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Faye's 19 help Western Kentucky defeat Evansville 79-65CHEMISTRY NAMED A 2024 ADWEEK FASTEST GROWING AGENCY AND A 2025 CHIEF MARKETER AGENCY OF THE YEAR
When Inter Miami were dumped out of Major League Soccer's playoffs in the first round, their former Spain international full-back Jordi Alba questioned the fairness of the post-season format. Miami had topped the Eastern Conference and the overall regular season standings with a record points tally a performance which earned them the 'Supporters' Shield'. But there would be no title battle against the best in the West for Lionel Messi and Company after they contrived to lose two matches in their best-of-three series against an Atlanta United team which finished ninth in the East and 20th in the overall standings. "I think this format is a bit unfair. It has been done for many years but I think it should be the champion of one conference against the champion of the other, to make it as fair as possible," Alba said. Alba's comments prompted much debate among MLS fans and plenty of accusations of sour grapes but they did serve to highlight that this year's playoffs, if not MLS's playoffs in general, would certainly not be a battle of the best versus best. Defending champions Columbus Crew, who finished second in the Supporters' Shield race, were also eliminated in the first round, adding to the sense that the knockout phase of the season is very much a competition of its own. So on Saturday, after the international break disrupted the flow of the post-season, the Conference semi-finals, will see a "Hudson River Derby" between two New York teams who couldn't finish in the top 10 in the regular season. New York City, Manchester City's sister club, have home-field advantage after finishing in 13th spot while the New York Red Bulls travel from New Jersey, having ended up in 16th place. The 'home field' isn't actually NYCFC's usual home of Yankee Stadium, which is being used for a college football game, but Citi Field, home of New York's other baseball club, the Mets. Later on Saturday, in the Western Conference, 2022 MLS Cup winners and last year's beaten finalists, Los Angeles FC, are at home to the Seattle Sounders. That fixture feels much more like the kind of playoff game that was expected -- LAFC finished top of the West while Seattle were fourth. LAFC faces the Sounders for the fourth time in an elimination match over the last 13 months, having defeated Seattle in the 2023 Western Conference semifinals, the 2024 Leagues Cup quarterfinal and the 2024 US Open Cup semifinal. Each of those matches was hosted by Seattle. LAFC, with former France stars in goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Olivier Giroud, enter the encounter unbeaten in their last 10 meetings with the Sounders, with their last loss to Seattle coming in a 2-0 defeat in 2021. On Sunday, surprise package Atlanta, with their 40-year-old goalkeeper Brad Guzan having impressed so many with his heroics against Miami, will return to Florida to take on Orlando City, who finished fourth in the East. Atlanta won at Orlando on the last day of the regular campaign, a victory that allowed them to sneak into the wildcard round but which also completed a home and away double for the Georgia side. "Obviously, in Major League Soccer, anything can happen," said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja. "Our responsibility is to play one game at a time. This one, we're going to be ready for sure," he added. The weekend rounds off with Los Angeles Galaxy hosting Minnesota United who, under former Manchester United assistant coach Eric Ramsay, came through a best-of-three series against higher-ranked Real Salt Lake. The Galaxy start as favourites but, as this season has shown in abundance, that counts for little. "We know they are a top team at this level with top individual players who are very difficult to beat at home but...I feel that if we are a good version of what we have been over the last 10-12 games... I certainly won't be painting it as a one sided game," said Ramsay. sev/js
