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Mali’s junta struggles to fight growing violence in a northern region as UN peacekeepers withdraw

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Attacks in northern Mali have more than doubled since U.N. peacekeepers completed the first phase of their withdrawal last month after a decade of fighting Islamic extremists, resulting in more than 150 deaths.In one brazen attack, militants targeted a triple-decker passenger boat, killing 49 civilians. And this week, another group of rebels attacked Malian army camps in the Lere locality on the border with Mauritania, leaving several security personnel dead and wounded. Now, fleeing Malians fear the worst is yet to come in the prolonged violence.“In Timbuktu, all the communities are leaving the city,” said Fatouma Harber, a resident of Timbuktu which is one of the worst-hit areas. “A few weeks ago, a rocket fell in the town, costing the life of a child. Everyone thinks it could fall on them or their children,” Harber added.After more than three years in power, Mali’s military junta is struggling to fight growing violence in a hard-hit northern region after deman...

Pope Francis visits Marseille as anti-migrant views grow in Europe with talk of fences and blockades

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is visiting the French port city of Marseille, for centuries a multiethnic and multifaith melting pot, to amplify his call for the Mediterranean to be a place of welcome for migrants. It’s an increasingly lonely voice in Europe, where some countries are turning more and more to border fences, repatriations and talk of a naval blockade to keep a new influx of would-be refugees out.Francis is presiding over the closing session of a gathering of Mediterranean Catholic bishops, but his two-day visit that begins Friday is aimed at sending a message well beyond the Catholic faithful to Europe, North Africa and beyond. After a prayer at Marseille’s basilica, Francis holds an interfaith prayer at a monument dedicated to those who have died at sea — a number estimated to top 28,000 since 2014, according to the International Organization of Migration.Francis, who has long lamented that the Mediterranean has become “the world’s biggest cemetery,” co...

2 arrested in drive-by attack at New Mexico baseball stadium that killed 11-year-old boy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two people were arrested Thursday in connection with a shooting outside an Albuquerque baseball stadium that killed an 11-year-old boy and prompted the New Mexico governor to issue a controversial gun ban.Jose Romero, 22, and Nathen Garley, 21, were held for the Sept. 6 shooting after an Albuquerque Isotopes game in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity, Police Chief Harold Medina said at a news conference. “These cowards thought they were tough,” Medina said in an earlier social media post. “They killed an innocent child.”Romero was taken into custody on Thursday evening. At the time, he already was wanted for failing to appear in court in connection with alleged drug dealing, Medina said.Garley was already in custody when he was arrested in connection with the killing. He had been stopped by state police on Sept. 13 while returning from Arizona and authorities found a gun and about 100,000 fentanyl tablets in the car, State Police Chief W. Troy W...

Experience small-town charm, big-city convenience in West Highland

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

Denver’s West Highland neighborhood is an urban oasis filled with small local businesses and a blend of Craftsman bungalows, Victorians, and modern scrapes.Conveniently located near Sloan’s Lake and Edgewater, with easy access to downtown Denver, Golden, and points west, West Highland is a tight-knit community that combines a small-town feel with big-city amenities.“You can’t create this charm in newer neighborhoods,” says Anna Domenico with West+Main. “The combination of old historic neighborhood charm with old main streets and small local businesses make it unique.”Carrie Craig with 8z says West Highland is a tight-knit community that provides a small neighborhood feel through community events like the Highlands Street Fair.What’s available?The Denver neighborhood offers a mix of older and newer homes, historic row homes, and duplexes with some newer condos and townhouses.Craig says buyers want the combination of classic architecture...

Latest edition of Eat Festival promises to 'go down a treat'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

Photo credit: © Mathieu GolinvauxDiscover the entire range of Bordeaux wines . . . at a single wine bar, writes Martin Banks.That is the enticing prospect offered to wine lovers in Belgium at this year’s Eat Festival.The annual event will take place later this month for the third consecutive year at Brussels’ Tour & Taxis and, once again, Bordeaux wines are heavily involved.A glass of Bordeaux wine will be offered to all festival-goers with an entry.Everyone will be able to choose according to their preferences: red wines, of course, but also lesser known wines which are good to discover: dry whites and sweet ones but also the bubbles of crémants and rosés (to help prolong that feel-good summer feeling).For those who wish to extend the experience, all wines will be on sale at €5 per glass.Bordeaux winegrowers and traders (mainly from the younger Bordeaux generation) will leave their vineyards to come to Brussels to share the...

