Impeachment complaint filed against Philippine VP Duterte
For the fourth time in five LaLiga matches, have dropped points. All the while, are racking up wins to close up the title race in . In the , it was another defeat for , and another defeat for , as 's current chaos clubs continue to spiral. The , meanwhile, is proving far more predictable as notched another victory -- but, as has become a trend for the Bavarians, it wasn't easy. What else did you miss around Europe this weekend? ESPN's Sam Tighe, Alex Kirkland and Constantin Eckner recap all the action in this edition of ESPN's Weekend Review. There's been a lot of talk this week about what kind of a team Tottenham really are. Sublime? Silly? A bit of both? Most don't have an answer, as it's hard to gauge a team that can beat 4-0 and 4-1, yet lose just about every other game. That made Sunday's primetime home bout with an emergent side a golden chance to set the record straight, and perhaps they did -- just not in the way they would have wanted. They got off to the perfect start, scoring twice in the first 11 minutes thanks in part to two bizarre slips. But Chelsea then scored four without reply as Spurs fell to pieces, giving away two penalties and watching agonisingly as their two best centre-backs -- and -- exited the fray injured. It's perhaps the way those injuries came about that summed up Spurs best: Romero appeared to hurt his groin while executing a drag and turn in his own penalty box, while Van de Ven's hamstring pinged late on as he was forced into yet another long sprint to chase down Chelsea on the counter. The size of Ruben Amorim's task at Man United was made ever clearer on a helter-skelter evening at Old Trafford, in a match that had it all. Forest were excellent value for a famous victory -- their first on this ground since 1994 -- but were certainly nudged in the right direction by a horror day for between the sticks. There were plenty to pick from in the Premier League this weekend, but the best of the bunch was Lamptey's opener for against . The right-back collected an errant cross from the opposite flank, ducked inside and, from 18 yards out and an angle well wide of goal, curled an incredible effort into the top corner with his weaker left foot. Among a sea of excellent Chelsea performances, Sancho stood out. His mesmeric quick feet absolutely bamboozled the Spurs defence -- only completed more dribbles on the night -- and his goal was a stunner: He squeezed past three defenders before curling a 20-yard effort in off the post. -- Barcelona's at was enough to have Hansi Flick "leaving his technical area, shouting and gesticulating." At least, that was the reason given in the referee's report for the coach's 66th-minute red card, his first since his arrival in Spanish football. And that was with Barça leading 0-1 after 's opener. It only got worse from there for the LaLiga leaders. A 2-2 draw at the Estadio Benito Villamarín -- with Betis levelling in the 94th minute -- made it ten points dropped in Barça's last five league games. Later on Saturday, Real Madrid were waiting to take advantage. After struggling to get going at Montilivi, they eventually ran out against last year's title contenders , thanks to goals from -- his fifth in five league matches -- and . That last goal, a well-taken, low shot from the right-hand side, after a logic-defying assist from , relieved some of the pressure on Mbappé. Despite all the criticism, he's now scored nine goals in 15 league appearances. Those two results left it tighter than ever at the top: Barcelona have 38 points from 17 games, Madrid have 36 from 16. With neither team at their best, there'll be plenty more twists to come. A game that began with a goal-line clearance from , and ended with a glorious, backheel Betis equaliser from substitute in added time. Barça's opening goal was a flowing team move involving , and , and Yamal showed more of his genius with the pass that set up for their second. There wasn't enough of that quality from Barça, though, and Diao had the final say with his nonchalant flick. We've already praised Diao, so let's instead highlight Ramírez's second goal in ' 2-1 win over Valladolid, curled into the net from the edge of the box, in what might be the hardest-struck shot that LaLiga has seen this season. Valladolid goalkeeper was lucky not to get a hand to it. It isn't just that Bellingham opened the scoring in Madrid's win at Girona with his fifth goal in a month. He also played the assist for Güler's second, and was Madrid's best all-round player until he was substituted with discomfort in the 55th minute. There's no question: Bellingham has been Madrid's best, most consistently influential player this season. Again. -- Before drawing with in last weekend, Bayern Munich were seemingly on a roll, with seven consecutive wins and seven consecutive clean sheets. Things have become a little more frantic since, though. First, Bayern were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday, losing 1-0 at home to thanks in part to an early red card shown to goalkeeper . Then the Bundesliga leaders hosted third-from-bottom and had a much tougher time besting the minnows than expected. While Bayern dominated the game at Allianz Arena for the most part, they invited Heidenheim back into things shortly after the interval when a series of mistakes led to an equaliser. Before that, struggling Heidenheim had barely ventured into the opposition half. Eventually, Bayern were able to overcome the visitors who sit third from bottom, and yet, felt like a setback for a side that endured these kinds of wild, up-and-down games at the beginning of the season, before manager Vincent Kompany was able to increase the defensive stability of his team. Individual mistakes like Neuer's ill-advised run outside the box on Tuesday or 's misplaced pass before Heidenheim's opener can happen, but fans and observers rightfully expect more from this side. That said, Bayern have still managed to extend their lead in the Bundesliga standings to six points. only drawing with at home have boosted the Bavarians' margin at the top. Things were not looking promising for an already-wounded Stuttgart side, as last season's runners-up trailed by two goals after 48 minutes. As it turned out, Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeness made an inspired substitution by bringing on striker at half-time. The 22-year-old led a dramatic comeback at MHP Arena, scoring two goals before capitalised on a horrendous mistake by Union goalkeeper . Just like in the the previous Saturday, Gittens broke the deadlock in Borussia Dortmund's game once again. The 20-year-old England youth international received a pass from and then fooled both and with a few stepovers before delivering a beautiful strike into the top right corner. While Kompany decided to rest a few of his regular starters, including Musiala, the record German champions needed the 21-year-old's magic in the second half against Heidenheim. He scored twice after coming on for in the 51st minute, putting to rest any suggestion that Musiala is not already the most important piece in the Bayern puzzle, and it will likely stay that way for years to come. -- What else you missed this weekend While the Intercontinental Derby between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray is considered the most important matchup in Turkish football, any match between the three Istanbul clubs is heated and full of emotion. The clash between Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe on Sunday was no different. José Mourinho and his side travelled across the Bosporus to play at Tüpras Stadyumu. Led by up front, Fenerbahçe appeared to be the stronger team during the first 45 minutes but did not manage to score a goal, which allowed Beşiktaş -- who are currently sitting outside the European qualification places -- to stay in the game and eventually strike first thanks to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The former and midfielder had been brought on by Serdar Topraktepe only three minutes before scoring the deciding goal. Of course, it would not have been a derby without a red card. Gedson Fernandes was sent off five minutes into stoppage time. Fenerbahçe slipped to only their second league defeat this season, with the other loss in the intercontinental derby against Galatasaray in October. Galatasaray are seemingly pulling away with the lead in the Süper Lig standings, as they edged out a 3-2 win over Sivasspor on Sunday. -- Friday's 2-1 win for over will have been doubly sweet for . Not only did his towering back-post header open the scoring and help on their way to the top of the table, but it was a goal that would have meant a little extra to him -- as it came against his former club. The international's time in Milan was a noted disappointment; he signed for a €35 million transfer fee in 2022 but struggled to live up to the expectations that price tag created and was sent to Atalanta just a year later on loan with an option to make the move permanent. He had a solid first season in Bergamo, helping them win the , and has enjoyed an exceptional start to this one, notching four goals and eight assists in his past eight appearances. This goal (and win) against Milan really emphasised his dramatic change in fortunes. --
Nano-scale dinosaur made by Australian researchers from DNA building blocks
WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a "fundamental act of justice" after decades of repression, but it was "a moment of risk and uncertainty" for the Mideast. Biden spoke at the White House hours after after rebel groups completed a takeover of the country after more than a dozen years of violent civil war and decades of leadership by Assad and his family. Biden said the United States was unsure of Assad's whereabouts, but was monitoring reports he was seeking refuge in Moscow. The outgoing Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump were working to make sense of new threats and opportunities across the Middle East. Biden credited action by the U.S. and its allies for weakening Syria's backers - Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He said "for the first time" that they could no longer defend Assad's grip on power. "Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said, after