cc6 online casino How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Thursday, November 28The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court ruling that prevented the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of local government elections, which have since taken place. In delivering its judgment on Thursday, a special panel led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi declared that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter. The appellate court clarified that Section 28 of the Electoral Act applies solely to federal elections, governorship elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, not state-conducted elections. The Court of Appeal further criticized the lower court’s directive, which barred security agencies from performing their constitutional duties during the election process. Previously, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had ruled against RSIEC for scheduling the local government elections for October 5 without complying with legal provisions. He stated that RSIEC violated the local government election law by failing to provide the mandatory 90-day notice before setting the election date. Justice Lifu also held that the voters’ register must be updated and revised before any valid election date could be determined. As a result, Justice Lifu had directed INEC not to release the Certified Voters’ Register to RSIEC until all legal requirements were fulfilled. The appeal heard by Justice Otisi’s special panel was among several appeals challenging the Federal High Court’s decisions on political cases in Rivers State. The panel had previously reserved judgment on consolidated appeals contesting Justice Lifu’s ruling. Naija News reports that the rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, had escalated tensions before, during and after the LG Election.

The UHC CEO killing has led to an outpouring of frustration toward the healthcare industry. Some progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill say it's the "right time" to talk about it. "I think for people who are surprised, it's a wake-up call," said Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. In the wake of the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson , some progressive lawmakers are acknowledging the frustration that many Americans feel toward the healthcare system. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York told Business Insider on Wednesday that the rapturous online response to the shooting and the valorization by some of the suspect, Luigi Mangione , was indicative of a "mass bubbling of resentment around the precarity that people have been living with." "Of course, we don't want to see the chaos that vigilantism presents," said Ocasio-Cortez. "We also don't want to see the extreme suffering that millions of Americans confront when your life changes overnight from a horrific diagnosis, and people are led to just some of the worst, not just health events, but the worst financial events of their and their family's lives." She added, "I think for people who are surprised, it's a wake-up call for how much of this exists in our society." Democratic Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, who began his political career as a gun violence prevention activist, told BI that he's "against gun violence in all forms," but that he understood some of the reaction. "There's so much animosity and hatred of this system that people are looking beyond maybe their typical moral scope to meme this guy, or to praise him, because the issue is just so pervasive," he said. "That's something to take note of." Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told HuffPost that the shooting was "a warning" to the healthcare industry — though she later told the outlet in a statement that she "should have been much clearer that there is never a justification for murder." Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont told the outlet that the "outpouring of anger at the health care industry" showed that "millions of people understand that health care is a human right." Not all lawmakers on Capitol Hill are taking this approach — both Republicans and Democrats have opted to condemn the shooting and leave it at that. "It's pretty simple to me. Nobody who commits cold-blooded murder is a hero. Period, full stop," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut told BI. " He's the asshole that's going to die in prison," Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania told NBC News about the shooter . "Congratulations if you want to celebrate that." For some progressives, though, the praise for Mangione and the outpouring of frustration over the healthcare industry can't be ignored, even if it's coming on the heels of a murder they condemn. "It's exactly the right time when you've got thousands of people that are sharing their stories of frustration," Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California told BI. In his view, it's simple enough to talk about the healthcare industry while not making excuses for the alleged murder. "There's no linkage," said Khanna. "You condemn the murder of an insurance executive who was a father of two kids. At the same time, you say there's obviously an outpouring behavior of people whose claims are being denied, and we need to reform the system."McDaniels 4-13 0-0 10, Randle 7-15 8-13 23, Gobert 4-5 2-2 10, A.Edwards 9-21 4-4 28, DiVincenzo 4-8 0-0 11, Minott 0-0 0-0 0, Reid 2-9 0-0 5, Alexander-Walker 1-7 2-2 4, Dillingham 6-10 0-0 14. Totals 37-88 16-21 105. Brown 10-18 2-2 29, Tatum 8-21 5-6 26, Horford 3-10 0-0 8, Holiday 3-10 2-2 9, White 7-12 1-2 19, Hauser 2-7 0-0 5, Tillman 1-2 1-2 3, Pritchard 3-7 1-1 8. Totals 37-87 12-15 107. 3-Point Goals_Minnesota 15-41 (A.Edwards 6-11, DiVincenzo 3-6, Dillingham 2-4, McDaniels 2-6, Randle 1-4, Reid 1-6, Alexander-Walker 0-4), Boston 21-56 (Brown 7-10, Tatum 5-12, White 4-9, Horford 2-9, Hauser 1-5, Pritchard 1-5, Holiday 1-6). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Minnesota 49 (Gobert 20), Boston 40 (White 9). Assists_Minnesota 19 (A.Edwards 7), Boston 25 (White 5). Total Fouls_Minnesota 18, Boston 23. A_19,156 (18,624)

