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US unveils $345M arms package for Taiwan, in move sure to anger China

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

The Biden administration announced a $345 million weapons package for Taiwan on Friday, the first tranche in a total of $1 billion the U.S. has allotted to be transferred directly from Pentagon stockpiles to the island this year.The move is sure to anger China as Washington has been trying to rebuild relations with Beijing. Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, recently visited China, but the outreach has done little to quell tensions over a range of issues, from U.S. support to Taiwan to Beijing’s spy balloon program.“We take our responsibilities to Taiwan and to improving their self-defense capabilities very, very seriously,” John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, told reporters ahead of the announcement on Friday.The package marks the first time the U.S. has used new authority from Congress to transfer military equipment directly from Pentagon inventory to Taiwan. The transfer is do...

Orioles beat Yankees, 1-0, behind Anthony Santander’s walk-off homer, Grayson Rodriguez’s stellar start

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

The Orioles welcomed the Yankees to Camden Yards on Friday for their final series of the season under vastly different circumstances than normal.Baltimore is atop the American League East, while New York is in its cellar. Friday’s rain-delayed contest didn’t display the disparity between the clubs — that is, until Anthony Santander stepped to the plate in the ninth inning.With the game scoreless, Santander sent the announced crowd of 34,558 home with a walk-off home run to right field. The switch-hitter clobbered a 2-0 changeup from Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle 425 feet for the Orioles’ fifth walk-off win of the season.Before Santander’s solo shot — his second walk-off homer and third walk-off hit of his career — the AL East matchup was a pitcher’s duel between Orioles rookie Grayson Rodriguez and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Both bullpens followed to keep the game scoreless until Santander’s 18th home run of the season.Baltimore is...

Burning cargo ship off Dutch coast will be towed to a new location after flames and smoke subsided

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Salvage crews were preparing Saturday to tow a car-carrying cargo ship that has been burning for days to an anchor point in the North Sea after flames and smoke on board subsided, the Dutch government said.Fire erupted in the Fremantle Highway late Tuesday night near a chain of islands in the northern Netherlands and has been blazing ever since. The ship is carrying 3,783 new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles, the company that chartered the vessel said.One crew member died and others were injured after the fire broke out on the ship that was heading from Bremerhaven in Germany to Singapore. The crew was evacuated in the early hours of Wednesday. The cause of the fire has not been established.Measurements Friday showed that heat, flames and smoke had subsided enough for salvage experts to board the ship for the first time and establish a strong towing connection with a tugboat, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management said.It wil...

Shooting in Seattle parking lot injures 5 people, including 2 critically, police chief says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A shooting in a Seattle parking lot Friday night wounded five people, including two who were in critical condition, the city’s police chief said.The Seattle Police Department responded to a reported shooting around 9 p.m. in the 9200 block of Rainier Avenue South.The shooting started in the parking lot of what was formerly known as King Donuts and was directed at a community event occurring nearby, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said at the scene.The five victims included two who were listed in critical condition and three who appeared to be stable. Four victims were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and the fifth was treated at the scene, Diaz said.“We know that there’s dozens and dozens of rounds that were fired,” said Diaz, who noted police were not sure of a possible motive.“Right now, we’ve really got to get guns off the streets,” Diaz said, explaining the number of shootings in the city has fluctuated but remains an issue.Se...

Daily horoscope for July 29, 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

Moon Alert: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EDT today (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Pisces into Aries.Happy Birthday for Saturday, July 29, 2023:You are full of positive energy and are civic-minded or involved with your community. This is because you are basically a giver. Learn to respect your own judgment. In fact, this is a year of learning and teaching for you. Make time to explore your spiritual or religious beliefs.ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★You’re energetic and enthusiastic about exploring new places and meeting new faces. This is a great day to socialize with people who are “different,” plus, you want to learn something new. Travel if possible. This evening is excellent for fun times with your main squeeze. Tonight: You’re high-viz.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Family ties are strong today, which is why this is an excellent day and evening to entertain at home. Meanwhile, disputes or ...

