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Sinn Fein on course to be largest party in Northern Ireland local elections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein is set to take the most seats in Northern Ireland’s local elections and repeat its success from last year’s assembly elections, when it became the region’s largest party for the first time. With about 400 of 462 local government seats counted Saturday, Sinn Fein, which seeks unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, took 128 seats and made breakthroughs in some areas. It was ahead of its main rival, the Democratic Unionist Party, or DUP, which secured 111 seats so far. “We are now on course to have a very momentous election result,” said Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein’s vice president. The party said its success was a message from voters that Northern Ireland’s power-sharing government, which has been paralyzed for over a year, must get back to business. “We need to double down in terms of getting an executive restored and getting our councils up and running again,” O’Neill tol...

Denz wins another Giro stage, Armirail is first Frenchman in pink this century

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

CASSANO MAGNAGO, Italy (AP) — Nico Denz sprinted to his second victory in the Giro d’Italia after almost celebrating too early, while Bruno Armirail became the first Frenchman to wear the pink jersey in this century.Denz lifted his arms in celebration as he crossed the line at the end of the 14th stage on Saturday but he appeared not to have spotted Derek Gee on his right. However, the German cyclist managed to pip Gee by half a wheel.Denz, who rides for Bora-Hansgrohe, won Thursday’s 12th stage for his first victory in a Grand Tour, in his sixth Giro.“I was satisfied already after the first one and I told people to wake me up because this can’t be true, this must be a dream,” Denz said. “I don’t understand really what’s going on right now to be honest.”Alberto Bettiol was third, while the general classification riders rolled across the line more than 21 minutes behind Denz at the end of another cold and rainy stage.That moved Armirail into pink and gave previous leader Geraint Thom...

PGA Live Updates | Rain awaits leaders Scheffler, Hovland and Conners at soggy PGA Championship

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The third round of the PGA Championship is underway at soggy Oak Hill, where wet conditions await a trio of co-leaders when they tee off later Saturday afternoon.Scottie Scheffler, Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland are all at 5 under through two rounds and will have to deal with a drenched East Course that will play even longer than usual.The rain started soon after the first group went out shortly after 8 a.m. By noon course attendants were around the greens and fairways trying to squeegee excess moisture.Most of the notable names who made the cut were struggling in the early going. World No. 1 Jon Rahm is 4 over for his round through nine holes, well off the pace at plus-8 overall. Phil Mickelson double-bogeyed the second hole and was at plus-9 overall midway through his back nine.The rain is expected to ease later in the afternoon as Scheffler pursues a second major title to go with his 2022 Masters victory. Conners and Hovland are both chasing their first m...

Ancelotti says he will stay at Real Madrid despite City loss and Brazil opening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Carlo Ancelotti says he will finish his contract with Real Madrid despite their defeat in the Champions League semifinals and with rumors swirling that Brazil would love the Italian to become its next coach.“I have a contract until June 2024 and the club has already guaranteed I will see out my contract. Everyone knows that’s exactly what I want to do,” Ancelotti said on Saturday in his first news conference since he spoke immediately after Manchester City routed his Madrid 4-0 this week to reach the final 5-1 on aggregate.That stinging defeat fueled speculation that perhaps Ancelotti’s second stint at Madrid was near its end. Madrid has won the Copa del Rey, the Club World Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup this season, but it lost the Spanish league title to Barcelona and failed to defend its Champions League crown.Meanwhile, Brazil is apparently ready to embrace the 63-year-old Ancelotti, the only coach to have won four European Cups after winning it twice with A...

Hertha Berlin relegated from Bundesliga after conceding in injury time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Hertha Berlin was relegated from the Bundesliga after conceding in the fourth minute of injury time to draw with Bochum 1-1 on Saturday.Former Union Berlin defender Keven Schlotterbeck headed the goal that sent Hertha down to the second division.It’s Hertha’s seventh relegation from the Bundesliga. Only Nuremberg (nine) and Arminia Bielefeld (eight) have been demoted more times.Hertha needed a win to postpone the relegation decisions to the final day of the season and it was looking good for the home team after Lucas Tousart finally made the breakthrough with a header to Marco Richter’s corner in the 64th minute.Both teams hit the post in the final minutes before Schlotterbeck was left unopposed to head Kevin Stöger’s corner past Oliver Christensen in the Hertha goal.It ensured Hertha stayed last with no chance of finishing above the bottom two. Bochum was not safe yet.Schlotterbeck and his Bochum teammates ran to celebrate in front of the visiting fans, while the rest...

