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Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss
By Yuji Yoshikata / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent 7:00 JST, December 11, 2024 TEHRAN — Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who has been released temporarily from a Tehran prison on medical grounds, vowed to continue her fight for women’s rights. “I will not keep silent,” she said during an exclusive interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun. Mohammadi gave her first in-person interview with a media organization since receiving her Nobel Prize at her home in the Iranian capital on Thursday. Mohammadi, 52, a political prisoner, had surgery about three weeks ago mainly to remove a tumor from her right leg. She was granted temporary medical leave from prison on Dec. 4 for a period of 21 days. She has a brace on her right leg and currently uses a walker. But with her high spirits, she does not look like a longtime prisoner. “Within these 21 days, I will not keep silent,” Mohammadi said in the interview. “It doesn’t matter if these 21 days are going to change into two days or 22 days. It will not affect my decision.” She expressed deep concern about the oppression of women in Iran and Afghanistan, saying, “I think talking about peace and democracy in the current world without paying attention to women’s rights is impossible or meaningless.” Mohammadi on Thursday evening invited Yomiuri Shimbun reporters to her home, along with her relatives, fellow human rights activists and supporters. With the painful-looking brace on her right leg, she talked with the visitors for more than five hours. Mohammadi is a political prisoner who has been sentenced to lashings and a total of more than 30 years in prison on charges that include spreading propaganda against the state. However, the authorities have imposed no major restrictions on her during her release. No obvious signs of surveillance were seen around her home. Even if restrictions are imposed, “I will not accept them,” she insisted. According to Mohammadi, news of the Nobel prize win in October last year reached her through an inmate who had learned about it from another inmate who was allowed to talk on the phone with people outside the prison. “I think the Nobel Peace Prize created an opportunity not only for me but also for Iranian women and the country to accomplish democracy and achieve women’s rights,” said Mohammadi. Her 55-year-old brother, Mehdi, and his wife are currently in Tehran from Mashhad, northeastern Iran, to take care of Mohammadi. “Twenty-one days is too short. I hope the temporary release will become a full release,” he said. During the interview, Mohammadi also delivered a message for women in Japan. “I think that the interaction and dialogue between women in various societies can lead to reciprocal growth of the societies,” she said. “I hope that such dialogues and interactions will be created between women of Iran and Japan.” When the topic shifted to her 18-year-old twin children — Ali and Kiana, who live in exile in Paris with their 65-year-old father, Taghi Rahmani — Mohammadi walked over to where the wallpaper had been marked with the twins’ heights, and wondered aloud how tall her children had grown. About a decade ago, her twins fled Iran amid growing government pressure on Mohammadi, and Rahmani later joined them. Since then, Mohammadi has been unable to see them in person as she has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. “When they were leaving [Iran], they were a bit taller than 1 meter,” she said while tracing with her finger over the wallpaper of cartoon animals where her twins’ heights had been marked. “I have kept this, so that when they come back someday, I will measure their height and know how much I have lost,” she said. Though a strong-willed human rights activist who has refused to buckle under pressure, Mohammadi is also motherly, and related how missing out on so much time with her children caused her “deep sorrow.” , human rights activist and journalist Born in Zanjan, northwestern Iran, in 1972, Mohammadi was arrested and imprisoned multiple times after writing articles criticizing the Iranian government in 1998. She has been sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in prison and 154 lashes. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.NORMAL — While women's basketball has enjoyed recent national prominence thanks in part to breakout stars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, the fire is alive in Central Illinois — and it starts early. In Normal, both Kingsley Junior High seventh grade and Parkside Junior High eighth grade girls basketball teams are finishing out undefeated seasons. Some have found inspiration in the WNBA, which had a record-setting 2024 season attracting more than 54 million viewers across six platforms, according to the organization. Attendance at WNBA games also skyrocketed, recoding the highest total attendance in 22 years at 2.3 million, up 48% from last season. At the college level, Clark's time with the Iowa Hawkeyes has been widely credited with helping to grow interest in the sport. Kingsley Junior High seventh grade girls basketball coach Stephen Wood and assistant coach Rebert Harris huddling up with the team ahead of the Class 4A state championship on