After Trump's Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key rolesSyrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.Sunday, December 8, 2024 Facebook Instagram Twitter WhatsApp Youtube Personal Finance Education Entertainment Jobs Alert Sports Hindi Technology Complaint Redressal. Fact-Checking Policy Correction policy Authors and Team DNPA Code of Ethics Onwership and Funding Cookie Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Contact US About Us More Search Home Personal Finance Air Fare: Good news for air travellers, airlines will take back the... Personal Finance Air Fare: Good news for air travellers, airlines will take back the right to change fares 24 hours in advance By Shyamu Maurya December 8, 2024 0 8 Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Air Fare: Good news for air travellers, airlines will take back the right to change fares 24 hours in advance Air Fare: The rights of airlines to decide the price of air travel tickets will be reduced. The government is focused on making air fares more affordable. Air Fare: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, while answering a question on air fares in Rajya Sabha recently, said that generally the government does not regulate air fares. When necessary, especially when there is a large number of air travellers, the government intervenes in the matter of increasing fares, so that fares are not increased arbitrarily. Till now, the rule is that airlines can increase or decrease fares up to 24 hours before the journey, but the ministry is now going to remove this rule. With its removal, even if the ticket is bought a few hours before the journey, its price will remain the same as it was 24 hours before the travel time. With the removal of this clause, irregularities in air fares can be removed. Government’s eye on affordability factor Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the ministry keeps an eye on the fact that air fares do not go out of the easy reach of the passengers. Naidu told the House that air travel has become cheaper in 2024 as compared to 2023 and the air ticket prices have also come down relatively during the festive season. Airlines have the right to fix fares Let us tell you that the right to fix the price of air travel tickets has been given to the airlines so that they can fix the price of tickets according to their operational needs. For example, if there are less passengers on a route and the operational cost is high, then the airlines can save their losses by increasing the fare. Flexi fare system is applicable Flexi fare system is also applicable in air travel, according to which airlines can increase the fares according to the demand. As the time of travel comes closer, the fares keep increasing. The government has not put any cap but the airlines have been instructed not to increase the ticket prices too much and the ministry also keeps an eye on this. Join Informal Newz Tags Air fare Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Telegram Previous article Rain Alert: There will be rain in UP for two days amidst the cold, know the condition of your state Shyamu Maurya Shyamu has done Degree in Fine Arts and has knowledge about bollywood industry. He started writing in 2018. Since then he has been associated with Informalnewz. In case of any complain or feedback, please contact me @informalnewz@gmail.com RELATED ARTICLES India Rain Alert: There will be rain in UP for two days amidst the cold, know the condition of your state December 8, 2024 India Scholarship News: Good news for Indians! 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You will get this many lakh rupees every year for studying in France December 7, 2024 LPG Price Hike: Pakistan LPG cylinder price increased by Rs 80, Check new price here December 7, 2024 POPULAR POSTS Rain Alert: There will be rain in UP for two days amidst the cold, know the condition of your state December 8, 2024 Scholarship News: Good news for Indians! You will get this many lakh rupees every year for studying in France December 7, 2024 LPG Price Hike: Pakistan LPG cylinder price increased by Rs 80, Check new price here December 7, 2024 POPULAR CATEGORY Personal Finance 17852 Entertainment 17062 India 4463 News 3785 Technology 2237 Jobs Alert 787 Travel 652 Education 451 ABOUT US INFORMALNEWZ brings the Latest News & Top Breaking headlines on Politics and Current Affairs. Up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by informal Newz. Find latest news coverage of breaking news events, trending topics, and compelling articles. 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THE HAGUE -- The world’s top war-crimes court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used “starvation as a method of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — charges Israeli officials deny. The action by the International Criminal Court came as the death toll from Israel’s campaign in Gaza passed 44,000 people, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Experts say hunger has become widespread across Gaza and may have reached famine levels in the north of the territory, which is under siege by Israeli troops. Israel says it has been working hard to improve entry of aid, though the trickle of supplies into Gaza remains near the lowest levels of the war. Netanyahu condemned the warrant against him, saying Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions” by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said: “There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza.” Gallant, in a statement, said the decision "sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defense and moral warfare and encourages murderous terrorism.” The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects, putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad and potentially further isolating them . Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But others of Israel's allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position. Several, including France, welcomed the court's decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden's administration was “deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision.” The warrants represent "the most dramatic step yet in the court’s involvement in the conflict between Israel and Hamas," said Anthony Dworkin, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Israeli leaders, politicians and officials across the spectrum denounced the warrants and the ICC. The new defense minister, Israel Katz, who replaced Gallant earlier this month, said Thursday’s decision is “a moral disgrace, entirely tainted by antisemitism, and drags the international judicial system to an unprecedented low.” Human rights groups applauded the move. The warrants against both sides “break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law,” the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. The decision came six months after ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the warrants. The court issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ armed wing, over the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in Gaza. It said it found reasonable grounds to believe Deif was involved in murder, rape, torture and the taking of hostages amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In the Hamas-led attack, militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking some 250 others hostage. Around 100 Israelis remain captive in Gaza, around a third of them believed to be dead. Khan withdrew requests for warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh , who have both since been killed. Israel says it also killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death. The warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant were issued by a three-judge panel in a unanimous decision. The panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both men bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The judges said the lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and specific medical supplies created conditions “calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza,” including the deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration. They also found that by preventing hospital supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, doctors were forced to operate, including performing amputations, without anesthesia or with unsafe means of sedation that led to “great suffering.” Israeli diplomatic officials said the government is lobbying the international community to speak out against the warrants and is considering an appeal to the court. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal decision on how the government will proceed. Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague anytime soon. Member countries are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. For example, Russian President Vladimir Putin, wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently visited Mongolia, a member state in the court but also a Russian ally. He was not arrested. Still, the threat of arrest now complicates any travel abroad by Netanyahu and Gallant. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the warrants are binding on all 27 members countries of the European Union. France signaled it could arrest Netanyahu if he came to its territory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine called it a “complex legal issue” but said France supports the court’s actions. “Combating impunity is our priority,” he said. “Our response will align with these principles.” Hamas in a statement welcomed the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant but made no mention of the one against Deif. Israel’s opposition leaders fiercely criticized the ICC’s move. Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, said it showed “moral blindness” and was a “shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten.” Israel’s campaign has caused heavy destruction across Gaza and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Two days after Hamas’ attack on southern Israel, Gallant announced a total seal on Gaza, vowing not to let in food, fuel or other supplies. Under U.S. pressure, Israel began allowing a trickle of humanitarian aid to enter a few weeks later. Israel now says it puts no limit on the supplies permitted into Gaza, and it blames the U.N. distribution system. But Israel's official figures show the amount of aid it has let in has plunged since the beginning of October. The U.N has blamed Israeli military restrictions, along with widespread lawlessness that has led to theft of aid shipments. The case at the ICC is separate from another legal battle Israel is waging at the top U.N. court, the International Court of Justice, in which South Africa accuses Israel of genocide , an allegation Israeli leaders staunchly deny. Lawyers for Israel argued in court that the war in Gaza was a legitimate defense of its people and that it was Hamas militants who were guilty of genocide. ___ Associated Press journalists Raf Casert in Brussels, Mike Corder in The Hague and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.Sydneysiders who want to live in a suburb along the Metro line for the convenient commute will have to pay top dollar to either rent or buy. The fast-rail system stretches from Sydenham to the CBD, lower north shore, Hills district and Tallawong, with a journey from North Sydney to Barangaroo in just three minutes. Castle Hill residents can get to Martin Place in 35 minutes. But convenience comes at a premium. Bella Vista residents can get to the CBD in 41 minutes, but face a median house price of $2,477,500, while a house will set renters back around $975 per week. Waterloo’s median unit price is $925,500, and median unit rent $935, for a commute of just six minutes to Martin Place. Rents are also high at $780 for a unit in Chatswood (11 minutes to Martin Place) and $720 for Castle Hill (35 minutes). Castle Hill house buyers would pay a median of $2,312,500. Ray White agent Peter Iann said the Metro had driven greater demand for Bella Vista and that he could not limit the buyer pool to one specific region of Sydney. “We are now seeing interest from all over Sydney,” he said. “There is not enough stock for the demand and sellers now have higher price expectations.” Geoffrey Clinton, senior lecturer in transport and logistics management at the University of Sydney Business School, said that while the Metro had a significant impact on social cohesion, it was just one piece of the