Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says DALLAS (AP) — A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that Max Fried and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $218 million, eight-year contract, the largest deal for a left-handed pitcher in baseball history. New York made the move two days after outfielder Juan Soto left for a pending $765 million, 15-year contract with the rival Mets. Fried, who turns 31 in January, gets the fourth-highest contract among pitchers behind the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Washington’s Stephen Strasburg. Fried broke the mark for lefties set by David Price at $217 million. Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham all on target in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Atalanta Real Madrid’s big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering Champions League title defense. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. In contrast Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season after a 1-0 win against Girona. Mohamed Salah scored his 50th Champions League goal to seal it for Liverpool. Analysis: After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon 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. 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. Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasion ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S. Authorities said Tuesday no one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked. Deputies weren’t immediately able to determine what items were stolen. Both the NFL and NBA issued alerts to players following prior break-ins, urging them to take precautions. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. had their homes broken into. Scottie Scheffler in a landslide to win PGA Tour player of the year for third straight time Scottie Scheffler is the PGA Tour player of the year in a vote that had about as much drama as some of his victories. Scheffler earned 91% of the vote in winning the Jack Nicklaus Award for the third straight season. He joins Tiger Woods as the only players to win three straight times. Woods won it five times in a row, and three straight times on another occasion. Scheffler won seven times on the PGA Tour against only the strongest fields. He also won the FedEx Cup. He also won the Masters green jacket and an Olympic gold medal. MLB investigated to ensure no early Sasaki deal in place, pitcher likely to pick team mid-January DALLAS (AP) — Major League Baseball investigated to ensure no team had an advance deal in place for Roki Sasaki, and the agent for the Japanese pitcher says picking a club will be “like the draft in reverse.” On the first day of Sasaki’s 45-day window to sign with an MLB team, agent Joel Wolfe says the 23-year-old right-hander likely will sign shortly after the 2025 international signing pool window opens on Jan. 15 and wouldn’t wait until the Jan. 23 deadline. Sasaki helped Japan win the 2023 World Baseball Classic and has a fastball clocked at 102.5 mph. Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg says cancer has returned, spread CHICAGO (AP) — Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg says the prostate cancer he thought had been eliminated by radiation has returned and spread. The Chicago Cubs great made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday. Sandberg announced in January that he had metastatic prostate cancer and in August said he was cancer-free after chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Sandberg was the National League MVP in 1984 and a 10-time All-Star during 15 seasons for the Cubs from 1982 to 1997, with 282 home runs and 344 stolen bases. After his playing career, he served as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2015, going 119-159. Nolan Arenado open to switch from third base to first and leaving Cardinals for a team he approves DALLAS (AP) — Nolan Arenado is open to a trade from the St. Louis Cardinals, at age 33 wanting to be on a World Series contender. Agent Joel Wolfe says “it’s like his biological clock is ticking and if the team’s not winning it’s driving him crazy every day.” An eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove third baseman, Arenado is open to a switch to first base. He hit .272 with 16 homers and 71 RBIs this year, his poorest season in a decade. St. Louis acquired Arenado from Colorado ahead of the 2021 season. Athletes in $2.8 billion college lawsuit tell judge they want to create a players' association The athletes whose lawsuit against the NCAA is primed to pave the way for schools to pay them directly also want a players’ association to represent them in the complex contract negotiations that have overtaken the industry. Grant House, Sedona Prince and Nya Harrison wrote to the judge overseeing what’s known as the House Settlement, saying that although they are generally happy with the terms of the proposed settlement “there still remains a critical need for structural changes to protect athletes and prevent the failures of the past.” Analysis: The Cavs, Magic and Rockets are off to surprise starts. Maybe that shouldn't be surprising For the first time in 36 seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers are atop the NBA at the 25-game mark. They’re 21-4, even after having come back to earth a bit following a 15-0 start. The Cavs are just one of the surprise stories that have emerged as the season nears the one-third-done mark. Orlando is off to its best start in 16 years at 17-9 and having done most of that without All-Star forward Paolo Banchero. And Houston is 16-8, behind only the Cavs, Boston, Oklahoma City and Memphis so far in the race for the league’s best record.Global stocks mostly fall ahead of ECB, US inflation data
