The 29-year-old is known to be an injury-prone player, however, 2024 has been devasting for the Englishman. Shaw has missed since February, which has left a lot of fans frustrated. The defender recently returned from knee and calf issues that plagued his 2024/25 campaign so far with the full-back making three appearances from the bench against Ipswich Town, Bodo/Glimt and Everton since his return to fitness – . His availability has not lasted long though as Shaw has now picked up another minor injury after the weekend, which will leave the Man United star out for weeks, reports . This is a devasting blow for the defender as he would have been hoping to return to Ruben Amorim’s starting 11 soon and it is hard not to feel sorry for the England international as . Shaw has taken to social media to express his frustrations over his most recent injury issue and it is clear how much of a blow this has been for the Man United player. Luke Shaw “absolutely devastated” with latest injury setback Follwing the news of his latest injury, Shaw took to social media to share his feelings with fans of Man United. “Hi guys, it’s hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I’ve had a small setback,” the left-back stated via . “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I’m absolutely devastated and it’s extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time. “I understand there is going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all of that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time. “But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon to help this club achieve its ambitions this season. Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn’t go unnoticed and I really do appreciate it.”Will New Year’s Eve be loud or quiet? What are the top 2025 resolutions? AP-NORC poll has answersFBI director Christopher Wray has said he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.
Power Play for Thursday, November 21, 2024
Dec 30 ‘Punjab bandh’ call getting good support, claims farmer leader PandherNone
Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks
COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Myles Corey had 27 points in South Alabama's 81-72 victory against East Texas A&M on Sunday. Corey also added five assists and four steals for the Jaguars (7-3). Barry Dunning Jr. scored 14 points and added five rebounds. John Broom went 4 of 5 from the field (3 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points, while adding four steals. The Lions (1-10) were led in scoring by Khaliq Abdul-Mateen, who finished with 17 points. Yusef Salih added 17 points for Texas A&M-Commerce. Tay Mosher also had eight points. The loss is the seventh straight for the Lions. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated PressLos Angeles, Dec 28 (IANS): The sets of ‘Dune’ were not meant for social media after strict orders were issued by the film’s director Denis Villeneuve. The filmmaker, 57, explained why cast and crew on his projects are not encouraged to bring certain devices on set, reports ‘People’ magazine. He told the Los Angeles Times, “Cinema is an act of presence. When a painter paints, he has to be absolutely focused on the color he’s putting on the canvas. It’s the same with the dancer when he does a gesture. With a filmmaker, you have to do that with a crew, and everybody has to focus and be entirely in the present, listening to each other, being in relationship with each other”. He added, “So cellphones are banned on my set too, since day one. It’s forbidden. When you say cut, you don’t want someone going to his phone to look at his Facebook account”. Earlier in the interview, the director shared another reason he's not so fond of technology at times. He further mentioned, “I feel that human beings are ruled by algorithms right now. We behave like AI circuits. The ways we see the world are narrow-minded binaries. We’re disconnecting from each other, and society is crumbling in some ways. It’s frightening”. As per ‘People’, the director referred to being able to have constant access to others as “addictive”. He said, "It’s compulsive. It’s like a drug. I’m very tempted to disconnect myself. It would be fresh air”. The first installment of Villeneuve's Dune film adaptation of Frank Hubert's novel arrived in October 2021, with Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya and Oscar Isaac . The second part was released in March 2024. A-listers Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Anya Taylor-Joy joined for ‘Dune: Part Two’.
Aduro Clean Technologies Announces Second Partial Exercise of Over-Allotment OptionThe 54-year-old TV presenter revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later underwent a mastectomy during which her breast plus two lymph glands were removed before reconstruction took place. Bradbury has since stopped drinking alcohol and has changed the priorities in her life, but revealed she has received some pushback on social media from sharing her approach. She told The Times Weekend magazine: “I wasn’t close to death, but death looked me in the eyes. So I am more focused on my health than I ever have been. “I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. “When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this shitty winter.” Bradbury, who has since been given the all-clear, said a doctor recently helped her reframe how she utilises her energy. She recalled: “He said, ‘This drive that you have – you’re running on a credit card. You can push through all sorts of things. But is that the best thing for you?’. “I realised you don’t have to win every race. You don’t have to overcome everything. I don’t want to max out the credit card.” The presenter previously discussed her experience in an ITV documentary, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer And Me, which followed her as she came to terms with her diagnosis and prepared to undergo her single mastectomy. She also regularly shares her wellness and fitness tips with her more than 270,000 Instagram followers. However, she revealed she has had pushback from people saying, “I was healthy, I go to the gym, I got cancer, and now its metastasised and I’ve got secondary cancer. So are you blaming me for my illness?”. Responding to the accusations, she added: “No. All I’m saying is, this is what I went through. It was a wake-up call, and it made me look at life differently. “It made me prioritise my sleep, emotional health, and give more time to my loved ones. “If I drink more than four units of alcohol a week, my risk of reoccurrence goes up by 28%. But people find me giving up drinking infuriating.” Bradbury, who has a 13-year-old son Zephyr, and nine-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena, said having children later in life has caused her to not be as “patient” as she feels she should be at times after becoming more set in her own ways. “People think that after you’ve got a cancer diagnosis, you become this beautiful angel with a halo, and a super mum and do everything right”, she added. “But no, you make the same mistakes. I lose my temper, and I can hear myself saying things that I can’t believe I’m saying. “None of us know what we’re doing, really. We’re just doing our best. I know they do have lots of love. They are told that they’re loved every day.”LOS ANGELES — The four words were first spoken here on a bright spring afternoon at Camelback Ranch, my astonished syllables joining similar tones of amazement floating from every corner of a crowded press box. "Are you kidding me?" Down to his last pitch in his first spring training game as a Dodger, Shohei Ohtani had just launched a two-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" The crowd gasped in disbelief at the perfect timing and wondrous theater, the four words reverberating around the stadium like an anthem to the unimaginable. "Are you kidding me?" Eight months later, Los Angeles still asks that question. Was Shohei Ohtani's first season as a Dodger really real? Was the best baseball player on the planet even better than that? Could the man with arguably the highest expectations in baseball history actually exceed them? Yes, yes and unbelievably, yes. In being named the National League most valuable player on Thursday — becoming only the second player to win an MVP in both leagues — Ohtani completed a summer decorated with an even higher honor. Most Valuable Season Ever By A Los Angeles Athlete. This city has witnessed many memorable seasons by many legendary athletes, from Magic Johnson's rookie year to Fernando Valenzuela's rookie year to Sandy Koufax's 1963 to Eric Dickerson's 1984 to Shaquille O'Neal's 2000. But never before has one player during one season dominated the sport, transformed the town, awed the world and brought home a championship. After back-to-back playoff collapses, this was not a Dodgers town when Ohtani drove up the freeway from Anaheim this winter. It is overwhelmingly a Dodgers town now. His team was considered a bunch of underachievers before Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract. His team is now World Series champions. There was little international interest in the Dodgers before Ohtani brought his magical aura to Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are now the most popular baseball team in the world. One man changed everything, an MVP of MVPs, the greatest Dodgers newcomer since Valenzuela, the greatest Dodgers season ever. "It will be a special moment that I will never forget," he said Thursday through an interpreter, after a special season that no one will ever forget. He led the league with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, a 1.036 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, and that doesn't tell half of the story. Ohtani made such an impact, he significantly and unselfishly improved the team before he ever even stepped on the field. By agreeing to annually defer all but $2 million of his contract, he gave Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman the financial flexibility to add other great players. Without Ohtani's generosity, Friedman might not have acquired Teoscar Hernández, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Tyler Glasnow. Ohtani was a giant before he was a giant. Then the games started and here came those four words. You surely recognize them, because you've surely said them, time and again during a summer of dazzle. "Are you kidding me?" His season began in controversy, as longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara admitted to stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to support a gambling addiction. The scandal was salacious. Ohtani was scrutinized. He was questioned. He was not believed. He finally was cleared, but only after his reputation was put through a wringer. Yet through it all he kept swinging, slugging seven home runs with a 1.017 OPS in the first 32 games. "Are you kidding me?" As the summer progressed, he quietly got stronger and faster, smoothly making the transition to leadoff hitter and base stealer, hitting a dozen home runs in June, stealing a dozen bases in July, all while rehabbing a surgically repaired pitching shoulder. "Are you kidding me?" On Aug. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays, needing one home run to become the sixth person in the 40-homer, 40-steal club, Ohtani did it with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. "Are you kidding me?" On his Aug. 28 bobblehead night, his dog, Decoy, delivered the first pitch in a sprint from the mound to the plate, then in the first inning Ohtani casually stepped up and homered. "Are you kidding me?" On Sept. 19 in Miami, on the verge of becoming the first member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani barged into the record books with arguably the greatest offensive game in baseball history, going 6 for 6 with three homers and two stolen bases. "Are you kidding me?" After consistently stating that he signed with the Dodgers to win a championship, on Oct. 5 he stared down the San Diego Padres in the third inning of his first playoff game and promptly hit a three-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees, he suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder on a slide into second. Even though the injury was serious enough to later require surgery, he insisted on playing the rest of the Series, and he did so with one arm, his left arm seemingly painfully stuck to his body. In those final three games he still managed a hit and drew a walk and forced the Yankees to account for his presence. "Are you kidding me?" This is not only Ohtani's record third unanimous MVP, it's the first one in history won by a player who didn't play an inning in the field, and he acknowledged Thursday that his inability to pitch led to an increased offensive focus. "My goal was to be able to pitch and contribute offensively and the fact that I knew I wasn't going to be able to pitch this season made me focus more on my offensive game," he said. "Fortunately I was able to produce and get this award which is very humbling." One wonders what he possibly can do for an encore, yet he's already preparing for one, undergoing the shoulder surgery immediately after the season, his elbow rehab in full fling, his aim clear. "The goal is to be ready for opening day," he said. "That includes hitting and pitching." March 18, in Tokyo, against the Chicago Cubs, starting on the mound and batting leadoff ... Shohei Ohtani! "Are you kidding me?" ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
In 2023, nearly three in ten flights arrived more than 15 minutes late, according to Eurocontrol's 2024 data snapshot. Sadly, the reality — for many travellers around the world — is still the same today. The holiday season brings a familiar hustle and bustle: packed airports, long lines at security, delayed flights and the occasional scramble to find a gate. It’s a logistical nightmare that tests even the most seasoned travel operators. But now, buoyed by AI, the travel industry is finding some respite amidst the chaos. Udi Segall, CEO of IntellAct, said in an interview that AI’s role in the travel industry isn’t just about technology, but about connecting people. “AI’s true power lies in its human impact,” he told me. “It’s about ensuring families reunite on time, sparing crew members from extended delays, and bringing peace of mind to passengers navigating the holiday rush.” AI is helping airports and airlines be more efficient this holiday season, streamlining operations, reducing costs and improving passenger experiences. But for Segall, there are 5 major ways AI is keeping the booming travel industry on track. 5 Ways AI is Improving The Air Travel Industry 1. Diagnosing Delays and Keeping Flights on Time One of AI’s biggest promises for the travel industry is its ability to track, analyze and improve airplane turnaround times — a critical metric for maintaining on-time performance. Segall, who is also a board member of the Smart Airport Technologies Association, explained that AI-powered descriptive analytics can monitor every step of the turnaround process, from baggage unloading to cleaning services and passenger boarding. The hundreds of data points that AI gathers often help to generate a clear picture of how long each step takes. So, when delays occur, AI’s diagnostic capabilities kick in, identifying root causes such as slower-than-expected boarding or baggage handling issues. “These insights would be impossible to achieve manually, giving airport personnel the tools to address inefficiencies in real time,” said Segall. 2. Preventing Disruptions Before They Escalate Beyond diagnosing delays, AI also helps to predict and prevent disruptions. Through analyzing historical and real-time data, AI can predict how long it will take to resolve an issue and recommend actions to mitigate its impact. Prescriptive analytics , for instance, can suggest whether it’s worth waiting for missing passengers or prioritizing fuel-efficient paths to gates. “AI does not only monitor traveler traffic, but it also empowers personnel to make better decisions, reducing costs and customer frustrations,” noted Segall. 3. Boosting Operational Efficiency and Sustainability Flight delays cost both time and money. Many of us have been there, waiting for delayed flights for hours— seething with anger and thinking about the strong words to use in the complaints we will file. Such events don’t bode well for airlines. Although record numbers of people are flying today, according to CNN , airlines’ profits continue to plunge, with the aviation industry losing billions annually due to disruptions — from wasted fuel to labor expenses and compensation for disgruntled passengers. This is an area where AI’s predictive capabilities are useful. Segall noted that IntellAct’s AI-powered systems help airlines make the best use of gates, aircraft and personnel, reducing idle times and fuel consumption. He added that this not only saves money but also helps the industry to stay committed to the race to net-zero by 2050 . 