For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbAs the winter transfer window approaches, the pharmaceutical factory-owned club is preparing to make a significant offer to lure the young prodigy away from Real Madrid. While the financial aspect of the deal is important, the club is also touting a project that promises the player regular playing time, development opportunities, and the chance to become a key figure in their squad.Now, the woman who once graced the covers of magazines and walked the red carpets of prestigious award shows is barely recognizable. Clad in tattered clothes and unkempt hair, Lin Jing'en was captured on film rummaging through the aisles of a convenience store, asking for scraps of food from bewildered customers. The stark contrast between her past glamour and present destitution was a heartbreaking sight for those who recognized her.
When could TikTok be banned? When is Supreme Court weighing in? Here's what to knowThe Israeli government, for its part, has defended the operation as a necessary measure to protect its security and prevent attacks from militants operating in Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will not tolerate any threats to its citizens and will take all necessary measures to ensure their safety.
In a significant development in the field of semiconductor technology, Chinese chip manufacturer Kemos has announced that its LPDDR5 6400Mbps memory samples have been sent for testing. The LPDDR5 memory modules are based on the wafer-level packaging technology from South Korean semiconductor giant SK Hynix, a move that is expected to bring about advancements in memory performance and efficiency.
"Contrary to the rumors circulating online, I am not in a relationship with [name of public figure]. Please respect my privacy and refrain from spreading unfounded gossip. My priority right now is to focus on myself and my work," she clarified.Profit-taking pulls KSE-100 index down by 1,509 points KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a sharp decline on Tuesday as selling pressure, driven by profit-taking and uncertainties surrounding the futures contracts rollover week, pulled the benchmark KSE-100 index down by 1,509.61 points or 1.33 per cent. The KSE-100 index closed at 112,414.81 points, after trading within a range of 2,742.07 points. The intraday high reached 115,036.49 (+1,112.08 points), while the low touched 112,294.42 (-1,629.99 points). The total trading volume for the index stood at 352.68 million shares. Despite opening on a positive note and briefly crossing the 115,000 mark, profit-taking erased earlier gains. Analysts attributed the downturn to several factors, including pressure from futures contracts rollover, political uncertainty over government-PTI negotiations, a weak rupee, declining global crude oil prices, and institutional selling in overbought stocks. Ahsan Mehanti, an analyst at Arif Habib Corp, remarked, “Profit-taking was observed amid pressure from futures rollover and uncertainty surrounding government-PTI talks. Weakness in the rupee, falling crude oil prices and institutional selling acted as catalysts for the bearish activity.” Ali Najib, head of sales at Insight Securities, noted in his post-trading commentary, “Profit-taking and value-hunting behaviours influenced the index’s movement. While the market showed optimism early in the session, investors adopted varied strategies throughout the day, leading to a 1.33 per cent decline in the index.” He highlighted that in the first half of the session, investors engaged in profit-taking ahead of the year-end, while others resorted to value hunting in the latter half. Key stocks such as FFC, MARI, MCB, HUBC and Engro faced significant selling pressure, collectively dragging the index down by 851 points. On the other hand, UBL, DAWH, SNGP, TRG and PSEL added 354 points to the index. Maaz Mullah, an analyst at Topline Securities, pointed out the day’s volatility, stating, “The KSE-100 index oscillated between an intraday high of 1,112 points and a low of 1,629 points due to profit-taking and bearish sentiment. By the close of trading, the index had shed 1,509 points, or 1.33 per cent, to settle at 112,414.80.” He explained that concerns over rising leverage positions and increasing borrowing costs heightened investor risk perceptions, prompting portfolio trimming. The impending December contracts also added further pressure, resulting in cautious and selective trading. Trading activity remained robust, with 879 million shares traded and a turnover of Rs54 billion. WTL led the volume chart with 127 million shares traded. Among the 100 index companies, 21 closed higher, 78 ended lower, and one remained unchanged. Top losers during the day were PKGP (-9.98 per cent), KOSM (-5.33 per cent), PTC (-5.05 per cent), MUGHAL (-4.83 per cent), and CNERGY (-4.57 per cent). Top gainers were PGLC (+10.03 per cent), SNGP (+6.35 per cent), TRG (+4.86 per cent), APL (+3.46 per cent), and DAWH (+3.30 per cent). The biggest contributors to the index’s decline were FFC (-335.8 points), MARI (-191.48 points), MCB (-143.86 points), HUBC (-110.23 points), and ENGRO (-68.76 points). Conversely, UBL (+155.80 points), DAWH (+82.00 points), SNGP (+61.76 points), TRG (+37.35 points) and PSEL (+16.83 points) helped offset the losses.
