Posing on red carpet at film premiere, Gray after another trip in taxpayer funded limoFMC Corporation announces election of Anthony DiSilvestro to Board of Directors
As 2024 draws to a close, my hands are full of deadlines, but I cannot sacrifice my love of life – writing pieces on topical issues. Several issues are craving for attention: tax reform, petroleum pricing, and NNPCL shenanigan, some politicians dancing naked in a market square, death of some hungry compatriots in stumped trying to receive handouts called palliative and the rest. As I was pitying Ms Kemi Badenock for her gross inferiority complex for castigating her motherland, Nigeria, I came across the story of Samuel Olalekan Akinyemi. My Nigerianess blazed up like wildfire, and I could not help but share the story with my esteemed readers. I am an ardent believer in Nigeria and love it with all my strength; except for my relationship with my creator, the Almighty Allah, my emotional prowess is centered on Nigeria. It is not a perfect country, but it was specially created to be great and is still evolving. Is Nigeria a great country? Nigeria is 64 years old as an independent nation, free from colonialism, and 110 years old as a nation called Nigeria. The amalgamation of British colonies, northern and southern protectorates, as a single country, Nigeria, in 1914, was done by fiat without consultation with the people. Under colonization, the land, contents, and people were considered booties of the colonial masters. Some people felt, and still think, that the amalgamation was an “accident of history,” which shouldn’t have been; how can over “200 nations” be fiercely jam-packed as “one nation”? Nevertheless, the country survived the political, religious, and tribal turmoil, plundering, and kleptomania over many decades, still wearing the toga of the potentially “great nation of the 21st century.” The saying “on the same level, half-full is better than half-empty” depicts the global image of Nigeria. The equation, events at home, poor governance exacerbated by kleptocracy and massive insecurity, and a few dedicated, hardworking Nigerians are balanced by bad ambassadors and many dedicated Nigerians abroad. No matter how bad we feel about our country, we should be comforted by watching and hearing about dedicated and honest Nigerians excelling at home and overseas. This makes us think our nation’s developmental trajectory is trending towards “half-full” rather than “half-empty.” Who are these great Nigerians who make us proud? Samuel Olalekan Akinyemi is undoubtedly one of the most nuanced personalities globally. Dr. Samuel Olalekan Akinyemi, a Nigerian-born doctor, once toiled as a laborer on construction sites before embarking on a transformative journey. His recent breakthrough in discovering a pioneering cancer vaccine in Russia is a testament to his unwavering dedication and the global battle against cancer. Born in 1994, Dr. Akinyemi, now a 30-year-old oncologist at the Ufa Clinic of the Bashkir State Medical University, has defied all odds. His journey, from the streets of Lagos to global medical acclaim, is a story of sheer determination and resilience. Dr. Akinyemi attended United Methodist Grammar School for his secondary education and completed. Inspired by his father’s profession, he initially pursued his undergraduate studies in civil engineering. During an interview with Report Africa, Dr. Akinyemi shared his journey: “I followed in my father’s footsteps into construction, although I have always wanted to become a doctor. After finishing my studies at university, I could have gone to Turkey or Finland. But when I learned about the recruitment of applicants to be sent to Russian medical universities, I realised that this was my chance.” In 2012, he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria before moving to Russia in 2015 to study medicine at Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa. His academic prowess and dedication to his studies are truly commendable. His parents were very supportive, agreeing to fund his education. He studied Russian for six months in Volgograd under the guidance of a Nigerian curator recruiting applicants. There, he learned the Russian language for six months. In interviews, Dr. Akinyemi has expressed gratitude for the support of his parents throughout his educational journey. He enjoys working at the BSMU Clinic due to its modern equipment and supportive colleagues. During his tenure at the university, Dr. Akinyemi demonstrated a keen interest in urology and oncology, which later became the focal point of his research and professional career. His commitment to these specialties is evident through his numerous publications and contributions to the medical field. In 2021, Samuel received Russian citizenship. On December 13-14, 2019, he participated in the 10th Volga Region Surgery Olympiad at Samara State Medical University. In the “Craniotomy” competition, he placed second. Dr. Akinyemi has conducted extensive research into cancer treatments and vaccines and has published numerous research papers and articles. He is multilingual, speaking German (Deutsch), Russian, Yoruba, and English. Vaccine development is mostly teamwork, with each participating scientist benefitting from the credit. The innovative cancer vaccines aim to provide tailored solutions for individual patients, marking a significant shift in cancer treatment. Pioneered by leading institutions and bolstered by state funding, this ambitious endeavor highlights Russia’s commitment to advancing medical science amidst growing challenges in cancer care. The vaccine’s innovation lies in its