Thursday at Morton Junior High School. In Normal, the middle school girls have also found inspiration locally, including from teams at Normal West High School and Illinois State University. Parkside head coach Ike Ohanson even started a girls open gym in Bloomington-Normal, inviting older athletes to expose younger players to another environment and examples of developing skills. It's safe to say things are going well for the McLean County Unit 5 programs. "When you're working with junior high kids, you never know how its gonna turn out, especially when it gets into some tight games in the postseason," said Brett Papoccia, the district's junior high athletic director. "The competition and what they're capable of doing at this point has increased just because of all the work they put in." For the Kingsley team, which plays for the state title in its division on Thursday, the exemplary results are a repeat. Kingsley won the state championship with a 26-0 record last year. Coach Stephen Wood said each player has her own inspirations, with several being huge fans of Clark, now a guard with the WNBA's Indiana Fever. Parkside Junior High School eighth grade girls basketball players Allie Hernandez (left), Haylie Hoffman, Adanna Ohanson and Evelyn Seifert practicing ahead the Class 4A state sectional against on Wednesday at Dunlap Valley Middle School. But what really has brought the team together is having played basketball since first and second grade. "They're all unselfish, and I think that's a huge reason why we're where we are," Wood said. "These girls have put in a lot of work to get to where we are, and I'm just thrilled to be working with them. I'm glad that we're going to be practicing and playing on the last days as much as we can, so it's been an awesome year for me and for the team." Head coach Stephen Wood talks about seventh-grade girls basketball season For player Easton Carter, one professional inspiration is the Los Angeles Sparks' Cameron Brink. Even though the small forward missed part of her rookie season with a torn ACL, Carter said she was inspired by Brink's perseverance to push through and get back in the gym. "Through hard times, you have to push through and find your people," Carter said. "My big thing about us going to state is that we're building a family and we're building each other's trust together." Nilah Robinson, who plays at guard, said she was happy to go back-to-back at state, one of the team's goals for the season. Robinson said she has been watching college basketball players like UConn guard Paige Bueckers, who missed most of the 2022-23 season because of a torn ACL but has since been back playing even more, and JuJu Watkins, the University of Southern California guard who was named AP women's basketball player of the week on Tuesday. Robinson said her defensive skills have been inspiring. "We just can't fall apart as a team because it's not going to end well and it's better stay together," Robinson said. "Our goal was to get to the state championship game and we completed our goal; now we just got to win it." Parkside Junior High's eighth graders, meanwhile, head into their state sectional game on Wednesday night with a 24-0 record. Ohanson, the Parkside coach, said the team wanted to make a statement after its loss last year in sectionals against Dunlap Middle School, and the players are working on development and improvement each game. "We hope to see a lot of local folks come support these girls," Ohanson said. "Show them love, show them support and cheer them on because we want to win it and we want to win it all." Kingsley Junior High seventh grade girls basketball players Thalia Gardner (left), McKinnley Ross, Zaria Gardner and other teammates running during practice while eighth grade player Alanna Robinson practices shooting ahead of the Class 4A state championship on Thursday at Morton Junior High School. Allie Hernandez, who plays small forward, said the game represents a chance for the team to redeem themselves from last year, but to also remind themselves to pick each other up after mistakes in practice and in games. "I just feel like no matter what's going on in my life, I can just play basketball and forget about everything," she said. When the girls are out on the court, they are not just playing for themselves, said Haylie Hoffman, who plays shooting guard. They are playing as a team and grateful to be doing so at the level they've reached. "My first priority is to glorify God on the court and making sure we're showing God's love on and off the court as a team," Hoffman said. Evelyn Seifert, who plays point guard, said she is thankful for coaches who can teach the players more about the game as individuals, but more importantly as a team. "I want to trust in them to get us through the game and season," Seifert said. "I mean basketball is my No. 1 sport. I practice every day, and it's just great that all the hard work has paid off." Adanna Ohanson, who plays in the post, said she wants to make it far in basketball. It not only makes her happy to see how far the team has gone this season, she said, but it is also encouraging to see everyone else be there for each other. Parkside Junior High School eighth grade girls basketball head coach Ike Ohanson talking with players during practice ahead of the Class 4A state sectional against on