4. Creating Safer Airports While there are ethical concerns around the use of AI for air travel, AI platforms like IntellAct enhance safety standards during turnaround operations, detecting and reporting violations in real time. Whether it’s spotting improperly loaded baggage or unauthorized personnel in restricted areas, AI-powered innovations are becoming more and more valuable in helping to create safer airports. 5. Transforming the Passenger Experience For air travelers, AI-powered tools offer less stress, shorter waits, as well as more predictability, impacting the overall travel experience for passengers. Segall even envisions a future where passengers enjoy seamless journeys, thanks to AI-driven innovations. From optimizing check-in times to managing gate assignments and improving in-flight services, could unlock a new range of experiences for air travellers. “Air travel hasn’t changed much for passengers in decades,” he said. “But with AI, we can finally create journeys that are smoother, more enjoyable and less frustrating.” AI’s Economic Superpower in Aviation Perhaps the biggest value in integrating AI into air travel operations is the economic value it presents. For example, one of the leading causes of losses for airlines is flight disruption . Every delay burns money, said Segall, who cited wasted fuel and costly labor as examples of how flight disruptions lead to losses in the aviation industry. Imagine the cumulative GDP boost across the globe if millions of passengers spent less time waiting in airports and more time engaged in meaningful activities. “By keeping flights on track, AI contributes not just to operational efficiency but also to global economic growth,” said Segall who added that “the aviation industry works with razor-thin margins, and AI offers a path to profitability without compromising passenger experience or sustainability.” Whether it’s keeping families together during the holiday rush or driving long-term economic growth, AI looks poised to change the way we move, one flight at a time.None
More college men embrace GOP as misogynistic displays spike on campusSitting down to speak with Jonathan Traynor , a Glasgow-based artist and writer, about his newly-released book, POCA! , we were expecting a few things. Y'know the sort of stuff: how the Kickstarter went; where the idea for the book came from; hopes for the future; picks for the Top of the Pops Xmas #1; and so on. However, in spending an hour with this huge fan of all things Game Boy Camera , we find ourselves enthralled and engaged in ways we just didn't see coming. Why? Well, because at the time we'd been drinking eggnog all morning. But also, because Jonathan's passion for one of the Game Boy's coolest peripherals is infectious. You can't not find out something you didn't know about this technological marvel whilst spending an hour in this man's company. But what exactly is POCA? Well, before we got our hands on a copy of the book, we assumed it was a dinky little pocket comic about a talking Game Boy Camera (or Pocket Camera as it's known in Japan) who goes on a big day out snapping photos in Glasgow. Which would have been enough to warrant a serious investigation, let's face it. The intriguing thing here, though, is that it turns out to be more. Rather than make something that appeals only to gamers, or fans of the Game Boy specifically, this is a celebration of the love and care that went into the creation of the Pocket Camera that's welcoming to any reader. It's a heartfelt tip of the hat to composer Hirokazu "Hip" (or indeed "Chip") Tanaka that melds its gaming origins with a cool story, plus some genuinely useful tourist pointers about Glasgow. What a mix! It may also be just the beginning of a worldwide adventure for Poca himself. We hopped over to Glasgow's majestic Kelvingrove Museum — where some of the book takes place — to speak with Jonathan. Nintendo Life: Hello there, Jonathan. Let's start off by talking about where the initial idea for POCA! came from. It immediately feels like it's something quite personal to you, so what was the initial spark? Jonathan Traynor: Around this time last year, I got an Analogue Pocket, just as a curiosity and it's the best thing I've ever bought. I instantly knew it was such a good purchase, because I obviously owned a Game Boy when I was young. And the fact that you can plug Game Boy games into this and play them straight away has been such a marvel. So, I got this, and I've recently also been taking up photography as a hobby. A couple of years back, I got my first proper, dedicated camera. Prior to that, I was just taking photographs from my phone, like anyone, but I wanted to make a more deliberate effort to take photographs of things and carry a camera around to new places that I went to. When I picked up this Analogue Pocket, one of the first things I did was find my old Game Boy Camera, and I popped it into the Analogue and it still had photographs from when I was, like, nine years old on it. Immediately I knew I had to do something with that. It has a personal aspect, absolutely, but it also takes such unique images. Then from the realisation you wanted to do something, the book was the first thought? Or were there other ideas first? Initially, what I wanted to do was maybe make a photography zine or something like that. But I was also looking into the history of the development of the Game Boy Camera, and it's such a unique device when it comes to its development as well. It almost never got made, and the developers had to really try hard to pitch [and] make it. But when it came out, it also held the record as the world's smallest digital camera. I also realised that there were quite a lot of differences between the Game Boy Camera as they came out in the West, and the Pocket Camera as it was known in Japan. And one of the big differences was the branding and packaging. It's almost like a little buddy character kind of thing there, like a Tamagotchi . I just had this idea of, 'Oh, it's like this own little standalone guy with this eyeball.' And it becomes this whole other thing when you put it into a Game Boy. It was around that time I started brainstorming this idea, I could turn this into a small adventure book about a little Game Boy Camera-style character, who travels around taking photographs of places. Glasgow, as a starting point. And then you came up with the name Poca, which is obvious in a way, but is there more to it? I called him Poca, after Pocket Camera, and also to avoid any legal troubles. [laughs] It works pretty well as a name, doesn't it? And, you know, Pokémon was a huge thing for me, and so Pokémon and Tamagotchis and Digimon and things like that, this idea of having a little companion who grew alongside you and levelled up and gained new skills and abilities. And I thought I could bring that into Poca as a character. So that's part of the concept of this book - Poca is this little camera from the '90s. He's a little outdated and he was developed and designed to be like just like for the kids in the '90s, maybe the Game Boy Camera was the first camera they ever had. Right? Yeah, the levelling up of the character was one of our favourite parts of the book - from a gamer perspective, how he grows and gains new skills along the way. The question marks over the skills of Poca as he first boots up and comes back to life, had us excited to see how he would develop. Yeah, that was one of the aspects of it that I really wanted to drill into, how he could learn all these skills that maybe modern cameras use, things like geolocation or time and dates, or maybe eventually colour photography or something like that. As Poca levelled up and grew alongside you, he'd get better and develop. Let's talk about the Kickstarter a little bit. When did you decide to jump into Kickstarter? Was that terrifying and how did it go? It was extremely terrifying! It was the most work...I didn't