precision. By analyzing a malignant tumor’s genetic and molecular characteristics, scientists can craft a therapeutic agent that “teaches” the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Russian oncologists have emphasized the complexity and potential of these vaccines. With RNA technology, the vaccine trains the body’s cells to produce proteins that mimic those found in cancer cells. These proteins act as signals for the immune system, prompting cytotoxic lymphocytes—specialized immune cells—to target and destroy the tumors. Dr Samuel Olalekan Akinyemi played a massive role in this stage as the only foreign robotic surgeon in Russia. Dr. Akinyemi is a highly esteemed figure who has received the most prestigious global accolades in his career in his second country, Russia. He stands as a shining example of Nigerian excellence, with many others like him from different parts of Nigeria: the east, west, and north. His remarkable achievements, both in Nigeria and abroad, are a source of immense pride for us all.
The Pittsburgh Steelers got bad news for the hopes of outside linebacker Alex Highsmith returning to action this week. The Steelers’ starting right outside linebacker was in attendance at practice on Wednesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Highsmith took part in warmups, wearing his familiar gold No. 56 uniform, but when the horn sounded for the start of practice, he was nowhere to be seen, merely watching as his teammates took part in even a non-contact get-off drill. Head coach Mike Tomlin left the door open to a Highsmith return on Tuesday, but the team’s starting right outside linebacker being a spectator on Wednesday is not necessarily a good sign for his return. The team was in pads for a rare late-season practice with tackling, so that could have been part of the reason the team decided to take it easy with Highsmith. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith at practice on Nov. 27, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now The Steelers did get some good news, as defensive tackle Montravius Adams was listed as a full participant in practice. He said afterward that his intention is to return to action this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Highsmith was the only player on the team’s 53-man roster that did not practice due to injury. Cam Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and Isaac Seumalo were given tine off to rest. Adams and cornerback Cory Trice were both full participants in practice, but remain on the injured reserve list. PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT STEELERS INJURED RESERVE This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission.LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Biden administration plans on reducing part of Intel's $8.5 billion in federal funding for computer chip plants around the country, according to three people familiar with the grant who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. The reduction is largely a byproduct of the $3 billion that Intel is also receiving to provide computer chips to the military. President Joe Biden announced the agreement to provide Intel with up to $8.5 billion in direct funding and $11 billion in loans in March. The changes to Intel’s funding are not related to the company’s financial record or milestones, the people familiar with the grant told The Associated Press. In August, the chipmaker announced that it would cut 15% of its workforce — about 15,000 jobs — in an attempt to turn its business around to compete with more successful rivals like Nvidia and AMD. Unlike some of its rivals, Intel manufactures chips in addition to designing them. Two years ago, President Biden hailed Intel as a job creator with its plans to open a new plant near Columbus, Ohio. The president praised the company for plans to “build a workforce of the future” for the $20 billion project, which he said would generate 7,000 construction jobs and 3,000 full-time jobs set to pay an average of $135,000 a year. The California-based tech giant's funding is tied to a sweeping 2022 law that President Biden has celebrated and which is designed to revive U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. Known as the CHIPS and Science Act , the $280 billion package is aimed at sharpening the U.S. edge in military technology and manufacturing while minimizing the kinds of supply disruptions that occurred in 2021, after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, when a shortage of chips stalled factory assembly lines and fueled inflation . The Biden administration helped shepherd the legislation following pandemic-era concerns that the loss of access to chips made in Asia could plunge the U.S. economy into recession. When pushing for the investment, lawmakers expressed concern about efforts by China to control Taiwan, which accounts for more than 90% of advanced computer chip production. In August, the administration pledged to provide up to $6.6 billion so that a Taiwanese semiconductor giant could expand the facilities it is already building in Arizona and better ensure that the most advanced microchips are produced domestically for the first time. The Commerce Department said the funding for Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. meant the company could expand on its existing plans for two facilities in Phoenix and add a third, newly announced production hub. The administration has promised tens of billions of dollars to support construction of U.S. chip foundries and reduce reliance on Asian suppliers, which Washington sees as a security weakness. Boak reported from Washington.
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Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers, accused of domestic violence, cleared to practice and playSeventh-seeded Mizzou volleyball lost to SEC rival and No. 3 seed Kentucky 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13) on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, ending the Tigers' 2024 season. The biggest challenge for Mizzou during the regional semifinal was putting a defensive stop to Kentucky sophomore outside-hitter Brooklyn DeLeye. DeLeye had a strong performance, ending the match with 22 kills, three service aces and six digs. After MU was handed losses in the first two sets, Mizzou Coach Dawn Sullivan told her squad to "play our volleyball." The Tigers responded in the third set with adjustments at the service line, focusing more on putting the ball in the back row of the Wildcats' defense. The Tigers went on a 8-0 tear with senior libero Kiaraliz Perez Catala serving the ball at the line. Catala surpassed 50 service aces this season during the third set of the match, ending the game with three, all during that run. "We've seen how capable Missouri is on beating top-10 teams, and, you know, they made adjustments," Kentucky volleyball Coach Craig Skinner said in a postgame news conference. During this momentum-building third set, Mizzou right-side hitter Jordan Iliff was putting up a strong offensive effort, effectively using the Kentucky block against it to extend the Tigers' lead. Iliff ended the third set with a 17 kills in the game and a hitting percentage of .400. She finished the game with 20 kills, two service aces and nine digs. "She's unstoppable," ESPN broadcaster Anne Marie Anderson said of Iliff during the third set of the match. However, Kentucky, the SEC regular-season champ, would shut down the Tigers' offense in the fourth and final set, going on a 5-2 scoring run to force Sullivan to take a timeout with the Wildcats leading 12-6. Kentucky's blockers were aggressive toward outside-hitter Mychael Vernon, who was held to just one kill and six errors in Set 4. After the loss, Vernon took to social media reflecting on her final season playing college volleyball as a Tiger. "So proud of this team," Vernon said on an Instagram story following the game. "Couldn't have had a better last year. M.I.Z." The loss eliminates Mizzou from the NCAA Tournament after its fifth Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Tigers fell in four of those in the regional semifinals, advancing to an Elite Eight only once, in 2005. Throughout their season, the Tigers were a strong Southeastern Conference competitor, ending with a record of 22-9 overall and 11-5 in the SEC. In the other NCAA Tournament Pittsburgh Regional semifinal, No. 1 overall seed Pitt survived a scare from No. 4 seed Oregon, winning in five sets (25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12). The host Panthers take on Kentucky for a trip to the Final Four at 4 p.m. Saturday in Pittsburgh.
