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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential power. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. “We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.” Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. “The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.Top 10 Japanese News Stories Of 2024
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (AP) — Josh Dilling’s 22 points helped Northern Kentucky defeat Norfolk State 71-62 on Sunday. Dilling also had five rebounds for the Norse (5-6, 1-0 Horizon League). Sam Vinson added 21 points while going 4 of 5 and 13 of 15 from the free-throw line while they also had five assists and three steals. LJ Wells finished 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 10 points. Brian Moore Jr. led the Spartans (6-6) in scoring, finishing with 12 points and two steals. Terrance Jones added 12 points for Norfolk State. Kuluel Mading also had 12 points. Northern Kentucky plays Wednesday against Detroit Mercy at home, and Norfolk State takes on Alabama State on Thursday. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Mahakumbh 2025, a celebration of Sanatan culture, will unfold in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 117th episode of his Mann Ki Baat radio program, highlighted the event's spiritual grandeur and cultural significance, calling it 'Ekta Ka Mahakumbh'. He shared his excitement about the extensive preparations along the Sangam's banks, recalling his recent aerial survey of the Kumbh area, which left him awestruck by its vastness, beauty, and magnificence. PM Modi emphasized the event's unifying message: "Mahakumbh’s essence lies in ‘Ek Ho Pura Desh,’ and the uninterrupted flow of the Ganga symbolizes a united society.” He, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, extended an open invitation to devotees from India and around the globe to partake in the spiritual festivity. Under the guidance of PM Modi and led by CM Yogi, preparations for Mahakumbh 2025 have reached their final stage. With significant enhancements over the 2019 Kumbh, this edition will feature expanded fairgrounds and improved facilities for pilgrims. CM Yogi, personally steering the ‘Ek Ho Pura Desh,’ campaign, has visited Prayagraj four times in December alone to ensure seamless progress in the arrangements. In 'Mann Ki Baat,' the Prime Minister remarked that the uniqueness of the Mahakumbh lies not only in its vastness but also in its diversity. He highlighted that millions of people gather for this grand event, including thousands of saints, numerous traditions, hundreds of sects, and several Akharas. He also emphasized that the Mahakumbh reflects a society free from discrimination, where no one is considered superior or inferior. “This year’s Mahakumbh will further strengthen the mantra of unity," the Prime Minister said. He urged all Kumbh participants to take the pledge of unity and commit to eliminating division and hatred from society. The Prime Minister stated that this time, devotees from across the country and the world, will also witness a digital Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. With the help of digital navigation, visitors will be guided to various ghats, temples, and saints’ Akharas, as well as parking areas. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be utilized during the Mahakumbh, providing information related to the event in 11 Indian languages. This chatbot will allow users to seek assistance by typing or speaking their queries. The fair ground will be monitored by AI-powered cameras, which will also assist in locating anyone who gets separated from their group. Devotees will have access to a digital lost-and-found centre as well. Additionally, information about government-approved tour packages, accommodations, and homestays will be provided directly to visitors on their mobile devices. The Prime Minister encouraged all attendees to take full advantage of these facilities and share their experiences by uploading selfies with the hashtag #EktaKaMahakumbh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally taken charge of overseeing the Mahakumbh preparations. He is regularly visiting Prayagraj to inspect the ongoing arrangements and review the progress of the work. Under his directives, all tasks within the fairgrounds are set to be completed by January 5. CM Yogi's proactive approach toward the preparations is evident from his frequent visits to Prayagraj in December. During the month, he visited the city four times—on December 7, 12, 13, and 23—to assess and ensure the readiness of the arrangements. The Chief Minister is personally extending invitations for the Mahakumbh to prominent figures. On Saturday in Delhi, the Chief Minister met with former President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister and BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, and Mizoram Governor General VK Singh inviting them to the grand event. Additionally, ministers from the Yogi government have travelled to other states to invite Chief Ministers, Governors, and other dignitaries to participate in the Mahakumbh. PM Modi and CM Yogi extend invitation to devotees worldwide Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have invited devotees from across the state, nation, and the world to participate in 'Mahakumbh 2025.' Following the Prime Minister’s remarks in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program, the Chief Minister shared a post on ‘X.’ The Chief Minister wrote: ‘Maha Kumbh Ka Sandesh Ek ho Pura Desh’ ‘Ganga Ki Aviral Dhara Naah Bate Samaj Hamara’. He highlighted that PM Modi, during 'Mann Ki Baat,' had called upon 140 crore Indians to unite and experience the divine, grand, and digital Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. He also urged devotees to become witnesses to this spiritual 'Amrit Kaal' and share their experience by uploading selfies with the hashtag #Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh on social media.