Wednesday at Dunlap Valley Middle School. Adanna, who is also Coach Ohanson's daughter, said she might feel little bit more pressure from him, but that is only because he wants her and her teammates to go far just like he did in his own career. Ohanson, who played in college and professionally, is also the assistant boys basketball coach at Normal West. "My dad is really inspirational to me because he went pretty far in basketball, and with him as a coach, he's definitely a lot harder on me," Adanna said. "I want to make it far in basketball so this right now, it really makes me happy that we're able to make this far this season." Parkside Junior High School eighth grade girls basketball team will play against Galesburg Junior High for the Class 4A state sectional at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dunlap Valley Middle School. Kingsley Junior High School seventh grade girls basketball team will play against St. Jacob Triad Middle School for the Class 4A state championship at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Morton Junior High School. For the most up-to-date standings, visit iesa.org/activities/gbk/ . Contact Mateusz Janik at (309) 820-3234. Follow Mateusz on Twitter:@mjanik99 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Government Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner has filed to run for a seat on the New York City Council, launching a potential political comeback after his once-promising career was destroyed by sexting scandals and later a criminal conviction for having illicit online contact with a child. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner has filed to run for a seat on the New York City Council, launching a potential political comeback after his once-promising career was destroyed by sexting scandals and later a criminal conviction for having illicit online contact with a child. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner has filed to run for a seat on the New York City Council, launching a potential political comeback after his once-promising career was destroyed by sexting scandals and later a criminal conviction for having illicit online contact with a child. Campaign finance records list a campaign committee that was set up on Friday for Weiner called Weiner 25, in addition to listing him as a candidate for a council seat in lower Manhattan. In a phone conversation Tuesday with The Associated Press, Weiner, a Democrat, said he is “still exploring” whether to actually campaign for the office. He said he opened the committee late last week so he could participate in a forum held by the Downtown Independent Democrats later this week. He referred additional questions to recent statements he made on his weekly radio show, “The Middle with Anthony Weiner,” where he said: “I haven’t decided if I want to do this yet” while considering the personal dynamics of a return to politics. Weiner represented a congressional district in New York City for about 12 years before he resigned in 2011 after sending lewd photos to several women. He tried to make a comeback in 2013 to run for mayor but was damaged by new revelations of explicit photos Weiner had sent under the online alias “Carlos Danger.” Weiner pleaded guilty in 2017 to having illicit online contact with a 15-year-old girl and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. He was released in 2019 and was ordered to register as a sex offender. 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. ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, N.Y. Advertisement AdvertisementBy Nicholas Tan Many world leaders have responded to the Trump tariffs that the president-elect says will be enacted on the first day of his administration . In several posts on social media, Donald Trump shares that he will impose through executive orders a 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada as well as an additional 10% tariff on China. He positions these taxes as actions made against Mexico and Canada for not preventing enough illegal aliens from entering the US, and also blames them and China for the increase in fentanyl in the country. Here’s how Justin Trudeau , Claudia Sheinbaum, and China’s leaders have responded to these tariffs. China, Canada, and Mexico have reacted in different ways to Trump’s proposed tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he had a 10-minute call with Trump that was a “good conversation,” as reported by BBC . They discussed border security and trade, with Trudeau saying that the volume of migrants going through the Canadian border was much lower than than the Mexican border. Per The Guardian , he said that they “obviously talked a bout laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth.” On Wednesday, he plans on meeting with the leaders of other Canadian provinces and territories to discuss how to deal with the new tariffs and border control. Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, says that she will warn Trump in a letter about the tariffs likely raising job losses and inflation in the US and Mexico. In a statement made at a press conference on Tuesday, via Reuters , she is concerned that tariffs will snowball: “To one tariff will follow another in response and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk.” Additionally, she will seek a phone call with Trump and send a letter to Trudeau. Considering that various U.S. carmaking plants for General Motors and Ford are based in the country, she added, “What sense is there?” On the subject of weapons and drugs, Sheinbaum said that “we do not produce weapons, we do not consume the synthetic drugs” and pointed out that people in her country “are being killed by crime that is responding to the demand in [the United States].” The response from China has been firmer. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, says that the country was already dealing with drug trafficking as part of a deal between Xi Jinping and Joe Biden. In a statement, he said their “progress made in US-related law enforcement operations against narcotics” shows that the country is not “knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the United States.” A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry also warned the US that it should not “take China’s goodwill for granted” in its cooperation in counternarcotic operations. Nick Tan is a SEO Lead Writer for GameRevolution. Once upon a time, his parents took away his Super Nintendo as a punishment. He has sworn revenge ever since. Share article
( MENAFN - The Peninsula) QNA New York, November 30 (QNA) - The main US stock indexes ended Friday's trading session higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose by 0.56 percent to reach 6,032.44 points. The nasdaq Composite Index rose by 113.80 points, or 0.83 percent, to record 19,218.17 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 136.31 points, or 0.42 percent, to reach 44,910.65 points. MENAFN30112024000063011010ID1108941461 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”AP Sports SummaryBrief at 2:50 p.m. EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that’s mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he’d had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he’s roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” “I’m a travelin’ dog and I’ve made a lot of stops/All over this town...” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie’s window Scrim leaped from in November. She’s resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She’s invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she’s developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. “...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely ... ” People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson’s disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus’ Rescues’ van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van’s window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van’s diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. “...If you’re ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle ...” Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim’s repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He’s doing that too,” she said. Cheramie’s team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” ”... and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return ...” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie’s lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie’s four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” ___ Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96BEIRUT, Lebanon — Israel approved a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah militants on Tuesday that would end nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the war in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire, starting at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday, would mark the first major step toward ending the regionwide unrest triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. But it does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. Hours before the ceasefire with Hezbollah was to take effect, Israel carried out the most intense wave of strikes in Beirut and its southern suburbs since the start of the conflict and issued a record number of evacuation warnings. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Another huge airstrike shook Beirut shortly after the ceasefire was announced. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. Israel says it will ‘attack with might’ if Hezbollah breaks truce Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Warplanes bombard Beirut and its southern suburbs Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. The warnings sent residents fleeing. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli forces reach Litani River in southern Lebanon The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. ___ Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. ___ Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-warHoly Ten Blasts Chivayo Over Car OfferBryce Miller was a fourth round pick by the Mariners in the 2021 MLB draft and never appeared higher than 98th on MLB Pipeline’s Top-100 prospect list. Still, he reached the major leagues after just 160 total innings in the minors and enjoyed immediate success. That success faded quickly, but he’s done an incredible job reinventing himself as a pitcher over his brief career and looks to be on the verge of stardom. Here, I’m going to talk about the adjustments he made on his way to breaking out, why they worked, and what to expect from him next season. I’m writing