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AP PHOTOS: Behind the scenes as Macron visits China

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

A week ago, I traveled with a group of journalists assigned to cover French President Emmanuel Macron’s trip to China. It was my first trip to the country, and I was excited. I have covered many state trips in my career as a photojournalist with The Associated Press. Often, photographers are led from one highly choreographed event to the other. It is a challenge to break from the script laid out by press officers, especially in a country like China, where both guests and media are subject to a strict protocol.Here, there are no unforeseen events or delays, which the French president is especially prone to. I was thrown from one meeting to another, from one handshake to another. In the middle of all that, I wanted to catch the moments surrounding the orchestrated diplomacy — to show the other side of the scene. There were security guards in dark green uniforms marching on pavements, white pandemic masks hiding their faces. Young students excitedly pulling up smart phones to snap phot...

St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (8-6, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (6-8, fourth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Saturday, 2:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Roansy Contreras (0-0); Cardinals: Steven Matz (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -199, Pirates +168; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.St. Louis has a 6-8 record overall and a 3-5 record at home. The Cardinals have a 0-1 record in games decided by one run.Pittsburgh has gone 5-3 in road games and 8-6 overall. The Pirates have gone 5-0 in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams play Saturday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Cardinals: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.03 ERA, outscored by eight runsPirates: 6-4, .000 batting average, 4.35 ERA, outscored by three runsINJURIES: Cardinals: Packy Naughton: 15-Day IL (left forearm), Lars Nootbaar: 10-Day IL (thumb), Paul DeJong: 10-Day IL (back), Wilking Rodrigue...

Cincinnati Reds square off against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (5-9, fourth in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (5-8, fifth in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Matt Strahm (0-0); Reds: Graham Ashcraft (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -116, Phillies -103; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.Cincinnati is 5-8 overall and 4-3 in home games. Reds hitters have a collective .327 on-base percentage, the ninth-ranked percentage in the NL.Philadelphia is 5-9 overall and 2-6 in road games. The Phillies are 1-2 in games decided by one run.Saturday’s game is the sixth meeting between these teams this season. The Phillies have a 3-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Reds: 3-7, .000 batting average, 5.64 ERA, outscored by 12 runsPhillies: 5-5, .000 batting average, 3.64 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runsINJURIES: Reds: Joey Votto: 10-Day IL (bicep/shoulder), Tony Santillan: 15-Day IL (back), ...

Marlins host the Diamondbacks on home winning streak

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Arizona Diamondbacks (8-6, first in the NL West) vs. Miami Marlins (7-7, third in the NL East)Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (0-0); Marlins: Braxton Garrett (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -131, Diamondbacks +110; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins will try to keep a three-game home win streak alive when they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.Miami is 7-7 overall and 4-4 in home games. The Marlins have a 5-1 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Arizona has a 3-4 record in road games and an 8-6 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 5-0 record in games when they scored at least five runs.Saturday’s game is the second time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 6-4, .000 batting average, 5.11 ERA, outscored by 13 runsDiamondbacks: 6-4, .000 batting average, 4.70 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runsINJURIES: Marlins: JT Chargois: 15-Day IL (oblique), Joey ...

Padres take home losing streak into matchup with the Brewers

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (10-4, first in the NL Central) vs. San Diego Padres (7-8, third in the NL West)San Diego; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Freddy Peralta (0-0); Padres: Seth Lugo (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -131, Brewers +110; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres look to stop their three-game home skid with a win against the Milwaukee Brewers.San Diego is 7-8 overall and 3-5 at home. The Padres are 5-2 in games when they record eight or more hits.Milwaukee is 5-3 on the road and 10-4 overall. Brewers hitters have a collective .441 slugging percentage to rank fifth in the NL.The teams square off Saturday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS:LAST 10 GAMES: Padres: 4-6, .000 batting average, 4.90 ERA, outscored by seven runsBrewers: 7-3, .000 batting average, 2.83 ERA, outscored opponents by 22 runsINJURIES: Padres: David Dahl: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Joe Musgrove: 15-Day IL (toe), Robert Suarez: 15-Day IL (elbow), Adam Engel:...