puzzle. “Just building train lines alone is not going to create nirvana for Sydneysiders,” he said. “In the next five to ten years we will see mini CBDs pop up. People will be living in fairly small apartments, and they’ll be more likely to dine and go out, similar to what happens in other high-density areas like Singapore.” Sydneysiders who want to live along the Metro line in suburbs such as Bella Vista, pictured, will need to pay top dollar. Credit: Nick Moir Clinton said that while people wanted to live near public transport, pricing came down to the timing of developments. “If apartments are built ahead of demand, prices may be softer. But if they’re slow to be built, then prices will be higher.” He suggested the Metro and its surrounding high-rises are part of the solution to the housing crisis, but that we also need standalone houses and townhouses. “By opening up transport opportunities, it makes it easier to develop density around these areas.” Professor of civil engineering at the University of Technology Sydney, Buddhima Indraratna, said that while he would like to see young professionals living closer to the Metro, there was a lot of wishful thinking about how much the train line could improve housing affordability. “With the high cost of living, people are living further away from the CBD because they can’t afford it. Even a two-bedroom [CBD] apartment can cost up to $3 million,” he said. “Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. We might not see the advantages of the Metro yet, but they will be there for the next generation.” Marriott Lane Crows Nest agent Stephen O’Sullivan said that while the Metro has enhanced the appeal of the suburb, it hasn’t changed the buyer pool. “There’s more appetite, but the buyers tend to be locals or downsizers from the upper north shore that are seeking convenience to the CBD,” he said. O’Sullivan said buyers are limited by price. However, the Metro allows for more choice when priced out of Crows Nest, as residents of nearby St Leonards and Wollstonecraft can walk to the station. O’Sullivan said we are yet to see an uptick in prices for Crows Nest since the introduction of the Metro, as there are few homes for sale and prices are high. An extension from Sydenham to Marrickville, Lakemba and Bankstown, will open in 2025, further connecting Sydney’s suburbs. BresicWhitney Lower North Shore agent Louise Barton said buyers from the eastern suburbs have moved to North Sydney in the past few months, but not because they’re priced out. “They’re just interested to explore North Sydney, and it makes a lot of sense as you’re just over the other side of the bridge,” she said. Barton said sellers are not driving up their prices due to the Metro. “Sellers remain realistic about the market. But given how the Metro has impacted other suburbs such as North Ryde, we’ve seen prices increase over time. Sellers are excited about what it means for them.” North Ryde’s median house price rose 10.9 per cent to $2,495,000 in the year to September on Domain data.
As Mariners fans await an answer to the most pressing (depressing?) question hovering over the team this offseason — will they have to trade staff anchor Luis Castillo to upgrade the lineup? — the club has already executed its most meaningful move to complement the offense. When the Mariners last month announced the return of franchise icon Edgar Martinez as the team’s top hitting instructor, it came with a tacit endorsement of the Hall of Famer's old-school methods . It also signaled a strategic pivot for the Mariners front office, which has followed a league-wide trend over the past decade in investing heavily in technology and advanced analytics during Jerry Dipoto’s tenure as the head of baseball operations. Those investments have proven particularly fruitful on the pitching side, an area in which the Mariners have earned one of the strongest reputations in the industry. Those investments have not yielded consistent results on the hitting side, an area in which the Mariners this year have had to reassess their organization values. When Dan Wilson replaced Scott Servais as manager on Aug. 22 and brought in Martinez as the hitting coach, there was “an immediate shift,” Dipoto said, in the Mariners offense. Martinez’s emphasis on an all-fields mentality — trying to hit line drives up the middle and to the opposite field — clicked for many of the Mariners hitters, and for Julio Rodriguez in particular. That well-rounded approach, Dipoto said, is better suited for T-Mobile Park, which has ranked as MLB’s most challenging home for hitters for much of its existence. “Our ballpark might not be conducive to doing it quite the way we have [in the past],” Dipoto said in late September. “Shame on us for taking this long to understand that.” The Mariners won 21 of their 34 games with Wilson and Martinez in the dugout, closing out a disappointing 85-win season that saw them fall one game short of a playoff berth for the second year in a row. Within that 34-game sample were indicators of what the Mariners believe is a sustainable offensive strategy. They struck out far less and hit the ball to the opposite field more often; they were more aggressive on the base paths and even turned back to the oldest of old-school tricks — the sacrifice bunt — to help rev up their offensive engine. “What we saw for the last six weeks or so, it was really illustrative of the way we want to play,” Dipoto said last week at the MLB Winter Meetings. “We want to be athletic. We want to move the game. You know, the same players who struggled to make contact [for most of the season] all of a sudden started making contact better, and we went from the worst contact team in the league to about league average for the last six weeks.” In 2023, the Mariners were an extreme pull-happy offense, leading MLB in pull-side contact (45.1%) and ranking dead last on balls in play to the opposite field (21.8%), per FanGraphs. They also set a franchise record for strikeouts that season. Even with a new hitting coach, Brant Brown, to open the season, that trend largely continued into 2024 for the Mariners, who again ranked 30th out of 30 MLB teams in balls in play to the opposite field (21.4%) through Aug. 22. At that point, they were on pace to break the MLB record for