“One of the major problems we have faced in Nigeria as a filmmaking industry has been funding,” said Ini Edo, star and co-producer of Nigerian Netflix series Shanty Town . “So, the success of [ Shanty Town ] really made people in the private sector start to realize that this can actually be a commercial success, and this is a business worth investing in and...we can actually get global acceptability.” Stepping into Deadline’s Red Sea Studio in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Nollywood star said that the experience of making Shanty Town , which is now Netflix Africa’s most watched Nigerian drama on the streamer, was “pretty intense...and something, perhaps for us, that had never been done before.” The series, which was co-produced with Chichi Nworah, also stars Chidi Mokeme, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bellow and Ali Nuhu and more. It follows a group of courtesans attempts to escape the grasp of a notorious kingpin, but political corruption and blood ties make freedom a near-impossible goal. It ended up sitting in the Top 10 in 8 countries, including the UK. “I think the originality of the story was a driving factor and also, we did a lot of upscaling with the technical quality of the [series],” she said. “We took very special interest in the cinematography, the sound, the scoring and it was a story that resonated a lot with the times that we filmed it. It did also touch on a lot of social vices and what we’re dealing with presently in the continent as Africans and even the world at large.” Edo continued: “The subject of the story is something that a lot of other countries could relate to because those were the ills that were happening in society at the time and are still happening. It just really shed light on the underworld as much as you’re trying to drive the original narrative of the Nigerian story.” She admits the project has caused “investors to open up some more” in the industry and said that Nigeria’s government is “taking us more seriously and has started paying attention to the industry.” Edo also talked about her latest projects, which includes upcoming Christmas comedy One Night Guests so for more on that news, check out the full interview above.Syrian rebels quickly advance on Damascus
HOUSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 27 points before being one of six people ejected after a fight in the final minute of the Miami Heat’s 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Herro was thrown to the ground by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson with 35 seconds left and the Heat leading 99-94. Players and coaches from both benches then came onto the court. Both players were thrown out along with Rockets guard Jalen Green, coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Terry Rozier was also ejected for Miami. Houston led 92-85 after Fred VanVleet’s layup with 8:10 to play, but the Rockets missed their next 11 shots, allowing Miami to tie the game when Herro found Haywood Highsmith for a 3-pointer with 4:47 to play. Herro’s jumper with 1:56 to play put the Heat on top for good. MAGIC 102, NETS 101 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cole Anthony drove for a layup with 0.2 seconds left to complete Orlando's 17-point fourth-quarter comeback in a win over Brooklyn. Cam Thomas missed a jumper from the corner at the final horn. Anthony scored 10, and Tristan da Silva scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter for Orlando, which was down 71-51 midway through the third quarter. Goga Bitadze added 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Magic’s comeback was their second in eight days after Orlando rallied from 25 points down to beat Miami 121-114 on Dec. 21. Thomas came off the bench with 25 points to lead the Nets in his first game since Nov. 25. Jalen Wilson added 16 points including two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. Thomas, Brooklyn’s leading scorer with 24.7 points per game, played 25 minutes after missing 13 games with a strained left hamstring. PACERS 123, CELTICS 114 BOSTON (AP) — Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points and Indiana rebounded from a 37-point loss to Boston two nights earlier by winning the rematch. Andrew Nembhard, who returned after missing Friday’s game with tendinitis in his left knee, added 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Pacers. Pascal Siakam chipped in with 17 points and Bennedict Mathurin had 14. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 31 points and six assists. Jayson Tatum had 22 points, nine boards and six assists. Payton Pritchard added 21 points and Derrick White scored 17. The Celtics lost their sixth game at home already this season. Last season, they went 37-4 at TD Garden during the regular season and 9-2 in the playoffs en route to the NBA championship. HAWKS 136, RAPTORS 107 TORONTO (AP) — Trae Young had 34 points and 10 assists, De’Andre Hunter scored 22 points and Atlanta routed Toronto for their fourth straight win. Clint Capela had 11 points and 13 rebounds as the Hawks opened a six-game trip by handing the reeling Raptors their 10th consecutive loss. Scottie Barnes scored 19 points and RJ Barrett had 17, but the Raptors fell behind by more than 30 points and allowed more than 130 for the second straight game. Toronto gave up a franchise-worst 155 points in Thursday’s loss at Memphis. Young shot 7 for 13 from 3-point range, singlehandedly making as many shots from distance than the entire Raptors team, who combined to go 7 for 24. Toronto’s Bruce Brown made his season debut after sitting out the first 31 games recovering from right knee surgery. Brown soared for a one-handed dunk for his first points shortly after entering the game in the first quarter. He finished with 12 points in 19 minutes. THUNDER 130, GRIZZLIES 106 