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Wrexham’s Hollywood owners get their wish as Notts County promoted too

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Wrexham’s Hollywood owners got their wish.Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had thrown their support behind Notts County to gain promotion from the National League after seeing their own team win a tight title battle in England’s fifth tier.And McElhenney took to Twitter to congratulate Notts County after its penalty shootout victory over Chesterfield in the National League playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The match finished 2-2 after extra time.“Never a doubt,” tweeted McElhenney, the creator of TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” “Congratulations Notts County!!!!!!! What an extraordinary run. See you next year.”Wrexham and Notts County passed the 100-point mark in the regular season, the first time two teams reached that milestone in the same season.Wrexham sealed promotion on April 22.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Sweden’s Simon Forsstrom stays on course for wire-to-wire win at Soudal Open

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Swedish golfer Simon Forsstrom stayed on course for a wire-to-wire victory at the Soudal Open on the European tour by shooting 4-under 67 in the third round on Saturday.Belgium’s Thomas Detry was making a run at the title in his home country, however, after moving into second place — one stroke behind Forsstrom — with a round of 66.Forsstrom, who came through qualifying school at the end of last year to gain his tour card, was on 15 under overall as he goes for his first senior victory.The No. 429-ranked Forsstrom has made only one bogey all week — in his second round, in which he also shot 67 — and made three birdies in his final six holes on Saturday.Julien Brun of France and Jens Dantorp of Sweden both shot 67s and were tied for third place, three strokes from the lead. ___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

AC Milan’s troubles continue with loss at Spezia before 2nd leg of CL semifinal

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

ROME (AP) — AC Milan’s troubles were extended after losing at relegation-threatened Spezia 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday, three days after falling to city rival Inter Milan by the same score in the Champions League semifinals.Przemysław Wisniewski and Salvatore Esposito scored their first Serie A goals late in the second half for Spezia.Wisniewski knocked in a rebound of a shot from Kelvin Amian that had hit the post following a corner, then Esposito curled in a free kick over Milan’s wall.Milan was left in fifth place — two points behind Inter and the final Champions League spot, with Inter hosting Sassuolo later.Inter Milan won the first leg of the “Euroderby” against AC Milan on Wednesday. The second leg is scheduled for Tuesday at the San Siro.Earlier, Salernitana beat Atalanta 1-0 with a stoppage-time winner from substitute Antonio Candreva.Atalanta was in seventh place and five points below the Champions League places. Victory virtually sealed another season in the top-flight for...

‘You represent the best in us’: President Biden delivers Howard University commencement speech

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

President Joe Biden gave his commencement speech to Howard University’s Class of 2023 at D.C.’s Capital One Arena.“Today, I come here to Howard to continue the work to redeem the soul of this nation because it’s here where I see the future,” Biden said to the crowd.He became the first sitting president since Barack Obama in 2016 and seventh U.S. president to speak at Howard University’s commencement.Biden along with Rep. Jim Clyburn received the honorary Doctor of Letters from a university that has been a main focus for the president and Vice President Kamala Harris, who is a Howard alum, during their time in office.During his speech, Biden called for unity and acceptance.“Love over hate, union over disunion, progress over retreat. To stand up against the poison of white supremacy as I did in my inaugural address to single out as the most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy,” he said.Biden’s speech comes...

Omanyala takes 100 at Kip Keino Classic, wins for US’ Richardson and Terry

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Home favorite Ferdinand Omanyala won the 100 meters at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya on Saturday, beating a pair of Americans for a world-leading time of 9.84 seconds.The United States’ Sha’Carri Richardson took victory in the women’s 200 in a meet record of 22.07 seconds to follow up on her win in the 100 at the Doha Diamond League a week ago.Kyra Richardson (22.77) and Shannon Ray (22.82) completed an American sweep in that race.Kenya’s Omanyala, who has eyes on the 100 title at the world championships in Hungary in August, had the backing of the crowd at the Moi International Sports Centre, which included Kenyan President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.Omanyala won a tight race to edge Kenneth Bednarek, who was second in 9.98 seconds. Marvin Bracy-Williams (10.03) was third.“Though I did not break the African record as promised, I’m happy with the world lead,” Omanyala said. “This year, it’s me against time with the ...

