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US President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he was nominating staunch loyalist and retired general Keith Kellogg as his Ukraine envoy, charged with ending the two-and-a-half-year Russian invasion. Trump campaigned on a platform of ushering a swift end to the Ukraine war, boasting that he would quickly mediate a ceasefire deal between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. But his critics have warned that the incoming Republican will likely leverage US military aid to pressure Kyiv into an agreement that left it ceding occupied territory permanently or agreeing not to join NATO. "I am very pleased to nominate General Keith Kellogg to serve as Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia," Trump said in a statement on social media. "Keith has led a distinguished Military and Business career, including serving in highly sensitive National Security roles in my first Administration." A fixture on the cable news circuit, the 80-year-old national security veteran co-wrote an academic paper earlier this year calling for Washington to leverage military aid as a means of pushing for peace talks. Ukraine has received almost $60 billion from Washington for its armed forces since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022, but with the more isolationist Trump taking over the White House, supporters fear the spigot will run dry. "The United States would continue to arm Ukraine and strengthen its defenses to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a cease-fire or peace agreement," Kellogg's research paper for the Trumpist America First Policy Institute think tank said. "Future American military aid, however, will require Ukraine to participate in peace talks with Russia." Kellogg served in several positions during Trump's first term, including as chief of staff on the White House national security council and national security advisor to then-vice president Mike Pence. Kellogg told Voice of America at the Republican convention in July that Ukraine's options were "quite clear." "If Ukraine doesn't want to negotiate, fine, but then accept the fact that you can have enormous losses in your cities and accept the fact that you will have your children killed, accept the fact that you don't have 130,000 dead, you will have 230,000–250,000," he said. Trump's announcement came as the outgoing administration of Democrat Joe Biden was hosting a news conference to urge Ukraine to enlist more recruits by reducing the minimum age of conscription to 18. Facing a much larger enemy with more advanced weapons and with stocks of volunteers dwindling, Ukraine is facing an "existential" recruitment crunch, a senior administration official told reporters. "The simple truth is that Ukraine is not currently mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace their battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He was pressed on what Washington considers an appropriate minimum age and he replied that "we think there's real value in them considering lowering the recruiting age to 18" -- in line with the US benchmark. He added that an additional 160,000 troops would be "on the low end" to fill out Ukraine's ranks -- but "a good start." The former Soviet republic's population has fallen by more than a quarter since its mid-1990s peak of 52 million, and authorities are desperate to shield the younger generation -- but a US congressional report in June estimated the average Ukrainian soldier is 40. Zelensky signed a decree in April lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 but the move did not alleviate the chronic troop shortages, according to US officials. ft/bjtMajor retailers in UK and Ireland pull products associated with Conor McGregor
Major retailers in UK and Ireland pull products associated with Conor McGregorThe son of the Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai said Tuesday that his father’s trial in the Chinese territory was a “sham” but that he was “proud” of how he was handling himself in court. The 76-year-old media tycoon has been testifying for three days in Hong Kong about claims that he colluded with foreign forces, an offence carrying up to life in prison under the sweeping national security law Beijing imposed on the financial hub in mid-2020. The founder of the now-shuttered tabloid Apple Daily is also accused of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”. His son Sebastien, who has been travelling the world to denounce his father’s arrest since he was detained in 2020, is following in real time the media coverage of his father’s testimony. “The trial is one of the first times in the last four years where I have any indication of how he’s doing,” Sebastien Lai told AFP in an interview in London. “He’s been kept in solitary confinement for the last four years. His health obviously has gotten quite a bit worse but from his statements, his spirit’s still strong and his mind’s still sharp.” On Tuesday, Jimmy Lai told the court he had advocated “peaceful resistance” against China’s erosion of the city’s freedoms and tried to “reduce violence” during huge democracy protests in 2019. “It’s quite heartbreaking seeing my father being dragged to court with all these sham allegations. But I’m also incredibly proud of him”,” Sebastien Lai said. “They’ve been trying to break him for four years but he’s unbroken.” – Hong Kong ‘on trial’ – Sebastien Lai, who has not set foot in Hong Kong for four years because of his fight to defend his father, said he had little hope of seeing him judged impartially. “It’s a complete show trial,” he said, noting that the three judges hearing the case were appointed by the government and there is no jury. United Nations human rights experts have called for the release of Lai, as have major Western governments including Britain. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil this month. “My father at every turn, at every crossroad, chose to do the right thing. And Hong Kong is showing you what the cost is of doing the right thing,” Lai said. Last week, a Hong Kong court sentenced 45 pro-democracy activists to up to 10 years in prison for subversion. Lai says his father’s trial demonstrates “a very clear decision by the government to criminalise everything that my father stands for, which is campaigning for democracy, the free press, free speech, freedom of assembly”. “Symbolically, they’re putting my father on trial, but also these freedoms that made Hong Kong great on trial,” he said. Lai said statements by Starmer and foreign minister David Lammy calling for his father’s release were “incredibly important” but did not go far enough. “The United Kingdom can decide whether they are a place that protects citizens from being arbitrarily detained or not,” he said, adding that the fact his father will turn 77 next month makes his case “very urgent”. “My father could die at any point given his age. It’s not just about freeing him now. It’s about saving his life.” With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.Major retailers in UK and Ireland pull products associated with Conor McGregor
Ashwini Vaishnaw: ‘Railway safety initiatives lead to 70 pc decline in train accidents since 2014’
NoneRuling on Monday after an emergency hearing at Belfast High Court, judge Mr Justice McAlinden rejected loyalist activist Jamie Bryson’s application for leave for a full judicial review hearing against Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. The judge said Mr Bryson, who represented himself as a personal litigant, had “very ably argued” his case with “perseverance and cogency”, and had raised some issues of law that caused him “some concern”. However, he found against him on the three grounds of challenge against Mr Benn. Mr Bryson had initially asked the court to grant interim relief in his challenge to prevent Tuesday’s democratic consent motion being heard in the Assembly, pending the hearing of a full judicial review. However, he abandoned that element of his leave application during proceedings on Monday, after the judge made clear he would be “very reluctant” to do anything that would be “trespassing into the realms” of a democratically elected Assembly. Mr Bryson had challenged Mr Benn’s move to initiate the democratic consent process that is required under the UK and EU’s Windsor Framework deal to extend the trading arrangements that apply to Northern Ireland. The previously stated voting intentions of the main parties suggest that Stormont MLAs will vote to continue the measures for another four years when they convene to debate the motion on Tuesday. After the ruling, Mr Bryson told the court he intended to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Any hearing was not expected to come later on Monday. In applying for leave, the activist’s argument was founded on three key grounds. The first was the assertion that Mr Benn failed to