The Atlanta Hawks were fined $100,000 by the NBA on Tuesday after a league investigation into star guard Trae Young missing an NBA Cup game two weeks ago. The NBA found the Hawks violated the league's Player Participation Policy when the 26-year-old American missed a November 12 contest at Boston. The probe, which included a review by an independent physician, determined the Hawks held Young out of a game, in which he could have played, under the medical standard clause of the policy, which is aimed at having top NBA talent play in regular-season contests. The Hawks, who beat Boston 117-116, said Young was unavailable due to tendinitis in his right Achilles tendon. Three-time NBA All-Star Young, who has not missed another game this season, has averaged 21.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and an NBA-best 11.9 assists so far this season. At 7-11, the Hawks are 11th in the Eastern Conference. The NBA also fined Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown $35,000 for aggressively pursuing a referee during his team's 108-103 home loss to Brooklyn on Sunday. The Kings are 8-10, 12th in the Western Conference after dropping four games in a row. js/bspAUTODESK, INC. ANNOUNCES FISCAL 2025 THIRD QUARTER RESULTSTexas will look to win its fourth straight game and carry a measure of momentum into its inaugural season as a member of the Southeastern Conference when it hosts Northwestern State on Sunday afternoon in Austin, Texas. It's the final tune-up before the SEC gauntlet for the Longhorns (10-2), who roll into Sunday's game with 10 days of rest and after a 98-62 win over New Orleans on Dec. 19. Justin Pope led Texas with a career-high 42 points, the most for a member of the Longhorns since Reggie Freeman had 43 against Fresno State in 1996. Arthur Kaluma added 15 points and Chendall Weaver scored 12 for Texas, which played without star freshman guard Tre Johnson for the second straight game. Johnson has been listed as day-to-day for a return but would be a likely participant to get at least some playing time before the Longhorns' SEC opener at No. 13 Texas A&M on Jan. 4. Texas coach Rodney Terry is looking for focus on the defensive end from his team as it heads into league play. "We want to be playing Texas basketball defensively," Terry said. "We try to protect the paint, we try to keep the guys off the glass, (and be) physical (with our) block outs. Then try to get out and play to a strength of ours. We're a fast team but you've got to be able to get stops to be able to do that and play in transition." Northwestern State (5-6, 2-0 Southland Conference) heads to Austin after an 89-79 win at home over Southern-New Orleans on Dec. 20. Addison Patterson turned in a career performance in the win with 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as the Demons won for the third time in four games. The Demons have played four teams from power conferences -- Texas Tech, Oklahoma, LSU and, most recently, Cal on Dec. 14 -- and have lost by at least 16 points in each game. "Our guys are always ready to play," Demons coach Rick Cabrera said. "We had a really good Christmas break to decompress and recuperate. They are just ready and willing to play anyone regardless of conference. Texas is extremely talented, and we are looking forward to competing with one of the top programs in the country." The contest against Texas is the final non-conference game for Northwestern State, which returns to Southland Conference play at home against Nicholls on Jan. 4. The Longhorns have won all five previous games with Northwestern State, most recently a 105-57 victory at home in November 2017. --Field Level Media
The Illinois Flag Commission released the top 10 finalists for the new state flag design contest on Tuesday. Here’s the meaning behind each. The public can vote starting in January . (Illinois Secretary of State) (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: Born and raised. From 1984-2002, I spent my childhood in central Illinois, I’ve lived and worked in Bloomington/Normal for 26 of my 40 years of life. My dad, sister, niece, and the majority of my aunts and uncles are still here. All of my grandparents are buried here. I found out about this commission only days ago after spending two years abroad. I found this old design from 2016 just today. It needs works. It lacks our current eagle, perhaps to be placed in white silhouette above the star. Explain the meaning behind your flag: This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners which both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abe’s silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois’ most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. It’s steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white leading us ever to the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: As someone born, raised, and educated in the state of Illinois, I am proud to call Illinois home and plan to do so for life. I believe strongly that my character and view of the world as a citizen and as an architect has been shaped by the cultural, geographic, economic, historic, and architectural diversity of our state. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The four dark blue bars in this submission represent the four geographic features that hold the greatest geographic, economic, and historic significance in the creation of Illinois: Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, the Ohio River, and the Chicago River/ Illinois River system. The corn kernels and 21-pronged gear that form our state flower, the violet, represent the agricultural and industrial foundations of our state and its status as the 21st state admitted to the Union. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I am 18 years old and a lifelong resident, born in Moline and currently living in Rock Island. My parents were also born and raised in this state. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The flag is divided into 7 stripes, in a pattern of white and blue alternating. The biggest blue stripe represents Lake Michigan while the smaller blue stripes represent the state’s various rivers such as the Mississippi and the Illinois. The center blue stripe contains 20 smaller stars surrounding a center star, which represent Illinois as the 21st state. The small white stripes represent the state’s industry and commerce while the bigger white stripes represent the state’s agriculture. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: The students who worked on this flag are high school students living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The state butterfly, the Monarch, is the focal point of this flag that includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the large star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination, and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty, and sincerity and strength. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: In the fall of 2004, I lived in Chicago and was studying industrial design at UIC. My great grandfather, Harry James McCartney was an engraver in Chicago. He worked downtown at the Sears, Roebuck and Co where he illustrated and engraved images of lamps, heaters, and other household accessories that were printed on the pages of the Sears mail-order catalogue. His father was James A. McCartney, a civil war veteran from Illinois. He became the IL Attorney General from 1881-1885. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 red + white stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state of this union. The blue field with the six-pointed white star represents Chicago. The negative space between the blue and white fields form the shape of an I to represent Illinois. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: My late wife Maureen Thomas (1952-2023) was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The idea of mine is simply an embellishment to the existing flag (helps to save money on an entire new design). Placing red and blue vertical bars on each end (with a narrow white stripe in between the colors) eliminates the ‘seal-on-bedsheet’ look. Not overly imaginative, but practical and economic. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: My connection to Illinois runs deep. My ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, IL, where they farmed corn, soybeans, and raised livestock. My father grew up on that same farm, while my mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. I’ve lived in Illinois my entire life, and its agricultural landscapes and small town values make me proud to call Illinois home. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the state’s three regions*northern, central, and southern*and their 18 points reference Illinois’ founding in 1818. A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors — Blue for unity, Green for agriculture, and Yellow for a bright future — honor Illinois’ history and natural beauty. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I’ve lived here for nearly 10 years and have grown to love this state. It’s an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made me feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, my appreciation for this state has deepened. Explain the meaning behind your flag: A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of our state. Gold color symbolizes out the richness in our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch. The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincoln’s hat. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois : Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been proud to call Springfield my home. I come from generations of Illinoisans and have chosen to raise my family here as well. I’ve spent much of my life exploring the state and experiencing its wonders firsthand what I’ve found is there is much to what makes Illinois great: our rich history, our landscape, our variety of people and the places they live. My designs reflect these qualities in a way that can hopefully inspire others to share my pride for my home. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The outline of Abraham Lincoln symbolizes liberty, opportunity and the equality of all people. The outline of Illinois symbolizes the pride we share for our state. The circle of 21 stars represents our communal togetherness and honors our state being the 21st to join the USA. The white star symbolizes Chicago and its upper-right location. Dark blue represents our blue-collar attitude and industrial power. Gold represents our prairie and agricultural history. White represents our bright spirit. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I have lived in Illinois for my entire life (40 years). I grew up in Naperville and then moved to Chicago where I lived for about 18 years before moving to Des Plaines. Explain the meaning behind your flag: My flag uses a silhouette design of the state of Illinois as the focal point. I always felt Illinois had a distinct outline. 21 stars circle the state to symbolize it being the 21st state to enter the Union. Additionally, I used the circular design to symbolize Illinois being a kind of center of the country, whether it is geographically or from Chicago serving as a hub for train and air traffic. Finally, the blue edges represent the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan which flank the state.
