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streaks n beats incorporated Waiting time to reduce at key traffic signals in south, central KolMANCHESTER, England — Manchester City’s players were booed by their own fans Tuesday after blowing a three-goal lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League to extend their winless run to six games. Jeers rang around the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle of a dramatic 3-3 draw. After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th minute to leave the home crowd stunned. While the worst losing streak of Guardiola’s managerial career was brought to an end, his wait for a first win since Oct. 26 goes on. Erling Haaland had scored twice, with Ilkay Gundogan also on target to put City in control. But goals from Anis Hadj Moussa in the 75th, Santiago Gimenez in the 82nd and David Hancko in the 89th turned the game on its head. City’s players, including Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol and Haaland looked visibly frustrated as they left the field to cheers of the delirious traveling Dutch fans in the away section of the stadium. City plays Premier League leader Liverpool on Sunday — defeat would leave it 11 points adrift of its title rival. Source: AP

eBay Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsAmid claims that the controversial Tax Reform Bills propose a derivation formula for sharing Value Added Tax (VAT) skewed against the North, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, has dismissed the allegations as unfounded saying it would favour the North. In a Christmas message personally signed by him, Senator Bamidele maintained that the proposed legislation is “guided purely by the principles of equity, fairness, and justice.” The Senate Leader noted that, contrary to the narrative being promoted in the public space by certain lawmakers from the North, the derivation formula on VAT actually favors certain states in the North West. “For the record, the Tax Reform Bills, when finally enacted, will utterly exempt all employees earning N1,000,000 annually or N83,000 monthly; exempt start-ups, shared services, and technologically driven services from taxation; and recommend zero VAT on essential services and consumables. “Even though it reviews the derivation formula to 60%, this proposal is guided purely by the principles of equity, fairness, and justice. “The new model will ultimately guarantee a significant increase in VAT distributable to every state in the federation. ALSO READ: BREAKING: Tax reform is here to stay — Tinubu “As credible data have shown, for instance, the new model recommends 6.17% for Kano compared to the current 0.89%. It recommends 1.21% for Zamfara compared to the current 0.05%. Meanwhile, Lagos, which currently gets 80.26%, will receive 15.28% under the new model, representing an 81% decrease. “Similarly, Rivers’ share will decline from 7.74% to 4.6%, accounting for a 41% reduction. With these figures, the narrative around the new derivation model is utterly incorrect and unfounded.” Senator Bamidele added, “Amid the debates about the Tax Reform Bills, as Christ our Lord has taught us, and as the Parliament of the people, we shall never pursue any agenda outside our oath of allegiance or undertake policy initiatives that are adversarial to or conflict with the interests and welfare of all our constituents and indeed our Fatherland.” The Senate Leader also appealed to Nigerians to embrace the spirit of the Christmas season to renew their hope in the country. “This is the season never to shy away from the eternal responsibilities God Almighty has committed to our hands. It is the season to renew our resolve to faithfully stand with the political leadership for the renewal of hope. “It is the season to halt the search for pastures that are never green and instead join hands to build our nation with conviction, rebranding it for the ceaseless inflow of global capital and the endless influx of global tourists.” NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

The Oregon Ducks are scoring wins on and off of the field. Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports reported Saturday that five-star tight end Kendre Harrison has announced his commitment to play for the Ducks. He will also play on the men's basketball team at Oregon. Harrison hails from Reidsville, North Carolina and has received 30 collegiate offers. He chose Oregon over schools like North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .Amazon's after-Christmas sale is live – here are 35 deals that are actually worth buyingNASSAU, Bahamas — Scottie Scheffler brought a new putting grip to the Hero World Challenge and felt enough improvement to be satisfied with the result, a 5-under 67 that left him three shots behind Cameron Young on Thursday. Young was playing for the first time since the BMW Championship more than three months ago and found great success on and around the greens of Albany Golf Club, chipping beautifully and holing four birdie putts from 15 feet or longer for his 64. He led by two shots over Justin Thomas in his first competition since his daughter was born a few weeks ago. Thomas ran off four straight birdies late in his round and was a fraction of an inch away with a fifth. The big surprise was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in golf who looked as good as he has all year in compiling eight victories, including an Olympic gold medal. His iron play has no equal. His putting at times has kept him from winning more or winning bigger. He decided to try to a "saw" putting grip from about 20 feet or closer — the putter rests between his right thumb and his fingers, with his left index finger pointed down the shaft. "I'm always looking for ways to improve," Scheffler said. Scheffler last year began working with renowned putting instructor Phil Kenyon, and he says Kenyon mentioned the alternative putting grip back then. "But