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TOKYO (AP) — Look for Lionel Messi to play in Wednesday's friendly in Tokyo with Inter Miami facing Japanese club Vissel Kobe. He sat alone on a stool on stage, wore a pink warm-up jacket, and showed a bit of humility. But I feel much better and I really want to be able to do it.”Messi tried to explain to Hong Kong fans, saying it was impossible for him to play with a groin injury. Through five games from El Salvador, to Dallas, to Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, Inter Miami has won only once and has been outscored 12-7. “I hope we can return and we can play another game and I can be present,” he said.

Persons: Lionel Messi, refeunds, Luis Suarez —, —, Messi, Andres Iniesta, ” Messi, ”, Suarez, Mark Conrad, ” Conrad Organizations: TOKYO, Inter Miami, Vissel Kobe, Hong Kong, Kobe, ” Inter, Tokyo Olympics, Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business, Associated Press Locations: Tokyo, Barcelona, Japanese, Hong Kong, El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia

But in a brief statement issued just minutes before midnight, both sides said that they have extended the cease-fire for 180 days. The statement says the National Liberation Army, known by its Spanish acronym ELN, will “temporarily and unilaterally suspend economic detentions” in order to contribute to the cease-fire. A cease-fire between the government and ELN started in August, and has reduced fighting between both sides. According to Colombia’s Defense Ministry, the National Liberation Army is holding at least 38 hostages. Monday’s statement said that the conditions under which the rebels will cease kidnappings will continue to be discussed in an upcoming round of talks in April.

Persons: —, ELN, “, Otty, Gustavo Petro, Luis Díaz Organizations: National Liberation Army, Revolutionary Armed Forces, Colombia’s Defense Ministry Locations: BOGOTA, Colombia, extorsion

☆ Sebastian Pinera: Former Chilean president has died in a helicopter crash, says his office
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Anneclaire Stapleton | Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has died in a helicopter crash in Chile. At the time of the crash, there was widespread rainfall in the area, but it is unclear if the weather caused the crash. Pinera, who was 74 years old, was Chile’s president from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. The unrest led then-outgoing President Pinera to agree to a popular vote about the need to change the constitution inherited from the dictatorship. “I met President Pinera several years ago.

Persons: CNN —, Sebastian Pinera, of Interior Carolina Tohá, Pinera, Gabriel Boric, “, ”, Pinera’s, Michelle Bachelet, ” Boric, Luis Lacalle Pou, Javier Milei Organizations: CNN, CNN — Former Chilean, Chilean, of Interior, Harvard University, Forbes, Banco Locations: Chile, Ríos, Chilean, United States, San Jose, Uruguay, Argentina

Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County, which was devastated by mudslides caused by powerful storms in 2018. Evacuation orders and warnings were in effect for mountain and canyon areas of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. As of Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second largest, said it was planning to open schools as usual Monday. ___Associated Press videographer Eugene Garcia in Ventura, Calif., and radio reporter Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.

Persons: Alexis Herrera, ” Herrera, Ryan Kittell, ”, Lindsay Horvath, ” Horvath, Gavin Newsom, Alberto Carvalho, videographer Eugene Garcia, Julie Walker Organizations: ANGELES, San Francisco Bay Area, Sunday, San Francisco International, Palisades, Central, Gov, Emergency Services, Los Angeles Unified School District, Associated Locations: California, San Francisco Bay, San Jose, Southern California, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sierra Nevada, Hawaii, Northern California, Monterey, San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles, LA, Topanga, Soledad, Los Angeles , Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Ventura counties, Southern, Ventura , Calif, New York

Through five games, Inter Miami has been outscored 12-7 and won only once. Inter Miami coach Gerardo Martino apologized for Messi's absence after Sunday's Hong Kong match. Fans who saw practice on Saturday at least saw the Argentina captain in a kick-around, with Miami co-owner David Beckham also on the field. “We understand the disappointment of the fans for the absence of Leo (Messi) and Luis Suarez,” Martino said. Inter Miami is to practice on Tuesday on the outskirts of Tokyo with snow in the forecast.

