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Sen. Booker 'frustrated' by lack of transparency about drones, says it's causing 'misinformation to spread'
( MENAFN - AFP) America's largest private employer, Walmart, is the latest name to join a list of US businesses and institutions rethinking programs to bolster minority groups as support for progressive policies erodes. Walmart said it will phase out the terms "diversity, equity and inclusion" (DEI) and "Latinx," end supplier diversity programs, shutter a racial equity center and pull out of a prominent gay rights index. The announcement comes in the wake of similar moves by a string of prestige brands -- from Ford, John Deere and Lowe's to Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniel's -- reflecting a backlash against so-called political correctness in American public life. The rightward shift is credited in part for populist Donald Trump's White House comeback and for laying the groundwork for a 2023 Supreme Court ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions. DEI initiatives aim to right historical discrimination but conservatives have long criticized them as unfairly targeting white people, particularly men, as well as being performative "virtue-signaling." Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck, who lobbied Walmart before its announcement, celebrated the "biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America" and noted that the company's stock had risen 2.1 percent. "Our movement is a force in the market. Go woke, go broke actually has meaning now," he posted on X. - 'Down everybody's throats' - Starbuck, 35, told AFP in an interview before Trump's November 5 victory over Democrat Kamala Harris -- who was criticized for previous "woke" policy positions -- that ordinary Americans were sick of inclusivity and diversity policies at US companies. "People are entitled to their views, and we need to have a system that creates equal footing for everybody and doesn't force any one ideology down everybody's throats," he said. Emboldened by Trump's campaign pledges to end "wokeness," conservative groups have been filing numerous lawsuits targeting corporate and federal programs aimed at elevating minorities and women. Trump himself focused mostly on political correctness that he says is infecting the nation's classrooms, promising executive orders to cut federal funding schools pushing critical race theory and "transgender insanity." The president-elect has surrounded himself with anti-woke allies of all stripes, including his incoming deputy policy chief Stephen Miller, whose America First Legal group has targeted corporate diversity. The military has been the main target of anti-woke crusaders in the US Congress, who argue that racial justice education and an obsession with climate change have made the troops go soft and driven a recruitment slump. Republican lawmakers who spent much of the last congressional session locked in a war with Pentagon leaders on political-correctness were rewarded with Trump's pick to lead the defense department's workforce of three million -- anti-DEI Fox News host Pete Hegseth. - 'We aren't perfect' - Conservative activists hailed 2023 as a landmark year in America's never-ending culture wars, when the conservative-majority Supreme Court ended affirmative action in university admissions, reversing a major gain of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. Conservative groups pounced on the ruling to fight all manner of diversity programs in court. And in March, the University of Florida ended DEI programs and related jobs as part of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis's offensive against "woke ideology" -- joining campuses in around a dozen other states. Workers are divided on the merits of DEI, with a slowly-growing share saying their company pays too much attention to the issue -- 19 percent in an October Pew Research Center poll compared with 14 percent in the same survey in February 2023. But a new poll of 1,300 employees from business think tank The Conference Board, showed a robust 58 percent indicating that their organization devotes the appropriate level of effort on DEI. "Leaders should focus on what really matters for their workforce amid the noise, as these initiatives are crucial for attracting and retaining current and future talent," said Allan Schweyer, the group's principal Researcher for human capital. MENAFN27112024000143011026ID1108934300 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Wednesday, Dec. 18 AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE 7 p.m. NHLN — Providence at Lehigh Valley COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) 6:30 p.m. CBSSN — Creighton at Georgetown 7 p.m. ESPN2 — Memphis at Virginia FS1 — Xavier at UConn 8 p.m. SECN — The Citadel at Vanderbilt 9 p.m. BTN — CS Northridge at Southern Cal CBSSN — Alabama at N. Dakota ESPN2 — Michigan at Oklahoma FS1 — Butler at Marquette 11 p.m. FS1 — Washington St. at Washington COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 6:30 p.m. ESPNU — North Carolina vs. Florida, Charlotte, N.C. 7 p.m. ACCN — Wofford at Duke 8:30 p.m. ESPNEWS — Tennessee at Memphis COLLEGE FOOTBALL 5:30 p.m. ESPN — The Boca Raton Bowl: W. Kentucky vs. James Madison, Boca Raton, Fla. 8:30 p.m. ESPNU — NJCAA Tournament: Hutchinson Community College vs. Iowa Western Community College, Championship, Canyon, Texas 9 p.m. ESPN — The Art of Sport L.A. Bowl: California vs. UNLV, Los Angeles GOLF 3:30 a.m. (Thursday) GOLF — DP World Tour: The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, First Round, Mont Choisy Le Golf, Grand-Baie, Mauritius NHL HOCKEY 7 p.m. TNT — Philadelphia at Detroit TRUTV — Philadelphia at Detroit (DataCast) 9:30 p.m. TNT — Florida at Minnesota SOCCER (MEN'S) 2:40 p.m. CBSSN — EFL Carabao Cup: Brentford at Newcastle United, Quarterfinal TENNIS 6 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 11 a.m. TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin 6 a.m. (Thursday) TENNIS — Next Gen ATP Finals: Round Robin The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV .
Lorenz scores 20, Wofford downs Kentucky Christian 100-55The Seoul International Invention Fair (SIIF) 2024 in South Korea recognized the green innovations from the Department of Science and Technology’s Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) in Seoul, South Korea. The Korea Invention Promotion Association recently conferred the Silver Award to DOST-FPRDI’s Multi-Functional School Furniture, also called “Silyang Pinoy,” because of its technical excellence, business potential, design, and explanation of the invention. Silyang Pinoy is a chair-table combination that can easily be transformed into a bed, which is especially useful during calamities when public schools are converted into evacuation centers. This sustainable furniture is mainly produced using engineered bamboo and other raw materials. Meanwhile, the Institute’s “Equipment System and Process for Treating Wastewater from Wet-Type Finishing Spray Booth” was recognized as the Best International Invention and Innovation by the National Research Council of Thailand. The equipment addresses the improper discharge of wastewater from furniture finishing that usually contains toxic chemicals, such as aromatics, benzene derivatives, alcohol, siloxanes, propanoic and pentanoic acid, which are harmful to aquatic plants and animals. “This international recognitions are significant achievements for DOST-FPRDI. They only prove the capability of our innovators and researchers to win in the world stage, boosting the Institute’s reputation in scientific and technological advancements,” said DOST-FPRDI Director Rico J. Cabangon. Both technologies were presented by Engr. Edward Paul S. Marasigan. DOST-FPRDI’s participation was made possible through the assistance of DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute. SIIF 2024 is an international event that offers a platform for networking and collaboration. Held from November 27 to 30, the event brought together inventors, researchers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors from over 30 countries.
GIRONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Jude Bellingham was not injured after his midfielder asked to substituted for what appeared to be a left thigh issue during a 3-0 win at Girona in La Liga on Saturday. “Bellingham is fine,” Ancelotti said. “He was just a bit tired and preferred not to risk anything in the final minutes.” That means Bellingham should be available when Madrid visits Atalanta on Tuesday in the Champions League, where it has lost three of five matches. Bellingham led Madrid's win after extending his scoring run to five consecutive league games for Madrid. He then set up Arda Guler to double the lead. The England midfielder asked to leave the match after he went down following contact with a Girona player with half an hour left. He rubbed his inner left thigh while he remained on the turf before walking off when replaced by Dani Ceballos with Madrid winning 2-0. Kylian Mbappé added a third goal after Bellingham was on the bench. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Oppenheimer star Emma Dumont has revealed they are trans masculine non-binary and has changed their name. The Hollywood star, who also starred in Licorice Pizza, confirmed their family has started calling them the new name too. The 30-year-old has confirmed they will now use the they/them pronouns instead of she/her, making the change apparent on their Instagram profile. They also wrote in the blurb: "Only call me Nick if ur cool okay?" While the star, best known for playing the role as Jackie, the sister-in-law of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) in the hit movie, will still be going by the name Emma Dumont for career purposes, their representative confirmed they will go by Nick with friends and family. READ MORE: Carol Vorderman 'sacked by TV show after complaining about behaviour like Gregg Wallace' READ MORE: Conor McGregor breaks social media silence after being slammed by court for online comments Despite recent social media activity, Dumont, who was born Emma Noelle Roberts, has yet to publicly address their coming out. Speaking to TMZ , the star's representative said: "They identify as a trans masculine non-binary person." The star has posted a number of times on social media in recent weeks. Fans have been positive with their response on their latest upload. One user wrote: "Much love from a fellow transmasc, Nick!! I hope your transition is nothing less than a wonderful, magical experience," with the actor replying "hot". Another user said: "Thank you for sharing your beautiful, true self with us," while a third added: "Hair looks SOOO good and I’m very happy for you, ur incredibly talented and deserve to feel comfortable in ur skin xxxx" Their next production, titled The New Me, doesn't have a release date yet, but they will still be credited as Emma Dumont. The plot for the movie sees a young mother peel back the layers of forgotten trauma as she tries to connect with her baby and husband. However, despite her efforts, she pays a terrible price. Other productions on their CV include NBC’s 60s-era drama Aquarius , where they portrayed Emma Karn, a devoted follower of Charles Manson. They also took on a role in The Gifted on Fox, while also starring in ABC Family's dance series Bunheads as Melanie. Other credits include Pretty Little Liars, The Fosters and The Magicians. Away from acting, they are a Mensa member and former participant in FIRST Robotics. They continue to mentor young people in the program while away from their day job. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org. On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com. Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.TCU leading scorer Frankie Collins will miss rest of season after breaking left foot
Efforts by US antitrust regulators to break up Alphabet by forcing a sale of its Google Chrome browser and other proposals to limit its search dominance are likely to run into legal challenges on grounds the remedies are extreme. After a ruling in August that Google illegally monopolised the search market, US Department of Justice (DoJ) prosecutors argued to a judge last Wednesday that the company must sell Chrome, share data and search results with rivals and possibly sell its Android smartphone software. Alphabet shares closed nearly 5% lower on Thursday. The proposals are part of a landmark case aimed at reshaping how users find information. But a new pro-business administration of President-elect Donald Trump next year could change that effort and legal proceedings could last years, experts said. “It would strike me as an over-ask,” said Kevin Walkush at Jensen Investment Management, which holds Google stock and is sceptical a Chrome divestiture will happen. “You ask for everything possible, not necessarily with an eye towards what would be probable and proportional, and then see what sticks.” The DoJ sought and won a breakup of Microsoft in the early 2000s after alleging it illegally monopolised the web browser market. That ruling was overturned by an appeals court, and Microsoft and the DoJ eventually settled. Walkush expects the Google case to take years to play out as the company appeals. “The wheels of justice do not turn quickly,” he said. Google called the DoJ’s approach “unprecedented government overreach that would harm American consumers, developers, and small businesses,” giving as examples diminished user privacy and less funding for companies such as browser maker Mozilla when they feature Google search. The case could also face challenges from Trump. While Trump’s administration originally filed the search case against Google during his first term, he indicated in October he might not break up the company because it could hurt the American tech industry at a time competition is heating up with China in areas including AI. Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chrome, the most widely used web browser, is a pillar of Google’s business, providing the company with valuable user data that helps it target ads. The search ads business brought in more than half of Alphabet’s total revenue of $88.3bn in the latest quarter. The value of Chrome, estimated to hold about two-thirds of the global browser market, diminishes sharply as a standalone browser. “The reason why it’s valuable to Google is because Google uses it to enhance its ad business and its search business,” said Megan Gray, former general counsel at search rival DuckDuckGO who has also worked as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. “If you don’t have those, then Chrome would just be a data broker.” A forced sale would not address several key issues raised in the DoJ lawsuit, including a search monopoly, critics say. US antitrust enforcers, who are also pursuing Apple and Amazon in other monopoly cases, would have to approve any potential Chrome buyer. “DoJ will face substantial headwinds with this remedy,” because Chrome can run search engines other than Google, said Gus Hurwitz, senior fellow and academic director at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. “Courts expect any remedy to have a causal connection to the underlying antitrust concern. Divesting Chrome does absolutely nothing to address this concern.” The DoJ proposed a blanket ban on Google offering incentives to give its search engine preferential treatment. That would include Google’s lucrative partnership with Apple, where it pays the smartphone maker billions of dollars annually to make Google Search the default on Apple smartphones. Evercore analysts called the proposed curbs “draconian.” Given Google Search’s popularity, Apple is likely to continue with Google as the default search engine even without any agreement or payments, Hurwitz said. DoJ’s proposals also include demands for Google to license search results at a nominal cost and share the user data it gathers with competitors for free. DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria said it was harder to ascertain the impact of Google having to open up its search data until the terms are clearer. The Center for Journalism & Liberty said Google licensing its search data would be “transformative” for news publishers because it would help them better understand their audiences. – Reuters Related Story Google launches new version of redesigned chrome browser for computers Google launches ChromeOS update with important features
