Jetliner skids off runway and bursts into flames in South KoreaCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan 13-10 on Saturday when players attempted to plant their flag on the OSU logo and were confronted by the . Police used pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. One officer suffered unspecified injuries and was taken to a hospital, a police union official said. After the Ohio State players confronted their rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, officers rushed in to try to break up the fracas. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood his players' actions. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, said he didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration, calling it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he told Fox Sports in an on-field interview. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Ohio State police said in a statement that “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” University police said they will continue to investigate the brawl. Brian Steel, president of the police union representing officers in Franklin County, that an officer was injured. “Officers are authorized to use pepper spray to stop assaults and protect themselves and others,” Steel added. Michigan players could be seen rubbing their eyes after exposure to the chemical irritant. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said both teams could have handled the situation differently. “So much emotions on both sides,” he said. “Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and
The Green Party is set to suffer significant losses in the Irish General Election, with its leader expecting just a handful of parliamentarians to be returned. Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said the party could not buck the trend in Ireland of junior coalition partners in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments losing support in subsequent elections. He said they expected to retain two to three seats out of the 12 they had won in the 2020 election on the back of a worldwide “Green wave”. “Undoubtedly it’s a disappointing result for our party today,” Mr O’Gorman told reporters in Ongar, Dublin. “It’s hard for a smaller party in government, that’s long been the tradition, the history in Ireland. We hoped going into the election to buck that but we haven’t been able to buck that today.” Mr O’Gorman, a candidate in Dublin West, is among the outgoing Green Party TDs in a battle to retain their seats. Culture Minister Catherine Martin, who is fighting to remain a Green Party TD for Dublin Rathdown, said it was a “very tight” race in her four-seat constituency. “We go in (to government) not afraid of that because the issue of the climate and biodiversity crisis is (greater) than our survival,” she said on RTE Radio. “I stand over and am proud of our track record of delivery.” Green candidate in Waterford Marc O Cathasaigh said he would not be “in the shake-up” to retain his seat in that constituency, while junior minister Ossian Smyth looks at risk of losing his seat in Dun Laoghaire. Junior minister Joe O’Brien is expected to lose his seat in Dublin Fingal, Neasa Hourigan is at risk in Dublin Central, while Wicklow’s Steven Matthews garnered just 4% of first preferences. Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who announced his retirement from frontline politics in June, said his party had not had a good day. Arriving at the count centre at the RDS in Dublin, the outgoing environment minister told reporters: “If you don’t get elected you accept that, but you come back stronger and you learn lessons, and we’ve done that in the past and we will do that again.” He added: “No matter what the results today there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland, we have deep roots in the community and it’s a very distinct political philosophy and I think there is still space for that in Irish politics, for sure.” Mr Ryan said he did not believe his decision to retire, and the timing of his announcement, had affected the party’s showing. “Unfortunately – and this is just one of those days – we didn’t get the number of votes,” he said. He added: “We’ll look back and see what are the lessons, and what can we learn and what can we do differently. “It’s just one of those days when we didn’t have a good day.A DUP minister rebuffed a suggestion that there could be an extension of pub opening hours in Northern Ireland to celebrate the golden jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, declassified files show. Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive, despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points. Judge had discussed the MVP award with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper, the NL winner in 2015 and ’21. “I was telling him, `Man, I’m going to try to catch up to you with these MVPs here, man,’” Judge recalled. “He’d say, hopefully, he could stay a couple ahead of me, which I think he’ll do.” Ohtani was unanimously voted the AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 as a two-way star for the Los Angeles Angels and finished second to Judge in 2022 voting . He didn’t pitch in 2024 following elbow surgery and signed a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. He was the first player to twice become an unanimous MVP. He combined with Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2023 for the first year both MVPs were unanimous. Ohtani hit .310, stole 59 bases and led the NL with 54 homers and 130 RBIs exclusively as a designated hitter, becoming the first player with 50 or more homers and 50 or more stolen bases in a season. He helped the Dodgers to the World Series title , playing the final three games with a torn labrum in his left shoulder . Ohtani became the first primary DH to win an MVP. He joined Frank Robinson for Cincinnati in 1961 and Baltimore in 1966 as the only players to win the MVP award in both leagues. Ohtani is the 12th player with three or more MVPs, joining Barry Bonds (seven) and Jimmie Foxx, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout (three each). Balloting was conducted before the postseason. Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 31 stolen bases and 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. When Judge won his first MVP award in 2022, he received 28 first-place votes while Ohtani got the other two. He is the Yankees' 22nd MVP winner, four more than any other team. Judge was hitting .207 with six homers and 18 RBIs through April, then batted .352 with 52 homers and 126 RBIs in 127 games. “March and April were not my friend this year.” Judge said. “Just keep putting in the work and things are going to change. You can’t mope. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. Especially in New York, nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. So you just got to go out there and put up the numbers?” Balloting was conducted before the postseason. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB Ronald Blum, The Associated PressThe New York Yankees and Max Fried are in agreement on a 8-year $218 million deal according to Jeff Passan, as Plan B for the Bronx Bombers is underway. Last season Fried posted a 3.25 ERA across 29 starts with the Atlanta Braves, striking out 166 batters across 174.1 innings pitched. He’s spent his entire Major League career as a Brave, posting a 3.07 ERA across 884.1 innings, and being one of the best pitchers in the sport since 2020. His 2.81 ERA over that five-year window is the best for any starting pitcher in baseball with at least 500 innings pitched. With Fried at the helm, the Bronx Bombers have shored up their rotation and can now pivot to their lineup, which will need some serious heavy lifting with Juan Soto headed to the Mets. Max Fried Adds Dominant Left-Handed Arm to Yankees’ Rotation The New York Yankees were going to be aggressively shopping on the market for potential Plan B options, and Max Fried matches up with their rotation needs very well. A savvy left-hander who boasts a deep repertoire of pitches, he can throw three different fastballs, two different sliders, and a changeup as well. Last season he didn’t use a single pitch above 33% of the time, as he relies on deception and command to keep hitters off-balance and efficiently get outs. Low walk rates and high groundball rates are at the center of Max Fried’s style of pitching, as he walked just 6.3% of batters faced from 2020-2024 while having a 54.2% groundball rate. His ability to throw so many different pitches makes him a nightmare for hitters to face, as Fried threw all seven of his pitches at least 130 times in 2024. The way he pitches should bode well for him at Yankee Stadium, where he would have allowed just 18 home runs instead of 22 over the last three seasons if he pitched all of his games there. With Fried now under contract, the Yankees should make it a priority to shore up their infield defense, which they might be able to do with their interest in Christian Walker. Christian Walker, who the Yankees have renewed conversations with at the Winter Meetings, is a premium defensive player who would help convert Max Fried’s groundballs into outs. The Yankees have set their sights on various pivot avenues, and while Fried and Walker would cost the team draft compensation because of the Qualifying Offer, the team is getting a fourth-round pick back for Juan Soto that should help offset that. With Soto in Queens, the Yankees have plenty of work to do to ensure that their roster can go out and compete for a World Series in 2025, and Fried is a step in the right direction. His deal is pending a physical, as the Yankees await those medical reports before they officially announce this deal. This article first appeared on Empire Sports Media and was syndicated with permission.Titans kicker Nick Folk dealing with soreness so Tennessee added insurance