realise how much work a Kickstarter is. Last year I made my very first little comic book. It was a small passion project. I made this little 60-page comic and I paid for the printing costs of that upfront, which was quite a lot, because it's not cheap to print books, as it turns out! And it was like a little black-and-white book so the costs were a bit more reasonable. But I knew going into this that the costs were going to be higher because it's a full-colour book featuring a lot of photographs and things. It has to be of a certain quality for photographs to work. It's a risk, but if you have a good idea, it can work, right? And because the book is such a good mix of things, in that it brings together the travel aspect, the tourism, the Game Boy, there's something there for people who aren't necessarily into games. You could give this to a kid as a way to enjoy sightseeing around the city, for example? Yeah, that was definitely one of the pitches for the book. That was what was important to me - I'm a massive Nintendo fan, and I'm a huge games enthusiast, but I didn't want to just make the book for gaming people. And especially the Game Boy, it's already a niche kind of subject and the fact that it's a '90s thing, who is my audience? Am I targeting 30-year-olds like myself? Or am I targeting kids? How do I take this subject and make it a bit more all-around appealing to people? I thought the fact that it's centred and based around Glasgow, the city I've spent most of my life in, was a big draw as well because I loved developing this interest in taking photographs of the places I like. But also, I want to try and take these things and do something with them. So this was taking a lot of things that I've been interested in over the years, and trying to put them together into one big kind of book. We want to touch on the end-of-chapter summaries that we've already touched on a bit, but to go back to them, it's a very nice idea, with the collected characters from the current chapter, Poca's thoughts, and so on, all presented on a final round-up page. Was this always part of the plan? It was actually something that came in the latter half of development of the book, these end-of-chapter reports. I call it the Pocadex, which is obviously inspired by Pokémon. There's a lot of influences in there. I was creating chapters, and I had all these ideas for the characters that appear in each one, and what I wanted Poca to say and go through. I was finding that I was at risk of making the chapters way too long. So I thought, influenced by Pikmin and how the character Olimar writes a little end-of-day report and talks about certain things - maybe it's something that happened that day, maybe he found this item or something, or he's just talking about Pikmin in general. And I was like, 'Oh that'd be quite a cool idea like at the end of a chapter. Maybe Poca could write a little end-of-day report along those lines. I've also got him signing off at the end and he's got a level, like "Poca, Level 1." You know when you were a kid and you would maybe draw a picture or something, you'd always sign it "Jonathan, age 5," I thought that'd be a cute wee thing to do. And with the chapter titles, there's something going on there, too. We recognise them. We had initially guessed Super Mario Galaxy , but we were wrong! It's Pikmin 4 , right? How could we not know that after guiding the game? [laughs] Well, I'm a huge Pikmin fan. Pikmin is probably my all-time favourite Nintendo franchise. I don't know if you know this, but I'm almost single-handedly responsible for bringing Pikmin back into the mainstream. [laughs] For about two years solid, every week on a Wednesday at 1pm, I would post a tweet saying that Shigeru Miyamoto had confirmed Pikmin 4 was in development. And this was in that period after Pikmin 3 , where it just went silent for like about eight years. And I was, as a Pikmin fan, just like, where is it? So I just hammered it on Twitter until the day it was actually officially announced, and I was like, 'Okay, I'm done!' There are some shots of drawn characters here that got us thinking, had you planned that shot beforehand, had you got the photos in advance and then came up with a story to fit what you had? Or did figure the story out first? Yeah, 90% of the photographs were taken before the book was in development, before I'd planned out the story or the characters and stuff. A lot of the characters and story were made to fit around what I could do with the photographs. I had all these photographs around the River Clyde because I walk down there quite a lot, I'm nearby and it's a nice walk on a nice day. And this is where we got a surprise at first from the book, we learned something new (!) about the River Clyde after living here for 20 years. There's a story running through the book that involves it, right? I was trying to think of a little chapter-length story that I could put Poca through as he travels around, and I got this idea of, well, why is it called the River Clyde? I didn't really know. And I looked into it and what I discovered was that the River Clyde is named after a Celtic goddess called Clota. And as it turns out, there's not a lot known about this goddess. There are two references in historical text, or on a wall in some Roman place, referring to this goddess, and it's just carried on since then. And so I developed this idea of creating Clota as a character in the book, she could pop up and speak to Poca. I wanted this fantastical layer to the book, almost in a Spirited Away , Ghibli kind of way. One thing we've got to ask you about is the pictures of real people dotted through the book here and there. Are they friends, Kickstarter backers? There is a picture here at the beginning of Phantom Donuts, of two people. So I'm in Phantom Donuts all the time. And, then, at the end of the book, the very final chapter is set in a sushi shop called Sushi Riot. And I knew at this point what I wanted to do with the story and I knew that, not to spoil things, but Poca's story is eventually going to lead to Japan. And I thought it would be nice if the final chapter of the book had that kind of tie or that lead-in to Japan. Ok, let's get into that, so the plan is there for the next book to be in Japan? We weren't sure whether it was to be continued or not. Initially, at the beginning of the year, the idea started out as a little story about Glasgow. This summer I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel. Me and my partner went to Hawaii, and there was an opportunity there. At this time I was just really into taking photographs with a Game Boy Camera and stuff. I was like, 'You know what, I'm going to do it. I'm going to take my Game Boy Camera to Hawaii as well.' As we were planning this trip to Hawaii, I also tacked on a trip to Japan at the end. I had a sabbatical from work and it allowed me to do this. And before I went, I [thought], 'You know what, I could take a bunch of photographs in Hawaii, I could take a bunch of photographs in Japan, and I could make three books. I could make a Glasgow, Hawaii, and a Japan book.' And at this time, the books were still very ... I was still thinking they were just going to be short, 30-page books or something. So, when you were in Japan as well, you bought some more Pocket Cameras and you made a bit of a discovery. I knew that when I went over I was going to be looking for more. So I ended up coming back with four Game Boy cameras, including one boxed one. And this is maybe a little bit interesting, but the Game Boy had photographs on them already from other people who had owned them previously. And I felt really bad about deleting them. I didn't want to delete other people's memories and photographs. So, perhaps a little controversially, I did decide to use a few of these photographs in the book and incorporate them into the story in some way. I asked around and I put out feelers and I was like, 'Is this okay?' I don't know, is using other people's images without their permission okay? I don't even know how I would ever find these people, right? I don't know if this photograph was taken in the 1990s or 2015. I asked around and I put out feelers and I was like, 'Is this okay?'