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sbet casino Sportsman's Warehouse: Fiscal Q3 Earnings SnapshotVisa's chief risk officer sells $668,602 in stockFor the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

India's current DAP shortage underscores the urgent need to overhaul its fertiliser policy. Over-reliance on imports from countries such as China jeopardises the nation's food security. Experts and industry stakeholders unanimously agree that the government must prioritise boosting domestic fertiliser production to reduce dependence on imports. This is especially critical due to the increasingly unpredictable global supply chains, which significantly impact India's food security and agricultural sector. DAP, a highly soluble and fast-dissolving fertiliser, is most commonly used. It releases phosphate and ammonium, crucial nutrients for early plant root growth. DAP is widely used for winter (rabi) crops such as wheat, pulses, and mustard. China's supply restrictions and geopolitical tensions are intensifying the DAP crisis. Global supply chain disruptions are hindering the delivery of raw materials for fertiliser production, according to the FAI. Additionally, China has suspended exports of critical inputs, citing heightened domestic demand. “India’s import of DAP from China fell drastically by nearly 75% in the first half of FY25 from corresponding period last year,” says Richa Bagaria, Associate Director, CareEdge Ratings. The DAP import from China was 17.1 LT in the first half of FY24 and it is down to 4 lakh tonnes in the same period of FY25, adds Bagaria. As a result, farmers in Punjab , Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, among other states, are struggling to obtain sufficient DAP for their wheat crops. 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Due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Red Sea, a crucial shipping lane carrying 30% of India's imports, is now obstructed. Fertiliser shipments to India are being rerouted, adding 6,500 kilometers to their journey. ET Online If shortage was not enough, prices of the crucial fertiliser has been steadily climbing north. According to Richa Bagaria, Associate Director at CareEdge Ratings, DAP prices have risen steadily this year, from a low of $515 per tonne in May 2024 to $642 per tonne in October 2024 (compared to $595 per tonne in October 2023). Wild price swings have battered the fertiliser industry for four years, creating widespread problems. The volatility's impact extends beyond fertilisers, affecting essential raw materials and intermediates. India's quest for DAP self-sufficiency Despite India's progress in urea production, experts stress the need for further advancements to achieve complete self-sufficiency. New production units, commissioned over time, are expected to drastically reduce the country’s import dependency, from 25-28% to below 15% by FY26, according to experts. India, however, still depends significantly on imported fertilisers. For example, about half the nation's DAP needs are filled by imports, mainly from Saudi Arabia, China, Russia, and Morocco. In the case of Muriate of Potash (MOP), India is entirely dependent on imports, as there is currently no domestic production capacity. The Indian government revealed to Parliament in August that India imported 18.5 LT of urea and 22 LT of P&K fertilisers from China in 2023-24. India's imports of P&K fertilisers totalled 106.5 LT during 2023-24. Some of P&K fertilizers India imports are DAP, MAP, TSP, MOP, Ammonium Sulphate, SSP, PDM and 18 grades of NPKS complex. India needs nearly 100 LT of DAP annually and imports nearly 60% of this phosphorus fertiliser. On October 1, 2024, there were only 15-16 LT of DAP in stock, against the recommended 27-30 LT. The production of DAP fell to 25.03 LT during April-October this fiscal, from 27.01 LT in the year-ago period, according to FAI data. India's DAP imports witnessed a significant decline, dropping to 27.84 LT from 39.68 LT during the same period. DAP sales to farmers also fell to 56.92 LT from 76.31 LT. “The import of DAP remains unviable in view of a steady rise in DAP prices. This has led to some concerns around adequate availability of DAP for the current rabi crop sowing season, with an assessed requirement of 55 LT,” notes Bagaria. iStock According to industry stakeholders, while high fertiliser prices may help reduce overuse, fertilisers remain a crucial component for achieving optimal crop yields. Farmers’ contrasting narrative While addressing an annual seminar of the FAI, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said on 4 December that the government took several proactive measures such as long-term agreements with the supplier countries and promotion of alternate fertilisers as well as indigenous nano-fertilisers. Patel added that the government offered a special package of Rs 3,500 per tonne on DAP and linked an overall increase in the prices of P&K fertilisers in the international market to the current market prices. However, farmers paint a starkly different picture. Farmers say they are being forced to pay a premium of Rs 250-350 above the government-fixed price of Rs 1,350 per 50-kg bag, adding to the financial burden of farmers. Baldev Singh, a 52-year-old farmer from a village in Punjab's Sangrur district, shares his frustrating experience. "Every visit to the government's fertiliser centre ends in disappointment," he says, frustration evident in his voice. "Farmers are being forced to pay higher prices for DAP, adding to the financial woes." Similarly, Ranjeet Singh, a 38-year-old farmer from Bunna village in Haryana's Kaithal district, pointed out that the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK) has run out of DAP stock, forcing farmers like him to wait in long queues. Punjab