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New Year’s Eve celebrations roll across Asia, but wars cast a shadow on the start of 2024

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Revelers across Asia celebrated the countdown to midnight on New Year’s Eve with fireworks and brightly lit signs — offering a hopeful start to 2024 for some, even as the globe’s ongoing conflicts raised security concerns and let to muted or even cancelled festivities.As the clock struck midnight in Australia, more than 1 million people — a number equivalent to one in five of the city’s residents — watched a 12-minute firework display focused on the Sydney Harbor Bridge from the shore and from boats in the harbor.“It’s total madness,” said German tourist Janna Thomas, who had waited in line since 7:30 a.m. to secure a prime waterfront location in the Sydney Botanic Garden.Organizers worldwide have readied for large-scale celebrations despite the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. In New York City, where there have been near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war, officials and party organizers said they were prepared to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of re...

No. 1 Michigan, No. 4 Alabama face off in powerhouse battle in CFP semifinal at Rose Bowl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan (13-0, Big Ten) vs. No. 4 Alabama (12-1, SEC), Jan. 1, 5 p.m. Eastern (ESPN)FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Michigan by 1 1/2Series record: Alabama leads 3-2.WHAT’S AT STAKEMichigan is in the College Football Playoff for the third straight season but still seeking its first win, getting routed by Georgia in 2021 and upset by TCU last season. The Wolverines haven’t won a national championship since 1997. Alabama is seeking its seventh title under coach Nick Saban and has been victorious in the semifinal in six of seven CFP appearances. Saban won his first championship with the Crimson Tide in the 2010 BCS title game in Pasadena, California.KEY MATCHUPMichigan RB Blake Corum vs. Alabama defensive linemen Tim Keenan III and Justin Eboigbe. Corum has been the offensive catalyst for the Wolverines for three seasons, but he had only 13 yards on three carries against the Bulldogs and didn’t play against the Horned Frogs because of a knee injury. If he can deliver...

Fabio Carvalho returning to Liverpool after loan spell at Leipzig ends early

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Fabio Carvalho is returning to Liverpool after his loan spell at Leipzig ended early.The 21-year-old winger had joined the German side on a season-long loan but made only three starts in a total of 15 appearances in all competitions for the team so far this season. Leipzig sporting director Rouven Schroder said on the team’s website that “both parties had expected more from his time here — especially Fabio in terms of his playing time.”“Due to the quality and competition within our squad at his position, we are unable to guarantee this for him,” Schroder said. “We held several discussions over the last days and in the end, decided to end his loan early.”Carvalho, who has played for Portugal’s Under-21 team, moved to Liverpool from Fulham in the summer of 2022 and has featured 21 times for the Reds, scoring three goals.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerSource

No. 8 Oregon and No. 18 Liberty square off in Fiesta Bowl

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

No. 18 Liberty (13-0, CUSA) vs No. 8 Oregon (11-2, Pac-12), Jan. 1, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN)FanDuel Sportsbook College Line: Oregon by 17 1/2Series record: First meeting.WHAT’S AT STAKE?Oregon is looking to finish the season strong after just missing the College Football Playoff. The Ducks lost twice to No. 2 Washington, one of four CFP teams, by a combined six points. Oregon is No. 8 in the CFP rankings. Liberty is playing in its fifth straight bowl game since becoming a Division I program in 2018. The Flames are the first Conference USA team to play in a New Year’s Six bowl game, doing it in their first year in the league.KEY MATCHUPLiberty’s defense vs. Oregon QB Bo Nix. A Heisman Trophy finalist, Nix threw for 4,145 yards and 40 TDs with three interceptions this season. His completion rate of 77.2% is right behind the NCAA single-season record of 77.4% set by Alabama’s Mac Jones in 2020. Liberty led the nation with 21 interceptions, but will need to get pressure on Nix again...

First Night festivities underway on City Hall Plaza

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

Crews were hard at work preparing City Hall Plaza to host Boston’s First Night festivities as residents across the area gather to ring in the New Year.This year’s celebration has been moved to City Hall Plaza due to ongoing construction at Copley Square.The free and family-friendly event will feature performances, ice sculptures, fireworks, and more. The City is a partner of the New Year’s Eve event, which is formally run by Boston Celebrations, Inc, and managed by Conventures, Inc. All parties are taking steps to ensure public safety as Boston celebrates the New Year. “First Night is a beloved tradition in Boston and beyond, having created delightful experiences for neighborhood residents and visitors from around the world,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said in a statement. “Our newly renovated City Hall Plaza is the perfect venue to welcome families from all over to ring in the New Year. I encourage all our residents to celebrate safely as we welcome 2024.”N...

