LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday — when the league celebrates Christmas with games for the 77th time — the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix in the nightcap. “Very excited, of course,” Wembanyama said of his first Christmas game opportunity. “First of all, spending Christmas in New York, it’s going to be like the movies, I hope. Get a little snow.” His first Christmas wish came true: Light snow fell in Manhattan on Tuesday morning. James said he’s relishing another chance to share the holiday spotlight with Curry — someone he’s played against on Christmas three previous times. “Any time you get an opportunity to be on the court and compete against one of the greatest to ever play this game, you don’t take it for granted,” James — who turns 40 next week — said of facing his U.S. Olympic teammate. “I don’t know how many more opportunities we’ll get to go against each other.” The Christmas games have been looked at for decades as the time when more fans tend to start watching basketball. The NFL — which is going head-to-head against the NBA on Wednesday — is seeing its regular season winding down, and the five NBA games will all be shown nationally either on ABC or ESPN. The Spurs-Knicks game will also have a special alt-cast starring Mickey Mouse and some of his friends, the first animated presentation of an NBA game. It’ll be shown on ESPN2 and stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. “I wish there were more of our great players who had a chance to play on that stage on Christmas Day,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “It’s been an interesting turnaround from certainly my earlier days in the league when we got a lot of complaints about playing on Christmas — and now it comes the other way, which is, ‘Why aren’t we playing on Christmas?’ I wish we could accommodate even more teams.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
NoneProtesters in Spain Object to Skyrocketing Rents
Aidan O'Connell shows in loss to Chiefs that he is the Raiders' QB for the rest of season
Published 4:47 pm Friday, November 22, 2024 By Data Skrive On Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, the Alcorn State Braves (6-5) will take on Joanes Fortilien and the Jackson State Tigers (9-2). Keep reading for all the info on how to watch this game on ESPN+. Watch college football live without cable. Stream ACC, SEC, ESPN and more with Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Start your risk free trial today and start watching college football games now. Stop missing games and start streaming college football right now on Fubo. Stop missing games and start streaming college football right now on ESPN+. Get tickets for any college football game this season at Ticketmaster. Rep your favorite players with officially licensed gear. Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more.
Strangers helped Svetlana Vold start a life she couldn’t have imagined. It was 2011 when Vold stuffed her belongings into two suitcases and moved to St. Paul. It was a chance for her family to start over after decades growing up in Belarus, where jobs for women are scarce. Vold “didn’t have anything” arriving to the U.S. Strangers heard of her struggle and pitched in, donating furniture, clothes and items her family needed to get by. So when war engulfed Ukraine more than two years ago, Vold, now a St. Paul firefighter, wanted to give back the way people had helped her. She’s mobilized people across Minnesota to collect and deliver essential supplies to first responders in Ukraine. Since then, fire departments in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Eagan and Coon Rapids have gathered scores of equipment that could make a world of difference to first responders risking their lives overseas. People who rescue people When Vold was growing up, she set aside her dreams to become a firefighter. Born in Belarus during Russian occupation , Vold’s father was a fire captain who lead many first responders into danger. But jobs for women were scarce at the time, and remain so today. Today, Vold said there are around 200 jobs Belarus bars women from taking, including many first responder positions. When her husband and daughter won a green card to the U.S. in 2011, she moved and witnessed the breadth of opportunities. “When I moved here I remember walking like, ‘Women cut the trees, women drive the trucks, women do [all these]’ and I’m like ‚’Oh my gosh, this is my world!’” she said. When Russia invade Ukraine in 2022, Vold scoured for ways to help people. She volunteered with local organizations, cooking for Ukrainian soldiers who lost arms, legs, and other body parts requiring prosthetics . As she learned those soldiers’ names and stories, Vold felt inspired to do her part as an aspiring emergency responder. She gathered medical supplies to deliver to Ukraine, bringing what she could to first responders as travel restrictions limited what people could transport. When the St. Paul Fire Department called to tell Vold they’d accepted her application and wanted to schedule an interview, she told them it would have to wait for three weeks. “I said to [Human Resources], ‘I’m actually in Ukraine right now,’” Vold said recalling that conversation, “and it was amazing because she said to me, ‘Great! What are you doing? We can work with this.’” St. Paul Fire Department Captain Keith Golden said Vold’s trips were an opportunity to help everyone. Golden is assigned to Fire Station 7 in the city’s East Side and helps to manage the department’s equipment. They discard equipment that reaches its shelf life according to U.S. standards, but Golden said those standards differ in Ukraine where emergency workers fight fires with little to no equipment. “Compassion fatigue starts to limit peoples’ response,” Golden said of aid to Ukraine, adding that some ambulances have been targeted there in the war and many vehicles