Persons: —, Lionel Messi, Messi, Uruguayan Luis Suarez, Suarez, ” John Grady, ”, Grady, Gerardo Martino, David Beckham, Leo, Luis Suarez, ” Martino, “, Luis, ” Messi, Nassr, It's, Martino Organizations: TOKYO, Inter Miami's, Uruguayan, Vissel Kobe, Newell’s, Inter Miami, University of South, Associated Press, Miami, Al, Saudi Arabia —, MLS Locations: El Salvador, Dallas, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Florida, Argentina, University of South Carolina, Riyadh, Japan, Tokyo

☆ Hong Kong officials demand answers for Lionel Messi no-show
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Hong Kong government’s repeated requests for Lionel Messi to play in a sell-out soccer match went unanswered Sunday, a city official said, as cheers turned to jeers for the Argentine soccer legend. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government, which provided more than $2 million in grants to the match organizer, also said it was “extremely disappointed” the star did not play. Fans make their feelings clear after Lionel Messi's Hong Kong no-show. ‘We do feel a bit scammed’“Messi mania” had captured Hong Kong with Inter Miami’s arrival on Friday as fans swarmed the Major League Soccer team’s hotel. Meanwhile, the stadium reached full capacity during the Inter Miami’s open training session the evening before the match.

Persons: Hong Kong government’s, Lionel Messi, jeers, –, Messi, Ballon, Kevin Yeung, XFEST, Lionel Messi's, Justin Chin, Yeung, “, ” Yeung, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, ‘, ’ “ Messi, ”, Ada Kam, Luis Suárez Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong Kong, Inter Miami’s, Hong, Hong Kong XI, Culture, Bloomberg, Getty, Inter, Major League Soccer team’s, CNN, Nigeria Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, Argentine, Lionel Messi's Hong Kong, Miami, Inter Miami’s, Tokyo, China, Argentina, Hangzhou, Ivory Coast, Beijing

☆ Atmospheric River Storm Leaves Over 600,000 Still Without Power in California
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - More than 600,000 homes and businesses were still without power in California early on Monday, according to data from PowerOutage.us, after an atmospheric river storm pounded the state with heavy rainfall and hurricane-force winds. The storm is the second Pineapple Express weather system, or atmospheric river storm, to hit the state in the past week and arrived just as Los Angeles welcomed celebrities for the music industry's Grammy awards. According to PowerOutage.us, the utility with the most outages was Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) with over 500,000 customers without power. PG&E is a unit of California energy company PG&E Corp."Since the start of the storm 24 hours ago, PG&E crews have restored more than 565,000 customers who lost power. Approximately 570,000 customers remain out of power," PG&E said on its website.

Persons: PowerOutage.us, Gavin Newsom, Harshit Verma, Brijesh Patel, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Reuters, Pacific Gas and Electric Co, E Corp, The U.S, National, California's Locations: California, PowerOutage.us, Angeles, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, The, Bengaluru

☆ Millions at risk as California braces for record rainfall and high winds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Leila Sackur | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Atmospheric rivers caused downpours in the Bay Area on Wednesday, bringing cable car services to a halt, before moving on to Los Angeles and San Diego by Thursday. Officials in Santa Barbara County raised evacuation advisories to orders on Saturday, calling on residents to be at a "very high state of readiness." Heavy rain and extreme weather caused roadway erosion at San Onofre's lower parking lot, with images on social media showing sections of the lot collapsing onto the beach below. A Sunday update from the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center predicted risks of rainfall exceeding flash flood guidance across swathes of the state with "high risk" — estimated at 70% probability — for San Diego and Orange Counties. The storm comes as the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office announced it was investigating three deaths in late January as related to California's last encounter with heavy storms.