...You can go down to the market and buy photobooks of people's photographs down there. You can buy postcards people sent a hundred years ago, and I always find that quite interesting, and a little bit sad. So I thought, there's a certain level of anonymity when it comes to Game Boy Camera photographs, right? Because they're so low-resolution and black and white and stuff. You can go down to the market and buy photobooks of people's photographs down there. You can buy postcards people sent a hundred years ago, and I always find that quite interesting, and a little bit sad. I think that even if it transpired that they saw the book, they'd only be happy about it and I would love nothing more than to try and find them. You have another book here, a very cool-looking Japanese guide to the Pocket Camera, from all the way back in the day and it's full of stuff that the camera could do. This Pocket Camera guide is something I didn't really know existed until six months ago or something. Somebody on Twitter posted a picture of their very impressive Nintendo collection including all these like Game Boy cameras and stuff, and this book, and I was like, 'Oh my god, what's this book? I need to see it, I need to find it.' I ended up hunting down a copy. I was like blown away by the book. It's obviously all in Japanese. It's mostly just quite dense 'Here's what you can do with the Game Boy Camera' and all this fun stuff. You can make limited animations, you can do this, you can do that. But one of the things I did realise is that the development team for the Game Boy Camera was this very interesting group of people that came together and had a lot of passion for this project. In particular, the project was led by Hirokazu Tanaka, who's a music composer primarily, and he made a lot of Nintendo tunes that you would recognise instantly from the Game Boy era ( Tetris , Super Mario Land ) and the NES era ( Balloon Fight , Metroid ). He was the project lead on this and he ended up going on to work for Creatures Inc. [as president]. So here's this big guy and he retired from all that recently , and he's now a chiptune artist. He goes around performing sets in Japan with all these stage shows. He's just an incredibly, incredibly cool guy. You can listen to his music on Spotify, it goes under the pseudonym Chip Tanaka . I was looking into it and I can tell he's still very passionate about the Game Boy Camera and the work that was put into it. We feel as though we really need to make some sort of an effort for Mr Tanaka to see this book now. You were considering this guy as you worked on it? You can see towards the end of the book, or in certain bits, there's all these little tidbits that he's written about the Game Boy Camera and then at the very end there's all these comic strips, and this was after I was developing Poca's idea, and I was looking at this, and I was thinking, 'There's something here, there's a connective tissue.' What I found out, something maybe not a lot of people know, but the Game Boy Camera has this hidden staff credits screen. It's full of secrets and easter eggs in the software, but there are games that you can play, and one of them is a button-mashing runner, and if you beat [it] under a certain amount of time, you unlock secret staff credits. And the secret staff credits have music that Hirokazu Tanaka wrote, and it's like the most — I don't know — I was listening to it for the first time this summer, and I was almost tearing up. I just thought it was the most beautiful music I'd ever heard and it felt like it really...it was instantly like the theme tune to Poca for me. I was thinking, "This is everything I wanted from this project." And it's such an interesting thing. If this book reignites someone's interest in the Game Boy Camera or in Tanaka, I feel like that would make me very happy. I mean, if I could find a way to get a copy of this to him, it would definitely be like a dream come true. I feel like I made the book almost for him. Oh wow. Imagine if we could somehow make a Christmas miracle happen and get a copy of this in Mr Tanaka's hands. Right, you know that would be kind of perfect. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Thanks to Jonathan Traynor for his time, and to the staff at Kelvingrove Museum, for the lovely coffee. "Poca! Vol.1 Glasgow" is now available to buy over on Kickstarter and you can follow Jonathan ( @Jofamo ) and Chip Tanaka ( @tanac2e ) on Twitter.Trump cites Hunter Biden pardon in latest legal attempt to throw out hush money conviction
Martinez had gone eight matches since last finding the back of the net against Venezia on November 3 but after Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the 54th minute, the Argentina international struck in Sardinia. The Inter captain took his tally against Cagliari to 10 goals in as many games after 71 minutes before Hakan Calhanoglu capped an excellent night for the visitors from the penalty spot a few moments later. This moment >>> — Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) Inter’s fifth-successive league victory led to them temporarily leapfrogging Atalanta, who reclaimed top spot but saw their lead cut to a single point following a 1-1 draw at Lazio. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side were grateful for a point in the end after falling behind to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s first-half strike, only drawing level with two minutes remaining thanks to Marco Brescianini. Lautaro Valenti’s last-gasp strike condemned rock-bottom Monza to a 10th defeat in 18 matches as Parma edged a 2-1 victory, while Genoa defeated Empoli by the same scoreline.
HALIFAX — A veteran federal fisheries officer has been suspended for 10 days without pay for his role in arresting two Mi'kmaq elver fishers late at night and releasing them in only their stocking feet. Kevin Hartling and Blaise Sylliboy, both in their 20s, were arrested on March 26 as they fished for baby eels near Shelburne, N.S. They said three fisheries officers confiscated their phones and hip waders before leaving them at a gas station about a 45-minute drive from where they had been fishing. Hartling has said that after the two men were asked to leave the gas station, they walked in the cold without boots along a highway in southern Nova Scotia for hours before they were able to borrow a cellphone to reach a friend, who came and picked them up. After the incident became public in April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it “extremely troubling” and promised a complete investigation. The Canadian Press verified the penalty imposed on the veteran officer but was unable to confirm what sanctions were imposed on the two more junior fishery officers. The supervisory officer's release of the men without footwear is described in the administrative investigation as a breach of the department's code of values and ethics. It was also considered a failure to "assume responsibility for care and control" of people under arrest, as detailed in the department's standard operating procedures. The discipline imposed considered the officer had no prior disciplinary breaches and "demonstrated remorse." The time without pay began on Wednesday and was to continue until the end of Christmas Day. Hartling, who spoke to The Canadian Press on Wednesday by text message, said he finds the penalty insufficient. "It seems like a pretty light penalty in my personal opinion. He should also have to do a behavioural course, so he isn’t doing this to more people," he wrote. "I would rather have had them take me to jail or at least cut our (hip) waders so we could have had something left on our feet." However, a source who didn't want to be identified due to potential employment repercussions reported that many federal Fisheries Department enforcement officers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick booked off on mental health leave Wednesday to protest the penalties imposed. The source said many officers believe the supervisor followed arrest procedures in taking the men to a location of their choice — a gas station — and dropping them off. It is normal procedure for DFO officers to seize hip waders and cellphones when making arrests in suspected illegal fishing, and the officers do not bring people they arrest to jail in these circumstances, the source said. The source said the officers made some efforts to retrieve Sylliboy's and Hartlings' boots before they departed the scene of the arrest. "The expectation to drive somebody home when they live eight hours away (in Cape Breton) is not a realistic expectation. How do we go and buy or purchase these guys boots late at night? What options do the officers have to try to accommodate them?" asked the source. The Union of Health and Environment Workers, which represents the officers, declined comment Wednesday on the sanctions and on the officers' protest. Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier also declined comment, saying the finding is a human relations matter, and a spokeswoman for the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs said they had no comment on an "internal DFO matter." Lebouthillier announced in July she had ordered an external review into the matter that would look at "procedures to eradicate the potential for systemic biases or racism." A spokesman said on Wednesday that the review hasn't started yet. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 11, 2024. Michael Tutton, The Canadian PressUnderdog Fantasy Promo Code BETFPB for Arizona vs. Duke: $1,000 bonus for Nov. 22 college basketball
