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Manchester United and Manchester City are both going after Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres , while Barcelona face competition from Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool for Devyne Rensch . Join us for the latest transfer news, Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors, and gossip from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's grades | Women's grades TOP STORIES - Amorim wants final say on Man United transfers - Rodri leaves door open to Real Madrid transfer - Mourinho pans Cristiano Ronaldo reunion rumour TRENDING RUMORS - Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres is a top target for both Manchester United and Manchester City , putting him in the middle of a transfer tug-of-war between his former manager Rúben Amorim and ex-sporting director Hugo Viana, according to The Sun . Gyökeres has scored 67 goals in 69 appearances since he joined Sporting at the start of last season, making him one of the most coveted forwards in Europe. The Sweden international is wanted at United, where Amorim has his first match in charge at Ipswich Town on Sunday, and City, where Viana will official begin work next summer as Txiki Begiristain's replacement. - Ajax 's Devyne Rensch has been monitored by Barcelona in recent months as they aim to strengthen at full-back ahead of next season, reports Diario Sport , with the 21-year-old's contract ending in the summer. Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool also want Rensch and Ajax have offered him a renewal, while the Blaugrana are also keeping an eye on Almeria 's Marc Pubill . Editor's Picks Five losses in a row: Are Manchester City officially in crisis? 13h Rob Dawson Rúben Amorim at Man United: Predicting his team, formation, transfers 3d Gabriele Marcotti, Mark Ogden Valencia's first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city 1h Sam Marsden - Manchester United are looking at Paris Saint-Germain 's Nuno Mendes , Bayern Munich 's Alphonso Davies and AFC Bournemouth 's Milos Kerkez as new boss Amorim looks to strengthen at left wing-back, reports the Daily Mail . This comes with injury concerns over Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw , although the latter may be utilised at left centre-back in Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 system. - Manchester City are planning to make a January move to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton , TEAMtalk reports. The England international, 20, is seen as an attainable midseason signing to cover for the season-ending injury of Rodri . Without the Ballon d'Or-winning star in the team, City have lost their last five matches, a record losing streak for manager Pep Guardiola. Wharton, who has a contract at Selhurst Park until 2029, has impressed City scouts who have been searching for a suitable replacement - Lille striker Jonathan David has publicly declared that Barcelona would be a "dream" move for him, but Diario Sport have suggested that the Blaugrana have doubts about bringing in the 24-year-old. That is because it is expected that a four-year contract, the signing bonus and commission would total €80 miilion and the Canada international wouldn't be an undisputed starter due to the presence of Robert Lewandowski . Even so, they appreciate David's statement and could make a move if he makes a financial compromise. EXPERT TAKE Alexis Nunes is joined by Luis Miguel Echegaray and Janusz Michallik to discuss Manchester City's weaknesses following their 4-0 loss to Tottenham at the Etihad. OTHER RUMORS - Randal Kolo Muani would like to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, but a loan or permanent departure in January isn't off the table for the striker. Les Parisiens are open to letting the 25-year-old leave and there have been enquiries, although no final decision has been made yet. ( Florian Plettenberg ) - Juventus and Aston Villa are two of the clubs ready to sign Joshua Zirkzee if Manchester united decide to send the misfiring striker out on loan in January. ( CaughtOffside ) - Newcastle United are working on a deal to sign Benfica centre-back Tomás Araújo , with the Magpies switching focus to the 22-year-old since the summer after they failed to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace. ( Football Insider ) - Napoli, AC Milan and Lazio all want to sign Empoli midfielder Jacopo Fazzini but it would take €13m to bring in the 21-year-old. Napoli and Juventus also like Empoli centre-back Adrian Ismajli. ( Calciomercato ) - Everton are considering bringing former boss David Moyes back to Goodison Park if they decide to fire Sean Dyche. ( The Sun )Israeli troops forcibly remove staff and patients from northern Gaza hospital, officials say

Do our “compostable” bags, utensils and containers really return to nature? Hailed as a solution to the plastic problem, a growing number of new materials — marketed as biodegradable, sustainable, earth-friendly, decomposable or plant-based — promise to break down naturally in compost, easing our conscience about waste. But the truth depends on where you live. In California, each community decides on the materials it will accept in its curbside collection program, based on the contract and capabilities of its waste processor. ​”It’s complicated ​and confusing,” said Mark Murray, executive​ director ​of the nonprofit Californians Against Waste , which advocates for waste prevention and recycling policies. The Bay Area’s patchwork of local policies determines whether these materials will help fertilize a farm — or be dumped into a landfill. If you live in San Francisco , Berkeley or Palo Alto , for example, certified “compostables” go in the green bin. If you live in Santa Cruz , they go in your trash bin. In San Jose , they also go in the trash bin, but they’re later pulled out and processed. That’s because cities negotiate different contracts with the region’s dozen or so compost facilities. It’s more expensive to process “compostables” than organic waste. And only a few facilities have the