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2024-- GoldenTV and Character Media proudly announce its full list of honorees and performers for the Dec. 14 Unforgettable Gala end-of-year celebration at the Beverly Hilton. Visionary fashion designer Prabal Gurung will receive the inaugural Cultural Icon award, and legendary actor Hiroyuki Sanada , star of Shōgun, is the inaugural Global Icon honoree. The 22nd Annual Unforgettable Gala is co-hosted by Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All At Once), Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever), and comedian JR De Guzman (The Comedy Lineup). Adding to the star-studded lineup of performances at UNFO are AAPI recording artists Thuy , Weston Estate , Party Foul, and more, plus a throwback timeline of 80s-90s-00s AAPI artists featuring The Jets , Pinay , Jocelyn Enriquez , and MC Jin , in a special mix by Legend Entertainment’s DJ Icy Ice . Singer/songwriter Thuy will be UNFO’s first-ever performer of Vietnamese descent, and Weston Estate are the first-ever South Asian recording artists to take the UNFO mainstage. The show opens with K-pop’s WONHO , making his U.S. solo debut after Monsta X, and closes with special guests 98 Degrees , following the worldwide debut of Party Foul , the Hawaii-based boy band formerly known as Crossing Rain, who opened for the iconic 90s boy band at a Lahaina, Maui benefit concert earlier this year. Cultural Icon honoree Prabal Gurung has been at the forefront of American fashion, with designs worn by leading ladies including First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and the Duchess of Cambridge, to name a few. For years, he has used his brand platform to address global needs, serving as a goodwill ambassador and launching an earthquake relief fund for his homeland in Nepal, amongst many other charitable initiatives. Gurung’s literary memoir Walk Like a Girl will be released in spring 2025. Entertainment legend Hiroyuki Sanada ( The Last Samurai, Mortal Kombat, Bullet Train, John Wick 3 ) has been awarded multiple times over for one of the most celebrated film careers in Hollywood. He will receive the inaugural Global Icon award at the Unforgettable Gala, on the heels of his recent Golden Globe nominations and Emmy wins, and what is sure to kick off another successful award season for the veteran actor. A very special Community Impact award will be given to “Laker Legends ,” as allies who have inspired and advocated for the API community. Three-time NBA champion Byron Scott , who begins his next chapter coaching basketball in Asia, will accept the award recognizing the allyship of former Lakers such as Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, known for his prolific writings in The Hollywood Reporter addressing Asian stereotypes in Hollywood, and Ervin “Magic” Johnson for his support and funding of AAPI small business owners during the pandemic. Scott also served as the last NBA coach of the legendary Kobe Bryant, long revered by the Asian community throughout his lifetime for a legacy of inspiration and excellence. This year’s Global Groundbreaker award will be presented to Japanese comedian Naomi Watanabe . In addition, the 2024 Unforgettable Gala honorees, as earlier announced, feature a powerful lineup of stars across film, TV, digital media and entertainment, including Joan Chen (Chungsing Wang in Dìdi ) – Actor in Film; Ana Sawai (Lady Toda Mariko in Shōgun ) – Actor in TV; Izaac Wang (Chris Wang in Dìdi ) – Breakout in Film; Hoa Xuande (The Captain in The Sympathizer ) – Breakout in TV ; Sean Wang ( Dìdi ) – Director ; Rachel Kondo ( Shogun ) – Writer; Vivian Tu ( Your Rich BFF ) – Digital Influencer; and Avatar: The Last Airbender Cast (Netflix live-action adaptation) – Vanguard Award. Promoted as “Unforgettable Together,” this year’s gala brings together today’s artists and legends in entertainment, featuring unprecedented collaborations and never-before-seen performances on stage. “Unforgettable Together” is a concerted effort to unite generations of the greater API community and highlight icons, allies and supporters. The preeminent API awards gala is a one-of-a-kind celebration, featuring a golden evening of grandeur and glamour on Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Beverly Hilton. New partners at UNFO include presenting sponsor Cadillac and after-party sponsor Vizio , as well as Cartier , Fenty Beauty by Rihanna , TikTok and Yaamava’ Resort & Casino . Returning sponsors include Amazon MGM Studios, Amazon Music, ChimeTV, Gold House, Le Mieux and Ten Advertising. Other new UNFO sponsors include Bank of Hope, Din Tai Fung, Dr. Bombay, East West Bank, Icelandic Glacial, South Coast Plaza, Tower28, 99 Ranch Market, and more . UNFO will once again air nationwide as a live-to-tape awards show special on Wednesday, Dec. 18, on ChimeTV powered by GoldenTV, with repeat airings again on cable, per local listings, and streaming on GoldenTV. More about GoldenTV advertising opportunities is available at www.getgolden.tv . The Unforgettable Gala was founded in 2002 by Asian-centered media company Character Media, formerly Audrey Magazine, KoreAm Journal, and Kore Asian Media. Marking a new era, UNFO is produced for the first time by GoldenTV and Character Media, as