these break out pieces every week. Check out how Hunter Greene is on the path to becoming an ace from last week and how Tarik Skubal became the best pitcher in baseball two weeks ago. Pitching is Easy? Bryce Miller burst onto the scene in 2023 as a fastball-forward, power pitcher who wasn’t afraid to challenge hitters. Initially, that was a great plan. In his MLB debut, he took a perfect game into the sixth inning. Over his first five starts, he had a sparkling 1.15 ERA – lowest in the league – with 28 strikeouts, three walks, and completed at least six innings in each start. At the same time, Miller was throwing his fastball 70% of the time. That was more often than any other pitcher in baseball. And it worked because he came to the majors with one of the most explosive fastballs in the league. It had above average velocity, significantly above average induced vertical break, was difficult to barrel up, and hitters had no answers despite Miller filling up the zone with it. Everything was perfect! Easy, even. Show up and throw a bunch of fastballs in the strike zone. They’ll never hit it, right? This major league baseball thing is simple. Well, that turned out to not be true. The Yankees lit Miller up for eight runs in his next start and he went on to have a 5.31 ERA over his next 20 outings to end his rookie season. He began to tinker a bit during these struggles by adding a two-seam fastball and sweeper while more changeups, but couldn’t pull himself together. That gave him a new tenacity to attack the offseason with. Thomas Nestico wrote a great thread about how Miller used science to become an ace and this excerpt he used taken from an interview with Brandon Gustafson says it all. Passion, open-mindedness, creativity, desire to be great, whatever you want to call it was at the center of Miller’s breakout. Do the Splits The first step for Miller was finding a better way to attack left-handed batters. Simply put, they torched him during his rookie year. So, he went straight to the lab and was determined to develop a splitter. Here’s a video from his own Twitter account last winter showing his progress with the new pitch. Progression of the splitter continues 🧪 pic.twitter.com/crYPFdVAyK That was on December 22nd and he was already so confident in the pitch that he broadcasted it from his own social channels (shoutout B Money). He even included the pitch’s characteristics that his Trackman captured. By the time the regular season rolled around, his splitter had been featured in countless articles, videos, and even got the Pitching Ninja treatment in spring training . Clearly chomping at the bit, he threw it 20 times in his 2024 debut – 16 of which to lefties – and it forced six whiffs, earned a 40% chase rate, and allowed just one measly single. He also nabbed his first two strikeouts of the season with it as looked downright nasty in the process. Bryce Miller's 3Ks in the 1st. That new Splitter sure looks good (1st 2 Ks) pic.twitter.com/6fAXsfsCOf With the early success, the pitch was still very new and thereby inconsistent. Splitters are often inconsistent by nature, but Miller’s was extreme even by normal splitter standards. Check out the pitch movement chart for Miller’s split compared for Shota Imanaga’s from this past season. David Adler wrote a great piece about this bizarre movement pattern in May and said that Miller basically had three different splitter variations inside the one pitch. Miller told him all he was trying to really do was locate it below the zone and “if it’s moving either direction, or just straight down, that’s fine.” He also said the pitch “kind of has a mind of its own sometimes,” to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times in April. While wonky, the pitch was working. It had a 38.5% whiff rate in April and Miller had a 2.04 ERA at the end of that month. Yet, its effectiveness began to fade as the season wore on. It missed fewer bats in May than it did in April, then fewer bats in June than it did in May. Between those two months, Miller’s ERA spiked to 4.94 and he once again needed to find a new wrinkle to break out of his slump. ‘Death’ to Batters Some pitchers just have a knack for picking up new pitches. Yu Darvish and Zack Greinke seemed to pick up new ones or add variations to their existing ones whenever they felt like it. Miller’s teammates George Kirby and Logan Gilbert have picked up a few each in their short time in the majors, too. Miller is no different. He adapted with his two-seamer as a rookie, his splitter soon after, and then a curveball that would push him towards ace status. The Mariners acquired reliever Mike Baumann from the Orioles on May 22nd. He was designated for assignment on July 19th. In those 50 days, Miller was able to learn his patented ‘spike curve’. “It was like a ten second conversation,” Baumann told Lookout Landing , “and all of a sudden he was throwing it in games.” Uncanny. He debuted the new knuckle curve on June 29th and that started a string of 15 starts to end the season where he had a 1.94 ERA. Interestingly, Miller experimented with a curveball the year before, but it was a more traditional, looping curve and he scrapped it after throwing just 20 in games. Check out the different movement profiles between the old and new curveballs. The new pitch is coming in much harder and moves more straight