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Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. And this wasn't on a whim: He knows how to play and even brought his own chess set. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. People began showing up almost immediately. Washington Square Park is a known spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer among others have famously played there, and it's been used for multiple movie scenes featuring the game. Wembanyama was there for an hour in the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He played four games, winning two and losing two — he told Bleacher Report afterward that both of the losses were to professional chess players — before departing to catch the Spurs' flight. Wembanyama had been trying to get somewhere to play chess for the bulk of the team's time in New York — the Spurs played the Knicks on Christmas and won at Brooklyn on Friday night. The schedule never aligned, until Saturday morning. And even with bad weather, he bundled up to make it happen. He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA's biggest stars. “We need an NBA players only Chess tournament, proceeds go to the charity of choice of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess trip was over. Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second in the NBA after winning rookie of the year last season. The Spurs play at Minnesota on Sunday.Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

Bidding started at $800,000 and within minutes shot up to $2 million, then $3 million, then $4 million, and higher, as the auctioneer, Oliver Barker, joked “Don’t let it slip away.”

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos signed left tackle Garett Bolles to a four-year extension on Thursday, locking up a big piece to protect rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Bolles has spent his entire career with the organization after being drafted out of Utah with the 20th overall pick in 2017. He has a chance this season to help the Broncos into the postseason for the first time since they won Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. The Broncos (8-5) are currently in the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC. They can put some distance between them and Indianapolis on Sunday (6-7) with a win over the Colts. After an up-and-down start in Denver, Bolles has developed into a dependable pass protector. He's allowed one sack and 24 quarterback pressures over 13 starts this season. What's more, his 4.9 percent quarterback pressure rate is the second-lowest mark among tackles with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season, according to NextGen Stats. With time to scan the field, Nix leads all rookies in completions (277), yards passing (2,842), offensive touchdowns (22) and passing touchdowns (17). Bolles earned second-team Associated Press All-Pro honors after the 2020 season. On social media , Bolles posted: “Broncos Country, It’s been a great 8 years! Thanks for everything! And ... I’m not leaving. The show goes on!” Since 2017, Bolles has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks (36) among tackles with at least 3,100 snaps. The extension of Bolles means the Broncos have all five starting offensive linemen on board through next season. Guard Quinn Meinerz agreed to four-year contract extension in July. The Broncos also signed cornerback Patrick Surtain II to a four-year contract extension in September worth $96 million, including $77.5 million in guarantees. Linebacker Jonathon Cooper agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension in November. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

CHARACTER.AI, once one of Silicon Valley’s most promising AI startups, announced on Thursday new safety measures to protect teenage users as it faces lawsuits alleging its chatbots contributed to youth suicide and self-harm. The California-based company, founded by former Google engineers, is among several firms offering AI companions - chatbots designed to provide conversation, entertainment and emotional support through human-like interactions. In a Florida lawsuit filed in October, a mother claimed the platform bears responsibility for her 14-year-old son’s suicide. The teen, Sewell Setzer III, had formed an intimate relationship with a chatbot based on the Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen and mentioned a desire for suicide. According to the complaint, the bot encouraged his final act, responding “please do, my sweet king” when he said he was “coming home” before taking his life with his stepfather’s weapon. Character.AI “went to great lengths to engineer 14-year-old Sewell’s harmful dependency on their products, sexually and emotionally abused him, and ultimately failed to offer help or notify his parents when he expressed suicidal ideation,” the suit said. A separate Texas lawsuit filed on Monday involves two families who allege the platform exposed their children to sexual content and encouraged self-harm. One case involved a 17-year-old autistic teen who allegedly suffered a mental health crisis after using the platform. In another example, the lawsuit alleged that a Character.AI encouraged a teen to kill his parents for limiting his screen time. The platform, which hosts millions of user-created personas ranging from historical figures to abstract concepts, has grown popular among young users seeking emotional support. Critics say this has led to dangerous dependencies among vulnerable teens. In response, Character.AI announced it has developed a separate AI model for users under 18, with stricter content filters and more conservative responses. The platform will now automatically flag suicide-related content and direct users to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. “Our goal is to provide a space that is both engaging and safe for our community,” a company spokesperson said. The company plans to introduce parental controls in early 2025, allowing oversight of children’s platform usage. For bots that include descriptions like therapist or doctor, a special note will warn that they do not replace professional advice. New features also include mandatory break notifications and prominent disclaimers about the artificial nature of the interactions. Both lawsuits name Character.AI’s founders and Google, an investor in the company. The founders, Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas Adiwarsana, returned to Google in August as part of a technology licensing agreement with Character.AI. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement that Google and Character.AI are completely separate, unrelated companies. “User safety is a top concern for us, which is why we’ve taken a cautious and responsible approach to developing and rolling out our AI products, with rigorous testing and safety processes,” he added. AFPPercentages: FG .440, FT .619. 3-Point Goals: 11-26, .423 (Wolf 3-6, Poindexter 3-8, Pence 2-4, Kinziger 2-5, Banks 1-3). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Banks, Kinziger, Pence). Turnovers: 7 (Banks 5, Pence, Walker). Steals: 3 (Banks, Kinziger, Pence). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .444, FT .769. 3-Point Goals: 8-20, .400 (Garcia 2-3, Parker 2-5, Richards 2-6, Charles 1-2, Shumate 1-3, Murray 0-1). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 2. Blocked Shots: 3 (Shumate 2, Charles). Turnovers: 5 (Garcia 2, Murray, Selebangue, Shumate). Steals: 5 (Cooper 3, Charles, Parker). Technical Fouls: None. .

The Murshidabad unit of the West Bengal BJP has stirred political waters with its announcement to build a Ram temple in Berhampore. This declaration comes on the heels of TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's proposal to construct a mosque inspired by the Babri Masjid in the district's Beldanga area. The BJP disclosed that the temple's construction is scheduled to commence on January 22, 2025, exactly a year after the Ram temple in Ayodhya opens its doors. The project, estimated at Rs 10 crore, has already identified a plot of land, according to BJP's Berhampore’s district president, Shakharav Sarkar. This political maneuver is seen as an effort by the BJP to consolidate support among Murshidabad's Hindu community, reacting to remarks from Kabir that have become a contentious issue. While TMC has distanced itself from Kabir's statement, opposition parties such as Congress criticize Kabir for engaging in divisive politics in the sensitive region. (With inputs from agencies.)When Esha Deol slapped Amrita Rao on Pyaare Mohan setDrop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’

Becoming a venture capitalist has become the latest status symbol in Hollywood. Everyone these days, from Olivia Wilde to Emma Watson, is either launching a venture firm or is in the process of backing the next hottest company. Robinhood, Uber, and Klarna all have some glitzy names on their cap tables, paving the way for the rise of “Hollywood angels.” For founders, having celebs on the cap table can bring a lot of buzz to the startup — and bonus points if the celeb knows what they are doing, too. Here are some of the top celebs investing and what they typically look to invest in. (This list will be updated periodically). Snoop Dogg The famous rapper and personality is a prolific angel investor and is also a founder of Casa Verde Capital, a firm focused on cannabis investments. As an angel investor, according to PitchBook, he’s backed companies such as Cameo, Reddit, Klarna, Robinhood, and the fintech MoonPay, alongside other celebs on this list. He’s made at least 26 investments, according to PitchBook. The managing partner of Casa Verde Capital is Karan Wadhera and the firm