make sufficient efforts to ensure Stormont’s leaders undertook a public consultation exercise in Northern Ireland before the consent vote. The second was that the Secretary of State allegedly failed to demonstrate he had paid special regard to protecting Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory in triggering the vote. The third ground centred on law changes introduced by the previous UK government earlier this year, as part of its Safeguarding the Union deal to restore powersharing at Stormont. He claimed that if the amendments achieved their purpose, namely, to safeguard Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom, then it would be unlawful to renew and extend post-Brexit trading arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and the rest of the UK. In 2023, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the trading arrangements for Northern Ireland are lawful. The appellants in the case argued that legislation passed at Westminster to give effect to the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement conflicted with the 1800 Acts of Union that formed the United Kingdom, particularly article six of that statute guaranteeing unfettered trade within the UK. The Supreme Court found that while article six of the Acts of Union has been “modified” by the arrangements, that was done with the express will of a sovereign parliament, and so therefore was lawful. Mr Bryson contended that amendments made to the Withdrawal Agreement earlier this year, as part of the Safeguarding the Union measures proposed by the Government to convince the DUP to return to powersharing, purport to reassert and reinforce Northern Ireland’s constitutional status in light of the Supreme Court judgment. He told the court that it was “quite clear” there was “inconsistency” between the different legal provisions. “That inconsistency has to be resolved – there is an arguable case,” he told the judge. However, Dr Tony McGleenan KC, representing the Government, described Mr Bryson’s argument as “hopeless” and “not even arguable”. He said all three limbs of the case had “no prospect of success and serve no utility”. He added: “This is a political argument masquerading as a point of constitutional law and the court should see that for what it is.” After rising to consider the arguments, Justice McAlinden delivered his ruling shortly after 7pm. The judge dismissed the application on the first ground around the lack consultation, noting that such an exercise was not a “mandatory” obligation on Mr Benn. On the second ground, he said there were “very clear” indications that the Secretary of State had paid special regard to the customs territory issues. On the final ground, Justice McAlinden found there was no inconsistency with the recent legislative amendments and the position stated in the Supreme Court judgment. “I don’t think any such inconsistency exists,” he said. He said the amendments were simply a “restatement” of the position as set out by the Supreme Court judgment, and only served to confirm that replacing the Northern Ireland Protocol with the Windsor Framework had not changed the constitutional fact that Article Six of the Acts of Union had been lawfully “modified” by post-Brexit trading arrangements. “It does no more than that,” he said. The framework, and its predecessor the NI Protocol, require checks and customs paperwork on goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland. Under the arrangements, which were designed to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to follow many EU trade and customs rules. This has proved highly controversial, with unionists arguing the system threatens Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom. Advocates of the arrangements say they help insulate the region from negative economic consequences of Brexit. A dispute over the so-called Irish Sea border led to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022, when the DUP withdrew then-first minister Paul Givan from the coalition executive. The impasse lasted two years and ended in January when the Government published its Safeguarding the Union measures. Under the terms of the framework, a Stormont vote must be held on articles five to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpin the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire. The vote must take place before December 17. Based on the numbers in the Assembly, MLAs are expected to back the continuation of the measures for another four years, even though unionists are likely to oppose the move. DUP leader Gavin Robinson has already made clear his party will be voting against continuing the operation of the Windsor Framework. Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, the motion does not require cross-community support to pass. If it is voted through with a simple majority, the arrangements are extended for four years. In that event, the Government is obliged to hold an independent review of how the framework is working. If it wins cross-community support, which is a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years. The chances of it securing such cross-community backing are highly unlikely.
Ultimate guide to Bitcoin: How and what to buy, how to protect yourself... and if you can make a fortune By GEOFF HO Updated: 22:44 GMT, 3 December 2024 e-mail View comments Bitcoin’s booming price has prompted a surging interest in cryptocurrencies, with growing numbers tempted to join what is being called the ‘digital goldrush’. The most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has had a storming year so far and is up 128 per cent. Its main rival Ethereum is up 56 per cent and challenger Solana is flying 121 per cent higher this year. However, getting started is easier said than done. Cryptocurrency trading is rife with danger. While some traders are making extraordinary gains, there is also a serious risk that you could lose most or even all your money. Scammers abound, ready to take advantage of those lacking experience in crypto trading. Furthermore, you cannot buy and sell cryptocurrencies on the traditional investment platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell. Here, Money Mail looks at everything you need to know to get started and talks you through the process step by step. Remember that buying and selling cryptocurrencies is not investing – it is risky and you should only use money that you can afford to lose. Crypto rally: The most popular cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has had a storming year so far and is up 124%. Its main rival Ethereum is up 56% and challenger Solana is flying 121% higher this year Just what are cryptocurrencies? They are essentially digital money, an alternative to traditional currencies such as the pound or dollar. As with real-world currencies, their value is determined by what people in the market are willing to buy and sell them for. Transactions are logged on a secure decentralised digital ledger called blockchain, so they are not controlled by states, banks or other financial institutions, unlike traditional currencies. However, unlike traditional currencies, they are very rarely used to purchase goods and services – at the moment. Bitcoin is occasionally accepted – for example, at some hipster cafes – but in general cryptocurrencies are simply bought, sold and traded. Also unlike traditional currencies, anyone can create a cryptocurrency – but whether or not it catches on as something that other people will want to buy is another matter. Launched in 2009, Bitcoin is the oldest, most established and most mainstream. However, it is just one of an estimated 9,000 active cryptocurrencies that are being traded. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Call to get crypto regulated as FCA reveals 7M Britons now... Tricks to turbocharge your loyalty card points - and... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to save money on energy: What you need to know and energy-saving tips that work Where do I get started? You buy and sell on a cryptocurrency trading platform, in the same way that you might buy shares or funds on a conventional DIY investing platform. There are a number of cryptocurrency trading platforms operating in the UK. Glen Goodman, author of bestselling book The Crypto Trader, recommends picking a platform that is based in the US or UK, as they are more likely to be trustworthy. He suggests Coinbase and Kraken as both are based in the US. They are also partially regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. However, this does not mean that users benefit from full protection on their cryptocurrency trading in the same way that they would with traditional investments such as shares and funds. ‘Both are based in the US, which has some regulations and protections,’ says Goodman. ‘Coinbase itself is also floated on the New York stock exchange, which gives some degree of comfort.’ Trading platform eToro and digital bank Revolut also allow their users to trade in cryptocurrencies. While this service is not regulated, both carry out other activities that are regulated by the FCA. How do I open an account? Once you’ve picked a platform, you will need to sign up as a user. This is not as simple as picking a username and password and away you go. We’ve used the example of signing up through Coinbase. However, Kraken, eToro and Revolut will bear many similarities. First, you set up a username and password, which creates your account. Next, you are asked to fill in personal details, such as your date of birth, National Insurance number, nationality, employment status and how you intend to fund your account (eg. from your salary, savings or an inheritance). Then the questions get even more detailed. For example, you are asked how much you expect to transfer to your account each year, what industry you work in and your annual income. The next set of questions are designed to ascertain whether or not you understand the risks of trading in cryptocurrencies. For example, you are asked whether you intend to invest less than 10 per cent of your assets in cryptocurrencies or whether you are a high-net-worth investor – in other words, you have money you may be able to afford to lose. If you fit neither category, you may not be well suited to cryptocurrency trading. If you get through these stages, you will be asked to upload proof of ID – photographs of your passport or driving licence, for example. And you will be asked to use the camera on your smartphone to take a selfie and upload it. You will also be asked to link a payment method to your account so that you can transfer funds with which to buy cryptocurrencies. You can do this by inputting your debit or credit card details. After that, Coinbase presents its users with a ‘knowledge quiz’ to check whether you fully understand how trading works and the risks. The questions are in-depth and if you are completely new to cryptocurrency trading you may have to do some research to answer correctly. Finally, you’re ready to go. However, in the case of Coinbase you are put into a 24-hour ‘cooling off period’ to ‘consider whether you wish to continue with this investment’. At this point, you can continue to use the platform to browse prices and learn about cryptocurrency, but you cannot trade until the 24 hours is up. What money can I use to trade? Once signed up, you’ll have to fund your account, for example using debit cards or credit cards. If you use your debit card, then when you buy cryptocurrencies on the platform the money will be taken directly from the current account that your debit card is linked to. However, because of the risks of cryptocurrencies, many banks restrict how their customers can buy it. Some will not allow you to use a credit card to buy it and some trading platforms do not permit this method of payment either. For example, HSBC sets a £2,500 limit for a single transaction to a cryptocurrency platform and £10,000 over 30 days for transfers to crypto-exchanges with a debit card. It blocks any attempt to use a credit card to fund crypto purchases. But it will allow customers to transfer money from their crypto-exchange wallets to their bank accounts. Santander takes a stricter approach, limiting customers to £1,000 per transaction and £3,000 for any rolling 30-day period. Nationwide will allow people to spend up to £5,000 a day on cryptocurrencies, depending on the type of current account they have. Newer digital banks such as Monzo and Revolut have fewer restrictions. While the latter will allow 100 transactions a day, they are subject to limits depending on what digital currency you buy or sell. While Monzo allows customers to use exchanges to buy and sell crypto, it will block transactions it regards as risky. How do I buy and sell? Once you have funds in your account, you can use them to buy the cryptocurrencies of your choice. On the homepage of the platform, hit the button that says ‘buy and sell’. You should be given the option either to buy cryptocurrency using cash, or to buy it using other cryptocurrency holdings you already own. You can scroll through the list of cryptocurrencies available to find the one you want. Click on that one and then input how much you wish to buy in pounds and pence. The platform should tell you what price you are paying at that moment. Prices are very volatile, so they will be constantly changing. Selling is just as simple. You state which of your cryptocurrencies you would like to sell and how much of it – with the value measured in sterling. When you hit ‘sell’, the money should be returned to your sterling account on the platform, which you can withdraw back into your current account when you choose. If you’re using platforms such as eToro, Revolut or Coinbase, your money should be returned instantly. In some instances there may be a delay while security checks are carried out. Platforms don’t tend to charge a membership fee. Instead they charge you a percentage or set fee when you buy or sell – and when you return money from the platform to your linked current account. Trades: You buy and sell on a cryptocurrency trading platform, in the same way that you might buy shares or funds on a conventional DIY investing platform What should I buy? This is the $100,000 question – though you can buy fractions of a cryptocurrency coin. While some traders have precise trading strategies and theories about which cryptocurrencies are set to rocket – and which are about to plunge – much is reliant on luck and the changing sentiment of other traders. When the price of a coin is going up, it indicates that other traders like you are willing to pay more for it. But the tide can turn and traders become willing to accept lower prices to offload their holdings – and then the price falls. These movements can happen very quickly. Danny Scott, chief executive of the CoinCorner dealer and payments group, suggests that for people new to the world of digital currencies, Bitcoin may be the best bet. This is because it has the longest track record, is the biggest market at $1.9trillion and is becoming an increasingly accepted part of the mainstream financial system. ‘I’d stick to Bitcoin,’ he says. ‘Any other cryptocurrencies are more akin to gambling as to which will perform well and which won’t.’ Bitcoin threatened to hit $100,000 (£78,946) a coin following Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US last month, but since then its performance has cooled. However, with the pro-crypto Trump in the White House, IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore says the market expects it to make a fresh move on the $100,000 level ‘in the coming weeks’. The second biggest cryptocurrency, Ethereum, is up 62 per cent over 12 months to $3,572 (£2,814). Scott says that sentiment towards Bitcoin will ultimately determine its future performance. XRP is the third biggest of the digital currencies. It currently trades at $2.56 (£2.02), but traders are optimistic about its prospects as the barriers it faces to adoption in the US could be cleared next year by the Trump administration. Am I protected? As cryptocurrencies are unregulated, you have no protection should anything go wrong and have no recourse to safety nets such as the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Matthew Long, FCA director of payments and digital assets, says: ‘If you buy crypto, you should be prepared to lose all your money.’ Since the FCA cracked down on crypto adverts, it has issued 1,702 alerts, taken down over 900 scam crypto websites and over 50 apps. Be wary of adverts you find on social media, or anyone contacting you out of the blue with offers to help you trade cryptocurrencies. Danny Scott, chief executive of the Coincorner dealer and payments group, says: ‘If somebody approaches you via phone, email or any other digital form talking you through buying cryptocurrencies of any kind, just stop! ‘Do not follow guidance from random companies you may have come across via Facebook ads or cold outreaches. ‘Some due diligence, such as a Google search about the company you are potentially dealing with, will also give you an overview of whether they are legitimate or not.’ If you are not confident trading your own money, you could consider a dummy trading account offered by platforms such as eToro. These allow you to play around with trading without using real money. A spokesperson for Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, says that while the market is maturing fast and is more stable than it was a few years ago, it is imperative that people still take the time to learn about it first and understand their limits, before making any investments. The spokesperson added: ‘Investors should take time to understand market dynamics to make informed decisions and align their investment and trading strategies with their own risk appetite.’ Do i have to pay tax? If you make a profit from cryptocurrencies and cash it in, you could face a tax bill. Crypto profits are treated as capital gains. All taxpayers have an annual capital gains tax-free allowance of £3,000 each tax year. Any profits on top of that are taxable. Go to gov.uk/capital-gains-tax/rates to see how much you could pay. No taxes are due until you sell the cryptocurrency. Plus, if you sell your Bitcoin or other crypto assets at a loss, HMRC says that can be used against future capital gains. Glen Goodman recommends that anyone buying or selling cryptoassets keep detailed records and regularly update the taxman. ‘People think crypto is outside of the system,’ he says. ‘It is not and never was. ‘The taxman always treated it like stocks, so if you go above the tax-free limit, you have to pay capital gains tax.’ SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY 1% cashback 1% cashback On debit card spending. Max £15 p/m* Learn More Learn More Energy bills Energy bills Find out if you could save with a fixed tariff Learn More Learn More Free share offer Free share offer No account fee and free share dealing Learn More Learn More 4.5% 1-year Isa 4.5% 1-year Isa Hampshire Trust with Hargreaves Lansdown Learn More Learn More Sipp fee offer Sipp fee offer Get six months fee-free on a Sipp Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. *Chase: Cashback available for first year. Exceptions apply. 18+, UK residents. Share or comment on this article: Ultimate guide to Bitcoin: How and what to buy, how to protect yourself... and if you can make a fortune e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.Martinez parades goalkeeper awards and justifies them with wonder save for Villa in Champions League
Berlin confirmed plans to reform its legal framework make it a clear criminal offence to “facilitate the smuggling of migrants to the UK” as part of the agreement, the Home Office said. The Home Office said the move would give German prosecutors more tools to tackle the supply and storage of dangerous small boats. Both countries will also commit to exchange information that may help to remove migrant-smuggling content from social media platforms and tackle end-to-end routes of criminal smuggling networks as part of the deal. It comes ahead of the UK and Germany hosting the so-called Calais Group in London, which sees ministers and police from the two countries, alongside France, Belgium and the Netherlands, gather to discuss migration in Europe. Delegates are expected to agree a detailed plan to tackle people-smuggling gangs in 2025 at the meeting on Tuesday. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “For too long organised criminal gangs have been exploiting vulnerable people, undermining border security in the UK and across Europe while putting thousands of lives at risk. “We are clear that this cannot go on. “Germany is already a key partner in our efforts to crack down on migrant smuggling, but there is always more we can do together. “Our new joint action plan with deliver a strengthened partnership with Germany, boosting our respective border security as we work to fix the foundations, and ultimately saving lives.” Nancy Faeser, German federal minister of the interior said: “We are now stepping up our joint action to fight the brutal activities of international smugglers. “This is at the core of our joint action plan that we have agreed in London. “I am very grateful to my British counterpart Yvette Cooper that we were able to reach this important agreement. “It will help us end the inhumane activities of criminal migrant smuggling organisations. “By cramming people into inflatable boats under threats of violence and sending them across the Channel, these organisations put human lives at risk. “Many of these crimes are planned in Germany. “Together, we are now countering this unscrupulous business with even more resolve. “This includes maintaining a high investigative pressure, exchanging information between our security authorities as best as possible, and persistently investigating financial flows to identify the criminals operating behind the scenes.”
Carolina Hurricanes (16-6-1, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Florida Panthers (14-9-1, in the Atlantic Division) Sunrise, Florida; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -123, Hurricanes +103; over/under is 6.5 BOTTOM LINE: The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes hit the ice in Eastern Conference action. Florida has gone 7-5-1 at home and 14-9-1 overall. The Panthers have a 3-0-1 record in one-goal games. Carolina has a 7-4-1 record on the road and a 16-6-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 7-2-0 when they commit fewer penalties than their opponent. Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season. The Panthers won the previous matchup 6-3. TOP PERFORMERS: Sam Bennett has 11 goals and 11 assists for the Panthers. Sam Reinhart has seven goals and four assists over the last 10 games. Jack Roslovic has 12 goals and three assists for the Hurricanes. Seth Jarvis has four goals and six assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 4-6-0, averaging 3.1 goals, 5.6 assists, 4.1 penalties and 10.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game. Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.3 assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.8 goals per game. INJURIES: Panthers: None listed. Hurricanes: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressSOCIAL DEMOCRATS deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan has revealed that he will speak with the Labour Party to discuss a left alliance before considering any coalition talks with the big three parties. The SocDems look set to scoop up more seats around the country than they had in the 2020 election thanks to transfer votes. Numbers indicate a likely Fianna Fail and Fine Gael coalition, the Greens have been ruled out as a major player in the election as Roderic O’Gorman admitted the party “has not had a good day”. However, O’Callaghan said his party would be in talks with other small left wing parties before entering coalition talks with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, or Sinn Fein , who are also polling high. He told reporters: “We certainly intend talking to the Labour Party and other parties over the coming days and week, that’s our intention. "Where those discussions go remains to be seen. “We’re delighted, we’re in for a number of seats around the country, we’re delighted with the results and the support people have given us in the election. “We are hoping to be transfer friendly, and a lot of the contests we’re in are going to be for final seats, we’re hoping to get transfers from all directions.” O’Callaghan admitted the party don’t know how many seats they might get but emphasised that they are hopeful. He said: “We don’t know at this stage, we’re certainly very hopeful of making gains and coming out of this election with more seats than we went in.” The party previously laid out their five red line issues, stating they would not enter into a coalition with anyone who would not deliver in the deal breaker areas. They proposed delivering high quality public childcare , building 50,000 affordable houses, a full rollout of Slaintecare, reaching climate targets and appointing a minister for disability. O’Callaghan slapped down the suggestion that their red line issues might hurt the SocDems chances of being a coalition partner. He said: “The reason we picked five deal-breakers was to define how we’re going to go into government, not rule us out of government, but to show people what we wanted to do if we do get into government, so this is about defining our negotiations and our talks with any parties once the election counts are over.”GUWAHATI: Manipur's 10 Kuki legislators, including seven from BJP, urged the Centre and state govt Thursday to initiate a political dialogue to restore peace in the violence-hit state. Their call came in response to an eight-point resolution passed Monday during a meeting of NDA ministers and legislators convened by CM N Biren Singh. The Kuki MLAs boycotted the meeting. They accused state govt of escalating tensions for political motives. "The misdemeanour seems emanating from certain quarters to save the shaky chair of CM," they said. Addressing the Centre's reimposition of Afspa on Nov 14, the Kuki legislators said it "needs immediate review." The 1958 law gives special powers to soldiers during counter-insurgency/terrorism operations. The Kuki MLAs advocated for extending Afspa to the remaining 13 police jurisdictions in Imphal valley to "facilitate the recovery of more than 6,000 sophisticated weapons looted by Meitei militia since May 3" last year when ethnic violence erupted in the state. "This is a long overdue action required to contain the violence," they said. Monday's meeting had earlier resolved to request the Centre