One of the main challenges that deep space flight presents to astronauts is radiation. Space vehicles can be shielded but with currently technology this remains limited. One of the nearer-to-home challenges for a mission to Mars with a human crew is radiation. Hence, a significant hazard for astronauts traveling to Mars will be overcoming exposure to high energy radiation from the solar wind, solar storms, and galactic cosmic rays that originate outside of our solar system. A new chemical and microbiological discovery, from Northwestern University and the Uniformed Services University (USU), finds how simple metabolites can combine to form a powerful antioxidant. It is through this powerful antioxidant the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans can withstand radiation doses 28,000 times greater than what would kill a human. The bacterium is the second known most radiation-resistant micorganism (the most resistant are the archaeon Thermococcus gammatolerans ). The benefit of the research is aiding scientific understanding of how the antioxidant works and this insight could help to drive the development of ‘designer’ antioxidants to shield astronauts from cosmic radiation (a decapeptide called DP1). The reason that the spherical D. radiodurans is so resistant to gamma radiation doses is the presence of a collection of simple metabolites, which combine with manganese to form the powerful antioxidant. This is all the more remarkable given that the bacterium does not form spores (the normal morphology linked to the most resistant bacterial species). In a new study, the researchers characterized a synthetic designer antioxidant, called MDP, which was inspired by D. radiodurans ’ resilience. They found, in relation to the extremophile, MDP’s components — manganese ions, phosphate and a small peptide — form a ternary complex that is a much more powerful protectant from radiation damage than manganese combined with either of the other individual components alone. This discovery could eventually lead to new synthetic antioxidants specifically tailored to human needs. Applications include protecting astronauts from intense cosmic radiation during deep-space missions, preparing for radiation emergencies and producing radiation-inactivated vaccines. The research builds on previous inquiries that sought to better understand D. radiodurans ’ predicted ability to withstand radiation on Mars. This used an advanced spectroscopy technique to measure the accumulation of manganese antioxidants in the microbes’ cells. This revealed the size of the radiation dose that a microorganism can survive directly correlates with the amount of manganese antioxidants it contains (more manganese antioxidants mean more resistance to intense radiation). D. radiodurans can survive 25,000 Grays in its normal vegetative state (after this, DNA cleavage occurs); however, when dried and frozen (as it might be on the hull of a spacecraft), the bacterium can survive 140,000 Grays of radiation, a dose 28,000 times greater than what would kill a human. A Gray is defined as the absorption of one joule of radiation energy per kilogram of matter. Against most microbes, 25 to 50,000 Grays are sufficient to achieve demonstrable sterilisation. For the current study, the scientists identified a decapeptide called DP1. When combined with phosphate and manganese, DP1 forms the free-radical-scavenging agent MDP, which successfully protects cells and proteins against radiation damage. By using advanced paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the scientists further revealed that the active ingredient of MDP is a ternary complex — a precise assembly of phosphate and peptide bound to manganese. The research appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The research is titled “The ternary complex of Mn2+, synthetic decapeptide DP1 (DEHGTAVMLK) and orthophosphate is a superb antioxidant.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.In recent years, 'Double 12' has evolved into a key shopping event that follows closely on the heels of 'Double 11'. While 'Double 11' is renowned for its record-breaking sales figures and massive discounts, 'Double 12' seeks to capitalize on the momentum generated by its predecessor and extend the festive shopping season. E-commerce giants such as Alibaba, JD.com, and Pinduoduo have all unveiled their 'Double 12' strategies, promising an array of exciting promotions and deals to entice consumers.
