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US government injects confusion into Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The U.S. government injected confusion into next year’s presidential election in Venezuela on Friday by incorrectly suggesting opposition leader Maria Corina Machado had filed an appeal to reverse her ban on running for office.Machado subsequently sidestepped questions about whether she had been pressured by the Biden administration to appear before Venezuela’s highest court, but she made a veiled criticism of the U.S. comment, saying she wished she had been able to announce her actions herself.A tweet from the U.S. government’s unit that oversees Venezuelan affairs praised Machado’s “courage and willingness” to appeal the ban. But as she left the country’s highest court Friday evening, she told reporters she did not file an appeal because she has not been officially notified of the ban announced against her in June.“I am not going to resort to that procedure,” she said of the appeal process.Instead, Machado, a longtime foe of the ruling party and win...

Pirates finalize deal with Tellez, acquire Olivares from Royals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rowdy Tellez and the Pirates finalized their $3.2 million, one-year contract on Friday, when Pittsburgh also acquired outfielder Edward Olivares from the Kansas City Royals for minor league outfielder Deivis Nadal.Tellez, a first baseman and designated hitter, can earn $800,000 in performance bonuses as part of the deal.Olivares, 27, hit .263 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs last season. He has a .261 average with 24 homers and 73 RBIs in parts of four seasons with San Diego (2020) and the Royals.The 21-year-old Nadal hit .212 with eight homers, 39 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 101 games for Class A Bradenton last season.The 28-year-old Tellez hit .215 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs for Milwaukee in 2023. The left-handed batter is a career .233 hitter in six seasons with Toronto and Milwaukee.Right-hander Roddery Muñoz was designated for assignment by the Pirates.The Pirates entered the offseason in need of help at first base. They began 2022 with Carlos Santana at the posi...

Michael Wacha gets $32M, 2-year deal with Royals, Hunter Renfroe $13M contract, AP sources say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals general manager J.J. Picollo knew he needed to upgrade his rotation and fill a corner outfield spot this offseason.He took care of both tasks Friday.In the latest moves in what has become a busy offseason in Kansas City, the Royals agreed to a $32 million, two-year deal with pitcher Michael Wacha and a $13 million, two-year contract with outfielder Hunter Renfroe, people familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreements had not been announced.Wacha’s deal calls for a $16 million salary next season and contains a $16 million player option for 2025, while Renfroe will get a $5.5 million salary next season with a $7.5 million player option for 2025 and a $1 million buyout.In addition. the Royals traded outfielder Edward Olivares to the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league outfielder Deivis Nadal. The 21-year-old Nadal hit .212 with eight homers, 39 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 1...

76ers agree to multi-year extension with team president Daryl Morey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers extended team president Daryl Morey’s contract through the 2027-28 season.Financial terms were not disclosed.“I’m very excited to be here in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future and even a little bit longer,” Morey said. “We have goals that ownership wants to accomplish, I want to accomplish, Joel Embiid, (Tyreese) Maxey, Tobias (Harris), everyone wants to accomplish.”Morey’s .653 winning percentage through his first three seasons represents the best mark in franchise history. Last season, the 76ers compiled a 54-28 regular-season record, the team’s best mark since 2000-01. However, they have not made it past the second round of the playoffs since that same season. They entered Friday’s game against Detroit with a 16-7 record this season.“Daryl is one of the best front office executives in sports and I greatly value his leadership,” Josh Harris, 76ers managing partner, said in a statement issued by the team. “I’m thrilled to have reached...

Matt Carpenter acquired by Braves in multiplayer trade with Padres

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — First baseman Matt Carpenter was acquired by the Atlanta Braves along with left-hander Ray Kerr and cash from the San Diego Padres on Friday for outfielder Drew Campbell.A three-time All-Star with St. Louis, the 38-year-old Carpenter revived his career with the New York Yankees in 2022 when took advantage of the right-field short porch and hit .305 with 15 homers and 37 RBIs. He played for the Yankees from May 26 to Aug. 8, when he broke his left foot with a foul ball. He returned for the postseason and went 1 for 12 with nine strikeouts.Carpenter signed a $12 million, two-year contract with the Padres that included a $5.5 million player option for 2024. He hit .176 with five homers and 31 RBIs, but had just 50 at-bats from July 1 on. Carpenter didn’t play after Sept. 10 because of right elbow inflammation.Carpenter was an All-Star in 2013, ‘14 and ’16. He has .260 career average with 175 homers and 644 RBIs for the Cardinals (2011-21), Yankees and Padres.Kerr...

