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Demarai Gray joins Al-Ettifaq from Everton on Saudi transfer deadline day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Everton winger Demarai Gray became the latest player to join the exodus to Saudi Arabia after signing for Al-Ettifaq on Thursday on the final day of the country’s transfer window. The Jamaica international moved for an undisclosed fee and signed a four-year contract. He follows a slew of stars from Europe’s top leagues who have headed to the lucrative Saudi League in recent months. Marquee names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Karim Benzema have all taken up the riches on offer as Saudi has embarked on a spectacular recruitment drive. The 27-year-old Gray joined Everton from German team Bayer Leverkusen in 2021. He made 75 appearances and scored 12 goals for the Premier League club. “There has been a lot of speculation about my situation all summer,” Gray posted on Instagram. “The truth is, I gave my all to this club on and off the pitch through good and bad. I was ready to play as much football as possible this season but it felt...

Palestinian fishermen decry Israel’s ban on Gaza exports as collective punishment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel closed the main commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip, effectively banning exports from the coastal territory after saying it had uncovered explosives in a shipment of clothes to the occupied West Bank. Gaza’s fishermen, with their perishable exports, were among the first to feel the pain. The new restrictions choke off the territory’s already ailing economy. They come on top of the punishing 16-year blockade that Israel and Egypt have maintained since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of the enclave in 2007. The blockade, which Israel says is needed to prevent Hamas from arming, severely limits the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza.Israel closed the Kerem Shalom cargo crossing late on Monday after saying it had discovered explosives hidden in a shipment of Zara jeans and other clothing bound for the West Bank — one of the main markets for Gaza’s tiny export sector. Israeli officials fear the explosives were bou...

Illinois travels to Kansas for Big Ten-Big 12 showdown at Memorial Stadium

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Illinois (1-0) at Kansas (1-0), Friday, 6:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)Line: Kansas by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Illinois leads 3-2.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Kansas started 5-0 last season and, despite a midseason letdown, went on to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2008. The Jayhawks will try to continue their non-conference momentum against Illinois, which is playing them for the first time since a 47-7 loss in 1968. The Illini are coming off a last-second win over reigning MAC champion Toledo and could build some confidence for a matchup at seventh-ranked Penn State next weekend. KEY MATCHUPIllinois QB Luke Altmyer against the Kansas pass defense, which struggled at times in a win over FCS-level Missouri State last weekend. The Ole Miss transfer threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns while running for a score, and he led the Illini on a 12-play, 64-yard drive to set up Caleb Griffin’s winning field goal against the Rockets.PLAYERS TO WATCHIllinois: DB Miles Sco...

Hoosiers look to celebrate Mallory legacy by rebounding against Sycamores

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Indiana State (0-1) at Indiana (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)Line: No betting line, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: Indiana leads 6-0.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Indiana is trying to rebound from last week’s loss to No. 3 Ohio State while celebrating the Mallory coaching tree. Indiana State coach Curt Mallory is the youngest son of the late Bill Mallory, the winningest coach in Hoosiers history and current Indiana coach Tom Allen says the pregame hug will not be just another “bro hug.” The Sycamores are seeking a milestone first win in this series.KEY MATCHUPIndiana State QBs vs. Hoosiers secondary. Last season, injuries forced Indiana State to use four different quarterbacks. If Week 1 is any indication, 2023 may be more of the same. Evan Olaes started the game but threw only two passes — both interceptions. Gavin Screws didn’t fare much better, also throwing two interceptions — both returned for touchdowns. If the Sycamores can’t take care of the b...

Today in Sports – Mark McGwire breaks Roger Maris’ 37-year-old home run record, 62nd of the season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

Sept. 81946 — Jack Kramer wins his first U.S. men’s singles titles with a 9-7, 6-3, 6-0 win over Tom Brown.1957 — Althea Gibson becomes the first black to win the U.S. Open, beating Louise Brough, 6-3, 6-2. Australia’s Malcolm Anderson defeats countryman Ashley Cooper in three sets to become the first unseeded player to win the U.S. Open.1968 — Virginia Wade wins the first official U.S. Open (formerly known as U.S National Championships). Wade upsets Billie Jean King, 6-4, 6-2 and Arthur Ashe beats Tom Okker, 14-12, 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 for the men’s title.1969 — Australia Rod Laver wins the U.S. Open and the grand slam of tennis for the second time in his career with a four-set victory over Tony Roche. Laver wins 7-9, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.1973 — Australia’s Margaret Court Smith wins the U.S. Open for the fifth time with a 7-6, 5-7, 6-2 victory over Evonne Goolagong.1974 — Billie Jean King wins her fourth U.S. Open with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Evonne Goolagong.1985 — Pete Rose ties Ty C...

