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J Balvin returns to his reggaeton roots on the romantic ‘Amigos’ — and no, it is not about Bad Bunny

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — At a Frank Sinatra-themed restaurant in the lobby of Encore, a luxury hotel and casino on the Vegas strip, Colombian musician J Balvin sat down to discuss his interest in Formula One. Balvin was the only artist at last month’s Las Vegas Grand Prix to perform twice doing their motorsport weekend — for him, it was an opportunity to participate in a global sport as a global musician. It also allowed him to tease his latest single, the reggaeton track “Amigos,” on the Sphere, the largest LED screen on Earth.A one point during the week, an ad with a photo number projected on the Sphere read “J Balvin doesn’t need more friends.”Fans could’ve misinterpreted it as a response to a verse on Bad Bunny’s track “Thunder y Lightning.” On it, the Puerto Rican star says “Ustedes me han visto con los mismo mientras ustedes son amigo de todo el mundo como Balvin.” In English, it translates to “You guys have seen me with the same people while you all are ...

Bulls guard Zach LaVine needs 3 to 4 more weeks of rehab on right foot

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine could be sidelined through the rest of December because of inflammation in his right foot.The Bulls said Wednesday night after their 111-100 victory over Charlotte that the two-time All-Star will need three to four more weeks of rehab. LaVine missed his third straight game, with Chicago going 3-0.LaVine signed a five-year, $215.16 million extension after the 2021-22 season. He’s averaging 21 points in 18 games — and has been the topic of recent trade speculation.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nbaSource

Jace Carter scores 14 points as No. 21 Texas A&M routs DePaul 89-64

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Jace Carter scored 14 points and Wade Taylor IV and Henry Coleman III added 13 each as No. 21 Texas A&M raced to a 32-point halftime lead and cruised to a 89-64 win over DePaul on Wednesday night.The Aggies made 14 3-pointers, which is tied for second-most in school history. Texas A&M (7-2) led 62-30 at halftime for its most points in a first half since scoring 65 against Grambling in 2006. The Aggies made 11 of their 3-pointers before the break, led by four from Carter and three from Taylor. Carter entered the game shooting just 17% on 3-pointers, but made 4 of 7 Wednesday night. “I believe in Jace, I believed in him from the first time I met him,” coach Buzz Williams said. “He’s easy to cheer for. He’s incredibly consistent as a worker.”Teammate Manny Obaseki also raved about Carter. “Jace has been working every single day,” he said. “There’s no surprise to it when he’s making shots because he’s been working.” Carter said he was helped this we...

Minnesota overcomes loss of leading scorer Garcia, rallies to beat Nebraska 76-65

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Elijah Hawkins scored 12 points with 11 assists and Minnesota overcame a 15-point halftime deficit and the loss of leading scorer Dawson Garcia to beat Nebraska 76-65 on Wednesday night. Garcia, who had a career-high 36 points in the Gophers’ Big Ten-opening loss against Ohio State, turned an ankle a couple minutes into the game. He returned late in the half and started the second half, but was favoring his ankle and soon took a seat with Minnesota (6-3, 1-1) trailing by 11.A few minutes later Minnesota went on a 18-2 run and took a three-point lead. Joshua Ola-Joseph hit a 3-pointer and added two more buckets including a dunk in a subsequent run and Minnesota led by nine with under nine minutes remaining. Nebraska (7-2, 0-1) got within four with five minutes left but no closer with Hawkins hitting a 3-pointer with 2 1/2 minutes to go for an eight-point edge.Ola-Joseph scored 15 points, Braeden Carrington 13 and Mike Mitchell Jr. and Pharrel Payne had 12 apiece fo...

Luka Doncic has first first-half triple-double in Mavericks’ 147-97 victory over Jazz

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic had 40 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists playing only three periods after the first first-half triple-double of his career in the Dallas Mavericks’ 147-97 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.Doncic had his 60th career triple-double to move past Larry Bird and into sole possession of ninth place overall on the career list.“Pretty amazing,” said Doncic, who sported a thin headband for the first time only days after becoming a first-time father. “I don’t know what to say, honestly. We all know who Larry Bird was, so it’s pretty special.”Doncic shot 14 of 25 from the floor, 6 of 12 on 3-pointers. He played 32 minutes, slightly above his per-game average.“Luka set the tone with that, knocking down shot after shot after shot … after shot after shot after shot,” Tim Hardaway Jr. said. “I thought he was going to go 50-20-20.”Doncic went into the final 1:30 of the second quarter with 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He grabbed a rebound with 1:1...

