Florida State continues torrid star with rout of UMass

'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling againOn MGR’s death anniversary, AIADMK resolves to protect Tamil NaduTraders, students unite against PTI’s protests Islamabad : Protests by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have drawn widespread criticism from traders and students, who deem the demonstrations illegal and detrimental to their daily lives which have severely impacted the local economy and hindered students'' access to education. Traders and students have strongly condemn the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) protests, labelling them ‘senseless’ and detrimental to the economy and education. “The protests have brought economic and educational activities to a standstill, causing significant disruptions to daily life,” said a student. Sohail Mehmood Bhutt, President of the Mall Road Traders Association talking to PTV news channel has strongly condemned the daily protest calls by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating, "They have severely disrupted businesses and negatively impacted the livelihoods of poor individuals associated with these businesses.” “The protests are illegal and causing immense suffering for the people,” Bhutt emphasised. He highlighted the devastating effects of the protests on traders and the local economy. Sohail Mehmood Bhutt urged traders not to fall prey to the PTI''s activities and to keep their businesses open despite the disruptions. Muhammad Afzal Kiyani, another trader leader also strongly condemned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chaotic protest calls, labelling them a threat to the country’s peace. Kiyani emphasized that political parties should utilize democratic platforms and processes to resolve issues, rather than resorting to destructive tactics that harm businesses and the economy. Muhammad Arshad, an Associate Professor has expressed deep concern over the daily protest calls, lamenting the devastating impact on the education. Professor Dr. Aneela Durrani has vehemently condemned the ongoing protest calls, describing them as immature and undemocratic. As a female academic, she expressed deep concern about the disproportionate impact of the protests on female students. “The demonstrations have created an insecure environment for women, forcing them to miss classes and lose valuable semester time,” Dr Durrani emphasized. “The financial burden on students and their families is also a significant worry,” Dr. Durrani pointed out. “Despite paying hefty fees, students are unable to attend classes due to road blockages and disruptions caused by the protests,” he added. “This is a gross injustice and a violation of the fundamental right to education,” she argued. She urged the protesters to adopt a more democratic and peaceful approach to expressing their grievances, one that does not harm the education and future of the country’s youth.EXPERTS have called for a return of social distancing as cases of the flu surge across the UK this Christmas. Even those with symptoms of a mild cold should consider self-isolating in case they carry a virus which could be fatal to those most vulnerable, health specialists warn. Advertisement 2 Health experts call for a return of social distancing (stock image) Credit: Getty 2 Family gatherings should also be avoided as well as wearing masks and social distancing - all to avoid passing on the horror bug, experts told MailOnline. Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia said: "If you are ill with flu you should stay away from other people for the first three days and preferably for the first week. "This is especially important if they are elderly or suffer from medical conditions that make them more at risk." For many people, having the flu will feel like an exaggerated cold. Advertisement read more in health SYMPTOM CHECK How to tell if you've got a hangover, Covid, flu or meningitis FLU BLOW Thousands of turkeys killed after bird flu outbreak days before Christmas The NHS states that flu symptoms can come on very quickly. They include: A sudden high temperature An aching body Feeling tired or exhausted A dry cough A sore throat A headache Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Diarrhoea or tummy pain Feeling sick and being sick The dry cough could be similar to the cough experienced by people who have contracted coronavirus . Most read in Health Breaking SHUT UP SHOP Major supermarkets recall jewellery stocking fillers over ‘chemical’ fears HAIR THIS Physical trait makes you '6 times more likely to go bald' - find clue in fingers BIRTH TRAGEDY Mum who begged 'don't let me die' after giving birth was 'left to bleed out' 'TOTAL SHOCK' After years of trying, a scan showed '1% miracle triplets' - then tragedy hit The NHS states that the symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active. Advertisement The health service offers a free flu jab to those most at risk of getting the virus, so if you qualify then you can get it free anywhere that offers it. Who is eligible for free Covid, flu and RSV vaccines? In line with JCVI advice, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include: From October 3: Those aged 65 years and over Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book) Those at serious risk, including those with a BMI over 40, diabetes, heart and breathing conditions