NoneChris Cenac Jr., the top center in the Class of 2025 according to the ESPN100, has committed to play for the Houston Cougars. The five-star recruit announced his decision Tuesday via the Bleacher Report's B/R App. Cenac previously said he wouldn't make his decision until the spring, but his stock soared over the summer after his impressive play on the Puma Pro 16 circuit with Dallas-based YGC, vaulting him into the national top-10 rankings. The 6-foot-10 New Orleans native was reportedly choosing between LSU, Auburn, Arkansas, Baylor, Kentucky, Tennessee and others before making the decision to join Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson's team. "I just like the coaching staff a lot, I like their plan to develop me and I like coming into a winning program," Cenac told 247Sports. "I'm looking forward to producing and just helping them win more. But the main thing was development and them being able to get me better so I can be ready for that next level." Cenac's rating of .9978 by 247Sports Composite makes him the Cougars' highest-rated commit in the modern era, according to multiple outlets. "They see me as a four who can kind of play all over the court and do everything," Cenac told 247Sports. "I can get rebounds, push the ball, shoot and play all over the floor." With Cenac joining other Houston commits like five-star shooting guard Isaiah Harwell, four-star point guard Kingston Flemings and three-star wing Bryce Jackson, Houston's Class of 2025 is ranked No. 2 in the nation by 247Sports and ESPN. --Field Level Media
S.Africa's Breyten Breytenbach, writer and anti-apartheid activistNone
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Apple on Monday announced its list of finalists for "iPhone App of the Year" award. The company's 2024 list of top iPhone finalists favors more traditional iOS apps, including those that help iPhone users perform specific tasks like recording professional video (Kino), tailoring their running plans (Runna), or organizing their travels (Tripsy). The artificial intelligence (AI) apps like ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and those that create AI photos or videos were not nominated for iPhone App of the Year. Among Apple's list of 45 finalists across various categories in apps and games, AI-powered apps were mentioned only a few times.Descendant of 17th century colonist helps find ancestor's remains using radar at Gloria Dei Church cemetery
Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Saturday it would suspend gas exports to Moldova from 0500 GMT on January 1 due to unpaid debt by Moldova, which is bracing for severe power cuts. It said the company reserved the right to take any action, including terminating the supply contract with Moldova. Russia supplies Moldova with about 2bn cubic metres of gas per year, which is piped via Ukraine to the breakaway region of Transdniestria where it is used to generate cheap power that is sold to government-controlled parts of Moldova. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean condemned the Russian decision, which is a precursor to a total shutdown of Russian gas exports via Ukraine and to Europe, where it flows further to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, once a current transit deal with Ukraine expires on December 31. Moldova will be hit the hardest by the shutdown. “This decision confirms once again the intention of the Kremlin to leave the inhabitants of the Transdniestrian region without light and heat in the middle of the winter,” Recean wrote on Facebook, accusing Russia of using energy as a political weapon. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed those allegations. Russia, which is critical of Moldova’s West-leaning central government, has said Moldova should pay a debt on past supplies. According to Russian calculations, the debt stands at $709mn. Moldova has put the debt at $8.6mn. Gazprom has said previously it wants Moldova to pay the debt before it starts to pump gas to the country via alternative routes. Transdniestria and the government in Chisinau agreed in 2022 that all Russian gas received by Moldova would flow to the breakaway region, which traditionally does not pay for fuel. Without gas supplies, the power-generating plant could stop working and Moldova and Transdniestria would face hours-long blackouts similar to those experienced by Ukraine due to Russia’s attacks on its energy infrastructure in their war. The government of Transdniestria told businesses that from on Saturday, gas supplies would start to be switched off to commercial entities that were not considered critical. But it said supplies of gas, heating and hot water to households would continue as usual until January 1. Recean said Moldova had diversified sources of gas supply “in order to reduce dependence on a single supplier”. “Our country is prepared to handle any situation that arises following the Kremlin’s decision,” he added. Moldova’s population of 2.5mn has been preparing for long power cuts since Ukraine’s government said it will not extend its transit contract with Gazprom. Moldova and Transdniestria have both declared states of emergency over the threat of disrupted gas supplies, and Moldova said on Friday it will curb power exports and introduce measures to reduce consumption by at least a third from January 1. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has accused Gazprom of provoking an energy crisis, saying it was refusing to supply gas through an alternative route. Related Story Qatar for peaceful solution to Russia-Ukraine crisis through dialogue Russian Ministry of Defense reports downing 16 Ukrainian dronesMuslim suspect who shot Jewish man in Chicago planned attack on synagogue
Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players' association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty's death were provided. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Bison football adds Omaha three-star defensive end prospect Alijah Wayne
'It's become uncomfortable for me': Jordan Peterson, the controversial psychologist, moves from Toronto to the U.S.Speakers at an event yesterday criticised the exclusion of indigenous communities from reform commissions and demanded a dedicated minority commission to address concerns specific to those communities. They also called for constitutional recognition of the indigenous communities to ensure the rights they are entitled to as citizens of the country. They made the statements at a discussion titled "The Condition of Indigenous People in Bangladesh and the Way Forward," organised at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka by the Kapaeeng Foundation, a human rights organisation. Addressing the event, Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, demanded the abolishment of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) ministry and suggested it be replaced with a diversity commission. He said the ministry had failed in its duty toward indigenous people. "The Chittagong Hill Tracts Ministry, established under the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, has completely failed to protect the rights of indigenous people. It should be abolished... The ministry has become development-centric, subjecting indigenous people to majority rule." He further criticised the ministry for focusing on infrastructure projects that erode indigenous heritage and culture rather than prioritising the rights of local communities. Iftekharuzzaman, who also serves as the head of the Anti-Corruption Reform Commission, emphasised the importance of constitutional recognition for members of the indigenous communities. "Some argue that constitutional recognition alone won't solve all problems, but they fail to explain why it would be problematic. Recognition is undeniably a right, given their heritage and culture." He added that the rights of indigenous people would never be upheld unless all citizens viewed their struggles as a collective national concern. Regarding the implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, he said, "No force, not even the prime minister, could implement the Peace Accord alone. The only entity capable of doing so is the Bangladesh Army. Just as they have been recognised globally for establishing peace, I hope they will play a similar role in the hills. We know that if you [the army] want, you can do it." Sarwar Tusher, a member of the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, said the country's constitution is not race-neutral. "What is needed is a constitution that is both non-communal and race-neutral." He expressed concerns over the potential travesty in reform commissions, citing the example of the interim government appointing former bureaucrats as the chief election commission and commissioners under the existing laws. "These bureaucrats were complicit in the misrule under the previous regime and have never apologised for supporting authoritarian governance." Tusher also criticised Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus for suggesting that reforms would not occur without the consensus of political parties. "Dr Yunus, you must remember that political parties did not lead the uprising; it was the students and the masses who brought about change." He called for the establishment of two additional commissions -- an education commission and a minority commission -- and urged citizens to move beyond the narrative that only the Awami League is the defender of minority rights. Jahangirnagar University teacher Snigdha Rizwana pointed out that indigenous communities were excluded from all commissions due to the unchanged mindset of the ruling authorities. "The indigenous communities have not been represented because the rulers' mindset has not evolved. Despite their unique culture, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs has not taken any steps to preserve it [indigenous culture]. In some cases, instead of protecting their rights, the state has taken their lands in the name of development." She argued that the state is reluctant to recognise indigenous communities because such recognition would necessitate granting them special rights. Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hossain also stressed the importance of constitutional recognition for indigenous people. "Without it, the crisis will intensify," he warned. Shamsul Huda, executive director of the Association for Land Reform and Development, called for the establishment of additional commissions on Land Reform and Agriculture, alongside the education and minority commissions. Nai U Prue Marma, a member of the Rangamati Parbatya Zila Parishad, demanded the implementation of the CHT Peace Accord and the inclusion of the 1900 Regulations in the constitution's schedule. Prodip Kumar Mahottam, an additional secretary of the CHT Ministry, highlighted the state's efforts to improve the conditions of indigenous communities. The event also featured a visual presentation on the overall situation of indigenous people by Pallab Chakma, executive director of the Kapaeeng Foundation. Ajoy A Mree presided over the session. Among others, ILO official Amexius Chicham, Bangladesh Adivasi Parishad leader Philemon Baske, and indigenous leader Flora Bably Talang, also spoke at the event.