Judge denies ranchers' request to stop Colorado wolf reintroduction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Update: A federal judge late Friday denied a request from ranching groups to halt gray wolf reintroduction in Colorado, which is set to begin in a matter of days.Earlier on Friday, The Associated Press erroneously published a report saying that a judge had denied the request. The order from U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez did not come until the evening, sometime not long before 7:30 p.m.Rodriguez, of the District of Colorado, found an injunction would be contrary to the public interest, as voters made wolf reintroduction a requirement of the state. The ruling also said any delay could expose the state to liability if Colorado does not carry out its statutory mandate to reintroduce wolves.While the case will continue, the judge’s ruling allows Colorado to proceed with its plan to search for, capture and transport up to 10 wolves from Oregon starting Sunday.Earlier: A federal judge said she would decide by Friday whether to temporarily halt the impending rei...

Baoshi Food Hall + Bar, new Pembroke Pines spot, houses 5 Asian restaurants under one roof

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

There are lots of great Asian food to be had in Broward County, if you’re willing to look for it. You can spend hours searching for spots that serve up glorious grub — or you can go to a place that’s New in Town and has it all under one roof.If you’re thinking of making it over to Baoshi Food Hall + Bar, here’s some good advice: keep your mind open and your stomach empty. You’re gonna have to make some tasty decisions before you chow down.Filbert Ip: “Baoshi is the first Asian food hall in Pembroke Pines. We have five different restauants and also a full bar.”This seems like the perfect time to reveal the culinary quintet.Filbert Ip: “So the five restaurants that are within baoshi are Temple Street Eatery, GangNam Chickn, Gold Marquess, Poke OG and Boba Street Cafe.”Each restaurant offers up its own specialty items. No matter what you’re up for, you can find it here.Filbert Ip: “Variety is what we offer here at ...

EU’s green funds are under the guillotine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

Billions of euros earmarked to boost renewable energy and slash emissions are on the cutting block after EU leaders proposed moving them over to fund immigration and defense efforts instead.The move came during this week’s EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, where European Council President Charles Michel proposed axing nearly all of a €10 billion fund meant to help Europe build out energy networks of the future — wind turbines, hydrogen plants, carbon capture. The effort is a crucial part of the EU’s response to the U.S. spending splurge on renewable energy incentives, which includes hundreds of billions in subsidies. While countries like France, Italy and Spain have publicly backed the €10 billion initiative, Brussels is facing criticism from more frugal European capitals, particularly in the north, that want to limit their EU budget contributions and ensure there is money for competing priorities like curbing illegal immigration and rising military expenditures. M...

Football’s ‘thugs and oligarchs’ run risk of EU money-laundering crackdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

BRUSSELS ― The European Parliament thinks football stinks.Concerned that transfers and sponsorship deals might be about as watertight as Manchester United’s defensive line, lawmakers are pushing for governments to back down in their opposition to soccer clubs being included in an EU law cracking down on money-laundering.“Member states refuse to subject football clubs, leagues and agents to the basic rules of due diligence,” said Green MEP Damien Carême, co-leader of the Parliament’s negotiations and a fan of Racing Club de Lens in France. “This is a godsend for thugs and oligarchs, who will be able to carry on with their little business of match-fixing and dubious transfers with complete impunity.”The Parliament’s demands are the latest step in wrangles over an EU plan proposed two years ago to streamline Europe’s safeguards against money laundering across the board, which currently differ from country to country. The talks, between the Commission, Parliament and the Co...

Celtics beat Magic 128-111, remain unbeaten in Boston for the season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:33 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 30 points, Payton Pritchard added 21 off the bench and the Celtics remained unbeaten in Boston this season with a 128-111 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.The victory was the Celtics’ 13th straight in Boston — the second-longest streak to start a season in franchise history. Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn led Boston to 17 home wins in a row to open the 1957-58 season.The Celtics have not lost at home in 20 regular-season games dating to March 5 of last season. (They did lose in last season’s playoffs, including a Game 7 to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.)Jaylen Brown scored 18 points for Boston, Derrick White added 19 points and eight assists and Pritchard went 6 of 7 from 3-point range.Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Goga Bitadze had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who had beaten the Celtics four times in a row. One of them was an In-Season Tournament game in Orlando – Boston’s only loss in the g...