Japan prosecutors arrest ex-vice foreign minister in bribery case linked to wind power company

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo prosecutors said Thursday they have arrested the former vice foreign minister of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet on suspicion of accepting more than 61 million yen ($414,000) in bribes from a wind power company in return for his promotion of wind power and other favorable treatment.Masatoshi Akimoto, 48, was arrested on suspicion of accepting the bribes, including 30 million yen ($204,000) in cash at his parliamentary office , from a wind power company executive on several occasions between February 2019 and June this year, prosecutors said.Akimoto had stepped down as vice foreign minister and left Kishida’s governing Liberal Democratic Party in August after allegations surfaced and prosecutors raided his office as part of their bribery investigation.Akimoto has advocated promotion of renewable energy and urged the government during parliamentary sessions in 2019 not to heavily regulate the waters off the coast of Aomori where the company, Japan Wind Develo...

Biden aims to use G20 summit and Vietnam visit to highlight US as trustworthy alternative to China

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is looking to demonstrate to the world at the Group of 20 summit in India and during a stop in Vietnam that the United States and its like-minded allies are better economic and security partners than China. White House officials said Biden, who was set to depart for New Delhi on Thursday evening, will use this year’s G20 gathering as an opportunity for the United States to highlight a proposition for developing and middle income countries that would increase the lending power of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by some $200 billion. That is an attempt to offer a significant, albeit smaller, alternative to China’s massive Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which the U.S. views as a Trojan horse for China-led regional development and military expansion. Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to skip the summit, where Premier Li Qiang will represent the country.Afterward the summit, Biden and Vietnamese General Secretary...

These are some of the most notable performances at Red Rocks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — From $6 tickets to a ban on rock concerts, Red Rocks Amphitheatre has hosted some truly remarkable performances. While no one can count the thousands of amazing stars that have come through the venue, Red Rocks has kept track of some of the most notable performances dating back to the early 1900s. Full list of concerts at Red Rocks in fall of 2023 These artists had some of the best, bizarre and insane Red Rocks performances throughout the years:The Beatles (1964)In the summer of '64, The Beatles played at Red Rocks. But they weren't a huge hit, only three-fourths of the seats sold. Tickets sold for $6.60, according to the amphitheatre. This was the only concert on The Beatles’ initial American tour that didn't sell out. Johnny Cash (1965)It's said that Johnny Cash, along with the Tennessee Three, were the first country and western musicians to perform at Red Rocks. Jimi Hendrix (1968)September 1968 was Hendrix's one and only show at Red Rocks. However, there is no...

Florida man riding human-sized hamster wheel in Atlantic Ocean faces federal charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — A Florida man who was attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a man-made hamster wheel is facing federal charges after it took the U.S. Coast Guard five days to bring him ashore, according to a criminal complaint filed in Miami.The Coast Guard spotted Reza Baluchi, 51, some 70 miles (112 kilometers) off the coast of Tybee Island, Georgia, on Aug. 26, while making preparations for Hurricane Franklin, the complaint, filed in federal court, said. Baluchi was charged Tuesday with obstruction of boarding and violation of a captain of the port order.Baluchi told the Coast Guard crew that he was attempting to ride the “hydro-pod” vessel to England, and that he had a Florida registration, which he unable to locate for them, onboard.The officers said the vessel was “afloat as a result of wiring and buoys” and determined that Baluchi was conducting “a manifestly unsafe voyage,” the complaint said.When they attempted to get him to leave the vessel, Baluchi told them he had a kni...

Miami mother arrested after allegedly keeping child confined at home for five years, denying basic necessities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:54:00 GMT

A 42-year-old Miami woman faces charges of child neglect after it was discovered that she had confined her nine-year-old daughter to their home for five years. During this time, the child was denied an education, proper medical care and had to beg for food.According to the arrest report, Kelli McGriff-Williams prevented her daughter from leaving their home and kept her mostly confined to a bedroom. The child would have to beg to eat, and at times, food was not provided. McGriff-Williams also never enrolled her daughter in school, resulting in the child being unable to read or write.Even when the child fell seriously ill, McGriff-Williams did not seek medical attention for her. The situation came to light on Aug. 26, when a Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) officer responded to a Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigation. McGriff-Williams was subsequently involuntarily admitted to Jackson South Hospital due to her altered mental state.On Aug. 30, an officer made conta...