d'lucky ones
World number one Luke Humphries continued his bid for back-to-back World Championship titles after easing through to the last 16. While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE KICKS ON! Luke Humphries comfortably books his spot in the Last 16 with a 4-0 whitewash victory over Nick Kenny, averaging 98.59! 📺 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥 UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯 Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. PRICE WINS A THRILLER! That might just be the game of the tournament so far! 💥 Gerwyn Price manages to break the Rockstars throw in the final leg of the game, and beats Joe Cullen 4-3 and books his place in the Last 16! 📺 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.
Space exploration's most stunning photos in 2024 READ MORE: Shocking truth about the most iconic photos from space revealed By ELLYN LAPOINTE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 14:39 EST, 27 December 2024 | Updated: 14:58 EST, 27 December 2024 e-mail View comments This year was historic for space research and exploration, and we have the photos to prove it. In 2024, rare astronomical events captured the attention of sky watchers across the US, including a total solar eclipse , aurora that stretched as far south as Florida and striking meteor showers . There were stunning accomplishments in the world of spaceflight, too. SpaceX performed the first commercial spacewalk and caught a giant rocket with a pair of 'chopstick' arms , NASA completed the first flight of an aircraft on Mars , and International Space Station astronauts beamed amazing images back to Earth . Telescopes in space and on Earth snapped some incredible shots too, capturing stars, other planets and even entire galaxies in unprecedented detail. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and European Southern Observatory (ESO) are just a few of the highly-sophisticated imaging instruments that changed our understanding of the universe this year. Below, DailyMail.com highlights some of 2024's most jaw-dropping space photos. Star-forming region NGC 604 JWST captured this near-infrared view of the star-forming region NGC 604, which sits in the Triangulum galaxy 2.7 million light-years from Earth JWST 's NIRcam instrument is a powerful near-infrared camera that can capture images of distant nebulae in astonishing detail. This year, the telescope snapped this photo of the star-forming nebula known as NGC 604. This enormous cloud of gas and dust is located 2.7 million light-years from Earth in the Triangulum galaxy. Stretching almost 1,500 light-years across, NGC 604 is nearly 100 times larger than the Orion Nebula in our own galaxy. NHC 604 contains more than 200 hot, massive young stars — significantly more than the Orion Nebula's four. This JWST image shows the nebula's arms of gas and dust, which serve as a nursery for young, still-forming stars. Starlink satellites captured by ISS astronaut Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut aboard the ISS, shared this photo he took in November, which shows Starlink satellites streaking by In November, NASA astronaut Don Pettit shared this image taken from the ISS, which shows Starlink satellites streaking by. In a post on X , Pettit compared the satellites to 'a miniature version of the monolith from '2001: A Space Odyssey', where the large flat face of the monolith points towards earth and the solar panel protrudes outward like the fin on the back of a Dimetrodon.' He described the image, saying: 'Compared to the well-defined streaks from star trails, this time exposure shows wonky streaks flashing ISS. 'These are Starlink satellites reflecting pre-dusk or pre-dawn sunlight off their solar panels. They are only seen from 5 to 18 degrees preceding or trailing the sun. 'They create bright flashes, perhaps lasting for a few seconds each due to the orientation of their outward pointing solar panels.' Pettit is well-known for his orbital astrophotography, which he creates from the unique vantage point of the ISS. SpaceX's 'chopsticks' rocket catch SpaceX achieved a historic spaceflight maneuver this year when the Mechazilla launch tower's 'chopstick' arms caught the Super Heavy booster in mid-air, executing a bull's eye landing Elon Musk's SpaceX made spaceflight history in October with the successful execution of a 'chopstick' maneuver. It was the fifth time the spaceflight company launched its 400-foot-tall Starship rocket, but this launch was anything but routine. In a world's first, SpaceX aimed to return the rocket's Super Heavy booster directly to its launch mount, snatching it out of mid-air with a pair of 'chopstick' arms attached to the launch tower. Just seven minutes after liftoff, Super Heavy executed a bull's eye landing, hovering near the 'Mechazilla' launch tower as the metal arms caught it. The bold, historic maneuver marked a major achievement for SpaceX and the spaceflight industry at large. 