strikeouts in a season. Over the final 34 games, the Mariners still pulled the ball more than most teams (43.3%) but they improved their opposite-field contact rate (24.3%) fairly significantly under Martinez, to about league-average. The buy-in from Rodriguez, the Mariners’ star center fielder, was especially notable. True, early in his career Rodriguez has proven to be a much better hitter in the second half — as the weather heated up, so did he — but the way he did it this year was different. Working closely with Martinez, Rodriguez saw his opposite-field rate rise dramatically — from 24.8% through Aug. 22 to 35.7% after Aug. 22. Across the board, Rodriguez’s offensive numbers rose too. He had a .313/.364/.537 (.901 OPS) slash line with nine homers, 30 RBI and 159 wRC+ over his final 162 plate appearances, the resurgence of a middle-of-the-lineup difference-maker the Mariners had so desperately needed earlier in the year. Rodriguez and Martinez grew close , and Rodriguez was hopeful the Hall of Fame designated hitter would come back in 2025. Indeed, Martinez agreed to return to Wilson’s staff with a new title — Senior Director of Hitting Strategy. The Mariners also added longtime Atlanta Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer to the same role and hired his assistant, Bobby Magallanes, to round out the hitting staff. Dipoto described Seitzer, a Kansas City native, as the “Midwest Edgar,” because of their shared hitting philosophies. “Having Edgar come back is so huge — a chance to continue what he started toward the end of the year,” Wilson said last week at the MLB Winter Meetings. “Using the stuff that Edgar brings — the idea of middle of the field, the idea of two-strike battles, doing what it takes to get runners in — really became a big part of our offense late in the season.” J.P. Crawford (31.9%) and Cal Raleigh (30.1%) also had notable spikes in their opposite-field contact rates late in the season. Pulling the ball in the air with authority is a valuable approach for hitters in today’s game, and plenty of teams (see: Los Angeles Dodgers) have had sustained success with a three-true-outcomes methodology (walk, strikeout or home run). It just might not be the best approach for sustained success for hitters at T-Mobile Park. With the midseason additions of Victor Robles, Randy Arozarena and Justin Turner, the Mariners fielded a more athletic and more contact-oriented lineup that ranked as the No. 3 offense in MLB over the final 34 games, as measured by their wRC+ of 125 (100 is average). “The line drives, using the middle of the field, those things are sort of timeless and resistant to park factors in a lot of ways,” Mariners GM Justin Hollander said, adding: “I thought we did an excellent job over the last six weeks with what — you can call it old-school or just fundamental baseball, just doing all the little things. And with our pitching, if you do the little things offensively, now all of a sudden your 2-nothing lead becomes 4-nothing. It changes the tenor of the game a lot.” As an organization, Dipoto said the Mariners have discussed various ideas about structural changes to T-Mobile Park as a way to potentially boost offense. Move in the fences? Change the batter’s eye? Close the roof more often? None of them, Dipoto said, would necessarily help manufacture more offense. “It's just adapting a team to the ballpark,” he said. “It's not trying to adapt the ballpark to some fictional team.” T-Mobile Park has earned its reputation as a notoriously difficult place for hitters — a reputation that has seemingly grown worse the past few years. Yes, Seattle has historically been the coldest MLB city during the spring, and other environmental factors — the marine layer , among them — add to hitters’ frustration. Some new hitters who have arrived in Seattle have not adjusted well to that reality — Jesse Winker, Teoscar Hernandez, Kolten Wong, Mitch Garver, to name a few in recent years. Hernandez home-road splits were pronounced during his one season in Seattle in 2023. And in an interview this summer, Hernandez blamed the “crooked” batter’s eye beyond center field for his struggles hitting at T-Mobile. Dipoto said the Mariners have talked about potential options to change the batter’s eye, but he also doesn’t see it as a glaring problem. “When teams struggle, when people struggle, you tend to find things or magnify an issue that might not be such an issue,” Dipoto said last week. “Our players find a way there. And I'd say for the most part, you don't really hear a lot of complaints. They know. They know the challenges early in the season and they know the rewards that you get later in the year, because during the summertime it's an awesome place to hit.” A more well-rounded approach, Dipoto said, should serve Mariners hitters better at home and on the road, and throughout the season. “What we need is we need to refine our messaging. We need to refine what we're looking at and how we're conveying what it's like to play in this ballpark to good players,” Dipoto said. “That's where I'm most encouraged by what Edgar and Dan have been able to do. ... “I don't think it’s, you know, ‘The curse of T Mobile Park.’ We need to do a better job at messaging, especially early in the season. Messaging patience. I think the ballpark plays a little bit different in April than it does in July and August. And the players who've been here know that and there's a patience to allow their season to develop.” Having that context is instructive for how the Mariners are seeking upgrades — at first base and third base, primarily — to the lineup this offseason. In Robles, Rodriguez and Arozarena, the Mariners have three dynamic players at the top of the lineup, and they have power bats in Raleigh and Luke Raley for the middle of the order. Add in Crawford as a cornerstone shortstop, and the core of the position-player mix is likely in place. “The team has shown that they are capable of doing this, that we don't need to go out and revamp a roster,” Dipoto said at the end of the season. “There's a reason we've had a good team for a handful of years now, and it's because our players are good. "Now we just have to continue to help them evolve their game in a way that suits our ballpark, that we can really magnify the results."
A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level MediaDaily Post Nigeria Overhaul educational system to align with industry needs- Zulum to Nigerian govt Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Overhaul educational system to align with industry needs- Zulum to Nigerian govt Published on November 23, 2024 By Shehu Usman Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has called for a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education system to address the disconnect between educational institutions and the needs of industries. The Governor made the call during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr. Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, in a statement, indicated that Zulum expressed concern that many graduates produced by higher institutions lack the necessary skills to drive innovation and technological advancement. He urged NELFUND to critically assess the issue and implement solutions that enable graduates to become self-employed rather than depend on limited job opportunities. “We have two major problems in our educational system: the mismatch between educational institutions and industries, as they do not communicate effectively, and the mismatch between the labour market and graduates, many of whom are unprepared to work in the industries,” Zulum stated. The Governor further tasked NELFUND to support entrepreneurship, technical education, and vocational training programs. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (Nelfund), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, highlighted the fund’s mission which is to tackle the growing issue of students dropping out due to financial constraints. He noted that the loan is interest-free, with repayment set at 10% of the recipient’s income upon securing employment. Related Topics: FG Zulum Don't Miss Consultants to handle revenue generation in Calabar – Mayor You may like Nigerian govt announces Galaxy Backbone’s Govmail for civil servants Ex-lawmaker queries Nigerian Govt’s borrowings Nigerian Govt reinstates Ikechebelu, Modebelu as UNIZIK Acting VC, Registrar FG, Northern states told to adopt policies meant to prosper North ‘They refuse to speak out’ – Gov Zulum slams leaders over polygamy in IDP camps Nigerian govt has sacked workers with Benin Republic university degrees – Shehu Sani Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
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Multiple cases have been registered in Punjab province of Pakistan against jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi for allegedly speaking against Saudi Arabia, officials said here on Saturday (November 23, 2024). At least four cases were registered against Bushra Bibi under the Telegraph Act of 1885 and other provisions on the complaint of citizens who blamed her for inciting religious hatred, misleading the public and attacking a brotherly country, Saudi Arabia, officials said. In a video statement, Bushra Bibi said Khan's problems began when he visited Madina and was seen coming out of his plane without shoes. She claimed then Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa received calls after the incident. “Soon after Khan's return, Bajwa started getting calls ‘Ye tum kya utha key laa aaye ho (whom have you brought)? We are ending the Sharia system in this country and you have brought promoters of Sharia',” she said, referring to Khan's September 2018 visit, in the video released on Thursday. Incarcerated at the Adiala Jail since last year, Khan, 72, however, defended his wife on Friday and said she “did not mention Saudi Arabia at all” in the video hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa flayed Bushra Bibi over her comments. These multiple cases were registered in Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Multan, Rajanpur and Muzaffarghar districts of Punjab after Prime Minister Sharif criticised Bushra Biwi on Friday. As the controversy heated up the political atmosphere in the country, Sharif and many other leaders and Ministers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) said strong action will be taken against those trying to sabotage Pak-Saudi relationship. The video was meant to motivate supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to join the protest on Sunday in Islamabad but instead kicked up controversy due to the indirect reference towards Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in his ouster from power. Saudi Arabia and China have been two of Pakistan's biggest supporters helping it tide over the economic crisis. However, in the 9:27-minute video, which is also available on PTI's official X handle, Bushra Biwi did not name any country. Apart from defending his wife, Khan – in a post on PTI's official X account, also asserted that his government’s downfall was orchestrated by Bajwa and accused him of preventing investigations into the alleged conspiracy. Prime Minister Sharif, while addressing a ceremony at Islamabad on Friday, warned the propaganda targeting Saudi Arabia was against the national interest. “A statement has come out yesterday, which I think there can be no greater enmity against Pakistan than this that you spew venom against the country that has