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AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:29 p.m. ESTArticle content Call it the age of Twitter diplomacy. After U.S. president-elect Donald Trump spent part of Christmas Day trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the rest of Canada on X, Trudeau responded the next day on the same platform. It’s a strange situation watching two world leaders talk past each other on social media regarding issues such as sovereignty, trade and our shared history. Trump continues to talk about the U.S. taking over Canada, while Trudeau is responding with a reminder of the close ties between our two countries. I just left Wayne Gretzky, “The Great One” as he is known in Ice Hockey circles. I said, “Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada - You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.” He had no interest, but I think... “I just left Wayne Gretzky, ‘The Great One’ as he is known in Ice Hockey circles,” Trump posted on Christmas Day . “I said, ‘Wayne, why don’t you run for Prime Minister of Canada, soon to be known as the Governor of Canada – You would win easily, you wouldn’t even have to campaign.’” Trump went on to say that Gretzky wasn’t interested, but suggested Canadians join a “draft Gretzky” movement. Look, Gretzky and his family have long been associated with conservative politics in Canada. This goes back to at least the Brian Mulroney era; Gretzky even spoke at Mulroney’s funeral and held events over the years with Stephen Harper. There is no doubt that Gretzky would be supporting Pierre Poilievre come the next election. Invoking the Great One wasn’t Trump’s only mention of Canada on Christmas Day. He also made another pitch for Canada to join the U.S., while also referring to Trudeau as governor, as if Canada was a state. Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in “repair”... “Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World,” Trump posted. Mark Carney, the former central banker-turned-perpetual Liberal insider/Trudeau replacement slammed Trump’s message as taking the joke too far. He also criticized the message from Trump, “the casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together.” This is carrying the ‘joke’ too far: the casual disrespect, the poor tax math, and ignoring that workers on both sides of our border will be better off if we work together. Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 🇲🇽 https://t.co/BO4zEMrk0B Trump’s math on taxes is off, at least for the average Canadian. An individual earning $75,000 per year in Canada would take home between the low of $56,138 in Nova Scotia and the high of $61,181 in British Columbia . That compares to a take-home income of $62,920 in California , which has one of the highest income tax rates among American states. Of course, those tax calculations don’t take the exchange rate into account. While Carney pointed to errors in Trump’s math, Trudeau took a different approach. Before jetting off on his British Columbia ski holiday, Trudeau posted a 14-year-old video produced by NBC for the Olympic coverage in 2010. Some information about Canada for Americans: https://t.co/EnI8CrF4cB The video, narrated by Tom Brokaw, details the strong ties between Canada and the United States over the last two centuries. This has been the approach of far too many Canadian politicians since Trump began his threats and online trolling of Canada about a month ago. Our leaders either appeal to our friendship or try to remind Americans of our close trading ties and how tariffs will hurt workers and consumers in both countries. Neither of these approaches will work. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Trump doesn’t care about the close ties between our two countries. He says he likes Canada, but he clearly wants a response on border issues with his tariff threat. As for claiming that tariffs will hurt American workers or consumers, that is not something that Trump or his economic advisers believe. In fact, Trump outright rejects the prevailing thought that tariffs are harmful. This is why we need a different approach to dealing with the incoming Trump administration. They either don’t care about our message or in the case of tariffs, outright reject the premise of our claim. As for the trolling Trump is doing of Trudeau by calling him governor, put it down to payback. Trudeau has spent the last few years using Trump and MAGA interchangeably as terms of insult against conservatives in Canada.