a meeting with his national security team at the White House. Trump said Sunday that Assad had fled his country, which his family had ruled for decades, because close ally Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, "was not interested in protecting him any longer." Those comments on Trump's social media platform came a day after he used another post to decry the possibility of the U.S. intervening militarily in Syria to aid the rebels, declaring, "THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT." The Biden administration had no intention of intervening, according to President Joe Biden's national security adviser. The U.S has about 900 troops in Syria, including forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group. Biden said he intended those for troops to remain, adding that U.S. forces on Sunday conducted "dozens" of what he called "precision air strikes" on Islamic State camps and operations in Syria. The Syrian opposition that brought down Assad is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Biden administration has designated the group as a terrorist organization and says it has links to al-Qaida, although Hayat Tahrir al-Sham says it has since broken ties with al-Qaida. "We will remain vigilant," Biden said. "Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses." He added that the groups are "saying the right things now." "But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions," Biden said. Assad's fall adds to an already tense situation throughout much of region on many fronts, including Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and its fragile cease-fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump, who takes office Jan. 20, 2025, made a connection between the upheaval in Syria and Russia's war in Ukraine, noting that Assad's allies in Moscow, as well as in Iran, the main sponsor of Hamas and Hezbollah, "are in a weakened state right now." Vice President-elect JD Vance, a veteran of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, wrote on own social media Sunday to express skepticism about the insurgents. "Many of 'the rebels' are a literal offshoot of ISIS. One can hope they've moderated. Time will tell," he said, using another acronym for the group. Trump has suggested that Assad's ouster can advance the prospects for an end to fighting in Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Trump wrote that Putin's government "lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine" and the Republican called for an immediate cease-fire, a day after meeting in Paris with the French and Ukrainian leaders. Daniel B. Shapiro, a deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, said the American military presence will continue in eastern Syria but was "solely to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS and has nothing to do with other aspects of this conflict." "We call on all parties in Syria to protect civilians, particularly those from Syria's minority communities to respect international military norms and to work to achieve a resolution to include the political settlement," Shapiro said. "Multiple actors in this conflict have a terrible track record to include Assad's horrific crimes, Russia's indiscriminate aerial bomb bombardment, Iranian-back militia involvement and the atrocities of ISIS," he added. Shapiro, however, was careful not to directly say Assad had been deposed by the insurgents. "If confirmed, no one should shed any tears over the Assad regime," he said. As they pushed toward the Syrian capital of Damascus, the opposition freed political detainees from government prisons. The family of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice renewed calls to find him. "To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we're waiting for Austin," Tice's mother, Debra, said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media. "We know that when he comes out, he's going to be fairly dazed & he's going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!" Tice disappeared in 2012 outside Damascus, amid intensification of what became a civil war stretching more than a decade. We've remained committed to returning him to his family," Biden said at the White House. "We believe he's alive, we think we can get him back but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable." The president added: "We have to identify where he is." ___ Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Manama, Bahrain, and AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.People’s Place ramps up activity during holiday season