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Trump picks former Rep. Billy Long to head IRSAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eGain (Nasdaq: EGAN), the AI Knowledge Management platform for business, announced today that its Board of Directors approved an extension to the stock repurchase program from November 14, 2024, until the earlier of (i) the date the aggregate amount of shares that can be repurchased under the stock repurchase program have been repurchased and (ii) November 14, 2025. "This extension underscores our belief that our shares are undervalued and reinforces our confidence in the significant growth potential of the AI knowledge market. With our strong balance sheet, we believe we are well-positioned to expand our market presence in knowledge management while delivering value to shareholders through our ongoing buyback program," said Ashu Roy, eGain's CEO. As of November 15, 2024, eGain has repurchased approximately $27.6 million of shares of its common stock under its stock repurchase program, leaving approximately $12.4 million of shares of its common stock available for repurchase after the increase. Under the stock repurchase program, eGain may purchase shares of common stock on a discretionary basis from time to time through open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions at prices deemed appropriate by eGain. In addition, at the discretion of eGain, open market repurchase of common stock may also be made under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which would permit common stock to be repurchased when eGain might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws or self-imposed trading restrictions. The timing and number of shares repurchased will be determined based on an evaluation of market conditions and other factors, including stock price, trading volume, general business and market conditions, and capital availability. The stock repurchase program does not obligate eGain to acquire a specified number of shares and may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time at eGain's discretion without notice. The stock repurchase program will be funded using existing cash or future cash flows. About eGain eGain AI Knowledge Hub helps businesses improve experience and reduce cost by delivering trusted, consumable answers. Visit www.egain.com for more info. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation: statements regarding the timing, scope, and funding of our stock repurchase program; our belief that our shares are undervalued; our belief that we are well-positioned to expand our market presence; our focus, growth potential and market opportunity; and the expected benefits of our products. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements we make. The risks and uncertainties referred to above include, but are not limited to: risks to our business, operating results, and financial condition; the pace of technological advancements in generative AI and the adaptability of our services to incorporate these advancements; market demand for AI-enabled solutions; risks associated with new product releases and new services and products features; risks that customer demand may fluctuate or decrease; risks that we are unable to collect unbilled contractual commitments, particularly in the current economic environment; risks that our lengthy sales cycles may negatively affect our operating results; currency risks; our ability to capitalize on customer engagement; risks related to our reliance on a relatively small number of customers for a substantial portion of our revenue; our ability to compete successfully and manage growth; our ability to develop and expand strategic and third party distribution channels; risks related to our international operations; our ability to continue to innovate; our strategy of making investments in sales to drive growth; general political or destabilizing events, including war, intensified international hostilities, conflict or acts of terrorism; the effect of legislative initiatives or proposals, statutory changes, governmental or other applicable regulations and/or changes in industry requirements, including those addressing data privacy, cyber-security and cross-border data transfers; and other risks detailed from time to time in eGain's public filings, including eGain's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2024, and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. eGain, the eGain logo, and all other eGain product names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of eGain Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company names and products mentioned in this release may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. MKR Investor Relations Todd Kehrli or Jim Byers Phone: 323-468-2300 Email: [email protected]Sitting around a North Hollywood rehearsal studio on a recent Wednesday evening, the members of the Hard Quartet are taking a break from prepping for the first concert by this indie-rock supergroup by recounting the first gigs they played with some of their other bands. Drummer Jim White volunteers a recollection of his first show with Dirty Three, which formed in Melbourne in the early 1990s because “this guy had a bar, and