Buxar: One Raghunath Chaudhary (65) died after he was hit by an unidentified vehicle near Maharaja Kothi on the Ara-Buxar four-lane road under New Bhojpur station of the district on Tuesday. Raghunath, son of late Nagina Chaudhary, was a native of Barka Rajpur village under Tilak Rai’s Hata police station of the district. He was a close relative of Brahmapur RJD MLA Shambhunath Yadav. Naya Bhojpur SHO Manish Kumar said the body was sent to Buxar for postmortem. He said no injury marks were found on the body of the deceased, nor was there any damage to his motorcycle. He added that the cause of death would be ascertained after arrival of the postmortem report. We also published the following articles recently 65-year-old man dies in road accident in Buxar A 65-year-old man, Raghunath Chaudhary, died mysteriously on Tuesday near Maharaja Kothi in Buxar, Bihar. He was found near his undamaged motorcycle on the Ara-Buxar road. Police reported no visible injuries on Chaudhary, a relative of RJD MLA Shambhunath Yadav. Authorities await the postmortem report to determine the cause of death, leaving a puzzling incident under investigation. Railway court to be established at Buxar station A railway court is soon to be established at Buxar station, bringing relief to passengers and railway officials. District Judge Harshit Singh has requested infrastructure details from railway authorities within a week. Currently, passengers caught without tickets face arduous journeys to Ara and Sasaram courts. Two die as tractor overturns in Buxar Tragedy struck in Buxar district, Bihar, on Thursday when a tractor overturned, claiming the lives of two men. The victims, Upendra Yadav (30) and Pintu Ram (25), both residents of Jawahi Deyar village, were traveling from Brahmpur when the accident occurred. Police have sent the bodies for postmortem and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .
By David Shepardson, Nora Eckert (Reuters) -General Motors said on Tuesday it will stop funding and exit robotaxi development at its majority-owned Cruise business, a blow to the automaker that had made the advanced technology unit a top priority. GM said it would no longer fund work on the robotaxis "given the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market." The automaker has invested more than $10 billion in Cruise. GM shares rose 3.2% in extended trading on Tuesday. In 2023, GM CEO Mary Barra said the Cruise business could generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030. "This is the latest in the series of decisions that GM has announced which underscore our focus on having the right technology for the future of our company and the industry and reflects our commitment to execute with speed and efficiency," she said on Tuesday. Barra declined to say how many Cruise employees could be moved over to GM. Some of GM’s competitors have already stopped funding autonomous driving businesses, citing the costs and difficulties involved in developing such sophisticated technology. In October 2022, Ford Motor shifted spending away from its Argo AI operation, winding down the venture that was also funded by Volkswagen. Ford is still working on advanced driver assistance systems in-house different from the fully autonomous ones being developed at Argo AI. Last month, Cruise admitted to submitting a false report to influence a federal investigation and agreed to pay a $500,000 criminal fine as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. The Justice Department said Cruise failed to disclose key details of an October 2023 crash to federal regulators in which one of its robotaxis in San Francisco struck and seriously injured a pedestrian. GM expects the restructuring will lower spending by more than $1 billion annually after the plan is completed by the end of June. GM, which owns about 90% of Cruise, has agreements with other shareholders that will raise its ownership to more than 97% and will pursue the acquisition of the remaining shares. GM in July said it would halt development of a planned robotaxi that would not have a steering wheel or other human controls. In 2022, GM filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking permission to deploy up to 2,500 self-driving Origin vehicles annually without human controls such as brake pedals or mirrors. The agency has not acted on the request and GM cited the regulatory risk for its decision. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington, Nora Eckert in Detroit and Manya Saini in BengaluruEditing by Chizu Nomiyama, Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns the unmanned aircraft. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh has said they are not U.S. military drones. In a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said they and their federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, “continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings.” The agencies said they have not corroborated any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and that reviews of available images appear to show many of the reported drones are actually manned aircraft. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” according to the statement. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear and misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said witnesses may be confused about what they are seeing, especially in the dark, and noted it’s hard to know the size of the drones or how close they might be. “There are certainly big drones, such as agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” Duesler said Thursday. Duesler said the drones — and those flying them — likely cannot evade detection. “They will leave a radio frequency footprint, they all leave a signature," he said. "We will find out what kind of drones they were, who was flying them and where they were flying them.” Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Duesler said the public wants to know what's going on. “I hope (the government agencies) will come out with more information about this to ease our fears. But this could just be the acts of rogue drone operators, it’s not an ‘invasion’ as some reports have called it,” Duesler said. “I am concerned about this it but not alarmed by it.” Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.Michigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game on Saturday. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
