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The Boston Red Sox wanted to " raise the ceiling " of their pitching staff. That mission has been partially accomplished. The Red Sox began addressing the pitching staff with a significant bullpen upgrade . Aroldis Chapman signed a one-year deal worth $10.75M, adding a hard-throwing lefty for late in the game and a fallback option if presumed closer Liam Hendriks cannot return to form. The rotation was next. The Red Sox made a blockbuster deal with the White Sox, adding starting pitcher Garrett Crochet for a quartet of prospects. Crochet gives the Red Sox a sorely needed top of the rotation arm, taking pressure off of young pitchers Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford. Adding Crochet became even more important as the Red Sox look to keep up in the arms race with the Yankees, who agreed to terms with starting pitcher Max Fried on Tuesday. Those moves do not mean that the Red Sox are done addressing the pitching staff. Jon Morosi from MLB Network reported that the Red Sox are attempting to acquire one of the Mariners' starting pitchers. Daniel Cramer from MLB.com reported that speculation is that Luis Castillo is being made available. However, one player on the Red Sox would not be heading to Seattle in a possible deal for Castillo; Alex Speier of the Boston Globe reported that first baseman Triston Casas would not be part of any potential trade. A trade for Castillo would make sense for the Red Sox. The right-hander posted a respectable 3.64 ERA and a 1.169 WHiP in his 175.1 innings, striking out 175 batters with 47 walks. Castillo has been a workhorse, making at least 25 starts in the last six non-pandemic seasons. He could be the missing piece in the Red Sox rotation. The Red Sox have improved their pitching staff by adding Chapman and Crochet. While it is a great start, those two moves cannot be all the Red Sox do on the pitching front.제시 린가드 12월 15일 K팝 싱글 발매... 가수 데뷔 임박
Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus on Wednesday, the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings, with only the top 24 advancing. Progressing to the next round of the new-look format looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2023 and has won the last four Premier League titles. But not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. 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 week
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is set to sign into law on Monday a bill seeking a P20-billion increase in the government’s annual fund for rice farmers, according to Senate President Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero. Mr. Escudero said the bill, which will amend Republic Act No. 11203, the Rice Tariffication Law, will extend the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) and expand its funding to P30 billion yearly from P10 billion currently. With the bill’s signing, the “country’s rice farmers will receive greater support through the provision of farm machinery and equipment, free distribution of high quality inbred certified seeds, and other interventions,” he said in a statement. The law extends the life of the RCEF, which was set to expire this year, until 2031. RCEF, which is intended to modernize the rice industry, is funded by import tariffs generated under the 2019 rice tariffication law, which liberalized rice imports. The law stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of its power to import, allowing private traders to bring in rice with no restrictions. They must pay a 35% tariff on grain sourced from Southeast Asia. “An increase in the annual allocation to the RCEF will also be instituted, from the current P10 billion to P30 billion until the year 2031,” Mr. Escudero said. Under the bill, a buffer stock of rice will be maintained, equivalent to 30 days at any given time, “to sustain disaster relief programs of the government during natural or man-made calamities and to address food security emergency situations on rice,” the Senate leader said. The bill seeks to strengthen the Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Plant Industry, to conduct a “stronger inspection and monitoring” of warehouses and agricultural facilities to ensure a stable supply of rice in the market and ensure the quality of rice being sold to consumers. “We want to avoid a situation where the price of rice shoots up unnecessarily due to smuggling or hoarding. This has long been a problem in the country that should be addressed immediately,” Mr. Escudero said. The new law also authorizes the Agriculture Secretary to designate importing entities, except the NFA, to import rice when there is an extraordinary increase in rice prices. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
The holiday gift puzzle: Who should get a gift, and what should it be?WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump's picks. The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect's golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It's a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time "with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump's “border czar.” In another sign of Vance's influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump's first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships," he said. "But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he's not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Why Legislators Want More Options Than Aye, No or Not VotingFaye's 19 help Western Kentucky defeat Evansville 79-65
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. What's working Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. What needs help Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Stock up Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. Stock down CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. Injuries The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. Key number 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. Next steps The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated Press
Australian Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek expressed disappointment after U.N. members failed to reach a global agreement on plastic pollution at the fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on the Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5). Members representing more than 170 nations negotiated two documents by INC Chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso in Busan, South Korea, but did not reach a deal and will resume the talks next year. The INC comes after U.N. members endorsed a resolution in 2022 called End Plastic Pollution to forge a legally binding agreement by this year. The anticipated legally binding instrument would reflect various alternatives to address the full lifecycle of plastics, the design of reusable and recyclable products and materials, and the need for improved international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building, and scientific and technical cooperation. “I’m disappointed that negotiators didn’t reach an agreement at the plastic pollution treaty talks in the Republic of Korea this past weekend,” said Plibersek. “Australia came with ambition to finalise a strong global treaty, and we’ve played a key role throughout these negotiations.” Plibersek noted that Australia has been keen on resolving plastic pollution with its initiatives to boost domestic recycling capacity, eliminating single-use plastics, and transforming packaging regulations. She warned that experts have predicted plastic in oceans could outweigh fish by 2050, with plastic production expected to triple by 2026. Addressing the issue also remains crucial for Pacific Island countries. Similarly, both the United States and the European Union expressed disappointment but said they remain committed to come up with an agreement. “While we were disappointed we were unable to reach an agreement, our team leaves this negotiation proud of the ambitious, full-lifecycle approach we brought to Busan—and is resolved to make more progress in the next stages of this negotiation,” said the U.S. Office of the Spokesperson. “I strongly regret that there is no agreement on a new global plastics treaty. If business as usual continues, plastic production will triple by 2060. The EU will remain firmly committed to finding a global solution. Our oceans, our environment and citizens around the globe need it,” said Jessika Roswall, U.S. Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. Roswall noted that major oil-producing nations and regions including the EU, the UK, Canada, and many Latin American and Pacific countries could not finalise an agreement on a possible target regarding reducing primary plastic polymers production and banning and restricting chemicals of concern in plastic products. “The EU will continue to lead by example, implementing key EU legislation, including on single-use plastics, eco-design for sustainable products, extended producer responsibility, waste management and others,” said the EU.