he wanted a band,” as White puts it. “We played three sets for three people, and we got 60 bucks.” “Each?” asks singer and guitarist Matt Sweeney, known for founding New York’s Chavez around the same time. “Total,” White answers. “Plus all you can drink.” Says Stephen Malkmus , indie-rock famous as the frontman of Pavement: “That’s a f— deal in Australia.” Does White reckon the Dirty Three downed more than $60 worth of booze? “Oh yeah,” the drummer says. “We left our gear there and came back again the next day. The drinks were still flowing.” Given their established-veteran status — the Hard Quartet’s fourth member is Emmett Kelly, who’s played with the Cairo Gang and with Will Oldham for years — these guys ranging in age from mid-40s to early 60s seem not in the least bit anxious about the fact that, 24 hours from now, they’ll make their debut in front of an audience at the Belasco in downtown Los Angeles. Sweeney passes around a tray of brie and raspberries as we chat; Malkmus is wearing tennis shorts and tennis shoes, having come here straight from an afternoon match at a friend’s place. Yet their laid-back attitude is accompanied by an endearing excitement about the music they make together. “It’s good, right?” Malkmus asks. “Some of the lyrics are kind of blah-blah-blah. But I get a kick out of the songs.” As he should: The band’s self-titled debut, which came out last month, is a tuneful blast of fuzz-bomb pop — glammy, folky, a little psychedelic — with great riffs and a loping, late-Beatles-era groove. Malkmus, Sweeney and Kelly take turns singing lead, evoking memories of each of their past projects (especially Pavement). Yet the pleasingly off-kilter way they combine these familiar parts feels fresh. The Hard Quartet came together after Malkmus and Sweeney worked on Malkmus’ 2020 solo album “Traditional Techniques.” Nobody in the band pushes back particularly hard on the term “supergroup,” though it does seem slightly embarrassing to all of them. The way Sweeney sees it, each member’s ample experience just meant “we didn’t have to talk about a lot of stuff” in order for everyone to find common ground. The Hard Quartet having more than one lead singer and songwriter was part of the deal from the get-go; Malkmus says that setup puts the band in a lineage that also includes the B-52’s , Sonic Youth, X and Royal Trux. “It adds this communal element,” he explains. Adds Sweeney: “Different points of view from the same spaceship.” So far, at least, the guy playing bass on any given Hard Quartet song is one of the guys who didn’t write the song — which shouldn’t lead anyone to conclude that bass is an undesirable instrument. In fact, Kelly says, “it’s the one that everyone wants to play the most — even Jim.” (Sitting behind his drum kit, White nods in agreement.) “There’s all these weird myths about rock ’n’ roll, but maybe the weirdest is that nobody wants to play bass,” Sweeney says. “Back in the hardcore days, it was a rite of passage that the new guy would be on bass,” Malkmus points out. “People wanted to move up to guitar. I don’t know why. I guess Johnny Thunders was cooler,” he adds of the famously dissolute New York Dolls member. “The guitar hero and all that.” “Which is hilarious now because nobody cares about the guitar anymore,” Sweeney says with a laugh. “Young people come up to me and ask how I do what I do, and it’s like they’re saying: ‘Oh, it’s so cool that you still sew your clothes by hand while everybody else wears real clothes.’ ” The Hard Quartet started recording its album in New York before finishing it at the storied Shangri-La studio in Malibu owned by producer Rick Rubin, for whom Sweeney has worked frequently as a session player, including on albums by Adele, Johnny Cash and Neil Diamond. (Fun fact involving the well-connected Sweeney: The rehearsal space where the Hard Quartet is practicing in North Hollywood is owned by Bob Brunner, whose father was a writing partner on TV’s “Happy Days” with the late Garry Marshall, whose son Scott played bass in Chavez.) For the sweetly shuffling “Rio’s Song” — which Sweeney wrote about his friend Rio Hackford , the actor and bar owner who died in 2022 — the band filmed a music video in the form of a shot-for-shot remake of the Rolling Stones’ charming early-MTV-era clip for “Waiting on a Friend.” Asked whether the Stones’ endurance is inspiring, Kelly says, “I think it’s cool that rock ’n’ roll still seems vital to them. They’re still trying to tap into it instead of being like, ‘I’m too old for this s—.’ ” Sweeney recalls seeing the Stones in 2002 at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. “I went with [David] Pajo,” he says, referring to the prolific indie-rock musician with whom Sweeney played in Billy Corgan’s short-lived Zwan. “We were joking beforehand like, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if they did “Turd on the Run”?’ And then they did like every song we wanted to hear. They started ‘It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll,’ and the crowd’s going apes—. I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ It was because Bono came out onstage. We had to leave in protest.” Speaking of the U2 frontman, has anyone in the Hard Quartet been to Sphere in Las Vegas ? “I know about it because Phish played there,” Malkmus says. “And I’m in the Phish hive. Accidentally. I clicked on something one time in my ‘For you’ feed, and now if I look over there...” “This is Twitter-related?” Sweeney asks. “Yeah, there’s this ‘For you’ thing — this dark, weird, instant algorithm that makes you regret your decisions immediately,” Malkmus says. “You know how you try heroin once and then your whole life’s over? It’s like that, except in a social-media way.”