is bearing the brunt of the DAP shortage, given its high cropping intensity, particularly for wheat and rice. The state has the highest DAP consumption in the country, utilising 91.49 kg per hectare annually. The state requires about 55 LT DAP for the rabi season and annual DAP requirement is 85 LT. The central and state governments have suggested that Punjab consider alternative fertilisers to DAP. However, experts and farmers argue that these alternatives are more expensive and don’t provide the same level of soil nourishment as DAP, making them less effective substitutes. Raminder Singh Patiala, Press Secretary, Kirti Kisan Union (KKU), says, “DAP is currently available in the market at inflated rates due to insufficient supply. Additionally, cooperative societies are struggling to keep up with demand. In our opinion, the central government's failure to procure adequate fertiliser stocks in a timely manner has exacerbated the issue. Furthermore, the reduction in fertiliser subsidies in the annual budget has compounded the problem." Subsidy cut: Adding fuel to fertiliser FAI has been cautioning the government since June to ensure sufficient DAP arrangements, but unfortunately, the government has been slow to respond, adds Patiala. iStock The fertiliser subsidy for 2024-25 is budgeted at Rs 1.64 lakh crore, 13.18% lower than the revised estimate of Rs 1.88 lakh crore for 2023-24. According to Patiala, the delayed subsidy announcement for fertilisers had a ripple effect, influencing the decision-making of private suppliers. While there is some availability of DAP, the supply falls significantly short of the actual demand. On 18 September, the Centre had announced a subsidy of Rs 24,475 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the rabi season of 2024-25 for the period October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The fertiliser subsidy for 2024-25 is budgeted at Rs 1.64 lakh crore, 13.18% lower than the revised estimate of Rs 1.88 lakh crore for 2023-24. In 2022-23, the subsidy was Rs 251,339 crore, a record high owing to escalated global prices amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The government offers fertiliser subsidies to achieve two key objectives: support the fertiliser industry and regulate prices to benefit farmers. India's fertiliser subsidy allocation is bifurcated into two categories: urea subsidy and nutrient-based subsidy (NBS). Due to declining input prices, including gas prices, the government has decreased NBS subsidy rates for the fiscal year 2024. Farmer organisations have voiced concerns that the subsidy reduction will have a detrimental effect on agricultural productivity. Furthermore, experts warn that the decreased subsidy has triggered an impact across the value chain, prompting domestic manufacturers to scale back both production and imports of chemical fertilisers. According to industry stakeholders, while high fertiliser prices may help reduce overuse, fertilisers remain a crucial component for achieving optimal crop yields. As such, they can’t be completely eliminated from agricultural practices, emphasising the need for a balanced approach to fertiliser use. “The increased sales of NPKS complex fertilisers and MOP offer a partial buffer against the DAP shortage, as these alternatives provide a balanced mix of essential nutrients. However, DAP’s high phosphorus content remains irreplaceable during the critical root establishment phase of rabi crops like wheat and mustard. Substituting DAP with NPKS or MOP may not fully mitigate the impact,” says Maninder Singh Nayyar, CEO & Founder, CEF Group. A fertiliser importer revealed to ET that the government-fixed price of Rs 27,000, combined with a subsidy of nearly Rs 22,000, still falls short of covering the actual cost of importing DAP. “Release of close to 64% of subsidy budget till October 2024 and upward trajectory in DAP and phosphorus prices, may necessitate the need to relook at the subsidy budget going ahead,” says Bagaria. Given India’s reliance on fertilisers, experts suggest farmers may need to explore alternative fertilisers during the upcoming rabi sowing season. This shift is necessary to mitigate potential production losses due to the evolving DAP landscape, say experts. The government faces a pressing challenge in addressing the severe fertiliser shortage and ensuring timely access to these essential inputs for farmers. All stakeholders emphasise the need for India to reassess its fertiliser policy, ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving global supply chain landscape. 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Joe Biden and Donald Trump have led tributes to former US President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter, who has died aged 100. Carter, who lived longer than any president in history, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Biden described him as "a man of principle, faith and humility," while Trump said all Americans owe Carter a "debt of gratitude". Carter rose from a peanut farmer to become president in 1977, before being forced out of the White House after just one term after Ronald Reagan stormed to victory in the 1981 election. After leaving the White House with low approval ratings, his reputation was restored through humanitarian work which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. "Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian," President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement. "To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning - the good life - study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility," they added. "He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people - decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong." President-elect Trump posted on Truth Social: "The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." World leaders also paid tribute to Carter. King Charles III said "his dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977". UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Carter was "motivated by his strong faith and values" and that he "redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Carter "was a leader who served during a time when Ukraine was not yet independent, yet his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom". French President Emmanuel Macron said he had been a "steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable and has tirelessly fought for peace". Before becoming president in 1977, Democrat Carter was governor of Georgia, a lieutenant in the US navy and a farmer. Carter's presidency will be remembered for his struggles in dealing with acute economic problems and several foreign policy challenges, including the Iran hostage crisis, which ended with the deaths of eight Americans. There was, however, a notable foreign policy triumph in the Middle East when he helped broker an accord between Egypt and Israel, signed at Camp David in the US in 1978. But that seemed a distant memory two years later, when voters overwhelmingly chose Republican Ronald Reagan, who had portrayed the president as a weak leader unable to deal with inflation and interest rates at near record highs. Carter lost the 1980 election by a landslide, winning only six US states plus Washington DC. After leaving the White House, he became the first and only president to return full-time to the house he lived in before politics - a humble, two-bedroom ranch-style home. He chose not to pursue the lucrative after-dinner speeches and publishing deals awaiting most former presidents, , that he never really wanted to be rich. Instead, he spent his remaining years trying to address global problems of inequality and disease. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts with the foundation to promote human rights around the world. He also teamed up with Nelson Mandela to found The Elders, a group of global leaders who committed themselves to work on peace and human rights. Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His wife, Rosalynn, who he was married to for 77 years, died in November 2023. Announcing his death, Carter's son Chip said his father was "a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love". "My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together." Since 2018 and the death of George HW Bush, Carter was the oldest surviving US president. Carter stopped medical treatment for an undisclosed illness last year and instead began receiving hospice care at his home. He had suffered from health issues including a melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. Another leading tribute came from Barack Obama, who reflected on spending time with Carter, saying that "he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service". Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where Carter taught Sunday school well into his 90s, "will be a little quieter on Sundays", Obama said. "But President Carter will never be far away – buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels." Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also spoke of Carter's faith. "President Carter lived to serve others - until the very end," they said in a statement.It has been a disappointing run of form for star Indian cricket team batter Virat Kohli and things did not improve on Day 5 of the fourth Test match against Australia in Melbourne on Monday. Kohli was dismissed by Mitchell Starc for 5 as the India batter was once again guilty of chasing a delivery outside the off-stump. Kohli edged it to Usman Khawaja in the slips who made no mistake in completing a somewhat straightforward catch. Kohli's wife Anushka Sharma and teammate KL Rahul 's wife Athiya Shetty were in attendance and their reaction to Kohli's dismissal has gone viral on social media. Anushka Sharma is all of us right now, after Kohli's dismissal : Disney+Hotstar ; TNT Sports 1 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/9rwX4kK2OL After Jasprit Bumrah completed his five-wicket haul by castling Nathan Lyon and ended Australia's second innings on 234 in 83.4 overs, India got through the first hour of their chase unscathed in the face of Australia's bowlers asking them tough questions. But a double wicket maiden from skipper Pat Cummins and Starc taking out Kohli at the stroke of lunch meant Australia ended the session strong. With Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 14 off 83 balls and Rishabh Pant to join in after lunch, the game is still on a knife's edge, though its tilted more towards Australia. Anushka Sharma is all of us right now Kohli just doesn't feel like Kohli anymore pic.twitter.com/ULvkIWaM6E Chasing 340, India had an extremely watchful start as Australia's bowlers beat them consistently with great deliveries. It meant that Rohit and Jaiswal had to curb their run-scoring shots, allowing Australia to settle into great rhythm. Rohit's first attempt in playing an aggressive shot caused his downfall – in a bid to whip off Cummins through the leg-side, he got a leading edge and was caught by gully on the second attempt to dismiss the skipper on nine runs off 40 balls. On last ball of the same over, Cummins bowled a back of the length ball which left KL Rahul in two minds and nicked behind to second slip for a five-ball duck. With Australia keeping a lid on the run-flow, Jaiswal and Kohli went into a shell. They were also beaten while defending, but at the stroke of lunch, Kohli went for a big drive and was caught at first slip off Starc's full length delivery to be out for five off 29 balls. With Jaiswal, Pant and all-rounders to follow, India need to put in a rearguard effort if they are to avoid losing the match. Previously, India took only ten balls and conceded just six runs to wrap up Australia's second innings. Bumrah got his fifth wicket by sending Lyon's stumps flying with an in-swinger sneaking through the gate. It also took Bumrah's match figures to 9/156, with his tally of wickets in this series standing at 30. (With IANS inputs)

After 12 months of big hitters such as Helldivers 2, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Dune: Part 2 and Shogun, it’s not unreasonable to consider 2024 a good year for pop culture. But the smooth always comes with the rough, and the past year really has been a rocky one for the things we love and the people who make them. From layoffs and studio closures to costly consoles, underwhelming adaptations and struggling sequels, these are the biggest disappointments in 2024. The games industry found itself facing a crisis in 2023 as many publishers and studios, both large and small, made scores of staff redundant in an effort to cut costs. But the pains of that year would be repeated in 2024, which has seen an estimated 14,600 job losses - a 39% increase year-on-year. The cuts have seen thousands of talented studio staff thrown into the most difficult job market the games industry has ever seen, with developers attempting to find new roles in a landscape where companies are slimming down. That is if their studio still exists. Adding to the dismal picture are several studio closures. Perhaps the most prominent among them is Arkane Austin, Bethesda’s immersive sim specialist responsible for the acclaimed Prey. Sadly its most recent release, Redfall, was a critical and commercial bomb – a situation that seemingly sealed its fate. Arkane Austin was shuttered by parent company Microsoft, along with Alpha Dog Games, Roundhouse Games, and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks . Somewhat miraculously, Tango was rescued by Krafton in a last-minute turn of fate, but such good news is rare. Also suffering closure this year was PlayStation’s London Studio , Galvanic Games, Avalanche Studio Group’s New York and Montreal studios , as well as others. To say it's been a tough year is an understatement. Another developer closed for good is Firewalk Studios , the team behind what is certainly PlayStation’s biggest disaster of the generation: Concord . A PvP hero shooter, its long and costly development meant it arrived long after the genre had peaked in popularity. But, despite being developed by many FPS veterans hailing from the likes of Bungie and Activision, what could have been PlayStation’s next big multiplayer phenomenon struggled to stand out from the likes of Overwatch and Apex Legends thanks to its lacklustre character kits and standard fare objective design. From the outside Concord simply looked like another typical hero shooter, which meant few wanted to see what was going on inside. It’s not an exaggeration to say that almost no one turned up for its August release – it achieved a high of just 697 concurrent players on Steam during its first week. Less than two weeks later, Sony pulled Concord from sale , refunded players, and shut the game down. By the end of October, Firewalk Studios was closed for business. It all sadly means Concord is gone without a trace. Well, almost – an episode of Amazon’s Secret Level animated series serves as a prequel to the ongoing Concord in-game story that never happened. A similar, thankfully less tragic story also happened earlier this year with Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League. After months of poorly-received marketing, Sucide Squad launched as a critical and commercial bomb . As with Concord, much of Kill The Justice League’s failings were due to chasing trends that players have long since largely tired of – in this case, the Destiny-style live-service shooter grind . It didn’t help that Suicide Squad resembled Crystal Dynamics’ ill-fated Avengers game from a few years back, which similarly annoyed players for being a repetitive multiplayer PvE game. In Suicide Squad’s case, it was a shattering fall from grace for a studio that previously made beloved single-player Batman games. Many of us just wanted more of that best-in-class superhero action with a villainous twist, but sadly Warner Bros’ chase of live-service revenue seemingly got in the way. Not that it paid off - an initial lack of sales and dwindling players has contributed to a significant revenue decline for the company. The time-compressing effect of the pandemic years has disguised the fact that, yes, we’re already at the midpoint of the current console generation. Right on cue, Sony delivered its mid-cycle refresh PlayStation 5 Pro, and it’s safe to say that practically no one was pleased by its $700 price tag . That’s not just down to the cost of living squeezing everyone’s wallets – Mark Cerny’s presentation that apparently showcased the console’s ability to render The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered so much better than the base console was basically the “They’re the same picture” meme from The Office in action. While there’s definitely time for the PS5 Pro to prove why it costs $200 more than the regular PS5, the initial results have been pretty disappointing. Rather than eliminate the need to decide between quality and performance modes, developers have added even more options to Pro-patched games, with confusing names such as ‘Fidelity Pro’ and ‘Versatility’. Remember when you just plugged in a console and it worked? Halcyon days. Plus, all the Pro’s extra power can’t even make Bloodborne look any better . At least Sony fans got a console, though. After months of rumours that Nintendo was due to announce its successor to the Switch, the company announced a brand new piece of hardware: an alarm clock. Yes, the Alarmo is a $100 clock with game-themed alarms and a motion sensor that can detect when you’ve got out of bed. It’s hardly the Switch 2 we were hoping for. And even when it comes to Nintendo’s history of weird hardware , Alarmo is far from the most interesting or bizarre. A true disappointment from the house of Mario. Over in the realm of television, things have largely been bright thanks to the likes of Arcane, Shogun, and Fallout. But 2024 also saw some traditionally reliable shows struggle to maintain their quality. Season 3 of The Bear certainly wasn’t bad – it once again provided some solid character drama and beautifully-shot kitchen nightmares. But, compared to the incredible highs of the first two seasons, this third chapter fell significantly short. Its frustratingly slow pace clashed with the lightning speed of previous years, and the focus being almost entirely on Carmy’s inner crisis forced valuable characters like Sydney into the sidelines. Similarly, we saw this year’s Star Wars project struggle to hit the highs of The Mandalorian and Andor. The Acolyte was built on a fascinating premise that delved into the galaxy’s past, exploring the late High Republic era. It was packed with Jedi and featured one of the coolest lightsaber battles in the entire franchise, but even that couldn’t save the series from its sloppy and often infuriating storytelling. The Acolyte’s saving grace could have been Manny Jacinto’s Sith lord The Stranger, who sports one of the most menacing helmets in all of Star Wars. But while deeper exploration of his character could have resulted in a much-improved season two, we’ll never get to see that thanks to Disney axing the show entirely. This isn’t just a Disney problem – Netflix has also continued its habit of cancelling shows after barely giving them a chance to realise their full potential. 2024’s Netflix cull included Kaos and Dead Boy Detectives, which join last year’s Lockwood & Co in the “cancelled after a single season” club. This year’s Fallout was a stellar exercise of how to adapt a video game for television, with Amazon’s wasteland show being among our TV highlights of 2024. But it seems like Fallout’s success isn’t a guaranteed indicator that every Amazon video game show will be fantastic, as proven by the dreadful Like a Dragon: Yakuza show that landed on the service several months later. Featuring no karaoke, far too little Majima, and far too much melodrama, Like a Dragon totally failed to capture the stark contrast between serious and silly that the Yakuza games thrive on. It wasn’t just Japanese RPGs that were treated poorly for TV this year, though. Famed Japanese manga Uzumaki also received its long-awaited animated adaptation, and the results couldn’t have gone any worse . The four-part Adult Swim show turned Junji Ito’s monochrome horror into a rushed mess that sprinted to the finale, undermining plot points, character arcs, and scares on the way. The biggest disappointment, though, was the severe drop in animation quality following a visually rich episode one . Uzumaki transformed from beautifully chilling into a low-budget nightmare in the space of a week – it was a rug-pull scarier than anything Junji Ito could write. Unfortunately, terrible adaptations weren’t limited to the small screen. One of the biggest box office bombs of the year came in the form of Borderlands . Gearbox’s wacky looter shooter was transformed into a hideously miscast Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off for its live-action big screen adventure. Many of the games’ best-know qualities, such as its sweary sense of humour and love of turning humans into piles of goopy gore, were toned down to the point of vanishing completely. The result was bland, recycled MCU-ish ideas geared toward mass marketability. In short: a complete disaster. Unsurprisingly it died an unceremonious death when it launched in cinemas – with Lionsgate’s CEO saying “nearly everything that could go wrong did go wrong.” It’s arguable that an FPS like Borderlands was never going to survive the transition to cinema. A sequel to the most profitable comic book movie of all time and the first R-rated film to pass a billion-dollars at the box office, though? Surely a second Joker was going to be an easy win. Not so much. Joker: Folie à Deux turned out to be a miserably dull follow-up , with director Todd Phillips undoing almost all the good he established in the first film. When not even Lady Gaga can save your kinda-sorta musical from its snoozefest courtroom drama scenes, you know you’re in trouble. For the classic-mould movie buff, though, almost certainly the biggest disappointment of the year is Megalopolis. The years-in-the-making, self-financed magnum-opus from The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola was (perhaps, if we’re honest, somewhat predictably) an indulgent catastrophe. Some people have seen method in the madness (including our own reviewer, who gave it a 9/10 ) but for many this opulent fable set in a futuristic, Rome-like New York City was a bloated, pretentious, dull mess. Quite how the creator of the quintessential Mafia movie got here may prove to be one of the universe’s greatest mysteries. From studio closures to box office catastrophes, 2024 has had some real low points. It’s hard to find a silver lining in some of them, and we continue to hope that the industries that make our favourite things will turn a better corner in 2025. But in other instances it’s the downs that make the ups shine brightly – and you can find many of those bright stars in our roundup of the best reviewed games of 2025. Matt Purslow is IGN's Senior Features Editor.A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. 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.

The footage, posted to the Christchurch Dash Cams Facebook page this week, has received hundreds of reactions and comments. The incident was captured by an anonymous driver's dashcam and titled "NOT a passing lane". It appears to have been shot on a West Coast road. The footage has attracted more than 150 comments so far, many of them divided over the manoeuvre. The campervan driver was criticised for not pulling over to allow others to pass, while one commenter said the driver made a “complete dick move”. "Definitely not a passing lane but there is a viable sign just beforehand saying ‘traffic behind you? let is pass’ (sic)," one person said. "The camper van should have definitely had pulled over to let both of you past. "This is a never-ending problem on the West Coast and probably everywhere else. My own opinion is that if tourists wish to drive on the roads they should be made to read the road code or be aware of common sense/courtesy of the roads. Too many close calls and just idiotic driving in general. Another person said: "People claiming it’s the vans fault for not using the “slow vehicle lane” are so off the mark with their opinion (sic). "That is a dangerous move by an arrogant impatient driver in the white car. It IS NOT a slow vehicle lane, as people claim. It is not marked as a slow vehicle lane, does not have standard signage or line marking to indicate it’s a slow vehicle lane, and is not of sufficient length to be treated as a slow vehicle lane. "It is simply standard widening associated with lookout area on the right hand side, widening to allow cars safely pull left while waiting for a gap to turn right, or to turn into when turning right out of the rest area to build up speed in case someone races up on them, etc. "It is NOT a slow vehicle bay, and van driver had no obligation to pull left so the person in the white car could over take. "Besides which, did people not see the “pedestrian” warning signage, indicating its clearly a place where people are frequently stopping and parking to access the rest area/look out, so for a someone to think he/she has the right to undertake a slower vehicle, is the most ridiculous display of driving I can imagine. "Having investigated hundreds of fatal crashes in my career, and having designed hundreds of intersection and road safety improvements, people blaming the van driver, and excusing the driver of the white car, is so infuriating, and so wrong, that Im not sure whether to laugh or cry."

For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Relaxed Mode

KISS PR Brand Story Leads Innovation: Now Accepting Bitcoin Payments for Press Release Services

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — If Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has given any thought to the possibility of clinching a playoff berth in his first season with the team with a win at New England on Saturday, he isn't letting it show. “Just attacking, that’s our mindset. Win the next game," he said. Harbaugh's relative silence on the topic isn't a total departure from his usual business-first approach, but there could also be something else at play. Aside from wrapping up what would be Harbaugh’s fourth postseason trip in five years as an NFL head coach, since the Chargers (9-6) have the tiebreaker over the Denver Broncos but not against the Pittsburg Steelers, Los Angeles would appear destined to be the sixth seed in the postseason. That would mean a trip to Baltimore and a possible Harbaugh Bowl 4 matchup opposite older brother and Ravens coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens beat the Chargers earlier this season 30-23. But first things first. And that's taking care of the Patriots (3-12), who have lost five straight games but showed several signs of offensive improvement during their 24-21 loss at Buffalo last week. Jim Harbaugh sees a dangerous group. And his players say they are locked in on the present. “Always one week at a time. We’ve got a lot of respect for this Patriots team," Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. "We know we’re going on the road and have to be prepared for everything.” If the Patriots are going to play the role of spoiler, it must start with rookie quarterback Drake Maye. He has thrown a touchdown pass in seven consecutive games, tied with Jim Plunkett (1971) for the longest such streak by a rookie in franchise history. But he has also thrown at least one interception in each of the past seven games. Overall, the Patriots have a minus-9 turnover margin. The Patriots did score 14 points in the first half during last week’s loss at Buffalo. Still, New England's offense has had trouble finishing drives, scoring touchdowns on only 47.7% of its chances in the red zone. Maye said that doesn't mean he plans to be timid over the final two games. “I think there’s definitely a way we need to cut down turnovers,” he said. “That starts with me protecting the football and throwing it incomplete or throwing it in the dirt or little things like that. I’m still going to be aggressive.” The Chargers could have a major weapon return in running back J.K. Dobbins, who has been on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury against Baltimore on Nov. 25. With Dobbins out of the lineup, the Bolts have struggled to have any consistency on offense. Los Angeles has averaged only 74.8 rushing yards in the past four games, which is quite a drop from the 118.1 they were generating before Dobbins’ injury. Dobbins was listed as questionable, while Gus Edwards — who rushed for two touchdowns and a season-high 68 yards in last Thursday’s win over Denver — was ruled out with an ankle injury. Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins would likely take over in the backfield if Dobbins also can't play. Justin Herbert, who has 20,466 career passing yards, needs 153 yards to surpass Peyton Manning for the most in a player's first five seasons in league history. Ladd McConkey is 40 yards away from becoming the first Chargers rookie receiver to reach 1,000 yards since Keenan Allen in 2013. The Chargers have won 11 of their past 13 when playing in the Eastern time zone, including last year’s 6-0 victory over the Patriots. Los Angeles has five of its nine games on Eastern time this season for the first time since 2005. They are trying to become the ninth team since 1988 on Pacific time to win at least four games when having to travel at least three time zones. The Chargers have given up two touchdowns and a field goal on the first possession in the last three games. They allowed only one touchdown on an opening drive in the first 12 games. Another cause for concern is that the Bolts have given up scores on the first two series in back-to-back games. AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy in Los Angeles contributed to this report. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

NoneA savings account is a useful place to allocate $30,000. ASX shares can help investors turn a $30,000 balance in a savings account into a cash machine while providing positives like , and . If $30,000 were sitting in a savings account, it would generate interest. But the capital value wouldn't change, and the income it pays would be stuck at that interest rate unless the RBA were to surprise and increase the interest rate again. Investing in ASX shares means owning a piece of companies that are doing their best to grow profit, increase the underlying value, and pay more cash to shareholders over the longer term. But I'm not suggesting that investors need to become expert stock pickers. We can utilise the power of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to achieve the returns we're seeking. ETFs are funds we can buy on the ASX in a single transaction that own a basket of shares. Here are three ASX ETFs that could be more useful to own than having cash in the bank. VanEck Morningstar Australian Moat Income ETF ( ) This ETF invests in a portfolio of 25 high-quality, -paying ASX shares that have strong competitive advantages compared to others in the sector, allowing it to continue making large profits. has also delivered capital growth of 12% in the last year. This combination of dividends and possible capital growth can deliver pleasing returns, and that appeals to me more than a savings account. Some of the portfolio's underlying investments include ( ), ( ), ( ) and ( ). Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF ( ) This is one of my favourite ETF investments because of its capability to give Aussies broad exposure to the global share market, which has been one of the best-performing asset classes over the past 10 years. Impressively, the VGS ETF has delivered an average and . With a low management fee and excellent diversification across a wide range of share markets from around the world, the VGS ETF is far more compelling to me than cash in the bank. I think this ETF can continue to and partly due to its diversification with more than 1,350 holdings. VanEck MSCI International Quality ETF ( ) Some investors may think that owning more than 1,300 global businesses is too many. So, why not just own the high-quality ones? The QUAL ETF screens out some of the lower global stocks from its portfolio and only owns shares in companies that make strong earnings for shareholders and have healthy levels of debt. Over the last 10 years, this ASX ETF has returned an average of 15.7% per year. It owns similar businesses to the VGS ETF but allocates more to them because it has fewer holdings — around 300 positions. This seems like a much more appealing option to me, with much more growth potential over the long term than having $30,000 cash in the bank.

