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niceph game Published 4:38 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2024 By Data Skrive Top-25 teams will hit the court in six games on Wednesday’s college basketball schedule. That includes the Iowa State Cyclones squaring off against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. The Manhattan district attorney charged him last week with multiple counts of murder, including . Mangione’s initial appearance in New York’s state trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said the two cases will , with the state charges expected to go to trial first. One of Mangione’s attorneys told a judge that government officials, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, have turned Mangione into a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool. “I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo. Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stood among a throng of heavily armed officers last Thursday when Mangione was flown to a Manhattan heliport and escorted up a pier after being extradited from Pennsylvania. Friedman Agnifilo said police turned Mangione’s return to New York into a choreographed spectacle. “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary,” she said. In a statement, Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said: “Critics can say all they want, but showing up to support our law enforcement and sending the message to New Yorkers that violence and vitriol have no place in our city is who Mayor Eric Adams is to his core.” “The cold-blooded assassination of Brian Thompson — a father of two — and the terror it infused on the streets of New York City for days has since been sickeningly glorified, shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of the internet,” Mamelak Altus said. Friedman Agnifilo also accused federal and state prosecutors of advancing conflicting legal theories, calling their approach confusing and highly unusual. “He is being treated like a human pingpong ball between warring jurisdictions here,” she said Monday. State trial court Judge Gregory Carro said he has little control over what happens outside the courtroom, but can guarantee Mangione will receive a fair trial. Authorities say Mangione gunned down Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of Dec 4. Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun that matched the one used in the shooting and a fake ID, police said. He also was carrying a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and especially wealthy executives, according to federal prosecutors. At a news conference last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.” “In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror,” he added. Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. During his court appearance Monday, he smiled at times when talking with his attorneys and stretched his right hand after an officer removed his cuffs. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted, “Free Luigi,” over the blare of a trumpet. Natalie Monarrez, a 55-year-old Staten Island resident, said she joined the demonstration because she lost both her mother and her life savings as a result of denied insurance claims. “As extreme as it was, it jolted the conversation that we need to deal with this issue,” she said of the shooting. “Enough is enough, people are fed up.” An Ivy-league graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione appeared to have cut himself off from family and friends in recent months. He posted frequently in online forums about his struggles with back pain. He was , according to the insurer. Thompson, a married father of two high-schoolers, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021. The killing has prompted some to voice their resentment at U.S. health insurers, with Mangione for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. It also has sent , rattling executives who say they have received a spike in threats.

‘Father time always wins’: Warren Buffett tinkers with plan to give away his $227b fortuneWITH the festive season now officially here, people across the country have already excitedly put up their Christmas decorations. According to tradition, Christmas trees shouldn't be put up until the beginning of Advent, which starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25. This year, Advent began over the weekend - December 1. But if you're still to hunt your tree out of the loft or hall cupboard then we've got a clever hack to make it look better than ever. A savvy Christmas fan left social media users stunned on Saturday after revealing her very simple trick that gives her artifical tree a fuller look. Posting on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, which boasts 2.6million members, Sandra said: "The lower third of my tree, I move the branches over to the front. "This helps me place the tree closer to the wall and always makes the tree look fuller. "Not a bargain just a hack. I've done this for a few years now." Sharing a before and after picture of the tree, Sandra's tree looks immediately fuller with no gaps visible between the branches. Her post quickly racked up almost 1,000 likes with other Christmas fanatics revealing they also use the same trick. Most read in Fabulous "I always do this, it saves some space", gushed one. A second wrote: "Yes I do this. It works a treat." A third added: "I do this. I then use the left over branches to make an arrangement for my TV unit." And a fourth chimed in: "This