'Are you kidding me?' SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot added from the launch site following the event. 'Even in this day and age, what we just saw — that looked like magic.' Supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* In 2024, astronomers captured the first image of the polarized light and magnetic fields that surround Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way This year, astronomers captured the first image of the polarized light and magnetic fields that surround Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole that sits at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. This image was made using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global network of radio telescopes that can observe a supermassive black hole's event horizon, or the boundary where the velocity needed to escape exceeds the speed of light. At just 26,000 light years from Earth, Sagittarius A* is one of very few black holes in the universe where astronomers can actually observe the flow of matter around it. This historic image provides the first direct visual evidence of this supermassive black hole's existence. Although we cannot see the black hole itself — as it is completely dark — the glowing whirls of gas around it reveal a telltale signature: a dark central region (or 'shadow') surrounded by a bright ring-like structure. The image therefore shows light bent by the black hole's extreme gravity. HP Tau: An infant star The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of the infant star HP Tau this year, located 550 light-years from Earth The Hubble Space Telescope snapped this stunning photo of the infant star HP Tau this year. HP Tau is located roughly 550 light-years from Earth in the constellation Taurus. At just 10million years old, it is the youngest among its neighbors. It can be seen at the top of a trio of stars captured in this Hubble image. These three stars reside within a hollow cavity in a huge cloud of gas and dust, 'looking like a glittering cosmic geode,' as NASA described it. HP Tau is a T Tauri star, a type of young variable star that has not begun nuclear fusion yet, but will eventually evolve into a hydrogen-fueled star similar to our sun, according to NASA. At 4.6 billion years old, our sun is far older than this infant. First-ever commercial spacewalk Tech billionaire and SpaceX astronaut Jared Isaacman made history when he emerged from the Polaris Dawn capsule to complete the first civilian spacewalk In September, SpaceX's Polaris Dawn crew made history by executing the first privately-funded spacewalk. The achievement marked a major milestone for the commercial spaceflight industry, of which SpaceX is a key leader. In this image, tech billionaire and Polaris Dawn mission commander Jared Isaacman can be seen emerging from the Crew Dragon capsule 434 miles above Earth's surface as the sun rises over the eastern portion of the US. He spent 12 minutes testing the mobility and functionality of SpaceX's new extravehicular activity (EVA) suits, which had never been used in space before. After Isaacman retreated back into the capsule, Polaris Dawn mission specialist Sarah Gillis, emerged and performed the same EVA test maneuvers. 'Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do,' said Isaacman as he looked down at our planet. 'But from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world.' 'Doomed' star Eta Carinae The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of the unusual nebula that surrounds Eta Carinae, a star that is likely to explode at any time This 2024 image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope brings out details in the unusual nebula that surrounds Eta Carinae, a star that may be about to explode. Scientists aren't sure exactly when this explosion could occur. According to NASA, it could be next year, or it could be a million years from now. But when it does blow, it will likely cause a supernova — the biggest type of explosion known to man. Eta Carinae is about 100 times more massive than our sun. Located 7,500 light-years away in the Keyhole nebula, its violent death would not impact Earth. But still, Hubble has been monitoring Eta Carinae for the last 25 years, waiting for it to explode. In this image, two distinct lobes of the surrounding Homunculus Nebula encompass the hot central region, while some 'strange' radial streaks are visible in red extending toward the right, according to NASA. Total solar eclipse On April 8, skywatchers in 15 US states witnessed a total solar eclipse On April 8, millions of Americans looked up at the sky in unison to witness a total solar eclipse. All of North America experienced at least a partial solar eclipse. But 15 US states from Texas to Maine were in the 115-mile-wide path of totality, which also stretched through Canada and Mexico. In this area, spectators experienced several minutes of near-total darkness as the sun disappeared behind the moon's shadow. Images of