and stations were bombed. “[When] you start feeling like the world’s abandoning you, it’s nice to get a little influx of support.” The equipment fire departments have collected includes: more than 60 sets of firefighter turnout clothing, which includes jackets, boots, and other protective clothing, thermal imagers, medical supplies and nearly two dozen respirators. Vold said many firefighters in Ukraine work without such gear, even as some are killed while responding to flames sparked by war. “I still have in my memory the picture of a firefighter who’s hold[ing] his dad, who’s a firefighter too, and was killed,” Vold said, adding that some first responders now wear bulletproof vests over their equipment. “We’re not talking about political views. It’s more about helping people, because firefighters [are] not soldiers. Look at it this way: firefighters are people who rescue people.” The need is there Mykola Sarazhynskyy with Stand with Ukraine MN can attest to Ukraine’s struggles. Sarazhynskyy helps organize shipments between Minnesota and Ukraine. The gear will take a months-long trek, flying to Poland where it will be loaded into trucks, driven across the border and brought to a Postal Service hub to be shipped to responders in need. “It’s very important because they risk their lives,” Sarazhynskyy said. In one case, Sarazhynskyy said a Ukrainian building was bombed, but firefighters were forced to wait for the flames to cool — even as people were trapped inside. “Once they get this equipment, they will be able to respond faster and help people right away,” he said. Vold documented emergency workers’ struggles in person, staying for three nights at a fire department 20 miles from the war zone. Some firefighters slept atop wood pallets. Others drove to fiery scenes in dated trucks with little equipment. You can feel the war from the station’s bunker, Vold said, bringing more value to any supplies they receive. “The need is there,” Minneapolis Fire Department Chief Bryan Tyner said. “People need help all over the place, especially in Ukraine, who as we know is at war right now, and may not have access to a lot of these materials.” Tyner said his department may partner with MATTER, the St. Louis Park-based organization helping to ship equipment, to make the supplies an annual initiative. MATTER hopes to send three shipping containers a month to Ukraine and other countries, and Tyner encouraged other Minnesota fire departments to help donate supplies when they can. Vold said she hopes other Minnesotans help too, emphasizing that even small donations go a long way. They went a long way for her family, so Vold knows they could do the same for many more people. “I’m glad that I’m part of this country now ... [but] you still care about your past and you still want the best things to happen in your home country,” she said. “That’s why you want to bring it to them and show them, ‘It could be a different life.’”
LaMelo Ball is arguably the most enigmatic player in the NBA. He is universally acclaimed for his flashy playstyle. But his defensive deficiencies and injury issues have prompted doubts about whether he could be the franchise cornerstone the Hornets need. However, this season, he has been answering those questions. He has missed only one game and is averaging 31.1 points, which ranks second in the league. But despite his hot star, Lou Williams believes he’s only the fifth-best guard in the East. On FanDuel’s Run It Back show, the former Clippers star claimed that the Hornets, who are 6-13, aren’t equipped to earn a playoff berth this season. However, he believes the future could be bright. Williams said , Williams claimed that Bucks’ Damian Lillard, Hawks’ Trae Young, Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, and Knicks’ Jalen Brunson are above him in the guard rankings in the East. He added it’s close between Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Ball for the fifth spot but he prefers the former. While Williams is entitled to his opinion, ranking the Hornets star as the sixth-best guard in the East this season grossly undermines his impact. LaMelo Ball is among the best in the East LaMelo Ball is one of only two players in the league alongside Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to average over 30 points per game. He has always been a stellar offensive player, but he’s finally taking the next step and becoming an elite scorer. Over the years, the Hornets star’s defensive impact has been scrutinized heavily. However, his defensive rating of 115.1 ranks 12th in the East among guards, above Darius Garland (115.1), Damian Lillard (116.8), Trae Young (119.2), and Jalen Brunson (121). Among the names Williams mentioned, only Cunningham has a better defensive rating than Ball with 111.9. However, he’s averaging only 23.5 points per game, nearly eight fewer than the Hornets star. While he has been exceptional as a scorer, his playmaking hasn’t been up to the mark. He’s averaging only 6.9 assists per game, which is lower than every player on the former Clippers star’s list, except Darius Garland (6.8). However, it’s worth noting that sophomore Brandon Miller is the only other reliable scoring option on the Hornets, putting the onus on Ball to carry the offense. Charlotte’s 6-13 record has been used as a knock to undermine the 23-year-old’s campaign. However, except for Garland’s Cavaliers, none of the teams of the other five players that Williams named on his list have had a noteworthy season. On the contrary, Brunson’s Knicks and Lillard’s Bucks have had underwhelming seasons. Young’s Hawks and Cunningham’s Pistons haven’t exactly set the league ablaze either. Any argument against Ball being the best guard in the East this season falls flat in the face of facts. It remains to be seen whether he can sustain this form. But for now, no player in his position in his conference can claim they are having a better year than Ball.