New images appear to show suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer in back of taxi
MundusImages/E+ via Getty Images Introduction Got some spare cash? According to current trends, plenty of people may soon answer this question with a very convincing “YES!” According to a recent report from Cerulli Associates, no less than $124 trillion will be Test Drive iREIT© on Alpha For FREE (for 2 Weeks) Join iREIT on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, and other income alternatives. 438 testimonials and most are 5 stars. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial . And this offer includes a 2-Week FREE TRIAL plus Brad Thomas' FREE book . Leo Nelissen is an analyst focusing on major economic developments related to supply chains, infrastructure, and commodities. He is a contributing author for iREIT®+HOYA Capital . As a member of the iREIT®+HOYA Capital team, Leo aims to provide insightful analysis and actionable investment ideas, with a particular emphasis on dividend growth opportunities. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of CME either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.None
Tairāwhiti sheep and beef farmer and Rural Women New Zealand’s (RWNZ) board chairwoman Sandra Matthews has been elected national president of the organisation. Along with husband Ian, Sandra runs Te Kopae Station, a 536-hectare sheep and beef farm at Rere near Gisborne. She has a financial and coaching background and, alongside farming, has her own consultancy business through which she helps farmers grow efficient and viable agri-businesses. Matthews also has extensive governance experience. As well as being RWNZ board chair, she is chair of the Rural Communities Trust and past chair of the Beef + Lamb NZ Eastern North Island Farmer Council and Tairāwhiti Rural Advisory Group. She is also a trustee for Endometriosis New Zealand and co-founder of Farming Women Tairāwhiti Incorporated. “Sandra has been a committed advocate for women and New Zealand’s primary sector over many years, and her family, farm and personal values are at the heart of everything she does,” RWNZ chief executive Marie Fitzpatrick said. “As Rural Women New Zealand readies itself for our centenary next year, Sandra has the knowledge and experience to not only ensure we celebrate that milestone appropriately, but also set an exciting course for our next 100 years.” Matthews said she was honoured to be elected . “The support of so many rural people have helped Ian and I in our own farming lives, so I am looking forward to giving back through such an important and historically significant organisation as Rural Women New Zealand. “The fact is that primary industries and rural communities remain the backbone of the country but are often neglected. “Rural New Zealand can be idyllic, but at times it can also be incredibly difficult to live and raise a family in, with isolation factors, severe weather events, economic conditions, volatile commodity prices and the accessibility of health, education and social services often presenting severe challenges. “The role of RWNZ is to empower and support women, rural families and their communities to meet the challenges of today so they can build towards a positive future for generations to come. RWNZ also advocates strongly to make sure rural concerns are not forgotten by policymakers.” With Matthews’ election, Gill Naylor’s four-year term as national president has come to an end. “Gill certainly leaves a big legacy, and we will greatly miss the expertise, enthusiasm and wisdom she brought to the role,” Fitzpatrick said. “Gill has been relentlessly focused on ensuring the organisation is in the best possible position to support our members while also meeting the changing needs of rural women today. “On behalf of all Rural Women members, we thank Gill for her hard work as national president and for the effort she has put into fulfilling the organisation’s purpose of strengthening, supporting, and connecting people and communities.’”Bills offense is 'Cooking,' with running game adding a powerful new dimension
The delivered a commanding 30-7 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 12, showcasing a complete team effort led by an explosive offensive performance. A standout day from Bucky Irving highlighted ground game, which powered through a Giants defense that had few answers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.