the eclipse were shared widely on social media, including this one which shows solar prominences erupting from the sun's surface - the squiggly red lines that appear to be jetting out from the perimeter of the sun. Solar prominences are eruptions of solar plasma, a hot gas made of electrically charged hydrogen and helium. US sees far-reaching aurora The aurora borealis is typically only seen at northern latitudes. But in October, this dazzling light display stretched as far south as Florida In an extremely rare event, the aurora borealis — also known as the northern lights — stretched as far south as Key Largo, Florida in October. The dazzling light display was triggered by a severe geomagnetic storm, or a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere that occurs when an outburst of solar radiation impacts out planet. This storm was a G5, the most severe class of geomagnetic storm. Aurora were visible at much lower latitudes than usual, with spectators sharing images from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and other southern states. Perseid meteor shower This long exposure photo shows the Perseid meteor shower over Osijek, Croatia on August 11 In August, the Perseid meteor shower streaked across the night sky, allowing stargazers to capture striking long-exposure photos like this one taken in Osijek, Croatia. The Perseid meteor shower occurs annually, and is considered the best meteor shower of the year. It can produce 50 to 100 shooting stars per hour, which frequently leave long 'wakes' of light and color behind them, according to NASA. This meteor shower results from the Earth passing through debris, or bits of ice and rock, left in the wake of the comet Swift Tuttle, which last passed close to Earth in 1992. The peak of the shower is from August 11 through 12, when our planet travels through the densest part of this debris trail. Share or comment on this article: Space exploration's most stunning photos in 2024 e-mail Add comment
The Chicago Bulls, mired in a three-game losing skid, welcome the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday for the second matchup between the Central Division counterparts in six days. Milwaukee returns to Chicago for the second time this week, having routed the Bulls 112-91 on Monday despite missing All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton picked up the slack, each posting 21 points with NBA scoring leader Antetokounmpo sidelined with an illness. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot talks up ‘special player’ Mohamed SalahOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Davina McCall's partner, Michael Douglas, revealed when the presenter will be returning to TV sreens after undergoing brain surgery. The Masked Singer judge recently underwent a gruelling six-hour operation to remove a 14mm benign brain tumour earlier this month, which she discovered during a health scan in the summer while giving a talk for a menopause company. This week, Davina shared a video for the first time since the surgery and admitted it has been "bad" but that she was grateful to be at home with Michael and her stepmum looking after her. Following the operation, Davina explained how she was struggling with her short term memory but remained positive that she can "work on it". In a recent Instagram Live, Michael - who she has dated since 2019 - discussed when the presenter will be returning to our screens, reports the Mirror. Michael said: " She's quite tired at the moment. She sleeps really well at night and goes to bed at ten and has nap in the morning, and sleeps for two or three hours in the afternoon." He further explained: "It's the way your brain heals is by resting. Her body is naturally forcing her to rest... She's off till mid January. She's got a lot of time to relax and recuperate. It's been a very very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We're definitely out of the woods." The diagnosis came as a huge shock to the Masked Singer judge , who admitted she went in for a health scan and thought she was "ace it". Davina made the shock announcement earlier this month and said: "I was offered a health scan which I thought i was going to ace but it turned out i had benign brain tumour," before admitting it was "very rare". “I’m going to be in hospital for about nine days, and then I’m going to be going home, but I’m going to be off my phone for a while," she said. Michael took over her social media to provide fans with updates on her health. She recently returned to her page to thank fans for their support and added: "It’s just really nice to be back home. I’m on the other side. My short term memory is a bit remiss. But that is something that I can work on so I’m really happy about that. I’m writing everything I’m doing to keep myself feeling safe. "I'm being brilliantly looked after by Michael and my mum. I'd quickly like to say big up the stepmums - I don't really say thank you to Gabby [McCall] enough. She's been an amazing rock my whole life. I have a massive dose of vitamin G. When something like this happens I just feel so grateful. I've always been grateful, I've always been lucky in my life. "I feel unbelievably grateful in my life right now, so thanks for everything. I’m on the mend, I'm resting, I'm sleeping loads and I feel really good. I just feel very lucky." Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile , select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. 🎯 — Arsenal (@Arsenal) Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Three points that take Arsenal into second 🪜 — Premier League (@premierleague) Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Just over an hour on the clock. — IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.Netanyahu's office says his security Cabinet has approved ceasefire deal with Hezbollah
After a rough start to the 2024-25 season, the , according to ESPN's Shams Charania. Assistant coach Doug Christie is expected to take over as interim coach. The timing of Brown's firing was especially brutal, as , according to a report from KXTV sports anchor Matt George. Per George, Brown held practice on Friday morning and had spoken to the media for 15 minutes prior to his firing. Brown, who previously coached two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and for the Los Angeles Lakers, was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2023, his second time winning the award. However, Sacramento is off to a 13-18 start this season and is in the midst of a five-game losing streak while also dropping 12 of its last 17. Since leading the Kings to a first-round playoff exit in his first season in 2022-23, Brown's team missed the postseason with a loss in the play-in round last season.
Big Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: Game of the week This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. The undercard This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Impact players Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Inside the numbers Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Now don't get upset Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin.It took a long time, but Victorian MP Georgie Purcell speaks openly about her past. As a former stripper, and now an advocate for sex workers’ rights in Victoria and nationwide, she knows firsthand just how harmful stigmas and stereotypes around sex work can be. Purcell also knows firsthand the power of normalising the conversation about sex work. And since recent legislation in Belgium granting sex workers greater labour rights came into effect, she hopes it will make a difference in Australia. “I was absolutely stoked to see the news coming out of Belgium,” Purcell told . “I think it’s a really good example of how, when we normalise sex work and treat is as any other job, we can make progress.” Legal experts and advocates for sex work say that Belgium has set a strong standard for other countries to follow in terms of employment rights. But what is holding progress back the most around the world – especially in Australia – is discrimination against sex workers. While sex work has been decriminalised in most states and territories in Australia, the “hangover” of criminalisation means sex workers continue to be discriminated against and treated differently to any other worker in any other industry. “We don’t criticise other people who use their bodies for labour, such as construction workers or tradies, and that’s exactly what sex workers are doing,” Purcell says. “And they deserve to have the same rights as any other worker around the country.” What happened in Belgium? On Sunday, new laws came into effect that will grant sex workers in Belgium a raft of labour rights they previously were not entitled to. Sex work in Belgium has been legal since it was decriminalised in 2022, but employees in the industry lacked several labour rights that other industries have access to. Under the new legislation, sex workers will be eligible to sign formal employment contracts, which will give them access to benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, maternity benefits, unemployment support and pensions. There will also be stricter rules for employers in the industry to follow, including working hours, pay and implementing safety measures like clean linens, condoms, hygiene products and emergency buttons in workspaces. Isabelle Jaramillo is the coordinator of Espace P and was heavily involved in the advocacy and drafting of the laws. Speaking to the , she described the legislation as an “incredible step forward”. “It means their profession can finally be recognised as legitimate by the Belgian state,” Jaramillo said. “From the employer’s perspective, this will also be a revolution. They’ll have to apply for a state authorisation to hire sex workers. “Under the previous legislation, hiring someone for sex work automatically made you a pimp, even if the