The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”Gaming Meets Aviation! How Archer Aviation is Changing the GameA 21-year-old man who went swimming in the Murrumbidgee River has died after drowning, police say. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The incident occurred at Pine Island Reserve in Greenway on Sunday afternoon, December 29. The swimmer was reported missing about 6pm after he had not resurfaced. Police and emergency services began looking for the man whose body was found about two hours later. "A search for the man commenced and sadly, his body was found in the water by AFP divers about 7.50pm," a police spokesperson said. READ ALSO: A body in Lake Burley Griffin and the inheritance question answered 40 years later DFAT told to rein in diplomatic visas after slavery cases 'Please slow down': Road crime and injuries are on the rise in Canberra Police will be preparing a report on the death for the ACT coroner. Anyone who witnessed the incident and had not already spoken to police was urged to contact ACT Policing on 131 444 and quote reference 7938612. Pine Island Reserve in Greenway. Picture by Elesa Kurtz Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Bageshri Savyasachi Journalist I am the police reporter for The Canberra Times. I cover crime, corrections and other emergency services. I am interested in investigative journalism and human stories. Contact me at bageshri.s@canberratimes.com.au or send confidential tips to bageshri.s@proton.me I am the police reporter for The Canberra Times. I cover crime, corrections and other emergency services. I am interested in investigative journalism and human stories. Contact me at bageshri.s@canberratimes.com.au or send confidential tips to bageshri.s@proton.me More from Canberra 'A dying breed': Where to find good atmosphere and classic pubs on the South Coast No comment s The govt should prove it's on the side of citizens when it comes to housing No comment s How to tackle the tricky issue of EV charging in apartment complexes No comment s 'Please slow down': Road crime and injuries are on the rise in Canberra No comment s DFAT told to rein in diplomatic visas after slavery cases No comment s A body in Lake Burley Griffin and the inheritance question answered 40 years later Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... 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Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Speaking in Parliament on 18 December, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged that under the leadership of his party, “we will never allow a situation like 2022-23 to reoccur in our country”. If AKD and the National People’s Power (NPP) intend to keep this promise, they will have to get a lot more serious about industrialising an economy dependant on services and remittances. It is regrettable that the President’s speech, while announcing welcome relief for the poor through tax cuts, allowances and subsidies, paid scant attention to increasing investment in the real economy. This is a deadly trap that centre-left governments often fall into. Naturally, the wretched conditions following economic collapse require immediate relief measures. However, long term increases in consumption can only be achieved through investment in the real economy. There have been a multitude of interpretations of the root causes of the economic crisis in 2022-23 which led to hours-long blackouts, acute shortages of fuel and cooking gas, a devaluation of the rupee, and soaring inflation. The mainstream explanation has focused almost exclusively on the Government’s budget deficit, and the Central Bank’s financing of it. The reality is that this crisis was a long time coming, rooted in the country’s fundamentally colonial economic structure that is dependent upon tourism, remittances, and low-value-added exports. Historically, a strong focus on value-added manufacturing has been the only way for countries to sustain rapid growth levels, develop indigenous technology, and uplift the living standards of the majority of people. The only exceptions to this rule are small countries that are either rich in natural resources (e.g. UAE, Qatar, etc.) or function as tax havens and centres for financial services (e.g. Luxembourg, Ireland, etc.). With a population of 22 million—comparable to Syria, Burkina Faso, or Chile—Sri Lanka is hardly a ‘small country’. Uplifting our large rural population requires industrialisation. In the lead up to the 2024 elections, one of the NPP’s most articulate voices for industrialisation was Chathuranga Abeysinghe, now serving as Deputy Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development. Abeysinghe has often made sensible points about the need for state-ownership of energy and finance, combined with support for technology transfer and upgrading, to jump start the process of industrialisation. However, his eclectic choice of benchmarks countries, including India, China, Malaysia, and Vietnam, is confused at best. China and Vietnam are socialist countries ruled by a Communist Party. These countries derive legitimacy from the reproduction and growing productivity of an industrial working class. Meanwhile, India and Malaysia feature a relatively strong class of industrial capitalists, who have a vested interest in the perpetuation of interventionist industrial policies. Sri Lanka is unlike both of these, being a liberal democracy dominated by merchant capital (business interests invested in sectors such as trade, finance, and real estate). Setting on a path of industrialisation would necessarily bring any government in Sri Lanka on a collision course with the interests of merchant capital. There can be no industrialisation without tackling parasitic interests in the economy, including the likes of predatory financial services, agricultural middle-men, and import mafias. These domestic interests function as fronts for large-scale multinational companies which seek to keep countries in the Global South as captive markets. There may be ways to peacefully convert at least some factions of merchant capital into industrial capital. South Korea was able to convert its landlord class into an industrial capitalist class through extensive land reforms which redistributed land to the tiller while compensating the landlords with bonds that were reinvested in industry. The challenge for NPP policy makers is to devise incentive structures to direct investment into strategic manufacturing sectors that can deliver long term productivity gains. Industrialisation is no easy task. The interests opposed to it often cloak themselves in humanitarian concern for workers and the environment. Yet the reality is that industrialisation is most oppressive for a business class used to making easy money through trade, finance, real estate, and tourism. Operating a factory, managing scores of workers, competing with international standards, and innovating new products and process will demand much more from our private sector than they are used to. This is precisely why the State, helmed by a political party dedicated to the cause, is needed to drive this process. For better or worse, the NPP’s electoral campaign about corruption and system change captured the imagination of large swathes of the electorate, helping them win both the Presidency and a supermajority in Parliament. However, more work needs to be done to unravel the structural causes of so-called corruption and the exact nature of the system that holds Sri Lanka down. At Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, we recently published a dossier titled, “How Neoliberalism Has Wielded ‘Corruption’ to Privatise Life in Africa”. Here, we pointed out how the role of the private sector in corruption is avoided or minimised by official definitions of corruption. The biggest losses of revenue for countries in the Global South are not from petty bribery by government officials, but large-scale drain of finances through practices such as tax evasion, transfer pricing, and trade misinvoicing. In the case of Africa, investment into extractive sectors significantly increases the opportunity for private sector corruption and opaque pricing practices. In the case of Sri Lanka, it is our dependency on food and energy imports, and reliance on low value-added exports, that is conducive to private sector corruption. In such a pattern of (under)development, there is hardly any need for capitalists to reinvest profits into developing a domestic industrial ecosystem. If the NPP wants to fulfil its mandate of anti-corruption and modernisation of the country, and if it wants to prevent an economic crisis akin to what occurred in 2022, industrialisation is the only way forward. There is no alternative.

