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A man fatally stabbed his coworker — a father and high school football coach — during an argument at a Kroger distribution warehouse in Memphis, family and police said. Anderson Todd, 55, is charged with second-degree murder following the death of Jarcoby Hopson on Dec. 26, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Shelby County, Tennessee. That morning, witnesses saw and heard the two men arguing, but the fight later turned physical, police said. One witness said the men began pushing and shoving each other, then Todd began stabbing Hopson as Hopson yelled for him to stop, according to police. Another coworker intervened and stopped the fight, but then Hopson collapsed as Todd walked away, police said. A paramedic pronounced Hopson dead shortly before 9:30 a.m. Hopson was an assistant football coach at Lake Cormorant High School in Mississippi, where he coached one of his sons, a standout recruit headed to college, The Clarion Ledger reported. I thank you for everything you did for me pops you was my role model made sure I was always good and knew the game you was there for me forever i know u going to stay with me why I’m on my journey love you dad #LLPOPS I love you pops pic.twitter.com/sOv4oKrUj8 Jarcoby Hopson Jr., who recently signed with Ole Miss as a linebacker, took to social media to share the news of his father’s death. “I thank you for everything you did for me pops you was my role model,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Made sure I was always good and knew the game...” Hopson Jr. joins his older brother, Jarnorris Hopson, on the Ole Miss team , a feat their father proudly celebrated. “I’m trying hard to hold my tears,” the dad wrote on Facebook on Dec. 4, when his younger son signed to the school. Those who knew Hopson said he was dedicated to his children and the students he coached, with one friend sharing a recent memory highlighting his character. “Sat at the bar all night talking about our boys and their futures,” the friend wrote on Facebook. “He loved his kids.” Hopson received an outpouring of support on social media from loved ones and those who knew him through his coaching. “ Coby Hopson was always full of life and really cared about the kids,” one person wrote on Facebook. “‘The Swamp’ won’t be the same, I’m definitely going to miss him on the sideline.” The Gators are Lake Cormorant’s mascot. “Thanks for believing in our boys and pushing them to be the greatest,” another Facebook user wrote. “I will never forget what you taught my boy and told him to be the best he could be on that field , they will truly miss you.”National Consumer Helpline records 10-fold jump in number of calls handled after tech revamp NEW DELHI: The revamped National Consumer Helpline (NCH) of the Centre’s Department of Consumer Affairs has registered a 10-fold increase in the number of calls it handles, while the average number of complaints registered per month has surged to 1,12,468 in 2024, according to an official statement. The NCH serves as the first point of contact for consumers, resolving issues before they escalate to litigation. The redressal of grievances is provided within 45 days, helping to prevent the overburdening of Consumer Commissions. The technological transformation of the NCH has significantly boosted its call-handling capacity. The number of calls received by NCH has grown nearly tenfold, from 14,795 calls in January 2015 to 1,41,817 calls in January 2024. This exponential growth reflects the rising confidence of consumers in the helpline, the statement said. Similarly, the average number of complaints registered per month has surged from 37,062 in 2017 to 1,12,468 in 2024. Additionally, grievance registration via WhatsApp has gained momentum, with the percentage of complaints filed through the platform increasing from 3 per cent in March 2023 to 25 per cent in March 2024, demonstrating a growing preference for digital communication channels. The number of convergence partners of the National Consumer Helpline has steadily increased from 263 companies in 2017 to 1009 companies in 2024. “This growth underscores the importance of these partnerships in enhancing the helpline’s efficiency, enabling quick and effective grievance redressal, and promoting transparency and accountability. These partnerships ensure consumer complaints are addressed at the pre-litigation stage, fostering greater consumer trust. However, if a complaint remains unresolved, consumers are encouraged to approach the appropriate Consumer Commission under the Consumer Protection Act,” the statement explained. The helpline is available in 17 languages, including Hindi, English, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Nepali, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Maithili, Santhali, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, and Manipuri, allowing consumers from all regions to register their grievances via the toll-free number 1915. These grievances can be submitted via the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM), an omni-channel, IT-enabled central portal, through various channels: WhatsApp (8800001915), SMS (8800001915), email (nch-ca[at]gov.in), the NCH app, the web portal (consumerhelpline.gov.in), and the Umang app, offering convenience and flexibility to consumers. The helpline operates in a dedicated manner from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all seven days of the week, except on national holidays. To enhance accessibility further, a call-back facility is available. An exclusive call centre has been established to ensure prompt service. In a significant move to further enhance grievance redressal, NCH has introduced