White House trades Chinese detainees for three 'wrongfully' detained AmericansIs Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing
NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late MarchThe deadliest air accident ever in South Korea killed 179 people on Sunday when an airliner belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport. Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving from the Thai capital Bangkok with 175 passengers and six crew on board, was trying to land shortly after 9 am local time at the airport in the south of the country, South Korea's transport ministry said. Two crew members survived and were being treated for injuries. The twin-engine Boeing 737-800 was seen in local media video landing on its belly at the Muan International Airport and skidding off the runway as smoke streamed out of the engines, before crashing into a wall and exploding in flames, killing everyone on board except two crew plucked from the wreckage. "Only the tail part retains a little bit of shape, and the rest of [the plane] looks almost impossible to recognise," Muan fire chief Lee Jung-hyun told a press briefing. The two crew members, a man and a woman, were rescued from the tail section of the burning plane, Lee said. "Passengers were ejected from the aircraft after it collided with the wall, leaving little chance of survival," a local fire official told families at a briefing, according to a statement released by the fire brigade. Only two peopleboth flight attendantswere rescued from the crash, it said. "Of the 179 dead, 65 have been identified," the country's fire agency said, adding that DNA retrieval had begun. Inside the airport terminal, tearful family members gathered to wait for news. An official began calling out the names of the 65 victims, with each name triggering fresh cries of grief. All of the passengers were Korean apart from two Thais, with the youngest a three-year-old boy and the oldest a 78-year-old, authorities said. The two survivors were transferred to separate hospitals in Seoul, the Yonhap news agency reported. Bits of plane seats and luggage were strewn across the field next to the runway. Authorities combed nearby areas for bodies possibly thrown from the plane, Lee said. Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors, Lee said. The control tower had issued a bird strike warning and, shortly afterward, the pilots declared mayday and then attempted to land from the opposite direction, a transport ministry official said. A passenger texted a relative to say a bird was stuck in the wing, the News1 agency reported. The crash was the worst for any South Korean airline since a 1997 Korean Air crash in Guam that killed more than 200 people, transportation ministry data showed. The previous worst on South Korean soil was an Air China crash that killed 129 in 2002. Yonhap news agency cited airport authorities as saying a bird strike may have caused the landing gear to malfunction. Experts, however, said the bird strike report and the way the aircraft attempted to land raised more questions than answers. "A bird strike is not unusual, problems with an undercarriage are not unusual," said Airline News editor Geoffrey Thomas. "Bird strikes happen far more often, but typically they don't cause the loss of an airplane by themselves." Under global aviation rules, South Korea will lead a civil investigation into the crash and automatically involve the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States, where the plane was built. The NTSB said later it was leading a team of US investigators to help South Korea's aviation authority. Hours after the crash, family members gathered in the airport's arrival area, some crying and hugging as Red Cross volunteers handed out blankets. Many victims appeared to be residents of nearby areas returning from vacation, officials said. Families screamed and wept as a medic announced the names of victims identified by their fingerprints. Papers were circulated for families to write down their contact details. Mortuary vehicles lined up outside to take bodies away, and authorities said a temporary morgue had been established. The aircraft was manufactured in 2009, the transport ministry said. The Boeing model involved in the crash, a 737-800, is one of the world's most flown airliners with a generally strong safety record. It was developed well before the MAX variant involved in a recent Boeing safety crisis. It was the first fatal flight for Jeju Air, a low-cost airline founded in 2005 that ranks behind only Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines in terms of the number of passengers in the country. Jeju Air CEO Kim E-bae apologised for the accident, bowing deeply during a televised briefing. Kim said that the aircraft had no record of accidents and there were no early signs of malfunction, adding that the airline will cooperate with investigators and make supporting the bereaved its top priority. All domestic and international flights at the airport were cancelled after the accident, Yonhap reported. The crash site smelled of aviation fuel and blood, according to Reuters witnesses. Workers in protective suits and masks combed the area while soldiers searched through bushes. The accident happened only three weeks after Jeju Air started regular flights from Muan to Bangkok and other Asian cities on December 8. Muan International is one of South Korea's smallest airports but it has become much busier in recent years. South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok, named interim leader of the country on Friday in an ongoing political crisis, arrived at the scene of the accident and said the government was putting all its resources into dealing with the crash. Two Thai women were on the plane, aged 22 and 45, Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said. The Thai foreign ministry later confirmed both were among those killed. Thai officials said that there were no abnormal conditions when the plane took off. Both black boxesthe flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorderhave been found from the crash site, some 288 kilometres southwest of the capital Seoul, deputy transport minister Joo Jong-wan said at a briefing. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourJIMMY Carter was a former US president who was elected to office in 1976 and served in the White House from 1977 to 1981. Here’s more about the beloved 100-year-old and his remarkable life in politics and beyond. Advertisement 2 Jimmy Carter was the oldest living former US President at the age of 98 Credit: Reuters Who was Jimmy Carter and how old was he? James Earl Carter Jr – known affectionately as Jimmy – was the 39 th President of the United States, serving one term in office from 1977 to 1981. The Democrat stalwart served as a Georgia State Senator from 1963 to 1967 and as the 76th Governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975. Jimmy remained active in public life after leaving the White House. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in co-founding the Carter Center. Advertisement He paid tribute to his former Vice President Walter Mondale after his death at 93 on April 19, 2021, hailing him as "the best vice president in our country's history." Jimmy was raised in a wealthy family of peanut farmers in the southern town of Plains. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to join the US Navy where he served on the submarines. Advertisement Following his father’s death, he returned home to take over the family peanut business. As he went on to expand the business, Carter was motivated to oppose the political climate of racial segregation and support the growing civil rights movement. In the early 1960s, he became an activist within the Democratic Party and made his first foray into the world of politics. Carter was sworn in as the 76th Governor of Georgia on January 12, 1971. Advertisement He declared in his inaugural speech that "the time of racial discrimination is over. ... No poor, rural, weak, or black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity for an education, a job or simple justice." President Carter then went on to live a relatively modest life in his old two bedroom house in his Georgia hometown. He died on December, 29, 2024, in Plains, Georgia - the same spot where he was born back on October 1, 1924. Who was his Jimmy Carter's wife, Rosalynn? Jimmy’s wife Eleanor Rosalynn Carter was born on August 18, 1927, and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1977 to 1981. Advertisement The former First Lady, who was married to her husband for 75 years, was a leading advocate for numerous causes throughout her lifetime. She was politically active during her White House years, sitting in on Cabinet and policy meetings as well as serving as her husband's closest adviser. Rosalynn also served as an envoy abroad, with posts in Latin America. 2 Jimmy Carter, seen here with his wife Rosalynn, served as US President from 1977 to 1981 Credit: AFP or licensors Advertisement She and Jimmy first dated in 1945 while he was attending the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. It's believed Rosalynn had a crush on him after seeing him in his navy uniform. She agreed to marry her husband-to-be in February 1946 when she went to Annapolis with his parents. The two scheduled their marriage to take place on July 7, 1946 in Plains and kept the arrangement secret. Advertisement The couple shared four children: John William "Jack" (b. 1947), James Earl "Chip" III (b. 1950), Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff" (b. 1952), and Amy Lynn (b. 1967). Due to Jimmy's military duties, the first three were born in different parts of the country and away from Georgia. They returned to Georgia when Jimmy’s father was dying. Advertisement After purchasing their first television set, the couple became fans of the New York Yankees and claimed they never went to bed arguing with each other. Following their time in the White House, the couple established the Carter Center, a non-profit organisation in Atlanta. They were unable to attend Joe Biden's inauguration. This was the first time they have missed the ceremonies since Jimmy was sworn in as president in 1977. Advertisement Rosalynn is a member of the Center's Board of Trustees and participates in many of the Center's programs, but gives special attention to the Mental Health Program. Upon the death of Barbara Bush on April 17, 2018, 91-year-old Rosalynn became the oldest living former First Lady at the time. How did Jimmy Carter die? Jimmy Carter died on Sunday 29, December, 2024 nearly two years after going into hospice care. His official cause of death is yet to be announced but his son Chip released a heartfelt statement confirming the death of his father. Advertisement He