sophisticated equipment necessary to do the job. To add to the complexity, not all items are created equal. An uncoated fiber to-go container or bamboo fork, for instance, can often be treated like the leftovers from last night’s dinner. “Compostable” plastic is much more restricted; some facilities accept it only if it meets strict criteria , so green-bagged food scraps are often diverted to landfills. A “biodegradable” item will simply decay over time; it can’t be composted. To help consumers, California law prohibits the sale of products labeled “compostable” or “home compostable” unless they’ve been certified by an accredited group like the Biodegradable Products Institute . But that doesn’t mean all such certified items can just be tossed in your green bin. While certified fiberware will compost, most certified plastic is screened out, according to Jeanine Sidran of StopWaste, a public agency that reduces waste in Alameda County. “We all want a ‘compostable’ to be the magic wand that it’s marketed as,” said Melissa Valliant of Beyond Plastics, an advocacy group urging the federal government to update and expand its guidance on these materials. “But, unfortunately, it’s not.” A plastic bag mixed with compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. Plastic and other non compostable items are removed from the compost at multiple sorting stages. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) A worker uses heavy equipment to move compost material at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Recology employee Robert Reed sifts through a mound of compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Recology employees work to move compost material at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Food items decompose in a mound of compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) A Recology employee pulls non compostable items from a conveyor belt at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) Steam rises from rows of compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) A small piece of plastic mixed with compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. Plastic and other non compostable items are removed from the compost at multiple sorting stages. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) A Recology employee sorts through non compostable items at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) A plastic bag mixed with compost at Recology’s Blossom Valley Organics North composting facility on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Vernalis, Calif. Plastic and other non compostable items are removed from the compost at multiple sorting stages. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group) The global market for compostable packaging , made from a combination of recycled and plant-based materials, has exploded, increasing from $95.73 billion last year to a projected $167.29 billion by 2030. Compostable bags offer a tidy way to line the waste pail in our kitchens or collect vegetables in the produce aisle of a grocery. To-go containers are popular at restaurants; utensils are trendy at picnics with friends. Companies like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods increasingly use “compostable” packaging. Someday these products might have the potential to be better for the planet — but right now, they face many challenges, say experts. The major problem, they say, is that available equipment can’t keep up with demand. “Compostables” demand more heat to break down than food scraps, yard waste and other organic materials, said Murray. And they take longer. “Nobody wants to see flecks of stuff in their compost,” he said. Composting facilities are finicky. Their major customers are organic farms — and U.S. Department of Agriculture rules say these farms can’t use compost derived from compostable bioplastic packaging, for instance, due to concerns about chemical contamination and debris. They only accept materials that they know will truly break down. The most advanced facilities, like the GreenWaste San Jose Material Recovery Facility and Recology’ s facility east of Livermore, have sophisticated sorting. But many other facilities can’t distinguish between compostable and noncompostable packaging, so simply remove everything, sending it to landfill, Murray said. America would “need a five, maybe 10 time, increase” in infrastructure to handle all the compostables and food waste residents generate, said Eric Hudiburgh of the U.S. Composting Council. Faced with such limits, each community must make policies based on the materials its composting facility will accept, according to Lance Klug of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery . Santa Cruz , for instance, doesn’t utilize compost processing, so only food scraps are allowed in the green bin. In Oakland , food vendors are prohibited from using “compostable” plastic foodware and residents must put such items in the trash, according to Recycling Program Specialist Etienne Lugo. Residents can line their compost pails with paper bags or newspaper, or place compost in cereal boxes, she said. In contrast, San Francisco and Berkeley will accept anything certified as “BPI-compostable,” including bags. GreenWaste , which serves San Jose, Portola Valley, Palo Alto, Atherton, Los Altos Hills and Woodside, instructs residents to put all “compostables” in the black trash bin; once picked up, it gets sorted and composted. Because San Mateo County relies on several different waste companies, there are slightly different rules for what they accept, said Karen Wang of San Mateo County’s Sustainability Department . For example, South San Francisco Scavenger Co. does not accept biodegradable green bags. But other haulers do. Backyard compost piles rarely reach the 100 – 140 degrees needed to break down these products. There’s another alternative: Throw away less stuff. “A clever person solves a problem; a wise person avoids it altogether,” said Robert Reed of Recology . Reed lines his kitchen compost with a paper towel and shops at his local farmer’s market carrying two five-gallon