China’s ‘Ice City’ welcomes influx of foreign visitors amid winter tourism boom
Qatar tribune Qatar Automobiles Company, the authorized distributor of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in Qatar, launched the special ‘End of Year” offer on a range of Mitsubishi vehicles with a wide range of benefits. Valid until the 10th of January 2025, the special allows customers to buy a Montero sport at a starting price of QR105,000, while the starting price of Xpander is QAR 59,000, Mirage and Attrage is QR39,000. The offer is available on limited quantities and colors, with range of benefits including 1-year free insurance, 1-year free registration, 3-year manufacturer warranty or 100,000 km mileage (whichever comes first). In addition, customers have the option of in-house finance from NBK Financial Services (Terms and Conditions Apply). Montero Sport The Mitsubishi Montero Sport shines with its fresh design, performance and durability at affordable price, making it the ideal car for all road conditions and at all times. With a fresh new face the Montero Sport has an updated look that features the new Dynamic Shield front grill, enhanced front bumper design and new LED and fog lights to give the car more tough yet smooth and modern look. On the back, the layout of rear lamps was changed, signal lights and brake lights’ positions have been switched, with a new spoiler out back adding a smoked finish in order to give the car a more sophisticated look. The Montero Sport is equipped with 3.0-LITER V6 MIVEC engine. The high-displacement V6 engine supplies strong acceleration even when carrying heavy loads or traveling uphill. Thanks to the 8-speed automatic transmission – First from Mitsubishi Motors – improved fuel efficiency coupled with smoother, more luxurious drive is easily achieved. Xpander The Mitsubishi Xpander is a versatile 7-seat SUV that offers comfort, functionality, quality and value for money. The Mitsubishi Xpander provides the best of both worlds. The interior enjoys plenty of cabin space, storage facilities and smart technologies, and the exterior’s bold styling does not compromise on high ground clearance, handling stability, and overall driving experience. The spacious interior of the Xpander is designed to reflect Japanese hospitality “OMOTENASHI” and provides comfort for all seven adult passengers thanks to supportive seating, convenient amenities and high-quality materials. Noise and vibration in the cabin are effectively absorbed by using special materials, ensuring a supremely quiet experience for the driver and all passengers. The air conditioning system enjoys eight fan adjustment levels in the front and four in the rear - as well as four rear roof vents, to keep everyone on board comfortable. Flexibility in the seating configuration to meet changing needs also allows for easy loading. The second-row armrest can be folded down and the second and third-row seats folded flat to accommodate lengthy loads. Additionally, entertainment and hands-free operation are available via the large 7-inch Smartphone-link Display Audio - SDA – which is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing intuitive operation of music, calls, maps and messages for a more enjoyable and safer driving experience. Even with passengers in the third-row seats, luggage space remains sufficient to accommodate four 4-gallon water bottles. Storage features in the Xpander in addition to the glove box include door pockets, drink holders, seatback pockets, floor console box, passenger seat undertray, and underfloor luggage area. Mirage Mitsubishi MIRAGE is the family economy car which secures utmost peace of mind and cost effectiveness. Thanks to its flexibility and minimum fuel consumption, the Mirage meets the expectations of the drivers and passengers alike. In terms of safety, Mitsubishi Mirage has enhanced light body, made of reinforced steel which absorbs shocks and shatters the effect in all directions. Attrage The Mitsubishi Attrage captures the minds with its new options and enhanced sporty design and advanced sporty dynamic look and feel, reliable safety, and intelligent features that are combined with good fuel economy and genuine quality. With the new enhanced sporty look, the body is streamlined to slip smoothly through the air. Reduced drag lowers wind noise and CO2 emissions while raising fuel efficiency and high-speed stability. Equipped with a dual colour front grill and tailgate spoiler, the Attrage is ready for more aerodynamic driving and stability on roads, while the newly designed wheel rims complement the body shape for the best look. The Attrage has an advanced, friendly, spacious cabin that’s equally impressive as its exterior. Chic fabric trim and high-quality materials for the soft yet supportive seats are complemented with hi-tech meters. The all line up of Mitsubishi cars are available in Mitsubishi Motors Showroom on Salwa road. Customers can visit the showroom at Salwa Road from Saturday to Thursday from 8 am to 9 pm and on Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm, and Al Khor Showroom from Saturday to Wednesday from 8 am to 9 pm, and on Thursday from 8 am to 3:30 pm. Copy 29/12/2024 10
