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QB Josh Allen and coach Sean McDermott deserve credit in Bills latest AFC East-clinching seasonPHL economy: Resilient or barely surviving rough waters?Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sort Your Life Out star Stacey Solomon has shared a photo of her stunning decorations on social media, but has admitted that this Christmas she has been the “most disorganised I’ve ever been.” Sharing the image of her front door, decked out with beautiful ice pink decorations, she wished her followers a “Happy Christmas Eve Eve” and said that it didn’t matter if everything wasn’t organised as her kids’ Christmas wish was that the family was all together. The mum of five and stepmum of one started the post by writing “Forgot to show you the front door.” Her photo was worth the wait as it featured a sleigh with a snowy reindeer, huge pale pink baubles mixed with foliage over the doorway, a handful of figurines and a pretty pink wreath on the wooden door. She added: “I finished it the other week and I can honestly say this is the most disorganised I’ve ever been at Christmas. But I’m rolling with it all because all the kids will care about is that we are together and home with nothing to focus on but Christmas day.” Husband Joe revealed in an interview with Metro that Christmas this year at their Pickle Cottage would be more of a low key affair. "Last year, we had about 28 people at our house for Christmas dinner. This year is a bit more quiet: just me, Stacey, the kids and three or four other people coming." Stacey has had a busy few months leading up to Christmas. As well as filming Sort Your Life Out and Stacey Solomon ’s Craft Christmas, she recently flew to Las Vegas and enjoyed a trip to see Adele in concert there. Back in England, she and husband Joe Swash are also filming a reality show that will peek behind the scenes of their family life. As part of Craft Christmas, Stacey also got to spread some festive joy with a member of her own family. On The One Show she revealed that she hosted a yuletide bash at the care home where her grandmother Gwen lives. She enlisted a dream team to bring her festive vision to life, roping in her hubby Joe, the kids, her sister Jemma, and her Sort Your Life Out sidekick, Dilly Carter. They were tasked with transforming the care home into a magical winter wonderland. Stacey's hand-crafted decorations decked the halls just in time for the residents and staff to bask in the holiday cheer. "Grandma Gwen was so excited we were coming to her care home! She was over the moon,” she told hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp. "My grandma is just the most amazing woman. She's 96 this month. So when we said we'll come to her care home, she was absolutely delighted."
NFL NOTESBuccaneers are back to .500 and in position to control their playoff hopes down the stretch
Oregon started signing day behind Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten recruiting rankings and was poised to finish Wednesday on top. The Ducks flipped five-star cornerback Na'eem Offord from the Buckeyes and four-star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from California — additions that pushed them to No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in the 247Sports Composite rankings. A Big Ten-high four five-stars signed with the Ducks. Ohio State's class, ranked fifth in the country, is highlighted by a pair of national top-five prospects in quarterback Tavien St. Clair and cornerback Devin Sanchez. Michigan's class was rated third best in the Big Ten and seventh best in the nation. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 national recruit, was scheduled to sign his letter of intent with the Wolverines on Wednesday evening. Two other Big Ten teams were ranked in the top 20, No. 13 Southern California and No. 17 Penn State. Oregon closed with a flourish with Offord and Sagapolutele flipping on signing day and four-star linebacker Gavin Nix switching from Miami on Tuesday. The Ducks signed some of the nation's top prospects at wide receiver and cornerback. Dakorien Moore is the No. 1 receiver and Dallas Wilson is No. 4. Offord is the No. 2 corner, Brandon Finney is No. 5 and Dorian Brew is No. 8. They also signed a second quarterback, the four-star Akili Smith Jr., whose father was the Ducks' quarterback in 1997-98 and an NFL first-round draft pick. Five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet was USC's top signee, and the Trojans beat out Ohio State and Oregon for five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart. Penn State landed the No. 4 offensive lineman in the country in Malachi Goodman. Among eight four-star defensive players to sign was linebacker LaVar Arrington Jr., whose father was a 1998 All-American for the Nittany Lions and No. 2 overall draft pick in 2000. Nebraska signed four-star linebackers in Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones and got a pleasant signing-day surprise when four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills flipped from Oklahoma. • Iose Epenesa, the No. 14 national prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman, continues his family's tradition at Iowa. The edge rusher from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the