Teenage West Ham goalkeeper dies aged 15 after cancer battle
Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. 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. — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 13, 2024 West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “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. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates 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. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.Anyone who has ever boarded a plane knows that one sound can make them sigh so deeply it could propel a Boeing into flight: the cry of a baby. It's not the baby's fault, nor usually the parents', and certainly not yours - but our brains are genetically wired to respond to a baby's cry. Fortunately, technology trumps evolution - and some genius invented noise-cancelling headphones, silencing the cries so you can sleep as peacefully as that baby should be. This exact scenario unfolded on my lengthy nine-hour flight from Las Vegas, USA, earlier this month, with my saving grace being the Soundcore by Anker Space One Headphones . Usually priced at £89.99, they're currently reduced to £54.99 in Amazon's Black Friday sale . I purchased mine for £61 during a previous sale. READ MORE: Top Groupon Black Friday weekend deals including 'cosy' luxury slippers and magical Christmas experiences READ MORE: Amazon's £18 'godsend' sleep gadget customers are loving Anker asserts that these Soundcore headphones can eliminate 98 per cent of noise with their 'adaptive' noise cancelling technology. The headphones actually have three modes: transparency, 'normal', and noise cancelling, with the option to boost the latter using the adaptive feature. These can be activated with a button on the side or through the user-friendly app - which I use because, after three months, I still don't know which button does what unless I scrutinise it like my mum reading cooking instructions on Tesco frozen food, reports Bristol Live . Transparency mode is a great feature when you need to stay alert, like crossing a road or eavesdropping on juicy gossip on the train. The difference between transparency and noise cancelling is quite stark, largely due to how effective the noise cancelling is. On a plane, for instance, the engine's background noise is reduced to a mere hum. Here are all the times the noise-cancelling on these headphones let me sleep through anything: My neighbours purchasing a new sound bar they love using at 11pm All of my friends cleaning my entire flat at 11am after my 31st birthday party Getting a train packed full of drunk West Ham fans into London My cat an inch away from my face at 5am trying to scream because he doesn't want to eat his dry food Not asleep but honourable mention: Delivery driver ringing the doorbell, then knocking on the door, several times while I was gaming The normal setting is sort of the midpoint between the other two modes, but I've just never encountered a scenario where I would put this to good use. The battery life is impressive as well - the 40 hours claimed is about accurate and it charges quickly too. I've found it drains quicker than the cheaper Q20i (£31.99) , the other pair I own. However, the noise cancelling and sound quality pale in comparison to the Space One . While I'm not an audiophile, I do use them all day to listen to music, podcasts and YouTube videos and everything sounds crisp. There are a few things wrong with it: the battery life doesn't display accurately on my Google Pixel 7 on the Bluetooth dropdown. Not sure which corporation to blame for that one, but all the other Soundcore head and earphones work this way. This is solved by looking at the app as it displays accurate battery life, not good when you are leaving the house in a rush and need to know how much battery you have quickly. I use these for the gym nearly every day and while I cannot hear either the terrible music nor the rattling of teenage boys lifting a too-big weight before having a chat for half an hour, they do slide off my head when I lay down. This is sort of the trade off with having two silky smooth pillows on either ear: if you're sweaty, they're coming off on the bench press. The only other thing is they are a bit bulky, so harder to keep in your coat pocket and impossible to not have round your neck in the summer like Sonic the Hedgehog circa 2008. I do hear some people possess something called 'bags' that they fit easily in. If you want a high quality headphones for a fraction of the price with some impeccable noise cancelling, the Soundcore Space One headphones are the pair for you. Some minor niggles over size and sweat-based utility aside, they are probably my favourite headphones of all time. Pair these with a sleep mask and you'll never have to worry about sleeping on an aeroplane again. I got five hours while my brother got none. And you know what I said? "You should've bought the headphones I recommended." If these aren't to your liking, there are Black Friday deals aplenty for noise cancelling headphones. Argos are selling Sony's WH-CH720N Over-Ear NC Wireless Headphones at an impressive £64.99 right now. Or John Lewis has the JBL Tune headphones for £51.20 - though reviews aren't as impressive as Sony and Soundcore.WATCH: Texas, Texas A&M Staffers Get Into Pregame Scuffle
(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .
(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com . Stay Informed: Subscribe to Our Newsletter TodayColin Smalls puts up 23 points as American tops UAlbany 81-77 at Puerto Rico Classico
As fans entered Hameline Field at Wagner College on Friday night for the second annual Staten Island High School Soccer All Star games, a single phrase echoed through the chilly, rain soaked air: “It hasn’t rained in four months...” always followed by a wry acknowledgment of the cold, drizzly and at times snowy evening. But the weather did little to dampen spirits. Supporters poured into the stadium bundled in layers of blankets, rain jackets, boots, and gloves, their smiles radiant with pride for the sons, daughters, friends, and family members preparing to compete in the evening’s two marquee games. No one left Hameline Field disappointed. The Boys’ North and South All Stars delivered a game for the ages, the kind of thrilling contest that sports networks replay when celebrating the year’s best moments. Not to be outdone, the Girls’ North and South All Stars captivated the shivering, snow-dusted crowd with a match that remained fiercely competitive right up until the final minutes. It was an unforgettable evening of soccer, proving that even in less-than-ideal conditions, the love of the game shines brightest. The team from Son of a Pitch Football Company, organizers of the event, left the event with immense pride. The players had showcased their full talents, the fans departed thoroughly satisfied, and parents expressed heartfelt gratitude for the memorable evening. Meanwhile, coaches beamed with pride at their players’ contributions on the field. Staying true to their mission of delivering the best possible experience for everyone involved, the organizers are already exploring ways to make next year’s event even better though, if only they could control the weather, it might truly be perfection. The Noth prevailed over the South in the boys' high school all-star game. (Joe Bolella, @sonofapitchmedia) Joe Bolella Feverish comeback results in North’s win via PKs All Stars representing North high schools on Staten Island used a feverish second-half comeback to force overtime, then took a 5-3 win in a penalty-kick shootout to score a win over the South. The Southern All Stars, composed of 17 players from seven different high schools left little to doubt in the first half opening up a commanding 3-0 lead just 18 minutes into the game. The boys in blue registered just two minutes in, as Manu Kambouris (Sr., Monsignor Farrell) stepped in front of a lateral back line pass and blasted a shot past North keeper Robert Milosavljevic (Sr., Port Richmond) to get the scoring started. While North struggled to piece together offense, Kambouris registered yet again in the 13th minute for the South, beginning a counterattacking surge from the midfield only to get the ball back at the top of the box and launching a top shelf shot that glanced off of a North defender on the way to twine. Just five minutes later, in the game’s 18th minute, Philip Vitarelli (Sr., St. Joseph by-the-Sea) raced down the left flank and launched a low-lining cross that was punched home by South teammate Nicolas Fisherman (Sr., Staten Island Academy) from just outside the goalbox, giving South a commanding three-goal lead. Possession leveled from there, and a series of three straight corner kicks led to a flurry of chances for the North, forcing keeper Christian Mlynarski (Sr., Sea) to make a couple of saves to keep the clean sheet through 40 minutes. Still, the North had the better of play in the final 10 minutes, and used the momentum for an improbable second-half run. With the North pressing, Joseph Jacobs (Sr., Curtis) scored a critical takeaway from just outside the 18-yard box, using his speed to move inside the box and deliver a gorgeous cross to Gael Moran (Sr., CSI) whoheaded home the shot past keeper Aidan Grey (Sr., Tottenville) to get on the board in the game’s 56th minute. The South tightened from there, at times firing away in an attempt to put the game away, but the persistent North side, under the guidance of longtime St. Peter’s head coach John Liantonio refused to quit, and with just under six minutes to play, Jacobs struck again by threading a pass to the left flank while guarded by a pair of defenders to teammate Andrew Gavrilov (Sr., Susan Wagner) who launched a rising shot from deep into the corner of the goal to pull North to within one, 3-2. Down to their last gasps, the game seemed secure for the South, but a critical mistake with just over two minutes to play would prove costly, as Moran was taken down inside the 18-yard box by South defenderRoman Shapar (Jr., New Dorp), and Moran made it hurt, rocketing a blast into the upper middle of the net on the PK past a diving Gray to knot the game at 3. With no genuine chances in the final two minutes, the game moved immediately into a penalty kickshootout, a series that went back and forth until the fourth stage. Following a blast to the left by the North’s Shermicah Moore (Sr., Susan Wagner) that just went under Gray made the score 4-3 in penalty kicks. Brian Puleo (Sr., Tottenville) was next, and his blast ricocheted off of the crossbar as the game’s first miss. That gave way to Moran, who stepped in and calmly fired his penalty into the middle of the net to give North the improbable win, recording a personal hat trick in the process. The North team won the inaugural girls' all-star game. (Photo courtesy of Joe Bolella, @sonofapitchmedia) Joe Bolella Wild finish sees the North hold on with 3-2 win In the Inaugural Staten Island High School Girls Soccer All-Star Game, the North team, comprised of 15 players representing eight different