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points and Oklahoma City won their 11th straight game, beating short-handed Memphis in a matchup of Western Conference leaders that turned lopsided before halftime. Rookie Ajay Mitchell scored 17 points, Aaron Wiggins contributed 16 and Jalen Williams added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder (26-5), who opened a five-game lead over second-place Memphis. Gilgeous-Alexander made 14 of 19 shots to go along with seven assists, six rebounds and a team-high four blocks. He sat most of the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City blocked nine shots, including three by center Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder led 76-50 at halftime behind 23 points from Gilgeous-Alexander and 12 each from Mitchell and Kenrich Williams, who combined to go 5 for 7 on 3-point shots. Oklahoma City outscored the Grizzlies 42-19 in the second quarter to take control. Desmond Bane had 22 points and nine rebounds for Memphis (22-11), which played without star Ja Morant (shoulder) and Zach Edey, the team’s No. 9 overall draft pick, who was in concussion protocol. Jay Huff added 17 points but Jaren Jackson Jr., the team’s leading scorer at 21.9 points per game, managed 13 points on 3-of-17 shooting. TIMBERWOLVES 112, SPURS 110 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo scored 26 points as Minnesota defeated San Antonio. Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, won won their third straight. Julius Randle had 16 points, while Jaden McDaniels added 12 points and 10 boards for Minnesota. Anthony Edwards, who earlier in the day was fined $100,000 for continued use of profanity in postgame media comments, was held to 14 points, 11 below his season average. After DiVincenzo made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds left, the Spurs had one more possession down 112-110. San Antonio found a wide-open Jeremy Sochan for 3, but he came up short. Wembanyama led San Antonio with 34 points and eight rebounds. Harrison Barnes had 24 points, Devin Vassell had 22 and Chris Paul dished out 14 assists. The Associated Press
Brazil's Bolsonaro indicted over alleged coup plot
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law , as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential power. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify public protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but it is also determined to oppose Yoon’s impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. “We'll surely impeach Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea,” party leader Lee Jae-myung said. “We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end.” Despite escaping the impeachment attempt, many experts worry Yoon won’t be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some ruling party lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties’ efforts to impeach Yoon if public demands for it grow further. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people densely packed several blocks of roads leading up to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP’s headquarters near the Assembly, angrily shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Yoon. A smaller crowd of Yoon’s supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied in separate streets in Seoul, decrying the impeachment attempt they saw as unconstitutional. Impeaching Yoon required support from two-thirds of the National Assembly, or 200 of its 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn’t reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result “very regrettable” and an embarrassing moment for the country’s democracy that has been closely watched by the world. “The failure to hold a qualified vote on this matter means we were not even able to exercise the democratic procedure of deciding on a critical national issue,” he said. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. If Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. Earlier Saturday, Yoon issued a public apology over the martial law decree, saying he won’t shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose martial law. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country’s political turmoil, “including matters related to my term in office.” “The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot,” Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Yoon called parliament a “den of criminals” bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces.” The turmoil resulting from Yoon’s bizarre and poorly-thought-out stunt has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Yoon’s martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Yoon's impeachment motion. Yoon’s speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon’s early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Yoon’s speech was “greatly disappointing” and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Yoon’s martial law “unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup.” Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Yoon’s wife. Some lawmakers from Yoon’s party were seen leaving the hall after that vote, triggering angry shouts from opposition lawmakers. On Friday, PPP chair Han Dong-hun, who criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Yoon ordered the country’s defense counterintelligence commander to arrest and detain unspecified key politicians based on accusations of “anti-state activities.” Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing Friday that Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians. The targeted politicians included Han, Lee and Woo, according to Kim Byung-kee, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly after Yoon imposed martial law. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him.
