‘This is our moment to lead, innovate, and break the status quo’: Gautam Adani
Last month, the Minnesota Lynx came a possession short of a WNBA championship . Then, they saw two key personnel depart the franchise in favor of other opportunities — assistant coach Katie Smith took a coaching role with her alma mater, Ohio State , while general manager Clare Duwelius pivoted to become Unrivaled’s general manager. But, the Lynx made a series of moves to help fortify Cheryl Reeve’s coaching staff. On Saturday, the organization announced two new assistant coach hires: former standout player Lindsay Whalen and long-time WNBA coach Eric Thibault. Whalen, a four-time WNBA champion with the Lynx who served as head coach at the University of Minnesota for five seasons, was a sideline staple throughout Lynx’s Finals run, and now will officially rejoin the organization in a new capacity. Eric Thibault, who served as head coach of the Washington Mystics before fired earlier this fall, finds a new home in the WNBA. “I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff,” said Reeve , who has served as the head coach of the Lynx since 2010. “Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an assistant coach and is a WNBA Champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our quest for another WNBA Championship.” Thibault was let go by the Mystics after two seasons as head coach. Prior to that, he served as an assistant for 10 seasons, under his father, Mike’s, leadership. Related Whalen, a franchise legend, hasn’t coached since 2023, when she completed a stint at the University of Minnesota. Lindsay Whalen brings the perspective of a former player Lindsay Whalen was the point guard on four Lynx championship teams. For her career, she averaged 11.5 points and 4.9 assists per game. Her jersey was retired by Minnesota in 2019, and she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023. Whalen is not the first former player on the coaching staff; Rebekka Brunson, who was Lynx teammates with Whalen for nine season — including the four championships — has served as an assistant coach on the Lynx for five seasons. “I think it’s what makes us so unique at Minnesota; we have people who’ve been through what we’re going through,” Collier told ESPN’s Alexa Philippou . “They won so many championships in the place they’re coaching and we’re playing at now.” Whalen was often seen coaching up the Lynx from the sidelines as she sat courtside as games throughout the playoffs, even traveling to New York for Game 5. . @minnesotalynx legend Lindsay Whalen coaching from the sidelines helps set up an AND-1 for McBride #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/zKdWcVUfpI She is one of the winngest player in league history; she’s amassed 323 career victories (second-most all-time behind Sue Bird, 333) and 54 postseason wins (second-most all-time behind Brunson, 57). Whalen should help elevate Courtney Williams , who effectively served as the Lynx’s point guard last season. Eric Thibault brings extensive WNBA coaching experience Thibault’s roots with the Mystics are deep, and so is his understanding of the WNBA landscape. “It was very clear the team continued to trust in what they were doing, trusted each other, trusted the leadership of Eric,” Reeve said to ESPN. Whalen played for Mike Thibault for six seasons on the Connecticut Sun, and their families have long been intertwined. “I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky [Rebekkah Brunson],” Whalen said. “Eric and I have also known each other for a long time, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better staff as I return to coaching and get my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.” For those keeping track, Thibault becomes the second fired head coach to find a new home in the WNBA. Curt Miller , who was let go by the Sparks, is the new general manager of the Dallas Wings. ( Stephanie White , who departed the Connecticut Sun on her own accord, was named the new head coach of the Indiana Fever soon after). On the flip side, Teresa Weatherspoon (Chicago Sky), Tanisha Wright (Atlanta Dream), and Latricia Trammell (Atlanta Dream) all have yet to announce their next moves in the WNBA — if one is to come, that is. Weatherspoon will be coaching in Unrivaled during the WNBA offseason, though that doesn’t preclude her from also getting involved in the WNBA. Related At a moment in which so many teams are completely rebuilding their coaching staffs, the Lyxn will benefit from the continued leadership of Cheryl Reeve, one of the most decorated head coaches in WNBA history. At the same time, the organization very likely nailed their two assistant coaching hires, bringing in a former player who has already showcased a meaningful connection with the players, while also hiring someone with extensive and proven WNBA experience. With the majority of Minnesota’s core returning, Lindsay Whalen and Eric Thibault should help bolster the Lynx’s title chances next season.NoneBy Hannah Furness It was one of the great exploits of a golden age of exploration: Bertram Thomas, a British diplomat, spent 42 days travelling overland along the coast of Oman. As recorded in his 1928 diary, Thomas journeyed by camel to document specimens new to Western science – and was later congratulated by King George V. Nearly a century on, a group of explorers is to make the same journey – using camels, but with the addition of 4x4s, podcasts and social media posts – supported from afar by the Prince of Wales . READ MORE: Queen Mary announces new podcast series The camels are currently in "boot