part of the Golden Media family of companies. Interviews are available with GoldenTV founder and CEO Takashi Cheng and/or UNFO co-leads Jessica del Mundo and Tina Li. About GoldenTV GoldenTV is the first streaming platform that combines Asian and Pacific Islander stories into one limitless, creator-centric home. It offers everything broadcasted on AAPI cable channel ChimeTV plus exclusive interviews, event coverage and more. GoldenTV delivers Asian Pacific experiences online through its SVOD, OTA and FAST channels, and offline through live events such as the annual Unforgettable Gala. Follow GoldenTV on Instagram @GetGoldenTV . About Character Media Character Media has been the premier source of news and events for the Asian American entertainment community for more than 30 years (along with its predecessors Kore Asian Media, KoreAm Journal and Audrey Magazine). Follow Character Media on Instagram @Character.Media . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213726251/en/ Press inquiries may be directed tohello@10storyhouse.com . KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS/CONCERTS GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT TV AND RADIO CELEBRITY FILM & MOTION PICTURES LIFESTYLE MUSIC CONSUMER SOURCE: GoldenTV Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/13/2024 04:32 PM/DISC: 12/13/2024 04:32 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241213726251/enFortnite leak reveals huge Spider-Verse collab featuring two Spider-Men
Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.
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Kiran Rao, a celebrated filmmaker in Hindi cinema, has a reputation for crafting narratives that are as introspective as they are impactful. Her second film as a director, Laapataa Ladies ( Lost Ladies ), India’s official entry for the 97th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, explores female identity and liberation in rural India. During our interview , we delved into themes far beyond the film itself, discussing feminism, individuality, societal expectations, and even the role of technology and artificial intelligence in shaping identity and storytelling. Rao’s warmth and intellectual rigor were evident throughout the interview, as she repeatedly praised the thoughtfulness, depth, and originality of the questions I posed—a gesture that underscored her openness to meaningful dialog. It also reflects her humility and groundedness - which have shaped the film's simple yet impactful narrative. The Metaphor of Being Lost One of the core themes of Laapataa Ladies is encapsulated in its title, which translates to "Lost Ladies." During the interview, I explored this metaphor, asking how the concept of being "lost" reflects an existential search for identity within a patriarchal society. Kiran agreed that the term “Laapataa” was meant to convey much more than the literal disappearance of the film’s characters. “So the search for their own identity is, honestly, for most women, a luxury,” she shared. “You know, you don't have the opportunity or the time to be able to do that. So it is something that is left unfulfilled, which we feel that every girl, given a chance, would love to do—would want to explore what she's capable of and to find her own happiness.” Subtlety as a Narrative Tool Following up, I expressed my admiration for the film’s subtle portrayal of feminism, contrasting it with the more overt depictions common in other films. “I liked the subtlety here,” I noted. “It’s not over-the-top or in-your-face.” Kiran explained that subtlety is central to her filmmaking style. “Audiences don’t need spoon-feeding,” she said. “Subtlety is often much more effective in conveying what we want to convey, rather than bashing someone on the head with something very overt or obvious.” Humor as Liberation In one of the more philosophical moments of our conversation, I asked, "Philosophically speaking, is laughter in this film also like a form of liberation? Does laughter create moments where the characters and even the audience can transcend through their inner immediate struggles?" Kiran responded enthusiastically: “Yes, absolutely - that's a great way to put it! It’s liberating to be able to laugh at things you have so long considered a problem. It’s empowering.” She explained that humor in Lost Ladies acts as a uniting and disarming force, breaking down patriarchal expectations and societal constraints. A Dialog That Redefines Independence I asked Kiran about a scene where the character Manju Mai delivers a powerful dialog: “Women can farm, women can cook, women can give birth to children and raise them. Why do we need men?” I shared how this moment resonated with