arrangement was consensual. Now, they’ll have to apply for state authorisation to hire employees.” Emily Smith is a Senior Lawyer at Southside Justice, a free legal service for people on low incomes in Melbourne’s south. As far as she knows, the legislation in Belgium confers “unprecedented workplace and social protections to sex workers”. But how effective this legislation will be in breaking down stigmas and stereotypes depends on how the law is socialised and enforced. “Though, Belgium is setting a great example of sex work being treated like any other industry when it comes to worker entitlements and protections,” Smith says. What about in Australia? Sex work has been decriminalised in NSW, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland. In the ACT, sex work is legal but regulated, while in Western Australia and Tasmania, it is partially criminalised. Sex work is fully criminalised in South Australia. Most sex workers in Australia work as sole traders or as independent contractors – similar to professions like GPs and personal trainers. As Mish Pony, the CEO of Scarlet Alliance (the Australian Sex Workers Association) explains, legislation mirroring Belgium’s new laws wouldn’t necessarily translate to the Australian sex work context. “Independent contractors in Australia generally don’t have access to sick leave, annual leave, maternity leave, unfair dismissal,” Pony says, “but they generally still have access to work health and safety protections and some industrial protections. “There have been recent reforms that allow independent contractors to take unfair contract terms to the Fair Work Commission which is a good step to improving the rights of independent contractors.” But these steps, while important and progressive, don’t mark the end of the line for progress. Emily Smith from Southside Justice said there is still an “imbalance of power” between sex service premises owners/operators/managers and individual sex workers. “Sex workers are rarely employees, and instead told they are independent contractors for which no employee entitlements or protections are afforded,” Smith said. “Sham contracting can be challenged in a federal court, but sex workers need access to timely legal assistance in order to do so.” Meanwhile, Georgie Purcell MP in the Victorian parliament, alongside other crossbenchers and independents, is still fighting for better rights and working conditions for sex workers. Despite Victoria decriminalising sex work in 2022, Purcell says the rollout of this has been limited, with many sex workers finding themselves with “no where to turn” if they feel unsafe at work, or unsure of their working rights. “Decriminalisation is simply not enough,” Purcell says. “It’s a good starting point, and we’ve done that here in Victoria, but for the most part, it can still be an insecure job, and it can be an unsafe job. “I think any change in legislation in the space of sex work that improves their safety and their right to work is a really good thing, because it not only protects them, but it introduces a conversation into the pubic domain, and we know that the more this is spoken about, the more normalised it is. “I’m really frustrated by the conversation in the Victorian parliament, because it seems for many politicians, this conversation either makes them uncomfortable or they’re opposed to it.” Emily Smith from Southside Justice describes this opposition and discomfort around the sex work industry as a “hangover” from criminalisation, which was overturned in Victoria only in the last couple of years. “Sex workers in Victoria continue to experience a hangover from criminalisation of stigma, prejudice and discrimination in the community and in public services preventing full and safe accessibility,” Smith said. ‘Sex workers are ordinary people’ In October this year, a sex worker in Melbourne was from her home after a flyer alerting neighbours of her line of work resulted in a complaint to the council, a subsequent investigation, and a termination of her rental agreement with her landlord. It’s not just housing insecurity sex workers face – in many cases, their lives are at risk. Yet stigma and stereotypes result in serious injustice for women killed in the sex work industry. Last month, 24-year-old Xiaozheng Lin to plead guilty to two charges of manslaughter, just one month before he was supposed to face a double-murder trial. He is charged with the deaths of Yuqi Luo, 31, and Hyun Sook Jeon, 51 – two sex workers he killed within days of one another. Purcell says cases like these serve not just as a “warning sign” about the dangers of stigmas, but as “an indication that we can and must do better”. “By introducing regular working rights and regular working conditions that most other workers already have access to, it helps to show sex work for what it really is – it’s like any other job,” Purcell says. “Sex workers are just ordinary people. Someone you know and someone you love is or was a sex worker.”
