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WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican senators is demanding that the Biden administration revoke a science and technology agreement with China, barely a week after the two countries renewed cooperation for five more years to keep ties from deteriorating. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican senators is demanding that the Biden administration revoke a science and technology agreement with China, barely a week after the two countries renewed cooperation for five more years to keep ties from deteriorating. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Republican senators is demanding that the Biden administration revoke a science and technology agreement with China, barely a week after the two countries renewed cooperation for five more years to keep ties from deteriorating. In a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the lawmakers, led by Sen. Jim Risch, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the era in which such cooperation made sense “is long gone” and the extension only “opens the door for further cooptation of American research.” The renewal of the agreement just before President Joe Biden leaves office “denies the incoming administration a chance to weigh in on this highly controversial agreement,” they said, urging the administration to “reverse course.” In addition to Risch, the letter was signed by Sens. John Barrasso, Pete Ricketts, Todd Young and Bill Hagerty. The first such agreement was signed in January 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic ties to counter the influence of the Soviet Union and when China severely lagged behind the U.S. and other Western nations in science and technology. The agreement was extended in 2018, and it was given temporary extensions last year and this year to allow for negotiations as the tech war between the two countries has escalated. The State Department has said the new agreement has a narrower scope and more guardrails to protect U.S. interests, including covering only basic research and not facilitating the development of critical and emerging technologies. The Republican senators said they had “deep concerns” that those measures were not sufficient to protect intellectual property and prevent illicit transfer of knowledge. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter Thursday. Deborah Seligsohn, assistant professor of political science at Villanova University, said the U.S. stands to lose more if it cuts off science and technology cooperation with Beijing. “The irony is that as China has become our peer, we have so much more to gain from working with Chinese science than we did in earlier eras, and yet at this moment, when we have the most to gain, there is a demand that we shut the door,” she said. AdvertisementSeoul: Embattled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote on 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 ousting and deepen political chaos in South Korea , with a survey suggesting most South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. A protest against President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul’s national assembly on Saturday. Credit: Bloomberg Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP), but the party is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the national assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon’s impeachment or resignation. The party’s floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said the opposition would soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. Opposition parties could submit a new motion after a new parliamentary session opens on Wednesday. Loading “We’ll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We’ll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year’s end.” Many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 21⁄2 years in office. They say some PPP lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it increase. The ruling party risks “further public outrage and national confusion if they don’t find a formula fast for Yoon’s departure”, said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Centre for a New American Security in Washington. PPP chair Han Dong-hoon said his party would seek Yoon’s “orderly” early exit but didn’t say when he could resign. Protests against Yoon are swelling On Saturday, tens of thousands of people packed several blocks of roads leading to the national assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of the PPP’s headquarters near the assembly, shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied elsewhere in Seoul, calling the impeachment attempt unconstitutional. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol last Tuesday, when he declared emergency martial law. Credit: Getty Images Impeaching Yoon required support from 200 of the national assembly’s 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other smaller opposition parties, which filed the motion, have a combined 192 seats. But only three PPP lawmakers participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy. Loading If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. The president apologises for turmoil Earlier on Saturday, Yoon apologised over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose it. He said he would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office”. “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologise to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving he and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces”. Lee Jae-myung (second from right), the leader of South Korea’s main opposition party, and lawmakers after the vote to impeach South Korea’s president failed. Credit: Getty Images The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. The turmoil has paralysed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners such as the US and Japan. “Yoon’s credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won’t be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies, especially when his days are numbered,” Kim, the analyst, said. “Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally.” A protest against Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Saturday. Most South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Credit: Bloomberg On Tuesday night, special forces troops encircled the parliament building and army helicopters hovered over it, but the military withdrew after the national assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak on Wednesday. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. The PPP later opposed Yoon’s impeachment motion. AP Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. World politics South Korea Most Viewed in World LoadingBy DAVID A. LIEB Artificial intelligence. Abortion. Guns. Marijuana. Minimum wages. Name a hot topic, and chances are good there’s a new law about it taking effect in 2025 in one state or another. Many of the laws launching in January are a result of legislation passed this year. Others stem from ballot measures approved by voters. Some face legal challenges. Here’s a look at some of the most notable state laws taking effect: California, home to Hollywood and some of the largest technology companies, is seeking to rein in the artificial intelligence industry and put some parameters around social media stars. New laws seek to prevent the use of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers without permission and allow the estates of dead performers to sue over unauthorized AI use. Parents who profit from social media posts featuring their children will be required to set aside some earnings for their young influencers. A new law also allows children to sue their parents for failing to do so. New social media restrictions in several states face court challenges. Related Articles National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen National Politics | Exhausted by political news? TV ratings and new poll say you’re not alone National Politics | Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row National Politics | Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreams National Politics | Trump’s picks for top health jobs not just team of rivals but ‘team of opponents’ A Florida law bans children under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. But enforcement is being delayed because of a lawsuit filed by two associations for online companies, with a hearing scheduled for late February. A new Tennessee law also requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an industry group for online businesses, is challenging the law. Another new state law requires porn websites to verify that visitors are at least 18 years old. But the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, has filed a challenge. Several new California measures aimed at combating political deepfakes are also being challenged, including one requiring large social media platforms to remove deceptive content related to elections and another allowing any individual to sue for damages over the use of AI to create fabricated images or videos in political ads . In a first nationally, California will start enforcing a law prohibiting school districts from adopting policies that require staff to notify parents if their children change their gender identification . The law was a priority for Democratic lawmakers who wanted to halt such policies passed by several districts. Many states have passed laws limiting or protecting abortion rights since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to the procedure in 2022. One of the latest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A law there will require the state employee health plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cover abortions with no deductible , copayments or other cost-sharing requirements. A new Minnesota law prohibits guns with “binary triggers” that allow for more rapid fire, causing a weapon to fire one round when the trigger is pulled and another when it is released. In Delaware, a law adds colleges and universities to a list of school zones where guns are prohibited, with exceptions for those working in their official capacity such as law officers and commissioned security guards. Kentucky is becoming the latest state to let people use marijuana for medical purposes . To apply for a state medical cannabis card, people must get written certification from a medical provider of a qualifying condition, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nearly four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana. Minimum wage workers in more than 20 states are due to receive raises in January. The highest minimum wages will be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which will top $16 an hour after modest increases. The largest increases are scheduled in Delaware, where the minimum wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, where a ballot measure approved by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the current minimum of $12 an hour. Twenty other states still follow the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. In Oregon, using drugs on public transit will be considered a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. While the measure worked its way through the legislature, multiple transportation officials said drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers feel less safe. In Missouri, law enforcement officers have spent the past 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is illegal. Starting with the new year, penalties will kick in: a $150 fine for the first violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and up to 15 years imprisonment if a driver using a cellphone cause an injury or death. But police must notice a primary violation, such as speeding or weaving across lanes, to cite motorists for violating the cellphone law. Montana is the only state that hasn’t banned texting while driving , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Tenants in Arizona will no longer have to pay tax on their monthly rent , thanks to the repeal of a law that had allowed cities and towns to impose such taxes. While a victory for renters, the new law is a financial loss for governments. An analysis by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimated that $230 million would be lost in municipal tax revenue during the first full fiscal year of implementation. Meanwhile Alabama will offer tax credits to businesses that help employees with child care costs. Kansas is eliminating its 2% sales tax on groceries. It also is cutting individual income taxes by dropping the top tax rate, increasing a credit for child care expenses and exempting all Social Security income from taxes, among other things. Taxpayers are expected to save about $320 million a year going forward. An Oklahoma law expands voting privileges to people who have been convicted of felonies but had their sentences discharged or commuted, including commutations for crimes that have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Young, an Oklahoma City Democrat, carried the bill in the Senate. “I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Young said. Associated Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer Ballentine in Jefferson City, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed.jili41 。

Brazilian police formally accused Bolsonaro of an attempted coup. What comes next?

