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Wild first season in expanded Big 12 comes down to final weekendNo. 24 UCLA is seeking its eighth straight win on Saturday against an Arizona team that is trying to right the ship after dropping four of its last six games. The game is being played in Phoenix, billed as part of the Hall of Fame Series. It's the first meeting between the storied ex-Pac-12 rivals since the conference's collapse last year and will be the first time the teams have met in a nonconference matchup since 1977. UCLA (8-1) is off to a surprisingly hot start after a nightmarish last season. The Bruins have won seven in a row after falling to New Mexico on Nov. 8. They're coming directly off a 73-71 victory over No. 12 Oregon on Sunday on a game-winning 3-pointer by Dylan Andrews with 0.3 seconds remaining. Eric Dailey Jr. led the way with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The Bruins sit at 2-0 in conference play in their first season as a member of the Big Ten. "My analysis early of the Big Ten is that it's so deep," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "I know it probably always was that way, but now it's deeper. You've just got to get better. "I also coach at UCLA where we get the most titles and (have been to) the second-most finals. I didn't come to UCLA to win regular-season games. For us, it's about progression and getting better. "We were able to win (against Oregon) but I thought we got a lot better. We came together. We got more cohesive. The guys played with confidence." Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Bilodeau played his first two collegiate seasons at Oregon State, although his maiden voyage at UCLA is only his second season as a regular starter. Dailey, a transfer from Oklahoma State, doesn't trail too far behind in either category, averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. USC transfer Kobe Johnson leads the Bruins with 3.2 assists while also tallying 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Wildcats (4-4) are in the midst of a dreadful start, needing a 102-66 win over Southern Utah to nurse themselves back to .500. Before that, Arizona was just one for its last five. The Wildcats are winless against fellow power-conference opponents, suffering double-digit losses to Wisconsin and Duke. Arizona also absorbed a five-point loss to Oklahoma and a seven-point overtime loss to West Virginia at the Battle 4 Atlantis. "Great programs are going to stumble once in a while," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "The response is the key. Learning from it and coming back stronger is the objective and that's the challenge. We obviously have been challenged early in the season. "(The emphasis needs to be on) Arizona basketball, because here's the deal: UCLA is a good program. If we go in and all we're worried about is UCLA and we assume that we're going to show up and play well, we're going to get our ass kicked." The Wildcats are led by Caleb Love, who returned for a second season at Arizona and a fifth in college overall after he played his first three seasons at North Carolina. Love is averaging 14.1 points per game on 37.2 percent shooting, down from 18 points per game a season ago. Aside from Love, Arizona has four more players averaging in double figures for the season: Jaden Bradley (12.0 ppg), Trey Townsend (11.3), KJ Lewis (10.3) and Anthony Dell'Orso (10.0). --Field Level Media

A wild first season of the expanded Big 12 is down to what should be a chaotic final weekend. Through all the upsets, unexpected rises and falls, there are nine teams still in the mix to play in the conference championship game. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State have the best odds, yet a multitude of scenarios could play out — 256 to be exact. There's even the possibility of an eight-team tie. It may take a mathematician to figure out which teams are in the Dec. 7 game in Arlington, Texas — even for the ones who win. Travis Hunter, Colorado. The Buffaloes' two-way star has excelled on both sides of the field, making him one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Cam Skattebo, Arizona State. The senior running back can do a little of everything, but excels at punishing would-be tacklers. He's one of the nation's leaders in yards after contact and the focal point of the Sun Devils' offense. Shadeur Sanders, Colorado. If it weren't for Hunter, Sanders might be the Heisman favorite. The son of coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur is fifth nationally with 3,488 yards passing and has been a big part of the Buffaloes' turnaround. DJ Giddens, Kansas State. The Wildcats' running back is one of the nation's most versatile players. He is ninth nationally with 1,271 rushing yards and has added 21 receptions for 258 yards. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The Wildcats have struggled this season, but McMillan has not. He is third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards with seven touchdowns on 78 catches. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' junior linebacker leads the Big 12 with 68 tackles, averaging 10.2 per game. He also has four sacks. Brendan Mott, Kansas State. He's a menace to opposing quarterbacks, leading the Big 12 with 8 1/2 sacks. The Big 12 has nine teams already bowl eligible and two more a win away. The winner of the Big 12 championship game will be in the mix for a College Football Playoff spot. Arizona State, Iowa State, No. 19 BYU, Colorado, Kansas State, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech and West Virginia have already clinched bowl berths. Kansas and Cincinnati can get into the postseason with wins this weekend. Gus Malzahn, UCF. Despite successes in recruiting, the Knights are 10-14 in two seasons since moving to the Big 12. Maybe not enough to get shown the door this year, but another mediocre season could lead UCF to make a change. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. Whittingham was one of the Pac-12's best coaches, leading the Utes to consecutive conference titles. Utah was expected to contend for the Big 12 title its first year in the league, but enters the final weekend 1-7 in conference play, which could push Whittingham toward retirement since it's doubtful he'd be fired. Neal Brown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers' coach was in a precarious spot at the end of last season and West Virginia hasn't lived up to expectations this season. The Mountaineers are eligible to go to a bowl game for the second straight season, but Brown could be on the hot seat even after signing a contract extension before the season. Josiah Trotter, West Virginia. The redshirt freshman is the latest Trotter to have success at the linebacker position, following the footsteps of his father, former Philadelphia Eagles player Jeremiah Trotter, and brother Jeremiah Trotter Jr., a current Eagles linebacker. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State. The Michigan State transfer has been just what the Sun Devils' needed: an agile quarterback who extends plays with his legs and rarely makes bad decisions. Bryson Washington, Baylor. The Bears' running back has rushed for 812 yards — 196 against TCU — and 10 TDs. TCU has the Big 12's highest rated 2025 recruiting class with six four-star players among 26 commitments, according to the 247 Sports composite. Receiver Terry Shelton of Carrollton, Texas, is the highest-rated recruit at 71st nationally. Baylor is next with five five-star players among its 20 commitments, including running back Michael Turner, rated 13th at his position out of North Richland Hills, Texas. Texas Tech is ranked seventh in the Big 12, but has four four-star recruits. Get local news delivered to your inbox!While the holiday season is, yes, traditionally the time to shop until you drop, it also presents an excellent opportunity to make a bigger impact, and fight back against the ongoing disenfranchisement of marginalized communities in the United States. This winter, as the Biden administration cedes ground to another Trump one, why not consider donating to charities and nonprofits that are working to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, climate justice, protections for immigrants and incarcerated people, and a host of other vital issues? Of course, there are plenty of ways to take a stand in your community if you don’t have the money to spare. But if you’re looking to purchase gifts this season that are sure to go a long way, look no further: Below, find a roundup five organizations whose tireless work ensures that some of America’s most disenfranchised groups—from people in need of reproductive care in states with abortion bans to the communities of color who are hardest-hit by climate change —have access to sorely needed social safety nets as we lead into 2025. This network of almost 100 independent abortion funds works to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access—an issue that’s become increasingly urgent since the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade . NNAF supports member abortion funds by providing grants, leadership development, infrastructure support, and technical assistance. This trans-led organization connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive, cultivating trans community at a time of unprecedented transphobic legislation and rhetoric . This Black-led and Black-centered collective of abolitionist organizers, lawyers, and activists is building a community-based movement with the goal of abolishing pretrial detention systems and dismantling the prison industrial complex. This nonprofit dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers provides direct legal services to and advocates for those populations through policy reform, impact litigation, and public education. This organization works across the United States to advance equitable climate resilience and sustainability outcomes and the natural systems on which they depend.

Online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalitionIndia’s startup ecosystem closes 2024 on a transformative note, marked by pivotal advancements in AI, deeptech, fintech, and edtech. This year has been defined by resilience, evolution, and significant opportunities. 2024 emerged as the year of startup IPOs, with 12 companies going public and collectively raising billions. Leading the charge was Swiggy’s landmark $1.35 billion IPO, cementing the ecosystem’s global stature. Venture capitalists enjoyed a windfall, earning over $4 billion in IPO returns—double the 2023 figures. Major players like SoftBank, Peak XV, Accel, and Elevation reaped the rewards of patient investments, turning long-term bets into substantial gains. Despite global economic challenges, India’s markets showcased resilience, supported by robust economic growth, regulatory reforms, and sustained investor confidence. With at least 25 IPOs already anticipated for 2025, the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Big-ticket funding dominated headlines in 2024, with startups raising over $10 billion. Notably, family offices emerged as significant contributors, injecting over $1 billion into the ecosystem. While early-stage funding remained vibrant, growth-stage investments reflected a cautious yet quality-focused approach amidst global uncertainties and shifting interest rates. Challenges persisted, though. Layoffs decreased significantly compared to 2023, yet nearly 9,000 employees faced job cuts. Corporate governance issues continued to trouble notable startups like Byju’s, while others, including Koo and Reshamandi, shuttered operations. CNBC-TV18 spoke to Dr Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder & MD of Venture Catalysts; Mrigank Gut-Gutia, Partner at Redseer; Vaibhav Anant, Founder of Bambrew; and Vivek Pandey, Co-Founder of Ecozen who reflected on the milestones of 2024 and shared their outlook for 2025. Below are the excerpts of the discussion. Q: Tell us what were the key milestones of the year gone by and what will continue to drive momentum and deal activity in 2025? Sharma: The key milestone of 2024 is AI transformation which is happening. The o1 which is the next level of ChatGPT is transforming the things globally. Now the things have moved from LLM to the o1 level where they are able to think and they can also respond and listen to the queries. So basically, next level AI transformation is happening globally. In space tech Tesla has brought back the rocket engine that is also a big milestone. So, the impact of that is also happening in India. You can see a lot of AI transformation happening. Q: 2024 also saw resurgence of major funding rounds, with VC firms injecting over $10 billion into the ecosystem. What was expected to be a chilly winter for venture capital saw funding spring, with Indian startups seeing large ticket deals in winter 2024-2025, setting an optimistic tone. What's fuelling this winter funding spring? Sharma: Two things which are fuelling the winters, which has just gone, I would say. One, the 12 IPOs, which have just happened in this year. In the last three years, Indian stock market, the success of startup is established. And the return also. Remember, there was Paytm IPO, the big chunk of that has gone to the global investors as an exit. From there, it started. So global investors have realised that Indian stock market is responding to startups very, very well. And that is why you can see the Zomato and Swiggy story also now this year. So that is giving the confidence to global investors, that if you invest in India, the exit mechanism is already in place. Number two is the bottom line focus of the large companies, which was not the case three years back. The funding winter has taught us a lot. Almost all the large companies, they are focusing a lot on bottom line, because they're targeting IPO in Indian stock market. That is why the strength of Indian startups is also reflected to the global investors. And that is why you see these startups becoming more attractive to the global investors. Q: Quick commerce has been the buzzword for this year. Could you start by explaining why this segment has taken off the way it has and where the current GMV average spends and the number of users stands? Gut-Gutia: Quick commerce has had a fantabulous year. Looking at the data sets of the total size of the sector, we see that every month the sector is breaking all the records in terms of growth. So most of the months this year, the quick commerce sector in India, when we look at the GMV levels, it is growing at more than 80% on a year on year (YoY) basis. And if you talk about the actual GMVs that we expect, I think by the end of FY25 or let's say by the whole FY25 period, I think we will see the sector exceeding the GMV of close to $6 billion. So, for a sector that was just about less than $1 billion, maybe four or five years ago to reach the $6 billion scale by FY25, I think it's a fantastic achievement. I think one of the biggest factors that is driving the growth of the sector is the monthly transacting users. So just about a few months ago, the sector had about 9 million monthly transacting users. But because of this phenomenal growth in adoption and experience, we expect that the monthly transacting users will be more than 15 million. It's already there in these last few, last couple of months, and the average for the whole year might also be sitting around the 15-17 million mark. Essentially what is happening is that user is just spending across the categories, not just grocery, but across electronics and home goods, some part of fashion, beauty, and so on. So, it's really spending across the segments and the huge convenience that quick commerce has afforded to our customers that is really driving the phenomenal growth in the sector. Watch accompanying video for entire discussion.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was caught off guard by reports early Tuesday that linebacker Shaq Barrett wants to unretire. The two-time Super Bowl winner signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media in July, just days before the start of Miami's training camp. “Just to be candid, obviously there's a reason why you target and sign somebody," McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon. “I was fully caught off guard, or caught by surprise this morning as I found out.” McDaniel indicated the Dolphins have not had any conversations with Barrett recently. Miami holds the 32-year-old’s contractual rights. ESPN first reported the news. “It was kind of news as you guys got it,” McDaniel said. He also said he hasn't had a chance to think about Barrett potentially rejoining the team, and that his immediate focus is on Miami's Thursday night game at Green Bay. “The team is counting on me to think about the Packers,” he said. "I'll get with (GM) Chris (Grier), and we'll work through that. There's a ton of implications that go along with it in terms of team and roster stuff, so we'll work through that as we just got the news today.” Barrett has 400 tackles, 59 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and three interceptions in nine seasons — four with Denver and five with Tampa Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro with the Buccaneers in 2019, with a league-high 19 1/2 sacks. The Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday and activated rookie safety Patrick McMorris from injured reserve. Maye, who signed with the Dolphins in June, played in 11 games with three starts for Miami this season. He had 30 tackles and a tackle for loss. He could re-sign to the team's practice squad if he clears waivers. Maye previously played for New Orleans, but was cut in a money-saving move in March after two seasons with the Saints. Maye's release made room on the roster for McMorris, who was drafted in the sixth round by Miami in April. He began the season on injured reserve because of a calf injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflChilliwack council waived fees and development cost charges (DCCs) totalling almost $1.2 million at the Nov. 19 council meeting for an affordable housing project on Spadina Avenue. But before the vote, Coun. Jeff Shields took the opportunity to raise a "big" concern he has about another project, the Trethewey supportive housing and homeless shelter project. "You know this is pretty important what we're doing here as a city," Shields said about "foregoing" almost $1.2 million in fees for the affordable housing project. As housing is not a municipal jurisdiction, waiving the associated fees and DCCs is the city's contribution to these projects. "We have the good people of the United Church that donated a church property worth a fair bit of money in a nice area of town. We have really stepped up and showed our commitment to building housing but now I have this big concern with the other partner in this, which is the provincial government, responsible for building this housing. "As we know we have one sitting over there on Trethewey and we're into the second or third year of it sitting there not done. And I don't have great confidence but I do hope the province is going to do a whole lot better on this one than it did on the last one," the councillor said. Chilliwack has proven "over and over again" that it is willing to commit to this kind of housing, Shields said. "And still we kind of get left out, and left high and dry." The councillor added he hopes the Spadina project won't be a repeat of the stalled Trethewey project. Mayor Ken Popove originally said at a council meeting in September that the delayed Trethewey project got bogged down in litigation, apparently after the builders went broke. City officials were notified by BC Housing that they were working toward a completion date of March 2025 for Trethewey. Mamele'awt Qweesome Housing Society (MQHS), a non-profit urban Indigenous housing society, applied to have the fees waived for the Spadina project under the City of Chilliwack's Community Development Initiatives funding policy, for $31,394 in fees, as well as the development cost charges of $1,183,977. The Spadina project will deliver 64 units of affordable rental housing for seniors and low-income renters earning less than the median income for Chilliwack. The site and structure will be leased and operated by MQHS through a 60-year leasehold. Karen Stanton, director of public safety and social development, told council she did some followup since she knew the building process was a concern, clarifying that the Province/BC Housing was funding the Spadina project and offering operating subsidies as well. "But the project management is undertaken by housing consulting firm, CPA Consultants, who were the consultants on the Paramount project, and the builder is Vanmar Construction." Final approval of the tender for the Spadina project is expected in December, with a tentative plan to break ground in the new year, followed by a 20-month construction period. "If the experience we had with the Paramount is any indication, we should be in good shape," Stanton said. Mayor Popove added a reminder that "it took seven years from inception to buildout for the Paramount. So don't hold your breath."Thousands wiped off student debt in pre-Christmas gift

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): As many as 18 IFS officers were transferred in the state on Friday evening. J Devaprasad, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF), Work Planning, Chhindwara has been posted as CCF and Field Director Pench Tiger Reserve, Seoni. Rameshchandra Vishwakarma, Conservator of Forest (CF), Work Planning, Jabalpur has been shifted as CF, Office of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of Forest Force, Adarsh Shrivastava, CF, Work Planning, Indore as CF Shivpuri Circle, Harishankar Mishra, CF, Work Planning, Seoni, as CF, Office of PCCF and Head of Forest Force, PN Mishra, CF, Work Planning, Narmadapuram as CF, Indore Circle, Naresh Yadav, CF, Social Forestry circle, Gwalior as CF, Chhatarpur circle, Pradeep Mishra, DFO Dewas as DFO Indore, Neha Shrivastava, DFO, South Balaghat (Production) divisional forest, as DFO North Balaghat (General) divisional forest, Seema Trivedi, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Madhya Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation, Jabalpur (on deputation) as DFO Social forestry Jabalpur circle. Amit Kumar Chauhan, Deputy Conservator of Forest, MP State Forest Development Corporation (on deputation) has been posted as DFO, Dewas (general) division forest, Balasubramani, Deputy DFO, Gadasarai (General) Dindori Forest Division as DFO Social Forestry Khandwa circle, Veerendra Kumar Patel, Deputy DFO, Amla (General) South Betul (General) Forest Division as DFO (Production) Dewas, Gaurav Jain, Deputy DFO, Jaitpur, South Shahdol Forest Division as DFO Social Forestry circle Sagar, Nidhi Chouhan, Deputy DFO, Khandwa (General) forest division as environment forestry, forest division Bhopal. Shreyash Shrivastava, Deputy DFO, Betul (General) North has been posted as DFO Seoni (Production), David Vyankatrao Chanap, Deputy DFO, Rehali, Nauradehi Sanctuary as Deputy Conservator of Forest, MP State Forest Development Corporation (on deputation), Namrata Bijoria, Deputy DFO, Kurai, (General), South Seoni Divisional forest, as DFO (Production) Khandwa and Arihant Kochar, Deputy DFO, Anuppur (General) as DFO South Balaghat (Production).Dramatic change would be required to fix California’s homebuying affordability mess. My trusty spreadsheet compared home-price increases with income growth for 10 large California metropolitan areas using housing indexes by ICE, a mortgage-tech firm, and pay stats from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. First, consider the estimated median house payment for these California metros. In 2018, payments on the typical $509,400 home purchase ran $2,020 monthly with an average 4.3% mortgage rate, assuming a 20% downpayment. That was 22% of a typical house hunter’s $109,100 income, including two earners. Then, contemplate the payment on today’s $759,500 median-priced home. The payment doubled to $4,000 monthly with 6.9% rates. The mortgage now gobbles up 32% of the $148,500 income that risen 36% in six years. So, what would it take to return this payment burden to pre-coronavirus levels? Rates would have to fall to 3.5%. Incomes would need to surge 50%.Or prices would need to drop 33%. Or some combination of the three. This lack of affordability is why one-third fewer California homes will be sold this year than in 2018. Remember that the housing market was upended by several things during the pandemic: a demand for more living space, mortgage rates under 3% and stimulus checks boosting incomes. Now let’s look at how six years of home appreciation through October contrasts with rising per-capita incomes during the six years ending in 2023. In eight of these 10 California metros, home-price gains outpaced incomes. Here’s how they ranked by the gap ... Bakersfield: 63% gains in home values compared with 29% income growth. Inland Empire: 65% home gain vs. 37% income growth. San Diego: 66% home gain vs. 39% income growth. Fresno: 60% home gain vs. 33% income growth. Ventura County: 51% home gain vs. 36% income growth. LA-OC: 50% home gain vs. 39% income growth. Sacramento: 46% home gain vs. 35% income growth. Stockton: 50% home gain vs. 45% income growth. And in two California metros, incomes beat home prices ... San Jose: 34% home gains topped by 54% income growth. San Francisco: 26% home gains topped by 46% income growth. For homebuyers, a little bit of good news: appreciation is cooling. Price gains in the 12 months ending in October were significantly smaller than the previous five-year appreciation pace in all but one of the 10 metros. San Diego saw the biggest chill, with prices rising 3.2% in the past year – down from annual average gains of 9.9% between 2018 and 2023. That is a 6.7-percentage-point cooldown. San Jose was the lone spot without a dip in appreciation. Its 5.1% year’s gain was a smidgen above the 5% yearly increases of 2018-23. Here’s how the nine other metros fared by ICE math, ranked by appreciation chill ... Inland Empire: 3.5% year’s gain vs. averaging 9.8% annual increases in 2018-23 – 6.3 points cooler. Sacramento: 1.7% year’s gain vs. 7.5% annually in 2018-23 – 5.8 points cooler. Bakersfield: 4.1% year’s gain vs. up 9.4% annually in 2018-23 – 5.3 points cooler. Stockton: 2.9% year’s gain vs. up 7.9% annually in 2018-23 – 5 points cooler. Ventura County: 3.3% year’s gain vs. up 7.9% yearly in 2018-23 – 4.7 points cooler. Fresno: 4.2% year’s gain vs. up 8.9% annually in 2018-23 – 4.7 points cooler. Los Angeles-Orange County: 3.9% year’s gain vs. up 7.7% annually in 2018-23 – 3.7 points cooler. San Francisco: 1.3% year’s gain vs. up 4.4% annually in 2018-23 – 3.1 points cooler. But smaller home price gains are by no means a cure, because “affordability” really means lowering prices. Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com Related ArticlesWarframe 1999 is going to be the latest of many adventures that have been added over the years by Digital Extremes, and it’s arguably the most different experience you can imagine. As revealed earlier in The Game Awards, the upcoming expansion will be following a different path than the core space action experience of the base title. If you’ve played the demo, you will have a clear idea about what to expect. If you’re someone who never experienced the demo, here’s all you need to know to enjoy the new expansion. Is Warframe 1999 a standalone title? 1999 isn’t a standalone title, and it’s very much tied to the core Warframe experience. Yes, the events take place in the past, and the lore, technology, and your enemies will be different from what you typically have experienced in the base game. But the upcoming content is an expansion and not a separate game. Is it necessary to own Warframe to play Warframe 1999? Owning Warframe is necessary, and that shouldn’t be a problem as it’s free-to-play. If you’re a new player, you can’t directly enjoy the expansion. There’s a mountain of grind that you’ll have to clear before you can try out the new storyline. How to play Warframe 1999 The first thing is to download the update that will be available on the platform of your choice. Next, you’ll need to have cleared a significant amount of the core campaign, which is presented via four different arcs. You can always check your quest progress by clicking on this link, but here’s everything that you must complete before you can try out Warframe 1999 . Vor’s Prize (Arc 1) Star Chart Second Dream (Arc 2) Rising Tide War Within (Arc 2) Heart of Deimos (Arc 1) The New War (Arc 3) Whisper in the Walls (Arc 4) The Lotus Eaters (Arc 4) Hence, reaching 1999 requires you to clear almost all the expansions that have been added by Digital Extremes in the past. If you’re someone who is going to play for the first time, hang tight, for it is going to take you many hours at minimum. Thankfully, the guided nature of the quests will help you understand the core mechanics, and you’ll also get the necessary gear. When it comes to gear, you’ll need two weapons: The Railjack and Necramech. If you have cleared The Lotus Eaters, all you have to do is to just get the latest client and jump in on your latest adventures.

Bills before parliament include laws to deport people to a third country. Follow the day’s news headlines liveIn the final days of the 2024 calendar, there's a lot to look forward to in the sports world in 2025. Field Level Media surveyed writers and editors in its network to come up with 25 to watch in the New Year. Bill Belichick, head coach, North Carolina After 333 career NFL wins and 29 years as a head coach, Belichick had the year off in 2024 and admitted he couldn't sit still. He'll be 73 in April before his first season as a head coach at the college level with North Carolina. Universally recognized as one of the all-time great coaches in any sport, "Chapel Bill" adapts his no-nonsense Patriot Way to the college game. Belichick crashes into the Atlantic Coast Conference escorted by intrigue because of his trophy-collecting success with the Patriots followed by a dismal run without Tom Brady. Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Columbus High School (Miami) The twin sons of former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer, Cameron and Cayden Boozer are five-star recruits with hooper bloodlines. Cayden is a pass-first point guard and Cameron has top-pick draft stock down the road. The twins are seniors in high school headed to Durham as freshmen next season. For now, they're stars on the same Columbus (Fla.) prep team. Caitlin Clark, guard, Indiana Fever Snubbed for the Olympic team and given stay-in-your-lane treatment but a segment of the WNBA upon arrival to the Fever, it didn't take Clark long to raise her game and serve the rest of the league an exclamatory reply. Indiana went from WNBA worst to the playoffs in one season, piloted by Clark's scoring, passing and playmaking all while lifting all boats in the league due to a level of popularity last attained by the American cheeseburger. What's in store in her second season? Clark has a new coach and the ball squarely in her hands for Indiana, no doubt entering the 2025 schedule with a few remaining doubters in mind. Bryson DeChambeau, LIV Golf DeChambeau further stamped his status as one of the best in the game with a second U.S. Open win, picking up the monumental win at Pinehurst but there's an equal chance you -- or your children -- are more familiar with DeChambeau as a social media and streaming legend. He played epic rounds with Tom Brady and President-elect Donald Trump, and he had weekenders of all ages tracking his 16-day stretch trying for a hole-in-one -- over the top of his Dallas residence. It's all part of the tidal wave of energy and success pushing DeChambeau to the top of the heap in pro golf. Novak Djokovic, ATP Tour Arguably the GOAT in men's tennis, Djokovic will aim to prove he isn't washed up. The 37-year-old Serbian finished 2024 ranked seventh in the world, his lowest year-end placement since 2006, and he won just one tournament in 2024 -- his lowest total since before he won his first two titles in 2005. Djokovic reached the final at Wimbledon for his best major result of the year, but a third-round crash out of the U.S. Open prompted questions about whether Father Time is finally returning serve. He recently announced that he will team with recently retired rival Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open, so the Scot will be charged with helping Djokovic add to his record haul of 24 major singles championships. Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke From high school hoops phenom to the next great one produced by the Blue Devils, Flagg is on a course for All-American status as a true freshman and has been pegged among favorites for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Flagg opened eyes at the USA Olympic scrimmages before the 2024 Summer Games and has size, skill and upside some have compared to perennial NBA All-Star Kevin Durant. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame As a freshman, Hidalgo announced herself as the next great player for Notre Dame women's basketball by leading the Irish to an ACC Tournament title and claiming a First Team All-America nod. In the first half of this season, she's making a strong case for the National Player of the Year award by playing masterfully in big games. Heading into play Friday, Hidalgo owns the nation's second-best scoring average this season at 25.8 points per game while also leading the country in steals and helping the Irish defeat some of the marquee programs in the sport, including UConn, Southern California and Texas. With a sharp shot, smooth handle, wicked speed and first-class defensive instincts, Hidalgo aims to power Notre Dame to its first Final Four in six years. Carson Hocevar, NASCAR A runaway Rookie of the Year winner in 2024, Hocevar's star has been rising for a few years. Now the NASCAR world is bracing for what's around the next turn. With growing Spire Motorsports behind him and a year of Cup Series experience under his belt, his peers aren't ruling out his first career win and much -- much -- more in 2025 among a group of rising talents in the sport that includes Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott. LeBron James, forward, Los Angeles Lakers King James turns 40 on Monday. And if you've spotted him on the court during a remarkable career that began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he doesn't look a day over 30. James claimed his fourth career gold meal in the Paris Olympics over the summer, and the four-time NBA MVP remains locked in on claiming a fifth NBA title. Slowed by a foot injury in early December, there's still time to see James and appreciate his greatness but only he knows when to expect a final bow. Flau'jae Johnson, guard, LSU You might not know Johnson, but your kids probably do. She's a recording artist and popular rapper with NIL deals fronting for Puma, Taco Bell, JBL and more. Johnson is averaging 20 points per game as a junior in a breakout season everyone in Baton Rouge saw coming. Johnson is a tenacious defender and vastly improved 3-point shooter who helps the Tigers make certain they'll be part of the race to the finish in the Southeastern Conference. Nelly Korda, LPGA If you watched any LPGA event in 2024, there's a pretty solid chance you watched Korda contend and a good bet she ended the final round with a trophy. Korda won seven times and the 26-year-old bagged a second major title and 11 finishes in the top 10. She separated from the rest of the world much the same way Scottie Scheffler did on the PGA Tour, and begins the 2025 season as the Player of the Year and World No. 1 by a wide margin. Katie Ledecky, swimming Speaking of primes and, well, GOATs - the label no longer seems sufficient for Ledecky. At the Paris Olympics, she became the most decorated American female Olympian ever with nine career gold medals, tying her with Russian gymnast Larisa Latynina (1956-64) for most all-time among women. In Paris, she won her signature 800-meter freestyle event for the fourth straight Olympics and she also won gold in the 1500 freestyle for the second time. Ledecky also won a silver and a bronze to raise her total medal count to 14, another American female record. Part of Ledecky's appeal is modesty that isn't always found in someone with her wheelbarrow full of accomplishments. In a recent TV interview, the possibility of Ledecky participating in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles was brought up and the ego-free Ledecky said, "I hope so. I have to qualify first." Patrick Mahomes, quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs Not for the first time, but Mahomes is doing Tom Brady things and climbing into the GOAT conversation rung-by-rung at the ripe young age of 29. Racking up wins if not immortal statistics in 2024, Mahomes has the Chiefs in position to three-peat as Super Bowl champions and place a "4x" on his bio line as Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl MVP winner in February. Brady's fourth of seven rings came at age 36 in the "Malcolm Butler game," beating the Seattle Seahawks to wrap the 2014 season. The Chiefs locked up the No. 1 seed and first-round bye in the AFC, meaning he's three wins from another Super Bowl opportunity. Connor McDavid, forward, Edmonton Oilers A runner-up Stanley Cup finish did nothing to diminish McDavid's standing among the best in the league, or shift his path from joining the all-time greats of the game. Because of his playmaking ability and skill, there are few present-day peers in McDavid's class. He had 132 total points -- 100 assists -- in 2023-24 and is back among league leaders again this season. Lionel Messi, forward, Inter Miami He's getting up in age but Messi, 37, still can mesmerize opponents and thrill fans across the world, all while trying to bring Inter Miami an elusive MLS Cup. The Herons set the league mark for points but were stunningly ousted by Atlanta United in the playoffs to put a damper on a season that saw him named the MLS MVP after posting 36 goal contributions (20 goals, 16 assists) in only 19 league matches because of injuries and Copa America duty for Argentina. Shohei Ohtani, OF-DH-SP, Los Angeles Dodgers What does the first 50-50 player in MLB history do for an encore? He's ready to get back to being a dominant two-way player as a right-handed starter at the front of the rotation after resting his surgically repaired, possibly bionic, throwing arm to recover from UCL surgery. Ohtani is 38-19 in 86 career starts with the Angels from 2018-2023. In 2022, he was 15-9 with 219 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts. Riqui Puig, midfielder, Los Angeles Galaxy Of course, Messi dominates any conversation but Puig, the 25-year-old from Spain, could be the new face of the league after his Hollywood-like performance in the Western Conference final vs. the Seattle Sounders when he sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the second half. He continued playing and assisted the winning goal in the 85th minute of the 1-0 victory. Although he was unable to play when the Galaxy captured the MLS Cup the following week, it didn't diminish his 2024 season in which he had 37 goal contributions (17 goals, 20 assists) in 36 matches across all competitions, including four goals and four assists in four MLS postseason matches. Alex Pereira, UFC light heavyweight champion Boogeyman at middleweight, consistent presence in UFC main events in the light heavyweight division. Pereira had a perfect year, finishing Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr., all considered top-shelf challengers. Entering 2025, Pereira can move up to heavyweight to challenge the winner of Jon Jones' next fight, likely against Tom Aspinall, or remain at 205 pounds to test Magomed Ankalaev. Deion Sanders, head coach, Colorado Coach Prime might not be planning to bow out of Boulder yet -- he insists he's committed to being at Colorado after a two-year stint -- but the NFL is looming with up to 10 coaching vacancies expected in the early days of the 2025 calendar. Sanders would energize a fan base and has a track record of winning while developing talent with name-value assistants. If his gold jacket and Hall of Fame credentials don't take him back to the pro game, it's also worth considering the coffers at top-brand college football programs are sure to be ready to knock, too. Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour Rare company lines Scheffler's resume, and he rips into 2025 as the three-time defending PGA Tour Player of the Year. Only Tiger Woods had won three in a row before Scheffler chewed up the competition in 2024 with a top-10 finish 16 times in 19 starts, another Masters win -- his second -- plus an Olympic gold medal and seven Tour wins. It was the best single-season based on results since Tiger's eight-win 2006 season. Paul Skenes, pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates A sophomore sensation would be one thing. Captaining the Pirates all the way to the playoffs would be another. It isn't often baseball's most hyped prospect lives up to the bloated billing. But it took Skenes just two starts to demonstrate he might already be the best pitcher in the game. When's the last time a rookie went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA? It was so long ago, Dave Brown was pitching for a team called the Chicago American Giants of the Negro National League in 1920. Fernando Mania has nothing on this guy, and if he doubles down with a postseason pass, he'll own more than the keys to the city of Pittsburgh. Oleksandr Usyk, WBO, WBA, WBC heavyweight champion Following back-to-back wins against Tyson Fury, Usyk has leverage few heavyweight champions have had in several decades. Defeating the opponent who many boxing pundits felt was the division's best, Usyk is set on beating IBF champion Daniel Dubois if Dubois gets through Joseph Parker in his next fight. JuJu Watkins, guard, Southern California Watkins is the engine behind the Trojans and gives USC a chance to reach the Final Four after a regional final loss to UConn stopped their run last March. The sophomore All-American point guard already avenged that loss and is doing better-than-Caitlin Clark things through her first 45 college games with averages of 26.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Victor Wembanyama, forward, San Antonio Spurs The top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft made himself comfortable in San Antonio and his ascent to the league mantle might not take as long as expected. The Spurs' All-Star hit Christmas Day with the Spurs (15-15) in contention for a playoff spot. He was averaging 25.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.0 blocks and 3.9 assists per game. He's the early frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year, swiping 10 blocks in a blowout of the Portland Trail Blazers before a 42-point, 18-rebound showing on Christmas Day in a 117-114 loss to the New York Knicks. With talent developing around him, including 2024 first-rounder Stephon Castle, the Spurs are not a team anyone wants to see coming in the playoffs. --Field Level Media