tubs. No plastic required. “What did your grandparents do? What did your parents do? They had a metal fork and a metal knife and they washed them,” he said.The 13 office buildings in Richmond, B.C.’s Airport Executive Park – a business park located on 35 acres of green space – date back to a time when climate change and carbon footprints weren’t part of mainstream discussions and long-term environmental control programs. But as more companies set climate and sustainability targets, many are actively working toward reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions within their operations and supply chains. Fiera Real Estate Canada – the current owner of Richmond’s Airport Executive Park (AEP) – is aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, partly through the installation of electric heat pumps that will replace its gas-fired heating systems, which date back to the 1980s and early 2000s. The company’s net-zero ambitions are emblematic of the significant commitments national building owners are making that will help Canada reach its target of net-zero building emissions by 2050. And while 25 years from today may seem like a long time, experts warn Canada isn’t making progress fast enough to achieve its goal. The clock began ticking in 2021 when the federal government adopted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act , aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, with an interim target of GHG reductions hitting at least 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Released this year, the Canada Green Buildings Strategy says there are more than 564,000 commercial and institutional buildings across the country, and because the majority are expected to still be in use in 2050, most will require extensive upgrades and retrofitting to reach Canada’s net-zero goal. “It’s hard to see how we’re going to achieve the interim standards for the building sector by 2030, and if we don’t reach them, the climb to 2050 is going to be a lot harder,” says Thomas Mueller, president and chief executive officer of the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC), which supports the building industry’s transition to green structures and sets national standards for zero-carbon buildings. Updated in July, the council’s Zero Carbon Building standards focus on maintaining high energy efficiency in new buildings and reducing carbon emissions in older structures by replacing fossil-fuel-burning equipment. It estimates that Canada needs to convert at least 3 per cent of its buildings to net-zero emissions a year and invest billions in making buildings greener. A recent study from CAGBC and the Delphi Group – a Canadian climate and sustainability consultancy – identifies the most-needed upgrades in buildings to be LED lighting, triple-glazed windows, roof insulation, high-efficiency ventilation systems, as well as computer control systems that reduce heating and cooling when rooms are not in use. These upgrades require major structural changes and are why most building owners are conducting feasibility studies and putting refits into their 10-year plans, says Tonya Lagrasta, vice-president and head of ESG at commercial real estate services company Colliers Canada. However, she says: “The price tags for things like window replacements can have owners of older buildings falling off their chairs.” The Pembina Institute, a clean-energy think tank, estimates that decarbonizing Canada’s commercial and residential building sector will require more than $400-billion in upgrades. It also concludes that more incentives must be put in place. Since grants are often difficult for governments to finance and administer, tax credits to stimulate investment are more practical, says Mr. Mueller. However, a challenge is that several provinces and cities have building codes that include specifications that vary from the federal standards. “It is a real hodgepodge of standards across the country and that is contributing to confusion,” says Terry Bergen, Victoria-based managing principal of RJC Engineers, a building science consultancy. For retrofits, there is also a misconception that high efficiency comes with higher operating costs. But recently, a lot of studies have been released that demonstrate a high return on investment by making these changes, says Duncan Rowe, a Toronto-based principal with RJC Engineers. At the same time, Mr. Rowe acknowledges that it’s not economical or ecologically practical to speed up the replacement of nearly-new equipment just to meet a standard. In other words, upgrades should be aligned with the life cycle of equipment. In the case of Airport Executive Park, the heating systems were several decades old and in need of replacement. While the newly installed systems are less than a year old, the expectation is that annual energy cost savings for all the property’s buildings will be as much as 50 per cent. In the long term, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 is an interim step toward a goal of being fully net-zero energy – producing as much clean energy as consumed with on-site clean and renewable sources, such as solar, wind or geothermal, Ms. Lagrasta says. Net-zero energy is achievable because technology is advancing, says Mr. Rowe. For instance, solar technology is becoming affordable and can be efficient at powering some buildings, but it needs the right conditions. If a building owner has a large roof area, solar is a practical solution, though it won’t be sufficient for an office tower with a small roof. However, there are also developments in photovoltaic glass that can turn windows into power sources, Mr. Rowe says. Ultimately, economics – not politics – will persuade building owners to invest in green technology, Ms. Lagrasta says. A study by Colliers found tenants are willing to pay a premium of an average of 8 per cent to be in a building with a high sustainability rating. “Building owners value their assets and political winds come and go. But it will become harder to attract and retain tenants in an older building that is falling behind the curve,” Ms. Lagrasta says.

