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Serbia and Kosovo leaders break off talks without result despite EU pressure

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo broke off talks on Thursday without signaling progress after European Union leaders weighed in to help them bridge their differences and start enacting an agreement they endorsed several months ago.Shortly after a series of meetings in Brussels ended on Thursday evening – some involving the leaders of France, Germany and Italy – Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic began trading blame for the lack of progress, much as they have done for months.The two men deeply distrust each other. Kurti said that Vucic had refused to sign their February agreement aimed at normalizing their bitter relations as well as an action plan for making the deal work.“Acceptance entails a signature; only a signature entails acceptance and guarantees implementation,” Kurti said in a statement.Vucic dismissed that claim as “tricks,” saying “there was no question of signing or not signing.”“Someone is playing games to shift the...

Childhood friends and top 2 draft picks Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud square off as Panthers host Texans

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — C.J. Stroud hasn’t forgotten the first time he faced off against Bryce Young on the football field as an eighth grader on a rainy afternoon in Fontana, California.Young’s Inland Empire Ducks defeated Stroud’s Pomona Steelers in an all-star exhibition.“They killed us terribly,” Stroud said. “He had a really good game. I played terrible.”On Sunday, Young’s Carolina Panthers will host Stroud’s upstart Houston Texans as this year’s top two NFL draft picks and close friends meet again.That initial youth middle school game nearly a decade ago was the first of several meetings in the sports arena, as they competed in 7-on-7 football games and on the basketball court on the travel ball circuit. They developed a mutual respect and close friendship along the way, supporting each other at quarterback camps before Young headed off to Alabama and Stroud to Ohio State. They quietly rooted for one another’s success in college and leaned on each other during the grueling NFL ...

Orban doubles down at EU summit to defend meeting Putin. One leader calls it a very wrong message

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — If a warm handshake with Russian President Vladimir Putin weren’t provocative enough, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban went into an EU summit Thursday saying he was right to meet the EU’s foremost enemy and that most of the other leaders were wrong.Orban characterized himself as the only one actively seeking peace in Ukraine, though his controversial stance on Russia appears to have gained an ally within the EU with the addition of new Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, with both threatening to obstruct EU aid to Ukraine, much of which requires unanimity amid the 27 nations. Most EU leaders weren’t taking it. “It’s really more than strange to see that we start to flirt with the regime who is committing very cruel atrocities,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda. “It sends a very wrong message to anybody.” As the EU leaders held their traditional fall summit in Brussels, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined by video link, exhorting the bloc to c...

No. 19 Air Force takes a 7-0 record into a road game against rival Colorado State

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

There are plenty of reasons for No. 19 Air Force to bask a bit in all the team has accomplished so far.At 7-0, the Falcons are tied for the fourth-best start in school history. Their current ranking is the program’s highest in two decades. Their 306 yards rushing per game is tops in the nation. Their option-oriented offense even leads the country in passing yards per completion.Really, though, the Falcons (7-0, 4-0 Mountain West) are too focused to revel in what they’ve achieved to date. The only thing on their mind is a trip this Saturday to Colorado State (3-4, 1-2), where they have another impressive stat — six straight wins over the Rams.“It’s cool to have that past behind you,” Air Force offensive tackle Kaleb Holcomb said of the team’s hot start. “But the past isn’t going to help you win the next game.”At stake this weekend for Air Force is not only trying to remain among the unbeaten teams — nine remain — and hoisting the Ram-Falcon Trophy, but staying on track to possi...

Vikings try to continue their recent surge while Packers look to break out of their slump

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Kirk Cousins and the Minnesota Vikings are coming off the type of victory that could change the course of their season.It’s the type of win the Green Bay Packers could desperately use right now.The Vikings (3-4) will try to build off the momentum of a Monday night triumph over the San Francisco 49ers and the Packers (2-4) will attempt to snap a three-game skid when these two NFC North foes face off Sunday at Lambeau Field.Although these teams have combined to win 11 of the last 12 NFC North titles, both are below .500 this season. The Vikings at least have given themselves reason for hope by winning their last two games and handing San Francisco just its second loss of the season.“You understand that what you do in the prior weeks means nothing moving forward,” Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks said. “Every week you’ve got to bring the same energy, the same chip on your shoulder.”The Packers would like to put these last few weeks behind them. Their slump include...

