Today: September 24, 2024
Today: September 24, 2024

World

World

UK police reopen partygate probe into lockdown-breaching Conservative 'jingle and mingle' bash

British police on Tuesday reopened an investigation into lockdown-breaching government parties after viewing video of Conservative Party staffers dancing and drinking at a 2020 Christmas soiree. The “jingle and mingle” party at Conservative headquarters was held when indoor social mixing was barred under rules imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Metropolitan Police force said it also was looking into a gathering in Parliament on Dec. 8, 2020 reportedly attended by members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The announcement reopens investigations into “partygate” that the government had hoped were finished.

July 04, 2023
UK police reopen partygate probe into lockdown-breaching Conservative 'jingle and mingle' bash
World

One month into toe injury, Aaron Judge begins hitting off a tee but says he's unable to run

One month into his recovery from a torn ligament in his right toe, Aaron Judge has started hitting off a tee but said Tuesday he is still unable to run. “I got to be able to run,” Judge said before the Yankees continued a four-game series with the Orioles. “If I can run then I can play. Me running at 10 percent ain’t going to help anybody out there.” Judge said being able to put weight on his backfoot is the biggest factor in how fast he can return from an injury that is unusual for a baseball player. “Besides

July 04, 2023
One month into toe injury, Aaron Judge begins hitting off a tee but says he's unable to run
World

Wembanyama and Mbappé the big draws as Olympic soccer and basketball tickets go on sale

Fans hoping to watch major French stars like Victor Wembanyama and Kylian Mbappé play at next year’s Paris Olympics could drive up demand when more tickets go on sale Wednesday for four sports that will be staged far from the French capital. Fans worldwide will be able to buy tickets on a first-come, first-served basis for soccer, basketball, handball and sailing, which are all held regional venues at next year’s Summer Games. The prospect for French fans to watch wildly popular home favorites such as Wembanyama and Mbappé is sure to boost sales even though the Paris

July 04, 2023
Wembanyama and Mbappé the big draws as Olympic soccer and basketball tickets go on sale
World

Iowa man wins Fourth of July Key Lime Pie Eating Championship in Florida Keys

New York had its hot dog eating contest to celebrate Independence Day. But the Florida Keys had a sweeter alternative on Tuesday. The Key Lime Pie Eating Championship in Key West, where Key lime pie originated, was won by Joshua Mogle, a 38-year-old Altoona, Iowa, tire manufacturing manager. Mogle plunged face-first into a 9-inch pie smothered with whipped cream during the challenge, whose rules forbid contestants to use their hands. The gooey competition has become a subtropical substitute to Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Mogle consumed the confection in three minutes

July 04, 2023
Iowa man wins Fourth of July Key Lime Pie Eating Championship in Florida Keys
World

MLB's Sarah Langs, who has ALS, honored at Yankees game on anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous speech

Sarah Langs tried on Lou Gehrig’s cap, a joyous moment and also a reminder of the link they share. Langs, a beloved member of the baseball community in her role as a reporter and producer at Major League Baseball Advanced Media, revealed last October she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS. She was honored at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, the 84th anniversary of Gehrig’s famous “luckiest man on the face of the Earth” speech, along with six other women who have the disease. “I don’t think I’ve processed

July 04, 2023
MLB's Sarah Langs, who has ALS, honored at Yankees game on anniversary of Lou Gehrig's famous speech
World

Revelers across the US brave heat and heavy downpours to celebrate Fourth of July

Revelers across the U.S. braved heat and heavy rain to take part in Fourth of July activities Tuesday — celebrating the nation’s founding with parades, fireworks and hot dog eating contests at a time of lingering political divisions and concerns about the country’s future. In Boston, people dodged raindrops to nab a coveted space on the grassy oval in front of the Hatch Shell along the Charles River ahead of the traditional Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular. Hundreds of thousands of partygoers typically line both sides of the river for the fireworks spectacular that follows a concert. At