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Animals Don't miss out on the headlines from Animals. Followed categories will be added to My News. A dog is set to undergo life saving surgery after it was dumped in the yard of a home in Sydney’s inner-west. Million, a 12-month-old Maltese Shih tzu, was discovered tied to a gate in a Zetland front yard after David Wiles heard a small whimper, to 7News reports. Video footage has captured the moment two women appear to leave the dog with a note and a bit of food. A Maltese Shih tzu was dumped in a Zetland yard. Picture: 7NEWS The dog, Million, was also left with a note and some food. Picture: 7NEWS “The note basically said they really care for the dog but can’t take care of it anymore,” Mr Wiles said. Mr Wiles agreed to foster Million after he and his wife – a fellow dog lover – came to an agreement with the dog’s breeder. A vet check revealed Million has a cancerous growth on his leg and a small hernia. The Shih tzu is set to undergo surgery on Saturday, with an adoption agency Mr Wiles has been in contact with set to pay. Million has a cancerous growth and small hernia. Picture: 7NEWS Mr Wiles has agreed to foster Million. Picture: 7NEWS Mr Wiles issued a message to prospective dog owners following the incident. “Dog ownership is hard, it’s a lot of work, it’s a long commitment,” Mr Wiles said. “These guys aren’t toys.” NewsWire has contacted the RSPCA and NSW Police for comment. More Coverage Alarm as deadly disease detected in Australia Emma Kirk Cult student meal recalled from stores Duncan Evans Originally published as Moment sick Maltese Shih tzu allegedly dumped in Sydney yard with note and food More related stories Animals Dire warning over Aussie tourist hotspot A major warning has been issued to tourists planning to visit an Australian hotspot known for its famous coastal scenery and marine populations. Read more Animals Fresh warning about deadly animal virus Aussies in one state have been issued a warning about a “highly fatal” disease with no known cure, with infection causing paralysis and even death. Read moreKonference v Tchien-ťinu se zaměřila na odborné vzdělávání v globálním kontextu

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adrian Kempe and Quinton Byfield scored in the second period, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Seattle Kraken 2-1 on Saturday. David Rittich made 19 saves for the Kings, who improved to 6-2-1 at home. Kempe and Byfield scored 1:44 apart in the second period. Byfield buried a sharp-angle slap shot on a power play while dropping to a knee. It was his 98th career point in 200 games. Brandon Montour got the Kraken on the board with 1:26 left in the game. He converted a long shot with Joey Daccord off for another skater, but Los Angeles held on. Daccord finished with 19 stops for Seattle. Kraken: Jordan Eberle will miss at least three months after undergoing surgery on his pelvis. He had six goals and five assists in 17 games before he got hurt against Chicago on Nov. 14. Kings: The power play had been in a 1-for-16 rut (6.25%) over the previous six games before Byfield found the net. It was the Kings' lone opportunity with the man-advantage. After following its 1-0 loss to Buffalo on Wednesday with a fourth straight period of extreme low-event hockey, Los Angeles created a lot more activity and offense to start the second and generate its two goals. The Kings know how to close out games, improving to 9-0-1 when leading after two periods. The Kraken visit Anaheim on Monday, and the Kings play at San Jose on Monday. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhlUnleash your inner superhero with Marvel at MR.DIY and MR.TOY

《TAIPEI TIMES》Ship used by PLA departs Taichung

After Trump’s Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles

Jamison Buys Houses Revolutionizes Home Selling with Personalized Solutions and Guaranteed ResultsIndiana Gov.-elect Braun ripped by GOP colleagues for missing U.S. Senate votesWASHINGTON — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. From left, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., gather after Senate Democratic leadership elections for the next session of Congress on Tuesday in Washington. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was also reelected to the No. 2 spot and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar became the new No. 3. In a statement, Schumer, of New York, said he was honored to move the party forward “during this crucial period for our country.” “Our preference is to secure bipartisan solutions wherever possible and look for ways to collaborate with our Republican colleagues to help working families,” Schumer said. “However, our Republican colleagues should make no mistake about it, we will always stand up for our values.” While Schumer remains popular with his colleagues, it is a bleak moment for Senate Democrats, who were hopeful that they could hold the majority for the third election in a row. Instead they lost four seats and will be in the minority, 53-47, as Trump takes office and pressures the Senate to quickly confirm his Cabinet nominees. Unlike eight years ago, when opposition to Trump’s narrow election win