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Cracks seen in MAGA coalitionMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves delayed their game against the San Antonio Spurs by one hour on Sunday night due to an issue with the court at Target Center. The Timberwolves announced the decision about three hours before the originally scheduled tipoff time. The Spurs discovered the problem during their morning shootaround, Timberwolves spokesman Patrick Rees said. The team decided to delay the game so arena staff had enough time to install the replacement court that had to be delivered from elsewhere. The Timberwolves have played at Target Center since 1990. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA The Associated Press
MAURITIUS has been accused of demanding “crazy” money in diplomatic negotiations with the UK over the future of the Chagos Islands. Talks over relinquishing sovereignty and a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean are holding up a deal. But it’s understood new leader Navin Ramgoolam wants up to £800million a year and reparations. A source told The Sunday Times: “They want crazy money . “They were talking £800million a year for as long as we wanted to keep the base there, plus billions of pounds in reparations.” The revelation comes as the new leader Navin Ramgoolam told the US last week that he wouldn’t accept a deal signed by his predecessor in October. READ MORE ON CHAGOS ISLANDS One British source added: “It is all about the money”. The deal has huge implications for global security with the rise of China and India in the region in the coming generations. The Mauritius leader said that the UK is keen to complete the deal before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told MPs before Christmas that the government was “letting our standing go into freefall” in an increasingly dangerous world. Most read in The Sun She said: “How much is the British taxpayer going to be liable for each year, and in total over 99 years?” The Foreign Office has distanced itself from reports Mauritius wants the eye-watering sums. A spokesman said: “These figures are completely inaccurate.”
ATLANTA (AP) — Ahmad Robinson scored 21 points as Mercer beat Georgia State 71-68 on Saturday. Robinson had nine rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals for the Bears (7-6). Tyler Johnson went 7 of 15 from the field (3 for 10 from 3-point range) to add 19 points. Cam Bryant shot 4 for 7, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. The Bears outscored the Panthers 10-4 over the final 4 1/2 minutes. The Panthers (4-9) were led in scoring by Cesare Edwards, who finished with 20 points and two steals. Georgia State also got 14 points from Malachi Brown. Zarigue Nutter also put up 14 points and four assists. The Panthers prolonged their losing streak to six straight. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Princess Diana's ex-butler Paul Burrell claims her ghost 'sent' him his now-husbandST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Maverick McNealy finally became a winner on the final tournament of his fifth year on the PGA Tour, hitting 6-iron to 5 feet for birdie on the 18th hole at Sea Island for a 2-under 68 and a one-shot victory in the RSM Classic. He picked the right time to end nine holes without a birdie, even as so many others were making them to create a four-way tie for the lead. The victory came in his 134th start as a pro, and it sends him to Maui to start the year at The Sentry and to the Masters in April for the first time. Daniel Berger missed a 20-foot birdie attempt on the 18th that preceded McNealy's winner. He tied for second with Nico Echavarria and Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton, both of whom missed par putts from inside 8 feet on the final hole that created the four-way tie. Berger got a small consolation prize, moving inside the top 125 to keep a full PGA Tour card for 2025 when the fields will be smaller and only the top 100 will keep cards. Henrik Norlander, who was No. 126 in the FedEx Cup last year, had a 63-68 weekend and joined Berger as the two players who moved into the top 125. For Joel Dahmen, it was a matter of staying there. He was at No. 124 coming into the final tournament, had to make a 5-foot par putt just to make the cut on the number and then delivered a tee-to-green clinic — along with holing a 113-yard sand wedge for eagle early in his round — for a closing 64. It was enough to stay at No. 124 with nine points to spare. “Two of the biggest pressure moments of my career I showed up, and I can take that going forward,” Dahmen said. Clanton was a shot away from joining Nick Dunlap as amateur winners on the PGA Tour this year. Clanton, who has taken over as the top-ranked amateur in the world, now has two runner-up finishes and four top 10s in the seven PGA Tour starts the last five months. He had the look of a winner, especially with McNealy stuck in neutral, when he poured in birdie putts on the 14th and 16th holes to tie for the lead. But he tugged his approach