Most Gulf markets gain on rising oilThe team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!
TCU's TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. ArizonaA butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately.
SHE’S up early for an ice-cold wash, full-body workout and £2,000 electric face mask session – and that’s all before she tackles the school run. A day in the life of Victoria Beckham is a terrifyingly well-organised affair. But the mum of four is the first to admit she is a control freak and runs a tight ship. In a revealing new interview, Victoria, 50, has told how she is on the go from the moment she wakes up, filming the sunrise and her make-up routine to use on her social media . “I like to find good light in front of a window because I don’t want to use crazy filters,” she explained. “The number of people who say, ‘Why are you showing one side of your face . . . ’ Read More on Showbiz “I’m like, ‘Give me a break’. I don’t have a script, I’m holding the phone and trying to film myself applying make-up at the same time.” Once she has her face on, Victoria dashes downstairs to join husband David for a weights workout with their personal trainer Bobby. While David, 49, then pops off for an invigorating ice bath, Posh spends 30 minutes lying under her £2,000 mega Dermalux infrared light to calm and soothe her skin. Not a moment is wasted, though, as she uses the time to meditate or strategise. Most read in Celebrity Next it is time to dispatch the youngest of the Beckham brood, Harper, 13, off to school. Victoria is a stickler for good manners in all four of the Beckham children, explaining: “I can’t bear kids who grunt.” She then pops on her most prized possession, a gold watch from Golden Balls. Inscribed with “Mummy we love you”, it was given to her by David when she got her OBE for services to fashion and charity in 2017. Later, off she heads to her fashion HQ a couple of miles from the Beckhams’ West London mansion , dressed head to toe in her trademark black. Gone are the low-rise jeans and crop tops of her Spice Girls days — Victoria sold off her pop star wardrobe for charity years ago. Once at her desk, she admits: “I obsess over every single detail. Everything has to have a reason for existing. It’s great when people recognise that.” Of course, David is a fan of her luxury beauty range. Apparently, the former England captain usually cannot stand hand creams because the strong fragrances put him off his food. But he loves his wife’s Portofino ’97 moisturiser, priced £38. “That’s praise, let me tell you,” said Victoria. It is hardly surprising, since the cream was named after the pair’s romantic trip to the Italian resort when they first got together in 1997. On her entrepreneurial eldest son, Brooklyn, 25, Victoria went on to reveal how he has inherited her obsessive nature when it comes to business decisions. “I see a lot of me in him,” she said. She proudly boasted how hands-on Brooklyn was when it came to creating his Cloud23 hot sauce range, which launched last month. ‘I obsess over every single detail’ “Brooklyn was all over every single aspect — not just the contents, but the bottle, the lid,” said Victoria. “It’s not easy for him but I’ve told him he has to be patient. Look how long it’s taken me.” Unsurprisingly, mealtimes for Victoria are tightly controlled, too. She has not eaten meat since age eight. Very occasionally, she treats herself to a vodka, lime and soda cocktail, known as a Skinny B*tch. And she never cooks. Victoria said: “Harper says I can burn water, so it’s probably better for everyone that I don’t.” David once revealed his wife has the same meal every day, saying: “She only eats grilled fish, steamed vegetables — she will rarely deviate from that.” But Victoria, who has suffered from hormonal acne in the past, defended her regime, explaining: “It was because of my skin that I became very careful about what I ate.” All those years of self-control have paid off. Speaking to The Telegraph Magazine after winning their Beauty Brand of the Year award, Victoria said she finally feels confident about her skin and has stopped stressing about what the public think of her. She added: “Was there a time when I used to scroll through all the comments about me? Probably. But now I just don’t have the time. “If you’d told me years ago I’d step on to a red carpet wearing only a bit of concealer and no foundation, I’d have thought you were mad — but that’s what I did last week.” David has also won round his fiercest critics. Last year, Netflix aired the Beckham documentary, taking a look at his early years as a footballer, including when he enraged England fans by being sent off during the 1998 World Cup for kicking an Argentina player. We’re glass half full people. All of us Victoria revealed: “After it came out, a man left a note on David’s car saying, ‘Dear David, on behalf of the British public, we’re really sorry. We loved the documentary’. That was really, really sweet. “I got emotional when I watched the part with David and me dancing. Even Brooklyn said, ‘How many takes did you need for that?’