fueled enthusiasm in their party, Democratic lawmakers and many of their voters are exhausted and looking for answers. So far, Democrats have stayed relatively quiet on Trump’s nominees and plans for office – a stark contrast from the loud opposition to Trump when he was elected eight years ago. Schumer has declined to comment on specifics of any nominees, instead allowing Republican reaction to dominate the conversation. On Monday, Schumer wrote a public letter to South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the incoming Republican majority leader, asking him to resist Trump’s pressure to allow him to appoint some of his nominees without a Senate vote and to insist on full FBI background checks for all nominees. But he has said little else about Trump’s upcoming presidency. While some have been more aggressive — Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a former chairwoman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, said that Trump’s nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department is “dangerous” and “nothing short of disaster” — several Democratic senators say they are saving their strength and figuring out a focus. “Everybody’s in kind of a wait-and-see mode right now,” said Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, who is part of Schumer’s leadership team. “Under the previous Trump administration, there was chaos all the time, all the time. And I do think it is important to pick your battles.” It’s still unclear which battles they will pick. And Democrats have differing opinions on how to fight them. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz, who is also in Democratic leadership, says that “anyone who has a grand strategy is full of crap,” but thinks that Democrats, for now, “need to keep things simple.” “We need to talk about people, protect people, advocate for people,” Schatz said. “Do not talk about protecting institutions. Do not talk about advocating for institutions. It’s a not just a rhetorical shift, but an attitudinal shift. We have to remind ourselves, that we’re not fighting for programs and projects and line items and agencies or norms. We’re fighting for people.” Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said that he’s spent a lot of time reflecting, and “I don’t think anyone can claim this was a policy election,” and Democrats need to look at cultural issues. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman says Democrats just need to “pace ourselves” and avoid the “massive freakout” of Trump's last term. Democrats should be preparing, says Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal. He says Schumer is picking his battles “very thoughtfully and strategically.” “We’re thinking about how we protect against using the FBI, or the prosecutorial authority of the Justice Department for retribution against critics,” said Blumenthal. “How we elevate these issues in a way that American people understand them.” Democrats know better now, after eight years, “the extraordinary challenges we’re going to face,” Blumenthal said. Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the U.S. compete in the ice dance rhythm dance program at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating series competition in Tokyo, Japan, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) A discarded plastic bag floats in the waters of Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) China's President Xi Jinping, left center, and Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, walk into the Alvorada palace after attending a welcoming ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova competes against Great Britain's Katie Boulter during a Billie Jean King Cup semi-final match at Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) A surfer rides on an artificial wave in the river 'Eisbach' at the 'Englischer Garten' (English Garden) downtown in Munich, Germany, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) A woman carries a gift basket as she arrives at a park to attend a friend's birthday party, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Kampala, Uganda. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Tania hugs her brother-in-law Baruc after rescuing some of their belongings from their flooded house after the floods in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris looks at a monitor backstage, just before taking the stage for her final campaign rally, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President-elect Donald Trump listens during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) President Joe Biden meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) A resident returns to his burned village, Monday Nov. 25, 2024, one day after a fire broke out leaving about 2,000 families homeless at a slum area in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) Isaac Young rests his cheek on the family horse Rusty's forehead during farm chores before homeschooling, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Sunbury, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Students from anti-discrimination movements attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu) A young girl