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Pentagon Misled Congress About U.S. Bases in Africa

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

Since a cadre of U.S.-trained officers joined a junta that overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president in late July, more than 1,000 U.S. troops have been largely confined to their Nigerien outposts, including America’s largest drone base in the region, Air Base 201 in Agadez.The base, which has cost the U.S. a total of $250 million since construction began in 2016, is the key U.S. surveillance hub in West Africa. But in testimony before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in March, the chief of U.S. Africa Command described Air Base 201 as “minimal” and “low cost.”Gen. Michael Langley, the AFRICOM chief, told Congress about just two “enduring” U.S. forward operating sites in Africa: Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti and a longtime logistics hub on Ascension Island in the south Atlantic Ocean. “The Command also operates out of 12 other posture locations throughout Africa,” he said in his prepared testimony. “These locations have minimal permanent U.S. presence and have lo...

Water breaks in both halves in Rugby World Cup matches this weekend because of hot weather in France

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

PARIS (AP) — There will be water breaks at all matches on the first weekend of the Rugby World Cup, organizers said on Friday.That includes the opening match — France vs. New Zealand in Paris on Friday.The breaks will take place during both halves “at a natural break in play,” World Rugby said.Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in Paris over the weekend, and 35 (95) on Saturday in Bordeaux, where Ireland play Romania.“The process has operated at previous Rugby World Cups and across rugby more broadly when temperatures are hot or humid,” the governing body added.___AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugbySource

Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against Sen. Graham, 2 ex-senators, Flynn, none of whom were indicted

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia special grand jury recommended charges against Sen. Graham, 2 ex-senators, Flynn, none of whom were indicted.Source

Brown and Langenbrunner highlight the US Hockey Hall of Fame’s class of 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Former NHL players Dustin Brown and Jamie Langenbrunner highlight the 2023 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame class unveiled Friday by USA Hockey.Longtime executive Brian Burke, women’s star Katie King Crowley and official Brian Murphy also are being inducted into the hall at a ceremony Dec. 6 in Boston.“It’s an amazing class and a group that truly reflects extraordinary,” USA Hockey President Mike Trimboli said. “Their accomplishments are varied and far-reaching, and the positive impact they’ve had on the game — and will continue to have — will no doubt benefit generations to come.”Brown in 2012 became the second American captain to hoist the Stanley Cup when the Los Angeles Kings won it for the first time, and he did it again in 2014. Earlier this year, the team put a statue of Brown outside of its arena and retired his No. 23 to the rafters. Langenbrunner also won the Cup twice, in 1999 with Dallas and 2003 with New Jersey. He was a teammate of Brown...

Two men questioned in Lebanon at Turkey’s request over 2019 escape of former Nissan tycoon Ghosn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese judicial authorities have questioned two people at the request of Turkey on suspicion of being involved in the 2019 escape of auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon via Istanbul, officials said Friday.The news came a week before a hearing in Lebanon as part of a $1 billion lawsuit that Ghosn, formerly the president of Nissan, filed against the company and about a dozen people in Beirut over his imprisonment in Japan and what he says was misinformation spread against him.Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on charges of breach of trust, misusing company assets for personal gain and violating securities laws by not fully disclosing his compensation. Before he could stand trial, however, he escaped to Lebanon, via Turkey, apparently hidden in a box on a private plane. Lebanon has no extradition treaty with Japan and does not extradite its citizens. Ghosn has French, Brazilian and Lebanese citizenship.Turkey is investigating whether the two men co...

Wales and Fiji meet again in the Rugby World Cup. The Fijians have never been this prepared

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

On the eve of his record fifth Rugby World Cup as a coach, Warren Gatland used his column in a British newspaper to raise concerns about the potential for his Wales team’s training sessions being recorded during the tournament.“We use drones to film our own sessions,” Gatland said in The Daily Telegraph, “but it is hard to be sure that there are no other drones monitoring from long distance. The technology in cameras now is such that you could probably be a couple of miles away and able to discreetly film training away from security.”To be clear, Gatland was reacting to a report that an unnamed tier one nation sought clarification from World Rugby over sanctions for spying. He wasn’t accusing his team’s first opponent, Fiji, of any foul play.The Fijians are hardly flying under the radar at this World Rugby.The Pacific Island team typically comes into the tournament with a bunch of outrageously gifted players, only to be tripped up by a tough draw, poor preparation, a lack of squad d...