to the 18th into bunker, blasted out nicely to 7 feet and stooped over in disbelief when he missed his par putt and had to settle for a 66 . “It’s going to be a tough one to definitely take, for sure, after bogeying the last,” Clanton said. “But I think it’s proven to me that out here I can win, so I’ll be training for that.” Echavarria, who won in Japan a month ago, had not made a bogey all day until going long on the 18th, chipping to 9 feet and catching the lip with his par putt. Michael Thorbjornsen was poised to move into the top 125 until he pulled his approach into the water on the par-5 15th hole and made bogey, closing with three pars for a 69. He tied for eighth and finished at No. 129. Thorbjornsen still has a full card next year from being No. 1 in PGA Tour University, but his status won't be as high. McNealy, son of Sun Microsystems co-founder Scott McNealy, had been doing some of his best work outside the ropes, particularly effecting a change in FedEx Cup points distribution to make it more equitable. Missing was a victory, and this one came down to the wire. He went out in 33 and led by two going to the back nine, and then it became a grind. He holed a 15-foot par putt from the fringe on the 11th to stay in the lead, and saved par after going bunker-to-bunker on the 13th. But he dropped a shot with an errant drive on the 14th, and when Echavarria birdied the 15th ahead of him, McNealy was out of the lead for the first time all day. He answered at just the right time, a 6-iron that covered the flag and settled just over 5 feet away. The victory gets him into three $20 million events over the first two months of the year, along with his first trip to the Masters. ___ AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
NY education big urges Hochul, pols to lift cap on charters: ‘Focus more on kids, not politics’From new commercial moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025Manmohan Singh, India’s economist-turned-Prime Minister, was known for his grace, soft-spoken demeanor, and sharp economic vision. Throughout his career, he earned praise from both rivals and colleagues. The architect of India’s economic reforms, Singh passed away in Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92. His legacy as a transformative leader and a guiding force in India’s economic journey will be remembered fondly. Singh’s death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi, where he was admitted to the Emergency ward around 8:30 PM in critical condition. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Modi praised former PM Manmohan Singh as an “inspiration” for lawmakers during a heartfelt farewell event for retiring members. Singh concluded his remarkable 33-year-long parliamentary career in the Rajya Sabha in April this year, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and service that continues to inspire many. His passing marks the end of an era, and his contributions to India’s economic and political landscape will be remembered fondly by many. Prime Minister Modi’s praise came after Dr. Manmohan Singh demonstrated his commitment by arriving in a wheelchair to cast his vote in the Parliament. “I remember during the voting in the House, it was known that the treasury bench would win but Dr Manmohan Singh came on his wheelchair and cast his vote. This is an example of a member being alert of his duties. He was an inspirational example,” PM Modi said, referring to the vote Manmohan Singh cast over a key legislation. #ManmohanSingh was ill, knew that his one vote can't change the outcome in NDA Majority Rajyasabha, yet he used to come for voting in a WHEELCHAIR. ~ PM Narendra Modi praised him for this stand alone dedication for Democracy 🇮🇳 Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/kKZlR5npfh — The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) December 26, 2024 In August 2023, despite his frail health, Dr. Singh made a determined appearance in a parliamentary debate on a bill granting the central government more control over Delhi’s administrative matters, arriving in a wheelchair. He also used a wheelchair to cast his vote during the Presidential elections. These moments highlighted his dedication and resilience, leaving a lasting impression on those who witnessed his steadfast devotion to his duties. In 2022, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed his deep respect for Manmohan Singh, stating that the nation would always remain indebted to the former Prime Minister. Gadkari reminisced about his time as a minister in Maharashtra during the mid-1990s, recalling how Singh’s economic reforms enabled him to secure funds for building roads in the state. This acknowledgment highlighted the lasting impact of Singh’s visionary policies on India’s infrastructure development. His contributions continue to be felt and appreciated, underscoring the profound influence he had on the country’s progress. Also Read: Former PM Manmohan Singh Passes Away: When ‘Maunmohan’ Took A Jab At Narendra Modi Against ‘Silent PM’ Written By Lakshmi Ranjith