modern women like me, especially in its exploration of the fear of being alone and the confidence it imparts. “What are we so afraid of?” I asked. “What is so frightening about being alone?” Kiran credited the scene’s brilliance to her screenwriter Sneha Desai. “That amazing dialog is by Sneha,” she said. “She has an incredible way of encapsulating very big ideas into simple and beautiful dialog. My contribution was ensuring we had a character like Manju Mai in the story, which wasn’t there in the earlier draft.” This scene encapsulates the film’s core message: women’s independence is not just possible but empowering as well. Balancing Tradition and Agency I noted the unique portrayal of the character Phool, who embraces traditional roles while finding her own agency, and asked Kiran how she achieved this balance. I further asked, "Many philosophers debate whether freedom is found in love or hate. Do women in Lost Ladies find liberation in their temporary estrangement altogether, or is the journey about reconciling individuality with societal structures?" “Beautiful question! Everybody wants to run away at some point. But we are packed creatures. We belong in herds. We wanted to portray a girl who wants to be a homemaker and be part of a family but also finds the space to have her own personal identity,” she said. Phool represents the possibility of maintaining individuality while thriving within familial structures—a nuanced perspective on feminism as a celebration of choice. Liberation in Mistakes We also discussed the film’s portrayal of rebellion as a journey sparked by mistakes. Kiran emphasized that rebellion doesn’t always have to be loud or destructive; it can start with curiosity, with the courage to take a single step outside the prescribed path. It is more about encouragement than rebellion. “It’s not about smashing patriarchy outright,” she noted, “but about taking that first step, which can lead you in a radically new direction.” This subtle yet revolutionary approach reflects the film’s core message: change begins with the smallest of actions, and these quiet acts of defiance can ripple outward to create a more liberated future. The Role of AI in Storytelling Taking a technological turn in our discussion, I asked Kiran, "There are some artificial intelligence tools coming up that can create an entire film and make it look sort of lifelike. Do you think we will need human actors in 10 years?" Kiran reflected on the impact of AI in filmmaking but emphasized the irreplaceable essence of human actors. "AI does, in many ways, draw from human nature and expressiveness, which can be used to replicate actors," she said. However, she was clear that AI lacks the intangible "soul" that actors bring to their performances. "I don’t think they’re going to replace actors for a very, very long time," she affirmed. Technology and Feminist Storytelling I posed a speculative question: "How would technology, like social media, have changed the journey of the characters Phool and Jaya? Could it have connected them to modern feminism in new ways?" Kiran called this an “interesting” thought experiment, reflecting on how technology has fundamentally altered how we perceive identity and relationships. “Access to technology gives women a new lens to question how they live and what they want,” she said. However, she chose to set Lost Ladies in a simpler time, focusing on interpersonal dynamics unmediated by modern gadgets. We mused about how Instagram might have transformed the characters’ lives, imagining their identities evolving in entirely new directions. Lessons for Women When asked about the takeaways she hopes women gain from the film, Kiran’s response was heartfelt: “Be kind to yourself. Give yourself a break. Give yourself a lot of love.” She stressed the importance of self-care, a theme that resonates deeply in a world where women are often expected to prioritize everyone else. Final Thoughts As our conversation drew to a close, Kiran expressed her gratitude for the thoughtful and philosophical nature of the questions. "I wasn’t expecting such beautiful questions," she said, a compliment I cherish as much as her film’s subtle yet powerful portrayal of feminism. Lost Ladies is not just a story—it’s a statement. Through humor, sisterhood, quiet rebellion, and the irreplaceable magic of human actors, Kiran Rao has crafted a narrative that resonates with women across the globe. It is a call to reclaim identity, celebrate individuality, and, above all, be kind to oneself. As India’s Oscar entry, the film carries a message that is both deeply personal and universally profound.Smokers who quit for a week could save a day of their life, experts say