Miss Manners: I don’t want to give away any more avocados after what she did

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a terrible gardener. Fifteen years ago, I planted an avocado tree. It lost all the fruit immediately, and it was more than 10 years before it grew more. Three avocados, to be exact.Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Am I the only one bothered by how the kids say no? Advice | Miss Manners: It was a bad time for me, and I can’t believe my friend was so heartless Advice | Miss Manners: In a moment of forgetfulness, I made a mortifying offer to a friend Advice | Miss Manners: This shopper was rude to the cashier. Should I have scolded her? Advice | Miss Manners: Must I tip a server who irritates me? In the years since, the tree has yielded a few more avocados each season, sometimes as many as nine or 10. I count them when they appear, and look forward to enjoying one avocado a week for nine or 10 weeks, picking them accordingly.One friend asked for an avocado. I did not want...

Dear Abby: Would it be awkward to invite her to my wedding dinner?

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I am adopted, and 10 years ago I met my birth mom and her family. I go to their family gatherings and see them for holidays.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I wasted five years on a man, and I want to start dating efficiently Advice | Ask Amy: My dad’s humiliating tell-all book could affect my job hunt Advice | Dear Abby: The insufferable neighbor is trying to claim my boyfriend Advice | Dear Abby: My fiance left me, and now I’m pregnant. That’s just the start of it. Advice | Dear Abby: This painting hurts me, and I don’t know what to do about it I am getting married, and I’ve asked my birth mom to be my matron of honor, which my parents are OK with.After the ceremony, we are going to have a reception at the church and then a dinner with 20 people hours later. I’m not sure if I should invite my birth mom to the dinner or not. My parents said it might be a...

England faces an anxious wait over Keira Walsh’s injury at the Women’s World Cup

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The world’s most expensive female soccer player could be out of the Women’s World Cup. Keira Walsh’s knee injury in the Lionesses’ 1-0 win against Denmark on Friday leaves a hole in the heart of the midfield that may be impossible to fill. Walsh — considered the conductor during England’s European Championship triumph last year — had to leave the field in Sydney on a stretcher and later exited the stadium on crutches. What follows now for Walsh and England is an anxious wait to learn the severity of the damage. If the worst case-scenario is realized, the question will be how England copes without her for the rest of the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. At the Euros, “everything came through Keira. There wasn’t a Plan B,” England’s all-time leading scorer Ellen White said in her role as an analyst for the BBC. “I dreaded to think of the idea of us ever losing her because she was one of our best players. Beth Me...

Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers meet in game 2 of series

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (57-47, first in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (65-36, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Saturday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Julio Teheran (2-4, 3.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 40 strikeouts); Braves: Bryce Elder (7-2, 3.30 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 86 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -214, Brewers +178; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.Atlanta is 65-36 overall and 33-19 in home games. The Braves have a 28-11 record in games when they did not allow a home run.Milwaukee has gone 28-23 on the road and 57-47 overall. The Brewers have a 36-15 record in games when they record eight or more hits.Saturday’s game is the fifth time these teams square off this season. The Braves are ahead 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Olson has 19 doubles, two triples, 33 home runs and 82 RBI while hitting .256 for the Braves. Austin Riley is 14-for-40 with a double, a triple and...

Reds play the Dodgers leading series 1-0

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:54:55 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (57-48, second in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (58-44, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Saturday, 9:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Luke Weaver (2-2, 7.20 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, 65 strikeouts); Dodgers: Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 22 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -205, Reds +172; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.Los Angeles has a 58-44 record overall and a 30-19 record at home. The Dodgers are 45-7 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.Cincinnati is 29-22 on the road and 57-48 overall. The Reds are 34-9 in games when they out-hit their opponents.The teams match up Saturday for the fifth time this season. The Reds are up 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Mookie Betts has 26 doubles, a triple, 27 home runs and 68 RBI while hitting .277 for the Dodgers. Freddie Freeman is 19-for-41 with three doubles, a triple and four...