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Lakers hang a modest banner to celebrate their victory in the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have hung a modest black banner at their downtown arena to celebrate their unbeaten run to the championship of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament.The Lakers unveiled the black-and-gold banner nestled near the franchise’s 17 NBA championship banners on Monday night before they hosted the Knicks. Los Angeles then lost to New York 114-109, taking its third defeat in four games since winning the tournament title in Las Vegas on Dec. 9.The Lakers paused their pregame warmups for a brief tribute video and a celebration with the NBA Cup as their fans clapped politely. Nobody addressed the crowd before the banner was uncovered to more cheers.“I think it was awesome,” said LeBron James, who posted his 109th career triple-double in the loss. “To acknowledge wins throughout the course of a marathon, I think it’s pretty cool. That’s the first. That’s the inauguration of it, so for our fans that didn’t get an opp...

China, Rusia, Irán y Cuba intentaron inmiscuirse en las elecciones al Congreso de EE. UU. de 2022, según una evaluación de inteligencia

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

(CNN) —  Los esfuerzos de los gobiernos extranjeros para atacar las elecciones de mitad de mandato de Estados Unidos de 2022 parecieron aumentar en comparación con las elecciones de 2018, según una evaluación de inteligencia desclasificada publicada este lunes, con una “diversa y creciente grupo de actores extranjeros” participando.No se conocía ninguna orden de ningún líder extranjero de “llevar a cabo una campaña integral de influencia en todo el gobierno” como la que Rusia llevó a cabo en 2016. según el informe. Pero la evaluación encontró que China, Rusia, Irán y Cuba intentaron inmiscuirse en las elecciones al Congreso de 2022.La comunidad de inteligencia evalúa con gran confianza que China “aprobó tácitamente los esfuerzos para tratar de influir en un puñado de elecciones de mitad de mandato que involucran a miembros de ambos partidos políticos estadounidenses”, probablemente como parte de una amplia serie de directivas de los líderes del Partido Comunista Chino desde 20...

Jalen Hurts plays through illness but late mistakes doom Eagles in 20-17 loss to Seahawks

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — For most of the night, Jalen Hurts played better than how he looked or likely felt while dealing with an illness.The fourth quarter will leave Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles feeling sick about their missed opportunity to retake control in the NFC East and keep alive home-field advantage for the playoffs.Hurts watched as Drew Lock and the Seattle Seahawks rallied in the final minutes for a 20-17 win over the Eagles on Monday night that handed Philadelphia (10-4) a third straight loss.It was a fourth quarter to forget for Hurts. He threw an interception in the end zone with 8:08 left trying to hit Quez Watkins on a deep shot that could have extended Philadelphia’s 17-13 lead. He was unable to convert a third-and-7 at midfield with a little over 2 minutes remaining that likely would have meant Seattle never got the ball back.And in his final desperation effort, Hurts was intercepted for a second time by Julian Love in the quarter trying to hit A.J. Brown down the side...

Ex-Wagner officer says Kremlin ordered ‘atrocities’ in Ukraine

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

A man claiming to be a former Russian colonel and ex-member of the Wagner paramilitary group who fought in Ukraine and has since defected said he witnessed war crimes and child abductions.Igor Salikov, who says he served in the Russian military and in the Wagner Group (which is funded by the Kremlin) for 25 years, arrived in the Netherlands on Monday to testify about alleged war crimes committed by Moscow during its war on Ukraine before the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC), Dutch public broadcaster NPO1 reported.“I witnessed atrocities against civilians,” the 60-year-old said during an interview, adding that he saw prisoners of war being abused and executed and children being abducted.“I have seen people from the secret services take large numbers of children without parents across the border into Belarus,” Salikov said.Salikov said those carrying out these alleged war crimes were doing so on the orders of the Russian defense ministry, but also...

Israel strikes south Gaza and raids a hospital in the north as war grinds on with renewed US support

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes killed at least 28 Palestinians in southern Gaza and troops raided one of the last functioning hospitals in the north as the country pressed ahead with its offensive against Hamas on Tuesday with renewed backing from the United States, despite rising international alarm.The offensive, launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel, has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians, displaced some 1.9 million, demolished much of northern Gaza and sparked attacks on U.S. and Israeli targets across the region.Attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have led major shipping companies — as well as the oil and gas giant BP — to suspend trade through the vital waterway, prompting the U.S. and its allies to launch a new mission to counter the threat.But after meeting with Israeli officials Monday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was “not here to dictate timelines or terms.” His remarks signaled that ...