MARKET REPORT: Shares in British Airways 'to keep gaining altitude' By JON HOPKINS Updated: 22:19, 11 December 2024 e-mail View comments British Airways owner IAG has seen its share price go on a journey this year, almost doubling in value, and Deutsche Bank thinks that journey has only just begun. The German bank’s analysts said capacity constraints on transatlantic flights should leave IAG able to lift prices into 2025. This, they said, is supported by early evidence from the bank’s fares tracker and underpinned by the macro-outlook for the US, the UK and Spain. The analysts see scope for another year of above-consensus earnings growth in 2025. As a result, they lifted their rating to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ and hiked their price target to 400p, propelling IAG up 2.1 per cent, or 6p, to 288p. After benign US inflation data opened the way for a final round of rate cuts in 2025, the FTSE 100 closed 0.26 per cent, or 21.26 points, higher at 8301.62, while the FTSE 250 was virtually flat – down 0.49 points, to 20,973.45. On the rise: Shares in British Airways owner IAG have almost doubled in value this year and are now tipped to climb even higher Among other blue-chip gainers, British American Tobacco added 1 per cent, or 39p, to 2999p after reaffirming full-year guidance for 2024, helped by a stronger second half driven by investments in its US operations and innovation in its new categories portfolio. Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser rose 2.8 per cent, or 132p, to 4835p after an upgrade to ‘buy’ from ‘hold’ from analysts at HSBC who noted it trades at a material discount to its peers and raised their target price to 5500p. And Endeavour Mining took on 5.9 per cent, or 89p, to 1589p as it revealed a definitive feasibility study on a gold project in Cote d’Ivoire after a preliminary assessment met strategic targets. On the downside, equipment hire firm Ashtead Group slipped 1.7 per cent, or 92p, to 5300p after sliding 14 per cent following a guidance cut in the previous session. IT firm Kainos rose 4.5 per cent, or 36p, to 839p after reappointing Brendan Mooney as chief executive, just over a year after he stepped down. Mooney replaces Russell Sloan. And SSP firmed 2.5 per cent, or 4.7p, to 191.5p after the Upper Crust owner announced plans for an IPO in the spring of its Indian joint venture, Travel Food Services. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Boots could return to London market as US owner enters talks... Sir Clive Cowdery set for bumper windfall on £8.3bn sale of... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account Among the small caps, Sound Energy surged 53.9 per cent, or 0.35p, higher to 1p as the developer of gas projects completed the part-divestment of its Moroccan assets for up to £35.4million. Victoria gained 6.6 per cent, or 3,8p, to 61.8p, adding to a leap in the previous session made after the carpet firm’s chief executive bought 200,000 shares and Morgan Stanley hiked its stake to 12.5 per cent. Fintech firm Equals Group added 12.1 per cent, or 14.5p, to 134.5p after agreeing to a £283million takeover by Alakazam Holdings. And Billington rose 13.3 per cent, or 56p, to 476p after the structural steel group said it expects its full-year pre-tax profit to exceed current market expectations. But Versarien shed 16.9 per cent, or 0.01p, to 0.03p, having gained almost 23 per cent in two sessions this week after it announced a distribution deal for a biosensor chip product in the UK and Europe. Stock Watch - ProCook ProCook fell 5.7 per cent, or 2.1p, to 35p after the kitchenware retailer flagged a slow start to its key third quarter. The firm blamed fewer shoppers ahead of the Budget, though numbers have improved since. Its reported losses were up in the half-year to October 13 and, although like-for-like retail revenue rose 4.2 per cent, for the following eight weeks they were down 4 per cent. In the first eight weeks of the third quarter, revenue rose 0.9 per cent like-for-like. 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We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence. More top storiesTesla CEO Elon Musk posted a very simple question Dec. 7 on his X (formerly Twitter) social media account: “ Why are we doing this when our own country is so deeply in debt?” The object of Musk’s curiosity? International humanitarian aid, which, according to a United Nations estimate , the United States gave more of than nine other countries combined, totaling almost $9.5 billion in 2023. As one of two co-chiefs of the still nebulous “Department of Government Efficiency” ― at this point, “DOGE” it is more of a social media account than an actual federal entity ― all eyes are on Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and what they will focus on as potential areas where the government can save money. But, as the foreign aid example shows, so far Musk appears to be looking at small but headline-grabbing proposals with little potential to meaningfully reduce the federal budget deficit. “They’re not serious about controlling the deficit or the debt. What they’re serious about is helping people that would help them. That’s it,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) told HuffPost. There is little dispute the U.S. government debt load has entered nearly unprecedented levels, with fears it could lead to a sharp financial crisis or become an ever-larger drag on economic growth. The federal debt held by investors was 99% of the size of the U.S. economy in 2024, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in June , and projected to hit 122% by 2034. For comparison, the debt load of the U.S. after World War II was almost 109%. And the problem gets worse each year. The annual deficit (the difference between how much the government brings in each year and how much it has spent), and thus how much debt gets added to the government’s ledger, was $1.83 trillion in 2024 . That reflected spending of $6.75 trillion but revenue of only $4.92 trillion. Though the years immediately following the pandemic financial crisis featured low interest rates and sputtering growth, making deficit spending wise and necessary, the high interest rates and steady growth of the years following the COVID-19 upheaval would seemingly be ideal for cutting spending. That’s not what President-elect Donald Trump, who appointed Musk and Ramaswamy as co-chiefs of the advisory panel, has planned. He has focused on extending and expanding the massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations that were passed during his first term, which would explode the deficit even further and risk reigniting inflation. In theory, those tax breaks could be offset by spending cuts proposed by Musk. But the items he has recently posted about would do very little to close the gap. For example, getting rid of the $9.5 billion in international humanitarian aid that Musk questioned would have reduced the 2024 deficit by only about 0.5%. (1% of $1.83 trillion is $18.3 billion.) Likewise, even if all foreign aid and international relations spending were scrapped — an unlikely prospect given U.S. commitments to international organizations as well as allies such as Israel — that would have totaled close to $72 billion in 2024 . Though that may sound impressive on paper, it would have reduced the deficit by only a little under 4%. Similarly, on Dec. 5, the DOGE social media account targeted the National Institutes of Health for spending $759 million on workforce diversity and outreach in 2023. If that same amount had been eliminated in 2024, it would have cut the deficit by less than a quarter of a percentage point. It would not be the first time seemingly simple and politically popular ideas have been proposed that would do little to change the fiscal trajectory. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have long sought to highlight individual instances of potentially wasteful spending, dating back to Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who gave out annual “Golden Fleece” awards to what he saw as egregious examples of waste from 1975 to 1987. The phenomenon is familiar to old-time deficit hawks. “We’re probably going to spend so much of our time looking at the things that make headlines — million-dollar hammers, gerbil racing, all of those things ― and it will keep us away from where everyone who’s serious in this area knows the real savings are,” Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), told reporters in November. Those areas are spending on entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and spending through the tax code in the form of rates, credits and deductions. “We will hear a lot of ways to try to avoid the real, hard choices that ultimately are going to have to be part of a budget deal, the same thing many of us have been saying for many years,” MacGuineas said. Indeed, MacGuineas’ group put forward a list of what it called “$700 Billion of Easy Deficit Reduction” in November as a way to jumpstart the discussion. They included ideas like spending more money on the Internal Revenue Service’s tax enforcement (bringing in an extra $130 billion over 10 years), stop paying “excessive” tax credits for businesses still trying to claim money under the COVID-era employee retention program ($80 billion over 10 years), extending the Federal Communications Commission’s auctions of electromagnetic spectrum ($70 billion over 10 years) and extending an existing but small across-the-board cut in entitlement spending set to expire in a few years ($85 billion). A more comprehensive list was dropped Dec. 12 by the CBO . Released once every two years after elections, it’s a list of options for lawmakers on entitlement spending, annual discretionary spending and taxes, describing what changes could be made and how much they would raise revenues or cut spending over 10 years. Little-known outside of budget wonk circles, the report’s options, in keeping with CBO’s nonpartisan advisory to role to Congress, run the gamut, from imposing new taxes to big cuts in entitlement programs. For example, its two biggest deficit-cutting ideas are on the tax side, eliminating all itemized deductions for income taxes (raising $3.42 trillion over 10 years) and imposing a European-style value-added tax (VAT) of 5% on goods and services (raising $3.38 trillion over 10 years). On spending, the biggest option CBO outlined was recalculating what the government pays Medicare Advantage health insurance plans in relation to their participants’ health ($1.05 trillion over 10 years). Other big spending cut options in the report included trimming the annual defense budget by $959 billion over 10 years and capping how much the federal government spends on Medicaid for each person in the federal-state insurance program ($893 billion over 10 years). Bill Hoagland, senior vice president of the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Capitol Hill Republican budget staffer, said the options used to be looked at closely when they came out. “But once again, there’s not always much new about them.” The problem with the CRFB and CBO ideas is that they would be nonstarters politically. Republicans talked a big game about tax reform in 2017 but ended up keeping most itemized deductions. And neither party is up for imposing a VAT in place of the current income tax system. Similarly, cutting Medicare would be difficult in the wake of Trump’s promises that it and Social Security would be off-limits in his second term. Cuts to Medicaid would draw opposition from states that share the costs of the program, doctors who see Medicaid patients and millions of people who rely on the program. Those are just a few examples of the bigger problem, according to Hoagland. “This isn’t the first rodeo for a lot of us,” Hoagland said. “We’ve been through this a lot, and where is the political will to follow through?” MacGuineas had a similar concern. Though she said some technological changes, like the rise of artificial intelligence, could boost economic growth and make deficit reduction easier, she said those kinds of ideas should not distract from more credible, even if politically tougher, ones. “We know all the policies that are going to fix these fiscal situations. It’s just getting the political will. It’s just ending the polarization and partisanship enough that we can work together on this,” MacGuineas said. That may not be as impossible as it sounds. A few Democrats have joined the DOGE Caucus on Capitol Hill, though its membership is overwhelmingly Republican. On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will reclaim the most powerful seat in our nation's government. 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Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all. Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages. And though McGovern, the House Democrat, said he doesn’t see the effort as a serious one, he said he was willing to work with DOGE on areas where they might agree, such as defense spending after Musk criticized the cost of the F-35 fighter jet’s development . “If they want to talk about looking at the Pentagon budget, find savings there, I would welcome that,” McGovern said. Related From Our Partner
Susquehanna’s long and winding road to the Division III football quarterfinals has led the team back home. The River Hawks host Bethel (Minn.) at noon Saturday — four months to the day since their first practice of the season. Susquehanna’s first day of class was Aug. 24. A couple of weeks later, SU beat Bridgewater 41-7 in a season-opening matchup under the lights of Doug Arthur Stadium. Point is, it’s been quite a lengthy season. It’s a good time to look back at the most pivotal plays that got the River Hawks where they are today, two wins away from reaching the Stagg Bowl. Bourgeois stuns Johnnies Does anything else measure up to last week’s game-winning field goal? Given the ball in a tied game with 3:31 to play, the River Hawks had the chance to knock off top-seeded St. John’s (Minn.) at its Clemens Stadium home. However, SU soon faced third-and-7 from its own 28-yard line. Susquehanna coach Tom Perkovich let the clock run, knowing that giving the ball back to St. John’s All-American quarterback Aaron Syverson could spell trouble. “We had two timeouts left. I thought we had enough (time) to move the ball down the field,” Perkovich said. “In the end, I did not want to give it back to them. It was everything to do with not wanting to give it back to their firepower in the pass game.” The River Hawks converted that third down (more on that later) and they kept marching down the field, chewing the clock until only two seconds remained. Dominic Bourgeois knew his number would be called to kick. “We got the stop, and I saw them driving down the field,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to kick a field goal or an extra point. They were the only two options, and I trusted the offense to get down the field.” After the Johnnies took a timeout to ice the sophomore kicker, Bourgeois drilled a 37-yard field goal right down the middle, whipping the Susquehanna sideline into a frenzy. Robbins keeps the drive alive Back to that third-and-7 situation in Collegeville, Minn. Failing to pick up that conversion would have given St. John’s the ball with less than three minutes to play, still plenty of time to break the tie and advance to the quarterfinals. SU quarterback Josh Ehrlich found Michael Robbins open on the right side of the field and delivered a strike. The 