Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73
Pilenko's four decades of energy and infrastructure expertise adds operational leadership depth as LanzaTech continues global deployment and scaling of its carbon management solution CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) ("LanzaTech” or the "Company”), the carbon recycling company transforming above-ground carbon into sustainable fuels, chemicals, materials, and protein, today announced the appointment of Thierry Pilenko, former Executive Chairman of TechnipFMC plc ("TechnipFMC”), to its Board of Directors. With more than 40 years of experience in the energy and industrial sectors, Pilenko brings invaluable expertise and leadership related to large-scale infrastructure development, technology deployment, and profitable growth. Pilenko's extensive experience and industry acumen are expected to provide valuable guidance as LanzaTech advances the commercial deployment of its technology and accelerates its timeline to profitability. "We are thrilled to welcome Thierry to our Board of Directors,” said LanzaTech Chair and CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren. "His proven track record of deploying innovative technologies and driving large-scale infrastructure projects will bring key insights as we execute LanzaTech's ambitious growth strategy. Thierry spent the first 20 years of his career with Schlumberger Limited, deploying technologies on five continents. He then continued on to become a seasoned public company executive who successfully led TechnipFMC, Technip, and Veritas DGC. Throughout his exceptional career, Thierry developed a deep understanding of the global industrial landscape and the evolving competitive dynamics of the energy industry and the energy transition. Thierry's operational leadership in global, complex and capital-intensive industries is central to advancing our mission to provide resilient, reliable technology that advances above-ground carbon recycling and produces commercial-scale ethanol that can be used in a wide range of applications, including sustainable aviation fuel.” During his tenure as Executive Chairman of TechnipFMC, and Chairman and CEO of Technip, Thierry led a large global team delivering energy solutions across 45 countries and was pivotal in overseeing Technip's transformation and merger with FMC Technologies. This merger demonstrated the power of integration to significantly reduce costs and improve economics of large-scale projects while reducing corporate overhead costs. Under Pilenko's leadership, Technip successfully executed landmark projects such as Shell's $12 billion Prelude floating LNG facility and the $20+ billion Yamal LNG project. "It is an honor to join LanzaTech's Board of Directors and contribute to the company's pioneering and commercially proven carbon management solution,” said Pilenko. "Having spent my career in the energy sector, I understand the critical importance of deploying replicable technology solutions and know first-hand what it takes to successfully put steel in the ground and achieve desired returns. LanzaTech's innovative approach to carbon reuse offers a unique and proven solution that will have a substantial impact on the energy transition. I am deeply committed to advancing these technologies and ensuring their widespread adoption for a more sustainable future.” In addition to joining LanzaTech's Board, Pilenko currently serves on the boards of Arkema, a leading specialty materials company, and Trident Energy, an oil and gas production company. He is also the Board Chair of Rely, a green hydrogen-focused joint venture, and a co-founder of P6 Technologies, a SaaS platform for carbon lifecycle analysis. The appointment of Pilenko as an independent director increases LanzaTech's board of directors to seven members, filling a previously vacant seat and further strengthening the Company's corporate governance. About LanzaTech LanzaTech Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: LNZA) is the carbon recycling company transforming waste carbon into sustainable fuels, chemicals, materials, and protein for everyday products. Using its biorecycling technology, LanzaTech captures carbon generated by energy-intensive industries at the source, preventing it from being emitted into the air. LanzaTech then gives that captured carbon a new life as a clean replacement for virgin fossil carbon in everything from household cleaners and clothing fibers to packaging and fuels. By partnering with companies across the global supply chain like ArcelorMittal, Coty, Craghoppers, REI, and LanzaJet, LanzaTech is paving the way for a circular carbon economy. For more information about LanzaTech, visit https://lanzatech.com. Forward Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, the plans, strategies, and prospects, both business and financial, of LanzaTech. These statements are based on the beliefs, assumptions, projections and conclusions of LanzaTech's management. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are outside LanzaTech's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. LanzaTech cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and you should not rely on forward-looking statements. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including those concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes,” "estimates,” "expects,” "projects,” "forecasts,” "may,” "will,” "should,” "seeks,” "plans,” "scheduled,” "anticipates,” "intends” or similar expressions. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: timing delays in the advancement of projects to the final investment decision stage or into construction; failure by customers to adopt new technologies and platforms; fluctuations in the availability and cost of feedstocks and other process inputs; the availability and continuation of government funding and support; broader economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions, employment conditions, and competitive pressures; unforeseen technical, regulatory, or commercial challenges in scaling proprietary technologies, business functions or operational disruptions; and other economic, business, or competitive factors, and other risks and uncertainties, including the risk factors and other information contained in LanzaTech's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as other existing and future filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement herein is based only on information currently available to LanzaTech and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. LanzaTech undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investor Relations Kate Walsh VP, Investor Relations & Tax [email protected] Media Relations Kit McDonnell Director of Communications [email protected]( MENAFN - Gulf Times) Russian energy giant gazprom said on Saturday it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on January 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts. It said the company reserved the right to take any action, including terminating the supply contract with Moldova. Russia supplies Moldova with about 2bn cubic metres of gas per year, which is piped via Ukraine to the breakaway region of Transdniestria where it is used to generate cheap power that is sold to government-controlled parts of Moldova. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned the Russian decision, which is a precursor to a total shutdown of Russian gas exports via Ukraine and to Europe, where it flows further to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, once a current transit deal with Ukraine expires on December 31. Moldova will be hit the hardest by the shutdown. “This decision confirms once again the intention of the Kremlin to leave the inhabitants of the Transdniestrian region without light and heat in the middle of the winter,” Recean wrote on Facebook, accusing Russia of using energy as a political weapon. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed those allegations. Russia, which is critical of Moldova's West-leaning central government, has said Moldova should pay a debt on past supplies. According to Russian calculations, the debt stands at $709mn. Moldova has put the debt at $8.6mn. Gazprom has said previously it wants Moldova to pay the debt before it starts to pump gas to the country via alternative routes. Transdniestria and the government in Chisinau agreed in 2022 that all Russian gas received by Moldova would flow to the breakaway region, which traditionally does not pay for fuel. Without gas supplies, the power-generating plant could stop working and Moldova and Transdniestria would face hours-long blackouts similar to those experienced by Ukraine due to Russia's attacks on its energy infrastructure in their war. The government of Transdniestria told businesses that from on Saturday, gas supplies would start to be switched off to commercial entities that were not considered critical. But it said supplies of gas, heating and hot water to households would continue as usual until January 1. Recean said Moldova had diversified sources of gas supply“in order to reduce dependence on a single supplier”. “Our country is prepared to handle any situation that arises following the Kremlin's decision,” he added. Moldova's population of 2.5mn has been preparing for long power cuts since Ukraine's government said it will not extend its transit contract with Gazprom. Moldova and Transdniestria have both declared states of emergency over the threat of disrupted gas supplies, and Moldova said on Friday it will curb power exports and introduce measures to reduce consumption by at least a third from January 1. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Gazprom of provoking an energy crisis, saying it was refusing to supply gas through an alternative route. MENAFN28122024000067011011ID1109038236 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Justin Jefferson might be weary of all the safeties shadowing his every route, determined not to let the Minnesota Vikings go deep, but he's hardly angry. The double and triple coverage he continually faces, after all, is a sign of immense respect for his game-breaking ability. The strategy also simply makes sense. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Kirins ready for Angels' visitWalmart's DEI rollback signals a profound shift in the wake of Trump's election victoryThe EU has officially adopted USB-C as the common charging standard. EU consumers can now use a single USB-C charger for smartphones, tablets, cameras, headphones, gaming consoles, and other devices. In 2022, the European Parliament and member states approved a law requiring all small and medium-sized portable devices sold in the EU to use USB-C charging ports. EU charging directive tackles fast charging and unbundled bricks The USB-C requirement is just the beginning of the EU’s new charging rules. The directive also regulates fast charging, separates charging bricks from retail devices, and mandates better labelling. These changes aim to simplify life for gadget users in the EU, if implemented effectively, The Verge reports . The directive’s broad scope affects both consumers and businesses, as it applies to all devices the EU defines as radio equipment—products designed to send or receive radio waves for communication or location purposes. The regulation covers devices like phones, tablets, cameras, headphones, earbuds, portable speakers, gaming consoles, e-readers, keyboards, mice, and navigation systems that use wired charging and support up to 100W power delivery. For example, the 350W PlayStation 5 is exempt, while the 6W Nintendo Switch is included. Laptops are the exception, with compliance required by April 28, 2026. Some areas remain unclear, as drones aren’t listed and may not fit into other categories like digital cameras. The European Commission plans to monitor market trends, fragmentation, and technological advancements to keep the list of devices updated and relevant. The directive doesn’t cover wireless charging, but the European Commission aims to harmonize standards to avoid market fragmentation and reduce environmental impact. Despite some uncertainties, most consumer tech in the EU must now have a USB-C port. However, this only applies to the device side, as charging brick connections are not included. New EU charging rules expected to save millions and reduce waste Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, described the new rules as a major step toward consumer convenience and environmental responsibility. The directive aims to reduce the tons of waste generated by discarded chargers each year and save EU households an estimated €250 million by cutting unnecessary charger purchases. The Parliament also plans to monitor how manufacturers adapt to the changes. Devices without USB-C ports that are already in circulation can still be sold in the EU if they are placed on the market for the first time before December 28th. The EU defines “placed on the market” as when a manufacturer or importer first supplies a product to a distributor or end-user. The European Commission notes that manufacturers, importers, and distributors need time to use any rights they have under existing national or EU rules, such as selling stock made under previous standards. One of the upcoming challenges is how the common charging solution will be enforced . This responsibility lies with individual member states, as they are in charge of market surveillance, The Verge points out. Each country can use measures like fines and product withdrawals to enforce compliance, with the issue now being how these bodies will manage the influx of inexpensive tech from outside the EU.
Sir Nick Clegg has warned that Elon Musk risks becoming a “political puppet master” in the United States in a renewed attack on the billionaire businessman. The former UK deputy prime minister, who is second-in-command at Meta, said the Tesla chief executive and X owner had played an “an outsized role” in the US election and in the formation of the new Donald Trump administration. Musk, 53, donated $118 million towards the re-election of Trump and used his social media platform to get behind the Republicans. When asked whether the world’s richest man was a threat to democracy, Clegg told the BBC: “I think Elon Musk is obviously playing an outsized role in both the election and now the formation of the new US administration.Super Micro Computer Inc. Announces Receipt of Extension from Nasdaq Stock Market
Maryland finds shooting touch, downs Maryland Eastern Shore
Philippine showdown: President says he'll fight vice president's plot to have him killedSAN FRANCISCO – Northern California was under a rare and brief tsunami warning alert Thursday that tested local emergency notification systems after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook part of the state. The National Weather Service canceled its alert after roughly an hour and before the tsunami was expected to arrive. In that hour, some cities and counties ordered evacuations while others relied on social media and text messages to inform people of the warning. Some people headed for higher ground, while others drove to the beach to get a better view. Recommended Videos People took to social media to figure out why a warning was issued and then canceled so quickly, and how the NWS determines when to send alerts. Here are answers to more questions. What exactly is a tsunami? The word for tsunami comes from the Japanese characters for harbor and wave. It's a series of extremely long waves set in motion when energy from an earthquake causes the ocean floor to suddenly rise or fall, according to the National Weather Service . How common are they in California? Since 1800, California's shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis, most of them minor, according to the California Geological Survey. Phones buzzed Thursday when the National Weather Service issued its warning just minutes after the quake struck west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County. It read in part: “You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now.” Why was there an alert if there wasn't a large tsunami? The National Weather Service Bay Area posted on the social platform X early Friday that the region doesn't get tsunami alerts often and “there are lot of questions, frustration, and even some anger” about Thursday's event. A warning alert is the most serious of four tsunami alerts, including a watch alert for a possible tsunami and an advisory alert telling people to stay out of the water and away from the shore. The last time California received a warning alert was 2011 when an earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast. Basically, a distant, offshore earthquake or other trigger event gives scientists more time to analyze data and confirm that a large tsunami was generated before sounding a warning. But Thursday’s earthquake was local and close to the coast, forcing a hasty high-level alert in order to give people the maximum time to prepare as tsunami waves can travel very fast, up to 500 mph (800 kph) in the deep ocean, the NWS wrote. “By the time we actually observe it, it may be too late, because it's right there in our back doors,” said Dalton Behringer, a meteorologist with NWS Bay Area, on Friday. Scientists used the time Thursday to monitor buoys and get more information on the earthquake itself, he said. They canceled the alert after seeing little sea-level change and determining the quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, he said. “These things happen so infrequently for us, I think it just caught a lot of people off-guard,” he said. How did Northern California respond? Authorities in Eureka, the biggest city in Humboldt County, sent texts and went door-to-door to order businesses in high-risk areas to evacuate, said City Manager Miles Slattery. He said only a small portion of the city was at risk, and Thursday's test run showed evacuees need to work on leaving by foot, rather than by car. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the commuter light-rail system known as BART stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Responses varied as fire and police in Berkeley evacuated certain areas of the city while in San Francisco, officials sent alerts and messages on social media telling residents to stay away from water, beaches, harbors, marina docks, and piers. “Move at least one block inland,” said the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. Emergency personnel in vehicles with public address systems also went to make sure no one was on beaches and other low-lying areas. But some critics said San Francisco should have sounded its loud emergency sirens, which have been off-line since 2019 for repairs. In San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco, officials considered but decided against sounding its tsunami warning sirens after receiving more comprehensive information from the NWS that any tsunami would affect coastlines north of the Golden Gate Bridge, said Michelle Durand, a spokesperson for the county. Fire and police cleared the beaches while emergency personnel gathered to monitor the situation, she said, which “prioritized both public safety and the prevention of unnecessary panic.”What to know about Northern California's rare tsunami warning
A U.S. federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban of TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment. "The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States," said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. "Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary's ability to gather data on people in the United States." TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, though it's unclear whether the court will take up the case. "The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans' right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue," TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the TikTok ban was conceived and pushed through based upon inaccurate, flawed and hypothetical information, resulting in outright censorship of the American people," Hughes said. Unless stopped, Hughes argued the statute "will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans here in the US and around the world on January 19th, 2025." Trump could offer a lifeline Though the case is squarely in the court system, its also possible the two companies might be thrown some sort of a lifeline by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term but said during the most recent presidential campaign that he is now against doing so. During his first term in office, Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok. The U.S. president-elect, who will return to power in January, has more recently said that he is now against such action. (Heather Khalifa/The Associated Press) The law, signed by U.S. President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it's concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who they say can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that's difficult to detect — a concern mirrored by the European Union on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app's role in the Romanian elections . TikTok, which sued the U.S. government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn't provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing's benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the U.S. Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government. TikTok content creators worry that Canadian office shutdown will lead to app ban What the federal ban on TikTok's Canadian operations means for you TikTok has also faced increasing hurdles on this side of the border, with Canada's own government — citing national security concerns — recently forcing the company to shutter its Canadian operations , though usage of the app is still allowed. In response, TikTok said it would challenge the order in court. Prior to that, Ottawa banned the app from federal government devices in 2023 . Similar bans have occurred at the provincial and territorial government levels . Two years ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada's electronic spy agency was watching for security threats from the app . Court heard oral arguments in September Friday's ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges, heard oral arguments in September. WATCH | TikTok loses bid to strike down law that could bring ban: TikTok loses appeal of a law that could ban it from the U.S. 3 hours ago Duration 0:42 TikTok has lost its bid to strike down a ruling that could result in the platform being banned in the United States. In the hearing, which lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok's foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform. On Friday, all three of them denied TikTok's petition. In the court's ruling, Ginsburg, a Republican appointee, rejected TikTok's main legal arguments against the law, including that the statute was an unlawful bill of attainder or a taking of property in violation of the Fifth Amendment. He also said the law did not violate the First Amendment because the government is not looking to "suppress content or require a certain mix of content" on TikTok. U.S. surgeon general wants warning labels on social media platforms Intelligence chief warns Canadians that China can use TikTok to spy on them "Content on the platform could in principle remain unchanged after divestiture, and people in the United States would remain free to read and share as much PRC propaganda (or any other content) as they desire on TikTok or any other platform of their choosing," Ginsburg wrote, using the abbreviation for the People's Republic of China. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court, issued a concurring opinion. Some U.S. lawmakers celebrate ruling TikTok's lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators — for which the company is covering legal costs — as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Other organizations, including the Knight First Amendment Institute, had also filed amicus briefs supporting TikTok. "This is a deeply misguided ruling that reads important First Amendment precedents too narrowly and gives the government sweeping power to restrict Americans' access to information, ideas, and media from abroad," said Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the organization. "We hope that the appeals court's ruling won't be the last word." Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers who had pushed for the legislation celebrated the court's ruling. New TikTok parent company says it won't sell, despite possible U.S. ban Video Why did the U.S. TikTok ban bill get packaged with foreign aid? "I am optimistic that President Trump will facilitate an American takeover of TikTok to allow its continued use in the United States and I look forward to welcoming the app in America under new ownership," said Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, chair of the House Select Committee on China. Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who co-authored the law, said "it's time for ByteDance to accept" the law. To assuage concerns about the company's owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion US to bolster protections around U.S. user data. The company has also argued the government's broader concerns could have been resolved in a draft agreement it provided the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient. Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it's impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm — the platform's secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divestiture plan — would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content.
On a rare two-game skid, No. 24 Arizona faces Davidson
Colby Rogers shines as Memphis rolls past Ole MissPeter Andre’s wife Emily shares rare glimpse of baby daughter Belle as she reveals new ‘milestone’
Herbert tosses 3 TD passes and Chargers secure a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their second playoff appearance in three seasons with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots. The win also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Jim Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with tAshe San Francisco 49ers. Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. The Patriots have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. Dallas' Naji Marshall gets 4-game suspension, Phoenix's Jusuf Nurkic is banned 3 games for fight The NBA has suspended Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall for four games and Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic for three games for their roles in an on-court fight during Friday night’s game. Dallas forward P.J. Washington was suspended for one game. All of the suspensions are without pay. Nurkic was called for an offensive foul while being guarded by Daniel Gafford with 9:02 left in the third quarter before the altercation quickly escalated. Nurkic confronted Marshall before taking an open-handed swing at his head and then Marshall responded with a punch. Washington quickly shoved Nurkic to the ground before the teams were separated. The NBA said Marshall “attempted to further engage Nurkic in a hostile manner in the corridor outside the locker rooms.” Shohei Ohtani to become a father for the 1st time in 2025 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is adding a newcomer to his family lineup. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar has posted on his Instagram account that he and wife Mamiko Tanaka are expecting a baby in 2025. The photo shows the couple's beloved dog, Decoy, as well as a pink ruffled onesie along with baby shoes and a sonogram that is covered by a baby emoji. Ohtani announced in February that he had married Tanaka, a former professional basketball player from his native Japan. The news from the intensely private player stunned Ohtani's teammates and his fans. Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. Georgia QB Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Miami's Cam Ward sets NCAA's Division I record with 156th career touchdown pass ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward has made NCAA history in his final college game. The Miami quarterback has thrown a record-setting 156th touchdown pass of his college career, connecting with Jacolby George for a 4-yard score with 4:12 left in the first quarter of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. That’s the Division I — FBS and FCS — record, one more than Houston’s Case Keenum threw for from 2007 through 2011.