2 more suspects arrested for YSL flash-mob robbery in Glendale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

A 21-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested Wednesday in connection to the flash mob-style robbery that was caught on video at the Yves Saint Laurent store at the Americana at Brand in Glendale last month.  Video of the Aug. 8 incident showed multiple people in dark clothes, hoods and masks running into and then quickly out of the YSL store at the upscale shopping center just before 5 p.m. The Glendale Police Department said there were at least 30 people involved, and they got away with about $300,000 in merchandise.  $218K in stolen retail merchandise found in backyard of L.A. home Authorities with the United States Marshals Task Force, along with officers from the Glendale Police Department arrested Brianna Jimenez and Ivan Ramirez, who had previously been arrested, in the 300 block of Slauson Avenue, police said.  Thieves robbed the YSL store at the Americana at Brand on Aug. 8, 2023. (Katelynn Jasper)Both Jimenez and Ramirez, along with 18-year-old Ziona ...

Andrew Luck is in on the Civil War joke

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

Former Stanford star quarterback Andrew Luck has been largely reclusive in his post-playing career and does not have a public social media presence.Some things permeate into the real world, though.Luck, in a rare public appearance since retiring before the 2019 NFL season, went on Amazon’s Thursday Night Football postgame show in full Union Army regalia — a blue jacket and hat — bringing to life a meme from yesteryear.The Capt. Andrew Luck Twitter account came to life in 2015 and, well, you kind of have to read it to understand. Here’s the tweet that celebrated the final victory of his playing career, a playoff win over Houston:Dearest mother —My time away from home shall be extended. The unit was victorious over the Texan men. Stupendous! It was a hard fought battle, but our lines held strong. I am so thrilled, my pen trembles as I write. My sidearm and resolve are true. I love you.— AndrewLadies and gentlemen, we give you, Andrew Luck. #TNFonPrime pic.twitt...

Major-injury crash closes Santa Clara intersection

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Police on Thursday night were investigating a major-injury collision in Santa Clara.The crash was reported around 9:15 p.m. near Bowers Avenue and Monroe Street.Police closed the intersection for an investigation and asked people to avoid the area.Additional details about the collision were not immediately available late Thursday.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Discovery of ‘unknown substance’ in Menlo Park home prompts hours-long road closure Crashes and Disasters | 2 dead as bus carrying high school students crashes in NY Crashes and Disasters | Family sues Google alleging its Maps app led father to drive off collapsed bridge to his death Crashes and Disasters | Former Stanford Cardinal football coach Buddy Teevens dies from injuries sustained in bicycle accident Crashes and Disasters | Vigil to be held for East Bay boy who died, siblings injured one year after tragic accident Che...

Dodgers capitalize on Giants’ physical and mental blunders to win 7-2

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — J.D. Martinez’s sacrifice fly drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on two physical and one mental blunder by the San Francisco Giants to win 7-2 Thursday night in the series opener.The Giants have dropped six of seven on their road trip to fall further out of the NL wild-card race.Will Smith tripled off John Brebbia (3-1) and Martinez followed with the fly to right. Mike Yastrzemski wasn’t that deep when he caught the ball flat-footed and then held it for a moment, apparently forgetting there were only two outs.That gave Smith time enough to charge home for a 3-2 lead.“Yaz made a very uncharacteristic mental error,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They usually don’t make those kind of mistakes.”Two wild pitches by reliever Luke Jackson led to two runs for the NL West champion Dodgers in the seventh.Jackson’s pitch went all the way to the backstop, allowing Chris Taylor to score from third after...

The Giants can’t overcome injuries to Barkley and Thomas in a 30-12 loss to the 49ers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:35:30 GMT

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Dealing with a team as talented as the San Francisco 49ers is difficult enough in the best of circumstances. For the New York Giants, doing it without their best offensive playmaker and best offensive lineman proved to be too much to overcome.New York’s offense never managed to get going without Saquon Barkley and Andrew Thomas against San Francisco’s tenacious defense, with Daniel Jones spending much of the day on the run during a 30-12 loss to the 49ers on Thursday night.“We didn’t create a rhythm, we didn’t execute, we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities,” Jones said. “Certainly it is a good defense, a good team, and so when you’re playing good teams, you can’t afford to do that. We didn’t play well enough. It was frustrating at times, but I felt like we were in the game really until the end and had chances to make plays really to the end.”Barkley is the focal point of New York’s offense and with him on the sideline with a sprai...