is what I always do but mine starts to lean forward from the weight of the braches at the front, so I use a kettle bell to anchor it down." Others, meanwhile, were shocked that this is the first they've heard of the festive hack. One person exclaimed: "Why have I never thought of this? Thank you." Someone else echoed: "Omg how did everyone else know about this and I didn't thank you." Another said: "I didn’t know you could do this but glad I saw this post when I did because I am just getting my tree out. Thank you." A fourth gushed: "Thank you I was having a fight with my tree and wall this morning so I will be doing this later." "This is such a good idea and one I'll definitely be trying once ours is out tomorrow", added a fifth. And a sixth wrote: "Never thought of that will try it this year, thanks for tip." Before you head out to find the perfect tree for the season, there are some things to consider, the experts at Christmas Tree World reminded. READ MORE SUN STORIES Visibility: The tree should be placed where it can be enjoyed, whether from the sofa in the living room or while hosting dinner. Think about the room’s layout and how much of the tree will be visible from various angles. Foot traffic: Consider people's movement. Make sure your tree isn’t blocking doorways, hallways, or areas with high foot traffic. Heat sources: Avoid placing your Christmas tree near heat sources like radiators or fireplaces. Not only can this pose a safety hazard, but it can also dry out the tree, affecting both real and artificial Christmas trees over time. Furniture: Consider the layout of your furniture. You don’t want to overcrowd the room, so ensure there’s still enough space to move around once the tree is up. Power source: If you're going to hang lights on your tree, or you've chosen a pre-lit Christmas tree, with its own lights built in, make sure it’s near an outlet to avoid unsightly extension cords or tripping hazards. HERE'S what you need to know if you're buying a real Christmas tree: First thing's first: buy a pot (if it doesn't come in one already). You'll need to treat your tree just like a houseplant and give it water and attention. Make sure the container has good drainage - and it's a good idea to put something underneath to catch the excess water. Check the soil everyday to make sure it's not drying out. If it feels dry, give it some water. If it still feels moist, leave it alone as too much water can also kill a tree. Also check the LED bulbs on your tree lights aren't too hot as they could burn it, and keep your tree away from radiators. When Christmas is over, try planting it in the garden so you can dig it up and use it again next year. It's a good idea to take it out of its pot when you do re-plant it though, as large trees don't survive well in pots as their roots need space to grow.

A clearer picture emerged of who will serve in the Cabinet of America's 47th President, with President-elect Trump assembling more of his top cabinet picks on Friday evening. All of Trump's Cabinet choices must be confirmed by the Senate, with the process set to begin in January. The confirmation process will be made easier by a 53-seat Republican majority, after GOP candidates flipped four seats in this election. The president-elect chose a slew of key Trump supporters who assisted in his election. GET TO KNOW DONALD TRUMP'S CABINET: WHO HAS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT PICKED SO FAR? Scott Bessent – Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, was chosen for the coveted post of Treasury secretary. Bessent was a key economic policy adviser and fundraiser for the Trump campaign. "Scott is widely respected as one of the World's foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists. Scott's story is that of the American Dream," Trump said on Friday. TRUMP NOMINATES SCOTT BESSENT AS TREASURY SECRETARY; PICKS RUSS VOUGHT TO LEAD BUDGET OFFICE He has been an advocate for economic policies like lower taxes, spending restraint and deregulation that have long made up the core of the Republican Party's platform, and has also been supportive of Trump's use of tariffs in trade negotiations. Russ Vought – Office of Management and Budget On Friday, Trump tapped Russ Vought to lead the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought served OMB director during Trump's first term. He also served as deputy OMB director and acting director. "He did an excellent job serving in this role in my First Term - We cut four Regulations for every new Regulation, and it was a Great Success!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. Vought is a contributor to the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 and a close Trump ally. Scott Turner – Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Trump nominated Scott Turner as the secretary of the... Sarah Rumpf-Whitten

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49ers RBs Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason placed on IRLogo Brands Signs Historic Partnership With Jackson State University