Homeowners and businesses said they “have lost everything” as flash floods and strong winds wreaked havoc during Storm Bert over the weekend. Hundreds of homes were flooded, roads were turned to rivers and winds of more than 80mph were recorded across the UK during the height of the storm. The third storm of the season – Storm Conall – followed just days after on Wednesday, bringing more heavy rain, flooding and travel disruptions to parts of southern England. Some residents and business owners have had to appeal to the public for help amid fears they will not be able to clear the devastation by Christmas. Lynn Bridgeman, who lives in a caravan park in Taunton, Somerset, said she went through an “absolutely terrifying experience” in the early hours of Sunday when strong winds caused her awning to collapse. She said: “At three o’clock in the morning, my caravan went up on one wheel and that was the most horrifying thing I have ever experienced. “I thought the caravan was going to topple over. I literally screamed. “When I got up in the morning, I couldn’t get out of the caravan because the awning had come down and the pole got pushed into the door.” Ms Bridgeman, who kept her clothes, food, and electrics in the awning, said her neighbours had to cut out what was left of the canopy to get her out of the caravan. The 53-year-old mother of three, who had already lost her home 18 months prior after deteriorating health prevented her from working, set up a GoFundMe page hoping to raise enough money to replace her lost possessions – and assist other residents of the park who have been affected by the storm. So far, £305 has been raised out of a £12,000 target. “I have lost everything,” Ms Bridgeman said. “I had everything in that awning, from my food to my clothes to my electrics. “We had been preparing for the winter and it’s all gone, and all the money that we put into it. “I just absolutely feel destroyed. Every time I open up my caravan door at the moment, I burst into tears. “Losing things that you have worked for is very hard. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, to have to stand there and just rebuild again.” She added: “Luckily, we are all family here in this site. This is why I did this GoFundMe – so hopefully I can not only help myself, but them too.” In Chippenham, Wiltshire, Becky Lyons’s business flooded in the early hours of Monday, damaging equipment and stock. The 39-year-old owner of the Pawesome Pet Shop said the water rose up to two feet and meant she was unable to get inside her shop until 2pm, when the water had come down to one foot. She said: “There was mud and silt everywhere. “The water was just high enough to catch everything on our bottom shelves and our freezer full of raw food.” Ms Lyons, who has lived in the region for 18 years, said the flooding from Storm Bert was the worst she has seen so far. “The flooding has never got that bad,” she said. “It was a perfect storm.” Staff from the neighbouring Pasty Cove in Chippenham helped clean out the damage and also set up a GoFundMe page to help Ms Lyons absorb the financial loss from the destroyed stock and equipment, raising £280 out of a £3,000 target. Thanks to this, the pet shop was able to reopen for business on Wednesday. “The community support has been amazing – I think that needs shouting out”, she said. Near Shaftesbury in Dorset, Charlotte Reynolds’ sheep sanctuary, home to 54 rescued animals, also suffered losses to Storm Bert as strong winds blew away the largest shelter and dampened £400 worth of hay bales meant for feeding the sheep. Ms Reynolds, who founded The Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary in 1977, said the situation has been “stressful”. “To me, the sheep are a family – my three sons have grown up with them and I want them to be safe and dry and well,” she said. A fundraiser set up to fix the damage at Ms Reynold’s sanctuary already raised over £1,600 out of a £1,750 target. “I feel relieved,” Ms Reynolds said. “Obviously as a non-profit, we fundraise to stay afloat and we can’t get what we need unless we have enough money. “As soon as we have enough, we shall purchase a new shelter.” Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament on Wednesday that MPs in communities affected by flooding after last weekend’s Storm Bert will receive “whatever they need”.Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid: Reds make their case for Champions League glory with dominant win over defending champions thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo Liverpool maintained their 100 per cent record in Champions League with the win Real Madrid have lost three of their first five matches in European Cup this term Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all on bombshell chat with Mo Salah - LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off! New episodes every Monday and Thursday By OLIVER HOLT Published: 21:53 GMT, 27 November 2024 | Updated: 22:32 GMT, 27 November 2024 e-mail 12 View comments Ten minutes before full time, when it was clear that their resurgent team had swept Real Madrid aside, the Kop burst into song. ‘ Liverpool , Liverpool, top of the league,’ came the refrain. They could have made it plural. As Arne Slot ’s charmed start as manager gathers pace, everything he touches is turning to gold. Liverpool are indeed top of the league: top of the Champions League table and eight points clear at the top of Premier League , too. Just when it seems things can’t get any better at Anfield, they do. Liverpool didn’t just beat Carlo Ancelotti ’s all-conquering side in this tie: they outclassed them on their way to a 2-0 win that was the absolute minimum they deserved. Jurgen Klopp is not the type to curse his luck but he could be forgiven for thinking that Slot has been a master of good timing. Just as Manchester City seem to be imploding in the Premier League, so this Madrid side looks like a shadow of the sides that stopped Klopp amassing far more European silverware. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring for the home side in the 57th minute after neat interplay Cody Gakpo secured the points for the home side with a thumping header from close range Kylian Mbappe squandered a chance to equalise for the visitors on a bruising night for the defending champions Klopp’s Liverpool sides played Real six times during his management and lost five and drew one, a sequence that included defeats in two Champions League finals, in Kyiv and Paris. Slot beat the champions of Europe at the first time of asking. And beat them with ease, courtesy of second half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo. There should have been more. Mo Salah missed a chance to strengthen his hand even more in his contract negotiations with the club when he blasted a penalty wide. The class of his overall play, though, did not go unnoticed. ‘FSG,’ a message to Liverpool’s owners written on a banner in the Kop read, ‘He fires a bow. Now give Mo his dough.’ Mo deserves his dough. He certainly outperformed his opposite number, Kylian Mbappe, who endured a personal nightmare at Anfield. Mbappe was a shadow of the player who has set two successive World Cup finals alight and earned a reputation as the best player in the world. His general play was wasteful and utterly lacking in confidence. He had a golden chance to drag Madrid back into the game with a penalty that would have brought them level but he hit it without conviction and it was saved comfortably by Caoimhin Kelleher. Liverpool are two points clear at the top of the European table. Real Madrid sit 24th. Uefa are staring at the horror of the world’s biggest club not qualifying for the knockouts. Jude Bellingham tried to drive his team forward from midfield but was well martialled by Ryan Gravenberch Carlo Ancelotti's side sit perilously close to the qualification cliff edge after falling to 24th after their third loss in five Champions League matches He had eight goals in 16 games for Madrid before this match but after so but after his move from France saw so many false dawns, his actual arrival was always likely to be an anti-climax. Mbappe’s night did not start well. Less than four minutes had gone when he dallied on the ball midway inside the Liverpool half and was robbed by the quicksilver Salah. Salah was away. He ran at the retreating Madrid defence and slipped a pass inside to Darwin Nunez. When Nunez fizzed a low shot at Thibault Courtois, the Madrid goalkeeper pushed it out. It fell to Raul Asencio but when he tried to control it, he only succeeded in pushing it towards his own goal. He lunged after it and cleared it just as it was about to roll over the line. The elegant ease with which Liverpool played through the Madrid press in the opening 20 minutes was bewitching to behold. The axis that ran through Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch was particularly effective. Liverpool came close again midway through the half when the ball bobbled around the Madrid area and fell to Nunez. Nunez tried to hammer it past Courtois but the goalkeeper rushed out and blocked the shot with his body. Bellingham, who had come into game accusing the English press, somewhat mystifyingly, of turning him into a scapegoat during the Euros this summer, had a quiet half. If that is construed by Bellingham as vicious criticism, so be it. It is to be hoped that someone advises him soon that his persecution complex is unfounded. Bellingham has received a steady stream of praise in the English press, because that is what his performances have deserved. No one made him a scapegoat. Caoimhin Kelleher smartly stopped Mbappe's penalty to maintain Liverpool's lead in the second half Mohamed Salah repaid the favour just minutes later with an effort that went wide of the target Arne Slot's side returned to the top of the Champions League table and maintained their perfect record If he has read his press and decided it is negative, that is up to him. If someone is whispering poison in his ear, then that is a shame because he is widely recognised as one of the best things to have happened to English football for some time and it would be a shame if some of those around him soured that. He and his teammates struggled to get a foothold in the game. Even when Real attacked, Liverpool turned it into a triumph. Arda Guler tried to free Mbappe down the left but Conor Bradley hurtled across and snuffed out the danger with a superb, crunching tackle. It got the biggest cheer of the night. Read More Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid - PLAYER RATINGS: Which Reds youngster was man of the match? Liverpool got stronger as the half wore on. Nunez headed just wide and Curtis Jones curled over when well placed but Slot’s team lacked the final composure to finish off all their good work. Liverpool made the best