Lisa Simpson once said during an episode of “The Simpsons:” What could be more exciting than the savage ballet that is pro football? On Monday night, the entire Simpsons universe gets to experience it in a way not many could have imagined. The prime-time matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys will also take place at Springfield’s Atoms Stadium as part of “The Simpsons Funday Football” alternate broadcast. The altcast will be streamed on ESPN+, Disney+, and NFL+ (on mobile devices). ESPN and ABC have the main broadcast, while ESPN2 will carry the final “ManningCast” of the regular season. The replay will be available on Disney+ for 30 days. Globally, more than 145 countries will have access to either live or on replay. “We’re such huge football fans, and the Simpsons audience and the football audience, I feel, are like the same audience of just American families and football. And the Simpsons are so much a part of the DNA of the American family and culture that for us to, like, mush them together in this crazy video game, it’s so fun,” said Matt Selman, executive producer of “The Simpsons.” While the game is the focal point, the alternate broadcast, in some ways, will resemble a three-hour episode of “The Simpsons.” It starts with Homer eating too many hot dogs and having a dream while watching football. Homer joins the Cowboys in the dream while Bart teams up with the Bengals. Lisa and Marge will be sideline reporters. “That’s the beginning of the story, and the story continues through the entire game until Homer wakes up from his dream at the end of the game. It is like a complete story, and the NFL game will happen in between. It’s just going to be an amazing presentation with tons of surprises,” said Michael “Spike” Szykowny, ESPN’s VP of edit and animation. This is the second year ESPN has done an alternate broadcast for an NFL game. It used the characters from “Toy Story” for last year’s Sunday morning game from London between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars. “The Simpsons” has featured many sports-themed episodes during its 35 seasons. Even though “Homer at the Bat” remains the consensus favorite sports episode for many Simpsons fans, there have been football ones such as “Bart Star” and “Lisa The Greek.” There also was a Super Bowl-themed one after Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl 33 between Denver and Atlanta in 1999. Even though “The Simpsons” remains a staple on Fox’s prime-time schedule, it is part of the Disney family after their acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019. All 35 seasons are on Disney+. The show’s creators have worked with ESPN and the NFL to make sure the look and sound is definitely Simpsonsesque. The theme song is a mash-up of “The Simpsons” opening and “Monday Night Football’s” iconic “Heavy Action.” There have also been pre-recorded skits and bits to use during the broadcast featuring Simpson’s legendary voices Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. The telecast will be entirely animated, with the players’ movements in sync with what is happening in real-time on the field. That is done through player-tracking data enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats system and Sony’s Beyond Sports Technology. While Next Gen Stats tracks where players are on the field with a tracking chip in the shoulder pads, there is skeletal data tracking and limb tracking data — which uses 29 points per player — to get closer to the player’s movements. The other data tracking will allow Beyond Sports and Disney to add special characters to the game. For example, there might be a play where Lisa catches the ball and goes 30 yards instead of Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins. “Lisa is much smaller than the rest of the players. So, in real life, the ball would go over her head, but now, with data processing, we can take the ball and make it go exactly into her hands. So for the viewer, it still looks believable, and it all makes sense,” said Beyond Sports co-founder Nicolaas Westerhof. The other major challenge is making “The Simpsons” two-dimensional cartoon characters into 3-D simulations. Szykowny and his team worked to make that a reality over the past couple of months. “That’s a big leap of faith for them to say, hey, we trust you to make our characters 3-D and work with it. Our ESPN creative studio team has done a wonderful job,” Szykowny said. Lisa, Krusty, Nelson, Milhouse and Ralph will be with Bart and the Bengals; while Carl, Barney, Lenny and Moe join up with with Homer and the Cowboys. The broadcast will also feature ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. ESPN’s Drew Carter, Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will call the game from Bristol, Connecticut, and also be animated. They will wear Meta Quest Pro headsets to experience the game from Springfield using VR technology. For Kimes, being part of the broadcast and being an animated Simpsons character is a dream come true. She is a massive fan of the show and has a framed photo of Lisa Simpson — who she said is a personal hero and icon — as part of her backdrop when she makes appearances on ESPN NFL shows from her home in Los Angeles. “I didn’t have any input, and I didn’t see anything beforehand, so I wasn’t sure if it would look like me, but it kind of does, which is very funny,” said Kimes, who drew Simpsons characters when she was a kid. “To see the actual staff turn me into one was a dream.” Even though the Bengals (4-8) and Cowboys (5-7) have struggled this season, Selman thinks both teams have personalities that appeal to “The Simpsons” universe. “We were just so lucky also that the Cowboys are sort of like a Homer Simpson-type team, American team, and Mike McCarthy might be a Homer-type guy, one might imagine,” he said. ”And then you have Joe Burrow on the other side who is a cool young, spiky-haired, blonde bad boy -- he’s like Bart. And that fits our character archetypes so perfectly. “If Homer is mad at Bart and has a hot dog dream while watching ’Monday Night Football’, and then it’s basically McCarthy versus Burrow, Homer versus Bart, and that’s the simple father versus son strangling — Homer strangling Bart dynamic that has been part of the show for 35 years. I don’t know if that would have worked as well if it was like Titans versus Jacksonville. We would have found something. We would have made it work.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflREVIVER® HELPS DRIVE THE SPIRIT OF GIVING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