holds a "Black Voters for Harris-Walz" sign outside of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris' election night watch party at Howard University, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) A man looks from a damaged building a day after it was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon, in Ramat Gan, central Israel, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) Visitors walk through the 'Cathedral' on the Christmas light trail as it returns for its12th year with a showcase of new installations set within the UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape of Kew Gardens in London, England, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Venezuelan migrant Alvaro Calderini carries his niece across a river near Bajo Chiquito, Panama, after walking across the Darien Gap from Colombia on their way north to the United States, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) An aerial view shows a packed parking lot at Citadel Outlets in Commerce, Calif., Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, as early Black Friday shoppers arrive at the mall. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Israeli soldiers holding their weapons bathe with residents in a hot water pool coming from a drilling project which exposed a subterranean hydrothermal spring near Mount Bental in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Voters stand in line outside a polling place at Madison Church, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Phoenix, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Molten lava flows on the road to the Blue Lagoon, Grindavik, after the volcanic eruption that started Wednesday, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco) Firefighters and sheriff's deputies push a vintage car away from a burning home as the Mountain Fire burns in Camarillo, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Supporters of the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) celebrate the victory of candidate Yamandú Orsi in the presidential run-off election in Montevideo, Uruguay, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) People gather at the site where former Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israeli airstrikes late September during a memorial ceremony in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Katia, 11, with her grandmother and mother sit in an armored minivan during en evacuation by the "White Angels" police unit in Kurakhove, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Anton Shtuka) People clean mud from a house affected by floods, in Algemesi, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Cattle stand on a heap of textile waste at the Old Fadama settlement of Accra, Ghana, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu) Family members accompany the coffin that contain the remains of Mexican actress Silvia Pinal, during a memorial service at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, in Mexico City, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Pinal, an actress from Mexico's Golden Age of cinema in the 1940s and 50s, died Thursday. She was 93. (AP Photo/Aurea Del Rosario) A family arrive to cross into Lebanon through the Jousieh border crossing, between Syria and Lebanon, Nov. 28, 2024, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that went into effect on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.《TAIPEI TIMES》Ship used by PLA departs Taichung

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen returned to the Las Vegas Grand Prix as the defending winner of the Sin City spectacle and a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship well within his reach. The Dutchman needed only to finish Saturday night's race ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to make it four straight for the Red Bull driver. Verstappen starts fifth and Norris is sixth. Norris can additionally lose the title if he fails to outscore Verstappen by three points on the neon-lit street circuit that zips down the famed Las Vegas Strip. The race is back for a second year and again promoted by Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1. The debut event was a bit of a disaster in that locals were livid for months over ongoing construction, as well as traffic detours and delays, the inability to access many local businesses, outrageous price gouging by the tourism industry as well as LVGP ticketing, and then a loose valve cover that nearly destroyed Carlos Sainz Jr.'s Ferrari minutes into the first practice. It caused an hours-long delay for repairs, fans were kicked out of the circuit, and F1 ran practice until 4 a.m. — when it legally had to reopen the streets to the public. This year has been far less hectic, in part because all of the infrastructure headaches were a year ago, but also that last year's race was spectacular. Despite all its speed bumps, the actual running of the race was one of the best of the F1 season and could produce a similar show Saturday night. George Russell of Mercedes starts from the pole ahead of Sainz , who wants redemption after the valve-cover fiasco last year. He had to serve a penalty because his car was damaged