Bret Bielema caught a flight to Oakland, Calif., this past Sunday to get face-to-face time with offensive lineman J.C. Davis. The Illinois football coach needed to make another pitch just shy of a year after Bielema was in Davis’ living room to initially sell him on Champaign as his transfer destination following two seasons at New Mexico. It’s the season Davis spent at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., that sent Bielema to the West Coast before Christmas. A year of eligibility he can now get back given the NCAA’s response to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia receiving an injunction from a federal judge allowing him to pursue one more season on the field. The decision made by Judge William Campbell is not a final ruling, but it does prevent the NCAA from not allowing players who fall under this issue to play in 2025 until the case is resolved. The NCAA’s move to extend an extra year of eligibility to any athletes who competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years and would have exhausted their eligibility in 2024-25 was essentially made to forestall further lawsuits like the one Pavia filed in November. Outlining that entire process to Davis became priority No. 1 for Bielema before Illinois left for Orlando, Fla., and the Citrus Bowl on Christmas. “I met with J.C. and his family and did a recruiting pitch for him and showed him what we think the value of him is and what he can do in our program,” Bielema told reporters Friday afternoon in Orlando. “I don’t know if anybody else in college football did that, but I think we wanted to let him know exactly what we thought of him and give him a lot of education. It changed literally overnight. “Here’s a guy that’s playing in the Senior Bowl (in February) and thought he was playing in his last college football game and now he has a chance for a whole other year.” Davis started all 12 games at left tackle during the regular season and earned All-Big Ten Third-Team honors in the process. It was the type of production Bielema and Co. were looking for when they made Davis a priority in the transfer portal this past January following an All-Mountain West First-Team caliber season with New Mexico in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman was the highest-graded tackle in the nation that returned in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. “You always say this, if you’re never talking about your left tackle, it’s a good thing,” Bielema said. “He just literally does what he’s supposed to do. I thought the last half of the season, the way he played and the way he kind of engaged in the way we were doing things, it really took his play to another level.” Davis was one of two players on the Illinois roster affected by the NCAA’s blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility. Fellow offensive lineman Zy Crisler spent the 2021 season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., before transferring to Illinois. Crisler entered the transfer portal on Thursday. While he started all 13 games at right guard in 2022 and made 11 total starts in 2023 — nine at right guard and two at right tackle — he wound up splitting time with Brandon Henderson at right guard this season and made six starts while playing all 12 games. “I had a good conversation with Zy,” Bielema said. “I kind of had a feeling this year with the split time and what was going on he would look for another opportunity. He’s playing in the bowl game and expect him to play a lot and play very, very well, and then we’ll help him find a home.” Bielema’s hope is Davis’ home in 2025 is once again Champaign, but there is no expected timetable for that decision. “I told him there’s no expiration date,” the Illinois coach said. “We’re not a milk carton in the fridge.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Referring to the Awami League, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday said the party is not in favour of banning any political organisation, including its rivals. Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar, at a programme in Meherpur, reiterated that Jamaat believes in the democratic process and dialogue with all political parties to solve national issues. Commenting on the issue of banning political organisations, Parwar said Jamaat was banned four days before August 5. However, the Awami League and Chhatra League couldn't survive even four days after that. Due to widespread public outrage, Sheikh Hasina and her family were forced to flee the country. He also said which party will attend the next election will be determined by the people of the country. "The people will decide whether Awami League can contest the elections," he said. He said election in the country should be held at a reasonable time, but only after carrying out key reforms to create a congenial environment for free and fair polls. Parwar also said that Sheikh Hasina should be brought to justice through legal process. Mubarak Hossain, Jamaat's central council member, and several central and district-level leaders, were also present at the meeting among others.Opposition Accuses PDP Govs, NWC Of Plot To Keep Damagun In Office Till 2027
