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NoneUS sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay. At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocket LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday’s doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City’s 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA’s five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.
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Saint Paul Emerge as a Thriving Hub for Tech Innovation and NetworkingThe “It Ends With Us” drama has deepened. Justin Baldoni’s ex-publicist is suing the actor, his film studio and his crisis PR team over an alleged breach of contract, the New York Times reported Tuesday. Stephanie Jones, notably, runs Jonesworks and represented the “Jane the Virgin” alum, 40, before his and Blake Lively’s alleged feud made headlines. When Baldoni allegedly began to fear in August that “allegations of misogynistic and toxic on-set behavior ... would be harmful to his reputation and career,” his point person, Jones’ employee Jennifer Abel, hired “crisis fixer” Melissa Nathan to help her, according to court docs obtained by Page Six. Jones claims in the lawsuit that Abel and Nathan “coordinated with Baldoni and Wayfarer to implement an aggressive media smear campaign” against Lively. She further alleges in court docs that this was used “as an opportunity to drive a wedge between Jones and Baldoni, and to publicly pin blame for this smear campaign on Jones — when Jones had no knowledge or involvement in it.” Jones, who claimed in court docs that she fired Abel for attempting to steal documents in an attempt to poach clients and start her own business, shared subpoenaed texts from Abel’s company phone in her lawsuit. Abel currently works for Baldoni, whom she continued to rep after opening her firm. In the alleged messages, Abel blasted Baldoni as a “pompous” man who was “not that important” and needed “to be humbled.” “When this movie flops, he’s going to try to blame every person around him for it,” Abel allegedly wrote, adding that she “can’t stand” him. In another text, Abel allegedly criticized “his face,” to which an unidentified person replied, “Blake was probably grossed out too.” Reps for Baldoni, Abel and Nathan have yet to respond to Page Six’s request for comment. However, a source provided documents to Page Six appearing to show that Abel resigned on July 10 via Zoom and left the company on August 23 with an expressed desire to be on amicable terms. The insider alleged that Jones’ subsequent lawsuit is “retaliatory” behavior, claiming, “Justin and Wayfarer chose to leave with Jennifer Abel and were not ‘stolen.’ “Nor were any other clients,” the source continued. “The rest of the clients that came with her were either ones she had represented for years prior to joining Jonesworks, and she received written approval, and one she had personally signed while at Jonesworks who had no relationship with Stephanie Jones.” Meanwhile, a source close to Joneswork claimed to Page Six, “Jen Abel stole a number of clients. Any claim otherwise is preposterous on its face,” referencing Abel working with Baldoni and Wayfarer since her time at Jones’ company. Lively was the first to accuse Baldoni and his team of attempting to “destroy” her reputation in a sexual harassment complaint that went public over the weekend. In addition to allegedly inappropriate behavior on the set of the adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2016 book, Lively claimed Baldoni used “a digital army ... to create, seed, and promote content” portraying her in a negative light. The director has denied any wrongdoing, calling her claims “fabricated” and “salacious” via his and Wayfarer Studios’ lawyer, Bryan Freedman. The attorney also defended Baldoni’s PR team’s work in a statement to Page Six, claiming they took part in “standard scenario planning” as opposed to an “insidious PR effort.” Lively and Baldoni’s co-stars have come to the “Gossip Girl” alum’s defense, with Jenny Slate and Brandon Sklenar sharing their support . While Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, has yet to comment on the scandal, he made headlines for a cryptic Instagram Story post on Monday. The “Deadpool” star noted that he suited up as the character for a charity promotion “during a time [when he] really didn’t feel like” it. Reynolds, who has been married to Lively since 2012 , allegedly blocked Baldoni on social media prior to “It Ends With Us” premiering over the summer. In addition, Reynolds was reportedly present at a previous “all hands on deck” meeting held to address Baldoni’s alleged bad behavior, which ranged from allegedly improvising during intimate scenes and discussing his past porn addiction, according to Lively’s lawsuit.
