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Taiwan threat from China serious, House GOP chairman says

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the House Select Committee on China said Saturday the U.S. must take seriously the threat posed to Taiwan, as Beijing launched military drills around the island in the aftermath of the Taiwanese president’s meetings with American lawmakers.Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., who attended the meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen in California last week, told The Associated Press that he plans to lead his committee in working to shore up the island government’s defenses, encouraging Congress to expedite military aid to Taiwan.“I think it all just points to what is obvious,” Gallagher told the AP, arguing that Chinese President Xi Jinping is intent on reunifying Taiwan with the mainland.“We need to be moving heaven and earth to enhance our deterrence and denial posture, so that Xi Jinping concludes that he just can’t do it,” Gallagher said.China conducted drills with warships and dozens of fighter jets around Taiwan on Saturday, the Tai...

Swanson's injury a concern as US downs Ireland 2-0

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Emily Fox and Lindsey Horan both scored for the United States in a 2-0 victory Saturday over Ireland that was marred by what appeared to be a serious left knee injury to Mallory Swanson.Swanson was carted off the field at Q2 Stadium and was taken to a hospital. She was the team's leading scorer this year with seven goals as the United States prepares for the Women's World Cup this summer.The match also marked the return of midfielder Julie Ertz, who had not played for the United States since the Tokyo Olympics.The second of two matches against Ireland was set for Tuesday in St. Louis. The games are the final chance that U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski will have to evaluate his players before he must select a 23-player roster for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.The United States fought off a barrage of shots in the 24th minute before Fox scored in the 37th with a low blast through a pair of defenders into the far corner of Ireland's goal. It was her first...

Where are the St. Louis Cardinals' top prospects this year?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals are more than a week into the 2023 season, but their minor league affiliates are just getting started. The new Minor League Baseball seasons for the Memphis Redbirds, Springfield Cardinals, Peoria Chiefs and Palm Beach Cardinals are in full swing. Two other affiliates, the rookie league FCL Cardinals and Foreign League DSL Cardinals, will begin closer to summer. Some baseball fans make it a yearly tradition to visit the minor league squads and catch prospects in action before their calls to the big leagues. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Cardinals (Seasonal) SIGN UP NOW Each level of the minor leagues offers some talent that could find their way onto the St. Louis Cardinals roster within the next few years. In some cases, an ...

Masters Live Updates | Play to resume at 8:30 a.m. Sunday

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Live updates from Saturday’s second and third rounds of the Masters (all times local):5:10 p.m.Augusta National has set the schedule to complete the weather-delayed Masters on Sunday.The third round is scheduled to resume at 8:30 a.m. If that goes according to plan, the final round would begin at 12:30 p.m., with pairs going off from both the first and 10th tees. Stormy weather led to a suspension of play on both Friday and Saturday. Leader Brooks Koepka, who holds a four-stroke advantage over Jon Rahm, is now facing the prospect of playing 30 holes on Sunday — his final 12 holes of the third round, and the 18-hole final round.At least the forecast looks much more favorable. The rain is expected to tail off overnight, with the sun possibly breaking through the clouds Sunday afternoon.There hasn’t been a Monday finish at the Augusta National since 1983.___3:25 p.m.Play has been halted for the day at the Masters because of nasty weather.A st...

Two federal judges issued opposing rulings on abortion pills. Here’s what’s going on.

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

The ruling by a federal judge in Texas invalidating the Food and Drug Administration’s approval 23 years ago of the abortion pill mifepristone has the potential to be the most consequential abortion decision since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June.But there are a lot of uncertainties — especially because a federal judge in Washington state issued a contradictory ruling less than an hour later saying the FDA should do nothing to restrict the pill’s availability in most states that allow abortion.So the situation is complicated. Here is what we know and what it could mean.What did the two rulings say?Both rulings are preliminary injunctions, issued before the full cases have been heard. But the dueling injunctions set up a legal showdown that is likely to reach the Supreme Court.The ruling by Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, a Trump appointee who has written critically about Roe v. Wade, declares the FDA’s approval...