Zelenskyy meets with Italian officials, Pope Francis in Rome

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, after meeting earlier in the day with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who promised full military and financial backing for Ukraine.Zelenskyy said he sought support for his peace plan from Pope Francis, who in the past has offered to try to help end the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022. The pontiff also indicated the Vatican would help in the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken by Russians.In a tweet after the 40-minute audience with the pope, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Francis for “his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians.” He said he spoke with the pontiff “about the tens of thousands of deported (Ukrainian) children. We must make every effort to return them home.”Last month, Pope Francis told reporters that the Vatican was engaged in a behind-the-scene peace mission to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine, without...

Lacrosse notebook: Deep, talented Reading girls team off to 14-1 start

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

READING — When the time finally came to return to the practice field for tryouts this past spring, Kate Leone finally was able to breathe a sigh of relief.The Reading girls lacrosse star had spent months working her way back from a series of left knee injuries, most notably a torn ACL and meniscus. Now following two surgeries, the senior and her teammates have the program off to one of its best starts in school history at 14-1.“It felt amazing,” said Leone. “I was a little nervous at first, because tearing your ACL is a big deal. I think it’s more of a mental game than it is physical. It just felt good to get back out there with my teammates, and make an impact.”A DePauw women’s lacrosse commit, Leone (25 goals, eight assists) has proven to be a Swiss Army knife for the Rockets, as has St. Michael’s commit Julia Barbato (27 goals, 23 assists). Meanwhile, the Rockets have been fueled offensively by a trio of sophomore sensations with Libby Quinn (45 goals, 18 assists), Megan Sh...

Celtics’ Marcus Smart clarifies comment about criticism of Joe Mazzulla

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

With two words, Marcus Smart raised some eyebrows after the Celtics’ Game 6 victory in Philadelphia on Thursday.Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had made a key adjustment, starting Robert Williams instead of Derrick White. It worked, fueling Boston to its best defensive performance of the playoffs. But in praising Mazzulla’s adjustment, Smart also acknowledged the criticism his coach has been taking during his first playoff run.“I know he’s been killed a lot,” Smart said. “Rightfully so.”It was certainly an unusual remark made from a player about their coach. But the relationship between Mazzulla and his Celtics players is also unique.Smart meant no malice behind his words. The point guard clarified them Saturday, and reiterated how the Celtics are operating in a collaborative environment, one that Mazzulla has been fostering since he took the job suddenly in September. Mazzulla makes the final decisions, but the Celtics – who are experienced in these playoff moments – are there to help t...

End of Title 42 hasn’t stopped migrants’ push north to US from Central America and Mexico

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — For weeks, Solangel Contreras raced.The Venezuelan migrant and her family of 22 trudged through the dense jungles of the Darien Gap and hopped borders across Central America.They joined thousands of other migrants from across the Hemisphere in a scramble to reach the United States-Mexico border and request asylum.They raced, unsure what changing migratory rules and the end of a pandemic-era border restriction, Title 42, would mean for their chances at a new life in the U.S.But after missing that cutoff, robbed in Guatemala and crossing into Mexico shortly after the program ended Thursday night, Contreras, 33, had only one certainty in her mind: “We’re going to keep going.”Confusion has rippled from the U.S.-Mexico border to migrant routes across the Americas, as migrants scramble to understand complex and ever-changing policies. And while Title 42 has come to an end, the flow of migrants headed north has not.From the rolling mountains and jungles in Central Americ...

Germany announces $3 billion military aid package for Ukraine ahead of expected Zelenskyy visit

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 15:15:31 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany will provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition, the government said Saturday.The announcement came on the eve of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Germany since Russia invaded his country last year.Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that Berlin wanted to show with the latest package of arms “that Germany is serious in its support” for Ukraine.“Germany will provide all the help it can, as long as it takes,” he said.Zelenskyy’s expected weekend visit — still not publicly confirmed by German officials for security reasons — is regarded in Berlin as a sign that relations between Ukraine and Germany have improved markedly after a rocky patch.Kyiv has long been suspicious of Germany’s reliance on Russian energy and support for the Nord Stream gas pipelines circumventing Ukraine, defended by then Chancellor Angela Merkel....