Patriots can’t overcome early turnovers in 27-21 loss to Bills

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

The Patriots started Week 17 with stunning offensive incompetence.Turnovers on four of their first possessions should have dug an insurmountable hole, but another impressive performance from Bill Belichick’s defense kept the Patriots in the game for the entire contest.The Patriots got things kicked off with a bang. Wide receiver Jalen Reagor returned the Bills’ opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. This is a good time to remind everyone that for weeks, the Patriots elected to have veteran running back/wide receiver Ty Montgomery return kicks over Reagor.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Tom Brady thought about unretiring in May before friends forced his hand? New England Patriots | Healthy-scratch Trent Brown has caused Patriots issues for weeks New England Patriots | Patriots make series of roster moves ahead of Week 17 matchup with Bills New England Patriots | Four Patriots players who can build off momentum...

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II to step down

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II announced Sunday that she plans to abdicate after 52 years and hand over the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik.The queen, who is Europe’s longest-reigning living monarch, announced during her New Year’s speech that she would step down on Jan. 14th, which is the anniversary of her own accession to the throne at age 31 following the death of her father, King Frederik IX.Margrethe, 83, said the back surgery she underwent in early 2023 led to “thoughts about the future” and when to pass on the responsibilities of the crown to her son. “I have decided that now is the right time,” she said in her speech.Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen paid tribute to her in a statement, offering a “heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom.”Margrethe is the “epitome of Denmark” Frederiksen’s statement rea...

Suspects detained in Cologne Cathedral attack threat

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

BERLIN — Three more people were detained Sunday in connection with a reported threat of an attack on the Cologne Cathedral over the holidays, German authorities said.The detentions came only days after a 30-year-old Tajik man was detained in relation to an alleged plot to attack the world-famous cathedral by Islamic extremists in the western German city.The suspects were detained in the western cities of Duisburg, Herne and Dueren in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and their apartments were also searched there. No details about their identities were released.All of the detained suspects — including the Tajik who was arrested last week — allegedly belong to a larger network that included people across Germany and in other European countries, according to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, German news agency dpa reported.The attack was supposed to have been carried out with a car loaded with explosives, local media reported.Cologne police said in a Sunday news conference tha...

US Navy helicopters fire at Yemen’s Houthi rebels

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

BEIRUT — The U.S. military said Sunday that its forces opened fire on Houthi rebels after they attacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea, killing several of them in an escalation of the maritime conflict linked to the war in Gaza.In a series of statements, the U.S. Central Command said the crew of the USS Gravely destroyer first shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired at the Singapore-flagged Maersk Hangzhou late Saturday, after the vessel reported getting hit by a missile earlier that evening as it sailed through the Southern Red Sea.Four small boats then attacked the same cargo ship with small arms fire early Sunday and rebels tried to board the vessel, the U.S. Navy said.Next, the USS Gravely and helicopters from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier responded to the Maersk Hangzhou’s distress call and issued verbal warnings to the attackers, who responded by firing on the helicopters.“The U.S. Navy helicopters returned fire in self-defense,” sinking...

Week 17 updates: Cole Kmet is active for the Chicago Bears and extends his consecutive games streak vs. the Atlanta Falcons

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:50:40 GMT

The 6-9 Chicago Bears are playing the 7-8 Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field in a Week 17 matchup. Here’s what you need to know.Inactives announcedBears tight end Cole Kmet is active for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.Kmet dealt with a knee injury during the week and was listed as questionable. He never has missed a game in four seasons with the Bears, a streak of 65 straight entering Sunday.Bears center Lucas Patrick is also active after being listed as questionable with a knee issue. Left guard Teven Jenkins will return after clearing concussion protocol.Running back D’Onta Foreman, however, is inactive after practicing all week. The Bears will rely on Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson instead.As the Bears announced Friday, they will be without wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who is in concussion protocol. Linebacker DeMarquis Gates, safety Quindell Johnson, offensive lineman Ja’Tyre Carter and quarterback Nathan Peterman also are inactive. Peterman will se...