it was really our first time working together and it's something that's different than what I've done in the past," Scheffler said. "This year I had thought about it from time to time, and it was something that we had just said let's table that for the end of the season, take a look at it. "Figured this is a good week to try stuff." He opened with a wedge to 2 feet and he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 third. But he holed a birdie from about the same distance at the next par 5, No. 6, and holed a sliding 6-footer on the ninth to save par. His longest putt was his last hole, from 12 feet for a closing birdie. "I really enjoyed the way it felt," he said. "I felt like I'm seeing some improvements in my stroke." Young, regarded as the best active player without a PGA Tour victory, is treating this holiday tournament as the start of a new season. He worked on getting stronger and got back to the basics in his powerful golf swing. And on this day, he was dialed in with his short game. He only struggled to save par twice and kept piling up birdies in his bogey-free round on an ideal day in the Bahamas. "The wind wasn't blowing much so it was relatively stress-free," Young said. Patrick Cantlay, along with Scheffler playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup, also was at 67 with Ludvig Aberg, Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala. Thomas also took this occasion to do a little experimenting against a 20-man field. He has using a 46-inch driver at home — a little more than an inch longer than his regular driver — in a bid to gain more speed. On a day with little wind, on a golf course with some room off the tee, he decided to put it in play. "Just with it being a little bit longer, I just kind of have to get the club out in front of me and get on top of it a little bit more," Thomas said. "I drove the hell out of it on the back, so that was nice to try something different and have it go a little bit better on the back." Thomas said the longer driver gives him 2 or 3 mph in ball speed and 10 extra yards in the air. "It's very specific for courses, but gave it a try," he said. Conditions were easy enough that only four players in field failed to break par, with Jason Day bringing up the rear with a 75.

VR gaming was one of my favourite hobbies of 2024 and it's because I've noticed myself using it as a meditation exerciseSrinagar, Nov 30: Regional News Unit, Akashvani Srinagar today organised a felicitation function at Akashvani Srinagar headquarters for its staff members included Casual News Editors, Casual News Reader cum Translators of Urdu, Kashmiri, Gojri, Pahari and Balti languages, District Correspondents, data entry operators and the contractual staff. Chief Guest Dr (Prof) Mushtaq Ahmad Siddiqui, former VC, Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST) in his address said news has the power to shape, reshape the socio-economic and political atmosphere of the world. Praising Akashvani Srinagar’s news delivery standards, he shared his personal connection with the station, highlighting his fondness for the flagship programs Sheherbeen and the evening news bulletins. Qazi Mohammad Salman, Joint Director of PIB Srinagar and Head of News, RNU, DDK Srinagar, highlighted the unwavering commitment to media neutrality as the cornerstone of news production and delivery at the RNUs of Radio and Doordarshan. “Media neutrality is the fundamental principle of newsmaking, and RNUs of Radio and Doordarshan have maintained this standard without compromise,” he stated. Acknowledging the professionalism of the RNU staff, Qazi Salman commended their meticulous efforts in ensuring news is authentic, balanced, and credible. “Before every news item is aired, a significant level of professionalism goes into its preparation to uphold authenticity and balance,” he added. Mohammad Rafi, former Director & Mission Advisor School Education, J&K Govt said, that Plurality and inclusivity have become the pillars of news delivery of Akashvani and Doordarshan. Ahsan-ul-Haq Chisti, Deputy Director DIPR J&K said Akashvani Srinagar is historical in many respects being disciplined in its news delivery and has never compromised with the authenticity of the news. Radio is still relevant in this digital world and has maintained its place with the changing technology, he added. While appreciating this step by RNU Akashvani Srinagar, Dr. Mohammad Maroof Shah, Author & Columnist said that this function is a significant recognition of the capabilities of its staff which is very important for community building within the institutions. Gh. Rasool Akhoon, Program Head, Akashvani Srinagar in his address appreciated the efforts of RNU Akashvani Srinagar for organising this felicitation function which will truly encourage the staff which is the jugular vein of the Regional News Unit. Dr Muslim Jan, former Assistant Professor, Media Education Research Centre (MERC), Kashmir University said that it is very encouraging that the students of MERC are excelling up in different media and at other prominent places which is very praiseworthy. The event commenced with a welcome address by Tariq Rather, Deputy Director and Head of News, RNU Akashvani Srinagar. He attributed the success of RNU Akashvani Srinagar to its professional and committed staff. “Akashvani RNU Srinagar has been a trusted source of timely and accurate news since 1948. This achievement is only possible because of the tireless efforts of our team, who work every day to meet our goal of reliable news delivery,” he remarked. The function was attended by Sunil Koul, Assistant Director, PIB Srinagar, Shabir Ahmad Dar, Assistant Director, RNU DDK Srinagar, Sheikh Mudasir Amin, Editor News DDK Srinagar, Naseer Ahmad Rather, FPO, CBC, Srinagar and Ifham Ul Islam, IA, PIB Srinagar and all those who received certificates of appreciation. Ishfaq Ahmad Shah, News Editor, Akashvani Srinagar presented vote of thanks.