Persons: Santa Barbara County, Gloria Sandoval, Flood, Gavin Newsom's Organizations: National Weather Service, Bay Area, California State Parks, NBC, Prediction, Orange Counties, San Diego, Examiner's Locations: California, Encinitas , California, U.S, Monterey County, Jose, Guadalupe, Santa Cruz, San Jose, downpours, Bay, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, Angeles County, Sonoma , Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Southern California's, Orange, San Diego County

HONG KONG (AP) — Lionel Messi stayed on the bench for the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Inter Miami defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in the latest stop on the MLS team’s preseason Asian tour. Messi played the final seven minutes of the losing effort but a tight hamstring kept the eight-time Ballon D’or winner on the sidelines in Hong Kong along with Uruguayan forward and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez. The fans who filled the same arena a day earlier at least saw the 2022 World Cup winner in an open training session along with Miami co-owner David Beckham. Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Miami five minutes before the break with a curling shot from the corner of the area. Miami finishes its Asian tour in Japan on Wednesday as it takes on Vissel Kobe.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Saudi Arabia’s, Messi, Ballon, Luis Suarez, David Beckham, Robert Taylor, Henri Anier, Jorn Andersen, Lawson Sunderland, Miami’s, Leonardo Campana, Ryan Sailor, ___ Organizations: Inter Miami, Hong, MLS, Hong Kong, Miami, Saudi, Uruguayan Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Nassr, Riyadh, Barcelona, Japan, Kobe

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California braced Sunday for the worst of a potentially dangerous storm that threatened to hammer parts of the state with hurricane-force winds and cause flooding and mudslides as it moves down the coast over the next few days. Evacuation warnings and orders were in effect for Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura and Monterey counties. Classes were canceled Monday for schools across Santa Barbara County. Heavy to moderate rain was expected to stay in Southern California until Tuesday. It is the second time in days that California has been hit by an atmospheric river, a long band of moisture that forms over the Pacific.

Persons: ”, Bill Brown Organizations: ANGELES, National Weather Service, Central, Pacific, San Francisco Bay Area Locations: California, ” Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ventura, Monterey counties, Santa Barbara County, Hawaii, Northern California, Monterey, San Luis Obispo County, Orange, San Diego, Southern California, Southern, San Francisco Bay

☆ Lionel Messi no-show ignites booing and calls for refunds at Inter Miami match in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —Thousands of soccer fans in Hong Kong were left disappointed when Argentine superstar Lionel Messi failed to take to the field in a friendly match for Inter Miami on Sunday. What started with overwhelming cheers and rapture ended in boos and calls for refunds in the sold-out, 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium. Inter Miami — out to prove a point having gone winless during a worldwide pre-season tour — comfortably defeated a Hong Kong XI 4-1 in an event branded as Tatler XFEST Hong Kong. According to Reuters, tickets went on sale in December and cost between 880 and 4,880 Hong Kong dollars (about $113 and $624). “This whole Messi in Hong Kong thing has been building up for quite some time.

Persons: Lionel Messi, —, Messi, Ballon, Hong, “ Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Louise Delmotte, David Beckham, Messi ”, ”, XFEST, Suárez, “, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Leo, Luis, ” Martino, apologetically, Hong Kong, “ Leo, Suarez, ” Suárez, Martino, Yapp Hung, Yapp, Messi superfan Christer Leung, ” Leung, Lionel, Lam Yik, Reuters “ Messi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Argentine, Inter Miami, Hong Kong Stadium, Inter Miami —, Hong, Reuters, CNN, Miami, Al, MLS, Major League Soccer, Hong Kong XI, fai, Messi, Argentina, ’, Inter, USA, Sports, Ardent, Argentina national, Australia, Nigeria, Vissel Kobe Locations: Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, America, China, Beijing, Argentina, Ivory Coast, Hangzhou, Japan