AP News Summary at 1:32 p.m. ESTLONDON (AP) — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekLOS ANGELES — The four words were first spoken here on a bright spring afternoon at Camelback Ranch, my astonished syllables joining similar tones of amazement floating from every corner of a crowded press box. "Are you kidding me?" Down to his last pitch in his first spring training game as a Dodger, Shohei Ohtani had just launched a two-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" The crowd gasped in disbelief at the perfect timing and wondrous theater, the four words reverberating around the stadium like an anthem to the unimaginable. "Are you kidding me?" Eight months later, Los Angeles still asks that question. Was Shohei Ohtani's first season as a Dodger really real? Was the best baseball player on the planet even better than that? Could the man with arguably the highest expectations in baseball history actually exceed them? Yes, yes and unbelievably, yes. In being named the National League most valuable player on Thursday — becoming only the second player to win an MVP in both leagues — Ohtani completed a summer decorated with an even higher honor. Most Valuable Season Ever By A Los Angeles Athlete. This city has witnessed many memorable seasons by many legendary athletes, from Magic Johnson's rookie year to Fernando Valenzuela's rookie year to Sandy Koufax's 1963 to Eric Dickerson's 1984 to Shaquille O'Neal's 2000. But never before has one player during one season dominated the sport, transformed the town, awed the world and brought home a championship. After back-to-back playoff collapses, this was not a Dodgers town when Ohtani drove up the freeway from Anaheim this winter. It is overwhelmingly a Dodgers town now. His team was considered a bunch of underachievers before Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract. His team is now World Series champions. There was little international interest in the Dodgers before Ohtani brought his magical aura to Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers are now the most popular baseball team in the world. One man changed everything, an MVP of MVPs, the greatest Dodgers newcomer since Valenzuela, the greatest Dodgers season ever. "It will be a special moment that I will never forget," he said Thursday through an interpreter, after a special season that no one will ever forget. He led the league with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, a 1.036 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, and that doesn't tell half of the story. Ohtani made such an impact, he significantly and unselfishly improved the team before he ever even stepped on the field. By agreeing to annually defer all but $2 million of his contract, he gave Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman the financial flexibility to add other great players. Without Ohtani's generosity, Friedman might not have acquired Teoscar Hernández, Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Tyler Glasnow. Ohtani was a giant before he was a giant. Then the games started and here came those four words. You surely recognize them, because you've surely said them, time and again during a summer of dazzle. "Are you kidding me?" His season began in controversy, as longtime interpreter Ippei Mizuhara admitted to stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani to support a gambling addiction. The scandal was salacious. Ohtani was scrutinized. He was questioned. He was not believed. He finally was cleared, but only after his reputation was put through a wringer. Yet through it all he kept swinging, slugging seven home runs with a 1.017 OPS in the first 32 games. "Are you kidding me?" As the summer progressed, he quietly got stronger and faster, smoothly making the transition to leadoff hitter and base stealer, hitting a dozen home runs in June, stealing a dozen bases in July, all while rehabbing a surgically repaired pitching shoulder. "Are you kidding me?" On Aug. 23 against the Tampa Bay Rays, needing one home run to become the sixth person in the 40-homer, 40-steal club, Ohtani did it with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning. "Are you kidding me?" On his Aug. 28 bobblehead night, his dog, Decoy, delivered the first pitch in a sprint from the mound to the plate, then in the first inning Ohtani casually stepped up and homered. "Are you kidding me?" On Sept. 19 in Miami, on the verge of becoming the first member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani barged into the record books with arguably the greatest offensive game in baseball history, going 6 for 6 with three homers and two stolen bases. "Are you kidding me?" After consistently stating that he signed with the Dodgers to win a championship, on Oct. 5 he stared down the San Diego Padres in the third inning of his first playoff game and promptly hit a three-run home run. "Are you kidding me?" In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees, he suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder on a slide into second. Even though the injury was serious enough to later require surgery, he insisted on playing the rest of the Series, and he did so with one arm, his left arm seemingly painfully stuck to his body. In those final three games he still managed a hit and drew a walk and forced the Yankees to account for his presence. "Are you kidding me?" This is not only Ohtani's record third unanimous MVP, it's the first one in history won by a player who didn't play an inning in the field, and he acknowledged Thursday that his inability to pitch led to an increased offensive focus. "My goal was to be able to pitch and contribute offensively and the fact that I knew I wasn't going to be able to pitch this season made me focus more on my offensive game," he said. "Fortunately I was able to produce and get this award which is very humbling." One wonders what he possibly can do for an encore, yet he's already preparing for one, undergoing the shoulder surgery immediately after the season, his elbow rehab in full fling, his aim clear. "The goal is to be ready for opening day," he said. "That includes hitting and pitching." March 18, in Tokyo, against the Chicago Cubs, starting on the mound and batting leadoff ... Shohei Ohtani! "Are you kidding me?" ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Gordon Brown, another former prime minister, said it was a “privilege” to have known Mr Carter, who “will be mourned, not just in America, but in every continent where human rights are valued”. Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceAP News Summary at 3:23 p.m. EST
Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Ian Jackson scored a season-high 26 points, RJ Davis added 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and North Carolina beat Campbell 97-81 Sunday night in the Tar Heels' final nonconference game of the season. Elliot Cadeau added 12 points and a career-high 12 assists, Drake Powell also scored 12 points and Jalen Washington added 10 for North Carolina (8-5). Cadeau made a jumper to spark a 15-3 run, Davis followed with a 3-pointer that gave UNC the lead for good with 16:09 left in the first half and Cadeau capped the spurt with a layup that made it 22-12 with 12:41 to go until halftime. Colby Duggan responded with back-to-back 3-pointers for the Fighting Camels to make it 22-18 less than a minute later and Nolan Dorsey's tip-in again trimmed the deficit to four points with 7:51 left in the first half. North Carolina scored 12 of the final 17 points to take a 40-29 lead into the intermission and Campbell got no closer than nine from there. Duggan hit a jumper to open the scoring in the second half, but Washington threw down a dunk with 18:53 to play and the Tar Heels led by double figures the rest of the way. Duggan led Campbell (5-8) with a career-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, 5 of 9 from 3-point range. The rest of the Camels combined to make 17 of 45 from the field (37.8%). Jasin Sinani scored 15 and Cam Gregory 14 for Campbell. Seth Trimble (upper-body injury), who is averaging 14.8 points per game this season, did not play for North Carolina. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballTrump’s Defense secretary nominee has close ties to Idaho Christian nationalists
'It Was Pretty Close': Canada's Carter George Misses Goalie Goal, Records Shutout And Assist Instead At World JuniorsMany individuals, even those with significant assets, are negligent in establishing a comprehensive estate plan. A will, although necessary, is not sufficient. In this column I will discuss wills and other documents that you should consider. Consult with your attorney about including the following documents in your estate plan. Will A will is the document that contains a written statement of your instructions regarding your estate. The individual(s) responsible for managing your estate is the administrator. He/she is responsible for following the instructions you specify in the will. Your instructions are not limited to property disbursement. If you die without [...]The leading question on the introduction of the much-vaunted electoral reform titled “One Nation, One Election” is whether the largest and most diverse electorate in the world needs it or not. The concept of conducting simultaneous elections for both Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies across India may save costs, improve efficiency and boost voter turnout. The implementation, however, faces significant constitutional and logistical challenges. The question again arises whether they should be tackled at a time when the Indian polity is fractured along partisan lines. The pros and cons have been debated at length even before the Cabinet of Narendra Modi’s NDA-BJP government approved the bills to be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. Nearly five decades have gone by since the practice was disrupted for reasons like defections and dissolution of governments at a time of much political churning. The biggest drawback of not holding simultaneous polls is that there are frequent elections in one part of the country or the other which is seen to be adversely affecting the economy, development and the power of governments to take policy decisions to the very end of their terms. True, the government is keen to hold the widest consultations of most stakeholders, beginning with sending the proposed bills through a parliamentary committee and putting the idea across to the Speakers of Assemblies of states and Union Territories. The stumbling block would, however, be a partisan division of opinions in the ruling alliance and the main opposing alliance, including the many powerful regional parties which are partners. The biggest objection comes from the premise that a single poll schedule to the Parliament and state Assemblies might be advantageous to the present dispensation as history points to people voting uniformly in unitary polls. Of course, that might not apply to a diverse nation like India with its geographical, cultural, linguistic and political stretch. Does the idea vitiate the federal structure of India, as many leaders of the Opposition parties fear? That question has elicited different answers too. They are probably less bothered by the political minefield the ruling alliance may have to go through in amending Articles of the Constitution than the motivation for such a sweeping electoral reform which might not even save much money considering the initial expansion costs and logistics of EVMs and VVPAT machines for such a massive exercise. Currently, only four states hold Parliament and Assembly elections together, which just goes to show the enormity of bringing all 28 states and eight UTs in conformity with the unitary poll schedule. Political parties will save money in fighting elections, but it is doubtful if that is the motivation for the intended reform. The fear of regional issues being subsumed in national issues cannot be denied and a class of voters who are used to bargaining for freebies at each election would feel denied in this blending of issues in a single poll schedule. It is not as if this is being done in a tearing hurry even if it is suspected that the motive may be political domination rather than tending to a compulsory reform. If the 2029 general elections are to be the first of a new cycle of five-year polls, the principle must be applied now. If before attempting the reform all available data are studied and feedback taken from all stakeholders, including the general voters, it would at least be giving the country a fair chance to assess whether this poll reform is needed at all.