John Kerry: US has to get rid of ‘crazy’ oil and gas subsidies

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Google Play EN_Google_Podcasts_Badge Created with Sketch. Acast Amazon Music As negotiators from nearly 200 countries enter the final week of climate talks at COP28 in Dubai, all eyes will be on the big players and who moves first. In this week’s special edition of Power Play from Dubai, host Anne McElvoy talks to one of the most influential figures in ...

U.S. Coast Guard offloads thousands of pounds of drugs seized in eastern Pacific Ocean

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- U.S. officials made several large drug busts in the Pacific Ocean within the last two months.On Wednesday, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche offloaded approximately 18,219 pounds of cocaine, which was seized from the "drug transit zones" of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The cocaine seized is estimated to be worth more than $239 million.Thirteen people were arrested and are in U.S. custody and charges are pending, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Tara McGrath said.Officials offloaded the thousands of pounds of drugs Wednesday afternoon and transported it to a lab to be analyzed, then it will be stored as evidence through the criminal proceedings and eventually destroyed.The seizures took place between October and November from six different vessels, including a self propelled semi-submersible. Part of that seizure was caught on camera. Former FOX 5 reporter battles rare cancer "Many of these drugs came from high speed smuggl...

Australia pushes against China’s Pacific influence through a security pact with Papua New Guinea

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian government signed a security pact with its nearest neighbor Papua New Guinea on Thursday that strengthens Australia’s place as the preferred security partner in a region where China’s influence is growing.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papuan counterpart James Marape signed the agreement in Australia’s Parliament House six months later than initially planned.The June date was abandoned after a security deal struck between the United States and Marape’s government sparked protests in the South Pacific nation in May over concerns that it undermined Papua New Guinea’s sovereignty.Marape said the agreement with Australia respects both nations’ sovereignty and was initiated by his government. He said the security agreements with Australia and the United States did not mean he was siding with those nations in their strategic competition against China.“Our major foreign policy as friends to all, enemies to none remains. And it’s never pick...

A milestone for Notre Dame: 1 year until cathedral reopens to public after devastating fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

PARIS (AP) — When flames tore into Notre Dame in 2019, people who worked in the cathedral felt orphaned. But as the world-famous Paris landmark’s reopening draws closer, they are beginning to picture their return to the place they call home and are impatient to breathe life back into its repaired stonework and vast spaces.The restoration of Notre Dame hits a milestone Friday: one year until the cathedral reopens its huge doors to the public, on Dec. 8, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron will don a hard hat and tour the fenced-off reconstruction site where stonemasons, carpenters and hundreds of other artisans are hammering away to meet the 12-month deadline.When their job is done, they will hand over to Notre Dame’s priests, employees, chorists and worshippers. With prayers, songs and devotion, they’ll give the cathedral the kiss of life and celebration to nudge aside the pain the April 15, 2019, blaze inflicted on French hearts and Catholic faithful around the...

Stock market today: Asian shares slide after retreat on Wall Street as crude oil prices skid

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:14 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Shares fell Thursday in Asia after a retreat on Wall Street as crude oil prices slipped on expectations that supply might outpace demand. Benchmarks fell more than 1% in Tokyo and Hong Kong. On Wednesday, the S&P 500 fell 0.4% in its third straight loss though the index remains near its best level in 20 months.A barrel of benchmark U.S. crude tumbled roughly 4%, to 4,549.34, on Wednesday as expectations built that the world has too much oil available for the slowing global economy’s demand. It sank below $70, down more than $20 since September. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 3.8% to $74.30 per barrel.Early Thursday, U.S. crude was up 29 cents at $69.67 per barrel. Brent crude rose 31 cents to $74.61 per barrel. China reported that its exports rose 0.5% in November, the first year-on-year month of increase since April, but imports fell.China has been grappling with sluggish foreign trade this year amid slack global demand and a stalled recovery, desp...