said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. "The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” Advertisement Carter, the beloved Democrat and Nobel Peace Prize winner, had experienced several health issues in recent years including melanoma that spread to his liver and brain. In 2015, he beat brain and liver cancer , but in 2019, his health began to suffer again. Advertisement He chose hospice care over continuing medical treatment, the Carter Center announced on Saturday, February 18, 2023. AdvertisementMeta Platforms Inc META shares have been treading water for the better part of the past month. The company reported earnings at the end of October. Here’s a look at what you need to know . What To Know: Meta shares have struggled to move higher since the company reported third-quarter financial results last month. Although Meta beat analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines as revenue jumped 19% and daily actives climbed 5%, the stock faced selling pressure due to spending concerns. Meta raised its full-year 2024 capital expenditures outlook by $1 billion and said it continues to expect operating losses to “increase meaningfully” year-over-year for Reality Labs. It’s worth noting that insiders have been selling Meta shares in recent months. CEO Mark Zuckerberg , CFO Susan Li and COO Javier Olivan all sold shares in November under trading plans, with Olivan most recently selling shares on Monday, according to Benzinga data . On a positive note, Axios reported Wednesday that Meta’s Threads has added 35 million new users on the platform since Nov. 1. Micro-blogging startup Bluesky has seen users flock to the platform since Election Day, suggesting users are leaving X because of Elon Musk’s political views. Meta also appears to be a beneficiary. Check This Out: Meta, OpenAI, Orange Join Forces To Build AI Models For African Languages On the earnings call last month, Zuckerberg said Threads had over 275 million monthly active users. That number appears to be growing rapidly with Axios reporting that the app has seen more than one million daily sign-ups for three months straight. Meta aims to capitalize on the momentum. Zuckerberg on Monday said Threads is testing a new feature that will allow users to choose what they see when they open the app. Previously, Threads directed users to a default feed, but users can now choose to only see posts from accounts they follow. Meta is also set to head to trial in April after Judge James Boasberg rejected Meta’s attempted dismissal of the case and set a court date earlier this week. The Facebook parent company will face U.S. Federal Trade Commission allegations that it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to stifle competition in the social media space. META Price Action: Meta shares closed Wednesday down 0.76% at $569.20, according to Benzinga Pro . Photo: Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. People are also reading... NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. SpaceX launches rescue mission for NASA astronauts stuck at space station A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Holiday Events Calendar Nov. 27, 2024
PGA drops Vegas from next year's autumn scheduleJimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) HOGP Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) HOGP A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Chris O'Meara A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) John Raoux
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
A million dollars? For a baseball player? People could hardly believe it. In November of 1979, Nolan Ryan and the Houston Astros agreed to a four-year, $4 million agreement, making the Texas hurler the first player in MLB history to make at least a million dollars per year. Reporters and the public soon christened him “The Million Dollar Man.” It was a headline-catching, paradigm-shifting contract — evidence the sport had changed and was still changing. The advent of free agency in the 1970s, brought about by a series of player-led labor battles, sent contract values skyrocketing. Ryan and the game’s other top stars were finally being paid what they were worth. Still, the sticker shock of that big, fat, round number attached to Ryan’s name made it difficult for some fans to wrap their heads around. Oh, if they could see us now. The ink has hardly settled on Juan Soto’s with the New York Mets. It is a mammoth number, one that can grow even larger. If Soto opts out after 2029 and the Mets choose to retain him by adding $4 million to each of the final 10 years of the agreement, $765 million will turn into more than $800 million. It is a mountain peak that won’t be summited again for quite some time. Soto is, of course, generational. Also, the bidding war to earn his services was amplified by the perfect storm: . But Soto aside, the current MLB landscape is not particularly ripe with young stars hurtling toward the open market. Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Chourio and Corbin Carroll all signed lengthy extensions that will keep them from reaching free agency at a young age. There is no obvious candidate to surpass Soto. But surely, similar things were said about Ryan and that first class of baseball millionaires. The thought of a baseball player earning a billion dollars would’ve fritzed the mental circuit boards of any early-21st-century ball fan. But time rolls on, money gets more expensive, and our expectations adjust. That is to say: One day, some big leaguer will sign a $1 billion contract. Who will that be? Let’s dive down that rabbit hole and theorize irresponsibly. Soto’s contract might reach $800 million, in large part because the contract is 15 years long. Still just 26 years old, Soto’s massive payday was made possible by his notably early MLB debut at age 19. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, widely considered superior players to Soto during their own free-agent sweepstakes, received “only” $360 million and $460 million in present-day value because they hit the market at 30 and 29, respectively. It pays to be young. And so, whoever eventually crosses the nine-figure threshold will need to reach the bigs and free agency as early as possible. Unless we get massive advances in medical technology, the first billion dollar player will be a position player. Elbows are simply too fragile, pitchers too susceptible to wear and tear. If Paul Skenes wants a contract that starts with a B, he should start hitting again like he did in college. These three are grouped together because they represent a similar archetype: a very good, very young player with a mile to go before free agency. Henderson, who is 23 years old with more career bWAR compiled already than Nick Castellanos, is the best of the trio. He is also a client of agent Scott Boras, the man who negotiated Soto’s megadeal. But Henderson (1) will hit free agency two years older than Soto was and (2) doesn’t yet have Soto’s no-doubt, generational offensive track record. It’s unlikely, but he get there. For De La Cruz, also represented by Boras, the question is about his ceiling; nobody in the world offers such a tantalizing speed-power combo. But teams will certainly have concerns about how the 6-foot-6 shortstop will age. Soto’s value was entirely focused on his bat, something clubs believed wouldn’t fade over time. Merrill, who debuted this past season at 21, is on this list simply because he’s a phenomenally skilled young hitter who, barring an extension, would hit free agency entering his age-27 season. Will he be the first billion dollar player? Probably not, but again, nobody thought Soto would get $800 million when he debuted. The baby-faced Baltimore infielder thoroughly underwhelmed in his 2024 debut season. But the former No. 1 overall prospect did something massively important for this dumb exercise: He debuted at 20. That means he’ll be a free agent heading into his age-27 season. Holliday still has to, you know, develop into a generational big leaguer, but the bones are here. Caminero, born a few months before Holliday, will hit the open market in 2031, at the same time as Holliday. The Tampa Bay third baseman also showed a bit more aptitude than his division counterpart in 2024, though there’s still a long way to go before a free-agent payday. OK, follow me on this one. Nimmala, drafted 20th overall by the Blue Jays in 2023, took a huge developmental step forward in Low-A this past season. But that’s not why he’s on the list. To earn $1 billion, you have to be a financial draw. And Nimmala, who is Indian American and spent his summers as a kid visiting family in India, has a chance to break into a new market as a global superstar. Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker became the first Indian American big leaguer when he debuted in 2024, but Nimmala, currently 19, has a chance to move the needle even further, both as a position player and as a player who could get to the big leagues at a young age. In the (highly unlikely) scenario that Nimmala figures it out, becomes one of the best players in MLB and makes the world’s most populous country fall in love with baseball, well, that might be worth a billion dollars. The 18-year-old Dominican shortstop was signed by the Padres less than a year ago, but he’s already making waves. San Diego sent him to Low-A Lake Elsinore this past season, where De Vries held his own despite being the youngest player in the entire league. He struggled somewhat in the Arizona Fall League but remains an extremely exciting prospect. There’s a scenario, albeit an unlikely one, in which the Padres, who have a track record of rocketing their players up the ladder, push De Vries to the majors for some part of next season. That could make him a free agent heading into his age-24 or age-25 season — even younger than Soto. Of course, for that to matter for this exercise, he also has to be really good. Jackson’s brother and Matt’s second son is considered by many prognosticators to be the top prospect . Ethan is much bigger and more physical than his older brother, which gives him a higher power potential and makes a corner infield spot his more likely defensive home. The youngest Holliday would have to jet his way up whichever farm system he lands in, but the offensive ceiling is there. That said, probably not for a billion dollars. At the recent winter meetings, I strolled the premises asking various baseball people within organizations this billion dollar question. The most common response, a near consensus, was: We don’t know his name yet. Nearly everyone I talked to believed that the billion dollar boy is indeed already walking this earth, likely somewhere in Japan or the Dominican Republic at the moment, but the billion dollar day is too far in the distance for us to actually know anything about the human in question.There’ll be no complimentary champagne, red carpets or luxury suites