Those in long-stay residential care homes Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme - including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants. From September 1: Pregnant women All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024 Primary school-aged children (from Reception to Year 6) Secondary school-aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11) All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years Those eligible for an autumn Covid booster are: Residents in a care home for older adults All adults aged 65 years and over Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women Frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults Those eligible for an RSV vaccine are: Pregnant people from 28 weeks onwards People aged 75 to 79 his can be at your doctor's surgery as well as supermarket pharmacies like Asda and high street favourites like Boots. If you're not in the eligible groups entitled to a free vaccination listed below, you can pay for a flu jab at certain stores. All children aged two and three All children in primary and all children in school Years seven to 11 in secondary school Children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk group Pregnant women Those aged 65 years and over Unpaid carers Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals Frontline health and adult social care staff The latest data shows a high flu burden within the NHS with almost 3,000 Brits in England hospitalised as of the end of last week with the virus. Advertisement Over 150 of those are considered to be in a critical condition. In comparison, there were just 700 total hospitalisations at the same time last year. And experts also warn that the worst could be coming with there being a surge in illness brought on from socialising over the holiday season and New Year. Earlier this month, an average of 1,861 flu patients were in hospital every day, up from 1,099 the previous week - 3.5 times higher than the same time last year. Advertisement Health chiefs pleaded with Brits to get vaccinated immediately if eligible to avoid “festive flu" before it was "too late". Professor Sir Stephen Powis, boss of NHS England, said: "The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS - the figures are adding to our 'quad-demic' worries." Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' MAKE THE YULETIDE GREY White Christmas update for Scots as snow & 80mph winds wreak chaos He added: "With one week left to book your vaccine, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked in to protect yourself against serious illness and to avoid 'festive flu.'" Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting , said: "With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to encourage people to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS by getting vaccinated before it’s too late.” Advertisement Which cold and flu remedies actually work? Isabel Shaw, health reporter, put nine well-known cold and flu remedies to the test when she was struck down with the lurgy. Over a week, she tested products that targeted all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues. These included: Hot honey and lemon Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub Echinacea Chicken soup A spicy curry Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution Strepsils Lemsip Max Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked. Read her full verdicts here .

After being waived on Sunday to make room for Landry Shamet on the roster, Matt Ryan has now re-signed with the New York Knicks on a two-way deal after clearing waivers. In a corresponding move, the Knicks waived guard Boo Buie. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype previously reported the Knicks' intentions to re-sign Ryan to a two-way deal. Ryan was a local star who grew up in New York. He was born in White Plains and starred at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, where he became Mr. New York Basketball and was named a first-team Parade All-American. Ryan is a well-traveled hooper who played college ball at three schools (Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga) and has suited up for five NBA teams (Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and Knicks) in his four NBA seasons. He's also played for five G-League teams. The 27-year-old has only averaged 10.4 minutes over his 72 games, but he's shot 39.7 percent from three-point range during that time, posting 4.1 PPG in the process. Ryan hasn't played much with the Knicks this year (45 minutes over nine games). There may not be room for Ryan to carve out playing time on the active roster at the moment, but he'll certainly be getting time with the G-League's Westchester Knicks with the two-way deal.It’s almost that time of year: Spotify is gearing up to release its annual Wrapped, personalized recaps of users’ listening habits and year in audio. Spotify has been giving its listeners breakdowns of their data since 2016. And each year, it’s become a bigger production — and internet sensation. Spotify said its 2023 Wrapped was the “biggest ever created,” in terms of audience reach and the kind of data it provided. So, what will 2024 have in store? Here’s a look at what to know ahead of this year’s Spotify Wrapped. It’s the streaming service’s annual overview of individual listening trends, as well as trends