There was no sitting room, and barely any standing room, at TinyBrickOven on Thursday, a day after the South Baltimore pizza shop had originally been slated to close. The post-Christmas full house was anticipated after the small Light Street pizza shop got a publicity boost and a $60,000 commitment on Monday from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy. Jeff Taylor, owner of Westminster-based catering business Staglio Pizza, was in to assist TinyBrickOven owner William Fagg as the team made pies for customers. “His pies are amazing, his attitude’s amazing,” Fagg said of his pizza-tossing friend. Fagg received the five-figure influx of cash after telling Portnoy that he would need roughly $60,000 to stay in business for the next year. Portnoy, a part-time pizza influencer reviewing the Federal Hill shop, replied that it was “done” before offering Fagg a handshake during his “one-bite” critique posted Monday. Fagg has been seeking a liquor license for years after opening up the small New York-style pizza shop in 2019. While cooking pizzas during Thursday’s lunch rush, he said getting a license to serve beer and wine would mean “that we’d be on an even playing field” with competitors in South Baltimore. Chief among the competition is Cross Street Market, which is located next door, and includes a pizza shop that can serve beer with its slices. Fagg said that he has nothing against the market or Pizza di Joey, but thinks that there should be room for his small business to compete. Fagg, a Navy veteran, said that his pizzeria obtaining such a liquor permit hinges on not just the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners, but also the state legislature. The Maryland General Assembly would need to pass legislation adjusting certain alcohol control rules before he can be granted an application, he said. As he cooked pizzas on Thursday, Fagg noted that couldn’t completely wrap his head around the specifics of what the state legislation would entail. Federal Hill, already densely packed with noisy bars as well as residential buildings, is a notoriously difficult place to secure a license, and TinyBrickOven is located in a central area close to the main drag. The pizzeria’s website urges supporters to contact Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and Baltimore Del. Luke Clippinger, who did not return requests for comment on Thursday, about passing legislation needed to grant Fagg a beer and wine license. Fagg said he’s also pitched legislation that would create a “locals-only” liquor permit for small businesses to serve locally made beer and wine. The $60,000 cash infusion from Portnoy should help the shop stay open for at least a year and get its license, Fagg said. His restaurant, previously on the brink of closing, is now eyeing its own commercial space . Fagg’s restaurant is known for its involvement in the surrounding community, often running fundraisers for people in need. During the holiday season, the restaurant runs a “Pay-It-Forward Program” where donations help provide hot pizzas to struggling families and people experiencing homelessness. The local pizza shop’s booster, Dave Portnoy, is most widely known for the sports and pop culture media brand he founded, Barstool Sports. Starting as a weekly print publication in 2003, Barstool has grown into a national digital media empire churning out sports and pop culture content. Portnoy, who serves as Barstool’s president, has branded himself through a blunt, pizza- and sports-loving persona as “El Presidente.” He has a history of pushing back against critics who have accused him of making racist and misogynistic comments . Portnoy recently lost a defamation lawsuit against Insider.com after the outlet published two reports citing women who accused Portnoy of sexual misconduct. On top of being a major promoter of online sports betting, Portnoy, 47, is considered to be one of the pizza world’s biggest influencers . His “one bite” pizza reviews, uploaded nearly every weekday , have enough reach to either rescue a struggling pizza shops or kill business for good when he renders his score on a 0 to 10 scale, including decimals. His verdict after taking multiple bites of a TinyBrickOven pie outside the Baltimore shop this week was a 7.9, praising the pizza’s “nice undercarriage” and Fagg’s “upbeat” spirit. “There’s no way this place should be going out of business,” Portnoy said. “Cost me 60 dimes right there, but whatever,” Portnoy said as he left the shop, using an expletive while commenting that he’s a “nice” person. Have a news tip? Contact Dan Belson at dbelson@baltsun.com , on X as @DanBelson_ or on Signal as @danbels.62.