up and down. That classifies it as a ‘death ball’ shape. Jeff Passan popularized the Death Ball trope last postseason when Jordan Montgomery rode it to World Series glory. All the death ball classification really means is that the pitch is dropping due to its gyro spin rather than falling over itself with top-spin, like most other curveballs. When you hear gyro spin, think about the way a football leaves your hand when you throw a spiral. If I can nerd out for a moment... Death balls are more so a variation of gyro sliders than actual curveballs because they share the same spin characteristics as the gyro slider, just with more drop. Also, the death ball especially kills side-to-side movement and can be thrown much harder, just like those sliders. Miller already threw a gyro slider which is why the death ball likely came easy to him. Lance Brozdowski has a great YouTube Video explaining death balls more in depth if you want to learn more. Don’t worry too much about that death ball moniker, though. It will not be the new sweeper. Just a more specific pitch classification that’s meant for players, coaches, and fellow nerds. Anyway, here’s an overlay from Thomas’ thread showing how well the death ball plays off his fastball. When working on his knuckle curveball, Bryce Miller wanted a pitch to specifically play off his fastball. “I’m hoping it looks like a fastball, and then just drops” ( @TheBGustafson ) Let’s see how this interaction worked out against NL MVP Finalist, Francisco Lindor 14/ pic.twitter.com/l7thnHiHiX Pitch shape jargon aside: this is really all that matters: the pitch looks like his fastball and then the bottom falls out. It’s exactly what Miller needed to tie his repertoire together. Results While his season took many twists and turns, it was still very good on the whole. Miller wound up with a 2.94 ERA across 180 1/3 innings with 171 strikeouts for the season. That made him the seventh most valuable starting pitcher for fantasy – better than Seth Lugo and Corbin Burnes – according to FanGraphs’ player rater . If you segment from when he first used his knuckle curve (or death ball hehe), Miller’s 1.94 ERA trailed only Blake Snell, Paul Skenes, and Chris Sale while his 0.91 WHIP trailed only Snell and teammate Logan Gilbert. He was also in the top-20 in SIERA and K-BB%. That is superstar level, SP1 quality with a clear and obvious material change that spurned his success. What’s Next? I’m incredibly bullish on Miller mostly because of how dominant he was once he had both the curveball and splitter at his disposal. Sometimes we can muddy the water looking at splits in our analysis, but Miller had true, material changes that turned him into a stud. Yet, he’s currently the SP13 – between Imanaga and Aaron Nola – in early drafts over at the NFBC. That’s surprising since he beat that price last season, got markedly better, and remains in one of the best situations for a pitcher in baseball with the friendly confines of T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Perhaps his price is relatively low because he’s outshined by teammates Gilbert ad Kirby who are each being drafted inside the top-40 picks overall. Or maybe there’s fear Miller will take another half step back as he’s done each of the first two times he vaulted himself forward. I wouldn’t let either of those dampen the shine of what Miller can do. We have a starter in one of the best pitchers’ parks in baseball with a rock-solid fastball, multiple effective secondaries, and a knack for picking up new pitches whenever the moment strikes. He is a star.
Zimbabwean rapper Holy Ten has intensified his beef with controversial businessman and “tenderpreneur” Wicknell Chivayo, accusing him of attempting to buy his support with an insulting offer. The conflict centers around Chivayo’s proposition to gift Holy Ten a luxury car in exchange for backing the ruling party during the last Zimbabwean elections. However, Holy Ten rejected the offer, calling it deeply offensive. “I support the president, but I don’t support the president so that I get a GLE,” Holy Ten stated. “The fact that you are even telling me you wanted to buy me a GLE is insulting. If someone wants to buy me a car, they need to start at the G-Wagon.” Holy Ten’s remarks come amid his growing frustration with Chivayo, a businessman known for his close ties to the government. Chivayo’s offer of a Mercedes-Benz GLE was seen by the rapper as an attempt to secure his political allegiance, but Holy Ten has made it clear that he is not interested in such materialistic gestures. The exchange highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding wealth, power, and political influence in Zimbabwe, with Holy Ten pushing back against attempts to buy his loyalty. His comments also reflect his stance on authenticity and integrity, making it clear that his support cannot be bought. “I’m not someone who is swayed by material things,” Holy Ten emphasized. “If you want my support, it should come from a place of true understanding, not just because you can offer me a car.” This clash between Holy Ten and Chivayo has sparked further debate about the intersection of politics and celebrity culture in Zimbabwe, with many watching closely to see how the feud unfolds. By A Correspondent
Alex Rodríguez sparks JLo rumors with airport flowers: Is she back in the picture?