Commerce Department to reduce Intel's funding on semiconductorsThe results of the Uttar Pradesh by-elections in nine assembly constituencies have reinforced the dominance of the BJP and its allies, who secured seven seats. The victory reflects Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s aggressive leadership, his emphasis on religious unity, and his appeal to transcend caste-based politics. The slogan “Bantenge Toh Katenge” (Division leads to defeat), coined by Adityanath, emerged as a defining message of the BJP’s campaign, striking a chord with voters across communities. The by-elections marked a shift in voter sentiment compared to the Lok Sabha polls, as Dalits and OBC voters who had supported the opposition during the general elections realigned with the BJP. Unlike the general elections, where caste census and socio-economic concerns dominated voter priorities, the by-elections saw a consolidation of Hindu voters across caste lines. Religious unity, consistently emphasized by Yogi Adityanath during his rallies, appeared to resonate strongly. The chief minister’s messaging framed unity as essential for security and progress, urging voters to avoid divisions along caste lines. This shift was most visible in constituencies like Kundarki in Moradabad, where the BJP achieved a historic victory despite the constituency’s 65% Muslim population. The BJP approached these by-elections with a more measured and strategic approach than its Lok Sabha campaign. Candidates were chosen through detailed social engineering to ensure appeal within each constituency. To counter potential complacency, the party conducted multiple meetings to energize its workers and mobilized grassroots campaigns. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and reinforcing BJP’s message of unity. The by-elections also highlighted the challenges faced by the Samajwadi Party, which managed to retain only two seats—Karhal and Sisamau—both of which are considered its traditional bastions. The absence of Congress from the electoral fray weakened the opposition’s collective strength, indirectly benefiting the BJP. Furthermore, the SP struggled to mobilize Dalit voters, who had been a key support base for the party during the general elections. The BJP’s resounding victory in the bypolls also underscored its efforts to recalibrate its strategy after setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, where it lost significant ground in Uttar Pradesh. The loss of seats like Faizabad during the general elections, despite the prominence of the Ram Mandir issue, revealed the limitations of relying solely on religious narratives. In contrast, the bypolls reflected the BJP’s ability to combine religious unity with development-focused governance and targeted social engineering. Prime Minister Narendra Modi complemented Yogi Adityanath’s messaging with a national spin on the slogan, declaring, “Ek Rahenge Toh Safe Rahenge” (Unity ensures safety). This alignment between state and national leadership played a key role in consolidating voter support. The BJP’s performance in these elections is being seen as a critical indicator of its political momentum ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. While Yogi Adityanath emerges stronger with this victory, Akhilesh Yadav faces the challenge of rebuilding his coalition and strategy to counter the BJP’s expanding influence in the state. As Uttar Pradesh continues to shape national politics, the by-election results highlight the significance of unity, both as a slogan and as a strategy. Constituency-wise Results Kundarki (Moradabad) : BJP’s Ramveer Singh defeated SP’s Mohammad Rizwan by over 96,000 votes, marking a significant victory in this minority-dominated area. Sisamau (Kanpur) : SP’s Naseem Solanki retained the seat, continuing the party’s three-decade hold. Karhal (Mainpuri) : A bastion of Akhilesh Yadav, SP retained the seat with ease. Phulpur (Prayagraj) : BJP’s Deepak Patel triumphed over SP’s Mohammad Mustafa Siddiqui. Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar) : Rashtriya Lok Dal’s (RLD) Mithlesh Pal won by 29,867 votes, showcasing the RLD’s regional strength. Ghaziabad : The seat is BJP bastion. Atul Garg won it for the saffron party last time and Sanjeev Sharma retained the seat for the party. Katehri : The BJP also won Katehari seat won, which was by the Samajwadi Party in the last election; Dharmraj Nishad won by over 18,000 votes ahead of the SP's Shobawati Verma. Majhawan : BJP's Shuchismita Maurya won against Dr Jyoti Bind of the SP. Khair : BJP’s Surendra Diler defeated SP’s Charu Kain. BJP wins Uttarakhand: In a high-stake battle, the BJP was successful in winning the by-poll for Kedarnath assembly seat. BJP nominee Asha Nautiyal, who got 23,814 votes, defeated Manoj Rawat of the Congress by a margin of 5622 votes.