Thompson-Herro fight leads to ejections of multiple players and coaches in Heat's victory in Houston HOUSTON (AP) — Rockets forward Amen Thompson threw Heat guard Tyler Herro to the floor to trigger an altercation that resulted in six ejections in the closing minute of Miami's 104-100 victory over Houston on Sunday. Canadian Press Dec 29, 2024 8:29 PM Dec 29, 2024 8:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Both bench clear for a brawl after Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson threw Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro to the court, resulting in multiple ejections for both teams in the final minute of play during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) HOUSTON (AP) — Rockets forward Amen Thompson threw Heat guard Tyler Herro to the floor to trigger an altercation that resulted in six ejections in the closing minute of Miami's 104-100 victory over Houston on Sunday. Thompson and Herro became entangled with Miami about to inbound the ball leading 99-94 with 35 seconds left. Thompson grabbed Herro by the jersey and tossed him, with referee Marc Davis describing it as Thompson “body slams Herro .” “I didn’t see it live, but I re-watched it,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “They were in each other’s face, bumping chests a little bit, and one guy’s stronger than the other.” Herro, Thompson, and Udoka were ejected, as were Heat guard Terry Rozier, Rockets guard Jalen Green, and Rockets assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Davis said Green and Rozier escalated the altercation, while Sullivan was assessed a technical foul and ejected for unsportsmanlike comments as the referee was trying to redirect the Rockets' Alperen Sengun. The altercation occurred after Miami had come from 12 points down in the second half to regain the lead with the help of Houston missing 11 straight shots in the fourth quarter. Herro keyed the comeback, leading all scorers with 27 points and adding nine assists and six rebounds. He believed that's what frustrated Thompson. “Guess that’s what’s happens when someone’s scoring, throwing dimes, doing the whole thing,” Herro said. “I’d get mad, too.” Herro said he had never spoken to Thompson, who did not talk to reporters after Sunday’s game, so there was no previous bad blood between the two. “Just two competitors going at it, playing basketball,” Herro said. “It was a regular game that we were playing throughout.” Houston's Fred VanVleet had been ejected just before the fight, with Davis saying VanVleet made contact with him after being called for a 5-second violation. The win for Miami came 24 hours after losing 120-110 in Atlanta. The Heat were missing second-leading scorer Jimmy Butler for a fifth straight game, so Herro was proud of his team played against one of NBA’s best teams this season. “They’re top two, three in the West,” Herro said. “Very good defense. Got a bunch of young, athletic guys that can really play, so that’s a good win for us. That’s a stepping stone. We go 2-1 on the road. Put ourselves in a position to win yesterday, and I like how it’s going. We just got to continue to keep getting better.” The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Basketball Herro leads Heat over Rockets in game marred by fight and ejections in final minute Dec 29, 2024 7:40 PM Tyler Herro scores 27 before ejection in Heat's 104-100 win over Houston Rockets Dec 29, 2024 7:35 PM Veteran forward Bruce Brown's return a boost to flagging Toronto Raptors' lineup Dec 29, 2024 7:06 PM
As Donald Trump prepares to fulfill a lengthy list of campaign promises, the president-elect's vow to ensure that all remaining Bitcoin is "made in the USA" may prove to be one of the most challenging to keep. Trump made the pledge in a post on his Truth Social account in June after meeting at Mar-a-Lago with a group of executives from crypto miners, the companies whose massive, high-tech data centers do the work that facilitates transactions on the blockchain in exchange for compensation paid in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. The gathering was a key juncture in Trump's transformation from a crypto skeptic to one of the industry's strongest allies. "It is a Trump-like comment but it is definitely not in reality," said Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at Seattle-based Luxor Technology, which provides software and services to miners. While seen widely as a symbolic pledge of support, it's near impossible in practice since blockchains are decentralised networks in which no one controls or can be banned from participating in the process. On a practical basis, the sector is becoming increasingly competitive as large-scale operations pop up across the world to get a slice of the tens of billions of dollars in revenue generated each year by the industry. Crypto Tracker TOP COIN SETS Web3 Tracker 15.95% Buy DeFi Tracker 12.77% Buy AI Tracker 12.07% Buy Crypto Blue Chip - 5 5.42% Buy BTC 50 :: ETH 50 4.99% Buy TOP COINS (₹) Tether 86 ( 0.37% ) Buy BNB 58,813 ( -1.79% ) Buy Bitcoin 8,190,326 ( -3.15% ) Buy Ethereum 284,753 ( -4.45% ) Buy XRP 184 ( -5.9% ) Buy Russian oligarchs, Dubai royal families and Chinese businessmen in Africa are some of the freshest competitors. Deep pockets and access to vast amounts of power are spurring them to join in on the lucrative but energy-intensive process. About 95% of the 21 million Bitcoin that will ever be created have already been minted, though the hard cap on production isn't expected to be met for about 100 years. Did you Know? The world of cryptocurrencies is very dynamic. Prices can go up or down in a matter of seconds. Thus, having reliable answers to such questions is crucial for investors. View Details » The Bitcoin mining sector in the US has morphed into a multi-billion dollar industry over the last several years as the token saw exponential increases in prices. However, the total computing power generated from US-based miners is well below 50% and it is impossible to power the entire network by domestic companies, according to industry analysts. 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They have more specific information on mining locations through their software that aggregates computing power to increase chances for miners to get Bitcoin rewards. US miners such as CleanSpark and Riot Platforms were quick to support Trump, banking on the former-president to ease scrutiny on the environmental impact of the high-energy use process, curb competition from overseas and to roll back what they view as restrictive guidelines under the Biden administration. Trump's support of crypto helped to generate about $135 million in campaign contributions during the last election cycle, the most by any one industry. Despite rapid expansion in the US and the latest bull run in the crypto market, economic sanctions by the US and rampant inflation in some emerging economies have spurred overseas miners to ramp up their operations even more. "There is huge growth coming up in a few different markets," said Taras Kulyk, chief executive of Synteq Digital, which is one of the largest brokers for specialized computers for Bitcoin mining. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )The administration of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has come under heavy criticism over its handling of the flood crisis in the four southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla. Comparisons have been drawn between the delayed response and insufficient support for flood victims in the South and the quicker and more effective management of flooding in the northern provinces in August. The Bangkok Post spoke with political observers about the flood relief efforts and asked if there is a double standard in the government's flood response between the North and South. They were asked to explain whether the government's handling of floods was due to politics, as the ruling Pheu Thai Party is known to have limited support in the South. Sathit Wongnongtoey, a former Democrat MP from Trang, said resentment towards the ruling party among some southern residents is deep-rooted due to the Thaksin Shinawatra administration and his infamous remarks about prioritising provinces that supported his party. Moreover, the Pheu Thai-led government's lack of attention to the southern region has been observed, and the prime minister's apparent lack of urgency in taking action has led some residents to believe the region is being neglected, he said. Asked about the premier's remark that she had assigned her deputies to oversee flood management in the South, Mr Sathit criticised the prime minister and said she should be aware of public expectations and be ready to equally serve all citizens. The former MP said the coalition government should take responsibility for the state of the country because it has not done enough to give people hope. Mr Sathit said the government's popularity will be affected as it has been unable to deliver on its economic promises. Sathit: Deliver economic promises Nipit Intarasombat, a former Democrat MP from Phatthalung, said flood relief efforts are being carried out by state agencies involved, although the prime minister has yet to make a trip to the four southernmost border provinces to inspect the floods. This has left the impression the government is not giving sufficient attention and care to the situation, he said, adding that even if the entire cabinet were to visit, they would not have the same morale-boosting effects as the prime minister's presence. Due to the geography of the region, much of the floodwater in affected areas will have already subsided by the time the prime minister makes a visit and she will not be able to witness the full severity of the flooding, he said. When asked if Ms Paetongtarn has no incentive to visit because Pheu Thai has limited support in the South, he said it is hard to believe the country's leader would neglect the South simply because it is not her party's political stronghold. "I don't want to assume that she is neglecting the South simply for that reason. But the delay has cost her significant political goodwill," he said. Mr Nipit also said he believes Ms Paetongtarn cares about the well-being of the southern people, but she and her close aides lack political experience, which may have led them to miscalculate the situation. Asked if the Pheu Thai Party still has a chance to establish a stronghold in the South, Mr Nipit said it is unlikely to gain significant ground in the three southern border provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala due to several factors, including the recent flooding and the Tak Bai case in Narathiwat. Nipit: PM cares about people During last year's general election, the Pheu Thai Party did not capture a single seat in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Songkhla. Its coalition partner, the Prachachat Party, then led by Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, won all three seats in Yala. In Pattani, where five seats were available, the Prachachat Party won three seats in Constituency 1, 3 and 5, while the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the Democrat Party won each in Constituency 2 and Constituency 4, respectively. The five seats in Narathiwat were shared among the PPRP (Constituency 2 and 3), United Thai Nation (UTN) Party (Constituency 1), Bhumjaithai (Constituency 4) and Prachachat Party (Constituency 5). The Democrat Party won the largest share of seats, six out nine, in Songkhla (Constituency 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9) with the UTN winning in Constituency 2, the PPRP in Constituency 4 and the Bhumjaithai Party in Constituency 7. Defending the government, Pheu Thai list-MP Chanin Rungthanakiat said the mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Mai, which coincided when the South was hit by severe flooding, had been planned weeks in advance and could not be cancelled. The prime minister, he said, decided not to inspect the flooding during its worst phase to avoid adding a burden to local officials who were focusing on relief operations. Even so, several cabinet ministers were assigned to oversee the flood relief efforts, he noted. Mr Chanin stressed the Pheu Thai Party is doing its best to refute the claim the party does not prioritise the southern region. Under the Srettha Thavisin administration, several projects in the South were given support, he said. Chanin: Let local officials work Meanwhile, academics criticise the government for its lack of preparedness in terms of evacuation shelters and failure to decentralise power to enable local authorities to more effectively manage the flood crisis. As a result, the public perceives that only the prime minister's visit and intervention can solve the issue, even if the prime minister's