Preview: Kayserispor vs. Alanyaspor - prediction, team news, lineupsThe Houston Rockets and Miami Heat did not wait for New Year’s Eve to set off some fireworks. Tensioned flared as the Heat led the Rockets, 99-94, with just over 30 seconds left in the contest at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. As Miami prepared to inbound from the sideline, Rockets forward Amen Thompson got into it with Heat guard Tyler Herro. Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and slammed him to the ground. Terry Rozier immediately came to Herro’s aid and tackled Thompson. Jalen Green also got entangled in the tussle as players and referees tried to diffuse the situation. Chaos ensues at the end of Heat vs. Rockets Four players and two coaches were ejected after this scuffle. pic.twitter.com/suYWuxrX8B Here’s another angle of Thompson’s takedown of Herro and the ensuing chaos. Can't lose your composure like that... pic.twitter.com/5DDAWJldAy — HEAT on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Heat) December 30, 2024 Herro, Thompson, Rozier, and Green were all ejected from the contest. Rockets coaches Ime Udoka and Ben Sullivan were also tossed. The entire incident happened just moments after Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet was also ejected for bumping into referee Marc Davis . Herro got the last laugh as the Heat held on for a 104-100 win. He also appeared to be in good spirits as his attacker was forced to leave the floor. “Go home bro, you lost!” Herro was seen saying as Thompson walked off the floor. The Heat guard was the star of the night with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting to go along with six rebounds and nine assists. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Vladislov Goldin and Nimari Burnett scored 17 points apiece and Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf posted double-doubles to lead Michigan to a 112-64 romp over Western Kentucky on Sunday night, snapping a six-game win streak for the Hilltoppers. Goldin made 7 of 8 shots with two 3-pointers and 1 of 2 free throws for the Wolverines (10-3), whose three losses this season have been by a combined five points. Burnett did most of his damage on 5-for-7 shooting from 3-point range. Donaldson totaled 12 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, while Wolf finished with 12 points and 10 boards for his sixth of the season. Sam Walters scored 13 off the bench for Michigan and Roddy Gayle Jr. pitched in with 11 points and four assists. Don McHenry sank three 3-pointers and scored 18 to lead Western Kentucky (9-4). Julius Thedford scored 11 on 3-for-16 shooting. Enoch Kalambay added 10 points. Gayle and Goldin both had 11 points to guide Michigan to a 59-31 advantage at halftime. The Wolverines shot 57.6% from the floor and made 11 of 21 from 3-point range in posting their highest scoring half of the season. The Wolverines topped the century mark on 3-pointer by Danny Wolf with 6:05 remaining for a 102-52 lead. It was the first time the two teams squared off in 17 years. Michigan has won 4 of 6 all time against the Hilltoppers. Michigan travels to play Southern California on Saturday in a Big Ten Conference matchup. Western Kentucky travels to play Liberty on Thursday in a Conference USA opener. ____ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-toWp-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballIndividuals seeking to establish political parties have been submitting applications, specifying their desired party names, to the Union Election Commission (UEC). To date, 18 groups have applied for party establishment. Among the applicants, the Kayah State People’s Party (KySPP) was found to comply with the Political Parties Registration Law and related regulations. As a result, the commission approved its establishment today. The Kayah State People’s Party must apply for official registration as a political party with the commission within 30 days from the date of approval, as required under Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Rules. As of today, a total of 15 political parties have been approved for establishment. — MNA/KZLGlobal stocks end mostly up with DAX crossing 20,000 for 1st time
A nonprofit leader who supports at-risk New Orleans youth. A social worker who fosters animals. A postdoctoral researcher. They are among the roughly 1,540 people whose sentences were commuted or who were pardoned by President Joe Biden on Thursday in what was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. But not everyone was pleased by Biden’s decisions. A Republican state senator said a commutation for a woman who stole $54 million from a small town in Illinois was “a slap in the face” to residents. The Democratic governor of Pennsylvania said Biden "got it absolutely wrong” when he commuted the sentence of a judge who orchestrated a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks. Here are some of their stories: Fulton was pardoned after pleading guilty to participating in a payroll fraud scheme while serving as a New Orleans middle school teacher in the early 2000s. She was convicted of a felony and sentenced to three years of probation in 2008. Fulton, who has two children and works as an elementary school teacher, said that for years she had lived with “a sense of embarrassment and shame” about the felony conviction. Even though she completed a master’s degree in educational leadership in 2017, Fulton felt that her criminal record disqualified her from applying for principal positions she felt she could handle. “The conviction has served as a mental barrier for me, limiting my ability to live a full life,” Fulton said. Nearly a decade after she first applied for a presidential pardon, Fulton this week received a phone call informing her that it had been granted. “It was astonishing for me, I wasn’t expecting a call,” Fulton said, adding that the pardon will enable her to explore more career opportunities. A White House news release commended Fulton as “someone who goes above and beyond for her community.” For years, Fulton has helped lead a nonprofit supporting at-risk New Orleans youth with hot meals, clothing and shelter and mental health referrals. Doyle applied for a pardon six years ago. It had been so long that she had all but forgotten about it — until Wednesday. “I was in shock,” Doyle said of the call she received from a Justice Department pardon attorney. “And honored.” Doyle, who was once addicted to meth, had pleaded guilty to drug possession and check forging charges when she was 24. She served more than two years in state and federal prison. Released in 2006, Doyle resolved to stay clean. She started a family, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and now works as a social worker with a behavioral health center. Doyle applied for a pardon in 2018 and heard nothing until 2020, when the FBI reached out — and the vetting began. “They talked to my boss, my boss’ boss, they talked to my mother’s boss, they called my doctors," Doyle said. “Just pretty much anybody that had any type of relationship with me in the past 20 years they contacted.” After the vetting was over, she would have to wait some more: four years, it turned out. “I just want people to know that are in the throes of addiction, or families to know that when they have somebody in their family that is addicted, that there is hope,” Doyle said Thursday. “This has just brought so much joy to me and my family and is just the continuation of my recovery.” She has five children and three grandchildren, volunteers in her community, fosters animals and competes in roller derby. Crundwell was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison in 2013 for stealing about $54 million over two decades when she was in charge of finances for Dixon, Illinois. She was released to a halfway house program in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic before moving to home confinement. Biden’s commutation releases Crundwell from any restrictions. Paul Gaziano, a lawyer who represented Crundwell in federal court, declined to comment Thursday. Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes said he believes most of the town is probably stunned, and maybe even angry, that Biden would provide clemency to Crundwell. Republican state Sen. Andrew Chesney called Biden’s act “nothing short of a slap in the face to the people of Dixon.” Dixon, best known as the childhood home of President Ronald Reagan, sued auditors and a bank after Crundwell’s theft was revealed and recovered $40 million in settlements. Crundwell, who was a horse breeder, told a judge in 2020 that more than $15 million was repaid from the sale of her horses and other assets. “I am going to do everything possible to make up for my mistakes," she told the judge in a handwritten letter that described various health problems. “I have taken responsibility for my actions since the first day.” Conahan was sentenced to 17 years in prison for helping orchestrate one of the worst judicial scandals in U.S. history: a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks . Biden’s decision to commute his sentence angered many in northeastern Pennsylvania, from the governor to the families whose children were victimized by the disgraced former judge. Conahan had already served the vast majority of his sentence, which was handed down in 2011. “I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said Friday. A message seeking comment was sent to an attorney who recently represented Conahan, the former judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Conahan and Judge Mark Ciavarella shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal payments from a friend of Conahan’s who built and co-owned two for-profit lockups. Sandy Fonzo, whose son killed himself at age 23 after Ciavarella locked him up as a teen, called Conahan’s commutation an “injustice.” “I am shocked and I am hurt,” Fonzo said in a statement provided to The Citizens’ Voice of Wilkes-Barre. “Conahan‘s actions destroyed families, including mine, and my son‘s death is a tragic reminder of the consequences of his abuse of power." The Juvenile Law Center, which represented plaintiffs in a $200 million civil judgment against Conahan and Ciavarella, said it “supported President Biden’s actions” but wants to see the “same kind of compassion and mercy” extended to juvenile defendants around the country. When he pleaded guilty in 2010, Conahan apologized to the youths he had hurt. “The system is not corrupt,” Conahan said at the time. “I was corrupt.” Becklin was 21 when she got into trouble, which she said was due to trying to get money to support her drug addiction. She pleaded guilty to a nonviolent felony charge for failing to provide information to police about a 2007 bank robbery. She served four months in a halfway house, four months of home confinement and three years of probation. She found out she was pregnant after she’d been out of custody for about a year. She said she had her “aha moment” when her son was 1 year old. “And I was living at home with my parents. I had, like, no job, no education, no future,” Becklin said. “Had a felony on my record. I had substance use history, you know, all these things. And he was 1. And I just remember, like looking at him and realizing that his whole life was, like, really dependent on what I did with mine.” Within days, she said, she enrolled at a community college. She recently earned her doctoral degree in comparative molecular biosciences at the University of Minnesota. For her doctorate, she used stem cell biology and genetic engineering to better understand how pediatric cancers grow and develop. She’s still working in the cell and gene therapy space, now as a postdoctoral researcher at the university. The White House noted in its announcement that Becklin also mentors currently and previously incarcerated people who are seeking to pursue higher education. She said she does it as part of a program called Prison to Professionals. They help guide people on the unique issues they’ll face in higher education and provide them with a support network. She said she still doesn’t know exactly how being pardoned and having her record cleared will affect her future. “I think there was a point in my life where it really mattered if I, like, had a certain career path or if I did that. But I have found that, kind of wherever I am, I find my purpose and my need there. And, you know, it’s kind of a beautiful way to live,” she said. Associated Press writers Jack Brook in New Orleans, Ed White in Detroit, Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyo., Michael Rubinkam in Pennsylvania; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Wash., contributed to this report.Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in Oregon
Jamey Helgeson: LIFE Mower County has launched Best Buddies Citizens Chapter: Building friendships, creating inclusionThe city of Somersworth's snowplow operators will be spreading more than salt when they clear the roads this winter. Thanks to some talented local artists, two of the snowplow trucks will be spreading lots of holiday cheer as well. A classic scene with the Peanuts gang from the iconic “A Charlie Brown Christmas” animation has been painted on one of the plows, while the second plow has colorful images of the Grinch on a Somersworth Police patch, Yukon Cornelius donning a city fire helmet, Frosty the Snowman with a stethoscope draped around his neck on a Stewart’s Ambulance Service patch, along with a decorative public works symbol and Somersworth’s city seal. The painted plows may make an appearance this week as some light snow is in the forecast for Wednesday night and Thursday. They’re part of a tradition that began in 2021 as a way to cheer up kids and others in the community in the wake of the pandemic. Roy Remick Sr., a public works mechanic , recalled seeing social media posts of plows being decorated in other states. He and Gerry Vachon, a general highway foreman, began toying with the idea and it didn’t take long to get the department on board. “We took two trucks to the elementary schools and told them to have a field day. That’s how it started,” Remick said. The students at Maple Wood Elementary School and Idlehurst Elementary School were the first to grace the plows with their artwork with some help from former art teacher and local resident Holly Pim. Since the cheerful paintings became an instant hit, budding artists from various grade levels have continued to put their skills to work each year. The “Charlie Brown Christmas” scene was painted by Pim last year and held up pretty well during the winter, but she needed to freshen it up before this plowing season. In addition to Charlie Brown, Snoopy and other singing Peanuts characters, the scene also includes military boots, dog tags and camouflage Christmas ornaments in honor of veterans, including some employed by public works. In an effort to make the painted plow project more of a community event, public works recruited other first responders to add a splash of their painting talent as well for the first time this year. “We work very closely with police, fire and Stewart’s Ambulance. It’s a team and we see ourselves as part of that first responder task force, if you will, in any emergency, particularly in the winter,” said Michael Bobinsky, director of Public Works & Utilities. Police Detective Ashley Fuller painted the Grinch, Fire Lt. Michael Spinney tackled Yukon Cornelius, and Heather Meader of Stewart’s Ambulance Service took on Frosty along with painting the city’s seal on the center of the plow. Remick’s daughter, Renee Remick, and his nephew, Nick Whitten, joined in the fun as well by painting the public works symbol. Whitten also brightened up the top of each plow by painting a string of multi-colored Christmas lights. The plows have been well-received by members of the community and others who happen to spot them when they’re out and about and stop to snap photos. “Everybody in the city loves it. They see it, they praise it, they appreciate it,” Remick said. The holiday-themed plows are also featured prominently in the local Christmas parade. Depending on the severity of the winter, the paintings keep their shine and weather the storms pretty well until late February or early March, which is typically when they start to show some wear. In many ways, Bobinsky said, the painted plows have presented a unique opportunity for the city. “It kind of humanizes a piece of equipment and gives it more of a personality than just a thing and I think the community appreciates that. They understand the importance of the function of clearing the roads, and they also appreciate that we’re taking a page out of maybe some art, and kids and the importance of being a team and working together,” he said.Liverpool powered seven points clear at the top of the Premier League as the title favourites survived a scare in their 3-1 win against Leicester, while Bruno Fernandes was sent off in Manchester United's dismal 2-0 defeat at lowly Wolves. Erling Haaland missed a penalty as crisis-torn Manchester City failed to end their dismal run with a 1-1 draw against Everton, but it was United's travails and Liverpool's remarkable run that took centre-stage on Thursday. Arne Slot's side were shocked by Jordan Ayew's early strike at Anfield, but the leaders recovered their composure to equalise just before the interval through Cody Gakpo. England midfielder Jones marked his 100th top-flight appearance with the second goal soon after half-time. Mohamed Salah's 19th goal this term wrapped up Liverpool's 11th win in their last 13 games in all competitions. "We created enough, but because we went 1-0 down it was a game," Liverpool manager Slot said. "Then you saw how good we are and Leicester didn't want to come back into the game." Liverpool's comeback lifted them well clear of second-placed Chelsea, who were defeated 2-1 by Fulham earlier in the day. United suffered a third successive loss in all competitions to leave new boss Ruben Amorim with five defeats in his first 10 games. Fernandes was dismissed two minutes into the second half at Molineux for a second bookable offence. United's 10 men cracked in the 58th minute when Matheus Cunha's corner went straight in as goalkeeper Andre Onana flapped under pressure. Hwang Hee-chan compounded Amorim's misery when he tapped in with just seconds left. Losing to fourth-bottom Wolves was another bitter blow for United, who endured a humiliating 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford last weekend after losing 4-3 in the League Cup at Tottenham. With his team marooned in 14th place -- just eight points above the relegation zone -- Amorim's woes might not be over, with United facing in-form Newcastle on Monday before travelling to Liverpool in their first game of 2025. "It's so tough to win games in this league with 11 men. With 10 men, it's more difficult," Amorim said. Champions Manchester City have just one victory in their last 13 games in all competitions as their Christmas schedule started in disappointing fashion. Bernardo Silva put City in front early on before Iliman Ndiaye salvaged a point for Everton. Seven minutes into the second half, Haaland had the chance to end his longest goal drought at the Etihad but Jordan Pickford denied him. City are languishing in seventh place and sit five points adrift of the top four, with their astonishing decline showing no sign of ending. "Of course we need results and we didn't get it. The team played really good again in all departments and unfortunately could not win," said City boss Pep Guardiola. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were stunned by Fulham's late fightback in a dramatic west London derby. It was Chelsea's first home defeat against Fulham since 1979. Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead after 16 minutes, the England forward drilling home from the edge of the area after weaving through the Fulham defence in dazzling style. But Fulham levelled with eight minutes left when Harry Wilson nodded in from close range. There was worse to come for the Blues when Rodrigo Muniz completed the turnaround in the 95th minute. Nottingham Forest climbed to third place after a 1-0 win against sputtering Tottenham at the City Ground. Forest's fourth successive win was sweet revenge for boss Nuno Espirito Santo, whose former club Tottenham had Djed Spence sent off in the closing moments for a second booking. Tottenham are stuck in 11th as the pressure mounts on boss Ange Postecoglou. Newcastle swatted aside 10-man Aston Villa 3-0, moving up to fifth place after winning three consecutive league games for the first time since 2023. Jarrod Bowen's 59th-minute goal gave West Ham a 1-0 win at bottom of the table Southampton after the visitors saw Guido Rodriguez's red card overturned by VAR. It was a frustrating start for new Saints boss Ivan Juric, who has replaced the sacked Russell Martin. Bournemouth and Crystal Palace shared a goalless draw at the Vitality Stadium.
News Explorer — 'Eve Frontier' Game Offers Early Founders Access Packs - DecryptMelbourne, Dec 30 (IANS): The ongoing Boxing Day Test between India and Australia has set a new record for attendance figures in longer format games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), beating the previous record set in 1936/37 when Australia faced England in a six-day game. Presently, 51,371 fans are at the MCG for day five’s play, and more are expected to enter the stadium for witnessing a thrilling finish to a game full of twists and turns. It has propelled the ongoing game to beat the previous overall record of 350,534 spectators at the same ground during the 1936/37 Ashes series against England, when Donald Bradman made 270. As per Cricket Australia (CA), with more than 351,104 fans in attendance for five days, the game has also entered record books as the highest-attended Test match ever in Australia. “We’ve officially surpassed the attendance record set in 1936/37 when Australia faced England — a Test which spanned six days,” said the MCG through its ‘X’ account on Monday. "Thank you, Melbourne. An Australian cricketing record, an MCG record and history made," Cricket Australia said on its ‘X’ account. Such has been the rush of fans coming into the MCG for witnessing day five’s play that the stadium staff have been scrambling around to make more arrangements around security, as well as food and beverage supplies, with all sections of the stadium open to accommodate spectators. The attendance figure for opening day of the ongoing Boxing Day Test stood at 87,242, which became a new record for the highest single match-day attendance in a Test match between the two teams. Day three’s play on Saturday attracted 83,073 fans, which set a new record for spectator attendance on the moving day of a Boxing Day Test match. The record-breaking spectator attendances for the Boxing Day Test is attributed to a massive contingent of Indian fans, bringing in a carnival-like atmosphere at the MCG. The previous-best record for overall attendance in a Boxing Day Test was 271,865 during the 2013/14 Ashes.FedEx Corp. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors
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