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Orioles minor league report: After demotion, infield prospect Joey Ortiz is back to tearing up Triple-A

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

No hitting prospect under the Orioles’ current regime has put up better numbers in Triple-A than Joey Ortiz.In 63 games at the highest minor league level, Ortiz is slashing .350/.403/.579 with 35 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and stellar defense. Those numbers are better than any prospect who has played at least 40 games for Norfolk since Mike Elias took over as executive vice president and general manager before the 2019 season.That fact is almost hard to believe considering the Orioles have the sport’s No. 1 farm system and that Baltimore barely played Ortiz, who was demoted last week in favor of fellow infield prospect Jordan Westburg, during his time in the majors this year. Ortiz, the club’s No. 5 prospect according to Baseball America, was once seen as a weak-hitting prospect with defensive prowess, but he’s now paired his slick glove with offensive success in three straight seasons.His .982 OPS is better than Westburg’s career Triple-A mark of...

Biden admin’s ‘frames and receivers’ gun control rule halted by federal judge

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

A controversial rule issued by the Biden Administration’s ATF targeting components of so-called ghost guns has been struck down by a Texas judge who has ordered the agency not to enforce the policy.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives “Final Rule” redefining which partial components of a firearm legally constitute a full weapon, which went into effect last August, has been overturned after U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Texas Reed O’Connor said the agency overstepped its authority in issuing it.“This case presents the question of whether the federal government may lawfully regulate partially manufactured firearm components, related firearm products, and other tools and materials in keeping with the Gun Control Act of 1968,” the judge wrote in his ruling.“Because the Court concludes that the government cannot regulate those items without violating federal law, the Court holds that the government’s recently enacted Final Rule…is unlawful agen...

Outrage erupts in South Africa over video of deputy president’s security officers stomping on man

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A group of armed plainclothes officers assigned to protect South Africa’s deputy president were caught on video dragging a man out of a car and then stomping on his head until he lies motionless, sparking outrage and drawing more attention to the country’s problems with police brutality.The officers are part of the police security team protecting South Africa Deputy President Paul Mashatile, his office confirmed on Tuesday. There are no indications that Mashatile was present during the incident. His spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to phone calls seeking further comment.The video of the weekend incident shows the officers, some of whom are holding rifles, dragging the man across the road and then kicking him and stomping on his head and body. The man appears to be kicked unconcious and lies motionless on his back after the attack. The officers are also seen kicking another man, who holds his hands over his head to protect himse...

NATO again extends Stoltenberg’s mandate, happy with a safe pair of hands as the war drags on

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg will stay in office for another year, the 31-nation military alliance decided on Tuesday.Stoltenberg said in a tweet that he is “honoured by NATO Allies’ decision to extend my term as Secretary General until 1 October 2024.”“The transatlantic bond between Europe and North America has ensured our freedom and security for nearly 75 years, and in a more dangerous world, our Alliance is more important than ever,” he said.Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATO’s top civilian official since 2014. His term had been due to expire last year but was extended then to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts had been due to name a successor when they meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. But the world’s biggest security organization makes decisions by consensus, and no agreement could be found on a new candida...

Taliban ban women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban are banning women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan, a government spokesman said Tuesday. It’s the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment.A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar, didn’t give details of the ban. He only confirmed the contents of a letter circulating on social media.The ministry-issued letter, dated June 24, says it conveys a verbal order from the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The ban targets the capital, Kabul, and all provinces, and gives salons throughout the country a month’s notice to wind down their businesses. After that period, they must close and submit a report about their closure. The letter doesn’t give reasons for the ban.Its release comes days after Akhundzada claimed that his government has taken the necessary steps for the better...

Strong storm in Slovenia derails train, damages buildings and injures 2 passengers on a bus

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — A strong storm in Slovenia caused a train to derail, flooded roads, damaged buildings and slightly injured two people who were riding in a bus that was hit by a dislodged rock, authorities said Tuesday.Heavy rain and strong winds on Monday evening in the central part of the mountainous country caused rocks to fall on railway tracks and hit the bus.A train that was traveling from Zidani Most to the capital, Ljubljana, slowed down because of the storm but derailed when it hit the rocks on the tracks.The Slovenian Railways state company said the train was carrying about 20 passengers. Rocks also fell on another railway track in the same area, causing its closure and delays, the company said.The bus was driving from Zagorje ob Savi to Litija in central Slovenia. Emergency teams evacuated the passengers after it was hit, the official STA news agency said. In the town of Litija, the high school remained closed Tuesday after the storm damaged its roof. In Ljublja...

Statement from Gov. Hochul regarding 4th of July air quality

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement regarding the statewide air quality conditions for the 4th of July. Hochul released the following statement on Monday. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "After days of smoke-filled skies across New York, there is good news on the horizon: our forecasters currently expect air quality for tomorrow's July 4th celebrations will remain below concerning levels for both smoke and ozone in every region of the state. With this forecast in mind, I encourage New Yorkers to get outdoors, watch the fireworks and celebrate our nation's independence wherever possible. Conditions can change quickly, especially as wildfires in Canada continue to burn unabated, so State officials will continue monitoring the situation closely and I encourage all New Yorkers to stay vigilant and check the air quality in your community. I am grateful to t...

Moreau traffic stop leads to 2 drug arrests

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

MOREAU, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A traffic stop in Moreau led to two people being arrested on drug-related charges. Alexa Scott (29, Fort Ann) and Christopher Wern (39, Queensbury) face several charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Thursday, around 1:47 p.m., troopers pulled over a car on Spier Falls Road in Moreau. State police identified the driver as Wern, and say an investigation determined he did not have a valid driver's license.Police also say the passenger, identified as Scott, was uncooperative, provided false identifying information, and found she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest issued by the Moreau Town Court. Police say drug paraphernalia was in plain sight inside the car. Titan submersible may have tried to resurface before tragedy: report Scott Charges:Fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSecond-degree bail jumpingSecond-degree criminally using drug paraphernaliaSeventh-degree c...

Jaxon Hallmark's hitting provides spark for ValleyCats

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

PATERSON, N.J. (NEWS10) -- The Tri-City ValleyCats (27-18) swept the New Jersey Jackals (27-16) on Sunday with a 9-5 victory in the series finale of a three-game set at Hinchliffe Stadium thanks to clutch hitting and another good outing from the bullpen. It was the second sweep of the 2023 campaign for Tri-City, and its first since taking all three games against the Florence Y’alls from June 17-18. The ValleyCats are now just one game behind first-place New Jersey and the Sussex County Miners in the Frontier League East Division.  Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Tri-City opened the scoring for the third consecutive game. Aaron Altherr led off the second with a double off Anthony Rodriguez. Robbie Merced singled, and Altherr came around on an error from Jordan Howard to put the ValleyCats on top, 1-0.New Jersey took the lead in the bottom of the second. Keon Barnum singled off Dwayne Marshall before Josh Rehwaldt hit a ...

Moscow says 700,000 children from Ukraine conflict zones now in Russian territory

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:46 GMT

Russia has brought some 700,000 children from the conflict zones in Ukraine into Russian territory, Grigory Karasin, head of the international committee in the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, said late on Sunday (2 July)"In recent years, 700,000 children have found refuge with us, fleeing the bombing and shelling from the conflict areas in Ukraine," Karasin wrote on his Telegram messaging channel.Russia launched a full-scale invasion on its western neighbour Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow says its progranme of bring children from Ukraine into Russian territory is to protect orphans and children abandoned in the conflict zone.However, Ukraine says many children have been illegally deported and the United States says thousands of children have been forcibly removed from their homes.Most of the movement of people and children occurred in the first few months of the war and before Ukraine started its major counter offensive to regain occupied territories in the...