Darin Ruf agrees to minor league deal with Giants

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Darin Ruf agreed Saturday to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants, reuniting with his former team six days after he was released by the New York Mets.The 36-year-old spent parts of three seasons with San Francisco from 2020-22, batting .248 with 32 home runs in 247 games.“We love Darin, and obviously, we have a lot of familiarity with him around here,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “We think the world of him as a human being. He performed very well for us for the time that he was in San Francisco.”Ruf agreed in March 2022 to a $6.25 million, two-year contract with the Giants and was traded to the Mets on Aug. 2. He hit .152 (10 for 66) without a home run in 28 games with the Mets last season and batted .167 (5 for 30) with nine strikeouts during spring training.New York is responsible for his $3 million salary this year and a $250,000 buyout of a 2024 option. If the Giants add Ruf to the major league roster, they would be responsible for a pr...

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Qualifying Race 4 Results

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

SaturdayAt Bristol Motor Speedway DirtBristol, Tenn.Lap length: 0.53 miles(Start position in parentheses)1. (3) Matt Crafton, Ford, 0 laps, 0 points.2. (2) Rajah Caruth, Chevrolet, 0, 0.3. (10) Kaden Honeycutt, Ford, 0, 0.4. (7) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 0, 0.6. (8) Bret Holmes, Chevrolet, 0, 0.7. (6) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 0, 0.8. (9) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 0, 0.9. (4) Tyler Carpenter, Chevrolet, 0, 0.10. (1) Andrew Gordon, Ford, 0, 0.___Race Statistics were not immediately available.___NASCAR Driver Rating FormulaA maximum of 150 points can be attained in a race.The formula combines the following categories: Wins, Finishes, Top-15 Finishes, Average Running Position While on Lead Lap, Average Speed Under Green, Fastest Lap, Led Most Laps, Lead-Lap Finish.Source

Kansas State takes on Montana State in first round of NCAA Tournament

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

Montana State Bobcats (25-9, 15-3 Big Sky) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (23-9, 11-7 Big 12)Greensboro, North Carolina; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Kansas State -8.5; over/under is 139BOTTOM LINE: The No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats and Montana State Bobcats play in the NCAA Tournament opening round.The Wildcats’ record in Big 12 games is 11-7, and their record is 12-2 against non-conference opponents. Kansas State leads the Big 12 with 16.8 assists per game led by Markquis Nowell averaging 7.6.The Bobcats’ record in Big Sky games is 15-3. Montana State averages 11.4 turnovers per game and is 2-0 when committing fewer turnovers than opponents.TOP PERFORMERS: Nowell is averaging 16.8 points, 7.6 assists and 2.4 steals for the Wildcats. Keyontae Johnson is averaging 16.4 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 51.6% over the last 10 games for Kansas State.Raequan Battle is scoring 17.4 points per game with 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist for the Bobcats. Jubrile Bel...

Late-season turnaround propels Lakers to winning record

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Near the end of what he once referred to as the most important regular-season stretch of his career, LeBron James was able to briefly savor one thing many thought was going to be near impossible after 12 games.The Los Angeles Lakers will have a winning record in the regular season.The Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 121-107 on Friday night for their 42nd win to guarantee a finish over .500. That was only a dream in early November when Los Angeles stumbled out of the gates with a 2-10 record.“I was just telling AD (Anthony Davis), ‘Can you believe we’re going to finish this season above .500 after everything that has gone on this season?’ We turned this thing around in the regular season,” James said. “There’s more basketball to be played, but to know that we’re going to finish a few games above .500 is pretty cool.”According to Sportradar, the Lakers (42-39) are only the fourth team since 1981 to start 2-10 or worse and finish with a winning record. The New...

Woods makes cut, last among those still playing at Masters

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:30:29 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — It even sounds odd to say it: Tiger Woods is last among those still playing at the Masters.But after Woods made the cut at Augusta National on Saturday, it all went downhill from there. Slogging through a rain-drenched, 49-degree day proved too much for the aching five-time champion to overcome.The 47-year-old Woods, who is still recovering from a 2021 car accident that nearly cost him his right leg, looked miserable as he limped through a dreadfully long, exhausting day in obvious discomfort, playing seven holes in the morning to make the cut and then seven more in a steady downpour before the tournament was postponed until Sunday.By the time the horn blew ending play at 3:15 p.m., Woods was alone in last place at 9-over, 22 shots behind third-round leader Brooks Koepka. At 6 over through seven holes for round three, Woods is on pace for the worst 18 holes of his illustrious Masters career — topping the back-to-back 78s he posted in the third and fourth rounds a...