never demanded anything in return and always opened its doors for Pakistan,” he said in an apparent reference to Bushra Bibi's remarks. General Bajwa too swiftly refuted Bushra Bibi's claim and termed her statement – while talking to the media -- as a “pack of lies,” asking how a friendly country could interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs. Defence minister Asif Khawaja, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar and Information Minister Atta Tarar too flayed her remarks. Not just the ruling party coalition leaders, the claim by Khan's wife has taken even the PTI leaders by surprise and they are now questioning the controversial statement, issued ahead of the party's Sunday protest in Islamabad. In a post on X, PTI activist and singer Salman Ahmad called Bushra Bibi “corrupt and greedy” and said it was “disgusting” to say that the ex-PM was removed because he walked barefoot in Madina. Published - November 23, 2024 10:49 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Pakistan / Saudi Arabia
Samarium cobalt products make oil extraction more precise and efficientCOPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn , the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X . “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont , last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
This Week in History 12-28-24MACON, Ga. (AP) — Myles Redding returned an interception 25 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and Whitt Newbauer threw a four-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter as No. 7-seeded Mercer beat No. 10 Rhode Island 17—10 on Saturday. Mercer advances to the FCS semifinals for the first time and will face No. 2 North Dakota State, which beat No. 15 Abilene Christian 51-31. Redding swooped in front of Hunter Helms' intended receiver for his seventh interception of the season with 3:33 left in the first quarter, tying him with teammate TJ Moore for the most in the nation. Rhode Island got a 17-yard field goal from Ty Groff as time expired in the first half and took the lead late in the third quarter when Helms connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 56-yard touchdown for a 10-7 lead. Senior Dwayne McGee set up two fourth-quarter scores for the Bears, slashing through the right side for a 33-yard gain to give Mercer a first-and-goal at the Rhode Island 10. On third-and-goal from the 4, Newbauer found Adjatay Dabbs for the go-ahead touchdown. After the Bears twice forced the Rams to punt in their own half of the field, McGee ran 40 yards on first down to give Mercer a first down at the Rhode Island 25, setting up a 24-yard Reice Griffith field goal for the game's final score. McGee finished with 114 yards on 21 carries and CJ Miller added 81 yards on 10 carries for Mercer (11-2), which remained unbeaten in seven home games. Helms finished 22 of 33 passing for 266 yards and Buchanan caught 11 passes for 119 yards to lead Rhode Island (11-3), but the Rams managed just 46 yards on 26 carries on the ground. — Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
, /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, Human-I-T, a nonprofit dedicated to providing equitable access to technology, is making it easier than ever for holiday shoppers to access affordable tech while giving back to their community. The "Mix and Match Deal," allows individuals to purchase devices and accessories at prices that fit any budget—all while supporting efforts to close the digital divide. "For the past 12 years, Human-I-T has been laser-focused on three things: making technology accessible and affordable, offering digital navigation support to those who need it most, and saving our planet by keeping e-waste out of landfills," said , Marketing and Content Manager at Human-I-T. "The 'Holiday Mix & Match Deal' helps us achieve all three goals, and the best part is that everyone benefits." Available from , the deal offers customers the chance to bundle one device—a tablet, Chromebook, or 2-in-1 device—with one accessory of their choice, including JBL speakers, headphones, a protective laptop sleeve, or a wireless keyboard for or less. For families, students, or job seekers who may struggle to afford essential technology, this initiative is more than a sale—it's a lifeline. Human-I-T believes that in today's digital world, access to reliable technology isn't a luxury; it's a basic human right. "This isn't just about shopping," added Jackson. "It's about providing hope, opportunity, and connection to those who need it most. When you shop with us, you're not only getting a great deal—you're helping to change lives." The Mix & Match Deal is only available for a limited time. By shopping at Human-I-T's online store customers can brighten their holiday while directly supporting underserved communities. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Human-I-T Get local news delivered to your inbox!Magic's Franz Wagner sidelined by torn oblique
A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level MediaIs Now The Time To Put Permian Resources (NYSE:PR) On Your Watchlist?
Donald Trump takes this bold decision ahead of January 20 swearing-in ceremony. How will US President-elect be benefitted?