as the Ducks welcome visitors from Las Vegas on Wednesday, when they’ll joust with the Golden Knights in search of their first victory in the season series. Vegas captured two prior meetings by 3-1 and 3-2 counts in 2024-25, after their title defense last season was weighed down by losses in three of four matchups with the fledgling Ducks. Frank Vatrano had four goals and six points in those games to pace the Ducks. After pounding the bottom of the ketchup bottle – he has 16 more shots on goal than any other Duck – the sauce is starting to flow for Vatrano, with four goals in his past four games following just one goal against a goalie in his other 18 outings. Last year, when he catapulted over his previous career high of 24 goals to find the twine 37 times, Vatrano wedged a goal between droughts of nine and seven contests before finishing the campaign with seven goals in four games. “Frankie was going to score eventually. He’s a scorer, and those guys go through dry spells,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “It doesn’t matter how many games you don’t score in.” All four of Vatrano’s goals featured assists by Troy Terry, who has seven helpers over that same four-game span. Terry has created a more commanding presence and assumed an even stronger leadership role this season, one in which the 27-year-old said the Ducks’ young group sometimes made him feel old. Yet Vatrano said he saw “the same player.” “As you get older, you know where you’re going to score your goals from and where you’re going to get your opportunities,” Vatrano, 30, said. “You kind of outsmart guys, knowing where you need to be, knowing where you need to break down the defense and hold onto the puck to make plays. I think it’s just him maturing, playing a lot more games and becoming a veteran in this league.” Yet Terry underwent something of a stylistic transformation offensively last season, which paid dividends as it progressed. He has continued to refine his game, balancing his ability to carry the puck confidently with trust that he’ll be able to recover dumps, chips and other conservative plays that can enable him to continue attacking. Cronin, who described the line of Vatrano, Terry and Ryan Strome as a trio that played like “a fourth line with skill,” credited the relationship Terry has with assistant coach Tim Army for some of his advances. “He’s getting a steady diet and a healthy diet of when to move (the puck) forward and when not to move it forward, to recognize when there’s an opportunity to use your creativity at the offensive blue line and when not to,” Cronin said. The scoring spree of Vatrano and Terry has been timely since Leo Carlsson sustained an upper-body injury four games ago against Seattle. He should be considered doubtful against Vegas. Defenseman Cam Fowler, who had five points against Vegas last season, is again a possibility to skate but hasn’t played since Nov. 5. Related Articles Vegas will be without a pair of rearguards, Zach Whitecloud and former Duck Ben Hutton, as well as Mark Stone, the Golden Knights’ captain and top scorer on a per-game basis. They’re led in overall points by Jack Eichel and in defensive scoring by former Duck Shea Theodore. Like the Ottawa Senators were in the Ducks’ 4-3 shootout win on Sunday, Vegas will be in the back half of games on consecutive nights after hosting the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. When: 7 p.m. Where: Honda Center How to watch: Victory+, KCOP (Ch. 13)
NASSAU, Bahamas — Javon Small scored five of his 31 points in overtime and Tucker DeVries added key free throws late in regulation and finished with 16 points as West Virginia beat No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday. Small’s layup with under 2 minutes left in OT gave West Virginia a 79-75 lead. After a Gonzaga miss, Sencire Harris hit two free throws to make it a six-point lead. With 27.1 seconds left, Harris made a steal and scored on a dunk for an eight-point lead, putting the game out of reach. Amani Hansberry scored a career-high 19 points and Toby Okani added 10 for West Virginia (3-2). Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle 16 for Gonzaga (5-1). Takeaways Gonzaga showed its depth, outscoring the West Virginia bench 30-2. West Virginia’s only loss was by 24 points at Pitt, but the rebuild under Darian DeVries is showing promise. Key moment Gonzaga turned it over at midcourt late in regulation when Tucker DeVries poked it away from Nolan Hickman and raced the other way before getting fouled. DeVries made two free throws with 5.9 seconds left to tie it at 71-all. Battle inbounded the ball and got it back, but lost control on a drive as time expired. Key stats The shorter Mountaineers outrebounded Gonzaga 42-36 and shot 50% in the second half, battling the Zags to a draw in the paint. Nembhard had 12 assists and just one turnover in 43 minutes, but was 1 of 10 from the field. Up next West Virginia will play Louisville on Thursday in the winner’s bracket. Gonzaga faces No. 14 Indiana on the consolation side.CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's two stuck astronauts just got their space mission extended again. That means they won't be back on Earth until spring — 10 months after rocketing into orbit on Boeing's Starliner capsule. NASA announced the latest delay in Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' homecoming Tuesday. The two test pilots planned to be away just a week or so