schools, scored twice early, then added an improbable late second-half goal, to withstand a comeback from the South, earning a 3-2 victory. The North unit seemed poised for a big win in the early stages, owning possession and dictating the tempo with a series of short-range passes that kept the South grasping defensively. Just under six minutes in, the North tallied, using a punishing attack to generate chance after chance before a desperation clearance defensively landed at the feet of Tima Dzemovski (Sr., Notre Dame), who launched a riser from the top of the box that beat the outstretched arms of South keeper Carolynn Oakes (Sr., Tottenville) to give the North side a quick 1-0 lead. Less than 90 seconds later, a costly South turnover at midfield, found the boot of Liazia Tolbert Francis (Jr., Curtis) who threaded a gorgeous 40-yard pass directly onto the foot of a running Camille Banks (Jr., Curtis) who settles inside the box and rainbowed a shot over Oakes to give the North a 2-0 edge just 7:20 into the contest. The teams settled into a more even pace from there, with the South generating a bit more offense thanks to the long ball over top, while the North tried to counterattack and add an insurance marker. Both teams were stymied, however, until the 32nd minute. With South starting to mount a steadier attack, they were finally able to break through thanks to the lightning speed of Kaydence Hodges (So., Moore), who completed a sprinting run down the left flank into the box with a shot that keeper Daniella Ferrari (Fr., Notre Dame) caught a small piece off but was still able to catch the inside of the post to make it a 2-1 game, just before the half. The teams then traded shots in the second half, and although the South pressed for an equalizer, the North too had their chances, forcing reserve South keeper Ava Petersen (Sr., Susan Wagner) into a series of quality saves to keep her team ahead. Ferrari was also up to the task between the pipes turning aside a couple and seeing a collective of shots sail wide. As the game moved inside of five minutes, desperation started to settle in for the South, and in the 36thminute, the South succumbed to a big mistake when Petersen took down Tolbert Francis in the box and was whistled for the foul, giving the North the penalty shot that could have iced the game. A shaken-up Petersen stayed in the game, and watched as Tolbert Francis’ shot sailed high over the bar on the attempt to keep it a one goal game. Moments later, however, an ailing Petersen opted to play a ball short in her own box that was mishandled by the defense and this time, Tolbert Francis was there at point-blank range to blast in the goal to make it 3-1in the 36th minute to seemingly ice the game. The South though had other plans. With inside of two minutes to go, Jaime Como (Sr., Sea) was taken down in the box to earn a penalty kick of her own, and the senior left little to doubt, blasting in the goal past Ferrari with 90 seconds to play to make it 3-2. It would, however, be the final attempt for the South, who could not muster up another rush up the field, as the North held on for the 3-2 win.US stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of trading
Earnings To Watch: Bath and Body Works (BBWI) Reports Q3 Results Tomorrow
NoneThe S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.Podeli : Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused protesting students of deliberately using Cyrillic script on their banners as instructed in a handbook from Croatia. Speaking live on the Serbian state TV (RTS), he said that the Cyrillic script and Serbian national flags are being used deliberately because “that is what the blockade cookbook from Croatia says – full depersonalization, drag out the law as much as you want to,” he said, echoing an earlier statement by Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic who lashed out at protesting students saying they were being instructed using the alleged blockade cookbook. The Serbian language uses both the Cyrillic and Latin scripts with the constitution giving priority to the former. Vucic said that the students aren’t talking about anything which is the power of the whole protest. He said the students aren’t making any media statements and don’t like talking to anyone to maintain the depersonalization. The Serbian president said he doesn’t think Serbian society is a major crisis, adding that the public should not be anxious and just needs to be patient. He said he isn’t hurt by the fact that the students don’t want to talk to him. Vucic claimed that a number of foreign officials who are viewed as enemies by Serb nationalists, including Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and politicians in Bosnia-Herzegovina, lent their support to the protesting students and added that the fact that a number of Serbian athletes and coaches also lent their support proves that democracy is alive in Serbia. He rejected the possibility of agreeing to a transitional government or resigning. Vucic called for accountability for everyone who committed a crime, including the drivers who rammed their cars into crowds of student protesters and others involved in incidents or rioting at Novi Sad City Hall in the first major protest. He added that some of those are from his own Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). He claims to have told his party members not to do that and leave the protesters alone. He also claimed that AI was used to add pictures of criminals and thugs to the images from his meeting with young people in Belgrade’s Sava Center on Wednesday. He announced what he called the fiercest battle against corruption and corrupt officials since the year 2000, starting on March 31.