Manhattan police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of 26-year-old Luigi Nicholas Mangione , suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, while carrying a gun, mask and writings linking him to the ambush. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here's the latest: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says “violence to combat any sort of corporate greed is unacceptable” and the White House will “continue to condemn any form of violence.” She declined to comment on the investigation into the Dec. 4 shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson or reports that writings belonging to the suspect, Luigi Mangione, said insurance companies care more about profits than their customers. “This is horrific,” Jean-Pierre said of the fatal shooting of Thompson as he walked in Manhattan. He didn’t appear to say anything as deputies led him to a waiting car outside. “I’m deeply grateful to the men and women of law enforcement whose efforts to solve the horrific murder of Brian Thompson led to the arrest of a suspect in Pennsylvania,” Gov. Hochul said in the statement. “I am coordinating with the District Attorney’s Office and will sign a request for a governor’s warrant to ensure this individual is tried and held accountable. Public safety is my top priority and I’ll do everything in my power to keep the streets of New York safe.” That’s according to a spokesperson for the governor who said Gov. Hochul will do it as soon as possible. Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the suspect in the fatal shooting of a healthcare executive in New York City, apparently was living a charmed life: the grandson of a wealthy real estate developer, valedictorian of his elite Baltimore prep school and with degrees from one of the nation’s top private universities. Friends at an exclusive co-living space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Hawaii where the 26-year-old Mangione once lived widely considered him a “great guy,” and pictures on his social media accounts show a fit, smiling, handsome young man on beaches and at parties. Now, investigators in New York and Pennsylvania are working to piece together why Mangione may have diverged from this path to make the violent and radical decision to gun down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in a brazen attack on a Manhattan street. The killing sparked widespread discussions about corporate greed, unfairness in the medical insurance industry and even inspired folk-hero sentiment toward his killer. ▶ Read more about Luigi Mangione Peter Weeks, the Blair County district attorney, says he’ll work with New York officials to try to return suspect Luigi Mangione there to face charges. Weeks said the New York charges are “more serious” than in Blair County. “We believe their charges take precedent,” Weeks said, promising to do what’s needed to accommodate New York’s prosecution first. Weeks spoke to reporters after a brief hearing at which a defense lawyer said Mangione will fight extradition. The defense asked for a hearing on the issue. In the meantime, Mangione will be detained at a state prison in western Pennsylvania. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said Tuesday it will seek a Governor’s warrant to secure Mangione’s extradition to Manhattan. Under state law, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul can issue a warrant of arrest demanding Mangione’s return to the state. Such a warrant must recite the facts necessary to the validity of its issuance and be sealed with the state seal. It would then be presented to law enforcement in Pennsylvania to expedite Mangione’s return to New York. But Blair County District Attorney Peter Weeks says it won’t be a substantial barrier to returning Mangione to New York. He noted that defendants contest extradition “all the time,” including in simple retail theft cases. Dickey, his defense lawyer, questioned whether the second-degree murder charge filed in New York might be eligible for bail under Pennsylvania law, but prosecutors raised concerns about both public safety and Mangione being a potential flight risk, and the judge denied it. Mangione will continue to be housed at a state prison in Huntingdon. He has 14 days to challenge the detention. Prosecutors, meanwhile, have a month to seek a governor’s warrant out of New York. Mangione, wearing an orange jumpsuit, mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion, but was quieted by his lawyer. Luigi Mangione, 26, has also been denied bail at a brief court hearing in western Pennsylvania. He has 14 days to challenge the bail decision. That’s with some intervention from owner Elon Musk. The account, which hasn’t posted since June, was briefly suspended by X. But after a user inquired about it in a post Monday, Musk responded “This happened without my knowledge. Looking into it.” The account was later reinstated. Other social media companies such as Meta have removed his accounts. According to X rules, the platform removes “any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, as well as any accounts glorifying the perpetrator(s), or dedicated to sharing manifestos and/or third party links where related content is hosted.” Mangione is not accused of perpetrating a terrorist or mass attack — he has been charged with murder — and his account doesn’t appear to share any writings about the case. He shouted something that was partly unintelligible, but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” He’s there for an arraignment on local charges stemming from his arrest Monday. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit as officers led him from a vehicle into the courthouse. Local defense lawyer Thomas Dickey is expected to represent the 26-year-old at a Tuesday afternoon hearing at the Blair County Courthouse. Dickey declined comment before the hearing. Mangione could have the Pennsylvania charges read aloud to him and may be asked to enter a plea. They include possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. In New York, he was charged late Monday with murder in the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. He appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown, asserting in his note that he is the “first to face it with such brutal honesty,” the bulletin said. Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski a “political revolutionary” and may have found inspiration from the man who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology, the document said. A felony warrant filed in New York cites Altoona Officer Christy Wasser as saying she found the writings along with a semi-automatic pistol and an apparent silencer. The filing echoes earlier statements from NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny who said Mangione had a three-page, handwritten document that shows “some ill will toward corporate America.” Mangione is now charged in Pennsylvania with being a fugitive of justice. A customer at the McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where Mangione was arrested said one of his friends had commented beforehand that the man looked like the suspect wanted for the shooting in New York City. “It started out almost a little bit like a joke, my one friend thought he looked like the shooter,” said the customer, who declined to give his full name, on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really a joke, but we laughed about it,” he added. The warrant on murder and other charges is a step that could help expedite his extradition from Pennsylvania. In court papers made public Tuesday, a New York City police detective reiterated key findings in the investigation he said tied Mangione to the killing, including surveillance footage and a fake ID he used to check into a Manhattan hostel on Nov. 24. Police officers in Altoona, Pennsylvania, found that ID when they arrested Mangione on Monday. Mangione is being held without bail in Pennsylvania on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Late Monday, Manhattan prosecutors charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mangione doesn’t yet have a lawyer who can speak on his behalf, court officials said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and ski cap. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione’s cousin, Maryland lawmaker Nino Mangione, announced Tuesday morning that he’s postponing a fundraiser planned later this week at the Hayfields Country Club north of Baltimore, which was purchased by the Mangione family in 1986. “Because of the nature of this terrible situation involving my Cousin I do not believe it is appropriate to hold my fundraising event scheduled for this Thursday at Hayfields,” Nino Mangione said in a social media post. “I want to thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support. My family and I are heartbroken and ask that you remember the family of Mr. Thompson in your prayers. Thank you.” Officers used New York City’s muscular surveillance system . Investigators analyzed DNA samples, fingerprints and internet addresses. Police went door to door looking for witnesses. When an arrest came five days later , those sprawling investigative efforts shared credit with an alert civilian’s instincts. A customer at a McDonald’s restaurant in Pennsylvania noticed another patron who resembled the man in the oblique security-camera photos New York police had publicized. He remains jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. By late Monday evening, prosecutors in Manhattan had added a charge of murder, according to an online court docket. It’s unclear whether Luigi Nicholas Mangione has an attorney who can comment on the allegations. Asked at Monday’s arraignment whether he needed a public defender, Mangione asked whether he could “answer that at a future date.”