NoneAcademy Award nominee Maria Bakalova (“Borat Subsequent Moviefilm”) chatted about starring in “The Apprentice” and the Bulgarian film “Triumph.” Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” This quote applies to Maria Bakalova. The synopsis is: A young Donald Trump (Sebastian Stan), eager to make his name as a hungry second son of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn (Jeremy Strong), the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win. Bakalova portrays Ivana Trump, his first wife “It was very demanding as a shoot, because we didn’t have a lot of time,” she admitted about “The Apprentice.” “To be completely honest, there is never enough time to shoot a movie; you always wish you have more time. It was all shot in Toronto during the winter.” “It was cold, even though we were playing different seasons,” she said. “We were shooting in different times, and it was challenging in the physical level of it, and it was also challenging in the memory level of it. “We had to know what was happening in different years and in different times because it takes place over a ten-year period, pretty much,” she acknowledged. “At the end of the day, when you have a great team of such dedicated people (all of them in their craft), it feels like a celebration,” she exclaimed. “It feels like making movies and making magic. It was wonderful, at the end of the day, I wish we would do it again,” Bakalova added. On playing Ivana Trump, Bakalova said, “I liked everything about her. Ivana became a role model to me, to a degree. The fact that she always kept getting back on her feet — no matter what was happening in her life — was quite inspiring.” Bakalova continued, “Ivana knew that there was always a way of coming back and coming back stronger, and I love to be able to play somebody that has been so outspoken, so bold and so daring to be opinionated, especially in the ‘70s and the ‘80s.” “Ivana was outspoken back in the ‘70s and the ‘80s,” Bakalova said. “Ivana wanted to be seen as an equal and she wanted to be a partner in this. She didn’t want to just be in the shadow even though she decided to take a step back and allow him to shine more than her,” Bakalova elaborated. “I feel that Ivana was just as important in building his business as himself,” he added. This movie has been generating awards buzz this Oscar, Golden Globe and SAG season, with critics praising the acting performances of Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, and Bakalova. “I hope everybody in this movie gets a lot of recognition because everybody deserves to be seen,” she said. “What our director, Ali Abbasi, has managed to do, and the entire team, is just incredible. Also, what Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong have done with their acting work is just amazing,” Bakalova acknowledged. Bakalova stars as Slava Platnikova in the new international film “Triumph.” In “Triumph,” she took on the dual roles of lead actress and producer. “It has been a magical experience,” she said about “Triumph.” “I’ve been wanting to collaborate with the duo of directors (Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov) for a long time. They were some of my teachers back in my university days.” “I loved their work and how they managed to create such an interesting genre between drama (heavy and emotional drama) mixed with satire, absurdity and social commentary of the environment,” she noted. “Triumph is a part of a trilogy, and these things really happened in my country of Bulgaria,” she said. “It’s strange to think about the fact that back in the ‘90s, a country like mine decided to trust a psychic to lead a mission of digging a hole underground by the Bulgarian Army and wasting a lot of money and wasting a lot of time in search of alliance intelligence,” she elaborated. “It has been interesting to mix this mystical story in the environment of a very difficult time for my country back in the ‘90s after the fall of communism, feeling fragile and not knowing what to do and which side to take,” she explained. “My country has been the only one to choose a communistic dictator after not having to be part of a communistic environment anymore. If you mix the social environment with the mystical side of it, you have ‘triumph,’ which is a beautiful mixture of life and absurdity in life,” she added. Bakalova stated that the international film “Triumph” is that it is a co-production between Bulgaria and Greece. It has been selected as Bulgaria’s candidate for the 97th Academy Awards in the “Best International Feature Film” category. “My dream is for people to see this movie and to get a sense of that place because it’s very authentic at the end of the day,” she said. “It is also very universal, so I just wish for a lot of people to watch the movie and be open-minded and open-hearted to experience this comical tragedy because that is what ‘Triumph’ is,” Bakalova elaborated. “If you look at it closely, you see it as a drama, if you look at it from afar, it looks like a satire,” she added. On being a part of the digital age, Bakalova responded, “I don’t really know. We are having this beautiful interview on Zoom and it’s working in my favor because I am in Canada right next to the Rocky Mountains far away from where you are in New York, and we can do this because of technology thanks to the digital age.” “On the other hand, it’s a bit of a sacrifice of art in general... It is easy to get information, and if you manage to use it in a smart way, you can find a lot of benefits in it... but if you get soaked into the idea of