☆ Nairobi fire: Huge gas explosion in Kenyan capital kills at least 2, injures hundreds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mitchell Mccluskey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A gas explosion in Kenya’s capital on Thursday night killed at least two people and injured 222 others, according to authorities in the East African country. Video posted on social media shows an explosion resulting in a huge fireball. Luis Tato/AFP/Getty ImagesFiremen fight a blaze following a series of explosions in the Embakasi area of Nairobi, Kenya on February 2, 2024. Luis Tato/AFP/Getty ImagesThe Kenya Red Cross said it had evacuated 271 people to hospitals around Nairobi and was “tirelessly battling the flames” alongside other agencies. A command center has been set up at the scene to coordinate rescue operations and other intervention efforts, spokesperson Mwaura said, adding the scene was now secured.

Persons: Isaac Maigua Mwaura, Mwaura, Luis Tato, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Nairobi West Hospital, Firemen, Getty, Cross Locations: East, Nairobi’s Embakasi, Nairobi, Embakasi, Kenya, AFP

☆ Colombia's Petro Denies Calling for Cabinet Resignations
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Colombian presidents frequently request mass, 'protocol' cabinet resignations in order to make changes to the government, though these are not guaranteed. The three government sources said had Petro asked for the resignations of his ministers during a meeting on Wednesday evening. Rather than the president demanding their resignations, ministers offered to resign, Agriculture Minister Jhenifer Mojica said during a presentation near capital Bogota. Petro last called for ministers' resignations in April after a debate on a health reform was abandoned by the lower house of congress. (Reporting by Oliver Griffin and Luis Jaime Acosta; Additional reporting by Carlos Vargas; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Persons: Oliver Griffin, Luis Jaime Acosta BOGOTA, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Jhenifer Mojica, Jorge Ivan Gonzalez, Ricardo Bonilla, Jose Antonio Ocampo, Luis Jaime Acosta, Carlos Vargas, Sandra Maler Organizations: Finance Locations: Bogota

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. got disappointing news on his 26th birthday, losing to the Miami Marlins in the first salary arbitration decision of the year. The outfielder will be paid $2,625,000 rather than his $2.9 million request, Margaret Brogan, Jeanne Vonhof and Scott Buchheit ruled Thursday. He went 0 for 8 with four strikeout as the Marlins were swept by Philadelphia in their NL Wild Card Series. Chisholm had a $749,500 salary last year and was eligible for arbitration for the first time. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesMiami also is scheduled for hearings with second baseman Luis Arraez ($12 million vs. $10.6 million) and left-hander Tanner Scott ($5.7 million vs. $5.15 million).

Persons: Jazz Chisholm, Margaret Brogan, Jeanne Vonhof, Scott Buchheit, Chisholm, Luis Arraez, Tanner Scott, Arraez, Austin Hays, José Suarez, Joshua Gordon, Walt De Treux, Howard Edelman, Suarez, ___ Organizations: Miami Marlins, Marlins, NL, Miami, AL, Minnesota, Baltimore Orioles, Angels Locations: SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, Philadelphia, Angeles

☆ Darwin Núñez: Liverpool striker continues to split opinion after setting unwanted Premier League record in Reds’ win
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Since joining Liverpool in 2022, Darwin Núñez has continued to be an entertaining, yet polarizing presence in the English Premier League. This juxtaposition was on full display in Livepool’s league win against Chelsea on Wednesday, where Núñez missed a penalty, made a wonderful assist and then set an unwanted record. Two of those missed chances were brilliant efforts from the striker, but the other two were opportunities he really should have converted. Despite the missed chances, Núñez did pop up with a brilliant assist for Luis Díaz who made it 4-1 to the six-time European champions. When asked about his striker’s performance after the game, Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp tried to put a positive spin on it.