Bangladesh minister accuses country’s main opposition party of arson after train fire kills 4

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh’s railway minister accused the country’s main opposition party of “arson” and “sabotage” after a fire broke out early Tuesday on a passenger train in the capital killing four people, including a mother and child.“Now, they have targeted a safe means of transport like a train,” said Nurul Islam Sujon, accusing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, of resorting to violence and sabotage in the name of anti-government protests to thwart the national election slated for Jan.7 and “create chaos.”Zia’s party — which is boycotting the election — issued a statement denying the accusation. The party has been intermittently enforcing transportation blockades and general strikes demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who seeks to return to power for a fourth consecutive term.On Tuesday, Shahjahan Sikder, deputy assistant director of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense, said t...

Good news for late holiday shoppers: Retailers are improving their delivery speeds

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Haven’t ordered any of your holiday gifts yet?Well, you might find solace in discovering some of America’s biggest retailers are working to increase their shipping speeds to please shoppers expecting faster and faster deliveries. Walmart, Target and Amazon are all-in on the shipping wars, a move retail experts say will help them maintain a competitive edge against low-cost Chinese retailers Shein and Temu. For Walmart and Target, their investments are also aimed at narrowing the gap in delivery speed with Amazon, which has set the standard for fast shipping and remains the king of speed. Amazon packages have been arriving at the doors of Prime customers even faster this year under the company’s new distribution model, which divides the country into eight regions and predominantly ships items from warehouses in those areas. The idea, according to Amazon, is to get shipments to travel shorter distances with fewer touchpoints, which helps the company not only speed up d...

Moldova receives additional funding to improve rail infrastructure and advance Solidarity Lanes

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

The European Investment Bank has signed a €41.2 million loan with Moldova, destined to improve internal transport connections as well as to provide long-term economic benefits to the wider region. This loan will be complemented by an EU grant of €12 million. Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean said: “I welcome the signature of this loan that, together with the European Commission contribution of €12 million, will improve rail infrastructure in Moldova. Some 128 kilometres of track on the North-South axis will be renovated, with great benefits for the Moldovan economy. The project will also strengthen the Solidarity Lanes, where Moldova and Romania are the main actors on the Danube Corridor, ensuring the transit of almost 70% of the products exiting Ukraine.” The project will help reduce road congestion and increase environmental sustainability, in accordance with the EU's Global Gateway goals.It will also strengthen the Solidarity Lanes, the alternative transport routes for Ukraine ...

Dear Abby: I’m sure it’s the bride who made this hurtful decision

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

DEAR ABBY: My son and his fiancee are getting married next month. They’re calling it an elopement. They have been telling everyone when and where the wedding is, but they are not formally inviting anyone.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: My sister doesn’t know it, but my husband’s demand is non-negotiable Advice | Dear Abby: I’m not sure I can spend the rest of my life with babyman in tow Advice | Dear Abby: I can’t believe my wife thinks it’s normal how she lives Advice | Dear Abby: My wife’s snubbing of my parents could cost me a lot of money Advice | Dear Abby: This is my family’s pronunciation, and the correction is hurtful I have come to terms with that. I realize the day is about them, not me. However, this is my only child, and I have always dreamed about being part of this milestone in his life.I’m sure this is his fiancee’s choice and...

Backlund scores short-handed goal in 3rd period as Flames beat Panthers 3-1

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:54:19 GMT

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Mikael Backlund scored a tiebreaking short-handed goal early in the third period, Jacob Markstrom stopped 34 shots, and the Calgary Flames beat the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Monday night.Martin Pospisil and Blake Coleman also scored to help Calgary improve to 2-0-2 in their last four games.Sam Reinhart had a power-play goal for Florida, and Anthony Stolarz had 21 saves. The Panthers finished a five-game trip at 2-3-0.Tied 1-1 in the third, the Flames’ dangerous penalty kill came through shortly after failing to connect on a power play. Attempting to enter the Flames zone, Reinhart turned the puck over to Noah Hanifin, who sprung Backlund on a breakaway. With Reinhart chasing him, Backlund went to his backhand and lifted a high shot, glove-side over Stolarz at 3:31 for his seventh goal of the season.“Hanny made a really good read, really good play, and then I saw a chance to go and he made a really nice pass and I took off,” Backlund said. “Tight game, you...