Pretty much everyone has had their say on what has gone wrong at Manchester City . Every man, woman, pundit, player, manager and their dog have had a go at pinpointing what on earth has happened to the best football team in England. “They’ve lost their legs together, they’ve lost their confidence together,” Gary Neville reckoned . Advertisement “(Confidence) is a big part of it, that’s a mental issue as well,” said Ilkay Gundogan. And Pep Guardiola summed it up succinctly: “We struggle to score and we concede goals.” But as they laboured to an unconvincing but important victory at Leicester City , what was the mood among the only people who should really matter at any football club, the loyal, lifelong fans? GO DEEPER Analysing why Bernardo Silva said Man City 'played like U15s' at the end of the derby After winning four league titles and seven other trophies this decade, there was enough muscle memory to remember how to celebrate, but it had been a while. One victory in any match since October 26, one away win in the league since August, this was a rare thing in late 2024. There was no better way to end the year than with a long overdue victory and a clean sheet to boot. “Frustration has been the overriding feeling,” Simon, a City fan since 1996, tells The Athletic . “Have we got the transfer window wrong with an ageing squad? That’s what I’d look at. And we look so fragile, particularly on the counter. “Not having that ability to close teams out, not having that mentality to keep a clean sheet, which perhaps both come down to changing the defence every week.” It is a prescient comment. City keep their first away clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening day of the season and, despite some shaky moments and a huge miss from Jamie Vardy , it is obvious to suggest the fact Guardiola can name the same defence and keeper in successive matches for the first time since August is a sizeable factor. GO DEEPER Pep Guardiola thinks he is 'not good enough'. Does he have a point? More than most fanbases, City’s atmosphere tends to contrast sharply from home to away. Half-and-half scarf-wearing supporters/tourists fill up the Etihad with the sound of camera clicks to reflect the modern City, while the noisy hardcore regale the City of old with an always-boisterous away end. At the King Power Stadium, they barely stop singing from minute one to minute 95. Even before the goals, there is unity and defiance. Advertisement “It’s a ‘here we go again’ feeling at the Etihad when teams start to threaten us,” Simon adds. “I was really disappointed with a small minority booing at the end of the Everton game. Yes (football tourism) makes for an unusual atmosphere but they’ve paid for their ticket so let them enjoy themselves. “With that, it does bring a different air to the away games. And the real fans, the loyal fans, whether they’re new to the club or time honoured, are behind Pep 100 per cent. “These fans who say, ‘Pep out’, it’s ludicrous, he’s almost unsackable. It’s mostly online, you don’t hear it on the terraces. And that’s why I was alarmed at the Everton game, I hope that comes out of frustration that people are spending £85 ($107) for a children’s ticket to come and watch a game. “But as City fans we have gallows humour, we can still poke fun at ourselves. “And it could be worse, we could be Man United.” At the King Power, they are raucous, loud and unified. All 3,000 are singing Guardiola’s name, loud and proud, in the sixth minute of the match, as they are when he takes their acclaim at full-time. They sing, ‘We are staying up’ after Savinho ’s opening goal, they do the Poznan , they ask, ‘Is this the Etihad?’ as the home fans are so quiet. Gallows humour indeed. “Losing a few matches has probably triggered some emotions we haven’t felt in a while,” City fan Andy says after seeing his first victory in person since September. “It’s been incredibly frustrating and it’s also been hard watching Pep struggle mentally, he’s done so much for us for so many years. But it’s also pretty interesting as to what happens next, with him, with the squad, with the club.” Simon agrees: “I want to see how he (Pep) solves the problem. What crazy ideas has he got up his sleeve? We’re in a slump; has he got a plan that nobody can foresee? The kind of plan that in five years people are teaching in junior football? He’s done it before. Advertisement “I do feel for him, but in an exciting way, I want to see what he’s planning.” If Guardiola has a grand plan for how to fix City, he doesn’t unleash it against Leicester . It it mostly more of the same — nervous defending, some messy possession and an inability to regularly create chances. The difference here is, said nervous defending is not taken advantage of by a poor Leicester team, while City are clinical with the two good chances that come their way. “City are back,” they chanted after the final whistle. Maybe not quite yet, but this one felt good. (Top photo: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.”Jimmy Carter is widely acknowledged as the first president to effectively use music and musicians to help propel himself into office. But the way he harnessed the star power of artists such as Bob Dylan, Greg Allman and Willie Nelson never appeared transactional or cynical, and also predated those other musical presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. From Carter’s earliest years growing up in rural Georgia, music was a constant in his life. Quite simply, he was a fan (although he was never a performer). The music he was first exposed to was gospel. Raised as a Southern Baptist, his affinity for the music from the black churches of Plains, Georgia, along with his lifelong position as an anti-segregationist, has been credited in part for his overwhelming popularity with black voters. Later, after he became governor of Georgia and was weighing up a run for the presidency, Carter’s musical tastes had expanded to encompass a wide range of genres, from country and blues to jazz and rock’n’roll. Along with much of the country, he had become a fan of Georgia group the Allman Brothers Band. After Greg Allman visited the governor’s mansion in 1974, he agreed to do some fund-raising gigs for Carter’s campaign, which was just about broke. “It was the Allman Brothers that helped put me in the White House by raising money when I didn’t have any money,” Carter said in 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President . If there was a political risk in associating himself with long-haired counterculture figures such as the Allmans, Carter didn’t seem to care. “I was practically a nonentity, but everyone knew the Allman Brothers,” he said. “And when the Allman Brothers endorsed me, all the young people said if the Allman Brothers like Jimmy Carter then we can vote for him.” A diverse roster of other artists, including John Denver, Toots and the Maytals and Charlie Daniels, also helped top up Carter’s election war chest. After he beat Gerald Ford to the presidency, Carter wasn’t about to forget other big-name music friends, including Dylan and Nelson, who had helped him along the way. “People didn’t like me being deeply involved with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan,” said Carter in the documentary. “But I didn’t care about that because I was doing what I really believed, and the response from the followers of those musicians was much more influential than a few people who thought being associated with rock’n’roll and radical people was inappropriate for a president.” Throughout Carter’s presidency, some of the biggest names of the era played at the White House, including in a 1978 concert when he brought together an unimaginable collection of jazz greats – Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Dizzy Gillespie and George Benson. Looking back in 2020, Carter summed up his thoughts. “I think music is the best proof that people have one thing in common,” he said. 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Matthew Stafford suffers lateral ankle sprain and Rams add former No. 1 pick at cornerSYDNEY, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Duck Creek Technologies, the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has announced a new partnership with Suncorp, one of Australia’s and New Zealand’s largest general insurers. Duck Creek will deliver cloud-native, low-code core insurance delivery solutions as part of Suncorp’s recently announced ‘digital insurer’ policy transformation program. Duck Creek’s SaaS solutions will replace multiple on-premises legacy systems and help Suncorp achieve its customer-outcome and value focused strategies. The multi-year agreement for Duck Creek policy, billing and Clarity (data, insights and AI) solutions is an important milestone, and will underpin the next era of technology modernisation and process simplification for Suncorp. Duck Creek's cohesive and comprehensive suite is expected to reduce Suncorp’s technological complexity, support their ability to deliver enhanced customer value and personalisation, and improve operational efficiency. Suncorp aims to develop more customer-centric, data-driven and brand-specific propositions and experiences without the associated complexity; and deliver value to market faster and more efficiently across its personal and commercial brands in Australia and New Zealand. “Modernising our core insurance platforms will help us deliver innovative and affordable customer propositions, simplify and streamline our operations, and importantly enable our people,” said Lisa Harrison, Chief Executive Consumer Insurance at Suncorp. “Through a rigorous RFP process, we selected Duck Creek as it has a proven track record both globally and locally.” “This is a multi-year program designed to roll out new capabilities in a safe, smart and efficient way. We have assigned dedicated business and technical leadership to work alongside Duck Creek and our integration partner, with strong governance structures and oversight. “We look forward to a successful ongoing partnership with Duck Creek to help deliver this important program,” Ms. Harrison said. “Suncorp is pushing the boundaries of insurance innovation. They appreciate that they’re not in the business of just insuring assets, but of delivering confidence and better experiences and outcomes for their policyholders,” said Christian Erickson, Managing Director (APAC) of Duck Creek Technologies. “Duck Creek’s vision, to transform insurance technology, helping insurers be smarter, faster and more efficient, and provide the best protection for people and businesses, is aligned with Suncorp’s, as a future-focused and protection-driven insurer. This makes us