AI-based Speech Recognition, a Translation System, and a Multilingual Chatbot as part of the NCH 2.0 initiative. These technological advancements aim to make the grievance filing process more seamless, efficient, and inclusive. The AI-powered Speech Recognition and Translation System enables consumers to file complaints through voice input in their local languages, reducing manual intervention. The Multilingual Chatbot provides real-time assistance, streamlining complaint-handling processes, and improving the overall user experience. These upgrades ensure that consumers from diverse linguistic backgrounds have equal access to the grievance redressal system, the statement added. AgenciesGE Aerospace stock underperforms Wednesday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsUniversal Corporation Receives NYSE Notice Regarding Filing of Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended September 30, 2024
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Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner’s support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter’s core mechanic. That’s unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky’s growth trajectory — with a user base that more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who flocked to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil. “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users, such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta’s platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that attracted users who grew tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users began reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots’ messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he initiallydetected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted this month that it quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
U.S. stock indexes reached more records after tech companies talked up how much artificial intelligence is boosting their results. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Wednesday to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce pulled the market higher after highlighting its artificial-intelligence offering for customers. Marvell Technology jumped even more after saying it’s seeing strong demand from AI. Treasury yields eased, while bitcoin climbed after President-elect Donald Trump nominated a crypto advocate to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. On Wednesday: The S&P 500 rose 36.61 points, or 0.6%, to 6,086.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308.51 points, or 0.7%, to 45,014.04. The Nasdaq composite rose 254.21 points, or 1.3%, to 19,735.12. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 10.22 points, or 0.4%, to 2,426.56. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 54.11 points, or 0.9%. The Dow is up 103.39 points, or 0.2%. The Nasdaq is up 516.95 points, or 2.7%. The Russell 2000 is down 8.16 points, or 0.3%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,316.66 points, or 27.6%. The Dow is up 7,324.50 points, or 19.4%. The Nasdaq is up 4,723.76 points, or 31.5%. The Russell 2000 is up 399.49 points, or 19.7%.Shoppers have been left scratching their heads after spotting Easter eggs on supermarket shelves before New Year’s Eve. With Easter Sunday not until April 20 next year, customers took to social media to express their confusion after finding chocolate eggs and hot cross buns already for sale in shops including Morrisons, Tesco and Asda. One user, @Jingle1991, shared a snap of Malteser Bunnies in Sainsbury’s on Christmas Eve, quipping: "Jesus hasn’t even been born yet." Meanwhile, Gary Evans posted a picture of Creme Eggs on display in Morrisons in Margate on Boxing Day. The 66-year-old told the PA news agency, "I just think it's crazy that everything is so superficial and meaninglessly commercial... (there’s) something quite frantic about it." On Friday evening, Joseph Robinson spotted Easter confectionery, including Cadbury Mini Eggs and themed Kit-Kat and Kinder Surprise products, at his local Morrisons. The 35-year-old admin support worker told PA: "It’s funny, as they’ve not even managed to shift the Christmas chocolates off the shelves yet and they’re already stocking for Easter." Read more: Essex couple 'frustrated' after being forced to prolong Christmas trip due to fog Read more: Car smashes through level crossing causing train delays during Essex police chase He added: "I wish that Supermarkets weren’t so blatantly consumerist-driven and would actually allow customers and staff a time to decompress during the Christmas period." When asked if he was tempted to make a purchase, Mr Robinson said: "As a vegan it holds no appeal to me!" Mike Chalmers, a committed Christian, expressed some contentment upon encountering an Easter promotion titled "Celebrate this Easter with Cadbury." The 44-year-old remarked, "Christmas and Easter are the two centre points of the Christian good news story, so it’s no bad thing to see the connections," and added, "It’s about more than shapes of chocolate, though! " On the other hand, marketing expert Andrew Wallis was taken aback to find Easter eggs on sale at the Co-op. Yet, he acknowledged this as indicative of corporate proactivity, saying: "It made me reflect on how big brands are always thinking ahead and planning early," the 54-year-old told PA: "My message to retailers would be: while planning ahead is important, it’s also essential to be mindful of consumer sentiment. " He further suggested: "Some might feel it’s too early for seasonal products like this but others might see it as a sign of forward-thinking. Striking the right balance is key to keeping customers happy."
Sorber scores 22 as Georgetown beats Coppin State 83-53Salesforce Inc. reported quarterly revenue that topped analysts’ estimates, boosting investor hopes that the company’s much-hyped strategy for artificial intelligence products will lift financial results. The shares gained in extended trading. Share Market View All Nifty Gainers View All Company Value Change %Change Sales increased 8.3% to $9.44 billion in the period ended October 31, the company said Tuesday in a statement. Analysts, on average, estimated $9.35 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Adjusted operating margin, a measure of profitability, was 33.1%, compared with an average estimate of 32.2% Salesforce, the top seller of customer relations management software, pivoted its AI strategy this year to focus on tools called agents, which are designed to complete tasks such as customer support or sales development without human supervision. The San Francisco-based company launched its product, dubbed Agentforce, in October, with initial pricing of about $2 per agent conversation. Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff said last month that he was so confident in Agentforce that Salesforce would add 1,000 employees to sell it. That planned hiring surge follows almost two years of costs cuts at the company, including job reductions, as Benioff worked to control expenses and improve profitability after pressure from activist investors. The company has signed a “good number” of deals related to Agentforce, Executive Vice President Mike Spencer said in an interview after the earnings release. Still, these deals are largely initial roll-outs and will take time to show up in the company’s results, he added. The stock has been volatile this year, dipping to a low of $218.01 on May 30 after the company projected the slowest sales growth in its history. Since then, the shares have rebounded more than 50% on optimism for Salesforce’s new AI strategy. “Agentforce has overtaken the CRM narrative by storm,” wrote Tyler Radke, an analyst at Citigroup, ahead of the results. “As I’m sure everybody knows on the quarter — these numbers are not what we’re really excited about,” Benioff said on a conference call after the results were released. “And while the quarter numbers are fantastic, the real excitement is really what is hitting with the technology.” The shares rose more than 9% in extended trading after closing at $331.43 in New York. Salesforce said fiscal third-quarter profit, excluding some items, was $2.41 a share. Analysts, on average, estimated $2.44. The earnings were affected by losses within Salesforce Ventures, the company’s investment arm, Spencer said. Revenue will be $9.9 billion to $10.1 billion in the current quarter ending in January, in line with analysts’ estimates. Current remaining performance obligation, a measure of booked sales, will expand about 9%, compared with a 9.2% increase expected by analysts. Sales growth in Salesforce’s large acquired divisions — Slack, Mulesoft, and Tableau — dipped in the fiscal third quarter, the company said in a presentation. Mulesoft revenue expanded 1% in constant currency, compared with a 13% jump in the preceding quarter. The business unit containing marketing and e-commerce software expanded 8% in constant currency during the quarter, just ahead of Wall Street estimates. The company’s Commerce Cloud product has seen increased competition from Canadian software vendor Shopify Inc., which says it has taken hundreds of Salesforce clients.USC loses veteran WR Kyron Hudson to transfer portal
Texas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies, who no longer have nearly half their 2022 signees. The list of 2022 recruits now with playoff contenders elsewhere includes Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart, Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton, SMU offensive tackle PJ Williams and injured Boise State receiver Chris Marshall. Texas A&M has done all right without them, going 8-4 as transfers filled about half the starting roles. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. “It used to be you lost 20 seniors, you signed 20 incoming freshmen,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “You just had your numbers right. Now you might lose 20 seniors, but you might lose 20 underclassmen. You just don’t know.” Coaches emphasize that high school recruiting remains critical, but recent results suggest it isn’t as vital as before. The last two College Football Playoff runners-up – TCU in 2022 and Washington in 2023 – didn’t sign a single top-15 class in any of the four years leading up their postseason runs, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. This year’s contenders have shown there’s more than one way to build a championship-caliber roster. About half of No. 1 Oregon’s usual starters began their college careers elsewhere. No. 5 Georgia, which annually signs one of the nation’s top high school classes, has only a few transfers making major contributions. Colorado’s rise under Deion Sanders exemplifies how a team can win without elite high school recruiting. None of Colorado’s last four classes have ranked higher than 30th in the 247Sports Composite. Three ranked 47th or lower. “If anybody ever did the homework and the statistics of these young men – people have a class that they say is the No. 1 class in the nation – then five of those guys play, or four of those guys play, then the rest go through the spring and then they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “Don’t give me the number of where you rank (in recruiting standings), because it’s like an NFL team," he added. "You always say who won the draft, then the team gets killed all year (and) you don’t say nothing else about it. Who won the draft last year in the NFL? Nobody cares right now, right?” Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro tries to stop Oregon's Evan Stewart, right, during the first half of a Nov. 16 game in Madison, Wis. Star quarterback Shedeur Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023, and Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter accompanied them. According to Colorado, this year’s Buffaloes team has 50 transfer newcomers, trailing only North Texas’ 54 among Bowl Subdivision programs. Relying on transfers comes with caveats. Consider Florida State's rise and fall. Florida State posted an unbeaten regular-season record last year with transfers playing leading roles. When those transfers departed and Florida State's portal additions this year didn't work out, the Seminoles went 2-10. “There has to be some type of balance between the transfer portal and high school recruiting,” said Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports. “I compare it to the NFL. The players from the transfer portal are your free agents and high school recruiting is your NFL draft picks.” A look at the composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports for the 2020-22 classes shows at least 40 of the top 100 prospects each of those years ended up leaving their original school. Coaches must decide which positions they’re better off building with high school prospects and which spots might be easier to fill through the portal. “The ones that have a ton of learning to do - tight end, quarterback, interior offensive line, inside linebacker, safety, where they are the communicators - they are the guys that are processing a lot of information,” Florida’s Billy Napier said. “Those are the ones in a perfect world you have around for a while. “It’s easier to play defensive line, edge, corner, receiver, running back, tackle, specialists. Those are a little bit more plug-and-play I’d say, in my opinion," Napier said. "Either way, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s just about we need a certain number at each spot, and we do the best we can to fill those roles.” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, right, congratulates place kicker Cristiano Palazzo after he kicked an extra point during the second half of Friday's game against Oklahoma Stat in Boulder, Colo. Power Four programs aren’t the only ones facing a balancing act between recruiting high schools and mining the transfer portal. Group of Five schools encounter similar challenges. “We’re recruiting every position and bringing in a high school class,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s not going to be maybe 24 scholarship guys like it used to be. It might be more like 16. It’s not four d-linemen necessarily, right? It might be three. It might not be three receivers. It might be two. And it might not be five offensive linemen. It’s two to three.” The extra hurdle Group of Five schools face is the possibility their top performers might leave for a power-conference program with more lucrative name, image and likeness financial opportunities. They sometimes don’t know which players they’ll lose. “We know who they’re trying to steal,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin quipped. “We just don’t know who they’re going to steal.” The obstacles facing coaches are only getting steeper as FBS teams prepare for a 105-man roster limit as part of the fallout from a pending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement. While having 105 players on scholarship seems like an upgrade from the current 85-man scholarship limit, many rosters have about 125 players once walk-ons are included. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said last week his program would probably end up with about 30-50 players in the portal due to the new roster restrictions. All the added dimensions to roster construction in the college game have drawn parallels to the NFL, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck believes those comparisons are misleading. “When people talk about college football right now, they’re saying, ‘Oh, we have an NFL model,’ or it’s kind of moving toward the NFL,” Fleck said. “First of all, it’s nothing like the NFL. There’s a collective bargaining agreement (in the NFL). There’s a true salary cap for everybody. It’s designed for all 32 fan bases to win the Super Bowl maybe once every 32 years – and I know other people are winning that a lot more than others – but that’s how it’s designed. In college football, it’s not that way.” There does seem to be a bit more competitive balance than before. The emergence of TCU and Washington the last couple of postseasons indicates this new era of college football has produced more unpredictability. Yet it’s also created many more challenges as coaches try to figure out how to put together their rosters. “It’s difficult because we’re just kind of inventing it on the fly, right?” Diaz said. Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Get local news delivered to your inbox!None
Malema Launches the CIFM-88 Series DuraMassFlow PFA Coriolis Industrial Flow MeterPayal Kapadia’s ‘All We Imagine As Light’ disrupts popular narratives of Mumbaigot booed at the MCG. Sound at this ground seems to bubble up, like in the old cartoons where witches prepare their potions, the pot frothing away with each new ingredient until one of them makes the whole thing explode. The happened between overs. It wasn't caught live, like Mohammed Siraj's send-off to Travis Head. That noise was full throated and organic and it was dwarfed on Friday when Kohli nicked off for 36 off 86. The crowd knew what had happened. They didn't need help from replays on the big screen or nudges on social media. The displeasure was instant and it rolled down like thunder. "BOOOOOOOOOO!" India had gone from 153 for 2 to 154 for 4. Seven balls earlier, Kohli had been involved in a mix-up and India lost their top-scorer of both the innings and the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal looks up to Kohli. At training, he steps off from facing the bowler to gather his inputs. Here he barely looked at him. They were three feet apart, both stuck at the bowler's end, and he barely looked at him. To be fair, though, the single wasn't on. Pat Cummins was too close at mid-on. There was incredulity in Australia's celebrations, and ferocity in everything they did afterwards. Those last five overs to stumps were pure theatre. Mitchell Starc came back into the attack. The slip cordon sprouted extra people. The idea that a ball could ever be left alone seemed increasingly obtuse. And half-an-hour's play began to stretch to eternity. Eighty-five thousand people added to the occasion as they synced their hands coming together to the bowler's feet pounding the turf. Kohli had been able to stay in his bubble for the entire time he was in the middle until right this very moment. Right this very moment, it popped. "He was really disciplined today," Steven Smith said at the press conference. "He was leaving nicely, making the bowlers come to him a bit more, and scoring well through the leg side and when we went short. So yeah, I thought we were in for a bit of a masterclass there. But fortunately, Barrel [Boland] got one to sort of straighten, probably off the line on that fifth, sixth stump. And it probably was one of the only ones he played at." Two years ago, here. A sizeable portion of the 172,389 that have come through the