using it only to make yourself lazy and not putting in the effort, then it’s working against you,” Bakalova explained. Bakalova noted that the digital age is a double-edged sword. “It’s good and it’s not good,” she noted. “Some movies are made to be seen on streaming platforms, where some shows and some movies work better at home,” she said. “During the COVID lockdown, the only hope and escape from these four white walls was through digital and the streaming platforms... so it’s just as equally crucial,” she noted. Bakalova continued, “On the other hand, a lot of movies don’t work at home... you need an audience and this contagious feeling of the audience’s reaction and how they perceive the scenes. If the audience loves a scene, then you understand that maybe it’s okay to love at the scene. If the audience gasps, then maybe it’s okay to gasp.” “It’s a shared experience,” she admitted. “For me, it is always better to go to a theater and to experience something on the big screen, as a cinematic lover. You can also see a lot of details such as the music, the sound, and the sound design... it is always more influential in a theater.” In 2021, Bakalova was nominated for the “Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role” Oscar for her acting work in “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.” “It has been wonderful,” she exclaimed. “It’s the biggest thing that can happen to you, and I was lucky enough to have this happen to me when I was working and surrounded by some incredibly talented people from something that I really cared about.” “I was shooting a movie called ‘The Bubble’ with Judd Apatow directing it,” she recalled. “I was in the middle of a scene with Pedro Pascal, and Judd just stopped the scene and told me ‘you just got nominated for an Academy Award!'” “Having that experience shared with somebody like Pedro was an even better feeling because he is exceptionally talented, and on top of that, he is one of the nicest human beings that I’ve met,” she acknowledged. “It has been incredible, and it has been so important because ‘Borat’ is a satire; it’s a political satire comedy, and usually, comedies are underrated and overlooked, even though they can manage to send a message even more widely simply through the power of comedy and through the tools of entertainment, which manage to make this world a better place,” she elaborated. On the title of the current chapter of her life, Bakalova revealed, “Triumph.” “I feel that title is very accurate right now,” she said. “I’ve been very lucky to be able to work and to be able to do what I love. ‘Triumph’ is a movie that I am really proud of, and as we say in the movie, ‘every day is a triumph.’ For young and aspiring actors, she said, “Coming from a place that doesn’t really get a lot of attention and hasn’t been given a lot of chances, and that’s why I will always be grateful to Sacha Baron Cohen for opening a possibility for somebody like me to take a role that is so widely seen in the face of Tutar (Borat’s teenage daughter). “Also, I am grateful to Ali for choosing somebody like me... someone from that region of the world that feels authentic to represent somebody as Ivana, who is coming from communistic Czechoslovakia and I’m coming from communistic Bulgaria,” she said. “Of course, I am fully aware that Czechoslovakia is not Eastern Europe; it’s considered an Eastern country because it has been under the Eastern Bloc... it’s Central Europe but it feels relevant,” she clarified. “I will always be grateful to both of them (Sacha and Ali) for choosing me to portray characters that feel authentic,” she added. On the best advice that she has ever been given, she shared, “One of the first pieces of advice I ever got, was to go and watch a lot of independent films, and I keep following that advice. Also, I go to a lot of festivals, and I go see movies that are not necessarily Blockbusters. “A lot of times, these movies are even more moving and more powerful and they give you the opportunity to expand your cinematic culture by seeing different regions of the world and obtaining different tastes and different tools. Get to know directors from all over the world,” she elaborated. “Just pay attention to the films that don’t immediately get all the attention; if you find these gems, it is just as inspiring for you to know them,” she acknowledged. “Get a lot of gemstones of how to do your acting and how to build a show. One day, you might be behind the camera and you might want to participate in the producing, writing, and directing teams,” she said. “Get a lot of tools of how to do this, not only by saying your lines, but get to know the craft and the art of acting. This was the advice that I wish I was given,” she concluded. Track and field running legend Wilma Rudolph once said: “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” Maria Bakalova is a woman, actress, and storyteller that embodies this wise quotation. To learn more about Oscar nominee Maria Bakalova, follow her on Instagram . Markos Papadatos is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for Music News.Papadatos is a Greek-American journalist and educator that has authored over 21,000 original articles over the past 18 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in music, entertainment, lifestyle, magic, and sports. He is a 16-time "Best of Long Island" winner, where for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, and 2022), he was honored as the "Best Long Island Personality" in Arts & Entertainment, an honor that has gone to Billy Joel six times.
FCC CHAIRWOMEN ROSENWORCEL ANNOUNCES HER DEPARTURE FROM THE FCC and the Commissioners Adopt the Report and Order for Caller ID Authentication RulesTafara Gapare scored a season-high 19 points off the bench and Derik Queen added 15 points and eight rebounds, lifting Maryland to a 91-67 victory over Bucknell on Wednesday in College Park, Md. Gapare made 7 of 9 shots from the floor -- including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. He highlighted his performance by unleashing a personal 10-point run in the second half to help send the Terrapins (6-1) to their third straight win. Gapare, who made one 3-pointer prior to Wednesday's game, was limited to just three minutes and was held without a point in Maryland's 76-75 victory versus Villanova on Sunday. Julian Reese scored 14 points for the Terrapins, who shot a robust 50.0 percent from the floor and scored 22 points off 20 turnovers. Selton Miguel drained three 3-pointers to score all 13 of his points in the first half. That effort came three days after being held without a point versus Villanova. Bucknell's Ruot Bijiek sank four 3-pointers to highlight his 20-point performance. Josh Bascoe scored 10 points and Brandon McCreesh added nine off the bench for the Bison (4-4), who lost two in a row for the second time this season. Maryland answered Bijiek's layup by scoring 12 straight points to take a 15-2 lead. Miguel keyed the spurt by draining two 3-pointers and a jumper. Bucknell tried to keep pace and trailed 25-12 after McCreesh's layup, but the Terrapins kept their foot on the gas to steadily build a 25-point lead late in the first half. The Bison made a modest charge to begin the second half, trimming the deficit to 16 at 58-42 on Bijiek's fourth 3-pointer of the game. Gapare singlehandedly halted the momentum by sandwiching 3-pointers around a layup and an emphatic dunk over the next five possessions. Reese sank a pair of free throws to cap the 12-0 run, extending Maryland's lead to 70-42 with 11:39 to play. The Terrapins were not threatened the rest of the way. --Field Level Media
The Boston Red Sox continued to rebuild their pitching staff, acquiring left-hander Jovani Morán on Tuesday from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for catcher and infielder Mickey Gasper. The 27-year-old Morán appeared in 79 games as a reliever for the Twins from 2021 to 2023, posting a 4.15 ERA, striking out 112 with 52 walks and holding opponents to a .208 batting average. He missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He originally was chosen in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. In Gasper, the Twins are getting a 29-year-old who made his major league debut last season and appeared in 13 games with Boston. The switch-hitter was selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2018 draft. He was picked by Boston in the minor league portion of the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. The Red Sox and Twins both currently have 39 players on their 40-man rosters. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb The Associated PressFederal government settles Phoenix pay class-action lawsuitSign road reform bill, highway engineers urge Tinubu