. But nothing was rehearsed.” The Beckhams are not the sort to complain, at least not publicly. Victoria said: “We’re glass half full people. All of us. READ MORE SUN STORIES “We were watching Inside Out [a children’s film featuring emotions as characters] the other day, and the kids said, ‘You’re Joy, Mum’. “What a compliment.”Savion Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Josh Hoover threw for 252 yards as TCU pulled away from Arizona in the second half, winning 49-28 on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frogs (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) scored touchdowns on five consecutive possessions, starting late in the first half after the Wildcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled within 14-13. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Scenes from the City of Stockbridge’s 2024 Free Turkey Giveaway held Saturday at the Stockbridge Amphitheater. Click for more. PHOTOS: Turkey GiveawaySINGAPORE: Pacing up and down near the Singapore Sports Hub's Water Sports Centre, with brows furrowed and sweat trickling down their faces, they checked their phones every 10 seconds. Then, amid the charged atmosphere of nervousness mixed with excitement, a shout: “One minute and one second ... second place!” The team, dressed in bright turquoise T-shirts emblazoned with the words "Different Dragons", erupted into cheers and hugs as they celebrated their silver medal at the Singapore Regatta Waterfest in November. At this annual dragon boat race, hundreds of competitors - from educational institutions, business organisations and other entities - vie to be the quickest over a 200m distance in the Kallang Basin. For Different Dragons, a second-place finish in the adaptive open category was especially sweet - and perhaps more so for nine members who are paddlers with disabilities of both physical and intellectual nature. “I find it difficult to paddle because of a back problem I’ve had, and it’s also difficult to paddle at the same speed as everyone,” said Jarran Ng, who has Williams syndrome. The genetic condition affects physical features, cognitive development and other parts of the body like the heart. “(But) the team never made me feel like I couldn’t do it and I felt like I belonged." SERIOUS ABOUT HAVING A GOOD TIME At the Singapore Regatta Waterfest, one of the biggest dragon boat contests in the country, teams were heard chanting "in it to win it". Different Dragons, which was founded in 2019, has other goals in mind. “We’re a very chill team, having fun is one of the most important aspects for us,” said Rayson Oon, a volunteer coach since the team started out. This approach should not be mistaken for a lack of focus and determination. They had trained for the November race all year, aiming to prove their abilities matter more than their disabilities - which they ultimately did. Naturally, it hasn't been all smooth sailing. The past few years have been a constant exercise in trial-and-error, patience and positivity, as volunteers sought to find the right ways to teach the sport, even in basics such as holding a paddle. When Tan Cher Hui first signed up with Different Dragons as a volunteer, she struggled to support her twin brother with autism, who had also joined the team as a competitor. Race rules dictate that each paddler with a disability can be accompanied by one able-bodied caregiver or volunteer inside the boat. For instance, her brother couldn't cope with changes to the training schedule caused by rain, and would often have meltdowns. "Because to him, dragon boating happens every Sunday,” said Tan, 26, who added that this was a huge challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic when such activities came to a halt. “It took a toll on him and I didn’t know if it was worth carrying on." But the encouragement and perseverance of other volunteers that pushed her to stay on, and the siblings have now reaped the rewards. “I learnt how to interact and engage with people of all different disabilities, and even picked up sign language," she said. "And it was heartwarming to see the other members be welcoming and inclusive with my brother." ANOTHER FAMILY For members of Different Dragons, being part of a team - and one that empathises with each other - was something especially precious. Jimmy Chan, a deaf paddler, told CNA how his condition made it tough in work settings and that he often felt isolated during conversations. "I wanted a space where I would not feel judged or different, and the team offered that," he said. The 53-year-old relies on vibrations from the dragon boat drum beat, along with the strokes of the first paddler seated in front, to sync with the rest of the team. “We share resilience, teamwork and a drive to break barriers. Each step feels like a victory, and our strong bonds make every challenge worthwhile, keeping us going,” Chan said. Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." Outside of training, the team makes a conscious effort to do activities together, from meals to hikes and an annual Christmas party. “There are days when the paddlers aren’t feeling their best, but they look forward to seeing each other and that motivates them to come for trainings,” said Hamza Lu, another volunteer coach. “We may not be as competitive as other teams, but we have more of a family bond. When I miss sessions, they’ll be spamming my phone and asking me when they’ll see me next.” Take Teng Der Shuin, a paddler with an intellectual disability, who every Saturday makes sure to remind his mother Teo Leng Leng that he needs to wear his "dragon boat clothes" the next day. "(He) isn’t very active when he’s at home. It was a very big problem that I was worried about. So I’m happy that this is an activity that he enjoys,” said Teo, 57. “This gave him an opportunity to make new friends and be exposed to the world outside." MOVING DISABILITY SPORTS FORWARD Having an adaptive category in a prestigious dragon boat event like the Regatta Waterfest gives people with disabilities access to the right resources and a level playing field, said Ms Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “Inclusive sports focus on creating platforms where persons with and without disabilities can play together. "The primary goal is to foster firsthand understanding and appreciation of the challenges that individuals with disabilities overcome to participate in sports, while also providing opportunities for meaningful social interaction,” she added. Singapore is set to launch an Enabling Sports Fund next year, which aims to "encourage impactful community-initiated disability sports initiatives.” The government will match dollar for dollar donations made to this fund, which hopes to raise at least S$10 million (US$7.4 million) by 2030. It's part of Singapore's Enabling Masterplan 2030 , a national roadmap for people with disabilities to live and participate more actively in the community. Progress has been made but more needs to be done to continue promoting inclusivity, said Ms Fan, pointing to costs and accessibility as remaining barriers. “It is not just about ramps or lifts within a venue," she said. "It extends to the awareness that sport opportunities exist for persons with disabilities; the affordability of sport involvement on top of enhanced costs of living of a (person with disability); the proximity and accessibility of an accessible venue; and the readiness of a venue to cater to disability sports.” Members of Different Dragons, meanwhile, are happy to continue playing their part in not just raising awareness, but sending out a more profound message - that paddlers with disabilities can be capable of anything, said Lu, the volunteer coach. “The perception many have is that members with disabilities can’t paddle as well as able-bodied individuals, but that’s not true,” said Oon, the other coach. Paddler Lee Wei Kiong, who has an intellectual disability, told CNA how the team has inspired him to work hard and keep practising. “I never thought we could beat other teams, but our process is getting better,” he said, while standing next to a trolley filled with bottled drinks he lugged from home to give out to his teammates. “When I was younger, people used to say that I have a low IQ (intelligent quotient) and I wouldn’t be able to do anything. But I learnt that whatever others can do, I can do too." "Normal people can dragon boat, so can I.”
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NEW YORK — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.” This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Colorado Springs area literary events starting Dec. 29
FBI director Christopher Wray has said he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.Messi's son debuts at Argentina youth tournament as grandparents watchIND vs AUS 4th Test 2024: Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal Bat out Afternoon Session To Steer India to 112/3 Against Australia
TAMPA, Fla. — This is the game to remember. No matter what else happens the rest of the way, this is the game that best represents who the Bucs were in 2024. With a new offensive coordinator and rookies at running back, receiver and center, the Bucs transformed from a mediocre offense into one of the most potent scoring machines in the NFL in 2024. With their playoff hopes still alive coming into the afternoon, the Bucs were nearly flawless on offense in a 48-14 victory against the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Bucky Irving became the first Tampa Bay rookie with more than 1,000 yards rushing since Doug Martin in 2012, and Jalen McMillan continued this late-season surge with two more touchdown receptions to give him six in his last four games. The Bucs finished with 551 total yards, which is the most they’ve gained in a non-overtime game since getting 604 yards against the Giants in 2012. Game ball Mayfield threw for 359 yards and five touchdowns. Irving had 190 yards from scrimmage. McMillan scored two more touchdowns. Pffft! It was Nondescript Tight End Day at Raymond James Stadium and we’re giving a pair of game balls to Devin Culp and Payne Durham. Culp, a seventh-round pick from Washington in April, had played only five snaps from scrimmage in Tampa Bay’s first 15 games. He had his first three NFL receptions for 52 yards. Durham, a fifth-round pick in 2013, came in with 12 career receptions and caught two passes for 36 yards, including his first NFL touchdown. Play of the day Hard to find a turning point in a 48-14 game. So instead we’ll go with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka’s blocked punt. He hasn’t quite lived up to expectations