The Giants were a no-show against the Bucs after releasing quarterback Daniel Jones EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Canavan, The Associated Press Nov 25, 2024 2:26 PM Nov 25, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) fumbles the football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants organization got exactly what it deserved in getting blown out by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Giants were embarrassed in Sunday's 30-7 loss , taunted by Mayfield after a touchdown run just before halftime. And then they saw their fans walk out on them again when the Bucs extended their lead to 30-0 and sent New York (2-9) to its sixth straight loss. The losing streak is the longest for the Giants since 2019, when they dropped a franchise-record nine straight games to finish 4-12. That led to the firing of coach Pat Shurmur after two seasons. Third-year coach Brian Daboll is clearly in trouble, with the Giants guaranteed a second straight losing season. They were 6-11 in a 2023 season that featured a lot of injuries. Daboll, who denies he has lost the team, isn't the only one whose job is in jeopardy. General manager Joe Schoen is on the hot seat and so is this entire franchise, which is celebrating its 100th year. It's one thing to lose. It's quite another to give up, and that's what the organization did when it decided to bench Daniel Jones a week ago and then release him on Friday after the 27-year-old asked co-owner John Mara to let him walk away. While he wasn't playing well, Jones was the Giants' best quarterback. He gave them more a of chance to win than either Tommy DeVito or Drew Lock. Removing him from the picture was all but certain to make the Giants worse, even if it was a good business decision. If Jones was hurt and unable the pass his physical before the 2025 season, the team would have been on the hook for a $23 million cap hit. The problem is the players care about now. By getting rid of Jones and elevating DeVito to the starting role, the front office was telling the team it didn't care about winning with seven games left in the season. So the players gave a lackluster effort. Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called the team soft. Rookie receiver Malik Nabers said he was sick of losing. Left tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he saw a lack of effort by some players. What they all were saying was they were angry at being betrayed. Money is never more important than winning, and the Giants made that mistake. What’s working At this point in the season? Nothing. What needs help The offense once again. The Giants have scored a league-low 163 points, including only 60 in six games at MetLife Stadium, where they are winless this season. They have scored in double figures at home twice. Daboll's team has been held scoreless in the first half in three of 11 games and it has been held without a first-half touchdown seven times. Daboll said he will continue to call the offensive plays. Stock up S Tyler Nubin. The rookie has had a team-high 12 tackles in each of the last two games. His 81 tackles for the season are just two behind team leader Bobby Okereke. Stock down RB Tyrone Tracy. The rookie leads Giants running backs with 587 yards on 116 carries — a 5.1-yard average for the fifth-round pick. But holding onto the ball has been a big issue. Tracy's fumble in overtime cost New York a chance to win in Germany against Carolina. He also lost the ball in the third quarter at the Bucs 5-yard line with New York down 23-0. It earned him a seat on the bench. Injuries LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and OLB Azeez Ojulari (toe) left Sunday's game in the first quarter. Chris Hubbard filled in at tackle and the Giants luckily got back DL Kayvon Thibodeaux this past week after he missed five games with a broken wrist. DeVito was banged up but Daboll expects him to start against the Cowboys. Key numbers 10 — The Giants have gone 10 consecutive games without an interception, tying the NFL record held by the 1976-77 San Francisco 49ers and the 2017 Oakland — now Las Vegas — Raiders. The Giants and Raiders now share the single-season mark. What’s next A national showcase on Thanksgiving Day for the NFC-worst Giants at Dallas. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Tom Canavan, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Lions receiver Jameson Williams won't be charged for having a gun in a car Nov 25, 2024 2:29 PM Believe it or not, Cowboys might have hope yet after chaotic win at Washington Nov 25, 2024 2:19 PM Jayden Daniels and the offense stalling have the Commanders on a three-game losing streak Nov 25, 2024 2:16 PMChina has unveiled its latest innovation in its fight against crime - a spherical robocop capable of chasing down suspects on land and water. Known as Rotunbot RT-G, the machine is capable of fending off baseball attacks by assailants and, thanks to its centre of gravity, is incapable of toppling over. It has been unleashed in the shopping district in Zhejiang, on China’s southeast coast and resembles something out of super violent action flick, Robocop . Unlike the eponymous hero Alex Murphy, who was killed in the line of duty of the film, this robot contains nothing human. Instead the self balancing machine features a sleek black look and can carry out rescues in dangerous areas, crossing lakes and rivers with ease as it boasts propellers. Rotunbot said of the innovation: “The spherical robot moves smoothly and flexibly, is easy to control, and can be used on a variety of road surfaces; the closed spherical shell has strong self-protection capabilities and is anti-overturning. “The robot uses advanced control algorithms inside to enable it to move flexibly in a variety of scenarios. The spherical robot is equipped with a variety of sensors and has a good detection function for the surrounding environment. “Through real-time communication technology , the collected information can be stored and transmitted to the user's control terminal, and can perform intelligent security tasks, including patrolling streets and communities, rivers and lakes, emergency rescue in dangerous areas, etc. “Spherical robot has the characteristics of a spherical shape, and the weight is mainly concentrated below the center of the ball, which has the characteristics of a tumbler. Therefore, no matter if it is stationary or moving, there is no possibility of tipping over.” Rotunbot features in its arsenal GPS, cameras and sonar, as well as sensors giving it a “strong perception” of its environment. In 2017 The "world's first operational Robocop" was unveiled in Dubai as part of the emirate's planned robot police force. At 5ft 5in tall and weighing 100kg, it can speak six languages and is designed to read facial expressions. It had an easy start to working life, being unveiled at the three-day long Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference. Brigadier-General Khalid Nasser Al Razzouqi, Director-General of Smart Services with the Dubai Police said: "The launch of the world ’s first operational Robocop is a significant milestone for the Emirate and a step towards realizing Dubai’s vision to be a global leader in smart cities technology adoption.”Rocket Cos. Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading dayNew Repeat Orders for QUADRA High-Throughput Metrology System from Leading Semiconductor Manufacturer fills up Nearfield Instruments’ 2025 Order Book
Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. A pepper grinder, really? Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. To build a fire Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. This image provided by Souper Cubes shows No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. The place for a ladle is on the pot The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. This image provided by FeatherSnap shows a female cardinal bird perched on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. Up your birdwatching with this feeder The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. This image provided by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo shows a smartphone printer. Fujifilm Instax's Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. Printing old-fashioned photos via Bluetooth Fujifilm's Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. This image provided by easyplant shows a Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Houseplants don't get much easier than this The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. This image provided by Nama shows the M1 plant-based milk maker. If you've got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid unnecessary ingredients like sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. Making your own (plant-based) milk If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. This image provided by QelviQ shows a wine bottle chiller. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses "smart" technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. The perfect temperature for 350,000-plus wines For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Casting light on the grill after dark This image provided by Uncommon Goods shows a 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set. Uncommon Good's 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Make your house a homeRobbie Williams, 50, reveals plans to resit his GCSEs after a lifetime of feeling 'stupid' and leaving school without qualifications amid battle with Dyslexia and ADHDYamal becomes youngest Golden Boy winner
After strong first game under new coach, Blues meet red-hot DevilsShohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing from arthroscopic surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series championship over the New York Yankees last month. “We’ve already removed the stitches,” the Japanese star said Thursday in Los Angeles after winning his third Most Valuable Player award, his first with the Dodgers. “The current goal is to bring back my range of motion. Today we started working on core and we’re slowly ramping up right now.” Ohtani had the surgery on Nov 5, four days after he and the team paraded through downtown Los Angeles and celebrated with fans at Dodger Stadium. “We’ve been stuck in rehab every day and I’ve been sitting on my bed relaxing,” he said through an interpreter. “We haven’t been able to take some time to celebrate as a family.” Ohtani didn’t pitch this season while rehabbing from elbow surgery in September 2023. He injured his shoulder attempting to steal second base during Game 2 of the World Series. “The goal is to be ready for opening day that includes hitting and pitching, but we are kind of taking our time,” he said. “Obviously want to make sure I’m healthy first. We’re not going to rush anything. We’re going to take a little bit more time and be conservative.” Ohtani's most anxious moment during his stellar first regular season with the Dodgers didn't involve his performance. It was about his beloved dog, Decoy. “The most nerve-wracking game, the most nervous I was when we had Decoy throw out the pitch,” he said. Much like his owner, Decoy performed flawlessly on that August night, trotting from the mound to deliver the ball in his mouth to a waiting Ohtani behind the plate. Ohtani later homered leading off against Baltimore on his second bobblehead night. They were together on Thursday, when the Dutch Kooikerhondje appeared briefly on television as Ohtani, sitting next to his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, discussed his MVP honor. He called it “very humbling.” The 30-year-old designated hitter took all 30 of the first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association, becoming the first player to win MVP honors unanimously three times. He won twice in the AL with the Los Angeles Angels. “It’s going to motivate me more to continue to help the team win next year,” Ohtani said. “We’d like to continue to win the World Series each year.” Ohtani became just the second player in major league history to win the award in both leagues, joining Frank Robinson, who won NL MVP in 1961 and AL MVP in 1966. Ohtani is likely to see a familiar face in the majors soon. Highly touted pitcher Roki Sasaki is expected to sign with a Major League Baseball team by January. He and Ohtani were teammates when Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2023. “No, I haven't really been recruiting him in any way,” Ohtani said. “I consider him a friend, so we’ll talk every so often about baseball in general and life. I’ll respect his decision wherever he wants to sign and I think he’ll do well wherever he goes.”
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling Tuesday that allows a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member to play in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament after a legal complaint said she should be ineligible on grounds that she is transgender and thus stronger, posing a safety risk to teammates and opponents. A two-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with U.S. Magistrate S. Kato Crews in Denver. On Monday he rejected the request for an emergency injunction, finding the players and others who challenged the league’s policy of allowing transgender athletes to participate should have filed the complaint earlier. The tournament starts Wednesday in Las Vegas, but top-seeded Colorado State and second-seeded San Jose State have byes into Friday’s semifinal matches. Judge Crews and the 10th Circuit noted the request for the emergency injunction was filed in mid-November, less than two weeks before the tournament was scheduled to start. The complaint could have been made weeks earlier, both courts said. The first conference forfeit happened Sept. 28. All the schools that canceled games against San Jose State acknowledged at the time that they would take a league loss, Crews noted. The players and others who sued are disappointed that the appeals court found it would be “too disruptive” to enter an injunction the day before the tournament is scheduled to start, said William Bock III, an attorney for the plaintiffs. The appeals court said the plaintiffs' "claims appear to present a substantial question and may have merit,” but they have not made a clear case for emergency relief. “Plaintiffs look forward to ultimately receiving justice in this case when they prove these legal violations in court and to the day when men are no longer allowed to harm women and wreak havoc in women’s sport," Bock said in a statement. The athlete has played for San Jose State since 2022, but her participation only became an issue this season. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player has also been in effect since 2022, the conference said. Injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo, Judge Crews said, and her playing is the status quo. The motions for an injunction also asked that the four teams that had conference losses for refusing to play against San Jose State during the regular season have those losses removed from their records and that the tournament be re-seeded based on the updated records. Crews denied that motion and the 10th Circuit did not address it. Neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans woman volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not commented publicly on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Crews’ ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player. San Jose State “maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment,” Athletics Director Jeff Konya told students Tuesday. He praised the resilience student-athletes, the athletic department and staff have shown while the court challenges played out over the past nearly two weeks. “The fact that they have come to this point of the season as a team standing together on the volleyball court is a testament to their strength and passion for their sport,” Konya said. The conference said Monday it was “satisfied” with the judge’s decision and would continue upholding policies established by its board of directors, which “directly align with NCAA and USA Volleyball.” An NCAA policy that subjects transgender participation to the rules of sports governing bodies took effect this academic year. USA Volleyball says a trans woman must suppress testosterone for 12 months before competing. The NCAA has not flagged any issues with San Jose State. In Friday's semifinals, San Jose State is scheduled to play the winner of Wednesday’s match between Utah State and Boise State — teams that forfeited matches to San Jose State during the regular season. Boise State associate athletic director Chris Kutz declined to comment Monday on whether the Broncos would play San Jose State if they won their first-round tournament game. Utah State associate athletic director Doug Hoffman said the university is reviewing the order and the team is preparing for Wednesday’s match. Wyoming and Utah State also forfeited matches against San Jose State. Some athletic associations, Republican legislatures and school districts have sought in recent years to restrict the ability of transgender athletes, in particular transgender girls and women, to compete in line with their gender identity. The Republican governors of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming have made public statements in support of the team cancellations, citing fairness in women’s sports. President-elect Donald Trump likewise has spoken out against allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports.