when they blasted off June 5 on Boeing's first astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Their mission grew from eight days to eight months after NASA decided to send the company's problem-plagued Starliner capsule back empty in September. FILE - This image made from a NASA live stream shows NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference from the International Space Station on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (NASA via AP, File) Now the pair won't return until the end of March or even April because of a delay in launching their replacements, according to NASA. A fresh crew needs to launch before Wilmore and Williams can return and the next mission was bumped more than a month, according to the space agency. NASA's next crew of four was supposed to launch in February, followed by Wilmore and Williams' return home by the end of that month alongside two other astronauts. But SpaceX needs more time to prepare the new capsule for liftoff. That launch is now scheduled for no earlier than late March. NASA said it considered using a different SpaceX capsule to fly up the replacement crew in order to keep the flights on schedule. However, it decided the best option was to wait for the new capsule to transport the next crew. NASA prefers to have overlapping crews at the space station for a smoother transition, according to officials. Most space station missions last six months, with a few reaching a full year. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, talks to his family members as Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov looks on after leaving the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Two astronauts are beginning a mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) In this image from video provided by NASA, Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, and astronaut Nick Hague travel inside a SpaceX capsule en route to the International Space Station after launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (NASA via AP) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a crew of two lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a crew of two astronauts, lifts off from launch pad 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, left, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, left, gives a thumbs up as they leave the Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Launch Complex 40 for a mission to the International Space Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., (AP Photo/John Raoux) NASA astronaut Nick Hague, right, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to the launch pad 40 Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) The Falcon 9's first stage booster returns to Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
NASA's 2 stuck astronauts face more time in space with return delayed until at least late MarchBy JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. Related Articles On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Broncos head into bye on three-game winning streak and chasing first playoff spot since 2015 seasoniOS 18.2: Everything You Can Do With ChatGPT Integration
Dumka: Non-teaching staff of the Sidho Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) in Dumka cranked up its ongoing agitation on Wednesday by locking the main gate of the university’s headquarters and its constituent colleges. The protests have been ongoing since November 26. The protests, being staged to demand the implementation of seventh pay-scale which is allegedly due for eight years now, assured career progression (ACP) and modified assured career progression (MACP) benefits. However, the move paralysed the academic activities of postgraduate and undergraduate courses across all SKMU campuses. The deadlock began when SKMU management discontinued ACP and MACP, being paid from internal resources, citing a notification issued by human resources development (HRD) declaring it's helplessness to allocate funds against the same on the pretext of financial burden on the ex-chequer. Although the non-teaching staff union termed the move to be uncalled for, it was prompted to launch the strike demanding the implementation of at least the seventh pay-scale from internal resources until the HRD comes forward with the pay fixation of individual staffs of third and fourth categories which is pending for long. Terming the demands of the agitating staffs to be genuine, the SKMU administration has written to the Raj Bhavan seeking approval from governor-cum-chancellor Santosh Gangwar for the benefits of the seventh pay-scale to the non-teaching staffs to be paid from internal resources. Netlal Mirdha, general secretary of SKMU non-teaching employees’ union, said: “The SKMU is paying crores in various heads without seeking Raj Bhavan’s permission. This move only reflects SKMU’s apathy towards its employees.” We also published the following articles recently SKMU non-teaching staff step up protests Non-teaching staff at Sidho Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU), Dumka, locked down the university and its colleges on Wednesday, escalating their protest for the implementation of the seventh pay scale and other benefits. The strike, ongoing since November 26th, has paralyzed academic activities. Patna University classes paralysed as non-teaching staff go on strike Non-teaching staff at Patna University launched an indefinite