around the world. Users learn their top artists, songs, genres, albums and podcasts, all wrapped into one interactive presentation. The campaign has become a social media sensation, as people share and compare their Wrapped data with their friends and followers online. Past iterations have provided users with all kinds of breakdowns and facts, including whether they’re among an artist’s top listeners, as well as a personalized playlist of their top 100 songs of that year to save, share and listen to whenever they’re feeling nostalgic. Spotify also creates a series of playlists that reflect national and global listening trends, featuring the top streamed artists and songs. In 2023, Taylor Swift was Spotify’s most streamed artist , unseating Bad Bunny who had held the title for three years in a row. Each year has something new in store. In 2019, Wrapped included a summary of users’ streaming trends for the entire decade. Last year, Spotify matched listeners to a Sound Town based on their artist affinities and how it lined up with those in other parts of the world. So far, the streaming platform has kept the highly anticipated release date of Wrapped under ... er, wraps. In past years, it’s been released after Thanksgiving, between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. Each year, rumors tend to swell on social media around when Spotify stops collecting data in order to prepare their Wrapped results, and this year was no exception. Spotify quickly squashed those presumptions , assuring on social media that “Spotify Wrapped doesn’t stop counting on October 31st.” A representative for Spotify did not respond to a request for comment on when the company stops tracking data for Wrapped. When Wrapped is released, each user’s Spotify account will prompt them to view their interactive data roundup. It can be accessed through the Spotify smartphone app, or by logging on to the Spotify website . Wrapped is available to users with and without Premium subscriptions. There are a handful of third-party sites that you can connect your Spotify account to that will analyze your Wrapped data. How Bad is Your Spotify is an AI bot that judges your music taste. Receiptify gives you your top songs on a sharable graphic that looks like, yes, a receipt. Instafest gives you your own personal music festival-style lineup based on your top artists. How NPRCore Are You assesses how similar your music taste is to NPR Music’s. Other major streaming platforms such as Apple Music and YouTube Music have developed their own versions of Wrapped in recent years. Apple Music’s Replay not only gives its subscribers a year-end digest of their listening habits but monthly summaries as well — a feature that helps differentiate itself from the one-time Spotify recap. That’s released at the end of the calendar year. YouTube Music, meanwhile, has a similar end-of-the-year release for its listeners, as well as periodic seasonal releases throughout the year. It released its annual Recap for users earlier this month.South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stunned voters, lawmakers and investors by declaring martial law on Tuesday in a high-stakes move he claimed would prevent the opposition from trying to paralyze his administration amid a political rift that is set to deepen markedly. In an emergency national address televised live, Yoon said he made the decision to protect freedom and constitutional order, and that it will not have an impact on South Korea’s foreign policy. He added that it would also help eradicate the influence of North Korean supporters. “Through the declaration of martial law, I will rebuild and protect a free South Korea,” Yoon said in a six-minute speech. A proclamation released after the address banned all political activities and strikes and said media would be subject to control of the Martial Law Command, according to Yonhap News. The move was initially viewed by analysts as a risky political play that was likely to backfire rather than an attempt to return to military-led regimes of the past. South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik called on lawmakers to go the national assembly immediately. In the 300-seat parliament, 190 lawmakers unanimously voted to demand the lifting of the martial law. “I urge the public to trust the parliament and monitor the situation with calm,” Woo said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether the vote would be binding. The won suffered its sharpest drop since the global financial crisis to hit 1444.65 its lowest in over two years. Samsung Electronics’ London-listed shares fell as much as 7.2 percent. The finance minister and central bank chief met and promised to provide unlimited liquidity to markets if needed. The shock announcement to impose martial law for the first time since the democratization of South Korea in 1987 left even Yoon’s own party blindsided with its leader vowing to stop the move. Yoon’s abrupt decision comes after months of wrangling and deadlock in parliament between the president’s minority government and the main opposition Democratic Party, but with little expectation that the president would take such a drastic step. The DP is currently trying to force through its own budget proposal through parliament and has submitted an impeachment motion against the chief prosecutor after months of also trying to get Yoon’s wife prosecuted. Meanwhile, the