Syria's Assad Regime May Be Falling as Rebels Reach Damascus Suburbs; Trump Calls for No US Involvement Share This article JERUSALEM, Israel – Syrian rebels reached the suburbs of Damascus, Syria's capital, on Saturday as the government of President Bashar al-Assad appeared to be on the verge of collapse. The opposition forces' surprising march through Syria picked up speed as people stocked up on food and many fled to the Lebanese border. The government was forced to deny that Assad had fled the country as several reports indicated his family escaped to Russia after the rebels' initial advances. Israel has fortified its troops in the Golan Heights amid rebel claims that they were advancing on Quneitra near the Israeli border. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his Security Cabinet Saturday night to assess the situation. President-elect Donald Trump, in Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral and for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, released a statement on Truth Social calling for no U.S. involvement in Syria. Trump noted the rebels are "obviously preparing to make a very big move toward taking on Assad." He added, "Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!" Biden administration officials told CNN on Saturday that the chances of Assad being pushed out of power are increasing as the rebel offensive gains speed. ***Please sign up for CBN Newsletters and download the CBN News app to ensure you keep receiving the latest news.*** The Associated Press reported, "Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes." CBN News will have further coverage of events in Syria and the surrounding countries. For analysis of the situation, see CBN News Jerusalem Bureau Chief Chris Mitchell's report on YouTube below. Share This article About The Author
This was the third Christmas since I lost my Dad. My Dad was the social planner of our family and he made every holiday so special. Christmas hadn't felt right since he left us to go be with Jesus. This year I was looking forward to a bit of Christmas magic. My son is a firefighter and was off this Christmas. He has met a lovely young lady who he will will likely marry soon and my younger daughter had finished her first semester of college successfully. I was happy with the gifts I had carefully selected and was really excited about Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. On Sunday, December 22nd, reality ruined my best laid plans. Hey friends. For those of you who pray, please add my mom Priscilla to your prayer list. She started feeling very off yesterday and I took her to the ER. Her hemoglobin was 5.5. She received two units of blood and it was slightly higher today. They are doing a procedure on... pic.twitter.com/MQglSRWVdQ My mom woke up feeling very weak. She could barely walk to our car. We arrived at the ER to discover her hemoglobin was incredibly low, so low they ran her labs twice. Obviously, she was bleeding internally somewhere. We spent the next few days in the hospital trying to come to terms with various diagnosis. The highest paid people in this hospital (docs and nurses) all seem miserable with the worst bedside manner but the people making the least, housekeepers and nutrition, are so kind and full of joy. It’s the strangest phenomenon. During that time, it was most often the nutritional team and the housekeeping staff who kept our spirits up. They were making the least amount of money, but seemed to understand families in the hospital are just as sad as the people who have to leave their loved ones and come work in the hospital over the holidays. One young man in the hospital cafeteria on Christmas morning boosted my mood for the rest of the day with his kind words and big smile. He wanted to be home with this family, I'm sure, and I wanted my family member home, but he shared humanity with me. We’ve got the world’s smallest Christmas tree and the stockings are hung by the IV with care... and yes, they were knitted by Miss E. pic.twitter.com/UCtaiDuDdx Miss E went into the hospital three weeks ago today, and is still stubbornly hanging on. Meanwhile, oldest son called me this morning to tell me he hit a deer driving back from the hospital last night. Thankfully he’s okay, but his car is probably totaled. Haven’t said it for... Dear friends, I’ll follow up with a proper Christmas salutation from Iron Will, but in the meantime, I’m humbling requesting