TOP footie clubs, players and agents have coughed up £800million since HMRC began a tax avoidance probe. The huge tally of unpaid taxes since 2005 includes £75million in the last year. Advertisement And latest HMRC figures reveal 396 investigations are ongoing — including potential abuses at 33 professional clubs. Newcastle United recently settled a £10million tax dispute that dated back to Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club. Chelsea are being probed having reported themselves to the Premier League after spotting issues as Todd Boehly’s consortium took over ownership from Roman Abramovich. Manchester United are under investigation too, while legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson faces scrutiny over his ACF Sports Promotion firm. Advertisement Read more on unpaid tax TAX FIGHT Top BBC host faces court battle with HMRC over alleged 'excessive' unpaid tax PAYING THE PRICE Katie Price declared bankrupt for SECOND time over £750k tax bill Earlier this year, ex-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debt. Meanwhile, the number of tax investigations in football is likely to rise as a result of inquiries into “dual representation” transfer deals. The deals would see agents claim to work for both a club and a player and split their fee between them. HMRC believes agents work mostly for players and therefore should pay more tax. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive SCOTT PROPERTY Celtic legend Scott Brown splashes out £2million on luxury pad with pool DOWN AND OUT Rangers boss Philippe Clement admits he has 'no credit left in the bank' Live Blog HEARTS 1 CELTIC 4 Idah scores with third touch just after replacing scorers Kuhn and Kyogo NOT READY SPFL club call out league bosses on 'preparation time' as Storm Bert delays game Officials warn they will no longer accept a 50/50 split as the “standard approach”. Ex-England ace Emile Heskey facing bankruptcy in latest battle with taxman 1 Ex-Man City defender Benjamin Mendy was forced to sell his £5million Cheshire mansion to repay an £800,000 tax debtEgypt’s Al-Sisi, Gabon’s Nguema pledge closer cooperation on bilateral, African issues
Red Sox acquire reliever Jovani Morán from Twins for utility player Mickey Gasper
( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, Badr Abdelatty, has met with the ministry's consular division to review progress on improving consular services for Egyptian citizens living abroad. The meeting focused on streamlining procedures and implementing digital solutions. Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Abdelatty emphasized the importance of enhanced communication with Egyptian expatriate communities to address their consular needs promptly and efficiently. He said that a digital transformation was crucial for transparency, increasing service efficiency, and simplifying transactions for Egyptian citizens. Abdelatty stressed that digital consular services were part of a wider plan to enhance the quality of these services. He also highlighted the need for training consular staff in modern technology to ensure high standards. The meeting also addressed ongoing efforts to improve consular services for Egyptians overseas, including the implementation of a comprehensive plan to digitalise these services. This digitalisation aims to develop the necessary infrastructure to facilitate transactions and save time for citizens living abroad. The plan includes establishing interactive online platforms where citizens can access consular services remotely, such as issuing official documents, renewing passports, and submitting service requests electronically. Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptian Expatriates, Tamer Kamal El-Meligy, updated Abdelatty on a new passport issuance process for Egyptians abroad. This new process, set to launch at several Egyptian diplomatic missions, will reduce passport processing times to just a few days, down from a previous timeframe of several months. MENAFN24122024000153011029ID1109028094 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.Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump's sights
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hannah Hidalgo scored 24 points and No. 6 Notre Dame defeated JuJu Watkins and third-ranked Southern California 74-61 on Saturday in a marquee matchup on the West Coast. Watkins and the Trojans (4-1) fell behind early and were down 21 points in the fourth quarter. She had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists. Hidalgo came out shooting well, hitting 5 of 8 from the floor in the first quarter and had 16 points at the break. She added six rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo's backcourt mate, Olivia Miles, added 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Fighting Irish (5-0). Even though Hidalgo outshone her, Watkins’ imprint was all over the game. A documentary about her life aired on NBC leading into the nationally televised game. A buzz arose when Snoop Dogg walked in shortly before tipoff wearing a jacket in USC colors with Watkins' name and number on the front and back. Her sister, Mali, sang the national anthem. Notre Dame: The Irish struck quickly, racing to a 20-10 lead in the opening quarter. Even after cooling off a bit, they never trailed and stayed poised when the Trojans got within three in the second and third quarters. USC: The Trojans were without starting guard Kennedy Smith, whose defense on Hidalgo would have proven valuable. It was announced shortly before tipoff that she had a surgical procedure and will return at some point this season. The Trojans got within three points three times but the Irish remained poised and never gave up the lead. Notre Dame's defense forced the Trojans into 21 turnovers, which led to 22 points for the Irish. Watkins, Kaleigh Heckel and Talia von Oelhoffen had five each. USC was just 1 of 13 from 3-point range Notre Dame plays TCU on Nov. 29 in the Cayman Islands Classic. USC plays Seton Hall in the Women's Acrisure Holiday Invitational on Nov. 27 in Palm Desert, California. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball