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US to sell nuke-powered subs to Australia in unprecedented new deal

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

The U.S. is preparing to sell three to five nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, an unprecedented step that’s expected to pave the way for Canberra to co-develop and then eventually build its own attack boats in the decades ahead.President Joe Biden on Monday will announce the results of an 18-month review into the Australia-U.K.-U.S. agreement known as AUKUS alongside his counterparts in San Diego. He’s expected to detail a three-phrase approach which ultimately ends with London and Canberra creating advanced versions of the highly sensitive vessel for their navies.The goal of the deal is “safeguarding peace and stability” in the Indo-Pacific, “not to provoke, not to go try to fight wars, but rather to deter conflict and to promote peace and stability,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Monday.According to three senior administration officials who briefed the media on the condition that their names be withheld, Phase 1 involves American and British submarin...

Europe’s civil war over car engine ban

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

BRUSSELS — The future of the internal combustion engine is turning into a Franco-German war. An alliance of car-friendly countries led by Germany on Monday dialed up the temperature in a fight against EU legislation that would consign the engine to the scrapheap as part of landmark efforts to slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport.Following a meeting in Strasbourg, key ministers from a gang of car-loving countries said rules ending the sale of new combustion-engine cars and vans by 2035 — already accepted by the European Parliament and agreed in principle by member countries — needed changes. Or else.“There is no [European Commission] proposal that corresponds to what we expect, and that is why we have not yet reached our goal,” German Transport Minister Volker Wissing said after the meeting,But France isn’t planning to surrender. Paris signalled it will stand behind the EU’s 2035 zero emissions plan, as has Madrid, putting two of the bloc’s larg...

Boston prepares for upcoming winter storm

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

Students in the Boston Public Schools can’t yet count on a snow day, Mayor Michelle Wu said Monday as expected winter weather approaches the region. Wu discussed storm preparations hours before rain is forecast to arrive in the area Monday night. Forecasts currently call for a changeover from rain to snow on Tuesday, with between three and six inches of total accumulation in Boston itself. Wu said officials have been watching the forecasts, keeping an eye out for other factors in addition to snow.“What all the forecasts have across the various estimates is very high winds,” Wu said.Boston could get hit with wind gusts topping out between 40 and 50 miles per hour. Outside of the city, the wind could blow even faster, with gusts between 50 and 60 miles per hour on Cape Ann and the South Shore as well as the Cape and the Islands.In Boston, Wu said officials have been in contact with companies with cranes or other large scale construction projects in progress, discussing ...

Nor’easter Update

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

Light rain has started to fall across New England. This rain is the leading edge of our storm but for now the precipitation is light. There’s two storms that will merge and that’s when our storm will really ramp up in intensity. That merge has not happened yet. Not much has changed in our thinking from this morning as far as impacts and timing of the storm. So first things first, I’m going to talk about the CHANGES we made from this morning. Then at the end, I’ll link to the blog from this morning where we went pretty in depth with timing and impacts if you’d like to read more.SNOW MAP CHANGES:The only change to the snow map was pulling the 6-12″ back to 495. It’s combination of the rain/snow line holding tight for several hours plus the quick elevation gain that will cause the sharp cut off from manageable snow and a foot or more or snow!WINTER STORM WARNING/WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIESThis is more of a technical change as the winter storm wat...

NCAA Tournament Predictions: 8. Memphis vs. 9. Florida Atlantic

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

8. Memphis (24-8, 13-5/AAC)- It hasn’t been as easy as it seemed when Penny Hardaway took over and brought with him the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country in 2019. But the former NBA All-Star has built a solid program with the Tigers, and has them in the NCAA field for the second year in a row, this time earning the automatic bid by toppling No. 1 Houston, 75-65, in the American Athletic Conference title game.Memphis is led by explosive senior guard Kendric Davis, an SMU transfer who averages 21.8 points, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. 6-9 senior forward DeAndre Williams averages 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and is another force to be reckoned with. Scoring depth is an issue as no other player averages in double figures, so stopping those two will be high on opposing coaches’ radar. All told though, the Tigers can fill it up with anyone, averaging 79.5 points per game this season, w...