London, Dec 28 (PTI) Britain’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy has hailed the bold economic reforms of Dr Manmohan Singh as a legacy which continues to shape modern India. In a social media tribute to the former prime minister who was cremated in New Delhi on Saturday, Lammy also credited Singh for laying the foundations of the “thriving” bilateral partnership between India and the UK. “Dr Manmohan Singh’s bold economic reforms transformed India’s economy,” Lammy said in a post on X on Friday evening. “His legacy continues to shape modern India, and his vision laid the foundations for today’s thriving UK-India partnership. My deepest condolences to his family and the Indian people,” he said. Manmohan Singh, who was prime minister between 2004 and 2014 and finance minister before that, has been widely hailed the world over as the architect of India's economic liberalisation. He died aged 92 and was laid to rest with full state honours in a ceremony attended by leading political dignitaries and included a 21-gun salute. Following his death on Thursday night, the government declared seven days of national mourning. Earlier, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron took to social media to pay tribute to “a great Prime Minister, Finance Minister and global statesman who advanced India’s interests through bold economic reforms and played a key role in putting India in its rightful place on the world stage and stabilising the global economy after the financial crisis”. “The UK will always be proud of his invaluable partnership with three UK Prime Ministers, and proud of him as an alumnus of two of our great universities. My thoughts and wishes are with his family and the people of India,” she said. Singh’s tenure overlapped with Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and Conservative David Cameron, who later wrote in his memoir that he “got on well” with this “saintly man” who was robust on the threats India faced. “On a later visit he told me that another terrorist attack like that in Mumbai in July 2011, and India would have to take military action against Pakistan,” notes the former UK PM in ‘For the Record’, published in 2019. The Guardian’ newspaper referenced Singh’s “trademark sky-blue turbans and home-spun white kurta pyjamas” in its obituary. “Singh, called India’s ‘reluctant prime minister’ due to his shyness and preference for being behind the scenes, was considered an unlikely choice to lead the world’s biggest democracy. But when Congress leader Sonia Gandhi led her party to a surprise victory in 2004, she turned to Singh to be prime minister,” the newspaper notes. The BBC, in its obituary, hailed Singh as one of India's longest-serving prime ministers who was considered the “architect of key liberalising economic reforms, as premier from 2004-2014 and before that as finance minister”. “In his maiden speech as finance minister he famously quoted Victor Hugo, saying that ‘no power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come’. That served as a launchpad for an ambitious and unprecedented economic reform programme: he cut taxes, devalued the rupee, privatised state-run companies and encouraged foreign investment,” reads the report. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)Skopje (North Macedonia), Dec 7 (AP) A political party in North Macedonia on Saturday demanded authorities ban social networks whose content incites violence and self-destructive behaviour after several young people were seriously injured in connection with the popular “Superman challenge” on TikTok. Health authorities said at least 17 students, ages 10 to 17, were brought to hospitals in the capital Skopje and other towns over the past week with broken bones, contusions and bruises. The children were injured after being thrown into the air by their friends to fly like superheroes and get applause on the internet. The Liberal-Democratic Party, which was part of the left-led coalition that ruled the country from 2016 to earlier in 2024, issued a press statement Saturday strongly condemning “the irresponsible spread of dangerous content on social media, such as the latest TikTok 'challenge' known as Superman, which has injured six children across (the country) in the past 24 hours”. “The lack of adequate control over the content of social media allows such games' to reach the most vulnerable users,” the party statement said. It demanded the “immediate introduction of measures to ban content that incites violence and self-destructive behaviour, increase surveillance, and sanction platforms that enable dangerous trends”. North Macedonia's education minister Vesna Janevska said students should focus on education, not TikTok challenges. “The ban on mobile phones in schools will not have an effect. Phones will be available to children in their homes, neighbourhoods and other environments,” she said. Psychologists have warned that the desire to be “in” with the trends on social networks, combined with excessive use of mobile phones, is the main reason for the rise in risky behaviours among children. They urged parents and schools to talk with students. (AP) PY PY (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)The Chicago Cubs have been