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France and Germany clash (again) on buying US arms

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

PARIS — France and Germany’s long-running dispute over whether European countries should buy American weapons was laid bare in a joint interview of the countries’ defense ministers published in Le Monde on Wednesday. The main bone of contention is the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), launched in the fall of 2022, which gathers 19 countries and is based on joint procurement of air defense systems. The plan is aimed at creating a four-level air defense system ranging from immediate battlefield protection to being able to halt much longer-range threats. It is aimed at giving NATO members more robust air defenses in light of the experience garnered from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.The project includes purchases of German, American and Israeli weaponry: the very short range Close Air Defence System (LVS NNbS), which consists of a turret mounted on an armored fighting vehicle and equipped with a radar, a cannon and missiles; Germany’s medium-...

Police: NH teen arrested for aggravated DUI after being caught driving 136 mph

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

A 19-year-old New Hampshire resident is facing an aggravated driving while under the influence charge after New Hampshire police say they caught him going 136 mph while impaired behind the wheel late Tuesday night.A trooper monitoring traffic on I-93 northbound arrested Tyler J. Gay, of Concord, after he passed the cruiser at 136 mph around 10 p.m., according to state police.He is expected to be arraigned on charges of aggravated driving while under the influence and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Patriots, Matt Corral saga takes another strange turn with QB back off squad

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

The Patriots’ plans with quarterback Matt Corral have changed.Corral was initially set to join the practice squad as of Tuesday night, a source said. Corral now is not expected to sign to the Patriots’ practice squad, per a source.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots, OT Trent Brown reportedly agree to added contract incentives New England Patriots | Patriots fan who witnessed fatal fight calls on NFL to tackle brawling New England Patriots | How Patriots OC Bill O’Brien assessed the offense after 2 weeks New England Patriots | Patriots-Dolphins film review: What Bill Belichick can and can’t fix after an 0-2 start New England Patriots | Mac Jones clarifies postgame comments on Patriots teammates’ dedication Corral cleared waivers after the team released him Monday. The 24-year-old was placed on the exempt/left squad list prior to his release for leaving the team w...

Chicago Cubs snap 5-game losing streak behind Alexander Canario’s grand slam in 14-1 win

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

Somehow, the Chicago Cubs had to find a way to reverse the alarming trend over the last 10 days during their slide down the wild-card standings.Manager David Ross thought the offense just needed something to turn their fortunes.“It really feels like we haven’t gotten that big double in the gap or the three-run homer,” Ross said Tuesday before the series opener with the Pittsburgh Pirates. “It feels like things aren’t going our way and someone will make it turn, one player step up and get a big knock in a big situation and guys will take a deep breath and we’ll get back on this roll that we’ve been on for a pretty good while now before that last road trip.”Dansby Swanson set the tone two batters into the bottom of the first inning Tuesday. He slugged an 0-2 elevated fastball into the center field basket for a two-run home run, one of four the Cubs hit in their 14-1 blowout win at Wrigley Field.The Cubs (79-72) ended their five-game losi...

Patriots, OT Trent Brown reportedly agree to added contract incentives

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

The Patriots and offensive tackle Trent Brown agreed to add $2 million worth of incentives to Brown’s contract, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots, Matt Corral saga takes another strange turn with QB back off squad New England Patriots | Patriots fan who witnessed fatal fight calls on NFL to tackle brawling New England Patriots | How Patriots OC Bill O’Brien assessed the offense after 2 weeks New England Patriots | Patriots-Dolphins film review: What Bill Belichick can and can’t fix after an 0-2 start New England Patriots | Mac Jones clarifies postgame comments on Patriots teammates’ dedication The Pats’ starting left tackle is in the final season of a 2-year, $11.5 million pact he signed before the 2022 season. Brown is scheduled to make a $4 million base salary this year. He started the team’s season ...

Prep school football preview and players to watch

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

Lawrence Academy rode the combination of solid line play and explosiveness from its skill position players to a share of the Independent School League title and the Todd Marble Bowl championship.The good news for the Spartans is that all five starters return on the offensive line led by Dom Selvitelli, Sam Healey and Matt Pierotti as well as tight end Cole Nelson. All-Scholastic quarterback Michael Landolfi returns along with wide receiver Jovon Mobley and running back Michael Gregoire.On defense, Selvitelli, Healey and Pierotti are in the trenches with Nelson. Gregoire is the top returning linebacker, while Tavian Henderson and Mobley anchor the secondary.BB&N is chasing its sixth NEPSAC bowl since 2016 and have the horses to be in the hunt. The defense will rely on DL Kastriot Panariti, Max Van Tassell amd Nic Matosic, LB Jack Kelley and Tyler Blum as well as DB Kevin Winschel and Baron Langston.Henry Machnik returns at quarterback and he has one of the top running backs aroun...

Two dead in multi-vehicle crash on SR-76

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on State Route 76 in Pala Wednesday, California Highway Patrol confirmed.The incident occurred just after midnight near Pala Mission Road, prompting the closure of all eastbound and westbound lanes of SR-76, Caltrans reported. Man killed while walking on I-5 The San Diego Humane Society was called out to the scene to assist with a dog, described as a Pitbull, that was trapped inside one of the vehicles. Traffic officials say all lanes of SR-76 reopened around 4:40 a.m. FOX 5 is working to gather more information. Please check back later for updates.

Stock market today: Wall Street drifts again in the countdown to a Federal Reserve announcement

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking higher Wednesday as Wall Street waits to see the Federal Reserve’s latest forecasts for where interest rates may be heading.The S&P 500 was 0.3% higher in early trading, continuing a quiet run this week where markets have made few big moves ahead of the Fed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 82 points, or 0.2%, at 34,600, as of 9:40 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% higher.It’s nearly a foregone conclusion among traders that the Fed will say in the afternoon that it’s keeping its main interest rate steady. The question is what Fed officials say in updated projections they’re releasing about where they see interest rates heading in upcoming years.Will they still pencil in one more hike this year, after they’ve already pulled the Fed’s main rate to its highest level in more than two decades? Will they indicate as many cuts to rates in 2024, which can goose prices for stocks and other investments, as traders are expecting?...

An American man is killed in a rafting accident in Slovenia, and two others are injured

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — A U.S. citizen was killed and two others were slightly injured in a rafting accident in northwestern Slovenia, police said Wednesday.The accident happened Tuesday when two rafts carrying 16 passengers and a guide were on a trip down the Soca river, police said in a statement. One of the boats hit a rock and passengers fell into the river. When the other boat came to help, it also hit a rock and its passengers and a guide fell into the water, police said.A 55-year-old American man was carried away by the current and later was found dead. Two other U.S. citizens suffered light injuries. The rest managed to get ashore safely.Police have launched an investigation into the accident. The small European country of Slovenia is known for its natural beauty and outdoor sports, with rafting along the Soca river a popular activity for tourists.The Associated Press

The Talking Heads on the once-in-a-lifetime ‘Stop Making Sense’

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:10:34 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — You may find yourself in a movie theater with “Stop Making Sense” playing and the members of the Talking Heads in the audience.That was the once-in-a-lifetime scenario when the new 4K restoration of “Stop Making Sense” premiered recently at the Toronto International Film Festival. On screen was a young, elastic David Byrne. In the theater, he was dancing, too, along with a crowd who couldn’t stay seated for “Burning Down the House.”“For a moment I thought, ‘Is it OK for me to get up and dance at our own movie?” Byrne says, laughing, the morning after. “But how could you not?”For nearly four decades, “Stop Making Sense,” directed by Jonathan Demme, has exerted an inexorable pull on all who encounter the frenetic fever of arguably the finest concert film ever made. Its power to bring together — it opens with Byrne alone on a spare stage and swells into an art-funk spectacular — is such that it’s even managed to reunite the Talking Heads, too.For the first time in 21 yea...