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England ends Fiji’s crowd-pleasing run at Rugby World Cup with a 30-24 win to reach semifinals

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

MARSEILLE, France (AP) — England ended Fiji’s crowd-pleasing run at the Rugby World Cup with a tense 30-24 win to reach the semifinals for the sixth time on Sunday.In a welcome result for the northern hemisphere after quarterfinal losses for Ireland and Wales on Saturday, the English countered a second-half fightback by the Flying Fijians as captain Owen Farrell kicked a drop goal and a penalty in the final eight minutes in Marseille.England will play either host France or defending champion South Africa in the semifinals next weekend.Trailing 21-10 at halftime, Fiji turned on its attacking flair and crossed for tries through prop Peni Ravai and flyhalf Vilimoni Botitu to tie the scores at 24-24 after 68 minutes.The Pacific Island nation couldn’t complete the comeback in its bid to become the first tier two team to get to the semifinals since the game went professional after the 1995 World Cup.As for England’s players, they were largely written off six weeks ago after losing to Fiji...

Transatlantic blame game: Trump, Merkel, Biden and the danger of Germany’s dependence on Huawei

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

Four and a half years ago, former President Donald Trump’s crusade to pressure U.S. allies into banning the Chinese tech company Huawei ran into a wall of resistance in Berlin.Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel dismissed Trump’s warnings that Huawei posed a grave security risk to the West — and defied his threat that the U.S. would curb intelligence sharing with allies who let the Chinese company build their future mobile networks.Germany will not “exclude a company simply because it’s from a certain country,” Merkel declared at global policy conference in Berlin in March 2019.What followed was a burst of lucrative contracts between the Chinese tech giant and German telecommunications firms: Huawei is in the midst of constructing 5G infrastructure throughout the country, connecting Germany with Europe and the U.S.Now, however, is a season of worry and regret on both sides of the Atlantic. The Biden administration told POLITICO and WELT, a German national daily newspaper, it is as ...

Opposition wins Polish election, according to exit poll

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

WARSAW — Poland’s opposition parties look like they’ve won a solid victory in the country’s general election, according to an exit poll released immediately after voting ended at 9 p.m. on Sunday.Although the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) came first in terms of support, three leading opposition parties would have a majority of seats in the 460-member parliament.If the result holds, it’s a stunning defeat for PiS and could help thaw relations between Brussels and Warsaw. The party mobilized the full resources of the state to help it win, and it was also strongly backed by state media — which are firmly in the ruling party’s camp.PiS was hobbled, however, by a growing number of scandals — including allegations that officials were selling vistas for bribes. Eight years of tensions and social conflict, with fights over abortion, rule of law, grain imports from Ukraine, and awful relations with the EU, which has frozen the payout of billions over rule of law worrie...

Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 24-16 win over Titans in London | COMMENTARY

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

Here’s how the Ravens (4-2) graded out at each position after a 24-16 win over the Tennessee Titans (2-4) in Sunday’s Week 6 game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London:QuarterbackLamar Jackson started hot and had a strong first half. He cooled off in the third quarter but made the plays the Ravens needed to seal the win late in the fourth. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown and rushed 13 times for 62 yards. The Ravens were successful with their small ball passing game, including some throws that turned into big gains. Jackson did have one interception, which was way over the head of wide receiver Rashod Bateman and led to a Tennessee touchdown in the third quarter, but he didn’t fumble, which has been a problem most of the season. Jackson’s statistics aren’t always impressive, but he is still the team’s top offensive threat. Grade: BRunning backsJustice Hill and Gus Edwards weren’t spectacular, but solid. Hi...

Enchanted: Taylor Swift concert film dominates box office

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

Movie theaters turned into concert venues this weekend as Swifties brought their dance moves and friendship bracelets to multiplexes across the country. The unparalleled enthusiasm helped propel “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” to a massive, first place debut between $95 million and $97 million in North America, AMC Theatres said Sunday.It’s easily the biggest opening for a concert film of all time, and, not accounting for inflation, has made more than the $73 million “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never” earned in 2011. In today’s dollars, that would be around $102 million. And if it comes in on the higher end of projections when totals are released Monday, it could be the biggest October opening ever. The one to beat is “Joker,” which launched to $96.2 million in 2019.A unique experiment in distribution, premium pricing, star power and loose movie theater etiquette—more dancing and shouting than a Star Wars premiere—have made it an undeniabl...