to review Afspa's reimposition in areas under six police stations. The MLAs criticised the resolution to conduct "mass operations against Kuki militants responsible for the killing of six innocent women and children in Jiribam," calling it "biased" for targeting a single community. "Mass operations must be conducted throughout the state to recover all illegal arms from all militia groups," they insisted. They also opposed the resolution to declare the alleged perpetrators in the Jiribam killings as an unlawful organisation. "This must be preceded by the declaration of the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun as unlawful organisations under relevant laws," they said. They reacted to the killing of 10 Hmar men during a CRPF operation on Nov 11 in Jiribam. While the forces labelled them as militants, the Kuki-Zo community asserted that the men were village volunteers.Major retailers across the UK and Ireland are to stop selling alcoholic drinks associated with Irish fighter Conor McGregor. The decision by Tesco, Musgrave and the BWG Group came after a woman who said Mr McGregor raped her won a civil claim for damages against him. Nikita Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a case at the High Court in the Irish capital. In a statement, a spokesman for Musgrave said: “Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network.” The network includes SuperValu, Centra, Daybreak and Mace. A Tesco spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online.” A spokesperson for BWG Group said: “The products are no longer listed for distribution across our network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores, including Appleby Westward which operates over 300 Spar stores in the south west of England.” It is understood that other retail outlets including Costcutter and Carry Out will also stop stocking products linked to Mr McGregor. He and some of his business partners sold their majority stake in the Proper Number Twelve Irish whiskey brand. He was reported to have been paid more than £103 million from the sale to Proximo Spirits in 2021. On Monday, a popular video game developer decided to pull content featuring the MMA fighter. The Irish athlete has featured in multiple video games, including voice-acting a character bearing his likeness in additional downloadable content in the Hitman series. Mr McGregor’s character featured as a target for the player-controlled assassin in the game. IO Interactive, the Danish developer and publisher of Hitman, said in a statement: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. “Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” Last Friday, the High Court jury awarded damages amounting to 248,603.60 euros (around £206,000) to Ms Hand. Mr McGregor made no comment as he left court but later posted on social media that he intended to appeal against the decision.
Jasleen Kaur Wins 2024 Turner PrizeThe Los Angeles Chargers placed running back J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve due to an MCL sprain that he suffered during a 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero , the Chargers "want to be cautious" with Dobbins' injury and ensure that he's "healed up for the stretch run" of the season. The 25-year-old will now miss a minimum of four games, meaning that his earliest opportunity to return is against the New England Patriots on Dec. 29. This article will beupdated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sportsworld, check out our B/R app , homepage andsocial feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
Gabriel mimics Gyokeres in cheeky goal celebration in Arsenal win over Sporting in Champions LeagueMinisters warned of cuts as ‘every pound’ of spending to face reviewNone
Emi Martinez began the night by walking onto the field with his children and parading a pair of trophies for being the world’s best goalkeeper for the last two years. He finished it by producing an astonishing save that vindicated those awards. The Argentina international illuminated a 0-0 draw between his Aston Villa team and Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday by plucking the ball from behind him and scooping it off the goal line to deny Francisco Conceição what could have been the winner. Replays showed the ball was almost entirely over the line before Martinez hooked it clear, and the goalkeeper was quickly congratulated by his teammates. No save by Martinez will ever beat the one he pulled off for Argentina in the last seconds of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final , denying France striker Randal Kolo Muani and keeping teammate Lionel Messi’s dream alive of finally winning soccer’s biggest prize. He might just have run it close. It was fitting he produced his wonder save against Juve on the night he showed off the two Yashin Trophies he claimed at the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony in each of the past two years. The most recent one came last month. As for Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, he finished the game relieved that what appeared to be a mistake in the final seconds of stoppage time didn't cost his team. Di Gregorio spilled a cross under pressure from Villa defender Diego Carlos and Morgan Rogers was there to poke the ball into the net. A goal was awarded by the on-field referee but after a two-minute check, it was ruled out for a foul on Di Gregorio by Carlos. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____The narrative is well-known. “The Miami Dolphins cannot win in the cold.” It’s something that has been repeated ad naseum. By media pundits. By fans. By even opposing fans. If the Dolphins come up in conversation ahead of their prime time Thanksgiving matchup against the Green Bay Packers, you better believe that the team’s inability to historically play in cold weather will be mentioned. Within the organization, however, everyone — from coach Mike McDaniel to Tua Tagovailoa — has seemingly embraced the narrative. “We couldn’t be asking for anything better,” Jonnu Smith said after Sunday’s 34-15 victory over the New England Patriots. “Honestly, at this point in the season, where we’re at, it’s exactly what we want, this where we want to be. We’re excited about the challenge. Great team that we’re going to go face on a short week Added Tagovailoa: “I’m excited to kill narratives, so let’s go. Bring it on.” Like most narratives, the Dolphins’ failure to beat teams in the cold is not without merit. Under coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins are just 3-7 when forced to play in cities with frigid temperatures once the month of November hits. Tagovailoa’s record in similar situations isn’t much better at 4-9 . Similar to how the Dolphins have constantly reminded fans in search of 2023’s offensive success, the past doesn’t necessarily matter. “I’m very comfortable with narratives because I think they’re very predictable and retroactive, so what else would you expect — they will always say you can’t until you can,” McDaniel said. “It doesn’t really make me feel anything.” In turn, McDaniel’s message has been simple: “focus on what you can control.” “We’re not going to mysteriously change latitudes in the next week,” McDaniel said Monday afternoon, later adding that “the saving grace is that both teams are playing in the same weather and we’ll do little things during the week that we think might be advantageous, but it’s not going to be able to be exact replication. We’re not trying to. I think you just try to be on top of your job and how to do your job and then with your mindset adjusted, that’s how you go into games in any environment, but specifically when you have some elements involved.” What exactly the team has done in preparation for Thursday is unclear. McDaniel wouldn’t divulge any specifics — “I was just going to carry ice cubes in my pockets and throw them at players all week,” he quipped — but he certainly emphasized the growth of the team from 2022 until now. “There’s a lot more known in this, going into this game from a weather standpoint just because I think the road game in 2022 at Buffalo — half the team had never played in cold before and it was my first time in any sort of elements with those guys,” McDaniel said before referring to the 2023 wild card playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs where temperatures minus-4 degrees. “At this point, a little more familiar. We were given the gift of ‘what do you mean by cold’ — is it frostbite cold? I think that’s as we work together as a collective group, we gained some of that experience in that playoff game and proper perspective.” As McDaniel alluded to, the right mental state can help soften the effects of the very real environmental pressures. Tagovialoa spoke to that on Tuesday afternoon. “The biggest thing is mind-set,” Tagovailoa said. “We’re obviously nowhere near the temperatures that the other cold teams play