closed a $94 million Fund II in 2020. Sara and Erin Foster The Foster sisters are two of Hollywood’s most famous siblings, best known these days as the producers of the Kristen Bell Netflix show “Nobody Wants This.” They launched a venture firm in 2022 looking to raise $20 million to back consumer companies, and the fund has officially closed, their reps confirmed to us. They know the consumer area well: They already have a podcast, a clothing line, and a hit television show. PitchBook shows the firm, which they run alongside business partner Phil Schwarz, has written at least six checks, including into companies like the diaper brand Kudos (alongside Gwyneth Paltrow) and the luxury boxed wine company Juliet . As angel investors, the sisters have also invested in the alkaline water company ZenWTR. Sara is also an angel investor in the swimwear company Summersalt and the ear-piercing startup Rowan. Kevin Hart A few years ago, comedian Kevin Hart launched a venture firm, HartBeat Ventures, alongside Robert Roman, an investor with a background in financial management for entertainment and sports celebrities. The firm was founded around 2021 with the mission to support minority and underrepresented founders . It received its first outside investment from J.P. Morgan as part of one of the bank’s initiatives to fund more firms led by women and people of color. The firm has invested in at least 14 companies, according to PitchBook, including the art marketplace Masterworks, the 3D printing company Ready Player Me, and Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty lingerie line. Tashi Nakanishi and Walid Samaha are partners at the firm, according to LinkedIn, while Ron Everline serves as vice president. HartBeat Ventures began raising its Fund I in 2022 with no target amount. As of January 2024, it has raised at least $28 million, according to an SEC filing from January. An October SEC filing also shows that HartBeat is trying to raise capital for what seems to be an SPV looking to invest in Aston Martin’s Formula One car racing team. Paris Hilton The famed socialite is also an angel investor, according to PitchBook. She has made investments through her company 11:11 Media, of which she is the CEO and co-founder. Her investments have included the crypto company MoonPay , the biotech company Colossal Biosciences, the community event platform AfterParty, and the podcast platform Fireside Chats. The theme for her seems to be social platforms, biotechnology, and SaaS products that make consumer life easier. She’s made at least 22 investments, according to PitchBook, and happens to be married to Carter Reum, founder of well-known Los Angeles firm M13 Ventures, which has invested in companies such as ClassPass, Canvas, and Pinterest, according to its website. Ashton Kutcher Perhaps one of the most famed and notable celebrity VCs is Ashton Kutcher . He is the co-founder of two VC firms, A-Grade and Sound Ventures, both of which he started with Guy Oseary. Shortly after launching Sound, Effie Epstein joined as managing partner. Sound Ventures, founded in 2015, looks to back software companies and has more than $1 billion in assets under management, according to PitchBook. It also invests out of thematic funds, and last year launched an AI Growth Thematic fund, which invested in companies such as Hugging Face, OpenAI, Anthropic, and World Labs. He told the audience at TechCrunch’s 2024 Disrupt that he’s backing competitors in AI because he thinks there’s room for multiple massive AI model companies. His other notable investments between A-Grade and Sound include Affirm, Airbnb, Airtable, Duolingo, and Uber. Nas The famed rapper Nas founded his firm QueensBridge Venture Partners back in 2014. It’s made more than 130 investments across various industries and has around $140 million in assets under management, according to PitchBook. Anand Murthy is a partner at the firm. The firm has invested in companies such as the luggage brand Away (alongside Jay-Z) and the bedding company Parachute , according to PitchBook. As an angel investor, Nas has made more than 50 investments, according to PitchBook. He’s backed SeatGeek, Robinhood, Ring, Coinbase, and the fintech Mercury. Gwyneth Paltrow The Goop founder has made at least 24 investments as an angel investor, according to PitchBook. She, alongside Moj Mahdara, is also the co-founder of Kinship Ventures, which invests in consumer and wellness companies. The firm was looking to raise a $75 million VC fund , Axios reported last year, and has backed the crypto payment company MoonPay . According to other SEC filings, it seems Kinship Ventures also raised what seems to be an SPV to back OpenAI and the bitcoin mining company TeraWulf . As an angel investor, Paltrow has invested in the diaper company Kudos , the hair company Crown Affair, the beauty e-commerce marketplace Thirteen Lune, and the beverage brand Olipop, alongside actress Priyanka Chopra, according to PitchBook. Actress Mindy Kaling, rapper Logic, and the Jonas Brothers, also backed Olipop . Emma Watson The actress has cut at least two angel investor checks, according to PitchBook. Investments include at least two companies, including the biomanufacturing company FabricNano , and Hertility Health . Watson is a well-regarded activist, especially when it comes to the environment and women’s rights. It’s no wonder, then, that her two angel investments are in companies that seek to make product manufacturing more sustainable and a women’s health platform. Olivia Wilde Actress and director Olivia Wilde teamed up with Neil Sirni, who led Roc Nation’s venture division Arrive, to launch the venture firm Proximity, Bloomberg reported in October . Wilde does not have a PitchBook profile just yet but Bloomberg reports that her new firm will focus on consumer and enterprise technology and has already cut a few checks, including into Pendulum Therapeutics. Investor Jason Mack and artist Santigold, known for her song “L.E.S. Artistes,” are also partners at the firm, according to Bloomberg. SEC filings show that Proximity is raising two new SPV funds, including a $5 million health fund and another $10 million fund . Jay-Z The music mogul is an angel investor and co-founder of RocNation and of what is now MarcyPen Capital Partners, an investment firm stemming from the merger of Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners with Pendulum Holding’s investment arm Pendulum Opportunities. Roc Nation has a venture arm called Arrive Opportunities Management , which was once managed by Neil Sirni, the investor now working with Olivia Wilde at Proximity. That venture arm has made at least 40 investments, according to PitchBook, backing companies such as Sweetgreen and Epic Games. Before the merger, Marcy Venture Partners invested in several companies, such as Rihanna’s Fenty x Savage (making Rihanna one of the few Black women in the world to have a unicorn company) and the web3 company Spatial Labs . Charlie Hanna and Mason O’Hanlon are listed as investors at MarcyPen Capital Partners on PitchBook and LinkedIn. Furthermore, as an angel investor, Jay-Z has made some notable investments — at least 27, according to PitchBook — into companies like Oatly, Flowhub, Impossible Foods, and the luggage company Away.

Cars Are Polluting the Environment Less Than Ever, EPA Says

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey on Thursday for talks focused on a critical aspect of establishing stability in Syria: clashes in the north of the country between U.S.-backed Kurdish forces and Turkey-backed rebels. Blinken met President Tayyip Erdogan at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport after visiting Jordan on his first trip to the region since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government was ousted on Sunday. Erdogan and Blinken discussed the latest developments in Syria, with Erdogan calling on the international community to work together for the reconstruction of institutions in Syria, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Erdogan also told Blinken that Turkey would take preventive measures in Syria for its national security against all organisations it deems as terrorists, the statement said, adding that Ankara would not allow any weakness in the fight against Islamic State. Blinken noted the shared interest of the U.S. and Turkey in supporting a Syrian-led political transition to an accountable and inclusive government, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. He emphasised the need to ensure the coalition to defeat Islamic State can continue to execute its critical mission, Miller also said. Blinken will meet Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday. NATO allies Washington and Ankara supported Syrian rebels during the 13-year civil war, but their interests notably clashed when it came to one of the rebel factions – the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. The SDF is the main ally in a U.S. coalition against Islamic State militants. It is spearheaded by the People’s Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara sees as an extension of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants that it outlaws and who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years. Before arriving in Ankara, Blinken said the PKK is an “enduring threat” to Turkey. “At the same time ... we want to avoid sparking any kinds of additional conflicts inside of Syria at a time when we want to see this transition to an interim government and to a better way forward,” he said. Syria is also expected to top the agenda of Blinken’s talks with Fidan, a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity, adding Ankara is ready to support Syria as a safe and stable place governed by an inclusive government. NORTHERN SYRIA Earlier this week, Turkish-backed forces seized the northern city of Manbij from the U.S.-backed SDF, which then headed east of the Euphrates River. A Syrian opposition source told Reuters the U.S. and Turkey had reached an agreement on the withdrawal. A Turkish defence ministry official said on Thursday the advance on Manbij aimed to “clear terrorism”. The official warned about unspecified efforts to provide cover for the PKK by flagging risks related to Islamic State, adding that Ankara has told Washington that one terrorist group cannot be used to eliminate another. Blinken said on Monday that Islamic State will try to use this period to re-establish capabilities in Syria, but the United States is determined not to let that happen. Some SDF fighters also withdrew from Tel Refaat and parts of Aleppo to the west in the early days of the lightning rebel offensive that swept south across the country. Turkey also directly targeted the YPG in recent days with its intelligence agency destroying 12 trucks loaded with missiles and heavy weapons in northeast Syria.How Blog Websites Bridge the Gap Between Questions and Answers

NoneLeBron James says he’s taking a social media break for nowEXCLUSIVE Paddy McGuinness taking legal action over claim he stopped off at Michelin starred restaurant during £9million Children in Need cycle ride By KATIE HIND Published: 22:02, 22 November 2024 | Updated: 22:08, 22 November 2024 e-mail 17 shares View comments Paddy McGuinness is taking legal action against the gossip website Popbitch after it claimed he stopped at a Michelin-starred restaurant during his 300-mile bike ride in aid of Children In Need . Sources close to the BBC star told the Mail he began proceedings on Thursday night after the weekly newsletter accused him of taking a helicopter to L'Enclume in the village of Cartmel in Cumbria after breaking his ride at Preston in Lancashire. The website claims he was 'spotted staying overnight' in Cartmel before he resumed his ride, which raised £9million for the charity, the next morning. However, McGuinness, 51, denies the claims and instructed his lawyer to take on Popbitch, which is known for breaking gossipy stories about celebrities. 'The story is completely and utterly false, at no point did Paddy leave the challenge or the team,' said one member of the former Top Gear host's team. 'They were together every second. Paddy most nights was getting physio to prep him for the next day, followed by an early night due to the 6am wake-up.' A spokeswoman for McGuinness confirmed the legal action. He is understood to be using a lawyer at London-based Carter-Ruck, which also represents former Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington . L'Enclume is regarded as the most lavish restaurant in the country, and offers a 15-course tasting menu for £250. For another £290 guests can enjoy a select wine pairing. Paddy McGuinness (pictured) is taking legal action against Popbitch over claims he dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant during a bike ride for Children In Need McGuinness (right) on his charity ride with Chris Hoy near Crawford in Abington, Scotland McGuinness was claimed by the website to have taken a helicopter to three-starred L'Enclume (pictured) in Cartmel, Cumbria during his 300-mile ride It is owned by award-winning British chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan, who is known as one of the pioneers of the farm-to-fork movement in the UK. The venue says much of its food comes from its own farm nearby. It also has bedrooms and suites for guests to stay the night. McGuinness, who recently divorced his wife Christine, began his epic charity ride, which was named Radio 2's Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge , from Wrexham AFC on November 11. Four days later he arrived in Glasgow on his Raleigh Chopper. Speaking on Radio 2, the former Question of Sport host told his listeners: 'What a week it's been – it feels like I've been off for a month. 'What we have achieved – by 'we' I mean you lot – over the last five days is nothing short of staggering. I still cannot comprehend what has happened and what is still happening now. 'That is the power of Radio 2 and you gorgeous listeners and the wonderful great British public. The streets were lined for me from Wrexham to Glasgow, it was non-stop people supporting me, willing me on and wishing me the best.' Referring to the physical effects of the challenge, he added: 'The bum blisters are settling.' Popbitch, which started in 2000 and is run by founders Neil Stevenson and Camilla Wright, declined to comment last night. Paddy McGuinness Top Gear BBC Share or comment on this article: Paddy McGuinness taking legal action over claim he stopped off at Michelin starred restaurant during £9million Children in Need cycle ride e-mail 17 shares Add comment