linked to power hitting first basemen Pete Alonso in the latest of MLB free agent rumors. As the Chicago Cubs still search for the next big trade to pull off which will hopefully net them an Ace like starting pitcher, rumors now have the Chicago Cubs rumored to be in on former New York Mets slugging first basemen Pete Alonso in an article written by the New York Post Jon Heyman . Heyman wrote speaking of Pete Alonso ’s current market saying: “The Mets still make the most sense even though a gap exists now . After a 48-hour frenzy of 1B signings/trades ( Paul Goldschmidt , Carlos Santana, Josh Naylor, Nathaniel Lowe), potential options include the Giants, Mariners, Rangers and Angels, and possibly the Cubs or Red Sox if they open up 1B via trade. But then, shouldn’t the Mets bring back the NL’s home run leader since 2019 to support their prized $765M pickup, Juan Soto?” Why Pete Alonso wouldn’t make sense for the Chicago Cubs The market for Pete Alonso so far this winter has been a rather quiet one to say the least especially for teams in need of someone to play first base. So far, the New York Mets still seem to have the best chances of being the team most likely to sign Pete Alonso when it’s all said and done, but there could be a team like the Cubs who slide in and sign Alonso. However, for the Cubs signing someone like Pete Alonso for the amount he is seeking which according to some estimates could be as high as $180 million and as long as six years. For a price like that the Chicago Cubs could get a solid number two starting pitcher. Alonso who just turned 30 earlier this month is a really solid ball player and would be a great addition to any ball club. He will hit your team 30+ home runs for a season while driving in over 120 RBI, as well as having the capability of getting on-base consistently with having a career on-base percentage of .339. In 2024 Pete Alonso played in all 162 games, which for Pete Alonso’s whole career he has not played in less than 150 games ever in his career other than shorten 2020 season. Earlier in this off-season USA Today Bob Nightengale linked the Chicago Cubs to signing Pete Alonso this off season writing: “If All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso doesn’t return to the Mets, rival executives believe he will wind up in Seattle or with the Cubs,” Nightengale wrote. Last year for the New York Mets Pete Alonso had pretty much a standard season he would have any other year of his career other than his slugging percentage and OPS numbers dropping slightly. In 162 games Alonso was named an All-Star, had 146 hits, 31 doubles, 34 HRs, 88 RBI, for a slash line of .240/.329/.459 and an OPS and OPS+ of .728 and 123. Solid offensively and decent with his glove, Alonso would be great to have as a member of the Chicago Cubs but given his price and roster construction he just doesn’t fit. No Need on the Roster Currently at first base the Chicago Cubs have Michael Busch manning the right side of the infield with General Manager Jed Hoyer stating earlier this off season that: “We really see Michael as a Gold Glove first baseman,” Hoyer said. “That’s our focus. Can he move around a little bit? Of course. His versatility is great, but he made real strides at first. I thought after the first month of the season, he was fantastic at first. And that’s certainly how we’re seeing him.” Michael Busch, who just turned 27, was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with Yency Almonte to the Chicago Cubs for Jackson Ferris(minors) and Zyhir Hope (minors). Last year for the Cubs Busch played in 152 games where he had 123 hits, 28 doubles, 2 triples, 21 HRs, 65 RBI, with a slash line of .248/.335/.440 with and OPS and OPS+ of .775 and 118. Over at first base Busch displayed a .996 fielding percentage for the 2024 season as well as a 5 for defensive runs save. Busch’s splits versus lefties and righties are virtually the same which is really good. A .258 average with a .712 OPS against lefties and a .246 average and .788 OPS versus righties. A valuable option to have at first the Cubs declaring Busch the starter now can only boost his confidence and with a full season under his belt now, the third-year infielder looks to take big strides in 2025. The biggest ask for Busch to make this coming season that the Chicago Cubs need him to make is gaining more power. In order for the Cubs to be successful this season they will need to have power come from guys in the lineup like Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki. The acquisition of Kyle Tucker will help give the Cubs most of their power with showing the ability to hit 30 home runs in a season which he has done twice in his career. Seiya Suzuki who hit 21 HRs (same as Busch) last season who like Michael Busch will need to increase both his home run count into the 25-30 range with hitting somewhere near 30 doubles. With first base being already filled and Jed Hoyer giving Michael Busch such a high evaluation of his play at first base, the only other position available for Pete Alonso to have a shot at securing is the designated hitting spot, which is currently occupied by Seiya Suzuki who played in 59 games at the DH spot last season. That role will only seem to expand further in 2025 since Kyle Tucker will get the bulk of the reps out in rightfield with Suzuki only seeing some time out there. Now there have been rumors started by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic the Chicago Cubs could look to trade Seiya Suzuki and teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be interested. Trading Seiya Suzuki would not be advisable for the Chicago Cubs to do especially with them recently trading away outfielder Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees. Trading Seiya away would only further deplete the Cubs of their outfield depth and a key part of their lineup, who according to FanGraphs projects Suzuki to be the Cubs three-hole hitter come 2025. In the end would signing a player like Pete Alonso be great for the Cubs? Yes, it would be fantastic, and I can only imagine how many home runs he would hit in the hot summer months in Chicago, but the money and years needed to obtain a talented player such as Pete Alonso is could better be spent to signing a top tier starting pitcher, or more importantly getting a contract extension done with newly acquired Chicago Cub Kyle Tucker. This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