Feds announce permanent extension of asylum seeker work permitsNoneLOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. "I'm very honored," Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. "Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I'll get the award again." In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Angels. "Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods," he said. "I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States." People are also reading... The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman. Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday. Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball's 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023. Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases. In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages. Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. "It wouldn't shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now," Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani's second season in Anaheim, said recently. "This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there's not a close second." Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers' franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021. "I kind of wanted to get over that bar," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record." Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt. He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November. "I don't have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better," he told the AP. "There's no pain. There's obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it's getting better." Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he's focused on the near-term. "It's the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy," he said. Ohtani is also throwing in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason. "I'm going to continue to ramp up slowly," he said. The Dodgers' rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out. "We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a six-man rotation," he said. "But it's all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We'll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I've got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there." The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched. "My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start," he said. "To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself." Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there's great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats. "I just go out there and try to stay within myself," he said. "I can only control what I can control and that's where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they're going to make the plays for you. I don't really try to overthink it." Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too. Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball's third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey. Ohtani's presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors. Because Ohtani prefers to speak Japanese and use an interpreter with the media, he is shrouded in a bit of mystique. Asked before his first postgame series if he was nervous, he dropped a one-word answer in English: "Nope," which drew laughter. Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani's behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates, coaches and staff, and came away impressed. "I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he's a much better person. He's very kind, considerate, he cares," Roberts told the AP. "I'm just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way." Ohtani relishes his privacy and rarely shares details about himself off the field. That's why his February announcement via Instagram that he had wed Mamiko Tanaka, a former basketball player, stunned his new teammates and the rest of the world. The following month, after the Dodgers arrived in South Korea to open the season, he was enveloped in scandal when his longtime interpreter and friend, Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after being accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani's money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker. His new teammates rallied around Ohtani, who was found to have no part in the wrongdoing, and publicly it didn't seem to affect him even if he was privately distressed by it. By June, the uproar had subsided. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The public got a glimpse of Ohtani's softer side in August, when his dog Decoy delivered a first pitch to his owner on their shared bobblehead night. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje exchanged an endearing high-five with Ohtani at the plate. As a result, Decoy became a celebrity in his own right, with his breed (pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che) making the list of the most mispronounced words of 2024. He and Ohtani were mentioned during the telecast of last month's National Dog Show, where the small Spaniel-type breed was among the competitors. "The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity hopefully that brings up the number of his breed," Ohtani said. "I do feel like we were able to, in a small way, contribute to the popularity of the dog and I'm sure Decoy himself would be happy about that." Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title. "It's almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent," Roberts said. "I'm just excited to see what '25 has for Shohei Ohtani." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