Stunning $4M Connecticut mansion destroyed in Thanksgiving fire when owner tried to fry turkey in the garage By ALYSSA GUZMAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:31 GMT, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 19:32 GMT, 30 November 2024 e-mail 1 View comments A gigantic fire erupted inside a $4 million Connecticut mansion after residents attempted to fry a turkey in the garage on Thanksgiving . Firefighters faces several challenges on the holiday afternoon after the stunning mansion at 40 Weston Road in Weston went up in flames. The aggressive fire quickly spread throughout the home, and soon, its structural collapse created dangerous conditions for responding firefighters. Residents were attempting to fry a turkey for the big meal Thursday afternoon when the garage caught fire and began 'rapidly extending into the residence,' according to Weston Volunteer Fire Department . 'Firefighters attempted an aggressive fire attack, however, their efforts were thwarted by dangerous fire conditions and structural collapse,' the department, which battled the flames for 16 hours, wrote in a Facebook post. In addition to the gigantic flames ripping through the home, first responders hit a major setback when water flow stopped for 'several minutes' after a 'vehicle drove over the water supply hose,' damaging it. The identity of the turkey chef was not released by authorities, but the home is owned by Tweedy, Brown Managing Director Thomas H. Shrager, according to public records. Photos released by the fire department show massive flames ripping through the home and extending several feet outside the home through broken windows. A gigantic fire erupted inside a $4million Connecticut mansion after residents attempted to fry a turkey in the garage on Thanksgiving Photos released by the fire department show massive flames ripping through the home and extending several feet outside the home through broken windows The entire house was engorged in the orange blaze and a dark, billowing plume cloud of black smoke filled the air. Video of the fire, posted by a commenter, shows a menacing wave of orange glaring through the trees along the roadway as the sky blackened with smoke around 5 pm. The fire started shortly before 4 pm. The Weston home, located roughly 30 miles outside of New Haven, has been deemed 'uninhabitable.' Despite the dramatic photos of the blaze, no injuries were reported. However, it remains unclear how many people were inside the house when the garage fire began. Six other fire department had to assist the volunteer crew, while Ridgefield Fire Department provided town coverage while Weston battled the mansion fire. The official cause of the fire is still under investigation, but a preliminary investigation suggests it's the result of trying a turkey. This Thanksgiving, several unique turkey cooking methods made the rounds on social media. Residents were attempting to fry a turkey for the big meal Thursday afternoon when the garage caught fire and began 'rapidly extending into the residence,' according to Weston Volunteer Fire Department , which battled the flames for 16 hours Outside of the gigantic flames ripping through the home, first responders hit a major setback when water flow stopped for 'several minutes' after a 'vehicle drove over the water supply hose,' damaging it The identity of the turkey chef was not released by authorities, but the home is owned by Tweedy, Brown Managing Director Thomas H. Shrager, according to public records Pictured: The devastation of the Weston fire An influencer caught the ire of her followers after seasoning a raw turkey in a toilet bowl before later feeding it to her guests . The cook in question, Kate Heintzelman, from Minnesota, tossed the raw bird into the toilet before seasoning it - and stuffing it - leading to 5,800 likes on Instagram. More conventionally, Robert F Kennedy Jr. also caused a stir on social media for deep frying a turkey and pulling the bird from the pot without any shoes on . Facebook Connecticut Share or comment on this article: Stunning $4M Connecticut mansion destroyed in Thanksgiving fire when owner tried to fry turkey in the garage e-mail Add commentIn an angry outburst in a New York courtroom, Rudy Giuliani accused a judge Tuesday of making wrong assumptions about him as he tries to comply with an order requiring him to turn over most of his assets to two election poll workers who won a libel case against him. U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman responded by saying he’s not going to let the former New York City mayor and onetime presidential candidate blurt things out anymore in court unless he’s a sworn witness. The interruption to an otherwise routine pretrial hearing in Manhattan came as the judge questioned Giuliani's lawyer about why Giuliani has not yet provided the title to a car he has relinquished in his effort to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment won by two former Georgia election workers. “Your client was the U.S. attorney for this district,” the judge said, referring to Giuliani's years in the 1980s as the head of the federal prosecutor's office in the Southern District of New York, as he suggested it was hard to believe that Giuliani was incapable of getting a duplicate title to the car. Giuliani learned forward and began speaking into a microphone, telling the judge he had applied for a duplicate copy of the car's title but that it had not yet arrived. “The implication I’ve been not diligent about it is totally incorrect,” Giuliani said in a scolding tone. “The implication you make is against me and every implication against me is wrong.” Giuliani went on: "I’m not impoverished. Everything I have is tied up. I don’t have a car. I don’t have a credit card. I don’t have cash. I can’t get to bank accounts that truly would be mine because they have put ... stop orders on, for example, my Social Security account, which they have no right to do.” Liman responded by warning defense lawyers that the next time Giuliani interrupts a hearing, “he's not going to be permitted to speak and the court will take action.” The judge said Giuliani could either choose to represent himself or let lawyers do so, but “you can't have hybrid representation.” If Giuliani wants to speak in court again, he can be put on the witness stand and be sworn as a witness, Liman added. The exchange came at a hearing in which the judge refused to delay a Jan. 16 trial over the disposition of Giuliani’s Florida residence and World Series rings. Those are two sets of assets that Giuliani is trying to shield from confiscation as part of Liman's order to turn over many prized possessions to the poll workers. Earlier in the proceeding, defense attorney Joseph M. Cammarata asked Liman to delay the trial, which will be heard without a jury, for a month because of Giuliani's “involvement" in inauguration planning for President-elect Donald Trump. “My client regularly consults and deals directly with President-elect Trump on issues that are taking place as the incoming administration is afoot as well as (the) inauguration," Cammarata said. "My client wants to exercise his political right to be there.” The judge turned down the request, saying Giuliani's “social calendar” was not a reason to postpone the trial. Giuliani, who once served as Trump's personal attorney, was found liable last year for defaming two Georgia poll workers by falsely accusing them of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election. The women said they faced death threats after Giuliani falsely claimed they sneaked in ballots in suitcases, counted ballots multiple times and tampered with voting machines.Lil Wayne, GloRilla, Camila Cabello to perform at College Football National Championship

This article is a beautiful journey into the heart of African folk music. It features profiles of some of the most influential musicians who have dedicated their lives to preserving and sharing their unique cultural heritage. These artists are the soul of Africa , their music a vibrant reflection of the continent's diverse traditions, languages, and stories. The Griot tradition: West Africa's musical storytellers In West Africa , griots are the keepers of history. They are storytellers, praise singers, poets, and musicians who pass down oral history through generations - they are the human equivalent of Google , if you may. Mali's Toumani Diabate, a kora virtuoso, hails from a griot family with a lineage spanning 70+ generations! Sounds of Southern Africa: The mbira music The mbira , also known as the thumb piano, holds a special place in the heart of Zimbabwean music and culture. Stella Chiweshe is Zimbabwe 's most celebrated mbira player. Since the early 1960s, the "Queen of mbira" has devoted her life to mastering this instrument. Her music goes beyond mere entertainment; it's a spiritual experience that unites communities with their ancestors. East African rhythms: Taarab's fusion Hailing from the coastal regions of East Africa, taarab music is a mesmerizing fusion of Swahili poetry and Indian and Arabian musical influences. Siti binti Saad, a Tanzanian woman, was one of taarab's most influential figures in the early 20th century. She broke societal norms by becoming the first woman to record her songs and perform publicly, at a time when these opportunities were traditionally considered the domain of men. The Saharan blues: Guitar poets The desert blues or assouf style originating from the Sahara region blends traditional African rhythms with the electrifying sounds of modern guitars, resulting in mesmerizing, trance-inducing grooves. Artists such as Bombino from Niger have achieved worldwide recognition for their distinctive sound. It addresses themes of political struggle, longing for peace, and the nomadic life of the Sahara. Preserving culture through song African folk musicians are the true heroes, the beating heart of cultural preservation. They sing about social issues, yes, but they also celebrate the beauty of tradition, the richness of history, and the power of shared values. Take Angelique Kidjo from Benin, for example. Her voice has been a beacon of hope for decades, blending styles and singing about freedom, empowerment, and unity across Africa.'RomCom' APT Mounts Zero-Day, Zero-Click Browser Escapes in Firefox, Tor

