White House throws lavish state dinner for Australia but takes pizazz down a notch in time of war

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

White House throws lavish state dinner for Australia but takes pizazz down a notch in time of war WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House took the pizazz down a notch for Wednesday’s state dinner, but more than 300 guests from politics, business, government and beyond turned out to celebrate close U.S. ties to ally Australia while striking a measured tone in a time of death and suffering in the Middle East.The celebrity quotient was lower than usual for the fourth state dinner of President Joe Biden’s term, but actor John Leguizamo was happy to represent Hollywood and guessed that he’d snagged an invite because of all his work helping to elect the president. As for what legislator he’d most like to be cast as, Leguizamo thought for a minute and declared “Schumer” — as in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York — and joked he might get a chance to talk it over with the lawmaker during the dinner.The gowns were more muted for this fall soiree than the eye-popping colors prominent at the state dinner for India last spring, but Caroline Kennedy stood out i...

Pilotos ucranianos comienzan entrenamientos en aviones F-16 en Estados Unidos

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Pilotos ucranianos comienzan entrenamientos en aviones F-16 en Estados Unidos (CNN) — Un “pequeño número” de pilotos ucranianos comenzó esta semana a entrenar en aviones de combate F-16 en Estados Unidos, según un portavoz de la Fuerza Aérea.Los pilotos entrenarán con el Ala 162 de la Guardia Nacional Aérea de Arizona, una unidad que se especializa en preparar a socios internacionales en el avión de combate de cuarta generación. Se espera que la formación dure “varios meses”, de acuerdo con el portavoz.El entrenamiento de vuelo comenzó después de que los pilotos completaran su preparación de idiomas en San Antonio, Texas, sede del Centro de Idioma Inglés del Defense Language Institute.Estados Unidos también planea capacitar a aproximadamente 200 miembros del personal ucraniano en el mantenimiento del complejo avión una vez que completen su formación lingüística.Durante meses, el presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelensky, hizo solicitudes urgentes de aviones de combate F-16 para defenderse mejor de los ataques con drones y misiles...

Lo que debes saber del brote multiestatal de Salmonella

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Lo que debes saber del brote multiestatal de Salmonella Un brote multiestatal de casos de infección por Salmonella reportado esta semana ocasionó una alerta de seguridad alimentaria de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por su sigla en inglés), enfocada en varias presentaciones de verduras procesadas de la empresa Gills Onions.Hasta el momento, se han reportado 73 casos en 22 estados. De ellos, 15 personas fueron hospitalizadas y no se han registrado muertes.Según las entrevistas realizadas a personas que han enfermado, las cebollas procesadas en Gills Onions pueden ser la causa de los contagios. Al menos 14 de 19 personas dijeron haber comido cebollas cortadas en cubitos. De las 14, seis residías en en centros de atención a largo plazo donde servían el producto, según los reportes.Por esta razón, el martes 24 de octubre, Gills Onions retiró del mercado algunos lotes de productos de cebolla fresca picada con fecha de caducidad en agosto de 2023, incluidas cebollas amarillas picadas (bolsas de 3 libras y taz...

Tyrod Taylor seemingly in line for his third straight start for Giants with Daniel Jones not cleared

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Tyrod Taylor seemingly in line for his third straight start for Giants with Daniel Jones not cleared EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tyrod Taylor moved a little closer to making his third straight start for the Giants on Wednesday with Daniel Jones still not cleared to play in the New York rivalry game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.For the second straight week, Jones was throwing at the practice facility, but team medical officials have not cleared him for contact. The 26-year-old quarterback hurt his neck in the fourth quarter of a loss to Miami on Oct. 8 and he has missed games against Buffalo and Washington.A 13-year-veteran, Taylor started those games and he has played well, considering New York’s offense has scored the fewest points in the league (85). He had two touchdown passes in a 14-7 win over the Commanders on Sunday, and had the Giants (2-5) in the red zone five times in a 14-9 loss to the Bills.Giants coach Brian Daboll indicated on Wednesday that Jones’ status might change.“I think any time you’re talking about the neck you’ve got to understan...

Live updates | Increased Israeli airstrikes jeopardize relief, leave neighborhoods in shambles

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Live updates | Increased Israeli airstrikes jeopardize relief, leave neighborhoods in shambles Palestinians rescue a survivor of Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Nusseirat refugee camp, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mohmoud)(AP/Ali Mohmoud) Palestinians rescue a survivor of Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Nusseirat refugee camp, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Mohmoud)(AP/Ali Mohmoud) Increased Israeli airstrikes are devastating parts of the Gaza Strip, jeopardizing relief operations and leaving neighborhoods in shambles. A strike in the Nusseirat refugee camp on Wednesday killed several family members of one of Al Jazeera TV’s chief correspondents, Wael Dahdouh. Strikes elsewhere destroyed homes and businesses and left many digging through the debris.Health care facilities ar...

Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day Sunday for snow, cold

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day Sunday for snow, cold DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay dry and sunny alongside a cooling trend until a change this weekend.A Pinpoint Weather Alert Day has been issued for Sunday for the metro's first measurable snow, with much higher snowfall totals in the mountains and foothills, followed by a drastic drop in temperatures. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team Weather tonight: Clear, mildWednesday night, Denver will stay under a mainly clear sky. Temperatures will be in the high 30s and low 40s on the Front Range.Weather tomorrow: Sunny, coolerThursday, there will be a few areas of morning fog followed by plenty of sunshine. Temperatures will be cooler but seasonal, reaching a high in the 60s. Looking ahead: Cool Friday, weekend snowOn Thursday night into Friday, a cold front will bring snow to the high country but will dry up before reaching Denver. The metro, however, will feel the impacts in the form of morning clouds and below-normal temperatures that will...

Autoworkers reach a deal with Ford, a breakthrough toward ending strikes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Autoworkers reach a deal with Ford, a breakthrough toward ending strikes DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union said Wednesday it has reached a tentative contract agreement with Ford that could be a breakthrough toward ending the nearly 6-week-old strikes against Detroit automakers.The four-year deal, which still has to be approved by 57,000 union members at the company, could bring a close to the union’s series of strikes at targeted factories run by Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. ‘Sad’: Sears reopened a store in California and shoppers have thoughts The Ford deal could set the pattern for agreements with the other two automakers, although no other agreements were announced.The union called on all workers at Ford to return to their jobs and said that will put pressure on GM and Stellantis to bargain.“We told Ford to pony up, and they did,” President Shawn Fain said in a video address to members. “We won things no one thought possible.” He added that Ford put 50% more money on the table than it did before the strike started on Se...

Dwayne Johnson’s wax figure will be fixed after backlash

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Dwayne Johnson’s wax figure will be fixed after backlash (CNN) — Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s wax figure is getting a makeover.The Musée Grévin, a museum in Paris, France, that specializes in wax figures of famous people, came under fire recently for a sculpture of Johnson that many found to be too light skinned to represent the actor, who is multi-ethnic.Johnson got into the conversation, posting on social media that he was “going to have my team reach out to our friends at Grevin Museum, in Paris France so we can work at ‘updating’ my wax figure here with some important details and improvements – starting with my skin color.”Now the museum has said they are working on it.The Instagram account for the Musée Grévin featured an Instastory on Monday, stating that the wax figure is a “work in progress.”“Our artists are already working on improving the waxwork of Dwayne Johnson,” the post read. “Your feedback is always valuable to us.”The museum had been accused of “white washing” the actor’s image. Johnson’s lat...

Lil Wayne joins major league Pickleball team as investor and adviser

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Lil Wayne joins major league Pickleball team as investor and adviser (CNN) — Lil Wayne is expanding his connection to the world of sports.The Grammy-award winning rapper has joined the Texas Ranchers Pickleball team as part owner and as a strategic adviser.“Pickleball is the moment and I’m excited to be part of the Texas Ranchers ownership group,” Lil Wayne said in a statement. “I’ve enjoyed watching and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join this team of owners.”The Texas Ranchers are one of the eight founding Major League Pickleball (MLP) teams in the US.Their ownership group includes singer-songwriter and rapper The Kid LAROI; sports commentator and former NFL athlete Emmanuel Acho; and LA Clippers owner and CEO of Verbena Road Holdings Dennis Wong.“In his role as strategic advisor, Lil Wayne will provide direction for the brand to help drive national and local fandom to the sport, further strengthening the Texas Ranchers position as America’s Pickleball Team,” according to a press release. “He will also support creative ideation...

Britney Spears says she’s ‘roaring back to life’ in her new memoir

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:14:25 GMT

Britney Spears says she’s ‘roaring back to life’ in her new memoir (CNN) — Britney Spears is redefining what freedom means to her after over a decade of feeling like she didn’t have control of her own life.“Freedom to do what I want to do has given me back my womanhood,” she writes in her new memoir, “The Woman In Me,” released Tuesday. “In my forties, I’m trying things for what feels like the first time. I feel like the woman in me was pushed down for so long.”The book is a harrowing account of the pop star’s experience with public scrutiny and fraught familial and romantic relationships. She also details her experience with being placed under a court-ordered conservatorship – and then getting herself out of it.“Now, finally, I’m roaring back to life,” she writes.In 2021, a judge terminated a 13-year conservatorship under which her father, Jamie Spears, had been overseeing her finances and medical decisions.Spears writes that she’s been “trying to rebuild my life day by day.”“There’s been a lo...