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AP PHOTOS: Raucous British fans put on a show at the world darts championship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Luke Littler, a 16-year-old on debut at the World Darts Championship, came within one match of winning the sport’s biggest prize and a jackpot of 500,000 pounds ($630,000). But that wasn’t even close to being the strangest sight at what is probably the most colorful event in the British sporting calendar.For three weeks from December through January, it is party time at the Alexandra Palace — or “Ally Pally” — in London, when grown men dress like babies and revelers turn up in ever more outrageous costumes. In Wednesday’s epic final, which was won by world No. 1 Luke Humphries, fans came dressed as everything from the characters from Alice in Wonderland to pop and rock stars like Elton John, David Bowie and Michael Jackson. A woman could be seen limbo dancing between a group of men dressed as traffic cones and the sight of someone wearing a foam dartboard on their head was never too far away.It all adds to an occasion that feels distinctly British as fans joined togeth...

Zach LaVine embraces a quiet return with the Chicago Bulls after missing 17 games — but questions still linger after win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

It’s time for Chicago Bulls fan to begin tracking a new era of this season.The first 36 games of the season were divided into two segments: before and after Zach LaVine’s injury. The Bulls opened with a dismal 5-14 stretch before LaVine was sidelined with a right foot injury, then bounced back with a 10-7 run while their star sat was out. Friday opened a new chapter on a new version of the team with LaVine back on the court.LaVine made his return after 38 days in a 104-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was a somewhat quiet reintroduction: 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes. The Bulls relied on Coby White, who had 22 points and 6 assists, to fuel the offense.Playing under a minutes restriction, LaVine came off the bench alongside center Nikola Vučević, who also returned from injury after missing two games. After the win, LaVine acknowledged that he’ll need several games to get back to top form.“I’m g...

Bridge repair prompts temporary lane closures on westbound I-8 in El Cajon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- The westbound Interstate 8 freeway between Main St. and Loren Drive in El Cajon will be undergoing road construction for 80 hours as repairs to a bridge from the 1960s is getting an overhaul. The project started at 9 p.m. Friday and is expected to finish by 5 a.m. Tuesday. Caltrans says drivers should expect delays as they will be shutting down all lanes except for the fast lane overnight and just shutting down one lane throughout the daytime hours. SeaWorld guests removed from attraction after ride stops “It’s aged, it's weathered with the changes in traffic loading. We started to see a few more cracks into the bridge,” said Everett Townsend from District 11 Caltrans.CHP officers will be keeping a close eye on the construction, and they wanted remind drivers to pay attention when the workers are on the freeway. “Slow down into these workstations, remember 55 is the max on these, you don’t have to hit it,” said Capt. Michael Vargas from the California Highway ...

Turkish justice minister says 15 suspects jailed ahead of trial for spying for Israel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — A court in Istanbul has ordered 15 of 34 people detained on suspicion of spying for Israel be held in prison awaiting trial, Turkey’s justice minister said late Friday.The suspects were arrested Tuesday for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Turkey.Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said in a social media post that 26 suspects were referred to the court on a charge of committing “political or military espionage” on behalf of Israeli intelligence. Eleven were released under judicial control conditions and eight were awaiting deportation.Israel’s foreign intelligence agency Mossad is said to have recruited Palestinians and Syrian nationals inside Turkey as part of the operation against foreigners living in Turkey, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.The agency cited a prosecution document as saying the operation targeted “Palestinian nationals and their families … ...

Michigan Republicans set to vote on chair Karamo’s removal as she promises not to accept result

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Republicans plan to discuss the removal of state GOP Chairwoman Kristina Karamo during a meeting Saturday after many of the party’s leaders have called for her resignation following a year of leadership plagued by debt and infighting. Karamo has made it clear she will not recognize the vote if removed Saturday, claiming the meeting is not official and has been illegally organized. The unfolding situation could set the stage for a court fight to determine control of the highest position within the Michigan GOP.The internal dispute takes place as Michigan Republicans look to rebound from 2022 midterms in which they suffered historic losses. The party is aiming this year to flip an open U.S. Senate seat while also helping the Republican presidential nominee win the battleground state.Michigan is among several swing states where parties overtaken by far-right leadership have struggled to overcome infighting and money issues. Similar situations have u...