your prayers. As you know, my mother has Alzheimer’s. And has been fighting valiantly for a long while. But she is nearing her well-earned final rest.... pic.twitter.com/3yAh6bXUuM Wallowing low in my 'woe is me' over our ruined Christmas, I scanned Twitter. I quickly found we were far from the only family spending a sad Christmas in the hospital and many families wouldn't bring their loved one home as I did. Christmas evening, my Mom was stable enough to come home. We received her biopsy results yesterday and her tumor is not cancerous as Doctors had feared. Hi friends! Thank you for all of your prayers. We received good news today. pic.twitter.com/FNgMUCbfFr My mom will need an additional surgery, albeit one without incisions, thankfully, but all in all, this was the best news we could receive. Yes, I missed spending the day with my children, but my extended family loved on them well for me. my family is sending me pics of my kids so I can kind of share their Christmas and it makes my heart happy pic.twitter.com/4pCZORvnMV If this Christmas did not go as planned for you, know you are not alone. Christmas is about a Savior that came to redeem us from all the heartache the world offers us. Thank you to all who prayed for my Mother and know our Risen Savior is closest in our heartache.Autonomous Emergency Braking System Market Detailed In New Research Report 2024
NoneToronto Argonauts sign American running back Kevin Brown
Former EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa is battling a nasty bug and opened up to fans saying she 'cannot cope. ' On Instagram Stories, amid the cosy Christmas setting of her home, Jacqueline, 32, shared: "Feeling so rough, the bug has got me good. "Hoping to be over the worst by tomorrow because I cannot copeeeeeeeee. Feeling sorry for myself." Only recently, she also confessed to almost 'ruining Christmas,' following an unfortunate incident with her Christmas tree that she attempted to move. Recovering from mishaps, Jacqueline later posted delightful photos with daughters Ella, aged nine, and Mia, five, in matching pink pyjamas, declaring: "WE ARE EXCITED! Osborne ladies are ready. I hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas, eats all the food and plays all the games! Wishing you all a very very merry Christmas." Read more The Weakest Link viewers stunned as Janette Manrara gives 'worst answer ever' In response to the pictures showing them huddled together by an impressive tree, fans were quick to express their affection, with one remarking: "Wow, your girls look so much like you, Jacqueline can't believe how big Mia's got happy Christmas to you and your lovely family. I'm waiting to see you on EastEnders tonight," while another commented on the growth spurts of her children: "When did ur girls get so tall! And so grown up! Wow! ". Fans have been buzzing about the massive EastEnders Christmas episode, with Jacqueline, also known as Lauren Branning, at the centre of the drama. One fan excitedly posted: "I am so glad you exposed cindy beale! ! ! ! " In the unforgettable Christmas special in Albert Square, Lauren revealed Cindy Beale's affair with Junior by presenting Ian with a USB containing a recording of her confessing her feelings to David Wicks during his short return to the show, reports OK! . The bombshell led to a major showdown at the Queen Vic and resulted in Ian throwing Cindy out of the house. But the drama didn't stop there; as Cindy was leaving Walford, she was struck on the head with a shovel. Following the episode, Jac expressed her gratitude, saying: "Thank you for the DMs and kind words. I love being back on the square causing much chaos. I love slipping Lauren's boots on and ruining Christmas hehehe. Watching with my family and having them all guessing along etc will never get old and I'm extremely proud. I always say it and will continue to. I bloody love EastEnders." She also teased her followers with a sneak peek at what lies ahead, hinting on her social media: "Wait till you see what's in store for the next few months ... as you guys know it's the 40th anniversary [in] Feb 2025 and it's EPIC! " while expressing thanks for the fans' ongoing support.In Major League Baseball's much-anticipated Pitching Injury Report , the league spends most of the 62 pages breaking little new ground. This is by design. To address the game's rash of arm injuries with a sense of urgency, MLB couldn't undertake the years of research necessary to better explain where the sport has failed and where it must go. More than a solution, this is, quite literally, a call to arms. Over the last year, MLB officials talked with more than 200 people: pitching coaches, athletic trainers, former big leaguers -- really anyone who might offer a nugget of insight or wisdom. Alongside bringing some clarity to the issue, MLB endeavored to answer lingering questions. Did the pitch clock cause arm injuries to soar? (There is no evidence to suggest as much.) What about the