While they might not be producing a wealth of offense, the Kings have been penurious defensively of late and will take that stinginess northward to San Jose for a matchup with the Sharks on Monday. They surrendered just one goal in each contest during their three-game homestand and no five-on-five markers, most recently restraining the Seattle Kraken in a 2-1 win. Seattle had won five of its past six games, whereas San Jose has dropped six of its past seven. David Rittich, who has made three straight starts since Darcy Kuemper sustained his second lower-body injury of the young campaign during a loss in Colorado, has posted six one-goal-allowed efforts in 11 starts, with five of those performances being wins. The sixth was a 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday, which coach Jim Hiller said he thought gave the Kings additional motivation against Seattle. “I think we played really well the last couple (games), but (against Seattle) we did something extra with obviously scoring goals, which gives us the opportunity to win,” Rittich said. Individual Kings had plenty of motivation, too. Their second-period power-play goal represented the first point in seven games for Kevin Fiala and the first goal in six for Quinton Byfield, as well as the first power-play goal by any King against a goalie in the past seven games. Byfield’s scoring woes have been longer-standing. Byfield said he’d like to better integrate the physical side of his game into his offense, but for now was pleased to have broken through, and with an authoritative snipe, no less. “It’s obviously tough. You do think about it, but you’ve got to stay positive. I’ve learned from the best, Kopi, all the time he’s just even keel,” said Byfield, referring to Kings captain Anze Kopitar. “I try to be happy, that’s just my personality. I don’t want to bring anyone else down around me. It always comes eventually, and hopefully it’ll pile up.” Saturday also marked Byfield’s 200th career game, and he joined seven other players who have crossed that threshold from his 2020 draft class. He accumulated those games across parts of five seasons, some of which saw him bounce between the NHL and AHL while he also battled serious injuries and illnesses. “It was tough. There was a lot of adversity and a lot of challenging moments in those 200 games,” Byfield said. There might not be a ton of adversity ahead for the Kings in San Jose, given that the Sharks remain in a half-decade-long rebuild still waiting to take off and have been mired in a funk lately, too. But the Kings managed to lose to them and another bottom-dweller, the Chicago Blackhawks, in the same week, and their 4-2 loss in San Jose on Oct. 29 featured an 0-for-6 display on the power play. Five days earlier, the Kings had beaten the Sharks, 3-2, in L.A. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Macklin Celebrini, did not compete in either meeting for San Jose. He’ll be healthy Monday and has scored seven points in 10 games, production spearheaded by three multi-point outings. Veteran Mikael Granlund’s 24 points are eight more than any other Shark has contributed this season.INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — There's more than just school pride and bragging rights to all that bellyaching over who might be in and who might be out of college football 's first 12-team playoff. Try the more than $115 million that will be spread across the conferences at the end of the season, all depending on who gets in and which teams go the farthest. According to the College Football Playoff website , the 12 teams simply making the bracket earn their conferences $4 million each. Another $4 million goes to conferences whose teams get into the quarterfinals. Then, there's $6 million more for teams that make the semifinals and another $6 million for those who play for the title. Most of this bonanza comes courtesy of ESPN, which is forking over $1.3 billion a year to televise the new postseason. A lot of that money is already earmarked — more goes to the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference than the Big 12 or Atlantic Coast — but a lot is up for grabs in the 11 games that will play out between the opening round on Dec. 20 and the final on Jan. 20. In all, the teams that make the title game will bring $20 million to their conferences, all of which distribute that money, along with billions in TV revenue and other sources, in different ways. In fiscal 2022-23, the Big Ten, for instance, reported revenue of nearly $880 million and distributed about $60.5 million to most of its members. The massive stakes might help explain the unabashed lobbying coming from some corners of the football world, as the tension grows in advance of Sunday's final