gates on days one and two of the Boxing Day Test have felt very differently. The put a big red ball on his nose and bumped subtlety off a cliff. "Clown Kohli" said the headline. feels less petty now. Kohli was name-checked by the head of the local organising committee for LA 2028 to explain how cricket got into the Olympics. He is the third-most followed sportsperson on Instagram after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. More to the point, Australia have seen him as their kind of player. Gifted. Positive. Never-give-up. The respect he used to get here wasn't grudging. It was genuine and it's eroded because he hasn't been making runs; far too busy making errors of judgment. There was one at Melbourne airport when he rounded on Australian media for disrespecting his privacy. Another at the 'G when he disrespected an Australian cricketer's privacy by making a beeline straight for him. Kohli was in the middle of turning all of that around. For 35 off 83 balls he was pristine. For the last 1 off 3 he was something else. Shaken. Resigned. Done. He didn't even look back once he edged the ball. His hands just dropped. He just knew. India needed him in the middle when their best batter of the tour, KL Rahul, was dismissed last ball before tea. There were still seven minutes on the clock for the resumption when he and Jaiswal walked out to the dugout. There has always been an eagerness about this batting. It is supposed to translate as wanting to be out there. But it was coming off wanting it too much. The run-out in the dying stages of the second day's play against New Zealand in Mumbai. Taking guard way in front of his crease in Perth. Chasing after that one cover drive that was supposed to get him into rhythm. On a Melbourne pitch that wanted to patch things up with the batters after putting them through the wringer for the last two or three years, all Kohli had to do was trust himself; trust his training to come through. And it did. The first thing he did once he made it to the crease was practice this leave. People sometimes do the front-foot push just to get a feel of the hands going through to the line of the ball. He'd done enough of that. When Kohli got off the mark, Cummins looked down at his hands curiously, as if to figure out just how he could bowl on the pads of one of history's greatest flickers of the ball. He was responding to length a lot better in this innings, actually shifting his weight back when he had to instead of always lunging forward. Even with his leaves. There were a couple that were wide of off stump but he still shifted his weight back, in response to the shorter length, and pulled his bat up. Then there was another against Cummins that was pitched up and on that fifth stump line. He covered his stumps, pressed forward, and then left. The impact point with the ball on the cover drive that brought him his first boundary was right under his eyes. Reaching for the ball has been his forever problem. He wasn't doing that here. He could only stomach shouldering arms to 34 deliveries across his five previous innings in this Test series. He did it 21 times here, in just two hours at the crease, and it looked so easy. He looked so good. Then came the run-out. Kohli looks for those rapid singles too. He managed one early in his innings, but that time he'd cushioned his shot and the man at short cover meant to prevent the rotation of strike became redundant. Later in his innings, he nudged one off his toes to the left of midwicket, who try as he might, couldn't get there, and the right of mid-on. "Been stealing doubles since 2012," he had said during one of his more dour centuries in the West Indies last year, pointing to the act of how he gets going simply by running between the wickets. The glamour shots look good on the reels but singles and twos are the essence of his batting. The fact that it led to his wicket two months ago and his partner's wicket now - both resulting in the team's implosion mere minutes before stumps - must be difficult to digest. Kohli got booed out of the MCG. But it almost seemed like he couldn't hear them. He had looked so good.The Dallas Cowboys are playing with no hopes of reaching the NFL playoffs in 2024. However, they already showed last Sunday they can still be motivated to play hard and seek victory. That's what I expect them to do on Sunday only this time it'll be against the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. In other words, more motivation should be there given it's a NFC East clash. Nevertheless, it's easy to see the biggest reason why players show up motivated on a weekly basis even without playoff hopes is that it's their job. They're always fighting for a role on the team or a job, even. With that in mind, here are three players that have big reasons to keep fighting over the last couple of games of the season. 1. QB Cooper Rush Where else could we begin? Despite a strong 9-4 career record as a starter, Rush's future is far from certain. He will be a free agent next year at 31 years old and there might be a coaching staff change in Dallas. With Dak Prescott picking up another serious injury to his resume, it wouldn't be crazy for the Cowboys to take a stab at a late-round rookie quarterback next April if they want to start hunting for upside for the long, long-term future. Rush is coming off of his best game yet last weekend when he put up 292 passing yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. You know he'll try to impress again to keep the Cowboys betting on him. 2. RG Brock Hoffman Hoffman has shown enough to prove he can start for the Cowboys in 2025. But has he done enough to deter Dallas from picking a first-round talent in the Top 15 of the upcoming draft if a guard is the best player available? That I don't know. Not to mention, teammate T.J. Bass could battle it out with him next offseason. Hoffman has provided a much-needed mean demeanor to the Cowboys' offensive line and it should be appreciated. But Hoffman knows he's got to keep going strong to secure himself pole position at right guard next season. 3. TE Luke Schoonmaker Though Schoonmaker has had some moments throughout the 2024 season, they still have been few and far between. He's up to ten games of no more than a single catch and though he stepped up while Jake Ferguson was out injured, the reality is Schoonmaker will be fighting for his spot in the rotation next offseason against Brevyn Spann-Ford and other young players on the team. He has two more games to re-affirm his early lead as TE2 before next offseason. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.
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#trump asks the Supreme Court to let him rescue TikTokThe Philippines celebrates after beating Thailand in the Asean Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Amid the euphoria of beating Thailand after five decades to move on the cusp of a historic first final appearance in the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the Philippine men’s football team was quick to conjure a valuable reminder. There is much work to be done. “To beat [Thailand] shows how far we’ve come,” Sandro Reyes said after Friday night’s dramatic 2-1 win over the Thais before 7,100 fans at Rizal Memorial Stadium. “But I don’t think the job is even halfway done.” Kike Linares’ last-gasp winner—a diving header off Zico Bailey’s free kick and Paul Tabinas’ pass before the end of the five-minute stoppage—gave the Filipinos the upper hand going into the return leg set for Monday at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. A draw would be enough for coach Albert Capellas’ side to progress into the pinnacle stage of Southeast Asia’s biggest tournament. Getting that, however, will be easier said than done. Thailand has the luxury of playing in the friendly confines of the Thai capital’s national stadium, where 50,000 people are expected to make the atmosphere favorable for the War Elephants. Historically, Thailand, the most successful country in the Asean Championship with seven titles, including the last two editions and four of the last five, is used to overcoming deficits going into the second leg. Among those memorable comebacks took place during the 2016 final against Indonesia and in the 2022 semifinals opposite Malaysia. “It’s only one game,” said Capellas. “I know it’s a very important game, very special for everybody, for the country, for the fans. But in our way of thinking, we only have done half a job. We say we have it right here and we don’t want to stop.” The win was another twist in an interesting campaign for the Philippines, which opened the Mitsubishi Electric Cup with three straight 1-1 draws and needed a hard-fought 1-0 away win against a youthful Indonesian side in Surakarta to reach the semifinals. The Philippines last beat Thailand in the 1972 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament—a 52-year drought. It is also the country’s greatest result against the War Elephants since the Asean Championship began in 1996, posting a scoreless draw in the first leg of the 2014 semifinals at Rizal Memorial and a 1-1 tie in the 2018 group stage at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. “We went through hell the entire group stage, so many adversities. But we kept on going and it showed in this game,” said Reyes, who opened the night with an incredible left-footed strike in the 21st minute. His third international goal made a madhouse out of Rizal Memorial—and the broadcast booth. “Sandro Reyes, [the] Wonderboy of Philippine football,” exclaimed Cedelf Tupas, the Inquirer’s former football writer who called the match for the local broadcast feed. But the excitement over Reyes’ goal dampened before halftime when Thailand went on a counterattack that ended with Suphanan Bureerat scoring off Patrik Gustavsson’s cross. But even with Thailand keeping most of the ball possession in the second half and creating good chances, the Philippines survived countless close calls with Quincy Kammeraad in front of the goal and Scott Woods turning up as an efficient substitute for Michael Kempter. Tabinas and Bailey dispossessed opponents or made clearances, getting rewarded for keeping the game tied by setting up Linares’ header. “We made a really bad mistake at the end of the first half and we struggled the whole second half,” Reyes said. “But we stayed together and showed our character, and we just finished it off in the last part.” Linares had been a culprit for one of the Philippines’ glaring miscues in the group stage, when a reckless foul set up a goal off a free kick in the tournament opener at home against Myanmar. But apology memes surfaced on football groups’ social media pages after the defender came through with a landmark first goal in a Philippine shirt at the most important time. “It’s a special night. I cannot be more happier,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Unless, of course, the Philippines creates an even more special night in the unfriendly confines of Bangkok’s arena.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law marks a new warning for the worldwide fragility of democracy, even in a country hailed as a model of political transformation. Yoon's overnight attempt to shut down political activity, censor media and lock out opposition lawmakers stunned South Korea's longtime ally, the United States, which said it had no advance warning and issued a statement of concern. South Korea's transition to elected rule since a mass uprising in 1987 had been seen as so thorough that the United States increasingly spoke of its ally as a global partner. Meanwhile, Seoul billed itself as a new, ideal hub for international media as China clamped down on Hong Kong. President Joe Biden had even chosen Yoon as the host in March of his final Summit for Democracy -- a signature initiative of the outgoing US leader, who sought to champion liberal values globally, in an unstated repudiation of Donald Trump, who returns to the White House next month. But observers, while stunned by Yoon, said there were warning signs. Danny Russel, a top US diplomat for Asia under former president Barack Obama and who earlier served in South Korea, pointed to the deadlock in parliament where the opposition repeatedly sought impeachments against Yoon's administration. Yoon's move "was a complete surprise to me (but) yes, there were very obvious structural forces at work," he said. "There is a radically polarized political scene in Korea. The opposition has been pursuing scorched-earth political obstruction tactics," he said. But he pointed to the quick, large-scale protests that erupted after Yoon's declaration as a sign of a vibrant civil society ready to defend democracy. "One certainly would hope that this would serve as a wake-up call to both the ruling conservative party and the progressive opposition that both sides have gone too far and that there needs to be some process of reconciliation, of dealing with legitimate differences and grievances." Yoon himself had earlier shown signs of authoritarianism. In a national address last year, Yoon raged against supposed communists who have "disguised themselves as democracy activists, human rights advocates or progressive activists." A prosecutor, Yoon narrowly won the 2022 election on a platform of economic reform and advocated close ties with the United States as well as historic rival Japan. But his popularity swiftly slid and the opposition won the National Assembly. Celeste Arrington, a Korea expert at George Washington University, noted that Yoon had never held elected office before and had become increasingly frustrated. "This is really an extreme move that may signal, I think, the president's lack of political experience," she said. She said that martial law showed "some cracks in democracy" but that the quick reversal "gives me hope in the health and strength and vibrancy of democracy in South Korea." Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, expected Yoon's career to be over after attempting martial law, which constitutionally can only be imposed for wars or other emergencies. "Yoon's action is a damning reversal to decades of South Korean efforts to put its authoritarian past behind it," he said. The number of democracies worldwide soared starting in the late 1980s as the Soviet Union collapsed and student-led uprisings brought reforms elsewhere. But globally, democracy has been in retreat for the last 18 straight years, according to the Washington-based group Freedom House, which promotes political liberty. Democratically elected leaders have taken increasingly authoritarian steps in countries as diverse as India, Turkey and Hungary. V-Dem, another closely watched democracy index, had most recently ranked South Korea third in Asia after Taiwan and Japan. In the United States, Trump has rejected long-held norms, refusing to accept he lost to Biden four years ago -- culminating in his supporters violently rampaging through the US Capitol. Trump's rejection of democracy ultimately worked out for him: campaigning on the rage of 2020, he won last month's election. But experts said Yoon's power play -- and its reversal -- could in fact show a victory for democratic values. "Yoon is a deeply unpopular and ineffectual leader, but there was nothing I saw of people being dissatisfied with the way government runs," Alan Yu, a senior vice president at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, said after a recent trip to Seoul. Darcie Draudt-Vejares of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that with the swift response to Yoon, "this crisis may ultimately strengthen Korean democracy by reaffirming civilian control and demonstrating institutional resilience." sct/nroKendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”
A recent robbery at a Markham jewelry store is the third such incident for the Markville Mall location. On Wednesday, Dec. 4 shortly after noon, a robbery was reported at Lukfook Jewellery. Video footage circulating online shows approximately 10 suspects using hammers to smash glass display cases. According to a news release from York Regional Police (YRP), officers responded immediately and quickly took four suspects into custody. Two additional suspects were later located hiding in the washroom of a nearby food establishment. Some of the stolen items were recovered during the arrests, but the investigators are still working with the store to determine what remains unaccounted for. At the time of the arrest, two 16-year-old males, a 15-year-old male and a 19-year-old male were out on release orders, according to police. Police are currently seeking at least six additional male suspects, four of whom were allegedly directly involved in the robbery and at least two acted as getaway drivers. A white Honda Civic, believed to be one of the suspect vehicles, rear-ended another vehicle at the intersection of McCowan Road and Hwy. 7. “Multiple occupants fled from the vehicle and officers engaged in a brief foot pursuit,” said YRP in a statement, “The occupants of the vehicle that was rear-ended sustained minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital as a precaution.” The Honda Civic was reported stolen on Nov. 10 from the City of Toronto. Investigators believe a second vehicle, a beige sport utility vehicle (SUV), was also involved in the incident. This robbery comes just two days after another smash-and-grab robbery at Peoples Jewellers in Richmond Hill’s Hillcrest Mall. On Monday afternoon around 4 p.m., four masked men smashed several display cases before fleeing the scene. “The investigation is still ongoing,” said Const. Kevin Nebrija. “While the means of these robberies appear similar, there is no information right now to suggest that these two incidents are connected.” reached out to Lukfook Jewellery for comment, but no one from the store was available at the time of publication. Social media posts suggest the store just completed renovations, which began in mid-September and were finished at the end of November. During the past six years, Lukfook Jewellery in Markville Mall has been targeted by robbers three times: first in December 2018 and again in April of this year. Nebrija acknowledged the public’s concerns about these incidents and highlighted the dangers posed by such violent crimes. “We understand the high level of concern regarding these crimes. Smash-and-grab robberies are not what workers and visitors to the mall expect to encounter,” he said. “However, we emphasize that these incidents appear to be targeted. We remind mall goers to always remain aware of their surroundings and to contact the police immediately if they witness a violent crime.” In the meantime, police urged the public not to intervene if they encounter a robbery in progress. “We do not suggest community members try to intervene in any way as the suspect(s) motivations are unknown, as are any potential weapons they may be carrying,” Nebrija added, “We always advocate for the public to be the best witness as possible for us as information gathered from them by the investigators are of great assistance.” Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police holdup unit at , ext. 6630, or Crime Stoppers at (8477). Anonymous tips can also be left online at . For more information on crime prevention, visit the for complete stats and crime data within York region. Learn more about and other initiatives aimed at keeping the community safe. Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our and . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our .MINNEAPOLIS — Just over a week ago, the Lakers’ mission was clear. But what has transpired over the last week has been a reversal of what was desired. The Lakers’ offense was humming coming off a frustrating 119-118 home loss to the Orlando Magic on Nov. 21 that ended their six-game winning streak. Their 118.3 offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions) ranked No. 4 through the first 15 games, delivering on the belief that the Lakers could be an elite offensive team. They scored at least 110 points in seven of eight games through the loss to the Magic and 12 of the first 15 games, helping them to a 10-5 record. The next step was clear: improve on the defensive end of the court, with the Lakers’ defensive rating of 117.4 in the first 15 games ranking 26th. The Lakers accomplished their goal: their defense has improved, with a defensive rating of 114.9 in their past six games (19th), including 109.8 (12th) in their last four. But it’s come at a cost – their once elite offense has fallen off significantly over the last week-plus, most evident in their 109-80 road loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night . “It’s very frustrating,” All-Star big man Anthony Davis said. “We were really good offensively and our defense was a problem and we kind of start just focusing on defense and now our offense is kind of shifted. So we got to get back to how we were [at] the beginning of the year, playing on both sides of the ball very well. “The good thing about it is, offensively it doesn’t take that much to get back going. Defense is a little bit tougher. So with the guys that we have in this locker room, I think we will be fine to figure it out.” The Lakers’ offensive rating has plummeted to 102.4 in their past six games for the league’s third-worst mark (28th) in that stretch. The absence of Austin Reaves, the team’s third-leading scorer who has missed the last two games because of a bruised left pelvis and is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game in Miami, has impacted the offense. But the Lakers’ offensive regression started before Reaves’ injury. The ball and player movement has taken a notable dip compared to earlier in the season. The Lakers are passing fewer times per game during this offensive lull. Old habits have replaced the ones Coach JJ Redick tried to replace with an offensive system that values player and ball movement. Related Articles “I feel like the offense was fun,” Redick said. “I really believe we’ve gotten better defensively. We’ve spent a lot of time as a staff defensively. And this is the nature of the NBA season. You don’t have a ton of time. The things you emphasize, hopefully you get better at. And sometimes when you don’t emphasize something, or you don’t work on something because you don’t necessarily have time, or you think you’re good at it and you think you have buy-in at it, you just get slippage. We gotta clean that up.” To LeBron James, the Lakers improving their offense will come down to investing similar energy as they did to improve their defense. “Just watching the film and seeing ways we can do better,” James said. “We did that a lot when we wanted to get our defense corrected and we corrected it. You spend a little bit more time on offense things too.” When: Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. Where: Kaseya Center, Miami TV/radio: NBA TV, Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM
Sorber scores 22 as Georgetown beats Coppin State 83-53Arsenal moved back up to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 home victory over Ipswich – their first fixture without Saka since his injury. Bukayo Saka is likely to be sidelined until at least March following surgery on his hamstring, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed. Arsenal moved back up to second in the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Ipswich at the Emirates – their first fixture without Saka after the England winger tore his right hamstring in a 5-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend. Prior to Friday’s fixture, Arteta said Saka, 23, would be sidelined for “many weeks”, but speaking in the moments after his side saw out a win that keeps the pressure on leaders Liverpool, Arteta afforded a grizzlier timeframe for his star man. “He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” said Arteta. “It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and the mobility of that. It is very difficult to say. “The replacement of Bukayo is going to be the team. There were moments where it flowed well tonight and moments where you could see there is still work to do. But I am certain that we are going to do that. We have to rely on the team and not the individual.” The length of Saka’s injury will come as a significant blow to Arteta, who is bidding to oversee Arsenal’s first Premier League title in two decades. In Saka’s absence, and in the Gunners’ final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the game’s sole goal midway through the opening period. Gabriel, Havertz and Martin Odegaard all spurned chances to increase Arsenal’s lead in the second period, but their victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool – having played one match more than the Reds – and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Arteta continued: “I am very happy with the victory and the clean sheet and big parts of the game. They are difficult opposition and we are playing so many games. “You see that teams are winning from small margins. Today we could have made that margin bigger but we didn’t and we held our nerve in the last few minutes to defend well. “We should have scored more. We had big openings in the second half, the big header of Gabriel from one yard, but the team was consistent and conceded nothing and that is something that will always give us the chance to win games.” Arsenal will next be in action against Brentford on New Year’s Day. Ipswich, who remain second from bottom, three points away from safety, host Chelsea on Monday night. Ipswich suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at home to Newcastle in the fixture which preceded their trip to the Emirates, and this marked their fifth loss from six games. “It was a good step back in the right direction for us,” said boss Kieran McKenna. “We didn’t hit our levels against Newcastle. We knew today we had to be resilient and we did that.”