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Pentagon chief reassures Ukraine about continued US aid

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

KYIV — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday where he reassured the Ukrainian government the U.S. will continue to help it fend off the Russian invasion — a pledge that appears to be wobbling as aid for Ukraine becomes embroiled in political battles in Washington.“The United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future,” Austin said in a statement upon arrival.Austin arrived only two days ahead of the 17th meeting of Ukraine’s Defense Contact Group, also known as the Rammstein meeting, planned for Wednesday. He will host the meeting via video conference with some 50 countries to coordinate military aid for Ukraine.In Kyiv, Austin focused on bolstering the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine, including ensuring that Ukraine’s armed forces have the battlefield capabilities they need both for this winter and to defend their country against fut...

Practice to determine Patriots’ Week 12 starting quarterback competition?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

With head coach Bill Belichick not scheduled to speak to reporters until Tuesday, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien fielded the first questions of the week about the Patriots’ starting quarterback plan for Week 12.O’Brien deferred to Belichick on Monday, though it sounds like a decision has yet to be made.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots OC Bill O’Brien indicates Bill Belichick hasn’t decided on starting QB New England Patriots | Three Patriots quarterbacks took first-team reps in bye week practice New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Who should start at quarterback after bye week? New England Patriots | Patriots veteran leader relays message for Mac Jones after benching New England Patriots | Three Patriots assistants named in NFL head coach watch list “For me, I basically get everybody ready to play,” O’Brien said. “So what we tr...

Patriots OC Bill O’Brien indicates Bill Belichick hasn’t decided on starting QB

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

The Patriots coaching staff returned to work Sunday determined to fix what’s been ailing their 2-8 team.Chief among their list of problems is poor quarterback play.Mac Jones was benched for a third time this season in the Pats’ latest loss, a 10-6 defeat to the Colts in Germany. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said Monday picking a starter for this weekend’s game against the Giants will fall to head coach Bill Belichick. He also indicated Belichick has yet to make that decision.“For me, I basically get everybody ready to play … And so at the end of the day, Bill (Belichick) will make that decision at some point, and we’ll go from there,” O’Brien told reporters Monday via video conference. “But I do believe that we have to continue like we do all the time to earn it on the practice field, coaches and players.”O’Brien declined to share what his recommendation would. He did, however, say there should be enough reps in pract...

Three Patriots quarterbacks took first-team reps in bye week practice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien provided a rare peek behind the curtain of what transpired in practice last week as questions abound about the team’s starting quarterback situation.The Patriots practiced just once last week on Wednesday before breaking for the bye, and the media saw Mac Jones take the initial quarterback reps with the team’s starting offensive line.“The other day at practice, Mac took the first-team reps,” O’Brien said. “Bailey( (Zappe) rotated in there. Will Grier rotated in there.”Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots OC Bill O’Brien indicates Bill Belichick hasn’t decided on starting QB New England Patriots | Patriots mailbag: Who should start at quarterback after bye week? New England Patriots | Patriots veteran leader relays message for Mac Jones after benching New England Patriots | Three Patriots assistants named in NFL ...

Turkeys are a lot cheaper this Thanksgiving. Here’s why

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

By Cara Smith | NerdWalletNeed something to be thankful for? Well, in addition to the roof above your head and the device you’re reading this on, you can add the price of your Thanksgiving turkey to the list.That’s according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), which found that the average price of an 8-to-16-pound turkey was $1.27 per pound in August 2023 — a 22% decline from August 2022. The U.S. Department of Agriculture likewise lists the average price per pound for frozen, whole hen turkeys as $1.27 in August 2023 — down just over 22% from $1.64 in August 2022.The prices of some turkey products fell more dramatically, like boneless and skinless male turkey breasts, which were 61% cheaper in August 2023 than the same time last year, per the AFBF.Why is this happening? Because, finally, a highly contagious avian flu outbreak came under control.Poultry industry ‘holding its breath’In early 2022, what would become the largest bird flu outbreak in U.S. history started infe...

I-10 is fully reopened after arson fire, just in time for Monday morning's rush hour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An elevated Los Angeles freeway closed for more than a week because of an arson fire reopened ahead of Monday morning's commute, at least a day earlier than previously announced and weeks ahead of the original estimate.“Welcome back, Los Angeles!” Mayor Karen Bass posted late Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter.The Nov. 11 blaze, fed by flammable materials stored under the roadway in violation of a company’s lease, shut a mile-long stretch of Interstate 10 near downtown, snarling traffic as repair crews worked around the clock. Officials had said last week that all lanes were expected to reopen by Tuesday, but moved it up to Monday after significant progress. Gov. Gavin Newsom said recent safety inspections showed the span was safe to start reopening Sunday evening and that the freeway would be “fully operational” before Monday's rush hour. “It wasn't just speed that we were after. We wanted to make sure this thing was safe,” Newsom said at a news conference, j...

Think they’ve seen it all? Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover who wants more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

It’s been a wonderful year at the movies for cinephiles, but what do you get for the film lover who has seen everything already? The holidays always bring anniversary releases of tried-and-true classics, like the 4K Ultra HD 25th Anniversary Titanic re-release, as well as tricked-out 4K sets of the year’s biggest hits, like “Barbie” of course. But there are plenty of more unique options, at all price points, from a high-roller ticket to the Sundance Film Festival in January to a Criterion Channel subscription and more. SOFIA COPPOLA BOOK Sofia Coppola dug into her personal photos from 25 years of filmmaking for her first book, “Sofia Coppola Archive 1999-2023.” In the 479-page book, Coppola takes you on a visual journey from “The Virgin Suicides” through “Priscilla,” including intimate behind-the-scenes photos with all the famous faces she’s worked with, from Kirsten Dunst to Bill Murray. There are inspiration boards, script pages with handwritten a...

A 2023 gift guide that will strike a chord: 10 ideas for the music lover in your life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For the obsessive record collector or the casual listener, the shower singer or the rock star of tomorrow, a music-inspired gift is never a faux pas over the holidays. The challenge, of course, is in the decision making. Is a genre-specific festival ticket the way to go? What about a box set fit for a budding audiophile? Here’s a variety gift guide for the audio lover in your life — from photo card binders for the K-pop superfan to a pair of some of the best headphones on the market and a cheese board that looks surprisingly hi-def. It’ll be music to their ears. GIVE ‘EM SIMONE: There are vinyl box sets, and then there is “Four Women: The Nina Simone Complete Recordings 1964-1967,” a massive, seven-LP collection built from the seven albums Simon released for the Philips label during her most prolific creative period. That’s 1964’s “Nina Simone in Concert” and “Broadway-Blues-Ballads”; 1965’s “I Put A Spell On You,” “Pastel Blues”...

Blue Jays reportedly open to trading Alek Manoah

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

After taking a major step back in 2023, the Toronto Blue Jays are “open to moving” right-handed starter Alek Manoah, rival executives tell The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.Coming off a 2022 campaign in which he posted a 2.24 ERA and finished third in AL Cy Young voting, the 25-year-old logged a 5.87 ERA and was sent to minor leagues on two separate occasions — including a season-ending demotion in August — this past season.Rosenthal does say that how open Toronto is to moving its 2019 first-round pick “remains to be seen,” but adds, “the Jays’ rotation depth is prompting inquiries from other clubs. The team’s need for position players seemingly would make a move possible.”At the GM Meetings earlier this month, general manager Ross Atkins told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi that Manoah “has earned already the right to have a strong leg up” for one of the spots in the Blue Jays’ rotation. Related: Blue Jays o...

Transport trailer catches fire in plaza parking lot in Brampton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:42:42 GMT

A transport trailer has been damaged after a fire in the Airport Road and Bovaird Drive area in Brampton on Monday morning. Peel police received a call at approximately 7:14 a.m. of a transport trailer on fire in a plaza parking lot.There are no reports of injuries at this time.BramptonFire remains on scene investigating alongside police.