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Germany aims to be Europe’s ‘backbone of deterrence’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

Presented by ASD By CALEB LARSON with LAURA KAYALI, JOSHUA POSANER, VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA, JAN CIENSKI, CAMILLE GIJS and ANTOANETA ROUSSI PRESENTED BY View in your browser or listen to audioSNEAK PEEK— Germany overhauls its military doctrine in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; it aims to be Europe’s “backbone of deterrence.”— NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is in Berlin today to take part in the alliance’s cyberdefense summit. — Ukraine could hold its next defense industry forum in the U.S. as it looks to built up its military industry.Good morning, and welcome to Morning Defense. Tips to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] or follow us at @joshposaner,  @LauKaya and   @calebmlarson.DRIVING THE DAYGERMAN MILITARY DOCTRINE: Today is day two of Germany’s Bundeswehr conference aimed at ...

Orioles phenoms Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson win first career Silver Slugger Awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson have often been paired together.They were the Orioles’ first two picks in the 2019 draft, the organization’s first under executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, and subsequently roomed together in the Florida Complex League. They were consecutively ranked as Baseball America’s No. 1 overall prospect. In more than a third of Baltimore’s games this season, they occupied the top two spots in the lineup.On Thursday, the Orioles’ phenoms were both named first-time recipients of Silver Slugger Awards, recognizing the top offensive performers at each position in each league. Rutschman was the American League’s top-hitting catcher, while Henderson, who split his standout rookie year between shortstop and third base, received the AL’s utility Silver Slugger. It’s Baltimore’s first season with multiple winners since 2013 and marks the sixth such case in franchise history.Rutschman, 25, ...

Week 10 updates: Chicago Bears trail Carolina Panthers by 1 at the half after Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s punt-return TD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

The 2-7 Chicago Bears are playing the 1-7 Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field in a Week 10 matchup. Here’s what you need to know.Halftime: Ihmir Smith-Marsette’s punt-return TD gives Panthers a 10-9 leadIn a game focused on rookie quarterbacks, a big special teams play was the highlight of the first half between the Bears and Panthers.Panthers returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette weaved his way around multiple Bears defenders for a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Panthers rode the play to a 10-9 halftime lead.Rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent completed 14 of 24 passes for 127 yards in the half as the Bears settled for three Cairo Santos field goals. D’Onta Foreman had 10 carries for 34 yards.Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, completed 7 of 14 passes for 63 yards in the half.Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell missed a tackle just after Smith-Marsette caught Trenton Gill’s punt with about 6 minutes t...

British economy flatlines in third quarter of the year, in subdued update ahead of budget statement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The British economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year, official figures showed Friday ahead of a budget statement from the government later this month.The Office for National Statistics said growth in the July-to-September period was zero compared to the previous three-months.All sectors, such as manufacturing and construction, broadly showed the same subdued picture.Despite the uninspiring headline figure, the quarterly outcome was slightly ahead of analysts’ expectations for a modest decline in output.The British economy, like many others particularly in the world, is struggling to grow in the face of higher interest rates, which are aimed at taming inflation.Last week, the Bank of England kept its main interest rate unchanged at the 15-year high of 5.25% and indicated that borrowing costs will likely remain at these sort of elevated levels for a while.The Bank of England, like other central banks, raised interest rates aggressively from near zero as i...

The Philippines and China report a new maritime confrontation near a contested South China Sea shoal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

MANILA (AP) — Chinese and Philippine vessels engaged in a new confrontation in the South China Sea on Friday, with Manila charging that a Chinese coast guard ship and accompanying vessels conducted dangerous maneuvers and blasted a Philippine supply ship with a water cannon in disputed waters.China responded that it acted appropriately under maritime law to defend what it says is its territory.The incident was the latest in a series of maritime confrontations between the two nations over territorial disputes that risk turning into more serious armed engagements.Tensions have risen recently as China has blockaded an isolated Philippine marine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal. Last month, a Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run supply boat near the contested shoal, according to Philippine officials. China accused the Philippine vessels of trespassing in what it said were Chinese waters “wi...