What to Know About College GameDay’s Coverage of Ohio State vs. Indiana | Eleven Warriors - Eleven WarriorsKylian Mbappe, despite his immense talent on the pitch, has recently been criticized for his lack of sportsmanship and questionable behavior both on and off the field. From publicly criticizing his own team to displaying a disrespectful attitude towards opponents, Mbappe's actions have sparked debates about the kind of example he sets for aspiring footballers. Young players often look up to their idols for inspiration and guidance, and it is crucial for them to have positive role models who exhibit characteristics like integrity, respect, and professionalism. Mbappe's recent behavior may send the wrong message to the next generation of players, emphasizing individualism over teamwork and sportsmanship.
"Tragic Incident on Flight: Passenger Passes Away Despite Emergency Treatment, Airport Medical Team Responds Upon Landing"The Syrian opposition, made up of various rebel groups and factions, has been engaged in fierce battles with Kurdish forces in and around Manbij, as each side seeks to gain the upper hand in the struggle for dominance. The fighting has been intense and bloody, with both sides employing heavy weaponry and tactics to gain the upper hand. Civilians in the area have been caught in the crossfire, suffering from the devastating effects of the conflict.Anyone who spends a significant amount of time using a mouse will be all too aware of the unpleasant side effects that extended use can cause. Wrist and finger pain are common, but that discomfort can be reduced or even mitigated entirely with a suitably comfortable mouse. As a bonus, many of these specialist mice also sport extra buttons or scroll wheels for added functionality, and can speed up work or improve gameplay as well as making it less of a strain. There is a huge array of ergonomic mice on the market, ranging from budget-friendly everyday options to highly specialized, high-end mice for specific uses. There's no guarantee that any particular mouse will be perfect for your hands without trying it, but checking both user and expert reviews can give you a much more informed idea of the best rated options before you buy. These 12 mice cover a wide range of uses and budgets, but all are top-rated by both professional reviewers and buyers on Amazon. The Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse isn't the cheapest ergonomic mouse on the market, with a retail price of $70. However, its unusual design makes it well worth considering, and unlike some other ergonomic mouse models, you can buy it in both left-handed and right-handed configurations. Right-handed users benefit from a wider array of color choices, with graphite, rose, and white available. Those who prefer to use their left hand have to make do with only the graphite colorway. The Lift Vertical launched in 2022 as a successor to the Logitech MX Vertical mouse, although both models are still currently available. It has received praise from tech reviewers — especially for users with smaller hands — and from buyers on Amazon, where it sports an average 4.5 out of five rating from over 9,900 reviews as of this writing, with 77% of all reviewers giving it a full five stars. While some mice like the Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse aim to reduce strain and discomfort in office settings, others try to make gaming a more comfortable experience. The $70 Razer Basilisk V3 Gaming Mouse falls into the second camp, and as such, it's not surprising that it features a whole lot of RGB lighting. In fact, there are 11 different lighting zones, all of which can be customized. Of course, the Basilisk V3 is more than just an RGB fest . Gamers will be attracted to it for its accuracy, comfort, and the 11 programmable buttons, which includes a mode switch button to swap between different profiles tailored to your favorite games. The Focus+ 26K DPI optical sensor keeps movement tracking as precise as possible, and the scroll wheel can be adjusted for greater accuracy or a faster scroll. Reviewers have cited that precision as a primary positive aspect, and on Amazon the mouse sports an average of 4.6 out of five stars from over 7,200 reviews as of this writing. Buyers on a tighter budget don't have to miss out on snagging a comfortable mouse. There are a number of options available at the sub-$50 price point, with the Anker Vertical Mouse being one of the top rated options. It currently scores an average of 4.4 out of five stars from over 8,500 reviews on Amazon, and tech reviewers seem to generally like it as well. The vertical design is intended to mimic the position of a handshake, and so reduce strain compared to a traditional mouse. It offers five