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Aston Villa plays out goalless draw against depleted JuventusTech7 signs agreement with STZA for development at J7 Emporium Islamabad : In a landmark ceremony held at the Serena Hotel Islamabad, Tech7 sponsored by J7 Emporium has signed the historic development agreement with the Special technology zone authority (STZA) for development and operation of a special technology zone at J7 Emporium. The technology enterprises licensed by Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) shall be hosted at the zone, says a press release. The zone will be a game changer in the region as it will ensure occupancy, safeguard clients’ investment, boost foreign investments and will create job opportunities in the Country. The Chairman J7 Group, Maqbool Hussain has expressed his gratitude for the partnership, stating, “It is our good fortune to have entered into this agreement with STZA. This agreement will definitely aid Pakistan’s economy by nurturing young talent, developing and specializing in new technologies and boosting cross service agreement. All of this will contribute in driving economic growth of the Country. He also emphasized the importance of STZA’s support for other commercial projects. The CEO of J7 Group, Yaseen Masud, echoed this sentiment, and added that the zone will built investors’ and clients’ trust on the brand (J7 Emporium) as both their investments and returns are safeguarded due to Private-government partnership by virtue of this agreement. He further added that despite of grave economic turmoil from past couple of years in our country, The J7 Emporium has still lived the hopes of its clients and investors expectation and continued construction despite of most difficult financial challenge. He concluded that this partnership will have a profound impact on Pakistan’s economy, and we are excited to be a part of it.” Chairman STZA Azfar Mansoor, reaffirmed STZA’s commitment for necessary support in development and operation of the zone. He further added that they will provide full-fledged support to ensure the success of this initiative.” The Tech 7 Special Technology Zone is a significant step forward in Pakistan’s journey towards technological advancement. As a partner in progress, Tech 7 is poised to play a vital role in driving economic growth and innovation in the country. Chairman Maqbool Hussain & CEO Yaseen Mehsud J7 Emporium sponsored TECH7 Special Technology zone has signed the historic development agreement with the Chairman Azfar Manzoor Special technology zone authority (STZA) for development and operation of a special technology zone at J7 Emporium. The technology enterprises licensed by Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) shall be hosted at the zone.Retail focus shifts to mutual funds as cash market turnover wanesITV I'm A Celeb fans say 'Wagatha Christie is back' after Coleen Rooney's huge discovery
Eric Watkins of Abstrakt Highlights the Challenges of Building Internal SDR Teams
DALLAS — After losing Juan Soto’s generational bat to the Mets , the Yankees chose to fortify a strength. The pennant-winning team has agreed to an eight-year, $218 million contract with longtime Braves starter Max Fried, according to multiple reports. The deal is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a southpaw and the fourth-largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. Fried’s pact also includes a no-trade clause, but no opt-outs or deferrals, per the New York Post’s Joel Sherman. Sherman added that the Rangers and rival Red Sox were also late contenders for Fried. Fried’s average annual value of $27.25 million is slightly higher than that of new teammate and fellow lefty Carlos Rodón, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees before the 2023 season. With Gerrit Cole serving as the Yankees’ ace, Fried gives the Yankees a better No. 2 after eight seasons in Atlanta. The 30-year-old has a 3.07 ERA for his career. Fried has also been fairly durable, pitching full seasons in five of the last six years. Still, the Yankees are making a large commitment for a pitcher who has logged 180 innings just once in his career. Last season, Fried went 11-10 with a 3.25 ERA and 166 strikeouts over 29 starts and 174.1 innings for Atlanta while making his second All-Star team. A