lack of sticky stuff to give pitchers a better handle on the ball? (Still unclear, though with the amount of ink devoted to the importance of grip, logic suggests it could be a factor for some.) The larger issue is that arm injuries are a problem bigger than MLB. They exist in every crevice of the baseball universe, from college to youth baseball to the international game. This means fully dissecting the issue takes nuance and space better provided by a book, which I undertook a dozen years ago . Like the league, I came to no a-ha conclusion, beyond the brokenness inherent in a game fruitlessly trying to breed pitchers to do the very thing that gets arms hurt and the accompanying trajectory that portended trouble. In nearly a decade since The Arm was published, almost nothing has changed. In fact, arm injuries have gotten worse. This report is an adequate, if banal, first step. Sound the alarms from the top, and hope to pull the right levers so a decade from now the game, at all levels, looks different. At the very least, it's an acknowledgement that this is a matter worthy of the league's time and energy. And while MLB isn't explicit in its plans going forward, the main takeaways from the report are clear. 1. Early-season injuries have become especially worrisome to teams Editor's Picks 'Man, starting pitchers are getting PAID': Winter meetings show it's a good time to be an ace 4d Alden Gonzalez Passan: 12 teams to watch this MLB offseason -- and the perfect move for each 25d Jeff Passan Passan: Pitching injuries are out of control -- and it's time to take action 253d Jeff Passan In a memo sent to executives and team medical staff with the report Tuesday, MLB outlines the next phase of its research: "a detailed examination of offseason training regimens and early-season workloads." Injured-list placements between spring training and Opening Day have spiked precipitously in the last two years: nearly 100 in 2023 and more than 110 last year after never exceeding 80 over the previous five full seasons. And with spring training report dates less than two months away, how pitchers work in the offseason is at the forefront of clubs' minds. Professional pitchers now strive to show up at camps in Arizona and Florida looking near-ready to pitch in the big leagues. Over what should be their offseason, they use available technology to perfect current pitches and learn new ones, and, after a long season, rest insufficiently. Early in camp, they try to impress their team with the quality of their stuff -- valuing spring measurables over staying healthy for a full season. Spring-training workloads, in the meantime, have dipped, even as pitchers bypass using camp to build arm strength. "Although well-intentioned," the report says, "this trend of reduced spring training workloads has coincided with an increase in early-season and spring training injuries, which contributes to the conclusion of some experts that pitchers are exposed to a higher risk of injury because they are not prepared for the dramatic increase in workload and intensity when the season begins." Undertaking this sort of a study necessitates buy-in from players, trainers and teams. Years of data will be needed before any sort of conclusion -- and that is often the issue with the arm: Even data alone won't necessarily lead to a satisfying explanation. What makes the arm such a puzzle is that any number of things can ruin it. 2. MLB is now on the record saying the most significant causes of arm injuries are velocity, spin-chasing and maximum-effort pitching At this point, anyone familiar with how the arm works understands that the modern style of pitching is incompatible with arm health. Teams prize velocity and spin in the players they draft, promote and eventually keep on their rosters. If going deep into games led to better career outcomes, pitchers would adjust their behavior. It hasn't. So they don't. Everything starts with velocity. "Despite a direct correlation with injury risk," the report says, "average fastball velocity in MLB jumped from 91.3 mph in 2008 to 94.2 mph this year. Velocity has been pursued by pitchers because it is advantageous in achieving positive performance outcomes, can be quantified and acquired, and is valued by major league clubs. Private facilities that specialize in velocity-focused methods of training have grown in popularity." Juan Soto joins Mets -- for $765 million! Soto is headed across New York on the biggest deal in MLB history. Passan: Transformational moment » What it means for Mets, MLB » | Grading the deal » Inside story of how it happened » Further, the report says, the culprits of injury proliferation include "the emphasis on optimizing 'stuff' (a term referencing the composite movement characteristics of pitches, including horizontal and vertical break and spin rate) and the modern pitcher's focus on exerting maximum effort while pitching in both game and non-game situations." Partially at fault, the report posits, is that MLB teams' response to this has not been to change the behaviors antithetical to health but rather work around them. More teams have resigned themselves to arm injuries and instead sought roster depth, taking advantage of rules that allow them to churn their pitching staff. In each of the last four years, teams have averaged more than 32 pitchers used per season. In 2010 that number was 22.8, in 2000 22.5, in 1990 20 and in 1980 15.1. 3. Technology runs the game Never does the report explicitly ask what could join velocity, spin and max-effort pitching on the Mount Rushmore of Blown-Out Elbows, but it alludes implicitly and, at times, explicitly to technology's part. This is not to suggest tech in baseball is inherently bad; on the contrary, it has done wonders for the game. But one quote in particular, from an athletic trainer, accurately reflects the environments in which pitchers are being taught. "They'll turn around and look at the Edgertronic and TrackMan, and they're married to it," the athletic trainer said. "And they'll ask, 'Where was that? Am I tunneling?' I think it's deadly. You're challenging them on the mound to grip it, rip it. They come in and are asking, 'What's my carry?'" First, a few definitions. An Edgertronic camera takes super-slow-motion video and allows pitchers to see how their pitch grip relates to the spin they seek on a certain pitch. TrackMan is a radar system that tracks ball flight and measures velocity and spin. Tunneling is trying to create difficult swing decisions for hitters by releasing different types of pitches from the same point. And carry is a pure-backspin fastball that isn't pulled down by gravity as much as one even slightly off-axis, giving it the illusion of rising. To be a pitcher at almost any competitive level today means fluency in this language. This is what pitchers are taught. And because the technology provides accurate and objective numbers with which growth can be tracked, it is fully embraced by the next generation of pitchers. The consequences of this can damage pitchers who see TrackMan and Rapsodo data not as a tool but as their hammer. And who can blame them? When teams are interested in pitchers, the first thing they want to see is his data. With that being the case, of course pitchers are going to focus on juicing those numbers any way possible. It's just another case of misplaced incentives running amok. 4. The minor leagues do not prepare pitchers for the demands of the major leagues Twenty years ago, about 55% of major league starts and just over 50% of minor league starts came on five or fewer days' rest. In 2024, that had dropped to about one-third of starts in the big leagues and barely 10% in the minor leagues. The same trend applies to relief pitchers: Big league relievers pitch on back-to-back days around 16% of the time; in the minor leagues, it's closer to 2%. Want to know why the number of major league starts going at least five innings has dropped from 85% to 70% in the last two decades? Maybe it's because over the same period, minor league starts of that length have gone from around 70% to less than 40%. Jeff Passan's ultimate MLB offseason preview Starting with the best free agent in years, here are the players, teams and themes that will dominate the hot stove headlines. Jeff Passan » By and large, young players are no longer training -- or, better put, being trained -- to do what major league teams ask of them. One can't reasonably expect a pitcher to throw deep into games when they've trained to air it out for five innings. Going back-to-back is a physical test that far too many relievers fail because nobody bothered telling them it's an imperative skill for a big league bullpen arm. And at the same time, the starting pitcher has been deprioritized . With the emergence of a seemingly endless supply of high-velocity relief pitchers, starters' inability to go deep into games and the fear of the third-time-through-the-order penalty, the slow death of the starting pitcher has accelerated, much to the league's discontent. "Starting pitchers are no longer incentivized to establish their durability in games over the course of the championship season because clubs are more willing to rely on relief pitchers than ever before," the report says. "Instead, they now pursue max-effort performance over much more limited periods of time -- putting them at more substantial risk of future injury. These trends similarly raise questions about whether rule changes can be considered to make it more appealing for pitchers to prioritize durability over max-effort performance, in order to improve pitcher health." Perhaps the easiest rules changes the league can make are limiting moves back and forth between Triple-A and the big leagues and limiting the number of pitchers a team can roster, forcing starters to chase innings over stuff and strikeouts. The blowback would be strong -- from teams and players -- but when the league says modern pitching theory's outcomes have "a noticeable and detrimental impact on the quality of the game on the field," it's the sort of damning statement that tends to prompt change. 5. The danger of amateur trickle-down Perhaps the most damning graphic in the report comes on page 33. It covers 11 years of pitchers at the Perfect Game National Showcase, at which the largest company in youth baseball invites the best high school juniors in the country to play in front of an endless supply of talent evaluators. In 2014, five pitchers threw at least 95 mph. Same in 2015. Over the next three years, it was seven, six, three and eight. In 2020, it doubled to 16. Since then, the report says, it has more than doubled again, to 36. High school players are simply doing what will get them recruited to college, where they'll simply do what gets them drafted, where they'll simply do what gets them promoted. Everything filters down from the big leagues. Kids aren't using TrackMan and Rapsodo if big leaguers don't. Compound that with the encouragement by travel-ball operators to participate in year-round play via showcases, the adoption of misguided weighted-ball programs from people ill-suited to properly monitor such training tools and the straight-up ignoring of PitchSmart guidelines recommended by a panel of medical experts, and far too often, players are coming into MLB systems already broken. Twenty years ago, less than 5% of drafted pitchers had reconstructive surgery on their pitching elbow's ulnar collateral ligament, typically known as Tommy John surgery. Now, it's more than one-third. "The risks of arm injury due to overuse largely have been ignored in favor of year-round travel baseball and showcases (a longstanding concern with amateur baseball that experts view as only worsening in recent years)," the report says. "Indeed, high-level amateur players perform year-round with intense pitching schedules that put them at greater risk of future injury. Although some suggest that current youth and amateur development models may be primarily responsible for an increase in pitcher injuries across all levels, we conclude that improving pitcher health requires both adjusting professional incentives and implementing changes to amateur baseball so that appropriate training and performance practices trickle down to the amateur level." MLB execs predict free agency, trades We surveyed the sport for answers on big free agents and top trade candidates. Offseason survey » The report, which generally skimps on recommendations in favor of additional research, does no such thing with youth baseball. It recommends closing loopholes in PitchSmart guidelines, enforcing standards on participating tournaments and leagues, and increasing education. Even more, it suggests blackout periods that prevent professional scouts from evaluating players and allowing them proper rest and recovery during the offseason. This is where the baseball universe must converge. All the stakeholders. For the sake of the kids. For the sake of the game. Solving arm injuries won't ever come in one fell swoop. With so many pathologies, answers are built, not found. And though it will take years to see progress, it's vital for MLB's report to be just the beginning, not a standalone effort that stops where it started.
Olivia Hussey, star of the 1968 film 'Romeo and Juliet,' dies at 73West Ham United are mourning the loss of one of the club's young talents after 15-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex tragically passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023, Oscar underwent an arduous journey of seven surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy before being placed in palliative care. A GoFundMe page was launched to support his family's quest to raise £100,000 for a treatment trial in France, which saw generous donations from West Ham players contributing £27,000, chairman David Sullivan giving £10,000, and Arsenal star and ex-Hammer Declan Rice adding £5,000, as revealed by Ms Fairs. The club confirmed the heartbreaking news on Friday, with sporting director Mark Noble expressing deep sorrow: "Oscar was adored by everyone at the academy. "Not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer. Rest in peace, brave Oscar. "I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his team-mates all loved him. "He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age." West Ham extended their heartfelt thoughts and sincere condolences to Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, his brother Harry, and requested privacy for the family during this profoundly challenging time. As a mark of respect, all scheduled academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed. The Hammers vowed to "ensure that his name is never forgotten at West Ham United".Kamala Harris campaign aides make bombshell confession about internal polls against Trump
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