Sustained firing heard in Sudanese capital amid tensions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sustained firing was heard in the Sudanese capital Saturday morning amid tensions between the military and the country’s powerful paramilitary forces. The firing could be heard in a number of areas, including central Khartoum and the neighbourhood of Bahri.Tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, as the paramilitary is known, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country’s democratic transition.In a statement issued Saturday morning, the RSF accused the army of attacking its forces at one of its bases in South Khartoum. The military used light and heavy weapons in the attack, it said.Current tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan’s unsigned transition agreement.However...

At least 42 people reported killed by rebels in Congo’s east

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — A rebel group in eastern Congo’s Ituri province killed at least 42 people Friday, according to a civil society organization. Three towns in Djugu territory were attacked by the CODECO militia group, said Dieudonne Lossa, the president of the organization in Banyari Kilo, the area where the attacks took place. “They burned down several homes. There are also seven people wounded who have not been assisted yet,” Lossa said.The army confirmed the attack to local media Friday and said it was searching for the perpetrators. Fighting between CODECO, a loose association of various ethnic Lendu militia groups, and Zaire, a mainly ethnic Hema self-defense group, has been ongoing since 2017 but worsened recently. CODECO fighters killed at least 32 civilians in February, local officials said. In December, the United Nations said the insurgent group was expanding its areas of control, attacking civilians and members of Congo’s military, and taxing communities i...

Proposed shark tourism project has to walk fine line to balance benefits and safety

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

A proposed tourism project off the coast of Nova Scotia to let people watch great white sharks through the bars of a submerged cage requires a balancing act between sightseeing and the needs of the animals, says one expert.Shark watching is a growing global tourism industry, but it has the potential to do harm, Fred Whoriskey, executive director of the Ocean Tracking Network at Dalhousie University, said in a recent interview.“The balancing act is on the one hand, getting your benefits to come out of that ecotourism activity, versus on the other hand, the potential to either do harm to the animals physically or change their behaviour in ways that could begin to have effects not just on those animals, but on entire ecosystems.”Atlantic Shark Expeditions said it plans to launch its shark-watching tours this fall, offering tourists the opportunity to pay to view the animals from the comfort of a boat — or from inside a cage submerged in the water. Owner Neil Hammerschlag, w...

Daily horoscope for April 15, 2023

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Moon Alert: Caution! Avoid shopping or important decisions from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT today (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PDT). After that, the Moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces.Happy Birthday for Saturday, April 15, 2023:You are intelligent and have many interests. You are also charming and easygoing. Nevertheless, you’re hardworking and focused. This year you can expect acknowledgement for your hard effort. A promotion or an award will be yours. You deserve it!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★★★Although this is a poor day to shop or make important decisions (see Moon Alert), it’s an excellent day to socialize and have fun. Enjoy the company of friends, groups and organizations. People are upbeat and in a positive mood. Get out and schmooze! Tonight: Solitude.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Because you make an excellent impression on others today, you’re in a position to be the center of attention or catch the eyes of bosses, parents and people in authority. (Note: this includes the ...

Suspects lead police on high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:38:03 GMT

Four suspects were taken into custody after a high-speed pursuit in Los Angeles County on Friday night.The suspects were wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The pursuit began in South L.A. around 9:15 p.m. The driver was seen traveling without headlights and reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour while dangerously weaving through traffic.The vehicle suddenly slowed down while traveling on the 14 Freeway before stopping and pulling over near the Soledad Canyon Road exit in Santa Clarita.Sky5 video showed all four suspects opening the car windows and sticking their hands outside as they were ordered to surrender one by one.Each suspect backed out of the vehicle with their hands held up and was instructed to lie down on the highway before they were all taken into custody.Sky5 was overhead.