at. Being in Miami, where its 80, sometimes it gets down to 50. It just gets nowhere near the teams that make it in long stretches in the run that they try to do. To me, it’s just mindset.” Therein lies the key ultimate key to victory. If the Dolphins approach Thursday with the right mind-set, the cold shouldn’t be an issue. Besides, there’s bigger things at stake. Not only would a win put the Dolphins at .500 for the first time since Week 2, it’s crucial to their postseason aspirations — the Dolphins can only afford to lose one game for the rest season — and their confidence. A three-game win streak against middling teams means virtually nothing if you can’t beat a franchise with Super Bowl dreams. And while the weather will certainly be a factor, it shouldn’t be the end all be all. Just ask defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver . “I’ve been around big-time football now since 1998,” said Weaver who played seven years in the NFL before switching to coaching. “I’ve never lost a game and looked back and thought, ‘Guys, it was just too cold outside,’ so I don’t expect that to happen this week. I understand some of the things that are being talked about and the narratives out there, but for us, it’s football. It doesn’t matter what the temperature is, they can go and snap this in the mall parking lot and we’re going to go and do everything we can to try to win.” This story was originally published November 26, 2024, 3:56 PM.Clowns to Cabinet confirmation circus
Calgary Flames (12-8-4, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-12-4, in the Metropolitan Division) Pittsburgh; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Penguins -122, Flames +101; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames enter the matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins after losing three in a row. Pittsburgh is 9-12-4 overall and 5-6-2 at home. The Penguins have conceded 96 goals while scoring 65 for a -31 scoring differential. Calgary is 12-8-4 overall and 3-5-4 in road games. The Flames have a 4-7-1 record in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents. The matchup Saturday is the second time these teams meet this season. The Flames won 4-3 in a shootout in the previous meeting. TOP PERFORMERS: Sidney Crosby has eight goals and 16 assists for the Penguins. Bryan Rust has four goals and three assists over the last 10 games. Rasmus Andersson has five goals and nine assists for the Flames. Mikael Backlund has scored three goals and added one assist over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 4-4-2, averaging 2.3 goals, four assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game. Flames: 5-3-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game. INJURIES: Penguins: None listed. Flames: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated PressEquity Residential stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors
Musk's budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump's second termInformal tallying of votes in count centres for Ireland’s General Election have suggested the potential for new breakthroughs and trouble for some established incumbents, after an exit poll put the three main parties nearly neck and neck. The tallies, carried out by party activists and volunteers as boxes opened at 9am, give a more localised sense of the potential result than Friday night’s exit poll. The largest opposition party Sinn Fein held 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of current coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively, according to the Ipsos B&A Exit Poll commissioned by RTE, The Irish Times, TG4 and Trinity College Dublin. With boxes now open, the votes must first be sorted before counting formally begins in a process which could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. It means the voting slips need to be counted several times, an undertaking which can last days. The inconclusive early indications have turned the focus of speculation to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. First counts which carry the potential for the election of new members of parliament, known as TDs in Ireland, are expected later on Saturday. Most of the leaders of the main parties, including Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald seem set to be reelected. However, Green leader Roderic O’Gorman, who is the head of the junior partner in the outgoing coalition, is in with a fight to hold on to his seat. He has conceded that a number of his colleagues will not retain their seats, amid the broader potential for a wipeout. That would be a repeat of history given the last time the Greens exited a coalition – in 2011, the party lost all six of its TDs. Mr O’Gorman, the outgoing integration minister, said on Saturday: “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day.” Catherine Martin, the Green party’s former deputy leader and outgoing media minister, is also at risk of failing to be reelected. The tallies suggest potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch, who is sitting on fourth in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central after the completion of the unofficial tallies there. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon has appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smallest parties. Leader Holly Cairns announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day. Elsewhere, Labour and Sinn Fein are eyeing potential gains. Despite the apparent rise of the Social Democrats, it initially appeared unlikely that only one smaller party would be needed to act as a kingmaker to seal a majority. It has turned eyes to the possibility that a coalition could potentially be formed with four parties or with the use of independents – considered by some to be a recipe for unstable governance. The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have consistently ruled out entering into a coalition with Sinn Fein, citing substantial differences on policy. As such, the opposition party faces a much more challenging route to forming a government. However, long-held and ostensibly insurmountable political differences have eroded as recently as 2020, when the general election also delivered an inconclusive result. Then, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power for the outgoing coalition, after similar pledges against forming coalitions had been made before the final results. In that election, Sinn Fein won the popular vote but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government. Sinn Fein’s director of elections said on Saturday that another Fine Gael and Fianna Fail government would be a “nightmare scenario”. Matt Carthy told RTE: “We will try and do everything in our power to create a government that doesn’t include Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.” The “encouraging” exit poll suggests Fine Gael has “held ground”, according to the party’s general secretary John Carroll. Before voting began, Fianna Fail deputy leader Jack Chambers said the race remained “too close to call”. Asked if there is now no difference between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Mr Chambers told RTE radio that the parties had worked well together in government but added: “There were very clear differences in policies (during the campaign).” A key factor in determining the final result of any Irish election is the transfer of votes based on a voter’s preferences, a key part of PR-STV. It is through this system that candidates can still claim a seat after insufficient votes following a first count. More than 3.6 million people were registered to vote in the election to choose their representatives across 43 constituencies, in a campaign that has focused on the country’s housing crisis, the response to a dramatic increase in immigration, and economic management for the cost of living, as well as potential future trade shocks. There are a total of 174 seats in the country’s parliament to be filled, more than ever before. As the Ceann Comhairle, the speaker of the house, is automatically returned, 173 seats will be filled in the counting process.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council reversed course Thursday on whether to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of the Tampa Bay Rays' ballpark , initially voting narrowly for approval and hours later changing course. The reversal on fixing Tropicana Field came after the council voted to delay consideration of revenue bonds for a proposed new $1.3 billion Rays ballpark. Just two days before, the Pinellas County Commission postponed a vote on its share of the new stadium bonds, leaving that project in limbo. “This is a sad place. I'm really disappointed,” council chair Deborah Figg-Sanders said. “We won’t get there if we keep finding ways we can’t.” The Rays say the lack of progress puts the new stadium plan and the future of Tropicana Field in jeopardy. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a path forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are obligated to play there for three more seasons. “We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.” The initial vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The subsequent vote reversing funding for the roof repair essentially means the city and Rays must work on an alternative in the coming weeks so that Tropicana Field can possibly be ready for the 2026 season. The city is legally obligated to fix the roof. “I’d like to pare it down and see exactly what we’re obligated to do,” council member John Muhammad said. The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage to the unroofed Trop. Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so. “I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place,” council member Gina Driscoll said. “We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof.” The council had voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed it said there wasn't enough clarity on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark's insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also noted that city residents who are struggling to repair their homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed when they see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball. “Why are we looking to expend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” council member Richie Floyd said. The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out to make way for construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The broader $6.5 billion project would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) tract in the city’s downtown, with plans in the coming years for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space. There’s the promise of thousands of jobs as well. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a prime mover behind the overall project, said it's not time to give up. “We believe there is a path forward to success,” the mayor said. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbhave threatened to disrupt one of London’s biggest Christmas events over its sponsorship deal with . Activists have called for a boycott of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball, which is set to be headlined at the O2 arena next weekend by Coldplay and Katy Perry. There are also plans by pro-Palestine groups to picket the shows, raising fears that militants could try to disrupt the event. The boycott call could place pressure on Chris Martin, Coldplay’s frontman – who has previously expressed concern over the plight of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians – to pull out of the shows. Activists have mounted a long-running campaign of direct action against Barclays over its financial links to defence-industry firms they say provide arms to Israel. Tactics have included and sit-ins at numerous Barclays Bank branches in the wake of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, following the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas. (PSC) has included the Jingle Bell Ball in its boycott of events linked to Barclays and is urging the public to shun the glittering concerts on Dec 7 and 8. Sources have told The Telegraph they will stage a protest outside the ball in the hope of persuading people not to go inside. A spokesman for the PSC told The Telegraph: “We urge people not to attend the Jingle Bell Ball and other events it sponsors as part of our boycott of Barclays. “Barclays is using its support of arts and culture to launder its financial links to military operations in Gaza and give themselves respectability. “Families in Gaza don’t have the freedom or safety to celebrate Christmas and would love to see an end to this conflict.” The boycott promise raises the prospect of direct action by groups such as , which has targeted both Barclays and defence firms over the past year – with activists spraying buildings with paint and occupying premises. Martin, who founded in 1997 with fellow University College London students Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman and Will Champion, has voiced his concerns over the Gaza conflict. In June, he called for peace between Israelis and Palestinians during the band’s headline Glastonbury show, when they performed a duet with Palestinian singer Elyanna. Martin’s management team did not respond when approached by The Telegraph for comment over the issue of the Barclays boycott and its impact on Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball. Earlier this year, Barclays suspended its sponsorship of all music festivals staged by promoter Live Nation in 2024, including Download, Latitude and the Isle of Wight. The move came after several acts pulled out of the events in protest at the bank’s investment links to arms companies that trade with Israel. Artists including country singer CMAT, metal band Ithaca and comedian Joanne McNally all withdrew from planned slots this summer. Barclays has since hit back at continued calls for a boycott of all its cultural activities, stating: “The protesters’ agenda is to have Barclays debank defence companies, which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe. They have resorted to intimidating our staff, repeated vandalism of our branches and online harassment.” It added: “The only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions. It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”
Singapore, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What is QUANTUM and what does it solve? QUANTUM is designed to overhaul the financial transaction systems by replacing outdated, centralized methods with a quantum-safe and AI-compliant decentralized blockchain solution that offers enhanced security and efficiency. It addresses the inherent limitations of traditional financial messaging systems like SWIFT, which suffers from issues such as slow transaction times, high costs, opaque fees, and susceptibility to cyber threats and geopolitical influences. QUANTUM introduces a next-generation financial framework that leverages post-quantum cryptography and trapping techniques to safeguard against advanced cyber threats and integrates AI to automate compliance checking with international financial regulations, aiming to streamline and secure financial transactions for banks, broker-dealers, investment managers, and market infrastructures globally. QUANTUM is also at the heart of all transactions underpinning the new financial institutions being built on Quantum Chain, forming the Quantum Ecosystem. Token Overview - Token name: Quantum - Token symbol: $Q - Total Issue Supply : USD $1,000,000,000 What are the utilities of $Q? The QUANTUM token serves as a multifunctional utility within the Quantum Chain network, fulfilling several key roles: 1. Transaction Fees: QUANTUM tokens are used to pay for transaction fees within the network, compensating validators and nodes for processing transactions and maintaining the blockchain. 2. Governance: Token holders can participate in governance decisions, influencing the development and operational aspects of the Quantum Chain network. This includes voting on protocol changes, upgrades, and proposals that affect the network. 3. Staking: Users will be able to stake QUANTUM tokens to participate in the network's consensus mechanism. Staking tokens helps secure the network by providing the necessary collateral to validate transactions. In return, stakers receive rewards proportional to their stake. 4. Reward Distribution: The network rewards participants, such as validators and certain users, with QUANTUM tokens for their contributions to network security, development, and community engagement. 5. Access to Services: Tokens might be used to access specific services within the QUANTUM ecosystem, such as advanced financial reporting tools, artificial intelligence-driven analytics, and other premium features. 6. Interoperability and Cross-Chain Services: QUANTUM may facilitate or manage cross-chain transactions, enabling interoperability with other blockchain networks, with the token potentially being used as a bridging asset. These utilities are designed to ensure the active participation of users, maintain the network's security, and encourage the ongoing development of the QUANTUM ecosystem. What does the QUANTUM ecosystem include? The QUANTUM ecosystem is built to provide a robust and scalable blockchain infrastructure with multiple components and services that address various aspects of blockchain technology and its applications to perfectly se the foundations of an evolved financial industry: 1. Core Blockchain Layer: At the heart of QUANTUM is its blockchain layer, Quantum Chain, the quantum-safe protocol which supports high transaction throughput and scalability through an innovative consensus mechanism. This layer ensures secure, fast, and efficient transaction processing. 