Cohen testifies before grand jury in Trump hush money probe

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

By MICHAEL R. SISAK (Associated Press)NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments he arranged and made on the former president’s behalf.A Trump loyalist turned adversary, Cohen spent around three hours answering questions in the secret proceeding. He is scheduled to return again for more testimony Wednesday, his lawyer said as the pair emerged from the courthouse.“Michael has spent a long and productive afternoon answering all questions, all facts, and completely responsive,” said Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis.The testimony comes at a critical time, as the Manhattan district attorney’s office weighs whether to seek charges against Trump over payments made during his 2016 campaign to two women who alleged affairs or sexual encounters with him.Before entering the courthouse for the session, Cohen, who orchestrated those payoffs, said his goa...

Mets’ hitters still adjusting to pitch clock with 2 weeks left till Opening Day

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE — Buck Showalter’s spring training musings often veer between amusing and informative with the non sequitur somewhere in the middle. The pitch clock has been a particular point of fascination this spring and he keeps coming back to one question: What does it mean for beer sales?The veteran skipper has a point: Through Saturday, spring training games are lasting an average of 2:36, down 25 minutes from last spring. That’s 25 fewer minutes to buy beers and concessions.The pitch clock is to thank for the decrease in time and increase in the pace of play. Pitchers seem to like the new rule and the advantage it gives them to dictate that pace.The focus of the timer has, naturally, been on the pitchers. But it appears to be the hitters that have the most adjustments to make.“It can get fast,” Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor said before he departed camp to join Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. “The first couple at-bat...

Something old, something new: bridal jumpsuits, black dresses and repurposed gowns are welcome at the wedding

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

Kailee Knight Bull’s favorite holiday is Halloween and her favorite city is New Orleans, the voodoo capital of America. So when it came time for the neonatal nurse to wed her longtime boyfriend, she wanted a wedding dress as distinctive as she is.When she and Trevor Bull exchanged vows on Nov. 4, 2022, she was wearing all black, from her custom cathedral veil to the mermaid gown by Casablanca Bridal that was cut low in the back and embellished all over with an intricate sequined pattern reminiscent of a fleur-de-lis.The 29-year-old bride, who lives in Severna Park, Maryland, looked — and felt — stunning.“As soon as I saw a picture of the dress on Pinterest, I knew it was perfect,” she said, referring to the fashion, decorating and design website that people often use as a vision board for events.“I went on a manhunt for this dress. I called every bridal store in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia until I tracked one down that I could try on. It was sparkly and dramatic, G...

Giants bring back battery of punter Jamie Gillan, long-snapper Casey Kreiter

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

The Giants are keeping their battery intact.They’ve agreed to re-sign both punter Jamie Gillan and long-snapper Casey Kreiter on Monday, a source confirmed.Gillan’s contract is a two-year, $4 million deal that could be worth up to $5 million with incentives, per NFL Network. The team considers Gillan, 25, a developmental and ascending player.Kreiter, 32, is back for a fourth straight season in New York on a one-year deal, per ESPN.It’s possible the Giants aren’t done with their core special teamers, too. Kicker Graham Gano, 35, is a candidate for a contract extension.He is essentially entering the final year of his current deal with a $3.75 million base salary and $5.5 million cap hit. His 2024 season at the moment is an empty ‘void year’ carrying about $876,000 in cap chargers.An extension would reward the reliable Gano and help GM Joe Schoen free some extra cap space. ()

President Biden visits San Diego to discuss submarine deal

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:11:42 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- President Joe Biden landed in San Diego shortly after noon Monday for a meeting with the British and Australian Prime Ministers to discuss the countries' partnership and defense issues, as China's military influence has become a growing concern for world leaders.The leaders announced a historic deal in a joint press conference that would modernize Australia's naval fleet by equipping the country with nuclear-powered attack submarines through AUKUS, a trilateral security pact formed between the three countries in 2021 to develop submarine capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.As part of the plan unveiled Monday, the three countries will roll out a phased approach to introduce these submarines with nuclear propulsion technology to the Australian military.This deal marks the second time the U.S. has shared these submarines since their development in the country over 60 years ago. US, UK try to halt fallout from Silicon Valley Bank collapse Over the next decade, up to f...