots | Bill Belichick explains ...

After approving blessings for same-sex couples, Pope asks Vatican staff to avoid ‘rigid ideologies’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged Vatican bureaucrats Thursday to avoid “rigid ideological positions” that prevent them from understanding today’s reality, an appeal made days after he formally allowed priests to bless same-sex couples in a radical change of Vatican policy.Francis used his annual Christmas greeting to the Holy See hierarchy to encourage the cardinals, bishops and laypeople who run the Vatican to listen to one another and to others so they can evolve to truly offer service to the Catholic Church.Speaking in the Hall of Blessings, Francis told them it was important to keep advancing and growing in their understanding of the truth. Fearfully sticking to rules may give the appearance of avoiding problems but only ends up hurting the service that the Vatican Curia is called to give the church, he said.“Let us remain vigilant against rigid ideological positions that often, under the guise of good intentions, separate us from reality and prevent us from moving forward,”...

Albania’s parliament lifts the legal immunity of former prime minister Sali Berisha

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s parliament voted Thursday to lift the legal immunity of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is accused of corruption. Opposition lawmakers inside the hall boycotted the vote and tried to disrupt the session by collecting chairs and flares, but security guards stopped them. Berisha declined to take the floor to speak against the motion. The ruling Socialist Party holds 74 of the 140 seats in Albania’s national legislature, and 75 lawmakers agreed to grant a request from prosecutors to strip Berisha of his parliamentary immunity. Thursday’s vote clears prosecutors to seek a court’s permission to put Berisha under arrest or house arrest. With the opposition refusing the participate, there were no votes against the move or any abstentions.Berisha, 79, was charged with corruption in October for allegedly abusing his post to help his son-in-law, Jamarber Malltezi, buy land in Tirana owne...

EU court: FIFA and UEFA defy competition law by blocking Super League

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — UEFA and FIFA defied European Union competition law by blocking plans for the breakaway soccer Super League, the EU’s top court ruled on Thursday. The case was heard last year at the Court of Justice after Super League failed at launch in April 2021. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin called the club leaders “snakes” and “liars.”The company formed by 12 rebel clubs — now led by only Real Madrid and Barcelona after Juventus withdrew this year — started legal action to protect its position and the court was asked to rule on points of EU law by a Madrid tribunal.“We have won the right to compete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions and free to determine their own futures,” said Bernd Reichart, the CEO of A22 Sports Management, the Madrid-based company promoting Super League.The clubs accused UEFA of breaching European law by allegedly abusing its market dominance of soccer competitions.“The FIFA and U...

Get ready, the holiday rush to airports and highways is underway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

It's beginning to look a lot like a hectic holiday travel season, but it might go relatively smoothly if the weather cooperates.Travel over Christmas and New Year's tends to spread out over many days, so the peaks in the U.S. are likely to be lower than they were during the Thanksgiving holiday. That is making airlines and federal officials optimistic.But the debacle at Southwest Airlines over Christmas last year should guard against overconfidence. Just this week, the Transportation Department announced a settlement in which Southwest will pay $140 million for that meltdown, which stranded more than 2 million travelers.So far this year, airlines have canceled 1.2% of U.S. flights, down nearly half from 2.1% over the same period last year. Cancellations were well below 1% during Thanksgiving, according to FlightAware.“I don't want to jinx us, but so far 2023 has seen the lowest cancellation rate in the last five years,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Tuesday....

Our favorite new global eats from St. Paul in 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to look back on restaurants that have opened in St. Paul this year.Looking through my list of standouts, it’s clear that many of them feature global eats, from potstickers to arepas to tacos and more. There are so many places we want to tell you about that we are splitting this story in two. The first are my favorite new places serving food from around the world.The second, which will come out in a few weeks, will feature some new finer-dining restaurants, new American fare and a few more global options.As always, it’s a good time to be a food lover in the Saintly City.Spicy FetaThe Spicy Apollo flatbread wrap at Spicy Feta in St. Paul. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)When chef Angelo Giovanis went back to his native Greece, closing Naughty Greek, I was distraught. Those pork gyros were second to none in the Twin Cities. Still, I kept an open mind about its replacement Spicy Feta, operated by the owners of Ariana Kabob & Gyro Bistro in St. Louis...

Troy 18-year-old pleads guilty to machine gun possession

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:18 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An 18-year-old from Troy pleaded guilty to possessing a machine gun on Wednesday. Ahmed AlSaadi faces up to 10 years in prison. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), AlSaadi admitted to possessing three machine gun conversion devices and a modified Glock handgun allowing it to shoot and function as a machine gun. The DOJ says he also admitted to selling machine gun conversion devices from March to July 2023. AlSaadi is currently in custody and will be sentenced on April 16, 2024. AlSaadi faces a fine of up to $250,000 and may have to serve a three-year term of supervised release.