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Italian state television says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Rome

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

ROME (AP) — Italian state television says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Rome.Source

Zelenskyy to meet with Pope Francis at Vatican in Rome visit

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

ROME (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy is making a trip to Rome and he will meet with Pope Francis and Italian leaders on Saturday, the Vatican said.Zelenskyy will hold midday meetings with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who staunchly backs military and other aid for Ukraine, and with President Sergio Mattarella.Zelenskyy’s exact schedule wasn’t being publicly announced because of security concerns, and the Vatican only confirmed a papal meeting shortly before the Ukrainian president’s expected arrival in Rome.Italian state television reported that as part of protective measures, a no-fly zone was ordered for Rome skies and police sharpshooters were strategically placed on high buildings. Meloni met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv, shortly before the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.Francis, who is eager for peace, last met with the Ukrainian leader in 2020.The pontiff makes frequent impassioned pleas on behalf of Ukraine’s “martyred...

Germany announces $3 billion military aid package for Ukraine before possible Zelenskyy visit

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany announces $3 billion military aid package for Ukraine before possible Zelenskyy visit.Source

Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants Saturday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

San Francisco Giants (17-21, fourth in the NL West) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (21-18, second in the NL West)Phoenix; Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Anthony DeSclafani (3-2, 2.80 ERA, .93 WHIP, 33 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (5-1, 2.36 ERA, .85 WHIP, 64 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Diamondbacks -169, Giants +143; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.Arizona is 21-18 overall and 12-10 in home games. The Diamondbacks have the best team batting average in the NL at .273.San Francisco has a 17-21 record overall and a 7-11 record on the road. Giants hitters have a collective .321 on-base percentage, the ninth-ranked percentage in the NL.Saturday’s game is the third time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leads the Diamondbacks with a .310 batting average, and has 10 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 11 walks and 20 RBI. Dominic Fletcher is 16-f...

Marlins host Cincinnati Reds, look to break home skid

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (17-21, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (19-20, third in the NL East)Miami; Saturday, 1:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: TBD; Marlins: Sandy Alcantara (1-3, 4.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 40 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -195, Reds +163; over/under is 7 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins take on the Cincinnati Reds looking to break their four-game home slide.Miami is 19-20 overall and 10-10 at home. The Marlins have a 12-0 record in games decided by one run.Cincinnati has a 5-12 record on the road and a 17-21 record overall. The Reds have a 4-2 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.The matchup Saturday is the second time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Jorge Soler leads Miami with nine home runs while slugging .504. Jesus Sanchez is 13-for-33 with two home runs and nine RBI over the past 10 games.Jake Fraley has five doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI while hitting .260 for the Reds. Jonathan India is 13-for-39 with...

Padres bring 3-game losing streak into matchup against the Dodgers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

San Diego Padres (19-20, third in the NL West) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (24-15, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Joe Musgrove (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 14 strikeouts); Dodgers: Julio Urias (4-3, 3.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 48 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -151, Padres +128; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres look to stop a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.Los Angeles is 13-6 at home and 24-15 overall. The Dodgers have gone 16-4 in games when they hit at least two home runs.San Diego is 19-20 overall and 9-9 in road games. The Padres have gone 15-2 in games when they scored five or more runs.The teams meet Saturday for the fifth time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 3-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Freddie Freeman has 12 doubles, seven home runs and 20 RBI for the Dodgers. Mookie Betts is 11-for-39 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI over the last 10 gam...

Phillies seek to continue win streak, play the Rockies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (19-19, second in the NL East) vs. Colorado Rockies (16-23, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Saturday, 8:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Ranger Suarez (0-0); Rockies: Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.08 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 33 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -155, Rockies +134; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies will try to keep their four-game win streak going when they visit the Colorado Rockies.Colorado has a 16-23 record overall and a 7-10 record in home games. Rockies hitters have a collective .391 slugging percentage to rank 10th in the NL.Philadelphia has a 19-19 record overall and an 8-12 record in road games. Phillies hitters are batting a collective .263, which ranks third in the NL.Saturday’s game is the sixth time these teams meet this season. The Phillies are up 4-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: C.J. Cron leads the Rockies with six home runs while slugging .431. Randal Grichuk is 14-for-40 with three d...

New York Mets and Washington Nationals play in game 2 of series

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

New York Mets (19-20, fourth in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (16-22, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Joey Lucchesi (1-0, 4.43 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 17 strikeouts); Nationals: Trevor Williams (1-1, 4.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 26 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -145, Nationals +124; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets meet the Washington Nationals with a 1-0 series lead.Washington has gone 6-13 at home and 16-22 overall. The Nationals have a 10-4 record in games when they scored at least five runs.New York is 19-20 overall and 12-12 in road games. The Mets have a 9-1 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Lane Thomas ranks second on the Nationals with nine extra base hits (four doubles, a triple and four home runs). Joey Meneses is 13-for-41 with a double, a home run and seven RBI ove...

Germany approves new €2.7B package of arms for Ukraine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

Berlin is keen to expand its support to Ukraine as the government in Kyiv prepares for an anticipated counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion of the country. The German government has approved a new €2.7 billion package of weapons for Ukraine, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters on Saturday. The package is Berlin’s largest arms delivery to Ukraine since the beginning of the war in February 2022.The planned shipments include armored vehicles, drones and air-defense systems, Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, said on Telegram on Saturday. The package also includes “a large amount of ammunition,” he said.The new package will be formally announced on Sunday in parallel with the presentation of the Charlemagne Prize to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Aachen, according to a report by Spiegel. Ukraine should receive the equipment in the coming weeks and months, the German news outlet said.Between January 1, 2022...

Thousands plan to attend Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s Mother’s Day Walk for Peace

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:00:11 GMT

Thousands of community members on Sunday will walk alongside families that have lost loved ones to homicide, letting them know they are not alone in their healing journey.The 4.3-mile walk through the streets of Dorchester continues the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute’s annual tradition of bringing the community together on Mother’s Day, with this year’s event focusing on “cultivating cycles of peace.”This will be the organization’s 27th edition of the Mother’s Day Walk for Peace, an event that started after Clementina “Tina” Chery founded the Peace Institute in memory of her son, Louis D. Brown, who was killed at age 15 in 1993.“Oftentimes, when we think about homicide we just count the victim, and there is a whole community that is impacted,” said Shaulita Francis, the institute’s communication and marketing manager.“There is a whole family that is left behind to deal with the emotional and practical impact. The walk is there as a way to just honor people’s experiences,...