Week 6 updates: Justin Fields out for the game with a hand injury as Tyson Bagent takes over as Chicago Bears QB

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

The 1-4 Chicago Bears are playing the 1-4 Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in a Week 6 matchup. Here’s what you need to know.5 things to watch in the Bears-Vikings game — plus our Week 6 predictions3rd quarter: Justin Fields leaves with right hand injuryBears quarterback Justin Fields went into the medical tent on the sideline after a third-quarter sack and then headed to the locker room.Fields walked off the field and appeared to be holding his right hand. He sat briefly on the bench before going with a trainer into the tent. It didn’t take long before he emerged to go to the locker room.With 4:21 to play in the third quarter, the Bears ruled out Fields from returning to the game.On third-and-7 on the Bears’ first drive of the second half, Vikings outside linebacker Danielle Hunter took down Fields for a loss of 5 yards. It was the fourth Vikings sack of the day.As Fields was in the locker room, rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent began warming up on the s...

VIDEO: Los Angeles Clippers practice near San Diego County

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the location of the practice is Pechanga Indian Reservation.RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Clippers scuffed up a basketball court near San Diego County Saturday for an away practice.The team worked out and practiced in front of an audience of about 100 fans at the Pechanga Indian Reservation’s recreation center, a, a spokesperson for Pechanga Resort Casino told FOX 5. As it turns out, the resort is a supporting partner and official Native American casino sponsor of the LA Clippers. NWSL Decision Day: San Diego Wave FC takes on Racing Louisville FC One fan in attendance, Darius Jackson, said the event was like "inviting superstars to your home." He explained how motivational it was for his kids and others in the community to see NBA professionals on the same court they play on every week."Being a young 23-year-old and seeing these guys out here, someone that I watch on TV that I play a video game of -- everyday baske...

DeSantis says US shouldn’t take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza because they’re ‘all antisemitic’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said the United States should not take in any Palestinian refugees if they flee the Gaza Strip because they “are all antisemitic” and he dismissed international entreaties for Israel to provide clean running water and utilities to the 2.3 million civilians in the territory.DeSantis’ comments were a striking departure from the public stand taken by U.S. officials, including some of his fellow Republicans, who draw distinctions between the aims of the Palestinian people and those of Hamas. The militant group has ruled has Gaza since 2007 and launched an attack against Israel last weekend.DeSantis’ endorsement of such tactics comes as he has advocated hard-line policies as a White House candidate. He suggested that not providing water or other services would persuade Hamas to release the hostages it has taken during its incursion.“You have Israelis being held hostage, as well as Americans being held host...

Poland’s opposition leader Tusk says 3 parties have enough votes to unseat the Law and Justice party

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish opposition leader Donald Tusk said that three opposition parties had sufficient votes to win the general election on Sunday after an exit poll projected that they had enough combined support to oust Law and Justice, the governing conservative nationalist party.The Ipsos exit poll suggested that the opposition together has likely won 248 seats in the 460-seat lower house of parliament, the Sejm. Law and Justice, according to the projection, obtained 200 seats, while the far-right Confederation got 12 seats. “I am the happiest man on earth,” Tusk said. “Democracy has won. Poland has won.”Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski acknowledged that the outcome was uncertain.Kaczynski told supporters at his headquarters that his party’s result, at nearly 37% of the vote, according to the exit poll, was a great success, but acknowledged it might not be able to keep power.“The question before us is whether this success will be able to be turned into anoth...

Stoneman Douglas High shooting site visited one last time by lawmakers and educators

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:35:01 GMT

PARKLAND, Fla. (AP) — Florida lawmakers and education leaders from several states on Saturday took what is likely the final tour of a building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where a former student shot 17 people to death and wounded 17 others on Valentine’s Day 2018.The 1200 Building is scheduled to be demolished next summer, the local school district announced last month. Authorities told WPLG-TV that Saturday was the last day for people to tour the building, which has been preserved as evidence by the Broward Sheriff’s Office.Max Schachter, whose 14-year-old son Alex Schachter was killed in the massacre, led Saturday’s tour.“I wanted to have as many people, leaders of school districts around the country, to come to the building and understand the failures and lessons learned,” he said.People from 25 states, including school board members, superintendents and national Parent Teacher Association members, went on the tour to see how they could make s...