DP’s leader has faced multiple court cases and was convicted last month of election-law violations, barring him from running for president if it is finalized. Yoon has dealt with the political deadlock in a largely standoffish manner, vetoing a string of bills passed by parliament and at times angering his own party. His latest act ramps up tensions considerably domestically, while also creating high uncertainty abroad for the outlook of one of the world’s key suppliers of semiconductors and tech-related gear. “Yoon’s declaration of emergency martial law is highly concerning. It marks a stark shift in the administration’s policy,” said Kayla Orta, senior associate at the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy in Washington DC. “Instead of solidifying his political position, this could further damage his domestic standing.” South Korea’s defense minister ordered a meeting with the military’s top commanders. Broadcaster YTN said martial law would be maintained until the president lifts it, citing a defense official it did not identify. While Clause 77 of the Constitution says the president must withdraw a martial law declaration after a parliamentary majority demands it, Clause 89 says such an annulment should undergo a review by the cabinet as well. Earlier YTN showed police restricting entry to the parliament compound as people gathered neared the gate. Aides of lawmakers used fire extinguisher to block soldiers from entering the building. Even if the martial law order lasts only a day, the political instability it will generate is set to last two or three years, according to Lee Won-Jae, a sociology professor at Kaist Graduate School of Culture Technology in Daejeon. The leader of Yoon’s People Power Party condemned the move, in comments that indicated the lack of consultation on the move. He expressed the view that the vote had put an end to Yoon’s order. “The president’s declaration of martial law is wrong,” Han Dong-hoon, said in a Facebook post. “Martial law has lost its effect, so from this moment on, all state institutions exercising physical force, including the military and police of the Republic of Korea, are obligated not to follow unlawful or unfair instructions,” Han said in a separate post. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urged the military and the police to go back to their posts, saying the declaration was nullified with the parliament’s vote. “All presidential orders based on the declaration of the martial law are unconstitutional, invalid and illegal,” Lee said, flanked by dozens of lawmakers. The move comes at a time of high uncertainty for the nation as its trade-dependent economy faces potential tariffs from President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Bloomberg Economics estimates that full imposition of tariffs on China, South Korea and other U.S. trading partners could reduce Seoul’s exports to the U.S. by as much as 55 percent. Meanwhile, North Korea continues to present a security concern as it deepens its ties with Russia, having sent thousands of troops there to help in Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Russia’s defense minister visited Pyongyang last week in the latest sign of talks between the two countries. Russia may help provide North Korea key technology for its weapons programs including its intercontinental ballistic missiles. “We shouldn’t be fooled — this has nothing at all to do with North Korea and all to do with domestic politics,” said Defense Priorities Fellow Daniel DePetris. “I expect U.S. and U.K. officials will be getting on the phone to try to convince President Yoon to abide by what the parliament just did.” U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg said the U.S. embassy in Seoul and the State Department are closely tracking Yoon’s martial law declaration. “The situation is fluid,” Goldberg said in an X post, urging citizens to monitor local news sources for updates. China suggested its citizens residing in South Korea keep calm and try to avoid going outdoors for anything non-essential, the country’s embassy said in a post on social media Tuesday night. The embassy also asked Chinese citizens to comply with official orders from the Korean government and “use caution” over sharing political opinions. “The domestic uncertainty adds to the external pressures in recent weeks as the market is starting to price in the rise of higher U.S. tariffs under the new Trump administration,” said Aroop Chatterjee, a strategist at Wells Fargo. “Korea is an open economy sensitive to shifts in global export demand and spillovers from a weaker China.” It is unclear what impact the martial law will have on South Korea’s biggest chipmakers. Nvidia depends mostly on SK Hynix for so-called high-bandwidth memory chips required for its most cutting-edge semiconductors, and whether the South Korean chip firm can continue to supply those high-end memory chips may affect the global AI development. While it remains to be seen if the move will have a lasting impact on markets and the economy, Yoon’s high-stakes move is certain to knock confidence in his leadership and his reliability as a bulwark of democracy in a nation with many authoritarian neighbors. “U.S. officials look to South Korea now as a beacon of democracy so for a president to pull a fast one like this is certainly shocking and unprecedented.” said DePetris.