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SAN ANTONIO – An all-star team could be cobbled together with the college football players who have opted out of bowl games this season. Meanwhile, a pair of teams full of their own stars will hit the field on Saturday when No. 20 Colorado (9-3) battles No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome (5:30 p.m. MT, ABC). During a time when top players often skip bowls, the Alamo Bowl could be one of the most competitive non-College Football Playoff games because of the talent that has remained at CU and BYU. “All his kids are playing,” CU head coach Deion Sanders said as he sat next to BYU head coach Kalani Sitake for a press conference on Friday. “All our kids are playing. We’re going to play our toughest, our hardest. This is a game. This is not just a routine. This is a game that both of us want to win. So we’re taking it serious because we were predicted not to be here by some of you wonderful folks.” Both teams have lost players to the transfer portal since the end of the regular season, but only two starters between them: CU linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green (transferring to Alabama) and BYU safety Crew Wakley (uncommitted). The focus this week hasn’t been on players opting out, but rather players who have committed to play. All of CU’s stars, including Heisman Trophy-winning cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders are playing. So are BYU’s top players, including defensive end Tyler Batty, cornerback Jakob Robinson and receiver Chase Roberts. “We are plenty excited to be here,” BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff said. “Obviously being as big of a stage as it is, primetime and playing against a good team that draws a lot of media attention, we are excited to show what we’ve got.” Projected by many as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders has as much reason as anyone to skip this one, but that thought never entered his mind. “We may not ever have a chance to play again together on the same team, so it’s about cherishing the moment,” Shedeur said. “It’s about knowing this is the final collegiate game, and each and every game we left it all out there. There’s no regret. I don’t ever want to go anywhere with regret.” Coach Prime and Sitake both said it’s important to them to take this game seriously, in part because both programs went through a lot to get here. A year ago, both were losing teams and they came into this year projected near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, CU at 11th and BYU at 13th. The Buffs and Cougars were among the biggest surprises in the Big 12, along with conference champion Arizona State, which was picked last but will play in the CFP quarterfinals. “Maybe because neither of us was supposed to be here,” Coach Prime said when asked why it’s important to take this game seriously. “We were supposed to be in the crib right now, focused on recruiting, focused on improving our rosters, but nevertheless we’re here. Not only that, but nevertheless, we’re a few plays away from playing in another week or so (in the CFP). “So we know what we have, and we’re happy about it, and we’re not going to take this for granted. This is a blessing, man. When you’re on the outside of this stuff and you’re looking in, you want to get there. ... Then you get to a bowl and you gonna sit there and act ignorant like you don’t want to play or something? You know how many people wish they could be in our situation? So we’re going to take full advantage of it.” Sitake agrees, while also adding that the teams owe it to their fans who have come to San Antonio in full force to celebrate the success of both teams. “The pageantry of it all, it’s a lot of fun,” Sitake said. “I think we sit there and think that it’s only the players and the team benefit from it, the coaches, but the fans do, too. ... We’re forgetting the fans are a part of this, too. We plan on seeing all our fans in the stadium tomorrow. They’re enjoying all of it, and I speak for Deion with this, we love seeing our fans happy, so that’s a big part of why we’re at where we’re at.” Of course, there’s one other big and simple reason why BYU and CU are taking this game seriously. “Watching Colorado, they love to play football, and so do we,” Sitake said. “When it’s all said and done, it’s a game of football, and if nobody showed up, and if there are no cameras there, we would still play, because these guys love to play the game on both sides, and we’re looking forward to it.”Need a New Rhythm Game in Your Life? May I Introduce You to ‘Taiko No Tatsujin’