buttons, including next/previous buttons, which Anker says is designed for scrolling web pages with ease. The 1,000/1,600 DPI optical sensor won't match pricer mice for its sensitivity, but should be adequate for most people's everyday office use. It undercuts said pricier competitors by a significant margin too — it retails for just $23, making it one of the cheapest top-rated ergonomic mice on the market. An older and costlier sibling to the Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse, the Logitech MX Vertical Mouse sports a $100 retail price and can only be bought in right-handed configuration. Its design is similar to its successor — both offer an inclination of 57 degrees and four customizable buttons — but there are a few key differences. One is that the MX Vertical offers a shorter battery life than the Lift Vertical, with the former achieving up to four months on a full charge and the latter getting a whopping two years. However, the MX Vertical's battery is rechargeable, while the Lift Vertical requires an AA battery to run. The positioning of the customizable buttons is also slightly different between the two models, although which one is best is a matter of personal preference. Even though it launched back in 2018 , the MX Vertical remains a popular offering in today's market, with an average of 4.4 out of five stars from over 13,700 ratings on Amazon. Reviews were positive when the mouse came out, although it's worth noting that the cheaper — and arguably better value — Lift Vertical has since come to market, and may be more worth your attention. The Kensington Orbit Mouse is one of the more unusual designs here, with a large trackball taking center stage. It can be used by both left-handed and right-handed users, and its two buttons are both customizable. Its scrolling speed can also be adjusted with Kensington's customization program, which works with both Windows and MacOS devices. It has been on the market for many years — with reviews dating back to 2011 — but it still remains in demand with buyers. Back in the day, CNET gave the mouse an 8.8 out of 10 score, while over on Amazon, buyer reviews average 4.4 out of five from over 4,600 ratings. For additional comfort during long periods of use, the Kensington Orbit Mouse also comes with a detachable wrist rest. However, CNET noted that the rest was liable to over-extend the users' fingers after long periods, and so isn't necessarily a worthwhile addition to the device. Questionable rest aside, the Orbit Mouse is a left-field but potentially appealing offering that some buyers might find worthwhile, especially at its affordable $43 price tag. Sporting a smoother, more rounded design than many of its competitors, the Microsoft Sculpt Mouse is the technology giant's own take on the ergonomic mouse. It's a straightforward design, and one that does without the array of extra customizable buttons or trackballs seen on some of its rivals. Still, that simplicity has proved popular with critics and with buyers, with the mouse having an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars from over 3,800 ratings on Amazon as of this writing. The mouse retails for $77, and features just three buttons plus a four-way scroll wheel. The prominent blue Windows button allows users to navigate straight to the Start Menu, and there's also a button on the side of the device that is customizable. It's a wireless mouse, and requires its USB receiver to be plugged in for it to work. Unsurprisingly given its maker, it's not compatible with Mac. Buyers looking for a comfortable trackball mouse without the unusual looks of the Kensington Orbit Mouse might want to consider the Logitech Ergo M575 Trackball Mouse . The trackball is positioned toward the inside of the user's hand rather than being dead center, and it features forward and back buttons alongside the standard mouse buttons and scroll wheel. However, it's only available in right-handed configuration, and its unusual design won't suit all hand shapes and sizes. That said, plenty of users have found it to be both intuitive and comfortable to use. While some reviewers have had reservations about the mouse's in-hand fit, on Amazon it boasts an impressive 4.6 out of five star average from over 5,600 reviews. It's far from the most expensive ergonomic mouse here either, with a retail price of $50 and a current reduced price of $39 on Amazon at the time of writing. As a cheap, slightly more comfortable alternative to a traditionally shaped mouse, the Tecknet Ergonomic Mouse makes a solid case for itself. It doesn't offer as unusual a shape as its costlier ergonomic competitors, but its design still fits a range of hand sizes well and its DPI can be adjusted between 800 and 2,600 for greater sensitivity