ideal partners and we’re honored to be a part of helping deliver Suncorp’s strategy. We believe Suncorp will push us to think and innovate differently and we are excited for the outcomes we will achieve together.” The unique modular architecture of Duck Creek’s OnDemand platform will help accelerate Suncorp’s innovation timelines, reducing new product time-to-market from months to weeks and product amendments from weeks to days. The OnDemand platform will also help Suncorp increase automation, eliminate manual processes and enhance data-driven decision making. "Our policyholder-centric solutions are designed to equip Suncorp to overcome any technological obstacles and refocus resources toward delivering new innovative customer propositions and experiences," Mr. Erickson said. About Duck Creek Technologies Duck Creek Technologies is the global intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite , and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand . Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and X . About Suncorp Group Suncorp Group is an ASX-listed Trans–Tasman insurance company, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. With a heritage dating back more than 100 years, Suncorp provides insurance products and services through some of Australia and New Zealand’s most recognisable brands. Media Contacts: Duck Creek Chris Hamilton chris.hamilton@duckcreek.com Suncorp James Spence James.spence@suncorp.com.au
Yellowjackets Season 2 left fans with more questions than answers during the season finale in 2023. This Showtime thriller leaves viewers questioning whether there are supernatural elements or if we just want them to ease our consciences about some of the characters’ grave misgivings. There’s no doubt that Yellowjackets is one of the few recent series to have dug so deeply into our psyche. So, what’s next? Let’s explore Has Yellowjackets Been Renewed? Hot on the heels of the success of Yellowjackets Season 1, the Showtime network announced plans for Seasons 2 and Season 3. According to Showtime and Paramount Media Networks CEO and President Chris McCarthy, “Season 1’s success was so impressive, we fast-tracked the approval of Season 3 to maximize the momentum.” So, before Season 2 even aired, we knew another season would come. Perhaps that should have prepared many viewers for the major cliffhangers we experienced with the Season 2 finale, “Storytelling.” But most of us weren’t ready for how Yellowjackets ended after bringing in characters we hadn’t seen since the girls returned from the wild. Now, our question is, when do we get answers for Season 3? How Did Yellowjackets Season 2 End? The final episode of Yellowjackets Season 2 left us with some serious loose ends. In the past timeline, we watch Ben burn down the cabin before trying to hide away from the madness (perhaps supernatural) that has its hold on the girls. And in the present, we see the death of adult Natalie. Given Misty’s role in her passing, some fans wonder if Natalie (Lewis) will return in Season 3 to haunt Misty (Ricci) with guilt. We discovered that the woman in the tree haunting Taissa’s (Cypress) son is actually her in the throes of sleepwalking. We see brief scenes of her sleepwalking in the past too, leaving some troubling suspicions for future episodes. It also sets the stage for her reconnection with Van (Ambrose), whom we haven’t seen thus far in the present timeline. We cheered her on in the past as she survived a brutal bear mauling. Just when we get her back in our lives, there’s the chance that she’ll be out just as fast. Season 2 ended with the announcement that Van has terminal cancer and isn’t expected to live long. She has zero interest in fighting back. But will Taissa’s appearance — and need for help — change her mind? Show Season 3 Plot (and Spoilers!) There are quite a few loose ends to tie up from the Season 2 finale, meaning it will be a busy season. And how will that guilt affect Misty’s already unhinged personality? At least she has Walter (Wood) to keep her grounded. Or will he make her more deranged than she already is? What happened to Ben (Krueger) in the past, and why haven’t we seen him so far in the present timeline? Perhaps karma caught up with him, and he’s the body we saw being cooked in the beginning but has yet to be identified. We also want answers to the supernatural undercurrent we’ve witnessed over the last two seasons. What caused the girls to split into rival groups, and how were they rescued? Will Taissa be able to overcome her sleepwalking issue and reclaim her family? Or will she cave to the wildness and lose her humanity? Will her reconnection with Van give Van the will to fight back against her terminal cancer? She did survive a brutal bear attack. Yellowjackets Season 3 Episodes Yellowjackets Season 1 had ten episodes, while Season 2 had only nine. Season 3’s number hasn’t been announced, but it’s predicted to be at least nine. While co-creator Ashley Lyle (@ashannlyle) once teased her Twitter (X) followers with hints of a bonus episode airing sometime in 2024 before the release of Season 3, it doesn’t seem like that’s coming to fruition. Returning Show Season 3 Cast The Yellowjackets drama features an all-star cast of Critics Choice Awards, Emmy nominees, and winners. With two timelines to follow, each main character has two actors — an