as a first-round pick, and he may be nearing the end of his tenure in Tampa Bay with his rookie contract set to expire, so it was nice to see Tryon-Shoyinka get a little love on Sunday. Keep an eye on We interrupt all of the back-slapping with this public service announcement: the secondary has a new limp. Along with Antoine Winfield Jr., who is out with a knee injury, and Christian Izien, who went on injured reserve this past week, cornerback Jamel Dean left Sunday’s game with a knee problem. Dean missed four games earlier this season with a hamstring pull. Considering Tampa Bay came into the weekend ranked No. 30 in pass defense, that’s not a good sign with the playoffs looming. NFC South update The Bucs won the NFC South at 8-9 in 2022. They won it with a 9-8 record last season. They’re doing even better this season at 9-7, but their fate is not yet determined. Tampa Bay needs Atlanta to lose one of its remaining two games, which includes a date later Sunday night against Washington, to win the division. Oh yeah, the Bucs also need to win next week against New Orleans. Up next A 10-win season is not only within Tampa Bay’s grasp, it is practically gift-wrapped. The Bucs finish the regular season at home against the Saints. New Orleans is on the way to its worst season in nearly 20 years. ©2024 Tampa Bay Times. Visit at tampabay.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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AP Trending SummaryBrief at 10:31 p.m. ESTPublished 00:22 IST, December 30th 2024 As 2024 comes to a close, Google has published its Year in Search report, revealing the most searched topics across the world. As 2024 comes to a close, Google has published its Year in Search report, revealing the most searched topics across the world and what users looked most into the search engine. In 2024, the highest search traffic was driven by topics such as global elections, major news events, and sports events. Here’s a look at Top Trending Searches Across Globe Football tournament Copa America generated the most traffic searches on Google. Defending champions Argentina secured a historic 16th Copa America title, defeating Colombia 1-0 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on July 14. Lionel Messi added another title to his illustrious career. The next in list was UEFA Euros which was held in month of June-July. Spain defeated England England 2-1 on July 14 and registered its fourth European crown. In 2024, India clinched the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, ending a 13-year wait for an ICC trophy by defeating South Africa in the final. The next on the list: 4. England cricket team's tour of India , 5. Liam Payne (One Direction band member) who passed away in November, 6. Donald Trump , 7. India vs Bangladesh , 8. iPhone 16 , 9. Paris 2024 Olympics , and 10. Catherine, Princess of Wales' who got diagnosed with cancer this year, were in the top 10 global searches across Google. Top 10 Most Searched News The 2024 news cycle on Google was dominated by the US presidential elections. President Joe Biden withdrew from the race for the White House, with the Democrats nominating Kamala Harris, who ultimately lost to the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. According to several reports, the year 2024 has been declared as the hottest year since the recording of temperature began. This caused a surge in global searches for the term on the search engine. Paris olympics was among the newsmakers for the year 2024. India registered 6 medals in the the Olympics. The tournament was marred with a boxing controversy where an Italian boxer Angela Carini went up against Algerian Imane Khelif. Khelif had been disqualified from the previous year's world championships due to a failed gender eligibility test. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted Khelif permission to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games. Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Gulf of Mexico, impacting several states of the US. According to estimates, more than $50 billion of infrastructure was damaged while several people were killed. In May, Israel initiated a limited operation in Rafah targeting Hamas militants. The operation quickly gained attention on social media, with the hashtag #AllEyesonRafah trending. A CrowdStrike update triggered a major IT outage, causing millions of Windows systems to crash in August. The disruption of critical services and business operations highlighted the risks associated with heavy reliance on technology. In July, Donald Trump was shot and wounded in his upper right ear by Thomas Crooks, a 20-year-old man in Pennsylvania. Crooks also killed one audience member and critically injured two others. The documentary on The Menendez Brothers was released on the streaming platform Netflix, which captured the sensational crime of murdering their parents. Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez have pleaded their case. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a public health emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on August 14, 2024, which led to a surge in search traffic. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 00:25 IST, December 30th 2024