How Trump’s transition agreement differs from ones signed by Biden and HarrisDry January is the calendar month where traditionally Brits put the bottle down and commit to a period of abstaining from alcohol. This is typically because we all overdo it in December and let the jovial festivities take over us. Slaves to the 'Christmas bev', we let ourselves say yes to the pub when we otherwise wouldn't, meaning dry January is practically welcomed. "Gone are the days when I would waste entire weekends hungover and anxious." After a bump on the head after a bottomless brunch, Cara decided to revaluate her relationship with alcohol and take on the Dry January® challenge. Cara found her social life flourished after she... pic.twitter.com/Lhb33tQ33W But sadly, a lot of us find this difficult. January is a notoriously grim month, which means to escape the seasonal depression, we find ourselves turning back to alcohol. Not all of course, but it is a tough task for some. Feel that's you? Don't worry, it can be relatively easy. As Bethan Higson, founder of non-alcoholic Mother Root Beverages , puts it: “Every January, people vow to become better versions of themselves – whether it be getting fit or eschewing alcohol, in an effort to live a more healthy, alcohol-free life.” Now, Charlotte Faure Green, nutritional advisor for Mother Root, along with other experts, share their advice for staying on track during Dry January. Was gonna do dry jan but then realised I support Leicester 1. Try to cope with what life throws at you without a tipple “One of the main reasons people struggle to make it to the end of January without alcohol, is a lack of emotional coping skills required to manage what sobriety may bring up for them,” explains Faure Green. She continued: “It can feel incredibly uncomfortable when we’re used to abating feelings of, say, anxiety, with alcohol. "[Try to] find other methods for calming the nervous system: breathing techniques, kitchen dance parties, talking therapies, getting out in nature for a walk, yoga and meditation. Clichéd perhaps, but they are clinically proven to be very effective.” 2. Think about the money you’re saving “Those undertaking Dry January often set sights on a big boozy blow-out on February 1, and this only feeds into our ‘feast or famine’, mentality,” says Faure Green. “Instead, consider how much you’re saving over the month by not drinking and make a list of wonderful things that you can do with that spare cash. "Choose what will drive you the most. For some, it helps to put a picture of that goal on the fridge to reinforce it with a regular reminder, and drive success.” (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/6d5392ec-619d-4da0-8373-e78c5d1e997c"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi228769 = ExCoPlayer.connect('6d5392ec-619d-4da0-8373-e78c5d1e997c'); playerApi228769.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "Winter Skincare: How to Combat Dry Skin", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/070e2886-1d9d-42e9-b703-2c5d17444674/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649b233a79e0a90012ae8fba" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); 3. Increase your GABA “One of the mechanisms that makes alcohol so calming after a stressful day is that it seeks out our GABA receptors and gives them a great big hug. GABA is our calming neurotransmitter, and when we’re producing it in abundance, we can feel relaxed,” explains Faure Green. She went on to say: “So, rather than artificially stimulating those receptors with booze, eat foods that increase circulating GABA... spinach, broccoli, garlic, fish, potatoes and bananas are good sources of B6, a vitamin that’s a vital co-factor in its production. “Green tea also contains an amino acid called L-theanine which is thought to stimulate GABA creation – the ultimate calming cup of tea.” 4. Don’t do it alone “Do Dry January with a friend for moral support and stock your cupboards with great non-alcoholic alternatives, and you’ll still be able to enjoy that end-of-the-day cocktail or aperitif,” suggests Craig Hutchison, co-founder of Maria & Craig’s non-alcoholic-distilled-botanical-spirit. 5. Keep a diary of how much better you’re feeling “Are you sleeping better? Have you lost weight? The average alcoholic cocktail has between 300-400 calories, so keep track and ensure you’re aware of the benefits – it can do wonders for your will power,” says Hutchison. 6. Go public with your challenge “The more people who are aware you’re taking January off alcohol, the more encouragement from your peers,” says Hutchison. The expert continued: “Follow some of your favourite non-alcoholic brands on Instagram. They will, for sure, keep you motivated throughout the month.” Recommended reading: How much does drinking booze cost you? Find out with this calculator NHS urges Brits to look for dementia symptoms this Christmas 10 foods that can help give a boost to your immune system this winter 7. Don’t worry if you weaken “If you slip once or twice, don’t beat yourself up and don’t just give up. You can start again the next day – it’s all about balance,” says Simone Caporale, award-winning international bartender and ambassador for ZEO non-alcoholic spirit. Simone added: “And you never know, the way you’ll feel while you’re taking a break from drinking, might actually push you to keep going.”Logistical issues meant that thousands of Namibians were still waiting to vote in pivotal presidential and legislative elections late on Wednesday as the polling stations were scheduled to close. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) faces the strongest challenge yet to its 34-year grip on power. Some voters told AFP they queued all day, for up to 12 hours, blaming technical problems which included issues with voter identification tablets or insufficient ballot papers. According to Namibia's electoral law, those in the queue before the polls closed -- scheduled at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) -- should be allowed to vote. "We have the obligation to make sure that they pass their vote," said Petrus Shaama, chief officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has blamed the ECN for the long lines and cried foul play. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said Christine Aochamus of the IPC. She said the party had "started the process" of approaching a court "to order the ECN to extend the voting time". At one polling station inside Namibia's University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, hundreds of people were still in line at 09:00 pm despite some having arrived at 6:00 am, an hour before polls opened. It was a similar situation at the Museum of Independence, according to an AFP reporter, where one voter said he arrived 12 hours earlier and was still in line with hundreds of others. SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was one of the first to vote and called on Namibians "to come out in their numbers". An estimated 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated nation had registered to cast their ballot. SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could force Nandi-Ndaitwah into an unprecedented second round. Leader of the IPC, Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer said he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement". "We will all march from there and to a new dawn and a new era of how we conduct our public affairs in this country," the 67-year-old told reporters after voting. Itula took 29 percent of votes in the 2019 elections, losing to SWAPO leader Hage Geingob with 56 percent. It was a remarkable performance considering Geingob, who died in February, had won almost 87 percent five years before that. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefitted from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, (especially) the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. For the first time in Namibia's recent history, analysts say a second round is a somewhat realistic option. That would take place within 60 days of the announcement of the first round of results due by Saturday. "The outcome will be tight," said self-employed Hendry Amupanda, 32, who queued since 9:00 pm the night before to cast his ballot. "I want the country to get better and people to get jobs," said Amupanda, wearing slippers and equipped with a chair, blanket and snacks. Marvyn Pescha, a self-employed consultant, said his father was part of SWAPO's liberation struggle and he was not going to abandon the party. "But I want SWAPO to be challenged for better policies. Some opportunistic leaders have tarnished the reputation of the party, they misuse it for self-enrichment," the 50-year-old said. While lauded for leading Namibia to independence, SWAPO is nervous about its standing after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters. In the past six months, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power. clv/br/lhd/sbkWASHINGTON ― said Wednesday he won't drink "a drop of alcohol" if confirmed to lead the Pentagon, vowing to fight through a tumultuous nomination process amid allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse. The commitment from President-elect pick for follows that cited a whistleblower report alleging Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated in his previous role as president of the nonprofit Concerned Veterans for America, even to the point of having to be carried out of the group's events. Hegseth has denied the report. on her SiriusXM show, Hegseth ‒ a former Fox News host and Army veteran ‒ referenced which prohibits military personnel from consuming alcohol during deployment. "That's how I view this role as Secretary of Defense is, I'm not going to have a drink, at all. And it's not hard for me because it's not a problem for me," Hegseth said. Hegseth added that he needs to make sure senators, U.S. troops, Trump and others know "when you call me 24/7, you're getting fully dialed-in Pete, just like you always did in Iraq and Afghanistan." "So this is the biggest deployment of my life, and there won't be a drop of alcohol on my lips while I'm doing it," he said. The New Yorker story cited three anonymous sources saying Hegseth stepped down from his leadership position at Concerned Veterans for America, which he held from 2013 to 2016, because of concerns about his mismanagement and alcohol use on the job. The publication also reported Hegseth was forced to leave a prior leadership post at the nonprofit Veterans for Freedom after the organization ran up substantial debt. The whistleblower report included a complaint that Hegseth was “totally sloshed” at a 2014 event in Virginia Beach and needed to be carried to his room because “he was so intoxicated.” It cited another instance at a Louisiana strip club in 2015 in which a drunk Hegseth allegedly had to be restrained from joining the dancers on the stage. Hegseth denied the episodes happened, insisting to Kelly that he didn't even visit this club with his co-workers. "If they're making up an instance of something where I didn't even attend, how can you believe a single other thing that any of these people are saying in any instance, to include being carried up to my room?" Hegseth said. Hegseth faces an uphill Senate confirmation after he was accused of sexual assault ‒ which he denies and for which he has never faced charges. Nevertheless, Hegseth vowed to push forward. "I spoke to the president-elect this morning. He said: 'Keep going, keep fighting. I’m behind you all the way,'" Hegseth told reporters Wednesday. "Why would I back down? I’ve always been a fighter. I'm here for the war fighters." Hegseth spent the day at the Capitol seeking to shore up support from Republican senators, while his mother, Penelope Hegseth, made an appeal for her son on Fox News. "Pete is a new person. He's redeemed, forgiven, changed," Penelope Hegseth said, addressing her own email she sent to her son in 2018 that said Hegseth was an “abuser of women” and that she has “no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego." Penelope Hegseth said she wrote the email out of “haste” and with “deep emotions.” She explained that her son had been going through a contentious divorce with his second wife at the time she wrote it. Although Trump has so far remained behind Hegseth publicly as his nominee for defense secretary, said the president-elect is considering replacing him with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trump's 2024 Republican primary opponents.