chance of the game so far two minutes after half time when Alexis Mac Allister floated a ball into the box to meet a superb run from Bradley. Bradley rose and directed his header downwards but Courtois produced a fine diving save to push it out. A minute later, the two players combined again and this time Courtois had no answer. Mac Allister initiated a one-two with Bradley and when the Argentine midfielder ran on to it, he got to it just before a Raul Asencio and lashed his shot past Courtois. Madrid thought they had found a way back into the game when Andy Robertson was adjudged to have fouled Lucas Vazquez in the box just before the hour. Mbappe took the kick but Kelleher flung himself to his left and saved brilliantly. Another mighty roar of jubilation rent the night air. Midway through the half, Salah ran on to a pass from Bradley and sprinted at Ferland Mendy. Salah turned Mendy inside out and Mendy brought him down in the box. Salah blasted the penalty with all his might but, to general astonishment, it flew wide. It didn’t matter. Fifteen minutes from time, Robertson played a short corner and when he got the return ball, he swung the ball into the six-yard-box. Substitute Cody Gakpo rose unchallenged and powered the ball past Courtois. Cody Gakpo Champions League Mohamed Salah Share or comment on this article: Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid: Reds make their case for Champions League glory with dominant win over defending champions thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo e-mail Add comment
There is no better time to go skywatching as the winter nights draw in and, thanks to Black Friday , you can save big on a pair of perfect astronomy-friendly binoculars. These Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80s are brilliant for getting clear views of the cosmos and there is an amazing $110 off in Amazon's Black Friday sale, the lowest price we have seen since May 2024. You can get the Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80 binoculars on sale right now at Amazon for $210.65 using the on-page coupon. Celestron is one of the most trusted brands in optical technology; their products feature heavily in our best telescopes and best binoculars guides. In our Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80 review , we gave these binoculars four and a half stars, praising their superb build quality and outstanding light gathering. So at 23% off plus an additional $35 off with the on-page coupon, this is a great deal. They are good for more than stargazing too, with their powerful 20x magnification; birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts will love them. We're constantly checking the best prices on our Black Friday space deals page for big discounts on the best telescopes , binoculars , star projectors , cameras , drones , Lego , streaming and more. Looking for an alternative to a telescope for stargazing? The Celestron SkyMaster Pro 20x80 binoculars now $110 cheaper fit the bill and offer the same quality and performance you would expect from Celestron. This deal includes a carrying case as well as a tripod adapter, though not a tripod itself. As amazing as these binoculars are, they are not light so we would recommend you buy one of the best tripods to support your stargazing or wildlife watching. In our Celestron Skymaster Pro 20x80 binoculars review , we awarded them four and a half stars, remarking that "Everything about the polycarbonate and aluminum SkyMaster Pro 20x80 screams quality". We found them extremely easy to focus and difficult to accidentally knock out of focus, giving us superb views of the Pleiades, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules and the Andromeda Galaxy. In short, if you can live with their 2.45 kg weight, this is a brilliant Black Friday deal. And if you cannot, consider one of the models in our best compact binoculars guide. Key features: Magnification: 20x, Objective lens diameter: 80 mm, Angular field of view: 3.2-degrees, Eye relief: 0.61-in (15.5 mm), Weight: 86.4 oz (2.45 kg) Price history: This is the cheapest these binoculars have been in six months, where they were around $230 in May. We doubt it is going to get any cheaper than this, even when the Christmas sales roll around, but be sure to use the $35 coupon. Price comparison: B&H: $245.65 | Walmart: $319.95 | Adorama : $289 Reviews consensus: We think these are excellent binoculars for stargazing, thanks to their build quality and light-gathering powers. They boast a waterproof covering, attached objective lens caps and offer pin-sharp views of the cosmos. They are quite heavy though so a tripod is recommended. Space: ★★★★1⁄2 Featured in guides: Best binoculars for long distance ✅ Buy it if: You want a powerful, portable pair of binoculars you can pack in your bag or car trunk and go stargazing or wildlife watching with. ❌ Don't buy it if: You want a pair you can slip in your pocket and hold for extended periods of time. Consider a model from our best compact binoculars guide . Check out our other guides to the best telescopes , binoculars , cameras , star projectors , drones , lego and much more.