Canadiens' Mike Matheson out against Utah with lower-body injury
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jalen Haynes had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead George Mason to an 85-53 victory over Pennsylvania on Sunday. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jalen Haynes had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead George Mason to an 85-53 victory over Pennsylvania on Sunday. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jalen Haynes had 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead George Mason to an 85-53 victory over Pennsylvania on Sunday. Giovanni Emejuru added 12 points for the Patriots (8-4). Jared Billups scored 11 on 4-for-5 shooting. Michael Zanoni led the Quakers (4-8) with 11 points. Ethan Roberts added 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Niklas Polonowski had 10 points. George Mason took the lead with 4:52 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 35-25 at halftime, with Emejuru racking up nine points. George Mason pulled away with a 12-2 run in the second half to extend an 18-point lead to 28 points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. AdvertisementLeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday's doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA's five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” While the NBA's Christmas lineup has its best viewer numbers in five years, the NFL has made Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season, joining Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving. “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this," said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media. "But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.” Both NFL games surpassed the previous mark of 23 million for last season’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs on Peacock. Viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl. The 20-minute halftime performance averaged over 27 million viewers. The viewer figures include the audience on Netflix, mobile viewership on NFL+ and those who tuned in on CBS stations in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected to be available on Tuesday. The NFL's Christmas numbers decreased from last season, but not at the rate that usually happens when something goes from broadcast to streaming. Last year’s three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million on CBS. Once global and Netflix's first-party data is released, both Christmas games should surpass 30 million. The NBA's lineup saw an 84% rise over 2023. One reason for the increase is that all five games were on ABC, compared to two last year. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA
Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and moreLast week, Joel Bray turned 44. “That’s pretty old for a dancer,” he reflects. Over the past 12 months Bray has toured works across Australia and Europe, taken up a new role as associate artist at Geelong Arts Centre, and begun the creative process on a yet-to-be-announced project. Choreographers and dancers Alisdair Macindoe, Tra Mi Dinh and Joel Bray Credit: Arsineh Houspian “I’ve had a big dancing year, and my body’s quite tired – it doesn’t bounce back like it once did.” Instead of trying to hold onto something that is slipping away, however, he’s leaning into the changes to his body through a new work, Swallow . “I’ve really been exploring how I can work with ease and kind of with my age, rather than against my age – rather than trying to replicate how I once used to dance when I was younger and fitter.” Swallow is a means for Bray to explore a few different threads of his life. “A lot of my work is interested in the intersection of my identity as a Wiradjuri man with my identity as a queer man.” Joel Bray. Credit: Arsineh Houspian In his previous work, Homo Pentecostus , he explored how he adopted the Welcome Swallow as his totem – a thread he has picked up here. “She’s flirty and she darts around and she’s super social,” he explains. “ Swallow is really an exploration of birds, and the movement of birds, and my affection for this animal. But also I love a double entendre,” he adds with a laugh. “So I also enjoy the other meaning of swallow – and the work is very, very queer.” Bray’s work is one of three commissioned by Lucy Guerin Inc and UMAC (University of Melbourne Arts and Culture) for Pieces , an annual series where choreographers are given three weeks to come up with a 20-minute work. Pieces has been running since 2005, and over 19 years has grown from a program that originally only had space for 20 audience members, to being performed this year in Melbourne University’s Union Theatre. Lucy Guerin started Pieces in 2005. Credit: Arsineh Houspian “It’s one of my favourite programs that we do in the year,” says renowned Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin. One of the key things she highlights is not just the strength of the individual works, but the way they interact and connect with each other. “Each year the three works sit together, and sometimes they’re really, really different,” she says. “This year, it does feel like they’re a little more connected. So it’s always a surprise as to what the whole evening will be like, and what the kind of impression that the whole evening will give to the audience.” Loading This year, Bray’s work is joined by “OK, bye!” by Alisdair Macindoe, a meditation on death and the afterlife, and Seven dances for two people by Tra Mi Dinh, an exploration of the significance behind the number seven. “OK, Bye!” began as a collaboration between Macindoe and his mother, concert harpist xanya mamunya, and is dedicated to her. “I grew up listening to her practicing in the lounge room my entire childhood,” Macindoe explains. “I think I became a dancer