Jaland Lowe flirted with a triple-double as Pitt improved to 6-0 with a 74-63 win over LSU on Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Lowe finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Panthers, who have won their first six games of a season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. It would have been the second straight triple-double for Lowe, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against VMI Monday. Ishmael Leggett chipped in 21 points and Cameron Corhen supplied 14, helping Pitt outshoot the Tigers (4-1) 44.4 percent to 37.3 percent overall. Vyctorius Miller and Jalen Reed recorded 14 points apiece for LSU, with Reed also snatching seven boards. Cam Carter contributed 11 points. Pitt took control in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, opening the period on a 13-0 run to build a 40-28 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless following the break until Carter converted a layup with 13:13 to go. It was still a 12-point game after Zack Austin hit a pair of free throws with 12:50 remaining, but LSU then rallied. Corey Chest, Reed and Jordan Sears each had a bucket down low for the Tigers during an 8-1 spurt that made it 43-38. However, Lowe stemmed the tide, answering with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers up 49-38 with 9:31 left. Miller did everything he could to keep LSU in contention, scoring eight points in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds, with his four-point play getting the Tigers within 56-52 with 6:03 to play. But Pitt never let LSU get the upper hand, and it led by at least six for the final 5:05 of the contest. The Tigers had a 28-27 edge at intermission after ending the first half on an 8-2 run. LSU overcame a quick start by the Panthers, who raced out to a 12-6 advantage and led by as many as eight in the first 20 minutes of action. --Field Level MediaMary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley are through to the quarter-finals of the WCL after wins for Man City and Arsenal. Khadija Shaw scored twice for City in their 2-1 victory at Swedish club Hammarby, while Arsenal booked their spot with a 1-0 win over Juventus thanks to an 89th minute goal from substitute Lina Hurtig. City stayed perfect in the competition with four victories and reached the last eight for the first time since 2021, with two games to spare in Group D. More Football They are joined by Chelsea, Australian coach Joe Montemurro’s Lyon, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Barcelona in the quarter-finals. Bayern Munich were held 1-1 at Vålerenga in Norway, but advanced after the Gunners’ win over Juventus. The London club started with Matildas duo Caitlin Foord up front and Steph Catley at the back, while young Kyra Cooney-Cross was an unused substitute. Foord was in the thick of the action, claiming a penalty after going down under a challenge from Paulina Krumbiegel only for the referee to wave play on. The livewire winger also burst clear on the left side of the penalty area and cut the ball back across the face of goal, but there was no-one arriving in the six-yard box for what would have been a tap-in. Caitlin Foord of Arsenal and Cortnee Vine (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) Hurtig’s late goal, however, was enough to secure qualification for interim head coach Renee Slegers’ team. City lead Group D with 12 points, three more than two-time defending champions Barcelona, who thumped Austrian club St Pölten 4-1 on Thursday. Bayern top Group C with 10 points, Arsenal have nine followed by Juventus (3) and Vålerenga (1). Man City, with Matilda Alanna Kennedy stationed at the heart of defence and compatriot Mary Fowler up front, were responding to their first loss of the season – a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on Saturday. Still without injured star Vivianne Miedema, Shaw took charge, proving her scoring instincts after half an hour. A new era of the UEFA Champions League is here, only on Stan Sport. The forward scored from inside the penalty area with a deflected shot that flew over goalkeeper Anna Tamminen to frustrate more than 20,000 noisy fans at the Stockholm Arena in the Swedish capital. Ellen Wangerheim equalised soon after the interval from close range to rejuvenate the crowd, but Shaw struck again to restore the lead just minutes later. This time, she delivered a powerful right-footed finish from the edge of the area. Bayern dominated possession but could not translate it into goals until the 75th minute. They had to rely on substitute Jovana Damnjanović, who gave the visitors a late lead after connecting on a pass from Giulia Gwinn. The Norwegians, who have retained their domestic title, equalised in the 88th through Elise Thorsnes’ header following a corner. Pernille Harder, who found the back of the net five times for Bayern in the previous three games, could not do it again on Thursday and was substituted. © AAP