Defense Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since Jan. 1, but the Pentagon kept the news quiet

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Defense Secretary Austin has been hospitalized since Jan. 1, but the Pentagon kept the news quiet U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)(AP/Maya Alleruzzo) U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin makes a joint statement with Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, after their meeting about Israel's military operation in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (AP photo/ Maya Alleruzzo)(AP/Maya Alleruzzo) WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been hospitalized since Monday due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, his press secretary said, in the Defense Departm...

Emma Maltais’ short-handed goal helps Toronto spoil New York’s PWHL home opener, 3-2

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Emma Maltais’ short-handed goal helps Toronto spoil New York’s PWHL home opener, 3-2 BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Emma Maltais’ short-handed goal in the third period spoiled New York’s first home game in the Professional Women’s Hockey League as Toronto secured a 3-2 victory on Friday night.New York posted a 4-0 win on New Year’s Day in Toronto and was looking to become the first PWHL team to win at home through four games.Maltais, who set the career scoring record at Ohio State with 206 points in 169 games while also playing for the Canadian national team, had a team-high five shots on goal for Toronto, which fired 37 shots at Abigail Levy of Congers, New York.New York got off to a strong start, getting a first-period goal from Abby Roque while Levy kept Toronto scoreless for a fourth-straight period. But that ended quickly in the second. Natalie Spooner tied the game 38 seconds into the period — for the first goal in Toronto history — and Alexa Vasko scored a go-ahead goal just before the five-minute mark.Alex Carpenter scored her second goal i...

Inter midfielder Frattesi has his underwear revealed in wild celebration during 2-1 win over Verona

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Inter midfielder Frattesi has his underwear revealed in wild celebration during 2-1 win over Verona ROME (AP) — It’s only the season’s midpoint and Inter Milan may already have its lasting image of what is looking more and more like a Serie A title run.The moment came when Davide Frattesi leaped on top of a yellow fence lining the field and erupted in celebration toward the San Siro crowd as his teammates mobbed him so wildly that they pulled down his shorts and exposed his black underwear.Frattesi’s stoppage-time winner proved decisive in a frenetic finish, Lautaro Martinez marked his return from injury with his league-leading 16th goal of the season, and Inter beat relegation-threatened Hellas Verona 2-1 on Saturday to secure the mid-season lead in Serie A.“I would have done much worse but I didn’t want to get another yellow card for celebrating,” said Frattesi, who came on 10 minutes before he scored.The game wasn’t won, though, until a penalty kick 10 minutes into added time from Verona striker Thomas Henry hit the post.Then it was back to celebrating as Inter move...

Md. authority supports overhaul of horse racing industry, starting with complete rebuild of Pimlico

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Md. authority supports overhaul of horse racing industry, starting with complete rebuild of Pimlico Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)(AP/Julia Nikhinson) Horses compete during an undercard dirt track race ahead of the Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)(AP/Julia Nikhinson) An overhaul of Maryland’s horse racing industry is needed, a new report concludes, and the Preakness could find itself at a new state-of-the-art home in the next few years.The report released Friday from the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, which was established last year, suggests that the state sho...

Winter programs and safety tips from the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Winter programs and safety tips from the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers DENVER (KDVR) -- Rocky Mountain National Park is beautiful all year, but many love to explore the area the most during the winter season. The park is less crowded than in the summer, although weekends are still much busier than weekdays, and there are plenty of wonders to see. However, it's also a dangerous time of year in the park.A great way to explore the snowy park is by snowshoeing, and the Rocky Mountain National Park rangers are hoping to get more participants for their ranger-led snowshoe walks. Keystone Resort unveils 6-person chairlift, access to 555 acres of alpine terrain Each walk is two hours long and the experiences are offered from January through mid-March, depending on snow and weather conditions. Snowshoes are not provided, but rentals are available in Estes Park and other nearby communities.Anyone is welcome to join, whether they're a long-time snowshoe lover or are brand-new to the sport. The most important aspect to keep in mind is that RMNP sits at 8,700-9,...

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in Belgian elections: La Libre

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in Belgian elections: La Libre Former Qatargate judge Michel Claise may run in the Belgian elections, local media La Libre reported on Saturday.Claise, an investigating judge who recused himself in mid-2023 from the European Parliament corruption probe, may join the federal list of Défi, a French-speaking centrist party with two seats in Belgium’s federal parliament. Claise declined to comment when contacted by La Libre, according to the report.The Défi party’s first candidates for the federal and region of Brussels elections are set to be officially announced on January 10. Meanwhile, the Belgian liberals in the MR party including European Council President Charles Michel and EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders will meet on Sunday and are expected to decide on their list for the European election.BELGIUM NATIONAL PARLIAMENT SEAT PROJECTION All 3 Years 2 Years 1 Year 6 Mo...

EU, US warn against Israel-Hamas war expanding into regional conflict

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

EU, US warn against Israel-Hamas war expanding into regional conflict EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, both on trips to the Mideast, warned on Saturday against the Israel-Hamas war escalating into a regional conflict as hostilities increased following the killing this week of a top Hamas official. “It is absolutely imperative to ensure Lebanon is not drawn into a regional conflict,” Borrell told a press conference in Beirut, according to Reuters and Agence France-Presse. “I’m also sending this message to Israel: No one will win from a regional conflict,” he said,. Blinken met on Saturday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan as part of a new diplomatic tour of the Middle East. Blinken “emphasized the need to prevent the conflict from spreading, secure the release of hostages, expand humanitarian assistance and reduce civilian casualties,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in comments to Reuters.Borrel...

Russian shelling kills 11 in Donetsk region while Ukraine claims it hit a Crimean air base

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Russian shelling kills 11 in Donetsk region while Ukraine claims it hit a Crimean air base KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Eleven people were killed Saturday in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk province, according to regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin. Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the Pokrovsk district, he said.Ukraine’s military claimed Saturday it successfully attacked the Saki military airbase in the west of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.“Saki airfield! All targets were hit!” Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram. He also published a photo appearing to show the airfield, though it was not immediately possible to verify the image. Russian officials did not comment on the alleged attack, but Russia’s Defense Ministry said in the early hours of Saturday that it had successfully downed four Ukrainian missiles over the peninsula overnight. Later on Saturday, the ministry reported that its air defense forces had shot down six anti-ship missiles over the Black Sea. Traffic was tempor...

Fatal New York bus crash: officials say most people on board were Canadian

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

Fatal New York bus crash: officials say most people on board were Canadian Officials in New York say most of the 23 people on board a bus that crashed on U.S. Highway 87 Friday, leaving at least one person dead, were Canadian citizens.Warren County Director of Public Affairs Don Lehman also says at least two passengers on the bus travelling from Montreal to New York City were Swiss citizens.New York State Police say one person is dead and 11 others were injured after the Skyway Coach Line tour bus crashed in Lake George, N.Y. at around 12:50 p.m. Friday.The injured individuals, including one person police say suffered serious injuries, were brought to nearby hospitals.FlixBus, a company owned by Germany-based Flix which also owns Greyhound, says a long-distance bus operating on its behalf was involved in the crash.Lehman says eight passengers have continued their journey to New York City since Friday afternoon.

DeSantis and Haley are battling to emerge in Iowa as the preferred Republican alternative to Trump

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 06:15:44 GMT

DeSantis and Haley are battling to emerge in Iowa as the preferred Republican alternative to Trump DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — Second place in the Iowa caucuses is seldom so important.The rivalry between GOP presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley has become a leading storyline before the first Republicans vote on Jan. 15. The two are in an increasingly testy contest to emerge in Iowa as the preferred alternative to former President Donald Trump for the party’s 2024 nomination. Florida Gov. DeSantis has said he expects to win Iowa despite trailing far behind Trump in polls. He portrays Haley, a former South Carolina governor who was Trump’s U.N. ambassador, as a puppet of wealthy donors and someone who has flip-flopped on key issues. Haley, who hopes to edge the better-organized DeSantis in Iowa, has accused him of misrepresenting her record, especially on taxes, and of falsely portraying himself as tough on China.The stakes are enormous for both. DeSantis would upend the race if he were to beat Trump in the caucuses. Haley’s allies believe they could hobb...