There are plenty of exciting matchups on Saturday in college basketball play, including the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash playing the Georgetown Hoyas — that’s one of the 10 games our computer model recommends in terms of picks against the spread. Watch men’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Emanuel Wallace, 27, from east London, is better known as Big Manny by his 1.9 million followers on TikTok, where he shares videos explaining various science experiments from his back garden while using Jamaican Patois phrases and London slang. In early December, Mr Wallace won the Education Creator of the Year award at the TikTok Awards ceremony, which he said is a “symbol that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve”. The content creator began making videos during the coronavirus pandemic when schools turned to online learning but has since expanded his teaching from videos to paper after releasing his debut book Science Is Lit in August. He believes his “unconventional” teaching methods help to make his content relatable for younger audiences by using slang deriving from his Jamaican and British heritage. “The language that I use, it’s a combination between Jamaican Patois and London slang because I have Jamaican heritage,” the TikToker, who holds a bachelors and masters degree in biomedical science, told the PA news agency. “That’s why in my videos sometimes I might say things like ‘Wagwan’ or ‘you dun know’. I just want to connect with the young people more, so I speak in the same way that they speak. “The words that I use, the way that I deliver the lesson as well, I would say that my method of teaching is quite unconventional. I speak in a way that is quite conversational.” Examples of his videos include lithium batteries catching fire after being sandwiched inside a raw chicken breast, as well as mixing gold with gallium to create blue gold, earning millions of views. Mr Wallace hopes his content will help make the science industry more diverse, saying “the scientists that I was taught about, none of them look like me”. “Now me being a scientist is showing young people that they can become one as well, regardless of the background that they come from, the upbringing that they’ve had,” he said. “I just want to make it seem more attainable and possible for them because if I can do it, and I come from the same place as you, there’s no reason why you can’t do it as well.” The TikToker has seen a shift in more young people turning to the app as a learning resource and feels short-form videos will soon become a part of the national curriculum in schools. “I’m seeing (young people) using that a lot more – social media as a resource for education – and I feel like in the future, it’s going to become more and more popular as well,” he said. “I get a lot of comments from students saying that my teacher showed my video in the classroom as a resource, so I feel like these short form videos are going to be integrated within the national curriculum at some point in the near future.” He also uses his platform to raise awareness of different social issues, which he said is “extremely important”. One of his videos highlighted an anti-knife campaign backed by actor Idris Elba, which earned more than 39 million views, while his clip about the banning of disposable vapes was viewed more than 4.6 million times. He said there is some pressure being a teacher with a large following online but hopes he can be a role model for young people. “I’m aware that I am in the public eye and there’s a lot of young people watching me,” he said. “Young people can be impressionable, so I make sure that I conduct myself appropriately, so that I can be a role model. “I always have the same message for young people, specifically. I tell them to stay curious. Always ask questions and look a little bit deeper into things.” His plans for 2025 include publishing a second Science Is Lit book and expanding his teaching to television where he soon hopes to create his own science show.
Major League Baseball conducted its third annual draft lottery this afternoon at the Winter Meetings. The Nationals won the lottery and will pick first overall. They’ll be followed by the Angels and Mariners. Washington had just above a 10% chance of securing the top pick, the fourth-highest odds. Here’s the first round order: Nationals Angels Mariners Rockies Cardinals Pirates Marlins Blue Jays Reds White Sox Athletics Rangers Giants Rays Red Sox Twins Cubs Diamondbacks Astros Braves Orioles Brewers Royals Tigers Padres Phillies Mets Guardians Yankees Dodgers As part of the Players Association’s efforts to reduce the incentive for non-competitive teams to lose games, the latest collective bargaining agreement introduced a lottery to determine the top six overall selections. A team’s odds of landing a higher pick are still weighted in favor of the clubs with the worst records, although the Rockies and Marlins had identical chances (22.5% apiece) of landing the top selection. All non-playoff teams ostensibly have a chance to win the lottery. However, the CBA also prevents a team that is not a revenue sharing recipient from landing within the top six in consecutive seasons. No team can get a lottery pick more than two years in a row. That ruled out the White Sox and Athletics this year. Chicago is not a revenue sharing recipient and picked fifth last year, while the A’s were in the top six in both 2023 and ’24. The Sox were not allowed to pick higher than 10th, while the A’s were capped at 11th. That’s despite the White Sox having the worst season of all time that would’ve placed them among the three likeliest teams to pick first. That increased the odds for every team but was especially beneficial