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Boston 107, Minnesota 105

At age 32, we’d like to suggest is aging like fine wine. “I don’t know. I’m not a big wine guy,” the Canadiens’ winger said after Friday morning’s practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “I’m more a beer guy. “There’s been times where I haven’t played good hockey,” Gallagher continued. “There’s been times where I’ve played good hockey and been rewarded. Played poor hockey and got rewarded. Over the course of your career I think it all evens out. You put in the time in the summer, you take care of yourself and put in the work, you hope it pays off. But it’s too early in the year to be thinking like that. I feel confident. I feel comfortable. There’s still areas of my game where I’d like to improve and find ways to contribute a little bit more.” Heading into Saturday night’s Bell Centre match against the Vegas Golden Knights Gallagher has through 19 games. Only Cole Caufield, with 12 goals, has lit the lamp more. Gallagher signed a in October 2020. Perhaps this is just a continuation of last season’s late resurgence, when Gallagher scored five goals and added three assists over Montreal’s final five games, giving him 16 goals and 31 points in 77 contests. The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder has made a career from parking his body in front of the net, and has the bumps and bruises to show for his conviction. He’s now in his 13th season with the Canadiens, is the team’s longest-serving member, and understands better than anyone the rich tradition associated with the organization and its rabid fan base. Gallagher also seems to have found a comfort level with linemates Josh Anderson and Christian Dvorak. “Pucks are just finding a way to go in right now,” Gallagher said. “There’s times when they’re not. That’s why I look at my game in other regards. There’s other things I measure and like to do on the ice. Right now, I feel like I’m doing them and am being rewarded. But there’s times where that hasn’t been the case. “All I’m trying to do is be consistent for my coaches and my teammates. Be relied upon and hopefully be there every night. Every once in a while they go in. Everyone wants to contribute. There’s lots of ways to contribute. You can contribute to a team’s success in a lot of different ways. Sometimes it’s not always recognized or measured.” It certainly hasn’t hurt Gallagher’s cause that he has recovered from his litany of injuries. From the fractured jaw he suffered during the 2020 playoffs — while playing with a tear in his hip — to twice breaking his hand and twice fracturing his ankle, limiting him to 37 games during the 2022-23 season, Gallagher has paid the price for his style of play. In the past, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis has expressed a desire to have Gallagher re-wire his approach to the game, relying on his experience and acumen to prosper rather than draining his physical energy. If the message has been slow to resonate, St. Louis has no qualms with the veteran’s play, suggesting he has improved his “software.” “It’s never too late,” St. Louis said, making an analogy to new and improved versions of Apple iPhones. “When you improve the software, you have more options. I know Gally’s really good in front of the net, but that’s not all he’s doing now. He’s doing way more. When you’re constantly battling with somebody in front of the net, it takes a toll and you’re probably prone to more injuries when that’s all you’re doing. “He understands ... sometimes it’s his turn to go. But it’s not his only job on the ice. He’s playing the whole game more. I think he’s having fun playing. Obviously he’s getting some results, which makes it fun. But it’s not luck.” The Canadiens will attempt to for the first time this season on Saturday — something they accomplished only once in 2023-24 in late March, defeating Seattle, Colorado and Philadelphia on the road. Montreal has been idle since Monday, while the Golden Knights will be playing their third road game in four nights. “We should come out with some good energy,” St. Louis said. “I think our start is very, very important.” Patrik Laine, recovering from an exhibition game knee injury, practised at full speed with his teammates and didn’t seem affected. He wasn’t made available to the media.

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