Weekend recap: Shiffrin crashes, Kingsbury soars
Saturday Night Live has lined up its last trio of hosts for 2024. After a season full of nostalgic bits, political bites, and even some emotional moments, Season 50’s first stretch will conclude with three back-to-back-to-back episodes in December. Here’s what to know about how to tune in for the last three episodes of the year.0 Yes! Saturday Night Live is new this weekend, on Saturday (December 7), with Gladiator II star Paul Mescal hosting and Shaboozey as musical guest. This marks Shaboozey’s first stint on SNL . After this week’s episode, two more consecutive shows have been announced. On December 14, Chris Rock will host for the fourth time, with Gracie Abrams as the musical guest of the week, making her SNL debut in support of her new album The Secret of Us . Then, on December 21, for the holiday episode, Martin Short will host for the third time, and Hozier will take the stage as musical guest, his second stint on the show in support of his new album Unreal Unearth . Saturday Night Live airs on Saturday evenings at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. Episodes are also available to stream Peacock , which boasts a sprawling library of all 49 seasons. SNL kicked off its 50th season early in October. Here’s a list of the episodes so far. The show will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an NBC special airing Sunday, February 16. Find out everything to know about that right here . More Headlines:UConn head coach Dan Hurley insists he's not overvaluing Wednesday night's game between his 25th-ranked Huskies and No. 15 Baylor in Storrs, Conn. Sure, it comes on the heels of the two-time reigning national champion Huskies (5-3) responding to losing all three games during the Maui Invitational with a blowout victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday. UConn, which had won 17 consecutive games entering the Maui tournament, fell 23 spots from No. 2 to nearly out of the Associated Press Top 25 poll released Monday. "I think it's such a long season and we're eight games in," Hurley said when asked about facing the Bears. "Our performance in Maui shocked the college basketball world and the sports world, and obviously a lot went on there." "I don't think it's a must-win game in Game Nine of the season, but it's an opportunity to play in Gampel (Pavilion), where we play great and are very comfortable, and we know we're gonna have a great crowd." "We also know we're playing a top-level team, so it's a big game for us and it's a big game for them." Wednesday's game signifies the start of a tough stretch in UConn's schedule. The Huskies will visit Texas on Sunday and challenge No. 7 Gonzaga in New York on Dec. 14 before beginning Big East play on Dec. 18 against Xavier, which fell from No. 22 to out of the poll on Monday. But let's go back to Saturday's 99-45 dismantling of the Hawks. Jaylin Stewart started in place of the injured Alex Karaban (head) and joined Liam McNeeley by scoring 16 points to put UConn back in the win column. Solo Ball contributed 12 points, Aidan Mahaney had 11 and Tarris Reed Jr. (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Jayden Ross (10 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a double-double. "This experience they're getting, (Stewart), Jayden Ross, Solo Ball, these guys are going to keep getting better and better," Hurley said. "Jaylin Stewart has flashed. That Memphis game (in which he scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting), he flashed a lot in that one. "... These sophomores are just going to keep getting better and better. That's why I do think we do need the grace and support of our people here at UConn. Because they're going to be such different players in January and February." Coming off a split in the Bahamas, Baylor (5-2) bounced back from a 77-62 setback to then-No. 11 Tennessee on Nov. 22 with a decisive 91-60 victory over New Orleans last Wednesday. "I know we're all a little tired," Bears coach Scott Drew said. "Whenever you come back from the Bahamas and a trip like that, the first game, you can be playing in mud. And I think the guys did a pretty good job, for the most part." Jayden Nunn drained six of his seven 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 23 points to power Baylor past the Privateers. Robert Wright III scored 18 points, Jeremy Roach had 17 and Miami transfer Norchad Omier recorded his third consecutive double-double after finishing with 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. --Field Level Media
Pony AI Inc. ($PONY), a Chinese autonomous driving start-up, debuted on the Nasdaq on Wednesday with its American depositary shares climbing as much as 19%. The company’s valuation has surpassed $5 billion, attracting significant retail attention and positioning it alongside established giants like Tesla ($TSLA) and Alphabet’s ($GOOGL) ($GOOG) Waymo. The IPO and concurrent private placements raised $413.4 million for Pony AI, with the total potentially reaching $452 million if underwriters exercise their options to purchase additional shares. Separately, a group of investors — including Uber Technologies Inc. ($UBER) — agreed to purchase $153.4 million worth of shares in a private placement, according to Bloomberg News. Pony AI operates a fleet of 250 robotaxis and 190 robotrucks in China and is partnering with Toyota and GMTC to accelerate mass production of self-driving vehicles. Its “Virtual Driver” technology integrates AI-trained software with hardware like GPS, optical cameras, radar, and lidar, distinguishing itself from the technology employed by competitors like Tesla and Waymo. The company’s robotruck business is its largest revenue source, generating $27.5 million through September 2024. Robotaxis contributed $4.7 million, while the remainder came from technology licensing. Pony AI reported a $93.9 million loss on $39.5 million in revenue for the first nine months of the year, an improvement from a $104.6 million loss on $21.3 million in revenue a year earlier. Retail investors have shown keen interest, with Pony AI trending in the top 25 tickers on Stocktwits by midday Wednesday. While its U.S. operations reportedly remain “limited in scope,” Pony AI said it aims to position itself as a leader in autonomous driving in China. Pony AI enters a competitive landscape where Waymo completes 150,000 driverless taxi rides weekly in the U.S., and Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi service by late 2025. For updates and corrections email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<