if needed. The sides of the mouse feature rubber grips to reduce slipping, and there are forward and back buttons in addition to the standard buttons and mouse wheel. At a retail price of just $20, the Tecknet mouse is a solid option to pick as a backup gadget for taking on the road or for less frequent computer users who might not be able to justify spending $50 or more on a top-spec mouse. I have personally used this mouse as a backup when travelling for several years, and can confirm that its long battery life and the integrated USB receiver storage make it a great mouse for working on the go . Buyers on Amazon are also sold on its capabilities, with the mouse sporting an average rating of 4.5 out of five stars from over 66,000 reviews as of this writing. The Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse is designed to be quiet as well as comfortable, with its primary buttons barely audible during normal use. An integrated horizontal scroll wheel enables precision scrolling, while two further forward and back buttons sit just below it. That's in addition to the primary scroll wheel, which is placed between the two primary mouse buttons and can scroll up to 1,000 lines in a second according to Logitech. The design is more conventional than some of the other options on this list, but with its prominent palm rests and raised profile, it might still take some getting used to. Although, buyers will have plenty of time to get used to it, as it can last for up to 70 days on a full charge. According to the brand, a one minute charge should be enough for up to three hours of use. Both experts across publications and users agree that it's comfortable and capable. Buyers on Amazon rated it an average of 4.5 out of five stars from over 8,900 reviews. However, that performance comes at a price — the MX Master 3S is one of the most expensive options here, with a retail price of $100. Most ergonomic mice use a familiar rotation of materials for their exterior — there's plenty of plastic, rubber, and sometimes metal to be found on the majority of them. The Lenovo Go Vertical Mouse does things a little differently, featuring a cork base that the brand claims is both more sustainable and more comfortable. Its 45-degree angle is slightly less than rival offerings from Logitech, but the aim is the same: to keep its user's hand at a more natural position than a traditional mouse. After putting it through its paces, Windows Central's reviewer went as far as declaring that the mouse was the "most comfortable" they'd used. Buyers on Amazon were less unequivocally positive, although still rated it highly overall, with an average of 4.4 out of five stars from over 6,600 reviews. At the time of writing, the only seller of the mouse on Amazon lists it for above its original $50 retail price. However, it can still be found on the Lenovo store at the original MSRP, and in fact as of this writing, is temporarily discounted to just $35. With 18 customizable buttons and a customizable DPI up to 6,200, the Redragon M908 Gaming Mouse will appeal most to MMO gamers looking for a comfortable mouse that doesn't break the bank. Its ergonomic design wraps around the shape of the user's hand, and features 12 buttons on the left side of the device plus a rapid fire key that sits on the top left of the mouse. There is the usual helping of gamer-friendly RGB on offer here, too. On Amazon, users rated it an average of 4.4 out of five from over 15,000 reviews, and tech reviewers seem to like it for MMO gaming, too. The M908 variant is wired, and comes in either a black or white colorway. A wireless M913 variant is also available in the same colors, with both variants sporting a $47 retail price. At the time of writing, the M908 is discounted to $33 on Amazon. The predecessor to the MX Master 3S might not be the latest and greatest ergonomic mouse that Logitech has to offer, but it costs less to buy upfront. The Logitech MX Master 2S Mouse is available for $64 on Amazon, and boasts an average rating of 4.6 out of five stars from over 15,600 reviews. Much like the latest model, the MX Master 2S is designed for maximum productivity, and features two scroll wheels plus a DPI adjuster. Its design is also similar, with a palm and thumb rest coated in a rubberized material to minimize slippage. At its launch in 2018, reviewers praised its comfortable design and customizability. None of that appeal has changed today, even if the MX Master 2S has since been superseded. Buyers who aren't concerned about having the very best on the market might well find the MX Master 2S to be the best of both worlds — it's still a highly comfortable, capable ergonomic mouse, yet it doesn't come with the sky-high price tag that the latest model demands.
