NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP. He joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?” Balloting was conducted before the postseason. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
As the regular season progresses, the race for the top spot in the CBA standings becomes increasingly intense. The league is a battleground where teams of all calibers clash in pursuit of glory and recognition. The uncertainties and surprises that unfold in each game keep fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the outcome of each matchup.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc. Sells 1,091 Shares of Microchip Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ:MCHP)
Title: "From Barcelona's Billionaire to Just a Mere '600k' – Massive Transfer Fee Helps Liverpool Resurgence"
In the fast-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, it often takes a groundbreaking idea to capture the attention of the masses. One such idea is the Pure Blood Hongmeng WeChat App, a cutting-edge application that promises to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate in the digital world. With the official version slated for launch next year, users can already get a taste of what's to come through the newly launched Early Access section, offering a testing version for eager early adopters.Title: Unstoppable! Champions League 6-time winners bag 5th consecutive victory, sweep Real Madrid and AC Milan, advance easily!
Title: Disputed Casualty Figures in Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Trump Claims 400,000 Ukrainian Military Casualties, Zelensky Responds with 43,000 Deaths, Controversy Surrounds Casualty NumbersThe combination of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos is designed to provide movie enthusiasts with a truly immersive and captivating viewing experience, making every trip to Golden Emperor Cinemas a memorable one. Whether it's the latest blockbuster, an indie gem, or a classic film, the unparalleled audiovisual quality delivered by Dolby's cutting-edge technology promises to transport audiences into the heart of the story, allowing them to connect with the films on a deeper level.The undisclosed sources within the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) revealed that efforts are underway to secure the naturalization of these players ahead of crucial international competitions. While the identities of the three prospective naturalized athletes remain confidential, the revelation of a potential candidate associated with a prestigious club like Manchester United has stirred excitement and curiosity among fans and experts alike.
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In a dramatic turn of events, the suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime, citing a complex web of motives that included professional jealousy, personal grievances, and a sense of entitlement stemming from his prestigious educational background. It was revealed that the accused harbored deep-seated resentment towards the victim, whom he viewed as a symbol of corporate success and privilege.Man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare chief appears in court in PennsylvaniaThousands of protesters marched through Barcelona on Saturday demanding lower rents in Spain's second city. Barcelona, which has already taken action to stop the spread of holiday rental apartments, is the latest Spanish city to see protests for cheaper housing. Backed by left-wing parties and unions, the demonstrators gathered in central Barcelona behind a giant banner declaring "Lower the rents". "Today a new political cycle starts concerning housing," Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Catalan Tenants Union, the main organiser, told reporters. "Investors must not be allowed to come to our cities and play with the apartments like a game of Monopoly," she added. The union would target "profiteers" who are taking "half of our salaries", Arcarazo said. The demonstrators demanded a 50 percent cut in rents, leases with an unlimited term and a ban on "speculative" sales of buildings. They threatened to start a rent strike. An estimated 22,000 people took part in a similar demonstration in Madrid on October 13. Campaigns have been launched in other cities. According to the Idealista specialised website, rental prices per square metre have risen 82 percent across Spain over the past decade. The average salary has gone up by 17 percent in that time, according to the national statistics institute. Facing pressure over a housing crisis, the government in 2023 passed legislation calling for more social housing, greater restrictions on rents in high demand areas and penalties for owners who do not occupy properties. But rents have continued to rise while the government has battled city and regional authorities to get some parts of the law applied. vid-vab/tw/jm
Tweet Facebook Mail The US House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of "regularly" paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress, as lawmakers released the conclusions of a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The 37-page report by the bipartisan panel includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz, now 42, took part in from 2017 to 2020 while the Republican represented Florida's western Panhandle. Congressional investigators concluded that Gaetz violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office, though not federal sex trafficking laws. They also found that Gaetz "knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct" the committee's work. READ MORE: King Charles to break with tradition for 2024 Christmas message Former US Representative Matt Gaetz regularly paid for sex, an ethics report has found. (AP) "The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress," the report said. Before the report came out, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and criticised the committee's process. "Giving funds to someone you are dating — that they didn't ask for — and that isn't 'charged' for sex is now prostitution?!?" he posted on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. READ MORE: Mangione pleads not guilty to United Healthcare CEO's murder "There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses." Gaetz, who was first elected in 2017, spent the majority of his time in Washington enmeshed in scandals that ultimately derailed his selection by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Justice Department. Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month. His political future is uncertain, although Gaetz has indicated interest in running for the open Senate seat in Florida. The committee painted a damning portrait of Gaetz's conduct, using dozens of pages of exhibits, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts, checks and online payments, to document a party and drug-fueled lifestyle. The committee said it compiled the evidence after issuing 29 subpoenas for documents and testimony and contacting more than two dozen witnesses. In addition to soliciting prostitution, the report said Gaetz "accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts." READ MORE: Australia working to help Melbourne man captured by Russians in Ukraine Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. (AP) That same year, investigators said, Gaetz arranged for a staffer to obtain a passport for a woman with whom he was sexually involved, falsely telling the State Department that she was his constituent. In some of the text exchanges made public, he appeared to be inviting various women to events, getaways or parties, and arranging airplane travel and lodging. At one point he asked one woman if she had a "cute black dress" to wear. There were also discussions of shipping goods. One of the exhibits was a text exchange that appeared to be between two of the women concerned about their cash flow and payments. In another, a person asked Gaetz for help to pay an educational expense. Regarding the 17-year-old girl, the report said there was no evidence Gaetz knew she was a minor when he had sex with her. The woman told the committee she did not tell Gaetz she was under 18 at the time and that he learned she was a minor more than a month after the party. But Gaetz stayed in touch with her after that and met up with her for "commercial sex" again less than six months after she turned 18, according to the committee. Florida law says it is a felony for a person 24 or older to have sex with a minor. The law does not allow a claim of ignorance or misrepresentation of a minor's age as a defence. Gaetz was Donald Trump's initial pick for attorney-general. (CNN) Joel Leppard, who represents two women who told the committee that Gaetz paid them for sex, said the findings "vindicate" the accounts of his clients and "demonstrate their credibility." "We appreciate the committee's commitment to transparency in releasing this comprehensive report so the truth can be known," Leppard said in a statement. At least one Republican joined all five Democrats on the committee earlier this month in voting to release the report despite initial opposition from GOP lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, to publishing findings about a former member of Congress. While ethics reports have previously been released after a member's resignation, it is extremely rare. On behalf of the Republicans who voted against making the report public, the committee chairman, Representative Michael Guest of Mississippi, wrote that while the members did not challenge the findings, "we take great exception that the majority deviated from the committee's well-established standards," to drop any investigation when a person is not longer a member of the chamber. Trump announces flood of new appointments to Pentagon and DOGE View Gallery Guest added that releasing this report sets a precedent that "is a dangerous departure with potentially catastrophic consequences." But Maryland Representative Glenn Ivey, a Democratic member of the committee, said that for transparency, it was crucial for the public and Congress as an institution to read the findings. "I think that's important for my colleagues here in the House to know how the committee reviews certain acts," he told The Associated Press. "Some of these were obviously conduct that crossed the line, but some of them weren't." Mounting a last-ditch effort to halt the publication of the report, Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday asking a federal court to intervene. He cited what he called "untruthful and defamatory information" that would "significantly damage" his "standing and reputation in the community." Gaetz's complaint argued that he was no longer under the committee's jurisdiction because he had resigned from Congress. The often secretive, bipartisan committee has investigated claims against Gaetz since 2021. But its work became more urgent last month when Trump picked him shortly after the November 5 election Day to be the nation's top law enforcement officer. Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the committee's jurisdiction. But Democrats had pressed to make the report public even after Gaetz was no longer in the House and had withdrawn from consideration for Trump's Cabinet. A vote on the House floor this month to force the report's release failed; all but one Republican voted against it. The committee detailed its start-and-stop investigation over the past several years, which was halted for a time as the Justice Department conducted its own inquiry of Gaetz. Federal prosecutors never brought a case against him. Lawmakers said they asked the Justice Department for information about its investigation, but the agency refused to hand over information, saying it does not disclose information about investigations that do not result in charges. The committee then subpoenaed the department for records. After a back-and-forth between department officials and the committee, the department only handed over "publicly reported information about the testimony of a deceased individual," according to the committee's report. The report said Gaetz was "uncooperative" throughout the committee's investigation. He provided "minimal documentation" in response to the committee's requests, it said. "He also did not agree to a voluntary interview." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .Another club in the running for the Dutch defender's signature is Manchester United. The English powerhouse are in the market for defensive reinforcements and see the 26-year-old as the perfect candidate to strengthen their backline. With their financial muscle and global appeal, Manchester United could offer the defender a chance to test himself in the highly competitive Premier League and compete for major silverware.The New Year set for female characters in "Black Myth: WuKong" features a stunning design inspired by traditional Chinese fashion and symbolism. The intricate details and vibrant colors of the outfits pay homage to the rich cultural heritage of China, adding a touch of elegance and authenticity to the game world. Players can customize their characters with a range of accessories and hairstyles that reflect the spirit of the Lunar New Year, allowing them to truly embody the festive atmosphere of the season.
ROSEN, A TOP-RANKED LAW FIRM, Encourages Xerox Holdings Corporation. Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - XRXST. LOUIS COUNTY — Esther Haywood, a former state representative and longtime president of the St. Louis County NAACP chapter, died Nov. 16 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. She was 84. Haywood, who lived for many years in Bellerive Acres, was a Democratic member of the Missouri House from 2001 through 2008. Before that, she was on the Normandy School Board for 18 years. She also worked for 27 years as a math teacher in the East St. Louis school system, her family said. “She was inclusive, she was a listener,” said County Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, who was on the Normandy board with Haywood and a longtime friend. “Her kind of leadership will be sorely missed.” Haywood’s grandson, John Gaskin III, said she and the late Ina Boon worked to revive the county NAACP in the 1990s. She stepped down as president in 2018. “She was proud to have gotten business leaders to come to the table” to get more diverse hiring practices in the area, Gaskin said. He said she also worked to get more Black employees in local fire departments. Gaskin said Haywood grew up on a farm in Arlington, Tennessee, near Memphis and was one of the first Black teachers in the Shelby County, Tennessee, schools, and later moved to the St. Louis area. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi Industrial College after attending Lincoln University in Jefferson City. She took graduate courses at St. Louis University. While in the Legislature, she played a key role in passing a bill making cross-burning a crime in the state. She also passed a measure declaring an annual Rosa Parks Day in Missouri to honor the civil rights icon. She also was active on various civic issues in the Normandy area. She led a successful effort in 1995 to reopen Normandy Community Hospital, which later closed permanently. She was a charter member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and active in organizations such as the Links, a service group, and Forest Park Forever. She was a member of Murchison Tabernacle CME Church. Among survivors are two daughters, Angela Haywood-Gaskin and Andreal Hoosman, both of north St. Louis County; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Murchison Tabernacle Church, 7629 Natural Bridge Road, Normandy, and at 10 a.m. Monday at Prince of Peace Missionary Church, 9350 Natural Bridge, Berkeley, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Valhalla Cemetery.