Brandi Glanville, 52, reveals she has spent $70K trying to get rid of the Mexican 'parasites' in her face By HEIDI PARKER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:07, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 23:04, 10 December 2024 e-mail 25 shares 17 View comments Former model Brandi Glanville is having a rough time this year as she tries to tackle an unusual health problem that involves bugs. On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with Entertainment Tonight 's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills veteran thinks she could be a potential face parasite from Mexico . The ex-wife of actor Eddie Cibrian is treating it with a 'cell sound procedure' and the help of Dr. Nicholas Nikolov. The 52-year-old reality TV star also explained why she is rarely in public and has not shared more on social media. Brandi also let the site know if she is watching the latest season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Former model Brandi Glanville is having a rough time this year as she tries to tackle an unusual health problem that involves bugs On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with Entertainment Tonight 's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately Before, she has claimed to have stress-induced angioedema and said she has lost five teeth. On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with ET's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately. And she commented on the feud between costars Dorit Kemsley and Kyle Richards . 'I've been on meds this whole year. I don't socialize. I don't go out and I'm just spending all of my money on trying to figure out what's wrong with me, over $70,000,' she told ET. Glanville has been going to the hospital to see a variety of doctors. 'Honestly, I have so many doctors and I've had so many tests ... I did lab work for $10,000. I ran every test under the sun.... They're like, it could be a parasite that's, you know, new.' Brandi thinks she knows how she contracted the potential parasite. 'I mean, we had food sitting out for hours on end and some of it was meat. In Morocco,' she offered. 'Six months after I got back from [filming in] Morocco, I started having this speaking thing and the swelling up thing, it started in July and we're still here trying to figure it out.' And she admitted that she has been watching her former show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Seen left after a year of issues, and seen right in 2009 The bombshell with ex Eddie Cibrian at the Living Out Loud premiere in 1998 Read More Brandi Glanville reveals doctor's shock theory about the REAL reason her face is now unrecognizable 'You know what? It's garbage and yes, I am. It's a train wreck you can't stop watching. But it's really sad TV,' she shared. She thinks RHOBH was very bad for her. 'I've had a great 13-year run. It seems like it's always when I'm on Bravo that it's hard. All the other ones have been really easy and there's been a lot. So, going back to Bravo ruined my life.' Last week she shared an image of her swollen complexion over the summer. She wrote on X: 'What happened? I wish I knew I've been in and out of the hospital this passed year 1/2 spent almost every dollar I have trying to figure it out. 'Some Dr.'s say I have a parasite that jumps around my face. Some say it's stress induced edema. I personally say it's Bravo.' Earlier this year, Brandi took to Twitter to blame the channel for her 'stress induced angio-edema' which she claimed had left her unable to work. She admitted that she has been watching her former show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 'You know what? It's garbage and yes, I am. It's a train wreck you can't stop watching. But it's really sad TV,' she shared She wrote on X: 'I read that I wasnt punishment4the false allegations in Morocco.Um I was fired,removed from the cast held hostage in a hotel in Morocco for days! The cast rallied on my side didnt want to continue without me. 'Cuz of the bad untrue press Ive been canceled from all jobs. 'I've been left no choice but to sue Bravo.I have receipts 4days.This stress has ruined my health.I have uncontrollable stress induced angio-edema I havent worked for a year half.Im to depressed to do my podcast to swollen 4cameo or OF. IM BEING USED AS A FALLGUY. 'I WANT SO DESPERATELY TO TWEET ALL OF MY RECEIPTS BUT MY LAWYERS WONT LET ME. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF UR SUPPORT MORE THAN YOU KNOW. MY CAST FROM MOROCO HAS BEEN SO AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE I LOVE THOSE GALS! (sic)' Dorit Kemsley Mexico Eddie Cibrian Share or comment on this article: Brandi Glanville, 52, reveals she has spent $70K trying to get rid of the Mexican 'parasites' in her face e-mail 25 shares Add commentYes, it is unconstitutional to deport U.S. citizens
Lions give updates on several injured starters
The Patriots released starting left guard Michael Jordan on Tuesday. Head coach Jerod Mayo hinted that lineup changes would be coming this week, and Jordan, who’s started 11 games through 12 weeks including Sunday’s 34-15 loss to the Dolphins, is out. To take his place on the 53-man roster, the Patriots claimed guard Lester Cotton off waivers from the Dolphins. Cotton, 28, has appeared in 32 career games with nine starts. He started his career with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2019. He’s been with the Dolphins since 2022. Jordan ranks 75th out of 82 qualified guards with a 51.5 overall PFF grade this season. He’s allowed three sacks and 23 total pressures. He now must pass through waivers since it’s after the NFL trade deadline. Cotton has played just 61 snaps this season, earning a 67.0 PFF grade. He started at left guard and right guard last season for the Dolphins. With Jordan off the roster, the Patriots have five possibilities to start at left guard in Week 13 against the Colts: Sidy Sow, Cole Strange, Tyrese Robinson, rookie Layden Robinson and Cotton. Layden Robinson, who has been spotted taking reps at left guard in practice, has started six games this season. Strange is still on the PUP list as he returns from a knee injury suffered late last season. Sow filled in for Demontrey Jacobs at right tackle after the latter was benched last week. Tyrese Robinson was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad earlier this month.NoneGiants face challenge in hosting Ravens, trying to end 8-game skid