Sports on TV for September 9 – 10

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, September 9AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (MEN’S)5 a.m.FS2 — AFL: Port Adelaide at BrisbaneAUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL (WOMEN’S)11 p.m.FS2 — AFL: Fremantle at CollingwoodAUTO RACING10 a.m.USA — NASCAR Xfinity Series: Practice and Qualifying, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.12 p.m.USA — NASCAR Cup Series: Practice and Qualifying, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.3 p.m.USA — Pro Motocross Championship: Playoffs – Round 1, Concord, N.C.3:30 p.m.NBC — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Kansas Lottery 300, Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.COLLEGE FOOTBALL11 a.m.ACCN — Vanderbilt at Wake Forest12 p.m.ABC — Notre Dame at NC StateBTN — Youngstown St. at Ohio St.CBSSN — Delaware St. at ArmyESPN — Utah at BaylorESPN2 — Purdue at Virginia TechESPNU — James Madison at VirginiaFOX — Nebraska at ColoradoFS1 — Troy at Kansas St.PEACOCK — Delaware at Penn St.SECN — Ball St. at Georgia2:15 p.m.ACCN — Charleston Southern at Clemson3:3...

Trayectoria de la tormenta tropical Margot: dónde está y a dónde se dirige

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

(CNN Español) — La tormenta tropical Margot, que se formó este jueves en el Atlántico, se podría fortalecer en los próximos días y se pronostica que durante el fin de semana la tormenta siga avanzando en dirección oeste-noroeste y que a principios de la próxima semana gire hacia el noroeste, según el Centro Nacional de Huracanes (CNH).La tormenta tropical Margot se encuentra a unos 750 km al oeste de Cabo Verde y avanzaba a 26 km/h con vientos máximos sostenidos de 65 km/h, según el más reciente boletín del CNH.Se forma la tormenta tropical Margot en el AtlánticoHuracán Lee, huracán Jova y tormenta tropical Margot, en vivo: trayectorias, última hora, noticias y más“Se espera un fortalecimiento gradual durante los próximos días, y se prevé que Margot se convierta en huracán durante el fin de semana”, dice el NHC.“Los vientos máximos sostenidos permanecen cerca de 65 km/h con ráfagas más fuertes. Se espera un fortalecimiento gradual durante los próximos días, y...

Chicago Blackhawks to retire Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios’ No. 7 jersey

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks will retire Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios’ No. 7 jersey.The Blackhawks had Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder deliver the news to his longtime friend during the band’s concert at the United Center on Thursday night.Chelios, 61, a Chicago native, played for his hometown team from 1990 until he was traded to Detroit in March 1999. He had 92 goals and 395 assists in 664 regular-season games with the Blackhawks. He remains the team’s career leader with 1,495 penalty minutes.Danny Wirtz, the chairman and CEO of the team, said his late father, Rocky, wanted Chelios’ No. 7 to be the next number retired by the franchise. Rocky Wirtz died in July at age 70.“Chris Chelios represents not only the Blackhawks, but, given his roots here, the city of Chicago,” Danny Wirtz said in a release.Chelios is a three-time Norris Trophy winner — awarded to the league’s top defenseman — taking home the honor twice during his time in Chi...

Colorado icon ranked as one of the most overrated attractions in the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:25 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Think of some of the most famous tourist attractions - Old Faithful, the Space Needle, the Hollywood sign. Yes, they're all instantly recognizable, and yet they are all listed among the worst tourist traps in the world. An iconic Colorado location also made its way onto that list too. Top-rated Denver tourist attractions USA Today analyzed 23.2 million Google reviews of 500 popular tourist attractions in the world with a focused search on keywords like “tourist trap,” “expensive" and “overrated."Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs was ranked in the top 20 most overrated tourist attractions in the world. While it made headlines for being one of the worst, at least its not Times Square. Specifically, the reviews talk about Pikes Peak's historic railway, which is the highest railroad in America. It's a three-and-a-half-hour trip that starts at the Manitou Depot and goes up nine miles to the 14,115-foot peak.It's the highest cog railway in the world and one of Colorado’s t...