Chargers host Bears on Sunday night, aim to avoid third straight loss

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

CHICAGO (2-5) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (2-4)Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT, NBCBETTING LINE: Chargers by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bears 2-4-1; Chargers 2-4.SERIES RECORD: Bears lead 7-6.LAST MEETING: Chargers beat Bears 17-16 on Oct. 27, 2019, in Chicago.LAST WEEK: Bears beat Raiders 30-12; Chargers lost to Chiefs 31-17.BEARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (5), PASS (27), SCORING (13).BEARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (5), PASS (29), SCORING (28).CHARGERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (8), RUSH (16), PASS (8), SCORING (T-11).CHARGERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (31), RUSH (11), PASS (32), SCORING (25).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Bears minus-3; Chargers plus-5.BEARS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Tyson Bagent. The undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd in his home state of West Virginia is set to make his second straight start after Justin Fields dislocated his right thumb in a Week 6 loss to Minnesota. And this time, he’ll be in prime time. Bagent was steady last week in his first start, going 21 ...

Appeals court stops planned execution of Texas inmate convicted of killing a fellow prisoner

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Texas’ top criminal appeals court has stopped Thursday evening’s scheduled execution of a Texas inmate who had been condemned for killing another prisoner more than 26 years ago. William Speer, 49, had been set to receive a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville. The victim’s sister and religious leaders had recently asked authorities to spare his life.Speer was convicted of the strangling death of Gary Dickerson in July 1997 at the Telford state prison, located near New Boston in northeast Texas.His attorneys had asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to stop his execution over allegations that prosecutors at his 2001 trial failed to disclose evidence, presented false testimony and that his trial lawyers failed to present evidence about Speer’s troubled childhood. They say Speer was physically and sexually abused as a child. Prosecutors have denied the allegations against them.Less than five hours before his scheduled execution at 6 p...

New Speaker Mike Johnson heads to the White House to discuss Biden’s bid for Israel and Ukraine aid

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Mike Johnson is the new speaker of the House, but the Donald Trump ally inherits many of the same political problems that have tormented past GOP leaders, tested their grasp of the gavel and eventually chased them from office.The House convened Thursday with a bustle of activity, making up for lost time during the weeks of chaos since Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted as speaker. But the initial goodwill toward Johnson blurs the political fault lines challenging the Louisianan’s ability to lead the GOP majority as it faces daunting issues ahead. Johnson headed to the White House for a classified briefing and planned to meet later with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. Earlier, Johnson said “prayer is appropriate” as a response to the mass shootings in Maine. “This is a dark time in America,” Johnson said at the Capitol on his first full day as speaker.“We’re really, really hopeful and prayerful,” he said about the Maine shootings. “Prayer is a...

Maz Jobrani hopes to ‘bring people together’ with ‘Mr. International Comedy Tour’ at Kennedy Center

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

He filmed his very first Netflix standup special at the Kennedy Center in the nation’s capital back in 2017. In this Dec. 22, 2009 photo, Iranian comedian Maz Jobrani poses at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)(ASSOCIATED PRESS/Damian Dovarganes) In this Dec. 22, 2009 photo, Iranian comedian Maz Jobrani poses at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)(ASSOCIATED PRESS/Damian Dovarganes) Next week, Maz Jobrani returns to the venue for his “Mr. International Comedy Tour” for two nights on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4.“It’s ‘Mr. International’ because I wanted ‘Mr. Worldwide,’ but Pitbull has that; I’m the other bald ...

The population center of Colorado likely isn't where you think it is: Census

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:18:40 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — When you think of the heart of Colorado, maybe you think of its capital, Denver. Geographically speaking, maybe you think of the area slightly west of Colorado Springs or even Breckenridge. Surprisingly, the center of Colorado's population isn’t exactly close to any of these.Since the first census in 1790, the U.S. Census Bureau has been calculating the “center of population” in the country. This is a point where an imaginary, flat, weightless, and rigid map of the U.S. would balance perfectly if everyone were of identical weight. It is the average location of where people in the U.S. live, according to the Census Bureau. Data from the 2020 census found Hartville, Missouri, is the “heart” of America. Since 1980, Missouri towns have been the population centers, but the first-ever center in 1790 was in Maryland, just east of Baltimore. This town in Colorado has a population of zero In addition to calculating the center of population for the U.S., the ...