adult and a teen counterpart. But there are still a few original teen cast members who have yet to be seen in the present timeline. Some of the returning original characters include: Shauna — Melanie Lynskey (adult) and Sophie Nelisse (teen) Taissa — Tawny Cypress (adult) and Jasmin Savoy Brown (teen) Natalie — Sophie Thatcher (teen) * there might be little to no appearances from Juliette Lewis since the adult Natalie died in Season 2 Misty — Christina Ricci (adult) and Samantha Hanratty (teen) Lottie — Simone Kessel (adult) and Courtney Eaton (teen) Van — Lauren Ambrose (adult) and Liv Hewson (teen) Other returning characters include: Walter — Elijah Wood Ben Scott — Steven Krueger Travis — Kevin Alves Jeff — Warren Kole Several additional characters from the ’90s timeline have yet to appear in the present, leaving us to wonder which characters will die next in Season 3. The creators of Yellowjackets stated that they hope to have a five-season series, so it’s unlikely that they’ll kill off the entire 90s team this season. But nothing official has been announced, so there’s no guarantee of how they’ll handle the storyline. Yellowjackets Season 3 Cast Additions The end of Season 2 left us wondering if we’ll see the teens’ demise in the past timeline, which has yet to be seen in the present. The season finale hinted at the difficulties as the cabin burned to the ground. Will new actors be introduced in Season 3, like the adult Van storyline that was left up in the air, entangled with the chaos of Taissa? Character Lottie did hint in Season 2 that only six of the Yellowjackets girls’ soccer players survived the wilderness. These were Lottie, Misty, Natalie (now dead), Van, Shauna, and Taissa. Recently, news broke that comedian Joel McHale will be a guest star for the third season. However, no clues have been given to his role. Hale’s most known for appearing in Animal Control, The Bear, House of Villians, and Crime Scene Kitchen. We also know that Hillary Swank will guest star, but other than seeing her bloodied on the side of the road in the brand-new trailer, we have no idea who she will be. Yellowjackets Season 3 Trailer The first teaser trailer has just been released, along with a slew of new photos (which can be seen throughout this article). There is a LOT to digest for those willing to dig deep into the thrillingly brief scenes from the teaser. Take a look for yourself and let us know what you think. Yellowjackets Season 3 Release Date Yellowjackets Season 3 will return with two new episodes on Paramount+ with Showtime on Friday, February 14. Happy Valentine’s Day! Nothing says love like a bunch of traumatized survivors who haven’t been able to get past their horrifying past for decades! Those with the Showtime cable package will have to wait until Sunday, February 16 to see the premiere episodes. You know what that means — stay away from social media and websites like this! Where to Watch Yellowjackets Season 3 Although Yellowjackets is a Showtime production , you can stream it on the Paramount+ with Showtime two days earlier. Watch Yellowjackets OnlineAP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:05 p.m. ESTOn Monday, the Los Angeles Rams claimed former Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. off the waiver wire. This came just a day after the former first-round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft was waived after playing just two defensive snaps in five weeks. Los Angeles may be just the place to rejuvenate the young defensive back’s career after a less-than-stellar start at the professional level. Former First Rounder Emmanuel Forbes Joins Rams Forbes’ addition to the Rams secondary adds more youth and talent to the mix. However, the former Mississippi State Bulldogs’ biggest red flag is still his status as an undersized player at the cornerback position. Forbes stands at six feet, average for the modern NFL corner. However, his 180-pound frame is around 10-15 pounds lighter than the ideal weight for the position. His physical advantage comes from his speed and long arms, which allow him to deflect passes in coverage. The Rams’ newest edition bolsters a secondary that ranks around the league average. The team ranks 17th in passing yards allowed, 11th worst in passing touchdowns allowed, and 10th in interceptions. With the team in a playoff push, Forbes’ raw talent can aid the Rams in press coverage and off-man schemes. By coming to LA, Forbes also rejoins former teammate safety Kamren Curl . Curl and Forbes both played together in Washington from 2023-2024. Head Coach Sean McVay’s team was able to revive the seemingly dead career of another first-round pick. When quarterback Baker Mayfield was without a team after being dropped by the Carolina Panthers, the Rams claimed the former Sooner off waivers. Mayfield’s five-game stint in Tinsel Town included a game-winning drive against the Las Vegas Raiders two days after signing, as well as a 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos. Mayfield’s run with the Rams revitalized his career, leading to him signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. If the Rams can work their magic on Forbes, they can turn another doomed career around. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.
AP News Summary at 3:32 p.m. EST
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