brother of former Iowa star AJ Epenesa. Another brother, Eric, is a walk-on linebacker for the Hawkeyes. Their father, Eppy, played at Iowa in the 1990s. • Indiana's breakthrough season produced a minimal bump in the recruiting rankings. The Hoosiers, who signed 21 players, went from No. 16 last year to No. 13 in the Big Ten. • Maryland signed four four stars, including the nation's No. 5 quarterback prospect in 6-foot-4, 215-pound Malik Washington. • Michigan State didn't sign a four-star recruit for the first time since at least 2009. • Purdue, three days after the firing of Ryan Walters and coming off one of the worst seasons in program history, signed just six players. Michigan's NIL collective reportedly offered Underwood an eight-figure financial package and Tom Brady provided a strong nudge to get him to flip from LSU two weeks ago. Underwood is from Belleville, Michigan, less than a half-hour drive from Ann Arbor, and he has said playing close to home also was a factor. Underwood is the first No. 1 national prospect to land at Michigan since defensive end Rashan Gary in 2016. An Ohio State stocking cap sat alongside Auburn and Oregon ballcaps on a table at Offord's signing ceremony at Parker High in Birmingham, Alabama. He picked up the Auburn cap and put it on for a split-second, then flipped it into the crowd and put on the Oregon cap. With three of the top eight cornerback prospects and four-star safety Trey McNutt expected to sign, the Ducks would have the highest-rated group of defensive backs.
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y. – Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan and Syosset Hospital have been selected as 2024 Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals, placing Northwell Health hospitals among an elite group of health care institutions. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization, conducts the survey to support informed health care decisions for consumers when choosing a hospital and to promote high-value care. Lenox Hill and Syosset are two of 69 hospitals nationwide to achieve Top Teaching Hospitals and one of only six in New York State. This is the second accolade Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals received in the span of a month from the Leapfrog Group. Both hospitals achieved an “A,” the gold standard measure of patient safety in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade survey in November, along with nine other Northwell hospitals including: Glen Cove Hospital, Huntington Hospital, Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, Mather Hospital, Northern Westchester Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Phelps Hospital, Plainview Hospital and South Shore University Hospital. Achieving an “A” in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade survey is a requirement before being considered as a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital, one of the most competitive awards American hospitals can receive. “Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals have demonstrated exceptional performance by earning not one, but two prestigious awards from Leapfrog," said Peter Silver, MD, senior vice president, associate chief medical officer and chief quality officer at Northwell Health. “Achieving Leapfrog's Top Teaching Hospital status requires mastering 45 rigorous measures that includes low infection rates, practices for safer surgery and a hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors which less than 10 percent of the hospitals surveyed were able to achieve.” Teaching hospitals partner with medical and nursing schools, education programs and research centers to improve health care through learning and research. Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals are among only 10 percent of the 2,400 teaching hospitals nationwide that met Leapfrog’s criteria to be Top Teaching Hospitals. Lenox Hill is a nationally ranked 450-bed non-profit, tertiary, research and academic medical center. U.S. News & World Report placed Lenox Hill as the fifth best hospital in New York State and Healthgrades named it among the 50 best hospitals in America for 2024 for the third consecutive year. Syosset, a 136-bed community hospital, is home to centers of excellence in bariatric surgery and orthopedics, with a radiology department that includes some of the most advanced technology available. The Joint Commission recognized Syosset for its bariatric surgery program and certified the hospital for health care quality in diabetes care. “I'm proud of the dedication and commitment shown by the doctors, staff, and administrators at Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals,” Dr. Silver said. “They are truly deserving of being recognized as Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals.” The Leapfrog Group, known as the toughest standard-setters for health care, analyzes and publishes data on safety and quality. The highest-performing hospitals on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey are recognized annually with the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. "Protecting patients from preventable harm is central to The Leapfrog Group’s mission," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals have set the standard for patient safety, earning the prestigious distinction of a Top Hospital. This elite honor reflects the exceptional efforts of the entire team and places Lenox Hill and Syosset hospitals among the nation's elite in health care." Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health system, with 21 hospitals and 890 outpatient facilities across the city, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. For more information on Leapfrog 2024 Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospitals go to: Top Hospitals | Leapfrog!Saints say Taysom Hill 'likely' has a season-ending knee injury
LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday's doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA's five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” While the NBA's Christmas lineup has its best viewer numbers in five years, the NFL has made Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season, joining Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving. “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this," said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media. "But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.” Both NFL games surpassed the previous mark of 23 million for last season’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs on Peacock. Viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl. The 20-minute halftime performance averaged over 27 million viewers. The viewer figures include the audience on Netflix, mobile viewership on NFL+ and those who tuned in on CBS stations in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected to be available on Tuesday. The NFL's Christmas numbers decreased from last season, but not at the rate that usually happens when something goes from broadcast to streaming. Last year’s three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million on CBS. Once global and Netflix's first-party data is released, both Christmas games should surpass 30 million. The NBA's lineup saw an 84% rise over 2023. One reason for the increase is that all five games were on ABC, compared to two last year. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBAAsian Stocks Eye Gains as Wall Street Awaits Data: Markets WrapResidents have responded with mixed reactions after a city council announced for almost five kilometres along a busy nature strip that's become . , which encompasses much of and southern suburbs, announced overnight that "after receiving numerous complaints" it will install no parking signs along a 4.5km stretch of Anzac Parade between Matraville and La Perouse. From today it will start warning owners to remove their vehicles from the grassed nature strip, with plans to "create formalised parking bays to support residents" in the works — however they won't be for boats or caravans. "Parked vehicles make it more dangerous for pedestrians in these green spaces and create safety risks by blocking the view of oncoming traffic," council said in a statement. The portion of Anzac Parade in question is frequently used by boat owners for storage, angering those who say the area is already lacking adequate parking. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a Randwick City spokesperson confirmed the new signage will be installed in the next five to 10 days. "Two variable message signs have been installed on site informing people of the change," he told Yahoo. "Vehicles can continue to park legally along Anzac Parade." He said storage of "all sorts of larger vehicles" — including boats, trailers, caravans and vans — "presents a problem". "Warning notices will be placed on vehicles currently left in the area and letters will be sent to car owners where possible," council said. There will be a grace period to allow vehicles to move and adjust to the change before $129 fines will be issued. Responding to the announcement on social media, dozens of passionate locals weighed in with their opinions. Some called for "formalised paid long-term parking" for the vehicles which they said "clog up residential streets" — something that has become . Meanwhile others questioned the idea from council, calling it "nonsense" and saying it will merely push the problem elsewhere. "I appreciate this move however it’s also going to push these vehicles and boats into neighbouring streets where parking is at a premium," one person argued. "I applaud council [for] considering ... street parking but they need to look at the bigger picture," said another. "The issue of vehicles including trailers parking on the grass of Anzac Parade ... provides a temporary solution in the absence of fenced off parking areas." "People are trying to park their recreation vehicles OFF the roads to reduce congestion. The council is certainly not there for its rate payers. One person complains and yet again no community engagement or alternatives put in place," a third commented on the council's post. "Them being on the grass is a lot safer than on the street what nonsense is this council trying to pull," one local said. Council stated online that once the vehicles have been removed, it would add more native and indigenous plants "to enhance the area" and help with "screening, shade and reducing noise".
SM approaches 2025 with cautious optimismPresident-elect Donald Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary to lead the Food and Drug Administration , selecting a surgeon and author who gained national attention for opposing vaccine mandates and some other public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, is the latest in a string of Trump nominees who have declared the U.S. health system “broken” and in need of a shakeup. In books and articles Makary has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. He will need to be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate to take the post. Trump announced the nomination in a statement Friday night, saying Makary “will restore FDA to the gold standard of scientific research, and cut the bureaucratic red tape at the agency to make sure Americans get the medical cures and treatments they deserve.” Headquartered in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington, the 18,000 employees of the FDA are responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs , vaccines and medical devices as well as a swath of other consumer goods, including food , cosmetics and vaping products . Altogether those products represent an estimated 20% of U.S. consumer spending annually, or $2.6 trillion. Makary gained prominence on Fox News and other conservative outlets for his contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic. He questioned the need for masking and, though not opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine, had concerns about vaccinations in young children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that COVID-19 vaccinations prevented more than 686,000 U.S. deaths in 2020 and 2021 alone. While children faced much lower rates of hospitalization and death from the virus, medical societies including the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that vaccinations significantly reduced severe disease in the age group. Trained as a surgeon and cancer specialist, Makary was part of a vocal group of physicians calling for greater emphasis on herd immunity to stop the virus, or the idea that mass infections would quickly lead to population-level protection. In a February 2021 Wall Street Journal piece , he wrote that “COVID will be mostly gone by April, allowing Americans to resume normal life.” That summer the delta variant of the virus ripped through the U.S. , followed by omicron in the winter, leading to hundreds of thousands of additional deaths. If confirmed, Makary would be expected to report to anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Trump's pick to oversee the nation’s Department of Health and Human Services , which includes the FDA. Makary does not share Kennedy’s discredited views on vaccines , but he has a similar distrust of the pharmaceutical industry. Makary has lamented how drugmakers used misleading data to urge doctors to prescribe OxyContin and other opioids as low-risk, non-addictive pain relievers. That marketing was permitted under FDA-approved labeling from the 1990s, suggesting the drugs were safe for common ailments like back pain. In more recent years, the FDA has come under fire for approving drugs for Alzheimer's , ALS and other conditions based on incomplete data that failed to show meaningful benefits for patients. A push toward greater scrutiny of drug safety and effectiveness would be a major reversal at FDA, which for decades has focused on speedier drug approvals . That trend has been fueled by industry lobbying and fees paid by drugmakers to help the FDA hire additional reviewers. Kennedy has proposed ending those payments, which would require billions in new funding from the federal budget. Other administration priorities would likely run into similar roadblocks. For instance, Kennedy wants to bar drugmakers from advertising on TV , a multibillion-dollar market that supports many TV and cable networks. The Supreme Court and other conservative judges would likely overturn such a ban on First Amendment grounds that protect commercial speech, experts note. Makary would also inherit a raft of ongoing projects at the FDA kicked off by outgoing Commissioner Robert Califf, including the reorganization of the agency's food division and plans to regulate artificial intelligence in medical technology. In the event of other controversial initiatives under Trump, career staffers may simply drag the work out until a new administration comes to power. “The bureaucracy can wait anybody out, and that’s an attitude I think you’ll hear a lot,” said Wayne Pines, a former FDA official under Republican and Democratic administrations. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
‘The Agency’ Renewed: Everything We Know About Spy Thriller’s Season 2
ATLANTA — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats grappled Monday with President Joe Biden's pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of federal crimes his son might have committed. The president said in a statement his son's prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday. She, along with Biden and other White House officials, insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. People are also reading... That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden's reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who argues that multiple indictments and a conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. "This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on social media. "Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President's son." Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on social media: "This wasn't a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers." Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden "put personal interest ahead of duty" with a decision that "further erodes Americans' faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all." Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was "an improper use of power" that erodes faith in government and "emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests." Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon "understandable" if viewed only as the "action of a loving father." But Biden's status as "our nation's Chief Executive," the senator said, rendered the move "unwise." Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump's use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump's campaign and first administration. "Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law's father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France," wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on social media. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there "is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden." Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. "Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right," Harrison said. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, "Of course I support the pardon of my son." But Biden’s decision to go back on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising. Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death of his older son, Beau, from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction. But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — raised new questions about his already teetering legacy. Biden aides and allies were already resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after Donald Trump's win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct and tangled business dealings were seen as a persistent liability. Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
The year in Eagle County news: New flights, fights over development and oil rail project, and a big break in a 19-year-old mysteryChina’s Landspace secures state-backed funding for reusable rockets
Jeff Bezos and Sam Altman Discuss Elon Musk’s Political Power at DealBook Summit‘The Agency’ Renewed: Everything We Know About Spy Thriller’s Season 2
Singapore, Singapore , Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planetarium Labs has announced the pre-registration kickoff for its Immortal Rising 2 Path of Ascension Play 2 Airdrop campaign during the YGG Play Summit. The announcement was made by JC Kim, CEO and Founder of Planetarium Labs, who also provided a live demo of Immortal Rising 2, captivating attendees with the game's immersive dark fantasy setting and advanced Web3 features. Pre-registration for the P2A campaign is now open, offering participants the opportunity to claim a unique SoulBound Token (SBT) during this phase. This SBT will act as a hidden incentive for players, unlocking a special reward at the end of the campaign. The first season of the P2A campaign begins on November 28, 2024, inviting players to engage in a variety of daily check-in, social and in-game missions. These missions allow users to acquire additional SBTs per mission, each with unique scores that contribute to the users’ overall performance. At the end of Season 1, participants can check their final tier based on their SBT collection, unlocking exclusive rewards and benefits. The campaign not only introduces an engaging way for players to interact with Immortal Rising 2 but also provides a new layer of player-driven progression and achievement in Web3 gaming. Since its grand launch, Immortal Rising 2 has garnered significant attention, with over 500,000 players pre-registering ahead of its debut. The game has also achieved over 1 million registrations on Immortal Vault , the official platform where users can complete various social and in-game missions to earn ORB, a mileage point that will later contribute to $IMT allocation. Additionally, the game has surpassed 600,000 downloads and topped the charts for iOS and AOS in South Korea and Vietnam . Built on Immutable's zkEVM, powered by Polygon, the game seamlessly integrates blockchain technology with dynamic RPG mechanics, offering players both traditional gameplay and on-chain utility. “With Immortal Rising 2, we’re not only advancing Web3 gaming but also creating opportunities for players to engage with the ecosystem in new and rewarding ways,” said JC Kim, CEO and Founder of Planetarium Labs . “The P2A campaign is an exciting step forward, combining innovative technology with immersive gameplay to deepen player engagement.” To pre-register for the P2A campaign and secure your exclusive SoulBound Token, visit the pre-registration page or join the official website at immortalrising2.com and follow Immortal Rising 2 on X and Discord . About Planetarium Labs Planetarium Labs , which raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by Animoca Brands, is a community-driven Web3 gaming company that builds immersive and moddable gaming experiences for users around the world. With decades of collective experience in gaming and blockchain technologies, and with industry-leading visionaries and partners, Planetarium Labs is building the protocols and experiences that take Web3 gaming to the next level. Media Contact Robert Penington robert@thronepr.com
Other Sports Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two sailors have died as the 2024 Sydney to Hobart took a tragic turn on Friday morning. NSW Police and Sydney to Hobart officials confirmed the two separate incidents occurred as the fleet of 104 vessels made its way down the NSW south coast. In a night of devastation and destruction, wild, windy conditions rocked the fleet with 15 race retirements overnight. The Sydney to Hobart race committee released a statement to say both people died after being struck by a sail boom. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. These are the first deaths in the Sydney Hobart since six men lost their lives at sea in the stormy 1998 race. The race’s organising body — the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) — has been forced to defend its decision to send the fleet into dangerous waters. CYC Vice Commodore David Jacobs on Friday told reporters the organisation will consider making changes to prevent further tragedies. Night time conditions on-board LawConnect. “We always want to improve safety wherever we can, so we will do an investigation,” he said. “And if there’s something that boats can do to try and prevent this happening, we will implement that.” He said the conditions were not extreme enough to warrant race to be called off. “These fleets can handle those winds easily,” he said. “They’re ocean racers. They’re used to those winds. It [is] not extremely vicious.” His comments came after Matt Allen, co-skipper of Comanche, earlier said the fleet was heading into “boat-breaking” conditions. Australian Prime Miniter Anthony Albanese addressed the tragedy with a statement on his social media channels on Friday morning. Bowline and Advantedge pass between North and South Head at the start of the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Picture: Justin Lloyd. David Jacobs, Vice commodore of the Cruising Yacht Club addresses the media. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard. “Our thoughts this morning are with the two sailors that tragically lost their lives in the Sydney to Hobart race overnight,” he wrote on X. “The Sydney to Hobart is an Australian tradition, and it is heartbreaking that two lives have been lost at what should be a time of joy. “We send our love and deepest condolences to their families, friends and loved ones.” A crew member on the Flying Fish Arctos died after being struck as the yacht was sailing approximately 30 nautical miles east of Ulladulla. NSW Police said the tragedy occurred around 11.50pm (AEDT). “Officers from the Marine Area Command were notified by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in Canberra that a crew member on board a yacht had been struck by a sail boom,” NSW Police said in a statement. “Fellow crew members performed CPR, but they could not be revived. An image of Flying Fish Arctos from the Sydney to Hobart race website. This image is not from the race and does not represent the 2024 race crew. “The yacht has altered course to Jervis Bay where it is expected to arrive about 7am.” The second tragedy occurred around 2.15am (AEDT), police say. Sailing yacht Bowline was approximately 30nm east of Batemans Bay when a crew member was struck on the vessel, according to Sydney to Hobart race control. CPR efforts to revive the crew member were unsuccessful, according to a statement. NSW Police released a statement that said: “Officers from the Marine Area Command were advised at 2.15am today (Friday 27 December 2024) that crew members from a second yacht were administering CPR to a colleague who had also been struck by the vessels sail boom. “A short time later officers were informed that CPR had been unsuccessful. Flying Fish released an image of the vessel's final Sydney to Hobart preparations. Photo: Instagram, @flying_fish_sailing. “The police vessel ‘Nemesis’ is currently escorting the second yacht to Batemans Bay. Estimated arrival time is approximately 7am.” Race control said in a statement on Friday morning: “As these incidents are being dealt with by the Water Police and all family members are yet to be contacted, we cannot provide further details at this stage. “Our thoughts are with the crews, family and friends of the deceased.” According to a Sydney to Hobart profile, Flying Fish Arctos left Sydney Harbour with a crew of 10 plus “skipper and navigator”. Bowline, has a crew of seven plus “skipper and navigator”, race listings show. As of 9am (AEDT), 17 of the initial fleet of 104 vessels had retired, leaving 87 boats still on track to complete the 628-nautical mile race. Veteran sailing journalist Amanda Lulham reported it was “one of the most destructive – and expensive – nights in Sydney to Hobart history”, she wrote for The Australian . There was one case of good news with a small miracle unfolding in the blackwater overnight. According to Jacobs, a sailor was recovered after falling overboard on Tasmanian yacht Tasmanian entry Porco Rosso around 3am (AEDT). He said the crew member drifted more than 1km from the vessel. “This is one of the most terrifying experiences you can have,” he said. “Fortunately they are healthy and well.” The tragedies occurred as race leader Master Lock Comanche was forced into a shock retirement. Race control confirmed the supermaxi, that took line honours in 2022, was approximately 63 nautical miles off Green Cape when mainsail damage forced the crew to abandon its campaign. Bowline as featured on the Sydney to Hobart’s website. Master Lock Comanche passes between North and South Head at the start of the 2024 Rolex Sydney to Hobart. Picture: Justin Lloyd. Comanche, the four-time line honours champion and the event’s record holder, earlier held a lead of more than eight nautical miles over LawConnect. LawConnect edged Comanche to win by just 51 seconds last year. The fleet was always expected to face dangerous conditions as it made its way towards Bass Straght. “We are seeing strong wind warnings developing through the afternoon today and getting up to gale, so about 35 knots,” meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said in the last briefing hours before the start. A strong south-westerly change would move across Bass Strait early on Friday morning, potentially bringing showers, lightning, thunder, and waves of up to 4 metres (13 feet). “It’s going to be a fast and furious first night out there on our way down to Hobart,” said Matt Allen, co-skipper of Comanche. “It’s probably going to be boat-breaking sort of conditions,” Allen said ahead of the race. “The really small boats are really going to cop it a few times in this race.” Six men died, five boats sank and 55 sailors were rescued in 1998, when a deep depression exploded over the fleet in the Bass Strait. — with AFP More Coverage Heart wrenching update on AFL flag winner James Dampney Surprise name in athlete of the year votes Ryan Morik Originally published as Two dead as tragedy rocks Sydney to Hobart Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories Sport Man overboard miracle: Sailor survives terrifying ordeal A Sydney to Hobart sailor has been rescued from the ocean despite becoming separated from his boat by almost 2km in pitch-black conditions early this morning. Follow our LIVE updates. Read more News Favourite out, yachts dismasted in Sydney to Hobart drama In one of the most destructive – and expensive – nights in Sydney to Hobart history, wild winds and rugged seas have blown the race apart and sent multiple favourites into retirement Read more