camp", the expedition leader joked, after concerns that "soft" modern animals would not prove as hardy as their 20th-century forebears. Launching the Jewel of Arabia expedition on Monday at the Royal Geographical Society, the Prince told the 2024 team: "I wish I was able to join you, but will be following very closely." The Prince is a co-patron of the adventure, along with Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham, the heir to the Omani throne. The expedition will see a team of six, lead by Mark Evans, retrace the steps of Thomas, with young people from Oman joining them at certain points to witness and share the highlights. It is intended to "raise awareness amongst young people both in and outside of Oman of the value of Oman's natural heritage and biodiversity as well as the environmental challenges the country and the wider world face". Podcasts, interviews on Omani radio and an online tracker will be used so people can track the journey in real time. READ MORE: Kate to join King, Queen, William for big event next week palace confirms The Prince said: "The expedition will walk in the footsteps of British explorer Bertram Thomas and take in the wonderful coastline of Oman. "They will be able to take in the beauty of Oman, and also see the damage done by climate change." The Prince recalled that a winner of his Earthshot Prize – the company 44.01, which removes CO2 from the atmosphere permanently by mineralising it – was from Oman and said he had "warm memories" of visiting in 2019. "The expedition will not only highlight Oman's biodiversity and natural heritage, but also symbolise the enduring friendship between our two countries," he added. Mark Evans, 63, expedition leader said: "The stars of the show will undoubtedly be the camels." He added they were currently in "camel boot camp" in Oman to prepare for them for the month-long desert trek. The group will start each day at 5am, aim to cover 25-30kms (16-19 miles) a day and will sleep in the desert without tents. Mr Evans will be joined on the journey by Nigel Harling, a British police officer with exploration experience, Ana-Maria Pavalache, a mountain leader and photographer, Dhirka Al Mawali and Ibrahim Al Hasni, instructors with Outward Bound Oman, and Amour Al Wahibi who Mr Evans said was "the only one who knows how to find first gear on a camel". READ MORE: The House of Grimaldi, Monaco's royal family, explained Along the route, they will be met by young people from schools across Oman including, on the third day, in a specially-adapted "Boma" off-road wheelchair. The Prince was keen to hear how the crew would navigate across the desert and how young people in Oman were engaging with environmental issues. While he does not plan to fly to Oman in January to join the expedition, he told guests at the Royal Geographic Society that he would "try and make something happen" in the future regarding another visit to the country. The Prince added: "We're in the planning process." Before giving short speeches, the Prince and the Crown Prince were shown photographs taken by Thomas during his travels. At the time of the original expedition, the area was known as one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, with hundreds of miles of arid desert dubbed the "Empty Quarter", or Rub Al Khali, and unvisited by Western travellers. Thomas lived in Oman, working for its sultan, and taking leave in the winter months to travel extensively. He developed a "relay" system, taking on fresh camels and guides in each new tribal territory. FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details. The coastal journey prepared Thomas for the crossing two years later, in which he became the first documented Westerner to cross the Empty Quarter, receiving a telegram of congratulation from King George V. The biggest challenges for Thomas were said to have been warring tribes, lack of water in watering holes and his dependence on his Omani companion, Sheikh Saleh, as they navigated the desert. Following his success, Thomas gave lectures around the world and wrote a book, Arabia Felix, with an introduction by TE Lawrence . Next year will be 225 years since a friendship treaty was signed between Britain and Oman. Members of the royal family are regularly invited to become patrons of expeditions. In 2023, the Princess of Wales became patron of Capt Preet Chandi's successful mission to become the first woman to cross Antarctica solo. © Telegraph Media Group Limited 2024
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. Story continues below video The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBWASHINGTON — Millions of Americans with obesity would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services immediately sets the stage for a showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, could block the measure. While the rule would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs, it would cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. “It’s a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview. “It’s a game changer for Americans who can’t afford these drugs otherwise.” The rule would not be finalized until January, days after Trump takes office. A bipartisan coalition of congressional members has lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity. While it’s unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could balk at the upfront price tag. Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese – someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher – would qualify for coverage. Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid, if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease. Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs. But research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese. Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs. The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approvingb a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound to treat obesity. People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat. The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits. A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies. Kennedy, who as Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs’ popularity. In speeches and on social media, he’s said the U.S. should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships. “For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,” Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year. Ozempic is a diabetes drug that can stimulate weight loss. Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous
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Fears of counterfeit $50 and $100 bills have disrupted foreign-exchange trade at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, the nation's largest currency trading gray market. According to the state-run Anadolu Agency, some bureaus at the bazaar, a hub for currency trading, stopped purchasing the bills, saying the counting machines they use can’t identify the fake notes. “The number of counterfeit dollars isn’t clear,” Anadolu cited Resat Yilmaz, a tradesman at the Bazaar, as saying. “These bills have to be collected, which can take two weeks.” Money-counting machines also have to be updated, he added. A representative for currency traders said the disruption has no basis and “there’s no fake currency” in circulation. He blamed banks for what he said was a “clogging” of trading. “Banks should accept old dollar bills. Currently, no bank is doing that,” Mehti Seren, head of the Association of All Authorized Institutions and Foreign Exchange Offices, said in a press conference. “Clients are then returning the dollars to us. That’s what’s clogging the system.” The central bank said it’s sent warnings and expert opinions about the fake bills to banking associations. “The necessary guidance on precautions to be taken regarding the technological infrastructure has been made,” the bank said in a statement. Bill counters, bill checkers and teller machines are being controlled and updated, the Turkish Banks Association said in a separate statement. The prosecutor’s office in Istanbul launched an investigation, Anadolu said. The counterfeit bills entered Turkey from abroad, Haberturk reported, citing sources it didn’t identify.Top 10 movies of 2024: In a time of scoundrels, ‘Brutalist,’ ‘Challengers’ and the movie about the exotic dancer
By Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump have yet to start the formal transition process between administrations, which normally takes months and involves the executive branch sharing information with incoming officials on everything from foreign policy to ongoing investigations. Trump, who will be sworn into office on Jan. 20, has not signed a series of transition documents with Biden, preventing U.S. officials working for 15 agencies - including the Treasury, State Department, Energy Department, Agriculture Department, Transportation Department and others - from briefing his incoming team. The unusual situation could mean hiccups in some government operations, some critics warn and raises questions about whether Trump's appointees will clear ethics hurdles. Here's what we know about what's going on: WHY DOES THE TRANSITION MATTER? It allows the incoming president's team to participate in national security briefings or gain access to federal agencies to begin the complicated work of preparing to take control of the federal government on Jan. 20, 2025. WHAT DOCUMENTS HAS TRUMP NOT SIGNED?The Trump team has so far not signed two agreements needed to kick-start the transition required by the Presidential Transition Act: a memorandum of understanding with the General Services Administration and another with the White House. The GSA agreement would offer the transition team office space, IT services and facilities, and the White House agreement would allow transition team access to employees and documents of federal agencies. Under the transition law, the agreements also include a robust ethics pledge. It requires Trump and his transition staff to pledge they will avoid conflicts of interest once sworn into office. Trump's transition team was required to submit the ethics pledge by Oct. 1, according to the 1963 law that provides transition funding. WHY HASN'T TRUMP SIGNED THE AGREEMENTS? Two transition sources with knowledge of the matter said the holdup is Trump having to walk away from his business interests - something he does not want to do. Three days after winning the election, Trump denied on Truth Social that he was selling his shares in Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company of the social media platform. "I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SELLING!" he posted. The Trump transition team's leadership has privately drafted their own ethics document and a conflict-of-interest statement governing its staff, sources said. The documents do not meet the requirements of the transition law and do not include language that explains how Trump will address conflicts of interest during his presidency, sources with knowledge of the transition said. Not signing the documents also means the president does not have to disclose the names of private donors, who are funding his transition, and can raise unlimited amounts of cash from them to fund his return to the White House. The transition law requires these names be disclosed and caps such donations at $5,000. The Trump transition team has repeatedly said the president-elect intends to sign the documents but the team's main priority is selecting and vetting candidates. It remains unclear when Trump will sign the pledge. All transition staff have signed a robust ethics pledge as a requirement of their participation, the transition team said. "The Trump-Vance transition lawyers continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act," said Brian Hughes, a Trump transition spokesman. WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY ABOUT CONFLICTS? The about $7 trillion annual U.S. federal government budget is funded by American taxpayer money, and people who work in it should not use their position or influence in ways that benefit them or their businesses or families, according to multiple U.S. ethics laws. In 2019, Congress amended that law to require candidates to create and publicly post an ethics plan before the election. That bipartisan law was born in part out of concerns about ethical issues during the first Trump administration. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES? The president is exempted from conflict of interest laws because he oversees too many areas to make enforcement practical, ethics experts said. The system relies on a president's good-faith effort to separate his personal interests from the country's when he takes office. However the Supreme Court's ruling this year that Trump, as a former president, is immune from prosecution for official acts within his constitutional authority while in the White House, raised questions about the norms. WHAT ASSETS DOES TRUMP HAVE? Trump has a stake valued at $3.76 billion in Trump Media & Technology Group, as well as stakes in a cryptocurrency business, real estate properties and several foreign deals. The family real estate company, now run largely by Eric Trump, owns a portfolio of hotels, golf courses, resorts and New York City office space, retail operations and condominiums. WHAT ABOUT SECURITY CLEARANCES? The Trump transition team has not entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Justice to allow the FBI to conduct background checks of nominees, and it hasn't sent the FBI the names of prospective national security personnel who would have access to classified information, one of the sources said. The transition is reportedly using private firms to vet candidates, leaving open the possibility that federal law enforcement may never properly review Trump appointees. Circumventing background checks would be bucking a long-established norm in Washington, but the president has the final authority on whom he nominates and picks to conduct background checks. WHAT DID TRUMP DO THE LAST TIME? In 2017, Trump said he would place his business interests in a trust controlled by his two oldest sons and take other steps to remove any suggestion of a conflict of interest with his decisions as president. Still, Trump repeatedly came under fire from the Office of Government Ethics, responsible for oversight, for potential conflicts of interest relating to his businesses and brands. The government's top ethics official, Walter Shaub, resigned and criticized the president six months after Trump entered office. WHAT DO ETHICS EXPERTS SAY? Trump could operate with little or no ethics oversight during his second four-year term, making conflicts of interest more possible. It also opens up new ways for foreign interests and corporations to attempt to influence him and his administration's policy by pouring money into his businesses. At the end of his first term, at least 20 governments, including Saudi Arabia and China, collectively spent more than $7.8 million at his hotels and golf courses, according to a report compiled by congressional Democrats. It also severely affects the public's trust in government, watchdog groups say. Public trust in government hit some of the lowest levels in over 60 years during Trump's last administration, when only 17% of Americans trusted the government to do what was right. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis)
One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Lauren Sanchez rewears racy all white-look featuring lace bra and matching heelsHouston Rockets at Timberwolves Tuesday, 7 p.m., Target Center TV, radio: FanDuel Sports North, iHeartRadio app This is the third game for both teams in the Emirates Cup in-season tournament. Houston leads West Group A with a 2-0 record and a +49 point differential after beating the Clippers (0-2) and Trail Blazers (1-1). The Wolves are 1-1 and -14 with a victory over Sacramento and a loss to Portland. The Wolves’ final game in round robin play is Friday at home against the Clippers. Rockets update: They are 12-6 and one game out of the Western Conference lead. G Jalen Green (18.7) and C Alperen Sengun (18.3) lead Houston in scoring a season after the Rockets finished 41-41 and missed the playoffs. Wolves update: They are 8-8 and 11th in the Western Conference after road losses to Toronto and Boston. G Anthony Edwards leads the NBA in three-pointers (78) and is shooting 43.8% behind the arc. Injury report: Houston C Steven Adams (knee) is probable. Wolves G Mike Conley (toe) is questionable.
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:17 p.m. EST
Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.