Orthodox Christmas: Why it’s celebrated by some believers 13 days after Dec. 25

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

While much of the world has Christmas in the rearview mirror by now, people in some Eastern Orthodox traditions will celebrate the holy day on Sunday.Certain Eastern Orthodox churches, including those in Russian and other traditions, follow the ancient Julian calendar, which runs 13 days later than the Gregorian calendar, used by Catholic and Protestant churches as well as by much of the secular world for everyday use. Other Orthodox, including those in the Greek tradition and, now, some Ukrainian churches, celebrate Christmas on the same date as Western churches.Why are there different dates for Christmas?Technically, there aren’t. All Eastern Orthodox agree that Dec. 25 is the date of Christmas, or the Feast of the Nativity, as they call it. The question is whether Dec. 25 falls on Dec. 25 or Jan. 7. That requires a little unpacking.The ancient church set its religious feasts based on the Julian calendar, but after more than a millennium, that calendar had increasingly gotte...

Taiwan says Chinese balloons are harassment and a threat to air safety

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan’s Defense Ministry accused China on Saturday of harassment and trying to affect public morale by repeatedly sending balloons over the self-governing island.A ministry analysis found that the paths of the balloons posed a serious threat to international passenger flights, according to a report by Taiwan’s official Military News Agency. The ministry called for an immediate end to the activity to ensure flight safety, “The ministry urged the people (of Taiwan) to clearly understand the Chinese Communist Party’s cognitive combat methods and face it rationally and calmly so as to avoid being affected by it,” the report said.The purpose of the balloons is unclear, and a Chinese state media outlet has accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party and Taiwanese and American media of hyping what it says are harmless weather balloons. The balloon incidents come ahead of a Jan. 13 presidential election in Taiwan in which the island’s relati...

Deaths from western Japan earthquakes surpass 100; rain and snow imperil already shaky ground

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

WAJIMA, Japan (AP) — Aftershocks threatened to bury more homes and block roads crucial for relief shipments, as the death toll from the earthquakes that rattled Japan’s western coastline last week surpassed 100 people on Saturday. Among the dead was a 5-year-old boy who had been recovering from injuries after boiling water spilled on him during Monday’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake. His condition suddenly worsened and he died Friday, according to Ishikawa prefecture, the hardest-hit region.Officials warned that roads, already cracked from the dozens of earthquakes that continue to shake the area, could collapse completely. That risk was growing with rain and snow expected overnight and Sunday.Reported deaths had reached 98 earlier Saturday, and two more deaths were reported in Anamizu city as officials were holding their daily meeting to discuss strategy and damages. Within a couple of hours, 10 more deaths were reported in Wajima, putting the latest count at 110 people. Wajima city has...

Warriors’ Chris Paul to undergo surgery for fractured left hand

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Chris Paul fractured his left, non-shooting hand during the Warriors’ win against the Detroit Pistons on Friday and will undergo surgery next week, the Warriors announced. It’s expected that Paul will return sometime this season, but there is no timeline for his return.Paul, 38, injured his hand mid-way through the third quarter going after a loose ball, where it appeared Paul’s hand collided with Jaden Ivey in transition. Paul exited for the locker room immediately and was ruled out shortly after.The injury leaves Golden State without a key playmaker indefinitely. Guards Cory Joseph, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, who had fallen out of the rotation, are expected to fill the 30 minutes Paul leaves behind.Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | Warriors squeak out win against lowly Detroit Pistons at end of back-to-back Golden State Warriors | Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacts to report of Jonathan Kuminga’s frust...

Stanley’s 30 points power Boise State past San Jose State,

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:16 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — O’Mar Stanley posted a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds and Boise State converted 12 of 14 free throws over the final five minutes to overcome San Jose State 78-69 to win its Mountain West Conference opener Friday night. Myron Amey Jr. hit three straight 3-pointers to give San Jose State a 19-10 lead and the Spartans held onto it until Stanley hit the first of two free throws to knot the score at 65-65 during a 10-0 run that saw the Broncos take a 72-65 lead.Stanley hit 11 of 17 from the field and 8 of 10 from the line to lead Boise State (10-4, 1-0 Mountain West). Tyson Degenhart was 8 of 15 from the floor and finished with 21 points. Chibuzo Agbo scored 15 points and Max Rice added 12. Amey hit 5 of 10 from long range and finished with 30 points to lead San Jose State (7-8, 0-2). Trey Anderson added 13 points and Adrame Diongue had 10.Boise State plays host to No. 13 Colorado State Tuesday. San Jose State plays host to San Diego State Tues...