2. Decentralized Applications (dApps)/Financial Institutions (FIs): The ecosystem supports the development and operation of new financial institutions and dApps. These applications leverage Quantum Chain technology for various use cases, including finance, tokenization, supply chain management, payments and cross-border transactions and much more. 3. Smart Contracts: QUANTUM integrates smart contract functionalities that allow incorporated developers to create automated, self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code, facilitating trustless agreements and automated processes. 4. Interoperability Features: The platform includes L2 features designed to ensure interoperability with other blockchains, allowing for seamless cross-chain communications and transactions. This is crucial for enhancing the utility of QUANTUM in a broader blockchain environment. 5. Staking and Governance: Token holders can stake their tokens to participate in network governance, influencing decisions related to the network’s future development, upgrades, and changes in protocols. 6. Validator Nodes: The network relies on validator nodes, which are responsible for validating transactions and maintaining the integrity and security of the blockchain. Participants can run validator nodes by staking QUANTUM tokens. 7. Security Services: The ecosystem includes advanced security protocols to protect against common vulnerabilities and attacks, ensuring the safety of transactions and data stored on the blockchain. 8. Quantum Wallet: A proprietary wallet for managing QUANTUM tokens and interacting with the network. The wallet facilitates token storage, transactions, staking, and participation in governance. 9. Educational and Community Support: The ecosystem also focuses on education and community engagement to encourage adoption and foster a supportive environment for users and developers. This includes documentation, tutorials, workshops, and active community forums. 10. Platform Integration: Additionally, the QUANTUM project ecosystem will feature a dedicated "Quantum" column on the Coinstore platform. This column will serve as a focal point for all related activities and updates, providing users with direct access to information on QUANTUM's market movements, trading opportunities, and educational content. This integration into Coinstore will enhance visibility and accessibility, making it easier for users to engage with QUANTUM directly from the trading platform. These components work synergistically to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports a wide range of blockchain applications and services, driving forward the adoption and utilization of blockchain technology across different sectors. QUANTUM Official Media Website | Twitter | Telegram About Coinstore Accessibility. Security. Equity. As a leading global platform for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, Coinstore seeks to build an ecosystem that grants everyone access to digital assets and blockchain technology. With over 9.5 million users worldwide, Coinstor e aims to become the preferred cryptocurrency trading platform and digital service provider worldwide. Coinstore Social Media Twitter | Discord | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | Telegram Discussion | Telegram Announcement
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Pandas An An and Ke Ke celebrate their 1st Christmas in Hong Kong HONG KONG (AP) — A pair of five-year-old pandas, named An An and Ke Ke, celebrated their first Christmas early in a Hong Kong park, munching on special treats and looking cute for the cameras. An An, the male panda, was presented with an ice slab that had “Merry Christmas” written on it with sweet potato and carrots while Ke Ke, his female companion, got a snowman garnished with slices of carrot and apple in a special press event Monday before visitors streamed to the park. China sent the pair to Hong Kong in late September in a bid to boost tourism in the city. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby: Spurs-Knicks Christmas game is also an animated one at Disney World NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. While Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are facing the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, an alternate animated telecast will have the teams playing in the Magic Kingdom, with some Disney characters participating. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. 'Squid Game' returns looking for win with season 2 The first season of “Squid Game” was Netflix's most-watched series and went on to win a variety of accolades including the Emmy Award for lead actor in a drama series for Lee Jung-jae and a directing award for Hwang Dong-hyuk. The show returns for its second season on Dec. 26 and is already nominated for a Golden Globe for best drama. It's rare for TV shows made in Korea to have more than one season but Lee describes Hwang as “a genius.” A third and final season has already filmed. Netflix is also invested in expanding its “Squid Game” universe with a reality competition series and an English-language version in development. In the ruins of a bombed-out church in Lebanon, there's now a tiny Christmas tree DARDGHAYA, Lebanon (AP) — A Christmas tree stands among the fallen stones in the ruins of a Catholic church in southern Lebanon that was hit by an Israeli airstrike during the war with Hezbollah. It's a small and modest tree. There are no lights because the war destroyed power lines. The ground is too uneven to set up the Nativity scene. The priest says his blood pressure went up and he lost his balance when he saw the church's destruction. Now he leads Mass in an underground room that serves as a temporary worship space. He tells the community it “is more like the cave where Jesus was born.” Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90 The Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, says the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” has died. The aquarium says Burt died over the weekend and was at least 90 years old. A saltwater crocodile, Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters long. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile, before being saved by Dundee. Elaborate holiday light displays are making spirits bright in a big way CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow might be enough to brighten some homes this holiday season. But others are adorned with thousands of blinking lights synched to blasting music. In Mesa, Arizona, 14 homeowners have been going all-out on holiday lights for 30 years, and those buying homes in the neighborhood often find the attics full of décor left behind by previous owners. In Santa Clarita, California, residents began coordinating their holiday lights to bring some joy to their community after an earthquake. And in Edmond, Oklahoma, those looking to the western sky will easily spot the Miranda family’s elaborate display featuring images and music from the movie “Wicked.” Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village CATALAO, Brazil (AP) — Santa Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus. The visit was arranged by Amigos do Papai Noel, a Brazilian charity that has been taking gifts to children in the Amazon rainforest for the past 26 years. More than 600 children from different villages gathered in Catalao to receive presents from Santa, who dressed in his traditional nightcap, white gloves and red suit, while enduring the stifling jungle heat. NASA's Parker Solar Probe aims to fly closer to the sun like never before NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft is about to make the closest approach to the sun. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. On Tuesday, Parker will pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface. That's nearly seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft. Scientists won’t hear from Parker until a few days after the flyby. It’ll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand what drives the solar wind and why the corona is so much hotter than the sun's surface. 174 Colorado skiers and snowboarders rescued after a lift cracks WINTER PARK, Colo. (AP) — Officials are investigating what caused a crack in a Colorado ski lift that forced the evacuation of over 170 stranded skiers and snowboarders. The evacuation happened Saturday on a gondola lift at Winter Park Resort. A spokesperson says the lift stopped automatically when a crack was detected in a structural piece of the lift. Passengers were lowered down by ropes over the course of about five hours. No injuries were reported during the rescues, which came at the start of the busy holiday season. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales.Gaetz teases new role in Trump world after failed AG bid
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