One in, all in! When Pilipo Bukayaro spoke about the secret in our sevens team he said it’s about “one in all in” the commentator said “I like that”. That statement is strong and shows the unity, the passion and support for each other this team has. Osea Kolinisau said he is looking forward to his two debutant players. Little did we all know that both will go on to play in every game on debut, a rare sight to behold, and only Fiji can do that. It’s been a long drought and the key takes in Dubai was our strong defence, our patient build-ups but the most vital key was sending our subs at the right time with our secret weapon Naduvalo making that difference. Joka dina boys, it’s Cape Town next, another monkey to take out of your back as Oscar says humble and patient as ever. Vacava tacina? SHALWYN PRASAD, Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva Halt to the past Finally, after almost 22 tournaments of heart breaks, we finally put a halt to the past. Congratulations to our national sevens team as they launched a come from behind win against an ever improving and confident Spanish team. This is perhaps the best way to begin the last month of the year. Vinaka to coach Kolinisau and our men for landing gold at the Emirates Dubai 7s tournaments. Also let’s not forget to support our women’s team too. FLOYD ROBINSON, Micronesia Flying Fijians end nine-year drought IT was a triple celebration for me yesterday. It was my birthday. Manchester United thrashed Everton 4-0. The icing on the cake culminated when a spirited and powerful Fijian 7s team ripped apart Spain to win the Dubai 7s Cup 19-5. Before that, the boys almost gave Fijians a heart attack as they came from behind to down the Olympics gold medallists 19-17. Vuiviawa Naduvalo sprinted near the touch line and dashed to the tryline to give fans a breath of optimism that we were going to win the title. In the semi-final flashes of brilliance, teamwork and a solid defensive effort resulted in Fiji thrashing the Los Pumas 7s 43-21. The final was about being aggressive and the desire to end the 22-tournament losing spree, and the boys did that in style as they outplayed and outpaced a determined Spanish outfit which was led by an impressive Pol Pla. I commend head coach Osea Kolinisau and the boys led by Jerry Matana. They brought smiles and delight. The frustration of not winning a tournament since the Toulouse 7s win in 2022 calmed down. Scenes of the 2015 win, which was inspired by Ben Ryan and Osea Kolinisau, were ignited. The 2015 team had the likes of Jasa Veremalua, Aisake Katonibau, Pio Tuwai, Jerry Tuwai, Savenaca Rawaca, Vatemo Ravouvou, Apisai Domolailai, Viliame Mata, Kitione Taliga, Emosi Mulevoro and Sevuloni Mocenacagi. Kolinisau, who captained that team, brought us back to winning ways in Dubai as the coach. Job well done, Oscar! I also congratulate Filipe Sauturaga who was named the Player of the Final and the debutants, George Bose and Kavekini Tanivanuakula, for playing their hearts out. Thank you, boys, for my golden birthday gift! Simply, too good, brothers! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu Expanded portfolios It’s a pity Ms Premila Kumar failed to inform her party while in power, that certain members, who held so much more portfolios than our current PM, would be in danger of “spreading themselves to thin”. Was her leaders not confident of the “collective talent” within the party? It’s probably her experience seeing experienced personnel within her party being overlooked because of power hungry individuals who took on several roles that has prompted her to speak up! Don’t worry yourself too much Hon Kumar, the people are watching and unlike previous times, we can speak up and take our PM to task without fear of intimidation. TAI SMITH, Nasinu Sec Sch Rd, Kinoya, Nasinu Whipping boy Crikey, it really cheeses me off reading your correspondent Altauf Chand’s letter (FT 30/11) regarding Australia’s contribution to the fight against climate change. “Australia is regarded internationally as a climate laggard.” $50m added to the $100m Australia gave in 2023 to the Loss and Damage Fund together with $100m Pacific Resilience Scheme and $125m to enhancing renewable energy across the Pacific. He doesn’t like “the Fiji badge” being given to Australia. Australia gave $A149.3m ($F219.9m) to Fiji in the last year and overall $A4.7b ($F6.9b) worldwide. Royalties from our coal exports ($13.6b) to India, royalties, not profits mind you, help with that. Australia has a great credit rating which enables us to borrow all of that cash which we then give to others My household electricity bill for this year amounts to $3165, thanks to my government’s mad rush to achieve lower emissions at any cost. Country comparisons are of interest. CO2 annual emissions are: n Fiji, 1.1m tonnes; n Australia 3.821m; n India 3 billion tonnes. Who is the laggard? Oh, India has set targets, would you believe year 2070! Let’s not mention China, Australia is the universal whipping boy. TERRY HULME, NSW, Australia Social media Fiji should legislate a similar law as they have done in Australia. Not allowing use of social media for under 16. Interesting to note the monetary fines. DAN URAI, Lautoka Congratulations Congrats to our hard-working wonder players for making us proud. Words cannot describe how much your skills and ability uplifts our country. Every citizen of this country can lift their head up high because of your magic on the field. Vinaka boys. May God’s blessing be always on you and our beloved Fiji. KIRTI PATEL, Mohan Singh Pl, Lautoka. Executive of the Year! Hearty congratulations to Motibhai and Company Ltd Chairman and CEO, Kirit Patel, for walking away with the Executive of the Year at the PM’s International Business Awards 2024. I have a lot of respect for Mr Patel, considering the role he played in managing the people’s