visit to the flood-ravaged area is more of a symbolic gesture rather than a direct solution to the problem. Srisompob Jitpiromsri, a political scientist at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus, said that given the size of financial aid and recovery efforts by the Interior Ministry, the government's response in both the North and South is not much different. The cabinet previously approved a change in the criteria for flood compensation payouts. Now, all affected households stand to receive a one-time payment of 9,000 baht. Under the old criteria, households flooded for 30 days or less would receive 5,000 baht, while those inundated for more than 30 days but less than 60 received 7,000 baht. Households flooded for more than 60 days were the only ones given 9,000 baht. Mr Srisompob said provincial authorities, the military, the private sector and various charity and rescue foundations have mobilised their resources to assist flood victims. Media coverage has shown the struggles and plight of the flood-ravaged communities. This has led to comparisons with the role of the government, particularly the prime minister whose visit would have eased tension and provided reassurance to those severely affected by the flooding, he said. "Ms Paetongtarn's comments about her husband being a native of the southern region have not been particularly helpful. "She shouldn't have said it at all under this situation. She should have talked about policies. When her comments are seen as out of place, the issue is dramatised," he said. Early this month, the prime minister defended herself against social media criticism about allegedly neglecting flood-hit southern provinces while touring the northern region, emphasising that providing aid takes priority over making public appearances. She responded that her family had connections to the South through her husband. "How could I neglect the South when my husband and his family are Southerners?" Srisompob: Comments aren't helpful Mr Srisompob said the issue of evacuation shelters has been a pain point for the southern region for a decade and despite having the resources, the government has yet to invest in permanent shelters for disaster relief. "The government needs to rethink its approach to disaster management, especially in the southern region where flooding is exacerbated by rising sea tides," he said. Nuttakorn Vititanon, a political scientist at Chiang Mai University, said the government needs to revamp its disaster warning and emergency response systems to ensure residents are fully informed about risks and adequately cared for. "The flood came at night and no one evacuated in the dark. Moreover, there were no shelters for them. Telling people to evacuate... but to where? So, they stayed home," he said. He was referring to recent flood situations in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in August. Mr Nuttakorn said the government appears to be avoiding confronting local communities and resorts that block water drainage and is instead trying to build flood barriers, which is not a sustainable solution. He said the prime minister does not need to visit any flood-hit areas to make instructions if local authorities have the full power to manage the situation. "But the governor doesn't and he can't instruct other agencies like the Department of Royal Irrigation. Remember when a floodgate was broken and the governor was blamed for not coordinating? "The problem was solved after the prime minister's visit. As a result, people have become accustomed to the idea that if they want something fixed, the prime minister must intervene," Mr Nuttakorn said. Nuttakorn: 'No shelters for them'U.S. Presidents Pay Tribute to Jimmy Carter
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Thousands of revelers gathered alongside Copacabana beach for Rio de Janeiro’s annual pride parade on Sunday, many scantily dressed and covered in glitter. Rainbow-colored flags, towels and fans abounded among the crowd mostly made up of young people who danced and sang along to music blaring from speakers. While the atmosphere was festive, some spoke of the threat of violence LGBTQ+ people face in Brazil . “As the sister of a trans woman, I’m scared to death,” said Helen Karajá, a 32-year-old bisexual artist. At least 230 LGBTQ+ Brazilians were victims of violent deaths in 2023, according to the umbrella watchdog group Observatory of LGBTI+ deaths and violence in Brazil. And more trans people — 100 — were murdered in Brazil last year than in any other country, according to Transgender Europe, a network of global non-profits that tracks the data. To be sure, life for gay people is safer now than it used to be, said Carlos da Cunha, a 71-year-old hairdresser. “In the past, people had to go to ghettos to meet people, because you couldn’t just be anywhere,” said da Cunha. “Now, we can walk down the street without being attacked, without being insulted or humiliated." One of the themes of this year’s pride march was sustainability. “Environmental justice will only be possible with racial and social justice, gender equality and sexual diversity” read one banner attached to a truck. Brazil has faced a series of environmental catastrophes this year, including record drought in the Amazon rainforest , floods in the southern Rio Grande do Sul state, and wildfires across the country. “If we can’t respect the environment, how can we respect others?” said Alexia Soutinho, a 23-year-old student who identifies as pansexual and lives in the Cidade de Deus favela.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that "several" wounded North Korean soldiers died after being captured by Ukrainian forces, as he accused Russia of throwing them into battle with "minimal protection". Ukraine and its western allies say North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to support Russia's army, in what is seen as a major escalation in the nearly three-year war following Moscow's 2022 invasion. "Today there were reports about several soldiers from North Korea. Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner. But they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated," Zelensky said in an evening address posted on social media. South Korea's spy agency said earlier on Friday that a North Korean soldier who was captured while fighting in Russia's war against Ukraine had died of his wounds. Zelensky did not specify how many North Koreans had died after being captured by Ukrainian troops. Zelensky had earlier said that nearly 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been "killed or wounded" so far as they joined Russia's forces in combat in its western Kursk border region, where Ukraine mounted a shock incursion in August. South Korea's intelligence service had previously put the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 1,000, saying the high casualty rate could be down to an unfamiliar battlefield environment and their lack of capability to counter drone attacks. The White House on Friday confirmed the South Korean estimates, saying that Pyongyang's troops were being sent to their deaths in futile attacks by generals who see them as "expendable". "We also have reports of North Korean soldiers taking their own lives rather than surrendering to Ukrainian forces, likely out of fear of reprisal against their families in North Korea in the event that they're captured," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A landmark defence pact between Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June came into force this month, with Russian President Vladimir Putin hailing it as a "breakthrough document". North Korean state media said Friday that Putin sent a New Year's message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying: "The bilateral ties between our two countries have been elevated after our talks in June in Pyongyang." Seoul's military believes that North Korea was seeking to modernise its conventional warfare capabilities through combat experience gained in the Russia-Ukraine war. NATO chief Mark Rutte had also said that Moscow was providing support to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for the troops. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday that Pyongyang is reportedly "preparing for the rotation or additional deployment of soldiers" and supplying "240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery" to the Russian army. Pyongyang's involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine had prompted warnings from Seoul. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently suspended, said in November that Seoul was "not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons" to Kyiv, which would mark a major shift to a long-standing policy barring the sale of weapons to countries in active conflict. hs/bjt/mlm/gv/rlp
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MADRID, Spain: At least 10,457 migrants died or disappeared while trying to reach Spain by sea in 2024, an NGO said Thursday, marking a 50 percent increase from last year and the most since it began keeping a tally in 2007. The 58-percent increase includes 1,538 children and 421 women, migrants rights group Caminando Fronteras or Walking Borders said in a report which covers the period from January 1 to December 5, 2024. It amounts to an average of 30 deaths per day, up from around 18 in 2023. The group compiles its data from hotlines set up for migrants on vessels in trouble to call for help, families of migrants who went missing and from official rescue statistics. It blamed the use of flimsy boats and increasingly dangerous routes as well as a lack of resources for rescues for the surge in deaths. “These figures are evidence of a profound failure of rescue and protection systems. More than 10,400 people dead or missing in a single year is an unacceptable tragedy,” the group’s founder, Helena Maleno, said in a statement. The victims were from 28 nations, mostly in Africa, but also from Iraq and Pakistan. The vast majority of the fatalities — 9,757 — took place on the Atlantic migration route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, which has received a record number of migrants for the second year in a row. Seven migrant boats landed in the archipelago on Christmas Day, Spain’s maritime rescue service said on social media site X. At their closest point, the Canaries lie 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the coast of North Africa. The shortest route is between the coastal town of Tarfaya in southern Morocco and the island of Fuerteventura in the Canaries. The Atlantic route is particularly deadly, with many of the crowded poorly equipped boats unable to cope with the strong ocean currents. Some boats depart African beaches as far as 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Canaries. To avoid controls, smugglers sometimes take longer, more dangerous journeys, navigating west into the open Atlantic before turning north to the Canaries—a detour that brings many to the tiny westernmost island of El Hierro, which since last year has experienced an unprecedented surge in arrivals. The regional government of the Canaries says it is overwhelmed, and in October thousands of people took part in rallies in main cities in the archipelago to demand action to curb the surge in arrivals. During his Christmas Eve broadcast, Spain’s King VI warned that “without proper management” of migration, “it can lead to tensions that erode social cohesion”. “How we are able to deal with immigration—which also requires good coordination with our European partners, as well as with the countries of origin and transit—will say a lot in the future about our principles and the quality of our democracy,” he added. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in August went on a tour of West African countries in a bid to boost local efforts to curb illegal migration from Mauritania, Senegal and the Gambia, the main departure points for migrant boats headed to the Canary Islands. — AFP