partly due to waking up in the morning to someone playing concert harp music.” The work marries music, dance and technology in surprising ways, perhaps most so through the self-playing instruments featured on stage. “[They] are all acoustic instruments that are played mechanically by some sort of, like, robotics or electronic mechanics that I’ve built myself in collaboration with a friend of mine who does the firmware,” explains Macindoe. Seven dances for two people , meanwhile – a duet with dancer Rachel Coulson – initially sprung from Dinh being drawn to the number seven. “It just comes up so many times again and again, across cultures, across place and time,” she says, pointing to constellations, musical notes and the number of colours in the spectrum. Loading “It’s my favourite number, and I was really keen to have a bit of a play around with what the rhythmic structures of a seven can do to movement.” All three dancers are recipients of the Chloe Munro Bequest , which offered funds to 20 dancers and choreographers to use however they see fit. The impact of the funds can be seen in both overt and more quiet ways. For both Dinh and Bray, the funds meant that when faced with the crossroads of whether to keep pursuing dance as a career, they were given both the means and the confidence to continue. “It was an incredible boost for my own self-confidence in my practice,” says Dinh. “It’s almost impossible to describe how deeply the Munro fellowship has impacted my practice, and it does directly relate to this, because to build those acoustic instruments and robotics was something I was able to do,” says Macindoe. “What it means is I can dream bigger.” Pieces is at Melbourne University’s Union Theatre from November 28 to 30. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it every Friday . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Arts What’s on See & Do For subscribers Performing arts Elizabeth Flux is Arts Editor at The Age. Connect via Twitter or email . Most Viewed in Culture Loading
While Simon Harris continues to criss-cross the country – he whooped it up at a party rally in Co Meath at lunchtime on Wednesday – the party has put out Minister for Public Expenditure (and former minister for finance) Paschal Donohoe at every opportunity to beat the drum for his favourite subject: prudence. A glance at the party’s media schedule in the past week shows just how much it has turned to Donohoe as the main vector for its economic message. Last Friday and Saturday, with a week to go and Fine Gael already growing nervous about its stumbling in the polls, Donohoe was presiding at policy launches on rejuvenating Dublin and on “making work pay”. On Sunday, he was the party’s representative on the flagship RTÉ show The Week in Politics. On Monday, after news broke about Fine Gael’s slump in The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll, he was standing beside Harris at Airfield Park in south Co Dublin to talk about small business. On Tuesday, he was out at Microsoft in Sandyford,, talking about the need for economic stability and the importance of maintaining Ireland’s attractiveness to foreign direct investment. That evening he was debating with fellow finance spokesmen on Virgin Media. On Wednesday he was out again, jousting with Opposition finance representatives on Claire Byrne’s show on RTÉ radio, before scooting back to his constituency to launch an advertisement with Dublin North-West candidate Noel Rock. The theme: don’t let Sinn Féin turn out the lights on Ireland’s economy. Then he was off to Trim, Co Meath – again with his leader – to speak at a rally, or more accurately, a group of supporters having tea and sandwiches. At such an uncertain time in world affairs, Harris told the cheering Fine Gaelers, “I’d much rather have Paschal Donohoe in charge of our national finances than any other party!”. Donohoe’s move to the centre of the party’s campaign sees it choosing to emphasise, in the final days, the threats to Ireland’s economic fortunes. Partly this is a response to the growing storm cloud emanating from Washington. But it’s also a tacit acknowledgement that the blizzard of promises that characterised the early part of the campaign – abolish the means test for the carers’ grant, abolish university fees, give €1,000 to every newborn, double child benefit in August, and so on – have not landed as comfortably with voters as the party would have liked. Maybe because it’s hard to ride two horses, politically: you can go big on the giveaways, or you can go big on prudence; but it’s hard to do both. In truth, Donohoe never looked especially comfortable with the big giveaways. It’s said within Government that the Budget was rather more generous than he would have liked, and the torrent of promises from Fine Gael in the first half of the campaign made him uneasy. He seems much more content with advocating for prudence – even if all those giveaways are still in the Fine Gael manifesto. The targeting of Sinn Féin on the economy has been dubbed “Project Fear” – an attempt to scare people away from that party’s offer of change. “Project Truth”, said Harris on Wednesday. Donohoe stood just behind him, nodding emphatically. Pat Leahy is Political Editor of The Irish TimesTrump Cabinet picks, appointees targeted by bomb threats and swatting attacksThe University of Colorado Boulder has created a free resource to help people recover their loved ones’ digital accounts or make plans for their own after death. The Digital Legacy Clinic at CU Boulder is a pro-bono service offered to the public to help with issues around digital legacy and online data accounts. They can help family members recover photos, emails and social media accounts belonging to a deceased loved one, and they can help people make an end-of-life plan for their own digital accounts. Jed Brubaker, the founder