Persons: Darwin Núñez, Núñez, –, Luis Díaz, Jürgen Klopp, ” Klopp, ” Núñez, couldn't, Clive Brunskill, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, serenading, “, Rio Ferdinand Organizations: CNN, Liverpool, English Premier League, Chelsea, Reds, Premier League, Manchester, Manchester United, TNT Sports, ”, Premier League –, Manchester City Locations: Uruguayan, Liverpool

“It is necessary to conduct this operation unilaterally and without notifying Venezuelan officials,” reads the 15-page 2018 memo expanding “Operation Money Badger,” an investigation that authorities say targeted dozens of people, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Within weeks, senior DEA officials plotted to deploy at least three undercover informants to surreptitiously record top officials suspected of converting Venezuela into a narco state. And “to limit or mitigate the exposure of the unilateral activities,” the document advised DEA officials to protect their informants and curtail in-person meetings with targets. I think they figured they had nothing to lose.”RELEASED BY ACCIDENTThe Operation Money Badger memo was never intended to be made public. The DEA memo authorized three informants to secretly record undercover meetings with the targets.

Persons: –, ”, Nicolás Maduro, Maduro’s, Alex Saab, Wes Tabor, “ We’re, Maduro, “, Biden, ” Maduro, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Joe Biden, ” —, Evan Criddle, William & Mary, there’s, Mike Vigil, Manny Recio, John Costanzo Jr, Costanzo, ” Michael Nadler, Washington –, launderer, Jose Vielma, Hugo Chávez, Vielma’s, Luis Motta, Vielma, Motta, Motta’s, Zach Margulis, Hugo Carvajal, Jennifer Farrar Organizations: MIAMI, The Associated Press, U.S . Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, Justice, AP, CIA, State, Justice Department, U.S, Attorney’s, Democratic, Supreme, William &, Saab, Miami Field Division’s, IRS Locations: Venezuela, United States, U.S, America, Venezuelan, Miami, Manhattan, Russia, China, OPEC, Mexico, Virginia, “, Colombian, New York, Houston, Washington, Investigative@ap.org

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Lionel Messi and Inter Miami kicked off their tour of Saudi Arabia by losing to Al-Hilal 4-3 on Monday. The Major League Soccer team is playing two games in the oil-rich kingdom as part of its preseason preparations, but even Messi could not inspire it to victory in Riyadh. While Messi got on the score sheet with a second-half penalty, Malcom came up with the decisive goal to win the match in the 88th. He ultimately opted for a move to the United States to join David Beckham's Miami and quickly led the team to its first trophy, the Leagues Cup. Just when Miami looked to have a draw, Malcom came up with the winner.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Messi, Malcom, Hilal, Germain, David Beckham's Miami, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al, Nasser, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Abdullah Al, Hamdan, Luis Suarez, Michael, Messi's, David Ruiz, ___ Organizations: Inter Miami, Al, Major League Soccer, Messi, Paris Saint, Leagues, Newcastle, Fulham Locations: RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Riyadh, Paris, United States, Miami, Hong Kong, Japan, Al

☆ Man Who Shot Bride and Bishop at Wedding Gets 50 Years to Life in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Livia Albeck-Ripka | More About Livia Albeck-Ripka | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A gunman who opened fire in a New Hampshire church during a wedding, wounding the bride and bishop, was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 50 years to life in prison. The man, Dale Holloway, 41, barged into the New England Pentecostal Ministries church in Pelham, N.H., on Oct. 12, 2019, on an apparent revenge mission, shooting Bishop Stanley Choate in the chest and the bride, Claire McMullen, in the arm, according to court documents. At the end of the wedding ceremony, Mr. Holloway stood up and moved toward the altar, at which point Bishop Choate stretched his arms out and pleaded, “Son, no, no, no, no,” prosecutors said. Mr. Holloway then shot the bishop and the bride. Mr. Holloway also struck Mr. Castiglione in the head before churchgoers tackled him to the ground, prosecutors said.