to Colorado and Miami (from a probability perspective) by pushing their chances of the #1 pick north of 20%. Unfortunately for those teams, the balls didn’t bounce their way. The Angels and Nationals were the other teams with at least a 10% shot. Seattle and St. Louis come away as big winners. The Mariners went 85-77 and had the second-best record of any non-playoff team. St. Louis had the fourth-best mark for clubs that didn’t get to the postseason. They nevertheless were fortunate to spring into the top five. It’s a particularly disappointing outcome for Miami, who didn’t land a lottery pick at all despite sharing the best shot at the first selection. The only silver lining is that they’ll remain eligible for lottery picks for at least 2026 and ’27 if they don’t make the playoffs. Teams that exceeded the third tier of luxury penalization have their top picks dropped by 10 spots unless that selection lands within the top six. (In that instance, the club’s second-highest pick would move back.) MLB has yet to officially announce the 2024 tax data, but it is believed that the Mets, Dodgers and Yankees are the only clubs that surpassed the $277MM threshold for the pick to be dropped. All those teams made the playoffs and weren’t eligible for the lottery anyhow. The lottery only comes into play for the first round of the draft. From the second round onwards, pick order is determined in inverse order of the prior season’s standings, aside from compensatory and competitive balance selections. Baseball America published its most recent Top 100 draft prospects in September. As always, that’s worth a full read. Texas A&M outfielder Jace LaViolette topped BA’s list, though there’ll obviously be plenty of changes to the board as next spring’s amateur baseball season gets underway. This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission.Now that the Cabinet has been nominated, though as yet lacking the Senate's "Advise and Consent", White House Advisers appointed, and many public statements made before and after Election Night, what is shaping up for Trump's Fifth Year in office? Tariffs: Seem to be a Go, and the EU is not on the first list of targets. Most economic experts say tariffs will hurt American consumers, driving up inflation and prices. The opposite to what Trump promised in what many say is the commitment that won him the election. Retribution : Vingince, Bejasus! on the likes of Jack Smith, Joe Biden and just about anyone who crossed Trump. Pam Bondi's nomination is likely to be confirmed, and she will probably prove to be a more effective persecuter of Trump's enemies list than Matt Gaetz. But, while the enemies list is extensive, the specific targets are still unknown, with Jack Smith (plus his entire team, apparenently) as the ones most certain to be employing defence lawyers. (Mass?) Deportations of Illegal Immigrants : Looks like it will happen, but the extent is unknown. Could be a low-key operation delicately targeting illegals who have committed crimes, or a series of brutal show-me-your-papers sweeps of both urban and rural America. If Trump tries to use the US military, it will be the subject of legal challenge. NATO/ Ukraine: Status uncertain. At least both Ukraine and NATO were prepared for a Trump Presidency, and any hasty declarations have not happened. That is, besides the Sec Def nominee shooting his mouth off in a blatantly anti-Ukraine and anti-NATO manner. Hopefully, this will prevent his confirmation, as it should. Ukraine is prepared for negotiations, but Putin is not, from the looks of things. Project 2025 : Claiming ignorance of this program seems to help Trump get elected, as it was deeply unpopular. However, he has appointed many people who were associated with it, and it will obviously influence how the Trump Administration plays out. For example, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, is already threatening civil servants. Renewable Energy/ "Green New Deal" : Uncertain. Many supporters of renewable energy are convinced the energy revolution is irreversible, no matter what Trump does. The biggest deployer of renewable energy is the deep red state of Texas. Many factories of renewable energy components are in red states, and Republican Congressmen have already made their concerns known. Health : Uncertain. The appointments are pretty wild, a collection of quacks, charlatans laced with a couple of decently qualified people. But the signs are bad from the likes of RFK Jr, who may implement wacky and harmful ideas. Women's Reproductive Rights : There will almost certainly be an attack on women's reproductive rights, though it is not clear what form it will take. Certainly, women can consider themselves lucky if legal availability of abortion medication survives the next four years. Texas and Lousiana are already legislating them as "controlled substances". A federal law controlled them cannot be ruled out. You cannot look at this incoming Administration without recognising its deeply misogynistic leaning e.g. several nominees with sexual scandals in their past. A #MeToo worst nightmare. Department of Government Efficency (DOGE) : Uncertain, but so hyped that will probably have to produce something. Maybe just an excuse to give Musk and Ramaswamy something to do, with the end product a report to gather dust in the archives? Or an excuse to justify mass civil service dismissals (Project 2025) under the guise of "efficiency"? Any others I have forgotten? The intent of the thread is to discuss Trump's emerging policies, as we learn more about them, before he is inaugurated. owedtojoy said: Any others I have forgotten? The intent of the thread is to discuss Trump's emerging policies, as we learn more about them, before he is inaugurated. Click to expand... No, the intent of this thread is as yet another vehicle for smearing and slurring Trumps picks and ridiculing his policies, not that there is anything wrong with doing this, but some honesty would be refreshing. Benroe said: No, the intent of this thread is as yet another vehicle for smearing and slurring Trumps pic ks and ridiculing his policies, not that there is anything wrong with doing this, but some honesty would be refreshing. Click to expand... No need to smear, the absurdity of many of the picks and potential picks is obvious. Hulk Hogan says Trump floated idea for how he could serve in administration https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/26/politics/video/hulk-hogan-trump-administration-nn-digvid Well done Owed, very well put togther post. Owed and others seem to be shocked that Trump is planning to govern with the polices he ran his campaign on , the polices he has a mandate from the US electorate for. It is how things should work in a democracy. Trump tariffs would be ‘devastating’ to US and Canada, says Ontario premier – US politics live Donald Trump says he will sign executive order imposing 25% tariff on products coming into the US from Mexico and Canada with additional tariff for China www.theguardian.com The imposition of 25% tariffs on Canada , particularly if they come suddenly, would be shattering to the Canadian economy, writes Chris Michael. More than three-quarters of all of Canada’s exports go to the US – almost $600bn worth – including energy, lumber and auto parts. Successive decades of free trade have knitted the two countries together more or less seamlessly. Canada would also likely retaliate, imposing tariffs of its own on US goods, driving up the cost of imported American items. Making matters worse for Canadians would be if the Canadian dollar falls as a result – and it has already taken an immediate hit, dropping about 1 cent against the US dollar following Trump’s announcement. A 25% tariff on all goods would set off by far the largest trade war between the two allies – dwarfing the last one he started. In 2018, the first time Trump was president, he imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium, before eventually relenting about a year later. Those tariffs pitted the US against all its major trading partners including the EU, China, Canada and Mexico . Click to expand... betson said: Owed and others seem to be shocked that Trump is planning to govern with the polices he ran his campaign on , the polices he has a mandate from the US electorate for. It is how things should work in a democracy. Click to expand... Just like he built the wall and got Mexico to pay for it? I think Howard Lutnick will be very influential. He has his eyes on Ireland. Jack Walsh said: No need to smear, the absurdity of many of the picks and potential picks is obvious. Hulk Hogan says Trump floated idea for how he could serve in administration https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/26/politics/video/hulk-hogan-trump-administration-nn-digvid Well done Owed, very well put togther post. Click to expand... And yet all you do is smear. And yes its a very well put together post, as well as a disingenous opposing propagandist could do anyway. Canada should bus migrants to the U.S. border in retaliation. Steak-knife said: Canada should bus migrants to the U.S. border in retaliation. Click to expand... Not if you are talking about Americans who have immigrated to Canada, they'd all be Trudeau voters. cozzy121 said: Trump tariffs would be ‘devastating’ to US and Canada, says Ontario premier – US politics live Donald Trump says he will sign executive order imposing 25% tariff on products coming into the US from Mexico and Canada with additional tariff for China www.theguardian.com Click to expand... The Canadians and the Mexicans would be straight to court pointing out that they are members of the USMCA negotiated in good faith with his previous administration and getting the tariffs blocked. It would be the 'Muslim ban' all over again. The last time Trump tried tariffs, the Chinese made him cry and the EU slapped tariffs on Harley-Davidsons and Bourbon. If he slaps a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods, inflation will go through the roof and he won't have Joe Biden to blame for it this time. Democrats love tariffs even more than Trump does. Benroe said: Not if you are talking about Americans who have immigrated to Canada, they'd all be Trudeau voters. Click to expand... No I wasn't talking about U.S. citizens, more like Indians (the non-native type) who apparently are increasingly attracted by the idea of living 'the American dream'. Why more Indians are crossing borders illegally to enter the US A surge in illegal border crossings by Indians into the US has left many puzzled -what’s going on? www.bbc.com Benroe said: And yet all you do is smear. And yes its a very well put together post, as well as a disingenous opposing propagandist could do anyway. Click to expand... Why don't you respond telling us all the marvellous things Trump is going to do in his second administration with his unsurpassable team around him? We'll see if we can spot any difference. Paddyc said: The Canadians and the Mexicans would be straight to court pointing out that they are members of the USMCA negotiated in good faith with his previous administration and getting the tariffs blocked. It would be the 'Muslim ban' all over again. The last time Trump tried tariffs, the Chinese made him cry and the EU slapped tariffs on Harley-Davidsons and Bourbon. If he slaps a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods, inflation will go through the roof and he won't have Joe Biden to blame for it this time. Click to expand... RE: USMCA: "The U.S. has used two main arguments in support of the review clause: 1) the clause would provide the U.S. with leverage to make ongoing changes to the agreement and 2) it would force politicians to address difficult decisions rather than delay confronting them. On the first point, the U.S. Trade Representative during the Trump Administration, Robert Lighthizer, wrote that “we wanted a paradigm-changing agreement that would not only address current trade irritants but prevent the United States from ever again finding itself saddled with an unbalanced, outdated agreement and with no leverage to change it other than the costly and disruptive threat of outright withdrawal.” Similarly, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and Senior Adviser to the President during the negotiations, asserted that “...it is imperative that the U.S. retain leverage in any of our trading relationships to prevent unfair trade practices and market distortions and correct them when they occur. The sunset provision will give us just that.” USMCA review: Upcoming elections and a path forward Joshua P. Meltzer and Steve Verheul consider how upcoming elections will play into the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. www.brookings.edu Paddyc said: Why don't you respond telling us all the marvellous things Trump is going to do in his second administration with his unsurpassable team around him? We'll see if we can spot any difference. Click to expand... It's going to be great, probably the greatest ever, lots of great people saying it's going to be great, great people who know great when they see it (I'm waving my tiny hands while I'm saying this). Steak-knife said: No I wasn't talking about U.S. citizens, more like Indians (the non-native type) who apparently are increasingly attracted by the idea of living 'the American dream'. Why more Indians are crossing borders illegally to enter the US A surge in illegal border crossings by Indians into the US has left many puzzled -what’s going on? www.bbc.com Click to expand... Weird. Benroe said: It's going to be great, probably the greatest ever, lots of great people saying it's going to be great, great people who know great when they see it (I'm waving my tiny hands while I'm saying this). Click to expand... No detail then? But you're quite happy to slag off the poster who provided detail, without ever of course telling us why the poster is wrong. betson said: Owed and others seem to be shocked that Trump is planning to govern with the polices he ran his campaign on , the polices he has a mandate from the US electorate for. It is how things should work in a democracy. Click to expand... Did Trump actually run on raising prices? First I heard of it. Did Trump run on implementing Project 2025? Did he run on limiting women's access to reproductive healthcare? Did he run on opposing vaccinations and putting anti-vaxxers in positions of power?Google forges ahead with its next generation of AI technology while fending off a breakup threat - Japan Today
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen quits a tournament in a dispute over jeans NEW YORK (AP) — The International Chess Federation says top ranked player Magnus Carlsen has left the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships after refusing to change out of the jeans he wore to the competition. The federation said Friday that its regulations include a dress code that bars participants from wearing jeans at the event. The Norwegian chess grandmaster says he accepted a $200 fine but refused to change his pants out of principle before leaving the competition in New York. The federation said the dress code is designed to ensure professionalism and fairness for all participants.
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EAGLES FALL IN FINALS