If the nosy grandma peering out the window were a government entity, it would be the Global Engagement Center. The priciest hall monitor in history has just been given a pink slip. The Global Engagement Center, created by then President Barack Obama’s executive order in 2016, was supposed to help fight terrorist messaging. But the neocon majority in Congress successfully pushed for it to become more involved in fighting “Russian election interference” – or, more like flooding voters’ brains with the idea of it. Its speech and narrative policing under the guise of combating fake news ultimately became so intolerable that its spending was just cut from the latest budget bill and its operations have now been shut down. The center’s demise also may or may not have had something to do with the fact that it was exceptionally lazy and stupid, even as far as government initiatives go. American taxpayers have been paying $61 million a year for this entity to crank out a grand total of about eight reports over as many years. Yep, that’s about $61 million per report, one of which was called “Gendered Disinformation.” Other activities include issuing press releases with titles like, “Faces of Kremlin Propaganda: Dmitri Peskov.” Oh wow, guys, you found one! And it’s none other than the public official whose actual job title is communications chief for the Kremlin. How many Americans would have otherwise been duped! Imagine Russians paying one of their government agencies tens of millions a year to “expose” the White House Press Secretary as speaking for Washington. The center also spent a lot of resources promoting Russian-linked media as Russian-linked. And also as totally badass. They wouldn’t shut up about it, effectively generating one giant free advertising campaign targeting citizens who might be curious about this thing that’s managed to get under Washington’s skin so badly. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, citing the work of the center, called for the entire world to unite against RT. “We know that RT possesses cyber capabilities and engaged in covert information influence operations and military procurement,” he said in September 2024. Guess he was referring to my bulk ordering of missiles on Amazon Prime. China was another obsession. “Every country should have the ability to tell its story to the world,” began a report from 2023 titled “How the People’s Republic of China Seeks to Reshape the Global Information Environment.” It then proceeded to tell China exactly how it shouldn’t be telling its story to the world. The Center accused China of “digital authoritarianism” and using “intimidation to silence dissent and encourage self-censorship.” Sounds like US academia. Or the Global Engagement Center. How about France’s arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov last summer, now charged with enabling crimes like pedocriminality, fraud, and drug trafficking just for having created the platform? President Emmanuel Macron wined and dined Durov personally from 2018 to 2021, even giving him fast track French citizenship, and is now behaving like a psycho ex who didn’t get what he wanted. Like maybe the encryption keys. No statement from the center on that one, huh? Or on the comments by Durov’s former PR guy suggesting that Macron is just acting as a wingman for Washington in all this. The center’s latest partner is Kiev, with which they set up the Ukraine Communications Group, along with Poland, to fight Russia informationally. If they have such a crack team, then why is it all over social media that the latest campaign out of Kiev, honoring Ukrainian fighters killed in Russia’s Kursk region at schools and social centers, shows supporters holding up “hero” headshots of porn stars Johnny Sins of “Brazzers” fame and Billy Harrington, instead? How about the whole Azov neo-Nazi rebranding initiative? There’s such a lack of clarity or historical truth on that issue from the center that the entire Canadian parliament was brainwashed into clapping for a bona fide World War II-era Ukrainian Nazi last year. What about the Ghost of Kiev and the heroes of Snake Island? Any interest in correcting those myths out of Kiev from the early days of the conflict? Or perhaps the center could have come to Kiev’s rescue when it was being blamed all over the Western press, from Germany to the US, for a covert operation to blow up the Nord Stream pipeline and taking out the Russian fuel for the EU’s economic engine along with it. Nothing but radio silence on that one. So is it true, then? Or is it just a much more convenient narrative to leave hanging out there in the public domain than the suggestion that Washington had anything to do with it? In June 2024, the Center made a deal for cooperation with Romania to counter foreign election manipulation. The presidential election there was just recently cancelled, in the wake of a populist with a PhD in agronomy winning the first round of voting. Hardly surprising amid a farmers’ uprising against the EU’s heavy-handed regulations and favoritism for Ukrainian imports. Russian election interference via a paid TikTok campaign was blamed, which the investigative outlet Snoop.ro now says was actually paid for by the party of the current president – the same one that complained about the results and demanded a do-over. Guess the center never considered that on the meddling front, the call would be coming from inside the house. Speaking of which, Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and its parent company, Meta, admitted in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee in August that the Biden administration asked Facebook to censor Covid-19 content, including humor and satire, and that his teams complied. He also said that the FBI warned them about Russian disinformation on the Biden family’s dealings with Burisma (the Ukrainian energy company where Hunter Biden served on the board), which ultimately turned out not to be Russian fake news, even though Facebook had agreed to demote the story at the time. What’s that complaint about Chinese censorship again? People are increasingly fed up with these efforts by Washington to obsessively patrol narratives in order to enforce its “rules based order” that primarily just serves special interests. All you need to know about how annoyed Americans are is that they just voted for a first-class online troll as president, who has spent the last few days tweeting up a storm to everyone’s amusement, suggesting that the Panama Canal is American, Canada should be the 51st state, and Greenland should be owned by the US. The Global Engagement Center and its likeminded proponents have irritated everyone so much with their hounding attempts to impose their vision for the decor, that the bulldozer has now just straight-up ripped right through their own house.