Percentages: FG .420, FT .762. 3-Point Goals: 15-41, .366 (A.Edwards 6-11, DiVincenzo 3-6, Dillingham 2-4, McDaniels 2-6, Randle 1-4, Reid 1-6, Alexander-Walker 0-4). Team Rebounds: 11. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (DiVincenzo). Turnovers: 8 (A.Edwards 3, DiVincenzo 2, Reid 2, McDaniels). Steals: 2 (DiVincenzo, Reid). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .425, FT .800. 3-Point Goals: 21-56, .375 (Brown 7-10, Tatum 5-12, White 4-9, Horford 2-9, Hauser 1-5, Pritchard 1-5, Holiday 1-6). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 7 (Horford 2, White 2, Brown, Holiday, Tillman). Turnovers: 6 (White 2, Brown, Holiday, Horford, Tatum). Steals: 5 (Tatum 2, Brown, Holiday, White). Technical Fouls: None. A_19,156 (18,624). T_2:03.NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”Aussies in for months of hot nightsOklahoma residents on Sunday mourned the death of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a trailblazer in progressive politics in the state who ran an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. Harris died on Saturday at 94. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Oklahoma residents on Sunday mourned the death of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a trailblazer in progressive politics in the state who ran an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. Harris died on Saturday at 94. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Oklahoma residents on Sunday mourned the death of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a trailblazer in progressive politics in the state who ran an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. Harris died on Saturday at 94. Democratic Party members across Oklahoma remembered Harris for his commitment to economic and social justice during the 1960s — a period of historical turbulence. Harris chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1969 to 1970 and helped unify the party after its tumultuous national convention in 1968 when protesters and police clashed in Chicago. “Fred Harris showed us what is possible when we lead with both heart and principle. He worked to ensure everyone had a voice and a seat at the table,” said Alicia Andrews, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. Harris appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago earlier this year as a guest speaker for the Oklahoma delegation, where he reflected on progress and unity. “Standing alongside him in Chicago this summer was a reminder of how his legacy continues to inspire,” Andrews said. Kalyn Free, a member of the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma and the DNC, said that there is no one else in public service whom she admired more than the former senator. “He was a friend, a mentor, a hero and my True North. Oklahoma and America have lost a powerful advocate and voice,” Free said in a statement. “His work for Indian Country will always be remembered.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “Senator Harris truly was an Oklahoma treasure and was ahead of his time in so many ways,” said Jeff Berrong, whose grandfather served in the state Senate with Harris. “He never forgot where he came from and he always remained focused on building a society that would provide equality of opportunity for all.” Harris served eight years in the state Senate before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served another eight years before his 1976 presidential campaign. State party leaders commemorated his work on the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, or the Kerner Commission, to investigate the 1960s riots. Harris was the last surviving member of the commission. Shortly after his presidential campaign, Harris left politics and moved to New Mexico and became a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. —- Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Advertisement Advertisement

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When baseball historian Bill Humber first heard about the golden at-bat idea that Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred floated on a recent podcast, he was a little taken aback. “I kind of laughed, actually,” Humber said Wednesday. “I thought it was one of the stupidest ideas I’d ever heard.” MLB has seen its share of change of late, but the thought of a team using one at-bat each game to send any hitter it wants to the plate — even if it’s not their turn in the batting order — was quite a curveball. “This can’t be real,” former Blue Jays pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens posted on social media. Wild-card playoff tinkering, pitch clocks, shift rules and automatic runners are some of the more significant changes to the game in recent years. All had varying levels of detractors and the golden at-bat discussion is no different. Critics are eyeing it like a meatball thrown across the middle of the plate. “It doesn’t really fit within the logic of the game in my mind,” said Humber, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer. “I look upon it quite askance to be honest with you. I don’t see the point of it in a way. “I mean to some extent, the magic of baseball is those unheralded batters who arrive at a situation that one wouldn’t have thought that they would ever have been in, and allowing them to bat in place.” Humber cited a number of grand baseball moments that might not have happened if a golden at-bat rule were in effect. “One can imagine when Bobby Thomson hit his famous home run against the (Brooklyn) Dodgers in 1951, Willie Mays was on deck,” he said of the ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ that gave the New York Giants the National League pennant. “What if they had a golden at-bat and put Mays at bat, maybe he would have struck out or popped up or hit into a double-play or who knows what. There’s lots of situations like that.” What about the two famous World Series-winning walkoffs? Would the skippers have used a golden at-bat to get their best pure hitter to the plate? Bill Mazeroski went deep to give Pittsburgh the Fall Classic in 1960 and Joe Carter’s walkoff blast in 1993 gave the Blue Jays their second straight World Series title. Mazeroski’s power numbers were middling while Carter, who led the Blue Jays in homers and RBIs that year, had a mediocre batting average. “I think the magic of the game are those moments that are unpredictable and yet kind of create some of the joy of the game in our memories,” Humber said. ” I think this kind of runs afoul of that