Persons: Dale Holloway, Bishop Stanley Choate, Claire McMullen, Holloway, Luis Garcia, McMullen, Mark Castiglione, Brandon Castiglione, Mr, Garcia, Bishop Choate, “, Castiglione, churchgoers Organizations: New England Pentecostal Ministries Locations: New Hampshire, Pelham, N.H

NASHUA, N.H. (AP) — A man convicted of opening fire inside a New Hampshire church during a wedding, wounding a bishop and the bride, was sentenced Monday to 40 years to life in prison. The shooting happened nearly two weeks after Holloway’s stepfather, a pastor at the church, was killed by the son of the groom. The jury acquitted Holloway of an attempted murder charge in the shooting of McMullen. Authorities said Castiglione is the father of a man convicted of killing Holloway’s stepfather. Brandon Castiglione was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 42 years in prison earlier this year for fatally shooting Holloway’s stepfather, Luis Garcia, inside his home.

Persons: Dale Holloway, “, Seth Dobieski, Dobieski, Holloway, Stanley Choate, Claire McMullen, McMullen, ”, Choate, I’ve, I’m, Mark Castiglione, Castiglione, Holloway’s, Brandon Castiglione, Luis Garcia Organizations: New England Pentecostal Ministries, Authorities Locations: NASHUA, N.H, New Hampshire, Pelham, McMullen

☆ Luis Tejada: Panama’s all-time leading goal scorer dies age 41
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Former Panama striker Luis ‘Matador’ Tejada, who helped the national team qualify for its first ever World Cup in 2018, has died at the age of 41, the Panamanian Football Federation (FEPAFUT) announced on Sunday. Local media reported that Tejada, whose 43 international goals makes him Panama’s all-time leading goal scorer, collapsed while playing in a local recreational league. CNN Sport has reached out to the Panamanian national police for comment. Panama finished a point and two places ahead of the US men’s team, which failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years. Panama troubled Tunisia in the team’s opening group match in Russia, but the north African side came from a goal behind to win 2-1.

Persons: Luis ‘ Matador ’ Tejada, Tejada, FEPAFUT, Blas Pérez, ” Tejada Organizations: CNN, Panama, Panamanian Football Federation, Local, CNN Sport, Panamanian, police, CONCACAF, US Locations: Panama, Panamanian, Tunisia, Russia, England, Belgium

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami played six preseason matches last season. It's basically an around-the-world, big-crowd, big-money, bright-spotlight batch of preseason games for Inter Miami, which instantly became a global brand when Messi announced last summer that he was joining the Major League Soccer club. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“It’s incredible,” said DeAndre Yedlin, the Inter Miami defender who was captain until Messi arrived. But Inter Miami not only understands the value of having Messi, it welcomed this massive preseason stretch in advance of an MLS season that starts Feb. 21. “You have to see how many times these people are going to have this possibility.”The financial benefit of Inter Miami and Messi playing in Saudi Arabia hasn't been revealed.

Persons: Lionel Messi's, Al Nassr, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, ”, DeAndre Yedlin, it’s, Leo, he’s, what's, Ballon, Messi —, Germain, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, LIV Golf, hasn't, ” Messi, Drake Callender, “ Organizations: — Inter Miami, Inter Miami, Al, Dallas, Cotton, Major League Soccer, ” Inter Miami, Argentina, MLS, Inter Miami —, Paris Saint, “, Messi, Saudi, Florida International University, it's, Ronaldo Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Florida, Saudi Arabia, Hilal, Portugal, El Salvador, Hong Kong, Japan, Saudi, Spanish, Riyadh, “

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The U.S. government and nearly 30 conservative world leaders on Saturday condemned the decision of Venezuela’s highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado. “The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement. Machado insisted throughout the campaign that she never received official notification of the ban and said voters, not ruling-party loyalists, were the rightful decision-makers of her candidacy. The ruling came more than three months after Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition reached a deal to work on basic conditions for a fair election. The deal led Washington to ease some economic sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas and mining sectors.

Persons: María Corina Machado, Biden, Nicolás Maduro, Matthew Miller, Machado, Miller, Justice “, Maduro, ” Gerardo Blyde, Emmanuel Macron, Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Petro —, Blyde, Maduro’s, Hector Rodríguez, ” Rodríguez, Machado “, Iván Duque, Mauricio Macri, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderón, ” Organizations: Saturday, U.S . State Department, U.S, Justice, Democratic Initiative of Spain Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, U.S, United States, Washington, Barbados, France, Brazil, Colombia, Americas, Venezuelan, Spain, Latin America, Iván Duque of Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela's

MADRID (AP) — After sullying his nation's Women's World Cup victory, former Spanish soccer president Luis Rubiales will face trial for kissing forward Jenni Hermoso without her consent at the final. State prosecutors accused Rubiales of sexual assault and for allegedly trying to coerce Hermoso to publicly support him in the public backlash against him. The new law eliminated the difference between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning any unconsented sexual act. The 46-year-old Rubiales, who also grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture near to Spain’s Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia during the celebrations of Spain’s victory, immediately became a national embarrassment. FIFA banned Rubiales for three years until after the men’s 2026 World Cup.

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso, Francisco de Jorge, “, Rubiales, Hermoso, ” Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, Spain’s, Albert Luque, Rubén Rivera, Letizia, Princess Sofia, Vilda, Hermoso’s, Luque, Rivera, ___ Organizations: MADRID, Rubiales, FIFA Locations: Spanish, Sydney, Spain, Madrid

☆ Luis Rubiales, Ex-Chief of Spanish Soccer, to Face Trial Over World Cup Kiss
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rachel Chaundler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A judge with Spain’s National Court recommended on Thursday that the country’s onetime soccer boss, Luis Rubiales, be tried on a sexual assault charge over his non-consensual kiss of a star player during the Women’s World Cup medal ceremony in Sydney, Australia, last summer. If found guilty of sexual assault in the case, which upended Spanish women’s soccer and set off a debate about the legacy of sexism in the sport in Spain, Mr. Rubiales would face a prison sentence of one to four years. The judge also recommended that Mr. Rubiales and three officials with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, soccer’s governing body in the country — including Jorge Vilda, who was fired as the women’s team coach in the wake of the incident — be tried on charges of coercion for exerting pressure on the player, Jennifer Hermoso, to show support for Mr. Rubiales in the immediate aftermath of the kiss. The judge concluded that the kiss by Mr. Rubiales “was non-consensual and was a unilateral and surprise act.”

Persons: Luis Rubiales, Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, Jennifer Hermoso, Rubiales “, ” Organizations: National, Royal Spanish Football Federation Locations: Sydney, Australia, Spain

☆ Luis Rubiales: Judge proposes former Spain soccer boss should stand trial for unwanted kiss
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Al Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A judge has proposed that Spain’s former soccer boss, Luis Rubiales, should stand trial for giving an unwanted kiss to star forward Jennifer Hermoso after the national team’s 2023 Women’s World Cup victory, the National Court press office in Madrid said in statement Thursday. Rubiales had described the kiss as “mutual” – a claim Hermoso has denied, saying she did not consent and was not respected. Rubiales resigned as RFEF president last September following weeks of pressure and now faces potential prosecution over his alleged actions. After that, the judge could issue an order to send the case for trial, which – if it occurs – would be held before a panel of three other judges at the National Court, the court spokesperson added. Hermoso was the last to testify in the investigation phase, appearing before the judge last January 2.

Persons: CNN —, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Francisco de Jorge, “, Rubiales, Hermoso, Jorge Vilda, CNN’s Kathleen Magramo Organizations: CNN, National Court, Royal Spanish Football Federation, Defense, Rubiales Locations: Madrid, Spain

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