newspaper when the tides were rough. The Fiji Times was under lots of pressure amidst the draconian media decree and copped a lot of criticism from those in power. MIDA was a very challenging time for those at The Fiji Times and to navigate that journey was not easy, but the team did well. For the Supreme Award, Motibhai and Company Ltd was recognised for its commercial success and excellence across multiple areas, including job creation, innovation, service excellence, social responsibility, adaptation, resilience, and skill-building to sustainably drive growth and social cohesion, while for the Executive of the Year award, Mr Patel was recognised as a visionary leader, propelling Motibhai Group to new heights. I agree with Investment Fiji that Mr Patel’s commitment to excellence, and dedication to employee development have made him a true inspiration. Congratulations Mr Patel on this success! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu Year 8 exam One problem with exams is the fixing of the pass rate at 50 per cent. That is, the child has only half of the expected knowledge and skills. Is that enough to go on to the next stage? And, perhaps worse still, there is so little difference, perhaps only one mark, between a 49 per cent fail and a 50 per cent pass. And what exactly is being tested? It is the ability to put pen to paper and write some answers. This is not enough to gauge the real ability of a child. The skills needed to pass exams are not the same as those needed for real learning. Do our teachers really know how children (and adults) learn best? It is not by memorising facts for exams. Do our teacher training institutions discuss the findings of such world renowned educators as Maria Montessori, Caleb Gattegno and Zoltan Dienes? Of course the greatest obstacle to education in our urban centres is class size, and with teacher shortages this is not going to improve in the near future. FERGUS GARRETT, Marist Brothers, Vatuwaqa, Suva Health crisis I agree with DPM and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad that people need to “wake up “and fully understand the gravity of the country’s health crisis. Our people are more inclined towards hospital care and medicines than preventive measures like healthy living and regular exercise. In my locality, the Swamiji’s of Swami Vivekananda College have permitted people to take walks in the school playground. Yet people do not make use of it. From 1970s to 1990s, Malolo Sangam Temple (located before SVC) was used as a venue for meetings by Health Dept. sisters, the police for crime-related issues or any other matters involving community. Today, temple religious and marriage ceremonies and minor feeder road meetings are conducted. I request the Ministry of Health and Women’s Ministry to bring their health and gender violence campaigns to village centres. They cannot be conducted only through media. (I have noticed that newspaper stacks are getting shorter in bookshops due to social media). RAKESH CHAND SHARMA, Nadi Attendance stats Meanwhile, another soccer tournament of some sort has ended. And still no word on the daily attendance figures. MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF, Natabua, Lautoka Migrant workers We read in a report in The Fiji Times (2/12/24) that “at least 100 Bangladeshi labourers are up in arms over their working conditions, claiming they have been mistreated by their employer, a Suva-based construction company. The report does not reveal the name of the company. Is that because of some legal constraint? Is there an official probe into the claims of the migrant workers? Shouldn’t there be one to safeguard the international reputation and image of the country? RAJEND NAIDU, Sydney, Australia Street hawkers Has anyone noticed the ever increasing street hawkers at night around Lautoka, selling cigarette rolls, BBQ, subway, pudding, juice, grog, roti, glue and even some strange people ask if you want to get high? What does our law say about hawkers? Are they allowed to operate and sell illegal things? Maybe night enforcement is needed in Lautoka as the illegal activities thrive everyday. GEOFFREY CHAND, Lautoka No 7s on TV Bitterly disappointed weekend as there was no Dubai 7s on free to air TV. Though I recalled one station said they had an agreement with Sky TV to do so. So another set of games was missed by all not connected to Sky. That’s most of us citizens throughout Fiji. What a pity. Will one station be the hero and air the next one in Cape Town? Praying that will happen. NORMAN YEE, Martintar, Nadi New Speaker Congratulations Mr Speaker, sir (Filimone Jitoko). Watching and listening to the former judge’s first assignment yesterday was like he had been tailor-made to the job from long time ago. Again, thank you indeed sir. JIOJI O. TORONIBAU, Navetau, Tunuloa 7s win The Fijian 7s team won the Mickey Mouse tournament in Dubai after nine years thanks to the intervention of God. That is what Captain Mickey Mouse says. I can only conclude that the referees did not have any effect on the games this time. JAN NISSAR, Sydney, Australia 2026 election It has been suggested by a respected individual that the 2026 election may present challenges for current ministers, as a new generation of candidates is expected to emerge, potentially replacing some of the old figures who are still involved in politics. JAHEED BUKSH, Sigatoka Dubai 7s Sobo what happened to our Fijiana team losing all their Dubai 7s matches? Inexperience? Congratulations to our men’s team. It’s kind of ironic ending the 22 tournament drought playing in the desert. Areh, go Fiji go! WISE MUAVONO, BALAWA, LAUTOKA

Coming July 1, Vallejo’s Cal Maritime Academy and San Luis Obispo’s California Polytechnic State University will operate as a single university: Cal Poly. The name change — Cal Maritime Academy will officially be known as “Cal Poly, Solano Campus,” housing the “Cal Poly Maritime Academy” — comes after Thursday’s California State University Board of Trustees vote to approve a CSU Chancellor recommendation to integrate the two schools. The Times-Herald first reported on the story in June when a recommendation was made to integrate the Vallejo university with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The integration would be complete by the start of the 2026-27 academic year. The only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast and one of only six state maritime academies in the United States, Cal Maritime has experienced a 31 percent enrollment decline over the last seven years — going from approximately 1,100 students in 2016-17 to just over 750 in 2023-24, according to the CSU statement. There are 81 members of faculty, with 176 staff. The rising employment and operational costs have contributed to the fiscal crisis for Cal Maritime, which has an annul budget of $53 million. Work on the integration process is currently underway. Planning and implementation will take place over the coming months. The first Cal Poly Maritime Academy and Cal Poly, Solano Campus students enrolling as Cal Poly students will take place in fall of 2026. Integration will result in one university (Cal Poly) under one president, President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. After July, a vice president and chief executive officer will lead the Solano campus while a superintendent will be appointed to lead the Cal Poly Maritime Academy. The VP/CEO will report to the president of Cal Poly and serve on the president’s leadership cabinet. The superintendent will report to the VP/CEO. Until July 1, Michael Dumont will continue to serve as interim president of Cal Maritime. Additionally, integration will result in a single administrative structure, one budget and one of each of the appropriate shared governance structures, including faculty/academic senates, one Associated Students, one alumni association and one philanthropic foundation. The integration is considered a permanent solution and Cal Maritime will not be going back to an independent school in the future. The CSU is providing $35 million in one-time funds to support the integration that will be distributed over seven years. It is unclear at this time whether or not jobs will be lost due to the integration. A statement on Thursday by Cal Maritime said, “It is premature to begin analyzing the impact on the Cal Maritime workforce. Analysis will be needed to determine existing capabilities and future requirements. Much of the analysis will depend upon future enrollment numbers.” Workgroups were formed comprising subject matter experts from the CSU Chancellor’s Office, Cal Poly and Cal Maritime across the 23 operational areas identified as most critical to a seamless and timely integration. Those 23 groups have been consolidated into seven functional implementation teams organized under thematic work areas: academics; enrollment; student affairs; advancement, communications and external relations; financial, administrative and human resources; technology; and legal, regulatory and accreditation matters. Informed and guided by Baker Tilly — a firm with extensive national experience in this highly specialized area — the seven FIT teams are now mapping the previously identified critical issues to activities that will form the foundation of an implementation plan. CSU Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Steve Relyea and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Nathan Evans made the recommendation to Chancellor Mildred García during the summer. “The integration of Cal Maritime and Cal Poly will benefit the students, faculty and staff of both institutions, as well as advance the broader mission of the CSU system by enhancing the quality, diversity and sustainability of the CSU’s academic programs and services statewide,” said Relyea and Evans in a CSU statement. “In addition, it will serve industry and workforce needs of the state of California and of the nation while also supporting U.S. economic and national security interests. We are confident in our recommendation.” Garcia was also in favor of the integration. “The recommended integration of Cal Maritime and Cal Poly is an innovative and vitally necessary strategy with benefits that will be felt throughout the CSU, the state of California and our nation,” said García in June. “It provides a long-term solution to Cal Maritime’s untenable fiscal circumstances, preserves its licensure-granting academic programs so key to the maritime industry and our state’s and nation’s economy and security, and leverages academic and operational synergies between the two universities that will benefit California’s diverse students, families and communities for generations.” Numerous options were considered to preserve Cal Maritime’s unique programs while ensuring financial feasibility and sustainability. It was determined that Cal Poly was clearly the best aligned with Cal Maritime for a successful integration because the schools have similar institutions in many fundamental ways, primarily in their academic missions and learning ethos. Both institutions rely upon a hands-on approach and both offer degree programs within high return-on-investment program areas. Clear synergistic opportunities exist in multiple academic programs, perhaps most obviously within the engineering and marine science fields. Both institutions also are involved in national and economic security issues that impact the western U.S., the Pacific Rim and beyond. There is also untapped potential in the ability of the two institutions, if combined, to compete for increased federal, philanthropic and other sources of funding for national security, renewable energy and other programs. Last summer, Dumont began his tenure as interim president at Cal Maritime, taking over for Thomas A. Cropper who announced in November of 2022 that he would retire in August of 2023. The merging comes after recent controversy at Cal Maritime. A Vallejo Times-Herald report in 2021 exposed decades-long claims of sexual assault and sexual harassment, homophobia, transphobia and racism on campus and during training cruises. Cal Maritime students and employees reported accusations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment aboard the 500-foot ship to officials at the Vallejo campus between 2019-2022. The merger also comes two months after Dumont announced that the school will be end its longtime affiliation with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the California Pacific Conference, a result of the association’s recent adoption of its Transgender Participation Policy. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the governing body for mostly small colleges, announced with a 20-vote in April a policy banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. The organization, which oversees some 83,000 athletes at schools across the country, is believed to be the first college sports organization to take such a step. Since then the school has been recognized on multiple spots on the badge-eligible list of U.S. News and World Report’s list of 2024 Best Colleges. The college was recognized for top performances in academic reputation, cost of attendance and return on investment. The college scored No. 1 for Top Public Schools and ranked No. 2 out of 103 for Regional Colleges-West. Additionally, Cal Maritime was included on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges 2023. Forbes’ annual list showcases 500 of the finest U.S. colleges, ranked using data on student success, return on investment and alumni influence. Although CSU said in a June statement that the challenges the school faces is nothing new, Cal Maritime has implemented several actions to reduce expenses and increase revenues. “Cal Maritime has been part of Vallejo’s rich history and a source of pride for eight decades. Our students, faculty, staff and alumni have played an important role in the history of the state, the region and the nation,” said Dumont during the summer. “An integration with Cal Poly is an amazing opportunity to honor that legacy by preserving one of the nation’s premier maritime academies.”

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and top backup Jordan Mason are being placed on injured reserve. McCaffrey left the snowy field in Buffalo on Sunday night after a 5-yard gain that was preceded by him heading to the sideline in apparent pain at the end of an 18-yard run. McCaffrey was diagnosed with a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee and did not play in the second half. The 49ers also lost Jordan Mason, who emerged in a starting role with McCaffrey out the first two months of the season, to an ankle injury. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Mason has a high-ankle sprain, which typically requires a recovery window of 4-6 weeks. Those moves push rookie Isaac Guerendo into the RB1 spot. He scored the team's only touchdown at Buffalo. The IR slots in San Francisco are manned by multiple starters, including wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Mason had a team-leading 789 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns. Being placed on IR means he's not eligible to play until the regular-season finale at Arizona. McCaffrey had 53 yards on seven carries on Sunday night and caught two passes for 14 yards before exiting. He was playing in just his fourth game of the season after missing the first eight because of Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season, when he led the league with 2,023 yards from scrimmage: a league-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 67 catches for 564 yards and seven scores. McCaffrey hasn't scored a touchdown in his four appearances this season. He has rushed for 202 yards on 50 carries and caught 15 passes for 146 yards. "It was frustrating," Shanahan said after the game. "He had a great week of practice and I could feel his urgency and stuff and thought he came out great, looking really good, and it looked like he just got his shoestring there. ... I hurt for him, and tough for our team not having him." The 49ers (5-7) played without defensive end Nick Bosa (oblique) and left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) in the 35-10 loss. San Francisco has lost three in a row heading into next Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears (4-8) in Santa Clara, Calif. San Francisco resides two games behind the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks (7-5) with five games remaining on the schedule. Seattle and San Francisco split their season series. --Field Level Media

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