of the clinic and a CU Boulder professor, said the average internet user has about 190 online accounts and produces 850 gigabytes of data each year. “That’s a whole lot of photos, letters and personal history, and it would be a shame if that were lost,” Brubaker said. “And the truth is, the technology platforms just haven’t kept up with our end-of-life needs, so at the clinic, we’re here to bridge that gap.” Brubaker’s work has focused on the digital afterlife for 15 years. His work has directly informed the design and development of Facebook’s Legacy Contact, a feature that allows a user to select someone to manage their memorialized profile after their death. Without a feature like that, social media accounts that are inaccessible to anyone but their owner can exist long after that person has died, sending out routine birthday notifications, friend anniversary notices and memories. However, most technology platforms don’t allow users to name a beneficiary like they would in a financial account. “I think the tech sector is in need of some help to figure out what the best practices are so that every platform has some kind of support for end-of-life planning because most of them don’t right now,” Brubaker said. The clinic, which has a research and education focus, is partly funded by a $550,000 National Science Foundation grant. A team of specially-trained students respond to inquiries from clients and help them navigate digital accounts. Master’s student Rory O’Flynn helped develop the website for the clinic and has helped support a client. The client she worked with had a brother who died but still had portfolios online. She helped the client archive the brother’s photos, shut down part of the accounts and memorialize the rest privately for his family. “It was actually really cool,” O’Flynn said, adding, “It’s really, really interesting because it’s not something many people think of until it happens to them.” Digitized photos, videos, art, music, stories, blogs or professional work can all be lost after death. Losing it can be a loss of memories, and it can be devastating for loved ones. “It’s not just data,” Brubaker said. “There are personal stories, there are personal histories, there are family heritage. It’s hard to overstate the symbolic value of this.” The logistical burden of not being able to access those accounts can worsen stress and suffering when loved ones are already grieving. “It’s about reducing suffering and reducing extra areas of stress when someone is grieving, whether it’s grieving their eventual death or grieving the loss of a loved one,” doctoral student and researcher Dylan Thomas Doyle said. “When someone dies, there’s so many tasks and there’s so many emotions that come up.” Brubaker said many people don’t know how to talk about death. He hopes the clinic will help by providing clarity. “We can take them through the process and take them step by step and reduce the ambiguities and uncertainties and show them how to do this,” Brubaker said. The clinic is open to anyone of all ages. For more information or to request support, visit colorado.edu/center/digital-legacy .
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China has unveiled its latest innovation in its fight against crime - a spherical robocop capable of chasing down suspects on land and water. Known as Rotunbot RT-G, the machine is capable of fending off baseball attacks by assailants and, thanks to its centre of gravity, is incapable of toppling over. It has been unleashed in the shopping district in Zhejiang, on China’s southeast coast and resembles something out of super violent action flick, Robocop . Unlike the eponymous hero Alex Murphy, who was killed in the line of duty of the film, this robot contains nothing human. Instead the self balancing machine features a sleek black look and can carry out rescues in dangerous areas, crossing lakes and rivers with ease as it boasts propellers. Rotunbot said of the innovation: “The spherical robot moves smoothly and flexibly, is easy to control, and can be used on a variety of road surfaces; the closed spherical shell has strong self-protection capabilities and is anti-overturning. “The robot uses advanced control algorithms inside to enable it to move flexibly in a variety of scenarios. The spherical robot is equipped with a variety of sensors and has a good detection function for the surrounding environment. “Through real-time communication technology , the collected information can be stored and transmitted to the user's control terminal, and can perform intelligent security tasks, including patrolling streets and communities, rivers and lakes, emergency rescue in dangerous areas, etc. “Spherical robot has the characteristics of a spherical shape, and the weight is mainly concentrated below the center of the ball, which has the characteristics of a tumbler. Therefore, no matter if it is stationary or moving, there is no possibility of tipping over.” Rotunbot features in its arsenal GPS, cameras and sonar, as well as sensors giving it a “strong perception” of its environment. In 2017 The "world's first operational Robocop" was unveiled in Dubai as part of the emirate's planned robot police force. At 5ft 5in tall and weighing 100kg, it can speak six languages and is designed to read facial expressions. It had an easy start to working life, being unveiled at the three-day long Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference. Brigadier-General Khalid Nasser Al Razzouqi, Director-General of Smart Services with the Dubai Police said: "The launch of the world ’s first operational Robocop is a significant milestone for the Emirate and a step towards realizing Dubai’s vision to be a global leader in smart cities technology adoption.”
Dez White scores 26 and Missouri State beats UCSB 68-56
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