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My contact with Manmohan Singh goes back to the end of the 1960s when both of us were in New York. He was in the United Nations and I was teaching at New York University. Later on, we started working together in the mid-1980s when he was governor of the Reserve Bank of India and I was a deputy governor. If you look at his entire career, three important qualities stand out. One is vision, the other is courage and the third is humility. Ideas are needed to move the system forward, but you must have vision. Adequate vision must be supplemented by courage, which we saw in the early 1990s. The most important aspect of Dr Singh's actions is the exhibition of both ideas and implementation. The reforms introduced in the early 1990s, and the subsequent actions that he took in the period when he was PM, all indicate this combination of ideas and implementation. We worked together and there was an exchange of ideas. Even when we differed, we did so politely. He tried to take everybody along with him, and he gave the freedom to discuss freely. Finally, a conclusion was reached in which everybody agreed. There were occasions when we differed. But that did not come in the way of executing the ideas. There was also the quality of humility in him, which was extraordinary. For a person who held such important positions, he never rode roughshod over anybody. For example, in bringing to an end the system of issuing ad-hoc treasury bills, when I mentioned to him how this system acted a way that it resulted in the automatic monetisation of the fiscal deficit, he heard me out and then agreed, even though I did not expect he would agree to it that quickly. But he did, because when he saw the logic, he tried to follow it and implement whatever suggestion was made. Bringing the issue of these bills to an end could result in the cost of govt borrowing going up. But he was willing to bear it because the underlying principle was correct. Again, when we moved from the system of dual exchange rate to a system in which the market fully determined the exchange rate, there were many arguments against the move. There were suggestions that we move slowly. But when I discussed it with him, we decided that it was better to move in one step. He once again saw the benefit that comes from a particular action and immediately agreed to implement it. What he cared for is the benefit to the nation, benefit to society. If that demanded a particular action, he would take that action immediately. On The 1991 Devaluation: Originally, a decision was taken to devalue the rupee in two stages. I was in charge of announcing the exchange rate and made the first move. Before the second move could be made, there were some concerns whether we should devalue the rupee to such an extent. We had discussed the problem thoroughly and a conclusion had been reached and was also communicated to the President. But then the Prime Minister (PV Narasimha Rao) had some concerns on going ahead with the second step. Dr Singh said he would get in touch with me but then he went on saying that he was not able to reach me. By the time he reached me, I'd already "jumped the step". If he had backed down at that time, it would have reflected badly on India. Our ability to borrow in the market would have been hindered as it would have been seen as our unwillingness to take appropriate action. When the decision to devalue the rupee was taken, Dr Singh wrote a cheque and asked for it to be credited to the PM's Relief Fund. The amount represented difference in rupee value of his assets abroad following the devaluation. That showed how he was not willing to benefit by any decision personally. That shows the man's character, that his integrity was beyond question. He certainly managed the system both as the FM and the PM very well. History will remember him as one of the ablest PMs. Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, India had a growth rate in excess of 9%, which is outstanding. He will be remembered for ushering in efficiency in the system. That is what compelled him to move towards a competitive system. That is an important lesson for a country like India because if we really want to be able to compete in the world, let us say through exports, then efficiency becomes critically important. Without an efficient economic system, we cannot do it. As told to Surojit Gupta Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Five things to know about QB Brandon Allen, the 49ers’ starter against the Packers this weekendNone
OAHU, Hawaii -- The long-awaited sequel "Moana 2" takes place a few years after the original, even if it's been eight years in real life! The film's leading lady, Auli'i Cravalho, is back in the role that made her a star. She was a teenager the first time around. She just turned 24 last week. "It feels like coming home, getting to play this character again. And I've missed her, truly," said Cravalho. The young star said she hears differences in her voice now that she's older and she sees differences in the animation with all the latest technology at play. However, one thing remains the same. "I feel so grateful to have a film where our heroine is a young woman of Pacific Island descent," Cravalho said. "We have such Polynesian pride from across all of these islands." In "Moana 2," our young heroine is three years older, and wiser, than when we first met her. She's tasked with leading a dangerous but important journey for her people after receiving an unexpected call from her ancestors. "This Polynesian history is a source of pride for all of us. To see it on the big screen means the world," Cravalho said. "Moana 2" is rated PG and hits theaters Wednesday, Nov. 27.EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring Sunday in a 30-27 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears. The move announced Tuesday means that Pace must miss at least the Vikings next four games. The Vikings also activated outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy from injured reserve and signed linebacker Jamin Davis off the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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