strike on Thursday, halting academic and administrative work. Examinations at the law college proceeded after authorities opened a locked gate. BFA exams also occurred without disruption. Strikers locked university buildings Wednesday night, preventing classes. They demand compassionate appointments for dependents of deceased staff and a career promotion scheme. PU non-teaching employees strike enters 3rd day Non-teaching employees of Patna University (PU) continued their indefinite strike for a third day, disrupting academic activities and examinations. Demands include payment of revised pay scale arrears, implementation of career progression, and compassionate appointments. Talks between the university and employees have failed. The strike has locked down colleges, departments, and administrative units, leaving the campus deserted. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
12 Health Care Stocks Moving In Wednesday's Pre-Market SessionThe Gophers football program is on the verge of signing the state’s top-rated high school prospect to headline its recruiting class for a second straight year. The U hasn’t done that since 2017-18. Robbinsdale Cooper linebacker Emmanuel Karmo is set to join Minnesota when the early signing period opens Wednesday, just like Esko safety Koi Perich did a year ago. The U fought off fellow Big Ten schools in both recruiting battles. ADVERTISEMENT “It feels amazing,” Karmo told the Pioneer Press this week. “I’ve waited a long time for this.” Karmo, a four-star prospect, said his other top contenders were Wisconsin, Nebraska and, to a lesser degree, Ohio State. His more than 15 scholarship offers also included Southern California, Penn State, Oregon, with some interest from Michigan. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound athlete, who is also the U’s overall No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, played nearly everywhere in high school and committed to Minnesota in April, but that didn’t stop others from pursuing him and seeing if he would be willing to visit their campuses. “When coaches come in, they just see his build and his film speaks for itself,” said Robbinsdale Cooper head coach Tony Patterson. “The recruiting process was a little bit stressful for him. He wanted to make sure that he was making the right decision and not really basing it on when the big-time schools come in. “Some kids can get glamor and glitz in their eyes, but I think he did it his way. He spoke with his family. He made the best decision for him and his family to stay home in Minnesota.” Karmo is close with his large family, especially his mother, and was looking for a close-knit connection in a college. The Gophers weren’t among the first to offer Karmo, but he found a bond with U defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere. “He showed how invested he was in his family, and also Emmanuel as a person,” Patterson said. “So, I think that’s what drew him to Minnesota.” ADVERTISEMENT Karmo played four years on varsity and started the final three for the Class 5A school a few miles west of Minneapolis. He played everywhere — safety (as an underclassman) and linebacker/edge rusher (as upperclassman), wide receiver, tight end, running back, wildcat quarterback and punter. In 10 games as a senior, Karmo had five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns, along with 64 tackles, two sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. Other teams ran away from his side of the field, but he worked to track ball carriers down. The Hawks finished 8-2, but fell short of the state tournament. The Gophers see Karmo’s skills best translating at linebacker in college. “They told me I would be useful on third-down situations and stuff like that,” Karmo said. “They want me to come in and play early.” The Gophers nearly had the top-rated in-state recruit sign with the U in three straight classes, but Cooper defensive lineman Jaxon Howard went to Louisiana State for a year before transferring back to Minnesota. He played 118 snaps for the Gophers as a redshirt freshman this fall. Howard gave Karmo the space to make his own college decision but was instrumental in showing Karmo how to lead in high school. “He just passed down the torch when he left (Cooper),” Karmo said. “I took over and now I’m on the way.” ADVERTISEMENT Karmo, who spent part of his youth in St. Louis, said he had a “pretty rocky start” at Cooper, but began to lead by example during his junior year. “He’s invested in Cooper,” Patterson said. “... His play on the field spoke for itself, but it’s the off-the-field things that, sometimes, they get unnoticed. He’s encouraging guys, giving (car) rides to guys, making sure that the young guys understand what it means to be a Cooper Hawk.” Patterson sees Karmo as a no-nonsense worker with twitchy athleticism. “Emmanuel is a special guy. He’s one of those kids that coaches kind of just salivate over,” Patterson said. “He has all the intangibles: great GPA, smart player, size, frame. He has the ability to get even bigger, faster, stronger in college, under their weight program. “He’s one of those guys that just show up and go to work, no complaints about anything. He doesn’t have kind of a look-at-me attitude; he wants a team to succeed. This year I saw that, putting the team on his back and trying to do everything in his power to have us reach that next level.” ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .