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How Biden’s State Department Conceals Its “Human Rights Black Hole” in the Middle East

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

Last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted a meeting with leaders of human rights organizations to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations. But through subtle stage management, the State Department arranged for Blinken’s praise for human rights to be recorded and promulgated — while the world was not able to hear the retorts from human rights advocates who criticized America’s backing of Israel’s war on Gaza.The Universal Declaration was a landmark in history. While it was only a statement of principles, and so did not have legal force in itself, it was broadly inspirational and has formed the basis for numerous subsequent treaties and laws. According to Guinness World Records, it’s been translated into more languages than any other document — over 550, from Abkhaz to Zulu.After the December 7 meeting, the internet exploded in bitter laughter at Blinken, and it’s easy to understand why. A...

With Ukraine aid in peril, Zelenskyy pleads his cause on Capitol Hill and at the White House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — His country’s future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used inspirational words, optimistic resolve and a nod to Christmas in appealing Tuesday to leaders in Congress for U.S. aid for his fighters in the war with Russia. But after hours of talks on Capitol Hill, additional American support appeared in grave doubt as Zelenskyy arrived at the White House to huddle with President Joe Biden. The U.S. has already provided Ukraine $111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict U.S.-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry. The White House is warning that if new money isn’t provided by year’s end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine’s capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia. Meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Biden said, “Mr. President, I call on ...

Live updates | Israel plans to keep fighting as UN General Assembly votes for a cease-fire in Gaza

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

Israel pressed ahead Tuesday with an offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months. But later in the day, the U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to demand a humanitarian cease-fire in a strong demonstration of global support for ending the Israel-Hamas war. The vote also shows the growing isolation of the United States and Israel.More than 17,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory. About 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where United Nations agencies say there is no safe place to flee. With only a trickle of humanitarian aid reaching a small portion of Gaza, residents face severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods. Israel says 97 of its soldiers have died in its ground offensive after Hamas raided southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civi...

A look at violent incidents against referees around the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The Turkish Football Federation suspended all league games on Tuesday after the president of a first-division soccer club punched a referee in the face.MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca was arrested after attacking referee Halil Umut Meler following a 1-1 draw in a Super Lig game against Caykur Rizespor. Meler fell to the ground and also was kicked in a melee that occurred after fans invaded the pitch when Rizespor scored a last-minute equalizer.Here is a look at other incidents of violence against referees in soccer and other sports around the world:ATTACKS IN SOUTH AMERICABrazil’s sports court suspended the president of fourth-division club Sergipe for 30 days after he came onto the pitch and punched a referee in a Brazilian Cup match against top-flight team Botafogo in March.In a Colombian league derby between first-division clubs Deportivo Cali and Atletico Nacional in August, a linesman had to be treated by doctors after being hit in the head by an object thrown...

RHPs Seth Lugo, Chris Stratton agree to deals with Royals, AP sources say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals general manager J.J. Picollo made it clear after a 106-loss season that Kansas City was in desperate need of pitching.On Tuesday, they landed someone to start games and another to help finish them.The Royals agreed with right-hander Seth Lugo on a $45 million, three-year deal to fill one of their open spots in the starting rotation, then landed reliever Chris Stratton on a $4 million deal, two people with knowledge of the contracts told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals were pending physicals.Lugo can opt out after the 2025 season, one of the people said, while Stratton will get $3.5 million for this season and has a $4.5 million player option with a $500,000 buyout for 2025.With one of the best curveballs in the game, Lugo is coming off a strong year with the Padres, where he went 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA while proving he could be a full-time starter. The 34-year-old started games early in his career but had large...