Australia offers to help Tuvalu residents escape rising seas and other ravages of climate change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Australia on Friday offered the island nation of Tuvalu a lifeline to help residents escape the rising seas and increased storms brought by climate change. At a meeting of Pacific leaders in the Cook Islands, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a plan that will initially allow up to 280 Tuvaluans to come to Australia each year. Tuvalu has a population of 11,000, and its low-lying atolls make it particularly vulnerable to global warming.“We believe the people of Tuvalu deserve the choice to live, study and work elsewhere, as climate change impacts worsen,” Albanese said. “Australia has committed to provide a special pathway for citizens of Tuvalu to come to Australia, with access to Australian services that will enable human mobility with dignity.”Albanese described the new agreement as groundbreaking, and said the day would be remembered as significant, marking an acknowledgment that Australia was part of the Pacific family.He said the...

Commission strengthens co-operation on satellite data with the National Commission on Space Activities of Argentina to tackle societal challenges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

The Commission signed a Copernicus Administrative Arrangement on co-operation with the National Commission on Space Activities of Argentina (CONAE).The aim of the Arrangement is to share each other's satellite Earth Observation data on the basis of reciprocity. This Arrangement will provide mutual benefits. On the one hand, the National Commission on Space Activities of Argentina intends to provide end-users in Argentina with a facilitated and simplified access to data from Copernicus. On the other hand, Copernicus services deliver near-real-time data to users around the world through satellite and in situ systems like ground-based sensors. With access to such systems from Argentina, Copernicus services will be better and more precise.The signature of the Arrangement will be followed by the setting up of an Argentina EU Copernicus coordination group to implement the arrangement. Copernicus is the EU's Earth Observation programme. This Arrangement is part of the Copernicus global out...

Sheriff lacks evidence to bring charges in death of Jewish man in Thousand Oaks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

Authorities said Thursday that they do not have enough evidence to arrest a suspect after an elderly Jewish man died after an altercation with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Thousand Oaks.On Nov. 6, the victim, Paul Kessler, 69, suffered a severe head injury and was found at the intersection of Westlake and Thousand Oaks boulevards where demonstrations were taking place involving pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups.He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protester(s),” the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “During the altercation, Kessler fell backward and struck his head on the ground.”  According to the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Kessler was “struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protestor.” A video posted to social media shows him lying ...

San Jose Sharks find formula for success after two blowout losses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

SAN JOSE – So much went wrong for the San Jose Sharks over the first three-plus weeks of the regular season that perhaps it was about time that they caught a lucky bounce.Nikita Okhotiuk’s shot from just inside the blue line toward the net went off the skate of Fabian Zetterlund and right to Tomas Hertl, who was in the perfect spot — right in front of the Edmonton Oilers net – to tap the puck past Stuart Skinner for his second goal of the season.“When you spend most of the time in (the other team’s defensive) zone, you can get any bounce,” Hertl said. “It was a little bit of a lucky bounce, but I think we deserved it.”Hertl’s second-period goal, plus Mackenzie Blackwood’s 39 saves in another stellar performance, helped lead the Sharks to a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in a game between the NHL’s bottom two teams.Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored with 2:26 left in regulation time. But the Sharks killed a late penalty t...

‘Here to support them’: Healing through jiu-jitsu at Lorton Veterans Day event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:12:41 GMT

This is part of WTOP’s continuing coverage of people making a difference from our community authored by Stephanie Gaines-Bryant. Read more of that coverage.Brazilian jiu-jitsu will be used as a form of therapy for veterans with disabilities in Lorton, Virginia, this weekend for Veterans Day.Capital MMA and Elite Fitness is partnering with the We Defy Foundation and GORUCK to host “Veterans Day Ruck & Roll” on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.The goal, according to Capital MMA and Elite Fitness’ co-owner Chad Malone, is to help vets “challenge themselves with their fitness goals, learn some martial arts and just have fun together.”The event is open to veterans of all fitness levels and their families. Malone said participants will learn some basic grappling techniques through indoor and outdoor workouts. The event will conclude with a roll-a-thon, or “friendly sparring round.”Proceeds will help raise funds for the We Defy Foundation’s scholarship...