1 dead after police chase ends in Rockville crash, lane closures on I-270

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

A man is dead after a police chase led to a crash Saturday morning between Falls Road and Route 28 in Rockville, Maryland, leading to standstill traffic and lane closures on Interstate 270.Montgomery County police said that around 5 a.m. they were called to do a welfare check on a man inside a car in the middle lane on the ramp of Rockledge Road.Upon arrival, officers found the driver appearing to be intoxicated, with a gun on his lap.Police said they tried to stop him from leaving but he was able to speed away. After a brief chase, the man crashed going south of Route 28, striking another car.The fleeing driver was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two people in the other car were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.As a result of the crash investigation, I-270 closed northbound between Falls Road and Route 28, with traffic on I-270 diverted into the local lanes, WTOP Traffic reported. Northbound I-270 reopened to traffic several hours la...

Firmino scores late equalizer against Villa to keep alive Liverpool’s Champions League hopes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Roberto Firmino kept alive Liverpool’s Champions League qualification dreams with a goal as a substitute in his last game for the club at Anfield.The Brazilian striker poked in a finish in the 89th minute to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.A loss, coupled with fourth-place Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday, would have guaranteed Liverpool could not have finished in the top four.Instead, Liverpool is not quite out of it, with Jurgen Klopp’s team three points behind third-place Newcastle and Man United, which each have two games left to play. Liverpool only has one game remaining, at already-relegated Southampton next weekend.Ollie Watkins missed a penalty for Villa in the 22nd but Jacob Ramsey put the visitors ahead five minutes later by sidefooting home at the far post from Douglas Luiz’s cross.Firmino is one of four players — along with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlai...

Motorcyclist killed in Aurora crash, cause still unknown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) -- A motorcyclist was killed in a crash on East Centretech Parkway near North Airport Boulevard, according to Aurora police early Saturday.According to police, it appeared a male rider lost control of the motorcycle and crashed it on the roadway.As of Saturday morning, APD was still unsure of the exact cause of the crash.This was the 23rd fatal crash in Aurora this year.

Denver weather: Smoky skies, 70s, isolated storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will dry out over the weekend with only isolated storm chances on Saturday and Sunday but skies will be hazy from wildfires in Canada. Weather today: Smoky & 70sThe wildfire smoke from Canada will continue to bring poor air quality to parts of Colorado through the weekend.An air quality warning is in place through this morning as conditions should improve by the evening.Highs will reach the 70s with an isolated storm is possible, mainly to the south.Looking ahead: Wet next week againTomorrow through Monday we have more of the same - smoke, 70s, and isolated storm chance. Storm chances will increase midweek with the potential for a severe threat Wednesday and Thursday - something we will keep an eye to!

Colorado GOP fears it's ceding ground to Democrats

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:08 GMT

Republican worries are growing that Colorado is slipping further into the hands of Democrats after recent defeats and close calls in the most conservative parts of the state.The latest blow to the GOP in the Centennial State came this week when Republicans lost the mayoral race in Colorado Springs, marking the first time in decades that a member of the party wouldn’t take the helm of the conservative bastion.That followed a surprise near-upset last year when Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) almost lost her reelection bid in one of the midterms’ biggest surprises.Colorado’s changing political landscape, which Republicans believe is due to a culmination of factors, comes as the party looks to hold onto its slim House majority in next year’s elections."Across the board in Colorado, we saw a swing to the left that was wholly unanticipated" in the November midterms, said Sandra Hagen Solin, founder of lobbying firm Capitol Solutions, who has worked in Republican politics."Historically, Colo...