Packers have tougher path to playoffs after momentum-stopping loss to Giants

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

Even after perhaps their most disappointing loss of the season, the Green Bay Packers still have an opportunity to make the playoffs.But their margin for error is much narrower.The Packers (6-7) ended a three-game winning streak in desultory fashion Monday night, falling 24-22 to the New York Giants. Green Bay still would have the NFC’s third and final wild-card playoff berth if the season ended today, thanks to various tiebreakers.Atlanta, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams are also 6-7. The Buccaneers visit Lambeau Field on Sunday.“This one hurt, but we’ve got a short turnaround,” receiver Romeo Doubs said. “We’ve just got to go hard, figure out what the issue was and just progress from that point on forward.”There were plenty of issues in every phase that hindered the Packers on Monday.On defense, the Packers allowed the Giants to run wild and failed to get a sack against a team that has allowed a league-high 69 of them. On offense, the Packers turned the ba...

The Vikings will start Nick Mullens this week in their latest quarterback shuffle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

In this unsettled season for the Minnesota Vikings, Nick Mullens is next up at quarterback.Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Tuesday that Mullens will start Saturday at Cincinnati after relieving an ineffective Joshua Dobbs last week and helping lead the Vikings to a 3-0 victory at Las Vegas. Mullens is the fourth different starter for the Vikings. They’ve never used that many in the same season before in franchise history.Dobbs arrived in an emergency trade with Arizona after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles tendon. Rookie Jaren Hall got the first start in place of Cousins and suffered a concussion early in that game at Atlanta when Dobbs rallied the Vikings to victory.Mullens has 17 career starts in the NFL, including eight each in the 2018 and 2020 seasons with San Francisco as an injury fill-in for Jimmy Garoppolo. ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSource

Stock market today: Wall Street hits its highest level since early 2022 following inflation report

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street rose to its best level in nearly 23 months, just a bit below its record high, after a report on Tuesday showed inflation in the United States is behaving pretty much as expected.The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to sit just 3.2% below its all-time high set at the start of last year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 173 points, or 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.7%.Big Tech stocks helped lead the way following solid gains for Nvidia, Meta Platforms and some other of Wall Street’s largest and most influential stocks. They overshadowed a 12.4% tumble for Oracle, whose revenue for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ forecasts. But Wall Street’s spotlight was on the inflation report, which showed U.S. consumers paid prices for gasoline, food and other living costs last month that were 3.1% higher overall than a year earlier. That was a slight deceleration from October’s 3.2% inflation and exactly in line with economists’ expectations.The da...

Who will be on Colorado's 2024 presidential primary ballots?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The deadline has passed for candidates to have their names appear on Colorado's 2024 presidential primary ballots, and there are multiple options for both Democrats and Republicans. More from Colorado politics On the Democrats' side, President Joe Biden, the party's presumptive nominee, is joined by seven other names:Gabriel CornejoFrankie LozadaStephen P. LyonsJason Michael PalmerArmando “Mando” Perez-SerratoDean PhillipsMarianne WilliamsonBecause Colorado's caucus at the Democratic National Convention is made up of proportional delegates, there's also an option for a "noncommitted delegate." If enough ballots are cast for this option, one or several of the state's 47 delegates will attend the DNC without being committed to a specific candidate.On the Republican ballot, there are currently six official candidates and one write-in:Ryan BinkleyChris ChristieRon DeSantisNikki HaleyAsa HutchinsonVivek RamaswamyRachel Hannah "Mohawk" Swift (write-in)Notably, former Pre...

Why you should throw these fruit puree pouches away

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:10:45 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is warning consumers about lead-contaminated apple puree pouches that are being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration."Check your pantry!" Polis posted on X. "If you have WanaBana, Schnucks, or Weis brand apple cinnamon pouches, throw them out. They may have elevated lead levels. If your children have eaten these products, talk to your doctor about blood lead testing." Colorado ranks dead last for housing competitiveness: report As of Dec. 5, the FDA has received 64 reports of adverse events, all involving children under 6. The FDA included reports of individuals with blood lead levels at or above 3.5 micrograms of lead per deciliter of whole blood within three months of consuming the recalled product. This is the level at which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends clinical monitoring of a child.The pouches were marketed to parents and children under three brands: WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and Schnucks...