UConn, football coach Jim Mora agree to contract extension through 2028

Hubballi : The passing of former PM Manmohan Singh has deeply saddened the Kohli family , especially 85-year-old Harnam Singh Kohli , who remains bedridden after a recent fall. Due to his frailty, Harnam Singh finds it difficult to fully express his emotions and struggles to come to terms with the loss of his relative. His late wife Harpreet Kaur was the sister of Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur. Harnam Singh, who built a thriving auto parts business in Hubballi's Vidyanagar area after moving to the city at the age of 18, has been recovering from a fall that required hospitalisation. Although discharged, he continued treatment for persistent pain due to his advanced age. "We hesitated to inform him because of his health, but we eventually broke the sad news Friday evening. At first, he refused to believe it, but when we turned on a news channel to confirm it, tears rolled down his cheeks," said Manmit Kohli of his father, who fondly called the former PM "Veerji and Dr Saab". A key figure in establishing the first Gurudwara in Hubballi in 1969, Harnam Singh's life mirrored that of Manmohan Singh—both defined by simplicity and humility. Despite being well-connected, the Kohlis have remained modest, with few knowing of their relations with Manmohan Singh till he became PM. The Kohlis also fondly recall the visit of Gursharan Kaur and their daughter to the city in 2010. At that time, Singh, serving as PM, was unable to accompany his family due to his commitments, but he remained deeply supportive of them following the death of Harpreet Kaur. Manmit, 54, recalled the emotional toll on the family when they learned of Singh's critical health Thursday. "At 8:30pm, we received a call from our cousin in Delhi informing us about Masdaji's (as they fondly call him) critical condition... We were devastated by the news of his passing," Manmit said. He reflected on his interactions with Manmohan Singh, especially those in recent years. "In 2018, during a family function in Delhi, we discussed politics and the economy. At 85, he was still sharp, speaking with precision and citing facts and figures. The Kohlis also fondly remembers Singh's love for sweets, particularly Dharwad pedha , which he enjoyed during their visits to Delhi. The family plans to hold a special ‘Ardas' prayer service at the Gurudwara in Hubballi. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria gained speed on Saturday with news that they had reached the suburbs of the capital and with the government forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander, 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, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. As they have advanced, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands rushed the Syria border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those that remained open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some shops were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reach the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. Amid the developments, Syria’s state media denied rumors flooding social media that Assad has left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. Assad's chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. Pedersen said a date for the talks in Geneva on the implementation of U.N. Resolution 2254 would be announced later. The resolution, adopted in 2015, called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were also marching from eastern Syria toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. Syria’s military, meanwhile, sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an interview Thursday from Syria that the aim is to overthrow Assad’s government. The Britain-based Observatory said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs, where a battle is looming. If the insurgents capture Homs, they would cut the link between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where the president enjoys wide support. The Syrian army said in a statement Saturday that it has carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists.” The army said it is setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. Tartus is home to the only Russian naval base outside the former Soviet Union while Latakia is home to a major Russian air base. In the gas-rich nation of Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey met to discuss the situation in Syria. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. After the fall of the cities of Daraa and Sweida early Saturday, Syrian government forces remained in control of five provincial capitals — Damascus, Homs and Quneitra, as well as Latakia and Tartus on the Mediterranean coast. On Friday, U.S.-backed fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces captured wide parts of the eastern province of Deir el-Zour that borders Iraq as well as the provincial capital that carries the same name. The capture of areas in Deir el-Zour is a blow to Iran’s influence in the region as the area is the gateway to the corridor linking the Mediterranean to Iran, a supply line for Iran-backed fighters, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. With the capture of a main border crossing with Iraq by the SDF and after opposition fighters took control of the Naseeb border crossing to Jordan in southern Syria, the Syrian government's only gateway to the outside world is the Masnaa border crossing with Lebanon. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.UConn, football coach Jim Mora agree to contract extension through 2028Roivios Initiates Landmark Study to Demonstrate Safety and Efficacy of an Innovative Renal Assist Device for Cardiac Surgery Patients With Kidney Disease NASSAU, Bahamas , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Roivios , a pioneering clinical-stage medical device company dedicated to revolutionizing kidney health, proudly announces that its research and development arm, 3ive Labs, has secured approval for an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the FDA. This approval paves the way for a pivotal trial of the JuxtaFlow Renal Assist Device (RAD), marking a transformative step forward in enhancing outcomes for cardiac surgery patients with renal insufficiency. The GRADIENT ( G roundbreaking R enal A ssist D evice I ntervening to EN hance cardio T horacic surgery outcomes) trial is designed to address the critical need for renal support among cardiac surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). These patients often face increased risks of postoperative complications, such as worsening renal dysfunction, which can lead to extended ICU stays and increased mortality. "The GRADIENT Trial offers an invaluable opportunity to further explore renal support during cardiac surgery," said Dr. Evelio Rodriguez , a renowned heart surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, TN , and the National Principal Investigator of the GRADIENT trial. "The JuxtaFlow device offers new hope for some of our most vulnerable patients." JuxtaFlow RAD is an innovative device designed to potentially improve kidney function during times of acute stress. By applying a gentle suction to the kidney's outlet, it aims to enhance blood filtration more efficiently. This groundbreaking approach was recognized with an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in April. The GRADIENT study will be a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label trial that plans to enroll patients with renal insufficiency (eGFR 15-60 ml/min) undergoing elective or urgent cardiac surgery requiring CPB. The study seeks to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the JuxtaFlow RAD to sustain or enhance renal function during and following CPB surgery. "Achieving Breakthrough Device Designation was instrumental in securing IDE approval," noted John Erbey , Chief Executive Officer at Roivios. "This initiative is the culmination of a decade of technological and clinical advancements in addressing kidney disease management challenges. Our ongoing dialogue with the FDA is paving the way for more effective management, empowering patients to thrive. We are eager to commence IDE enrollment and explore the JuxtaFlow RAD's potential to improve surgical outcomes and enhance patient quality of life." For more information about Roivios and the JuxtaFlow Renal Assist Device, please visit Roivios.com . About JuxtaFlow RAD The JuxtaFlow RAD is a pioneering investigational device set to transform kidney support therapy. Acknowledging the harmful effects of fluid accumulation and pressure on the kidneys, Roivios has advanced beyond traditional blood filtration methods that can further stress the kidneys. By applying mild, controlled negative pressure within the kidney's collecting system, the device has the potential to maintain and improve filtration and support recovery. This novel approach holds promise for a compelling value proposition by preserving kidney function and expediting patient recovery, ultimately reducing hospital stays and associated costs. Equipped with a proprietary specialized catheters and pump, the device optimizes kidney function during critical recovery periods, such as post-surgery. Currently, the JuxtaFlow RAD is under investigation and is not available for sale in any geography. About Roivios Roivios is a clinical-stage medical device company committed to pioneering solutions for kidney health. Our lead product, the JuxtaFlow Renal Assist Device (RAD), is designed to preserve kidney function and offer a proactive approach to managing kidney disease. We aim to demonstrate improved renal outcomes, potentially reducing the need for dialysis, and lowering healthcare costs. Holding proprietary patents in key kidney technologies, we aim to revolutionize kidney disease management. With plans to extend its application beyond kidney disease to various medical settings, Roivios is preparing for a transformative U.S. launch, aiming to redefine kidney disease management and improve patient quality of life. Discover more at roivios.com . This release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ significantly. Media Contact : Kelly Krueger , Krueger PR, kelly@kruegerpr.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-grants-ide-approval-for-the-pivotal-trial-of-the-juxtaflow-renal-assist-device-rad-302336698.html SOURCE Roivios, ltd

Article content Saskatchewan political leaders and commentators characterize a potential U.S. import tariff or retaliatory Canadian export tax on potash as “destructive” and “damaging.” The industry’s financial reports tell a different story. Nutrien, the largest potash company, sold nearly four million tonnes to the U.S. and seven million tonnes offshore in the first nine months of 2024. Because sanctions exclude Russian and Belarusian potash from the U.S. market, Nutrien was able to charge an average price per tonne of $287 there versus $183 offshore. Both markets were lucrative because it costs the company only $102 per tonne to extract potash from Saskatchewan. If Nutrien had to pay a tariff or export tax of 25 per cent on U.S. sales, it would have received $215 per tonne, still above what it accepts offshore. At that price, profitable production would continue for the American market as it does for the offshore market. A border levy would simply redirect most of the extra profit on U.S. potash sales to Washington or Ottawa. This profit should go to Saskatchewan people who own the resource. In the first nine months of 2024, Nutrien collected profits of $1.3 billion from Saskatchewan potash, but paid only one-fifth to the province: $62 million of royalties and $210 million of mining taxes. Rather than railing against a hypothetical export tax on potash, we might insist that Ottawa return the proceeds of any such levy to the province. More fundamentally, stronger provincial royalties and taxes are needed to collect a fair return from potash without federal assistance. Erin Weir, Regina (The letter above was originally published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.) SaskPower collecting carbon tax on electricity Your recent article regarding SaskPower’s announcement to increase carbon charges beginning in 2025 does not tell the whole story and is misleading to readers. The national pollution pricing benchmark is increasing from $80 to $95 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. However, this federally mandated increase is much more than the average 2.9 per cent increase for carbon charges on customer bills announced by SaskPower. Has SaskPower previously been overcharging customers with respect to pollution pricing? As SaskPower modernizes the power grid with $256.7 million of federal funding to support clean power generation, customers can expect to pay much less in carbon charges. SaskPower recently removed important information from their webpage explaining where all this money goes. The blurb that was removed clearly states that Saskatchewan’s output-based performance standards program includes electricity generation: “ As a result, the 2023-2030 carbon tax revenue SaskPower collects is paid to the provincial government, effective January 1, 2023.” For the past two years, the Saskatchewan government has been collecting its own carbon tax on SaskPower bills. The provincial government should be held accountable for reinvesting these carbon funds back into Saskatchewan; however reports indicate that 11 of the 13 recipients of the $25 million funding from the Saskatchewan Technology Fund are oil and gas companies based in Calgary. SaskPower and our Saskatchewan government continue to blame the federal government for pollution pricing and clean energy regulations rather than being honest and transparent with residents about the Saskatchewan carbon tax. All of us together will benefit from a clean power grid. Shannon Wright, Vanscoy (The letter above was originally published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.) The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark leaderpost.com and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe. Share this Story : Letters: Potash tax threat exposes meagre return for Sask. resource Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

, /PRNewswire/ -- The Sterling Group, a -based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that and have been promoted to Partner. "We are excited to recognize the extraordinary contributions of John and Claudine," said , Partner at The Sterling Group. "Each has played a critical part in Sterling's success to date. We are thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments and welcome them as Partners." , Partner, joined Sterling in 2018 from McKinsey & Company's office where he focused on strategic and operational initiatives for industrial and energy companies. John has been a leader on the PrimeFlight Aviation, West Star Aviation, Fencing Supply Group, Tangent Technologies, and Lynx FBO Network investment teams. John has also been a key member of the firm's Operations Committee, which drives continuous improvement in Sterling's own value creation capabilities. , Partner, Human Capital, joined Sterling in 2017 to lead Human Capital at Sterling and its portfolio companies. During Claudine's time at Sterling, she has contributed to a significant build-out of the team and has driven a dramatic improvement in Sterling's ability to drive value creation through the Human Capital lever. Claudine is a critical business partner to investment teams and management teams alike. To learn more about a career at The Sterling Group, please visit Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from to . Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 73 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over . Sterling currently has of assets under management. For further information, please visit . View original content: SOURCE The Sterling Group, L.P.

South Korean Finance Minister Vows All-Out Efforts To Maintain Sovereign Rating Despite Political TurmoilIn the middle of Good Wood Terrace, a plastic film covers Kanye West’s signature and a pair of doodles the American rapper drew on a pillar in the middle of the restaurant. A handful of other scribbles sit underneath, but they aren’t protected — perhaps more than the food, the graffiti is the main draw. It’s also a reminder of how West — legally now known as Ye — has become this year’s most buzzed-about Tokyo resident. He has long been fascinated by Japanese culture and is a constant visitor to the capital, but at some point a few months ago rumors emerged that he was now living here. You’d imagine he’d want to get out of the spotlight back home following several years of high-profile scandals , topped off by Ye delivering antisemitic remarks on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ internet talk show. Tokyoites haven’t been focusing on anything Ye has been saying since arriving, rather they’ve been watching where he goes. His presence in the capital resembles that of a mythical animal — a “Ye-ti” if you will — captured via random sightings.