rankings, which will set the bracket. Earlier this week, Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark lit into the selection committee, which doesn't have a single team higher than 15 in the rankings. That does two things: It positions the Big 12 as a one-bid league, and also threatens to makes its champion — either Arizona State or Iowa State — the fifth-best among conference titlists that get automatic bids. Only the top four of those get byes, which could cost the Big 12 a spot in the quarterfinals — or $4 million. “The committee continues to show time and time again that they are paying attention to logos versus resumes,” Yormark said this week, while slamming the idea of teams with two losses in his conference being ranked worse than teams with three in the SEC. The ACC is also staring at a one-bid season with only No. 8 SMU inside the cut line of this week's projected bracket. Miami's loss last week all but bumped the Hurricanes out of the playoffs, a snub that ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said left him “incredibly shocked and disappointed." “As we look ahead to the final rankings, we hope the committee will reconsider and put a deserving Miami in the field," Phillips said in a statement. The lobbying and bickering filters down to the campuses that feel the impact. And, of course, to social media. One of the most entertaining episodes came earlier this week when athletic directors at Iowa State and SMU went back and forth about whose team was more deserving. There are a few stray millions that the selection committee cannot really influence, including a $3 million payment to conferences that make the playoff. In a reminder that all these kids are going to school, after all, the conferences get $300,000 per football team that meets academic requirements to participate in the postseason. (That's basically everyone). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Chief of Air Staff – Serena Hotels International Squash Championship 2024, organized by Pakistan Air Force in collaboration with Pakistan Squash Federation and Serena Hotels, has concluded at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad. The prestigious tournament featured 24 top-tier players from eight countries, including Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherlands and Pakistan, who competed for the coveted title. Air Marshal Shakil Ghazanfar, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (Personnel), attended the ceremony as Chief Guest, and distributed trophy and prizes to the winner and runner ups. In the final match Noor Zaman from Pakistan defeated Nasir Iqbal from Pakistan with a game score of 3-0 to claim the title. Both players displayed exceptional skills and sportsmanship, making the contest a memorable one for fans and participants alike. Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Chief Guest, extended heartiest congratulations to both international and domestic players for their remarkable performances throughout the championship. He said, “This tournament has been a testament to the talent, dedication, and passion for squash, not only from our Pakistani players but also from our international participants. Pakistan Air Force remains committed to nurturing and promoting squash at all levels, ensuring that Pakistan reclaims its legacy in squash. I urge our youth to follow in the footsteps of these athletes and pursue excellence.” Pakistan Air Force, under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force has been instrumental in promoting squash, providing opportunities for young talent to thrive. Through consistent support and dedication, PAF is committed to reviving Pakistan’s legacy in squash, encouraging youth to excel both nationally and internationally. The CAS Serena Hotels International Squash Championship 2024 has been a resounding success, uniting players and fans in their passion for squash while showcasing Pakistan’s capability to host world-class sporting events.The Twins have signed right-hander Alex Speas , as initially announced by Speas’ agency, Munger English Sports Management ( X link ). Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune confirmed that it is a minor league deal, and it isn’t known if the contract contains an invitation to the Twins’ big league Spring Training camp. Minnesota becomes Speas’ sixth different MLB organization within the last 14 months. A second-round pick for the Rangers in the 2016 draft, Speas spent his entire pro career with Texas until October 2023, when the White Sox claimed the righty off waivers. The A’s traded for Speas last April, and he subsequently went to the Astros and then the Red Sox on other waiver claims after being designated for assignment. Boston DFA’ed Speas as well and outrighted him off their 40-man roster in August, and Speas finished out the season pitching with Triple-A Worcester. Speas’ transactional whirlwind resulted in just a single game at the Major League level, as he tossed two relief innings for the Astros on May 31 (in a 6-1 loss to his new team, the Twins). Speas’ overall MLB resume consists of four games, as he first reached the Show with three appearances for Texas during the 2023 season. Speas has a 9.00 ERA in that small sample size as a big leaguer, and an 8.69 ERA in 58 career innings at the Triple-A level. Those struggles can be directly traced to a garish 23.05% walk rate, as Speas’ inability to find the plate has left him unable to claim any sort of foothold in the majors. Since Speas has a 28.13% strikeout rate at Triple-A and a fastball in the 100mph range, it is easy to see why teams keep taking chances on Speas, and the Twins will become the latest club to see if it can harness Speas’ control and turn him into a useful relief pitcher. Speas turns 27 in March, so it isn’t too late for him to break out if he can deliver even a passable walk rate. This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

MALAGA, Spain -- MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Jannik Sinner was in the locker room, getting ready to go on court and try to win a match that would give Italy its second Davis Cup title in a row , when his teammate, Matteo Berrettini, was asked about being so close to a championship. Berrettini , who won the first match of the best-of-three final against the Netherlands on Sunday, refused to take anything for granted. “I know tennis,” he said. “It’s unpredictable.” Maybe most of the time it is. Not lately, though. Not when Sinner, who is just 23, is the one swinging a racket. He simply does not lose matches. Doesn't even cede a set nowadays. Wrapping up an eventful season that featured a 73-6 record and eight individual titles — including at the Australian Open in January, the U.S. Open in September and the ATP Finals a week ago — Sinner led Italy past the Netherlands for the Davis Cup with a 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. “Jannik in this kind of form, this kind of shape, this kind of confidence — he’s incredibly tough to beat,” Griekspoor said. Consider that Sinner just completed the first season by a man without a straight-set loss since Roger Federer in 2005. And what a way to finish: Sinner won his last 14 matches and his last 26 sets. Go back a little further, and he's claimed 29 of his past 30 contests, with the only loss in that span coming against the other young player at the top of men's tennis, four-time major champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is 21. “He just proved,” Berrettini said about Sinner, “that he’s the best in the world.” Still, no discussion of Sinner’s 2024 should ignore what went on away from the court: In August, shortly before the U.S. Open began, he was exonerated after twice testing positive for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March. The World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal of that ruling is still pending — and could remain that way throughout the upcoming offseason. “I mean, of course it’s in the head a little bit. I always say, we had three hearings; three hearings which came out in a positive way. So hopefully also the next one (will),” Sinner said, adding that he is not concerned about the case. “For me, the most important part is that all the people who are around me, and know me as a human being, trust me, no? That’s also the reason I kept playing the level I had," he said. "Of course, I had some ups and downs, and whoever knows me, (knows) I was emotionally a bit down and a bit also heartbroken. But sometimes life gives you difficulties and you just have to stand for it.” Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis was asked for his take on Sinner's drug case. “What’s my feeling? I feel that Jannik, in my personal opinion, is an unbelievable nice guy (and) great player,” Haarhuis said, “but we (might) never know what happened.” There were only two, ever-so-brief moments on court where Sinner showed a hint of vulnerability Sunday. One came when he was broken by Griekspoor to make it 2-all in the second, which got the Dutch fans roaring. Sinner's response? He won the four remaining games. The other came as he was trying to serve out the victory from 5-2, 40-love. Three match points. Alas, they disappeared on two forehands into the net and a forehand long. He reset and, two points later, was able to begin celebrating with his teammates. “I knew it could be the last point of the year and I could finish an incredible season for me. This (Davis Cup) success means a lot to me, otherwise I wouldn’t have been here,” Sinner said, explaining that he lost a bit of focus. “I’m human. There are always emotions. No one is a machine.” Berrettini, sitting a few seats away at their post-match news conference, shook his head. “OK,” the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up said with a smile. “He showed he’s human.” ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich . More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisPride, bragging rights and more than $115M at stake when final college playoff rankings come out