in the incident. Ferrari is expected to be the class of the field, which could tighten the nail-biting constructer championship battle. Red Bull, the two-time reigning winners, have fallen to third in the standings behind McLaren and Ferrari. But with Las Vegas the first of the final three races of the season, McLaren is clinging to a 36-point lead for a championship worth an estimated $150 million in prize money. McLaren last won the constructor title in 1998, while Ferrari last won it in 2008. The race is the final stop in the United States for F1, which has exploded in American popularity the last five years. The trio of races in Miami; Austin, Texas; and Las Vegas are more than any other country. After the race completion, F1 next week is expected to announce it will expand the grid to 11 teams to make room for an American team backed by General Motors' Cadillac brand. The team was initially started by Michael Andretti, who could not receive approval from F1 on his expansion application. Andretti has since turned over his ownership stake to Indiana-businessman Dan Towriss and Mark Walter, the controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They would run the Cadillac F1 team that would likely join the grid in 2026. The announcement of the American team did not come during the weekend to not derail from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which is the showpiece of the Liberty Media portfolio. With one-time infrastructure costs last year, the debut event was believed to cost Liberty nearly $1 billion. Expenses are down this year, but Liberty put in as much glitz and glamour as possible, anyway. There are nightclubs around the course and on top of the paddock, an ice-skating rink, top-level musical acts and a 10 p.m. local start to make it feel like a true Las Vegas big Saturday night event. AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingIn one form or another, College Football Playoff controversy touched the SEC, Big 12, ACC and Mountain West — all the relevant conferences except one. The Big Ten was essentially unscathed during the selection process for the inaugural 12-team event. Oregon, the undefeated conference champion, landed the No. 1 overall seed. Penn State, the runner up, received the No. 6 seed, followed by No. 8 Ohio State and No. 10 Indiana. The Hoosiers were closest to the fire but never seemed in danger of losing their spot — even after Clemson won the ACC championship and stole a bid. It was always Alabama vs. SMU for the seventh and final at-large berth. Why did Indiana stay above the fray? For that matter, why did Penn State, which had one victory over a ranked team (Illinois), receive the No. 6 seed? And why did Ohio State warrant the No. 8 spot ahead of Tennessee, giving the Buckeyes home-field advantage in their opening-round date with the Volunteers. “Ultimately as a committee and as we voted these teams, Ohio State was one ahead of Tennessee,” said Warde Manuel, the committee chair and Michigan’s athletic director. “But we didn’t look at it — as well, if we put Ohio State 6 and Tennessee 7, one is going to host and one is not. We never, I can assure you and everybody ... never even talked about it until after the Top 25 was ranked.” In each instance (Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana), there’s a case to be made for the placement of the Big Ten team. What strikes us is the conference seemed to get the benefit of the doubt in every case despite underlying data that reflect weakness: — The Big Ten is No. 3 in the Sagarin computer ratings, far behind the SEC and even behind the Big 12. — The Big Ten was 1-3 head-to-head against the SEC. Add two losses to Notre Dame, and the conference was 1-5 against its true peer group. — The Big Ten’s overall non-conference performance was largely forgettable, with only two wins over teams that finished in the CFP rankings released Sunday: Oregon over No. 9 Boise State and Nebraska over No. 23 Colorado. — Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana all played substantially weaker schedules than two of the SEC teams, Alabama and South Carolina, that were left out of the CFP field, according to the Sagarin ratings. For all the focus on Alabama and SMU for the final at-large berth, we’d argue the Crimson Tide has a substantially stronger resume than Indiana (more quality wins, tougher schedule) except for the number of losses, which mattered dearly to the committee. (The Hoosiers played one game against a team in the final CFP rankings, Ohio State, and lost.) Exactly why the Big Ten received the benefit of the doubt time and time again — in our view, at least — we might never know. But the conference was, indisputably, one of the biggest winners Sunday. Our breakdown of the sport’s decisive day ... Winner: Texas. As a reward for losing the SEC title game, the Longhorns received what is arguably the most coveted seed in the event: No. 5. They will open at home against three-loss Clemson, then advance to Atlanta to face Arizona State. Meanwhile, top-seeded Oregon doesn’t play a home game and will face the Ohio State-Tennessee winner. The format needs to change to provide greater rewards for the conference champions. Loser: Notre Dame. The Irish should have been seeded higher than No. 7. But in that position, they are bracketed with No. 2 Georgia in the quarterfinals. The committee was clearly reluctant to drop the losers of conference title games (Penn State and Texas) below a team that doesn’t have a conference. Winner: Boise State. Never before has one loss provided as much rocket fuel as Boise State’s 37-34 defeat at Oregon in Week 2. That performance, along with a perfect run through the rest of their schedule, propelled the Broncos all the way to the No. 3 seed and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. What a victory for the Group of Five, the Mountain West and the rebuilt Pac-12, which will be Boise State’s home in 2026. Loser: The SEC. Alabama lost the resume showdown with SMU for the final at-large berth and South Carolina watched the team it defeated last week, Clemson, roll into the playoff thanks to the ACC’s automatic bid. It could not have gone much worse for the kingpin, which is bad news for everyone else . Winner: SMU. The Mustangs agreed to join the ACC without any media revenue distributions, filled the hole in their budget (thanks to deep-pocketed donors) and reached the CFP in their first season in a power conference. Loser: The Big 12. The conference was poorly ranked for five weeks and stood zero chance of receiving an at-large berth, then watched as its champion, Arizona State, was seeded behind Boise State. All in all, the committee showed the Big 12 little respect. It’s an issue the conference must address . Winner: Cold-weather games. The CFP’s opening round will feature December 20-21 kickoffs in Columbus, South Bend and State College. The Hotline is rooting for a snowstorm that weekend at the 40th parallel. Loser: Brigham Young. The Hotline has hammered on this point in recent weeks and will reiterate for anyone who missed it: The Cougars should have been smack in the middle of the at-large conversation. They had a better strength-of-schedule than SMU and won the head-to-head matchup in Dallas . Somehow, the Cougars were seven spots below the Mustangs. Winner: Arizona State. There isn’t much left to say about the Sun Devils’ rise from nowhere to the CFP in three remarkable months. And even better for ASU fans: Arizona imploded. Loser: The CFP selection committee. Some years aren’t as bad as others. This one was terrible — not the end result so much as the month-long process, the flip-flops and contradictions, the missteps and poor communication of intent and priorities. Give the committee a C- for its performance. Winner: ABC. The network should generate blockbuster ratings with the marquee matchup of the opening round, Tennessee at Ohio State, which is slotted for 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Saturday, Dec. 21. The other two games that day face competition from the NFL. But the Buckeyes and Vols will be unopposed. Loser: Washington. We aren’t knocking UW’s qualifications for the postseason or commenting on the Huskies performance over the past three month. This is more about the assignment itself: The Sun Bowl against Louisville is just, well, blah. Winner: The Rose Bowl. The Granddaddy is one victory away from an Oregon-Ohio State collision in the quarterfinals — the most Pac-12 vs. Big Ten matchup it could have reasonably asked for. The more things change ... Loser: Time to breathe. The extra week in the NCAA’s competition calendar pushed CFP selection day back to Dec. 8 and left us with less than one week until the first bowl games (Dec. 14). To be clear: We aren’t complaining, not for one second. Winner: Oregon. We think the Ducks would have been better off as the No. 5 seed, with a home game and matchups against the No. 4 and No. 12 seeds. But the extra rest will be helpful — as long as it doesn’t bring rust — and the undefeated regular season and Big Ten title should be cherished. Loser: USC. The season ends where it began, in Las Vegas against an SEC opponent. It’s just that when the Trojans left Sin City on Sept. 1, after beating LSU, they never expected to be back in December with a .500 record to face Texas A&M. Winner: Alamo Bowl. With the first pick of the Pac-12 legacy schools, the Alamo matched Colorado against Brigham Young. Two ranked teams plus one Deion Sanders should equate to loads of interest and first-rate TV ratings. Loser: Cal. Any postseason berth is a victory for the Bears, but they drew a daunting opponent in the LA Bowl. We have watched both teams play numerous times, and the Rebels are better. That said, their coach, Barry Odom, just accepted the Purdue job, which could tip the balance to Cal. So let’s view the Bears as both winner and loser. Winner: Washington State. Sure, the three-game losing streak was a massive disappointment given the state of play in early November. But had you told the Cougars prior to the season that their journey would end in the Holiday Bowl (against Syracuse), they assuredly would have jumped at the offer. *** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to wilnerhotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716 *** Follow me on the social media platform X: @ WilnerHotline

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