July 04, 2023
Revelers across the US brave heat and heavy downpours to celebrate Fourth of July
World

Torres' 2-run homer and dash from first leads Yankees over Orioles 8-4

Gleyber Torres is exciting. He also is infuriating. He sparked the Yankees to an 8-4 Fourth of July win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and scoring the go-ahead run from first base with a daring dash on Giancarlo Stanton’s fifth-inning single. Torres walked against Kyle Gibson (8-6) and was running on a full-count, two-out pitch when Stanton hit a three-hop single up the middle. Center fielder Cedric Mullins tossed the ball to second as Torres ran through third base coach Luis Rojas’ stop sign and slid headfirst across the plate without

July 04, 2023
Torres' 2-run homer and dash from first leads Yankees over Orioles 8-4
World

Injunction blocks Biden administration from working with social media firms about 'protected speech'

A judge on Tuesday prohibited several federal agencies and officials of the Biden administration from working with social media companies about “protected speech,” a decision called “a blow to censorship” by one of the Republican officials whose lawsuit prompted the ruling. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Louisiana granted the injunction in response to a 2022 lawsuit brought by attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. Their lawsuit alleged that the federal government overstepped in its efforts to convince social media companies to address postings that could result in vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or affect elections. Doughty cited “substantial

July 04, 2023
Injunction blocks Biden administration from working with social media firms about 'protected speech'
World

Sergio Garcia misses out on British Open qualifying

Sergio Garcia will not play the British Open for the first time since 1997, failing to make it through local final qualifying that awarded 19 spots from four locations. Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, who holds the Open record with a 62, advanced from their qualifier at Royal Cinque Ports. They joined Laurie Canter as the only regular roster players from LIV Golf to qualify. The British Open starts July 20 at Royal Liverpool. Garcia was among three LIV Golf players who qualified for the U.S. Open last month. Garcia tied for 27th.

July 04, 2023
Sergio Garcia misses out on British Open qualifying
World

Plan to demolish house where 4 University of Idaho students were slain prompts objections

Objections have been raised to demolishing the house where four University of Idaho students were killed last year, with members of three of the victims’ families signaling it should be preserved until after the trial of the man charged in the deaths. Shanon Gray, an attorney for the family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the stabbing victims, said the university is disregarding families’ requests that the home be left standing until after the trial of Bryan Kohberger, which is set to begin in October, the Idaho Statesman reported. The bodies of Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle

July 04, 2023
Plan to demolish house where 4 University of Idaho students were slain prompts objections
World

Rose Zhang is making everyone look in the US Women's Open at Pebble Beach

Rose Zhang set the women’s course at Pebble Beach and hardly anyone noticed outside of her local caddie, Stanford teammates and college golf enthusiasts. Ten months later, Zhang walked toward the 17th green at Pebble Beach with three amateurs in the U.S. Women’s Open and heads turned to look. And not just any heads. To her left were some three dozen U.S. Women’s Open champions who had posed for a group photo, several of them in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Had it been anyone else, laughs and chatter might have continued. Zhang made

July 04, 2023
Rose Zhang is making everyone look in the US Women's Open at Pebble Beach
World

Possible shark attacks prompt heightened patrols at New York's Long Island beaches

Two swimmers were apparently attacked by sharks off the shores of Long Island on Tuesday, a day after two others reported being attacked while enjoying the water at popular New York beaches. At least one beach delayed opening to holiday revelers Tuesday, after officials said drones spotted some 50 sand sharks that morning near a popular beach park. When the beach reopened, swimmers were advised to stay close to shore. “We want to make sure swimmers are safe,” Long Island State Parks Regional Director George Gorman told Newsday. The beach was closed once more after a

July 04, 2023
Possible shark attacks prompt heightened patrols at New York's Long Island beaches
World

Ohtani leaves Angels game with blister after giving up consecutive homers

Shohei Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels’ game Tuesday against the San Diego Padres with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. The two-way star exited after giving up consecutive home runs to Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth with none out in the sixth inning. The right-hander’s start had been pushed back a day due to a cracked fingernail. His velocity was down Tuesday, and he left trailing 5-1. Ohtani made the last out at the plate in the top of the sixth and it wasn’t immediately clear if he would remain in

July 05, 2023
Ohtani leaves Angels game with blister after giving up consecutive homers
World

World swelters to unofficial hottest day on record

The entire planet sweltered to the unofficial hottest day in human recordkeeping July 3, according to University of Maine scientists at the Climate Reanalyzer project. High temperature records were surpassed July 3 and 4 in Quebec and northwestern Canada and Peru. Cities across the U.S. from Medford, Oregon to Tampa, Florida have been hovering at all-time highs, said Zack Taylor, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Beijing reported 9 straight days last week when the temperature exceeded 35 C (95 F). This global record is preliminary, pending approval from gold-standard climate measurement entities like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

July 05, 2023
World swelters to unofficial hottest day on record
World

Fry's hit in 10th ends Braves' winning streak; Cleveland beats Atlanta 6-5

David Fry had a game-ending hit and the Cleveland Guardians stopped the Atlanta Braves’ nine-game winning streak with a 6-5 victory in 10 innings Tuesday night. Fry drove an 0-1 pitch over the head of left fielder Eddie Rosario to score José Ramírez from third base. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (3-3) intentionally walked Andrés Giménez, bringing Fry to the plate with two outs. Guardians center fielder Myles Straw threw out Sam Hilliard at the plate to keep the game tied in the top of the inning. Hilliard was the automatic runner and took third on a fly

July 05, 2023
Fry's hit in 10th ends Braves' winning streak; Cleveland beats Atlanta 6-5
World

Australian leader criticizes Hong Kong authorities over arrest warrants for activists in Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday criticized Hong Kong authorities over their pursuit of two pro-democracy activists who live in Australia. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said Tuesday that eight pro-democracy activists who now live in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses, dismissing criticism that the move to have them arrested was a dangerous precedent. Albanese said his government was concerned and disappointed by Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for Australian citizen Kevin Yam and Australian permanent resident Ted Hui. “I am

July 05, 2023
Australian leader criticizes Hong Kong authorities over arrest warrants for activists in Australia
World

North Korean satellite wasn’t advanced enough to conduct reconnaissance from space, Seoul says

The satellite North Korea failed to put into orbit wasn’t advanced enough to conduct military reconnaissance from space as it claimed, South Korea’s military said Wednesday after retrieving and studying the wreckage. North Korea had tried to launch its first spy satellite in late May, but the long-range rocket carrying it plunged into the waters off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast soon after liftoff. The satellite was to be part of a space-based reconnaissance system North Korea says it needs to counter escalating security threats from South Korea and the United States. South Korea mobilized

July 05, 2023
North Korean satellite wasn’t advanced enough to conduct reconnaissance from space, Seoul says
World

Cubs manager David Ross rips umpire and criticizes decision to close roof in Milwaukee

Infuriated about the plate umpire and the ballpark roof, Chicago Cubs manager David Ross let loose after Tuesday’s wild extra-inning win over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs blew a late four-run lead but rebounded to beat the Brewers 7-6 in 11 innings when left fielder Ian Happ threw out two runners at the plate in extra innings. Ross praised his team’s resiliency, but many of his postgame comments focused on a series of “frustrating” events throughout the game. With Cubs All-Star Dansby Swanson at the plate in the 11th, first base coach Mike Napoli was ejected for

July 05, 2023
Cubs manager David Ross rips umpire and criticizes decision to close roof in Milwaukee
World

Stock market today: Asia sinks after survey shows China activity weakening

Asian stock markets sank Wednesday after a survey showed Chinese industrial activity weakening. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated. Oil prices were mixed. U.S. markets were closed Tuesday for a holiday. An index of service industry activity by a leading Chinese business magazine, Caixin, weakened sharply in June, adding to signs China’s recovery following the end of anti-virus controls on business and travel is cooling. Growth in factory activity also slowed. “Without policy support, there’s a risk that weakening growth expectations could become self-fulfilling,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report. The Shanghai

July 05, 2023
Stock market today: Asia sinks after survey shows China activity weakening
World

The Texas shooter in a racist Walmart attack is going to prison. Here's what to know about the case

A white Texas gunman who killed 23 people at a Walmart in 2019 returns to court Wednesday for sentencing in a mass shooting that targeted Hispanic shoppers in the border city of El Paso. Patrick Crusius, 24, is set to receive multiple life sentences after pleading guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Although the federal government did not seek the death penalty, Texas prosecutors have not taken lethal injection off the table under a separate case in state court. Investigators say the shooting

July 05, 2023
The Texas shooter in a racist Walmart attack is going to prison. Here's what to know about the case
World

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar faces crucial test of support in state polls next month

Less than a year after taking office, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces a critical first test in state elections next month that pits his government against a powerful Islamic opposition. Election Commission chief Abdul Ghani Salleh said Wednesday that over 9.7 million voters will head to the ballot box on Aug. 12 to elect 245 assembly members for six states. While state elections generally do not affect the federal government, it will be closely watched as a gauge of support for Anwar’s unity government that was f ormed after a divisive general election in

July 05, 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar faces crucial test of support in state polls next month
World

Stock market today: Asia sinks after a survey shows China's industrial activity is weakening

Asian stock markets sank Wednesday after a measure of Chinese service industry activity fell to its lowest level this year. Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney retreated. Oil prices were mixed. U.S. markets were closed Tuesday for a holiday. A service industry index by a leading Chinese business magazine, Caixin, weakened sharply in June, adding to signs China’s recovery following the end of anti-virus controls is cooling. Growth in factory activity also slowed. “Without policy support, there’s a risk that weakening growth expectations could become self-fulfilling,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report. The

July 05, 2023
Stock market today: Asia sinks after a survey shows China's industrial activity is weakening
World

Two months after Charles III's coronation, Scotland hosts its own event to honor the new monarch

Two months after the lavish coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London, Scotland is set to host its own event to mark the new monarch’s accession to the throne. While Charles and Queen Camilla won’t be crowned a second time Wednesday in Edinburgh, the festivities will include a crown, horse-drawn carriages, mounted cavalry and a flyover by the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic display team, as Scotland celebrates its unique relationship with the monarchy. The focal point of the event is a service of thanksgiving at St. Giles’ Cathedral, where Charles will

July 05, 2023
Two months after Charles III's coronation, Scotland hosts its own event to honor the new monarch
World

15 killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas

At least 15 people have been killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas, authorities said Wednesday. Another four people were reported missing by mid-morning in Chongqing, a vast mountainous region of 31 million, almost all of which has now been designated as having flood risk, according to the local government website. The Chongqing floods appear to be China’s deadliest amid deluges in other parts of the country. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated. In just one southwestern province, Sichuan, more than 85,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding, the

July 05, 2023
15 killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas
World

Palestinians inspect damage after Israel ends raid of West Bank camp and warns it was not a one-off

Israel withdrew troops from a West Bank militant stronghold Wednesday but warned that its most intense military operation in the occupied territory in nearly two decades was not a one-off. Thirteen Palestinians and an Israeli soldier were killed in the two-day raid. Residents of the Jenin refugee camp emerged from their homes to find alleys lined by piles of rubble and flattened or scorched cars. Shopkeepers and bulldozers started clearing the debris. Thousands who had fled the fighting began returning. The army claimed to have inflicted heavy damage on militant groups in the

July 05, 2023
Palestinians inspect damage after Israel ends raid of West Bank camp and warns it was not a one-off

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