Van Nistelrooy has replaced Steve Cooper at the King Power Stadium and saw Jamie Vardy open the scoring after just 98 seconds. Bilal El Khannouss and Patson Daka added goals after the break to ensure the Dutchman started with three points in style. Starting with a win! 🤩 Delivered by — Leicester City (@LCFC) His task is to keep the Foxes in the Premier League this season and after ending a five-game winless run they moved up to 15th, four points clear of the relegation zone. West Ham’s hierarchy will have seen what impact a managerial change can have as the jury remains out on Lopetegui, with away fans making their feelings clear by chanting “You’re getting sacked in the morning”. Niclas Fullkrug scored a consolation goal at the death but it counted for nothing and forthcoming games against Wolves, Bournemouth, Brighton and Southampton could determine the Spaniard’s future. When Van Nistelrooy went to bed last night, even he would not have dreamt of his side starting as well as they did as they went ahead with less than two minutes on the clock. One of the Dutchman’s first conversations following his appointment was to take Vardy to task for breaking his record for scoring in the most consecutive Premier League games nine years ago. And the veteran striker rolled back to the years as, living on the shoulder of the West Ham defence, he raced clear from El Khannouss’ through-ball and slotted into the corner. The linesman’s flag immediately went up but a lengthy VAR review ruled Vardy had timed his run perfectly and the goal stood. Vardy could have added a second from a similar move but this time Lukasz Fabianski denied him. The Dutchman quickly learned about the frailties of his side as West Ham created a raft of chances in search of an equaliser. Jarrod Bowen forced Mads Hermansen into a stretching save when he cut in from the right before Ings’ header crashed into the post and Max Kilman slipped at the crucial point from the rebound. Bowen, a constant threat, sent a ball across face of goal which evaded everyone before the England international was denied by a reflex save from the busy Hermansen. The Danish goalkeeper needed to be alert to tip over Mohammed Kudus’ deflected effort early in the second half before he was saved by the referee’s whistle after after his attempted punch went into his own goal, Tomas Soucek the man penalised. Leicester remained a threat on the counter-attack and that is how they doubled their lead just after the hour. Kasey McAteer was set clear down the left and his ball inside was perfect for El Khannouss to find the bottom corner from 15 yards. It was almost three as Fabianski produced an acrobatic save from Wilfred Ndidi’s header before Leicester needed a heroic piece of defending to keep their 2-0 lead intact. Crysencio Summerville bundled the ball goalwards and it was heading over the line until Conor Coady adjusted his feet and poked it clear. The Foxes, who also had a goal from substitute Bobby De Cordova-Reid chalked off by VAR, wrapped things up in the 90th minute when Daka broke clear and emphatically converted into the roof of the net. West Ham did get on the scoresheet when Fullkrug headed a corner home, but the game was already done.
To ensure a smooth travel experience for these migrant workers, the Shenzhen railway authority has launched a special ticket booking service tailored specifically for them. This service allows migrant workers to reserve their train tickets in advance, avoiding the long queues and ticket shortages that often occur during the peak travel season.Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program.
Title: Ups and Downs of Manchester United Under the Leadership of Lord Glazer
For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbTragedy Strikes on a China Eastern Airlines Flight: Passenger Dies After Emergency Medical Treatment Fails, Airport Rescuers Spring into Action
Title: Collaborating with the Syrian Democratic Forces Alliance? Removing Terrorist Designations? US Officials Speak OutFormer Manchester United winger nets vital goal as he becomes a Leeds centurion