16-yard completion kept the drive alive, one that became a 10-play, 55-yard series that culminated in Bourgeois’ game-winning kick. Robbins caught another 16-yard pass from near midfield later in the drive that put SU on the brink of field-goal range. They were Robbins’ only two catches in the game. “Those two plays were huge,” Perkovich said. Ehrlich calls ‘game’ One week earlier, in their 42-35 second-round win over Hobart, the River Hawks were faced with a third-and-9 scenario from the Statesmen’s 32-yard line with two minutes to play. Not quite in field-goal range, the River Hawks could have played it safe with a run up the middle. The result of the play would have informed a decision to try for three points and a two-score margin, or to punt and force Hobart to drive the length of the field. Instead, Perkovich trusted his quarterback to make a play. Risking an incompletion that would have stopped the clock — or a potential turnover — Ehrlich dropped back to pass and found Robbins open across the middle for an 18-yard gain. As the Statesmen had no timeouts remaining, the gutsy completion allowed SU to kneel out the clock and secure its first NCAA win since 1991. “For us, it’s about putting the ball in the right people’s hands,” Perkovich said after the game. “I tried to stay incredibly aggressive throughout the game, and I think we did that. We saw the fruits of that labor.” Announcing his arrival Rahshan La Mons announced his presence with much fanfare in the second quarter of his first collegiate game. Split out wide deep in SU territory, the rookie back brought in a third-down screen pass from Ehrlich just beyond the line of scrimmage. He weaved in and out, avoiding the grasp of several Bridgewater defenders. By the time he reached the home 40-yard line, it was clear he was going to sail to the end zone. That 86-yard touchdown play was the first of his three scores that day. He finished with 228 total yards in the season-opening matchup. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” La Mons said. “I called my parents last night, and they couldn’t believe how nervous I was. I’ve never been so nervous before a game in my life.” With 1,855 yards and 24 touchdowns to his name, La Mons was the Landmark Conference rookie of the year and was named to D3football’s All-Region squad as the first team running back. “He’s one of the best players in the country,” Ehrlich said. “Definitely the best player I’ve ever played with.” Ruisch, Fleming secure win Back on Sept. 14, Brockport looked like a team poised to potentially stun the River Hawks. Down by six points in the final two minutes of the game, the Golden Eagles forced a punt and started a drive on their own 14-yard line. After three incomplete passes, they converted on fourth-and-10 to keep the drive alive. Brockport picked up another first down and soon moved into Susquehanna territory, threatrning to hand SU a loss with a matchup looming against the reigning national champion Cortland. That was until River Hawks linebacker Jeese Ruisch slammed into a Brockport receiver Nolan Slywka, forcing the ball out of his grasp and onto the turf. SU sophomore cornerback Ben Fleming was quickest to the loose ball. His recovery allowed the River Hawks to kill the final 52 seconds and deny Brockport’s upset bid. “I was just going in pursuit of the tackle,” Fleming said. “I saw Ruisch punch the ball out, and just dove on the ball.” A Week 2 loss would have cost SU the right to host an NCAA second-round game, and possibly could have cost them a first-round bye.The Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, has described the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex as an astonishing masterpiece, showcasing Nigeria’s technological advancements on the global stage. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Communication and Branding Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina. According to the statement, the Dangote Group also reiterated that its petroleum products are in demand worldwide, as it expands its polypropylene section to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported polypropylene, a crucial material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive manufacturing industries. The Japanese delegation, which toured the impressive facilities housing both the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals as well as Dangote Fertilisers, commended the state-of-the-art technology on display. According to the stated, the delegation noted that it reinforces Nigeria’s role as the gateway to Africa. Managing Director of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Takashi Oku, remarked that while Nigeria remains the gateway to Africa, the Dangote Refinery stands as a remarkable project that showcases the country’s technological progress. He added that the facility, as the world’s largest single-train refinery, is a point of immense pride for Nigeria. The statement explained that JETRO is Japan’s governmental organisation for trade and investment. “We had heard about the excellence of the Dangote Refinery through the media but seeing it in person has left us truly amazed by its vastness and grandeur. “It demonstrates that Nigeria’s population is not only growing but also advancing in technology. We are keen to collaborate with Nigerian companies, especially Dangote Refinery,” he said. Emphasising that the refinery has bolstered Nigeria’s leading position in Africa, he further noted that the facility serves as an ideal introduction to the country for the global community. Managing Director of Itochu Nigeria Limited, Masahiro Tsuno, also praised the sheer size and automation of the Dangote Refinery, calling it a miracle and one of the wonders of the world. “I’ve seen many standalone refineries across the globe, including in Vietnam and the Middle East. However, the size of a refinery built by one single investor is probably a miracle in the world. And I’m just actually witnessing a miracle, to be honest, today,” he said. Tsuno indicated that his company would seek collaboration with the refinery across various sectors, including polypropylene and other petroleum products. Commending the ambassador-designate and his team, Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, explained that the facility is the vision of a Nigerian investor- Aliko Dangote. He added that it was designed and built by Nigerians, and intended to serve the global market. He said that it is a point of pride that a Nigerian company not only designed but also built the world’s largest single-train refinery complex. The statement noted that Dangote Industries Limited, a Nigerian company, acted as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the refinery. It added that in the process, cutting-edge technologies from around the world were incorporated to ensure that the facility met the highest standards. Edwin assured the ambassador-designate and the delegation that the company is open to collaboration, always striving to maintain the best possible standards. “Even now, we have a lot of Japanese equipment inside both the refinery and the fertiliser plant. There are significant opportunities for collaboration, as we always seek the latest technology in any business we engage in. For instance, our cement plant laboratory is managed by robots, and we always embrace advanced technology. “With Japan’s focus on technological innovation, there is ample scope for cooperation and for supplying various types of technology,” he said. Edwin also stated that the Dangote Petrochemical project will significantly boost investment in downstream industries, creating substantial value, generating employment, increasing tax revenues, reducing foreign exchange outflows, and contributing to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He confirmed that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally. “In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa among others. Diesel has gone all over the world, and jet fuel is being heavily exported to European markets. Our products are already making their mark internationally,” he said. He further stated that by leveraging Africa’s vast crude oil resources to produce refined products locally, the Dangote Group aims to create a virtuous cycle of industrial development, job creation, and economic prosperity.