soft contact pitcher with a high groundball rate, Fried uses a seven-pitch arsenal that features a four-seamer, curveball, sinker, changeup, sweeper, slider and cutter. In addition to a strong regular season track record, Fried brings championship experience to the Yankees, as he won a World Series with the Braves in 2021. However, he has a 5.10 ERA over 20 postseason games, including 12 starts. A large Yankees contingent, including Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and Matt Blake, first Zoomed with Fried last week . Meanwhile, special assistant Omar Minaya surely offered some insight, as he was the Padres’ senior vice president of baseball operations when they drafted Fried seventh overall in 2012. With Fried on board, the Yankees are improving a rotation that wasn’t all that weak for them in 2024. On Monday, Cashman suggested that the team could double down on strengths after Soto’s bat defected to Flushing. “Obviously, we just lost a big offensive force, but we also have guys that are certainly capable and quality and impactful,” Cashman said. “So, how can I add to that? Is it run prevention? Is it run creation? Is it a little bit of both? How it all adds up together, it’s all yet to be determined.” With Cole, Fried, Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman all on hand, the Yankees can now deal from an area of strength. The Yankees would love to get out of Stroman’s contract after he struggled in the second half and didn’t pitch in the postseason, but they’d have to sweeten any deal he’s involved in. Stroman is owed $18.5 million in 2025 and can make the same money in 2026 if he totals 140 innings next year. Cortes could be a more attractive trade chip, though the lefty suffered a late-season flexor strain before returning for the World Series. With the rotation reinforced, the Yankees now have questions at second or third — Jazz Chisholm Jr. can play both — first base and in the outfield. They also have some openings in their bullpen.How you’ve been making mashed potatoes TOTALLY wrong – stop boiling them in water if you want it extra creamyTop 10 Picks of the Day – Saturday 4 January
Panel to select software firm for maintaining school exam data
Victor Wembanyama Shows off Chess Skills in New York City, Goes 2-1 Against LocalsGeorgia quarterback Carson Beck has been ruled out for the second half of Saturday's SEC Championship Game against Texas after being injured on the final play of the first half. Texas' Trey Moore forced a fumble on Beck's pass attempt, appearing to injure the Georgia quarterback's throwing arm. Beck remained motionless on the field for a short time before joining the team in the locker room. Coach Kirby Smart told ESPN at halftime that Beck was done for the day. During the third quarter, Beck was seen with ice on his right elbow. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards and was sacked once before exiting. Georgia backup Gunner Stockton entered and led Georgia on a 10-play, 75-yard opening second-half drive, giving the Bulldogs their first lead at 10-6. Bulldogs punter Brett Thorson injured his left knee in the third quarter and was ruled out of the contest. He was taken off on a cart. --Field Level Media
Suns center Jusuf Nurkić, 2 Mavericks suspended by NBA for fightEDMONTON - The Alberta government has announced plans to ban new mountaintop removal and open-pit coal developments on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, but the new rules wouldn’t apply to advanced projects like a contentious mine proposed for the Crowsnest Pass. Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean announced Friday the new policies expected in late 2025, along with a round of consultations with industry players on how to implement them. Jean said under the “long overdue” rule revamp, all coal mining projects would be held to the highest environmental standards. “Our job will be to develop a policy that will attract investment and create jobs while respecting and protecting the air, land, water and wildlife,” he said. Jean said royalty revenues are also to be “substantially increased,” with rates to be revised after the consultations. “They’re too low. We’re going to bring them up,” he said of the province’s current rates. The new bans wouldn’t apply to advanced proposals, including the proposed Grassy Mountain open-pit mine in the Crowsnest Pass, which has been fought by environmental groups and communities downstream. Alberta Energy Regulator hearings into that project are to continue in January. Jean said the Grassy Mountain project, which aims to reclaim a site that was mined over 60 years ago but was never properly restored, would be monitored closely if approved. He said the province needs to find innovative ways to clean up those contaminated sites. “I hope (Albertans) look at us and say, ‘Wow, that’s smart. What a smart government,’” he said. Concerns over coal mining blew up in spring 2020, when the province announced it would remove rules that had protected the eastern slopes of the Rockies from open-pit coal mining since 1976. Public reaction was swift and angry, and the United Conservative Party government reinstated the protections and stopped selling exploration leases. Friday’s announcement also comes three years after the government received a report and recommendations on the issue, including public feedback ranging from environmental concerns to dissatisfaction with the regulatory process. Jean said the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s provincial election and fights with the federal government over resource jurisdiction led to the delay of the new initiative. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said the plan to collect more royalties represents a plan to increase production in Alberta, with no economic benefit and a lot of environmental risk. “They may want to mess around with the rates, but what they really are trying to do is increase the amount of coal mining in the province,” he said. He said the policy previously in place since 1976 was lifted for a brief period so the UCP could “sneak” a few projects through the regulatory process. “It’s economically illiterate. It’s not going to create the jobs and the economic benefits that we need in Alberta,” Nenshi said. Under the new rules, companies would be required to show they can prevent toxic selenium from leaching into watersheds. Jean said technology, including “high wall mining” to catch overburden, the layer of soil and rock that sits above coal, would be used to keep it in check. But NDP environment and protected areas critic Sarah Elmeligi said she’s skeptical technology to remove selenium from waterways works at scale, outside a lab. “That technology doesn’t currently exist and, if it does, I would love to see it.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 20, 2024.
AMOLED panel technology is poised to secure 43% of total display market revenue by 2028, according to a recent forecast by Omdia. This marks a substantial increase from its 34% market share in 2022, suggesting a transformative period in display technology adoption. The rise of AMOLED comes at the expense of traditional TFT LCD technology, which is projected to see its market dominance decline to 55% by 2028, down from 65% in 2022. This transition is driven by AMOLED’s superior features, including better picture quality, energy efficiency, and flexible design capabilities, according to Omdia. Several key factors are accelerating this market evolution: Samsung Display and LG Display are strengthening their market positions through substantial R&D investments in AMOLED technology. Chinese manufacturers have overtaken South Korean companies in Gen 8.6 OLED fab investments, particularly focusing on IT applications The LCD TV sector is countering OLED competition by emphasizing ultra-large displays (80 inches or larger). Falling AMOLED panel prices are making the technology more accessible in mid-range and lower-end markets Looking ahead, emerging technologies such as MicroLED, LEDoS, and OLEDoS are expected to capture approximately 5% of the total display market by 2031. These technologies show promise in specific applications, with MicroLED targeting large displays and high-resolution TVs, while LEDoS and OLEDoS are positioned for smaller devices like smartwatches and AR/VR equipment, according to Omdia. Despite AMOLED’s rising prominence, TFT LCD technology is expected to maintain a significant market presence, particularly in mid-range and budget segments, where its lower production costs continue to offer competitive advantages.
IF you're planning a tasty creamy mash for your Christmas dinner, look no further. A cooking expert has shared her tips for perfecting the festive side dish. The chef revealed that you've probably been making your mash all wrong. According to the expert, we need to stop boiling our spuds in water if we want it to be extra creamy - yes, you heard that correctly. If you want to make the best mashed potatoes, you need to boil your potatoes in milk. Rosie Gill, director of Milk Street Cooking School, took to social media to share her mashed potatoes recipe - leaving many open-mouthed. Read More On Food She explained that it’s time to stop boiling your potatoes in water - as you’ll need to use milk instead. She revealed: “We simmer your mashed potatoes in milk, not water! And here’s why. “Potatoes are like pasta, they release starches into their cooking liquid. “That becomes liquid gold - allowing us to get lush, silky, creamy, mashed potatoes. Most read in Fabulous “When you throw out water that you cook your potatoes in, you throw all that starch down the drain, so you’re wasting it. “The milk becomes our cooking liquid - and a replacement for heavy cream.” As she showed off her finished side dish, she added: “We just mash the potatoes directly in the pot - no mixer needed. “And that is how we get still creamy, but not too heavy, mashed potatoes.” Rosie later confirmed: “In the case of pasta, you want to reserve some of that liquid to give the sauce a luscious shine and bind it to the noodles. “In mashed potatoes, cooking in milk, and preserving that starchy liquid, gives your potatoes a natural creaminess and allows you to skip the weighty heavy cream.” The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @177milkstreet, has clearly left many stunned, as it was shared just one day ago, but has quickly gone viral, and has racked up a staggering 3.3 million views. Foods must be stored correctly to keep them fresh and prevent the spread of bacteria. Nutrition expert Birgit Brendel said bread will last longer when stored in the fridge or freezer. However, this can compromise the flavour. Storing in ceramic or pottery containers is an alternative that allows for air to flow easily and slow the growth of mould. Robert Morris, managing director of food safety consultants, Complete Food Safety, revealed the best place to store fresh fruit and vegetables. He said salad foods should be stored in the fridge drawer, but away from anything grown in the soil such as carrots, parsnips and beetroot. Tomatoes are an exception to the rule as fridges can alter the natural ripening process and diminish their taste. He also advised against putting avocados and bananas in the fridge as this will cause them to blacken quicker. But social media users were divided at the cooking tip - while some were impressed, not everyone was as keen. One person said: “Awesome tip! I’m married to this from now on!” Another added: “Brilliant.” A third commented: “Genius.” Whilst another food fan beamed: “Great idea.” However, not everyone was impressed with the foodie’s hack and many revealed that they didn’t actually think her mash looked that great. One user claimed: “Tried it - weird mush. Prefer chicken broth or chicken stock with water.” A second penned: “Looks v lumpy.” Someone else chimed in: “They don't look smooth though.” READ MORE SUN STORIES Whilst another wrote: “That mash looks way too wet.” Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line .Dale Earnhardt Jr. unveils iconic Budweiser No. 8 scheme ahead of South Carolina 400
Seahawks are optimistic again and set to battle Cardinals for the NFC West leadStrategic hire underscores Assembly's commitment to bolstering its leadership team to deliver best-in-class services and results for its clients. NEW YORK , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Assembly, a leading global marketing agency within the Stagwell (STGW) network, today announced the appointment of Josh Berman as Executive Vice President, Assembly Lead. Earlier this year, Assembly unveiled a new operating structure with teams organized into 'Assemblies' based on geography and industry sector. Based in New York , Berman will co-lead Assembly East, focusing on deepening brand relationships, driving innovation, and providing more rigor, expertise, and growth for clients. Berman brings 15 years of media industry experience to Assembly. Most recently, as Managing Partner and Client Lead at Wavemaker, he led media planning and buying for a major Church & Dwight brand and contributed to global product development initiatives, leveraging data and technology to craft effective marketing solutions. Over his career, Josh has partnered with marquee brands across various industries, including Citi, Campbell's , IKEA, Tiffany & Co., Amgen, Marriott, and AT&T. Berman's appointment is part of Assembly's ongoing growth efforts, ensuring that the agency remains at the forefront of the industry and continues to meet clients' evolving needs. "Our clients get the best of both worlds—an agency big enough to lead yet small enough to care—which means each client receives the attention, dedicated leadership, and prioritization the industry and clients are demanding," said Rick Acampora , Global CEO of Assembly. "Josh's extensive experience in media strategy, analytics, client leadership, and innovation, coupled with his ability to fuse media and creative to unlock and accelerate brand performance, will be instrumental as we continue to elevate and find the change that fuels growth for our clients. We are thrilled to have him join our team." Berman's role is effective immediately. ABOUT ASSEMBLY Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world's most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together compelling brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and fostering significant business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a dedicated global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. Committed to purposeful action, Assembly leads the way in social and environmental impact within the agency realm. As a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network designed to revolutionize marketing, Assembly continues to set new standards of excellence. For more information, please visit assemblyglobal.com . Contact Mariana Delacqua mariana.delacqua@assemblyglobal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/josh-berman-joins-assembly-as-evp-assembly-lead-in-north-america-302337752.html SOURCE Assembly
Hyderabad: HYDRAA to adopt digital models for lake FTL demarcation in 2025