VickyBlog

  Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, Hamas says Reuters, July 31, CAIRO - Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was slain in Iran early on Wednesday, the Palestinian militant group announced, raising concerns about a further escalation in a region already unsettled by Israel's war in Gaza and a deepening crisis in Lebanon. Hours after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of the nation's new president, the Revolutionary Guards of Iran declared that an investigation was underway and confirmed Haniyeh's passing. Israel refrained from commenting right away. The Israeli military did not provide any new security directives for civilians, but it did state that it was performing a situational assessment. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that while Washington would strive to reduce tensions, it would also support Israel's defense should it come under assault. The announcement seems to have hampered the prospects of an impending ceasefire in Gaza, given it was made le...

 Simone Biles' gritty performance helps U.S. take lead during Olympic qualifications Greatness, grit and guts.  These sum up the American women's gymnastics team's performance during the qualification round of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris the best. Despite multiple periods of uncertainty and doubt, the United States stormed to the top of the standings after section two with over a six point advantage over Italy, led by two Olympic all-around winners, a first in history. The seven-time Olympic medallist Simone Biles , who took home the gold in the all-around competition in Rio, kicked off her comeback to the Games with a fantastic beam routine (14.733). But Biles seemed to injure her lower leg during the floor exercise that warmed her up before rotation two. Following a medical staff evaluation, Biles returned to competition, preferring to use her left leg.  With the highest score ever achieved by a gymnast in an international competition this Olympic cycle, Biles fini...

  Former Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson killed in Maryland car crash Khyree Jackson, a rookie cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, died early on Saturday in an automobile accident in Maryland, according to the team and the police. According to Maryland State Police, Jackson, 24, was one of three fatalities after a midnight three-car collision in Prince George's County. In a statement, the Vikings said they had spoken with Jackson's family and were "devastated by the news." In the statement, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added, "I am heartbroken by the loss of Khyree." "Khyree's aspirations, both personally and professionally, became evident as we got to know him during the pre-draft process. His was a resilient story. He was working on improving himself not only for himself but also others. The Vikings selected Jackson in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. After spending two years as a player for Alabama, he played one season...