tradition. “I’m not a fan, let me say that. But that’s not to say it won’t happen.” Manfred first mentioned the golden at-bat idea publicly in an interview with John Ourand on Puck’s “The Varsity” podcast. The commissioner said the subject came up at a recent owners’ meeting. Retired sportswriter Dave Perkins, who covered the Blue Jays for years over his long career at the Toronto Star, said use of a golden at-bat would be “a travesty.” “On the surface I say it’s absolutely stupid and ridiculous,” he said. “But a lot of other things I thought were stupid and ridiculous worked their way into the games and they’re even OK with me now.” The subject of potential rule changes like the golden at-bat came up when Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins met with the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America earlier this week. “It’s interesting to me because we went through so much change over the last couple of years,” he said. “Getting to that change was a scratch and a claw and a climb. And then once the change happened, everyone — for the most part — thought, ‘OK, that went OK and it seems like there’s a better product on the field.’ “So now the dialogue around change is with a much more open mind whether it be players, staff, the exchanges, the ideas, even if they seem very difficult to wrap your head around. They’re not getting stiff-armed as much as they were the first go-round.” Scott Crawford, operations director of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said he prefers a traditional setup where any player can be a hero at any time. “I like the team aspect of the game where you get your shot,” he said. “You can be a No. 8 hitter and you can come up with a big hit and win a World Series and (a superstar like Shohei) Ohtani can strike out.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X. Gregory Strong, The Canadian PressNone

WASHINGTON — Jimmy Carter lived longer than any other U.S. president in history and was the first of any of them to turn 100 years old. Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. With his passing , the person that's now the oldest living president — current or former — resides in the White House. President Joe Biden turned 82 last month, further cementing his status as the oldest serving U.S. president. But it's a record that Donald Trump could break in a few years. President-elect Trump will become the oldest person ever sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025. That's a milestone previously held by Biden when he was sworn in at age 78 back in 2021. On Inauguration Day , Trump will be six months from his 79th birthday. When Biden's presidency ends on Jan. 20, 2025, he will be 82 years and 2 months (or 30,012 days) old. Trump would break that record of being the oldest U.S. president toward the end of his second term on Aug. 15, 2028. We're a ways away from any other living U.S. president even coming close to Carter's record. Biden wouldn't celebrate his 100th birthday until Nov. 20, 2042. After Biden and Trump, the next oldest living presidents are George W. Bush (78), Bill Clinton (78) and Barack Obama (63). Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President, is 78 years old (Aug. 19, 1946) George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President, is 78 years old (July 6, 1946) Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President, is 63 years old (Aug. 4, 1961) Donald Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th U.S. President, is 78 years old (June 14, 1946)All three major US stock indexes scored record closing highs on Wednesday as technology shares rallied after upbeat results from Salesforce and as comments by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave a late boost to the market. or signup to continue reading The economy is stronger than it appeared in September when the central bank began cutting interest rates, allowing policymakers to potentially be a little more cautious in reducing rates further, Powell said at a New York Times event. Powell's comments overall along with a Fed economic activity report added to the upbeat tone in the market, said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Spartan Capital Securities in New York. The Fed said in a summary of surveys and interviews from across the country known as the "Beige Book" that US economic activity has expanded slightly in most regions since early October. Powell "was very upbeat about economy, and he said we're making progress on inflation ... that's good news for stocks in general," Cardillo said. Investors expect a third consecutive interest-rate cut at the central bank's December 17-18 meeting. Salesforce jumped 11 per cent and hit an all-time high after the enterprise cloud company beat analyst estimates for third-quarter revenue and raised the lower end of its annual revenue forecast. Other cloud companies also advanced. The S&P 500 technology index hit a record closing high, along with the communication services and consumer discretionary indexes. Also in the tech space, Marvell Technology rallied 23.2 per cent and also hit a record high after the chipmaker forecast fourth-quarter revenue above analyst estimates. An index of semiconductors rose 1.7 per cent, while Nvidia was up 3.5 per cent. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308.91 points, or 0.69 per cent, to 45,014.44, the S&P 500 gained 36.59 points, or 0.60 per cent, to 6,086.47 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 254.21 points, or 1.30 per cent, to 19,735.12. Investors eagerly await monthly US jobs data due on Friday and jobless claims data on Thursday. Earlier Wednesday, US private payrolls data showed a modest increase in November. Separately, a survey from the Institute for Supply Management showed US services sector activity slowed in November after big gains in recent months. The final reading of the S&P services survey was revised lower to 56.1. "Recent economic data has pretty much confirmed the Fed will cut rates in December," said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research in New York. Friday's jobs report is "like the granddaddy of employment reports this week," he said. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.2-to-1 ratio on the NYSE. There were 367 new highs and 79 new lows on the NYSE. On the Nasdaq, 2,372 stocks rose and 1,930 fell as advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 1.23-to-1 ratio. Volume on US exchanges was 13.06 billion shares, compared with the 14.89 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement