NEW YORK (AP) — Greg Gumbel, a longtime CBS sportscaster, has died from cancer, according to a statement from family released by CBS on Friday. He was 78. “He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement. In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA Tournament since 1997 due to what he said at the time were family health issues. Gumbel was the studio host for CBS since returning to the network from NBC in 1998. Gumbel signed an extension with CBS last year that allowed him to continue hosting college basketball while stepping back from NFL announcing duties. In 2001, he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS, becoming the first Black announcer in the U.S. to call play-by-play of a major sports championship. David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, described Gumbel as breaking barriers and setting standards for others during his years as a voice for fans in sports, including in the NFL and March Madness. “A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time," said Berson. Gumbel had two stints at CBS, leaving the network for NBC when it lost football in 1994 and returning when it regained the contract in 1998. He hosted CBS’ coverage of the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics and called Major League Baseball games during its four-year run broadcasting the national pastime. In 1995, he hosted the World Figure Skating Championships and the following year hosted NBC’s daytime coverage of the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta. But it was football and basketball where he was best known and made his biggest impact. Gumbel hosted CBS’ NFL studio show, “The NFL Today” from 1990 to 1993 and again in 2004. He also called NFL games as the network’s lead play-by-play announcer from 1998 to 2003, including Super Bowl XXXV and XXXVIII. He returned to the NFL booth in 2005, leaving that role after the 2022 season. He won local Emmy Awards during his long career and was the recipient of the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for excellence in sports broadcasting. Outside of his career as a sportscaster, Gumbel was affiliated with the March of Dimes for three decades, including as a member of its board of trustees. He also was a member of the Sports Council for St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for 16 years.
President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday hosted three-way talks with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, discussing what the American president-elect termed a world that was a "little crazy". Zelensky's meeting with Trump just before the three men headed to Notre Dame for the re-opening ceremony of the great Paris cathedral was his first face-to-face meeting with tycoon-turned-politician since his election victory. The meeting was of huge importance to Zelensky given the fears in Kyiv that Trump, who once boasted he could end Russia's war on Ukraine in 24 hours, may urge Ukraine to make concessions to Moscow. It offered a unique chance for Macron to gain insights into how a second Trump presidency will shape out when he takes office in January, with the trip to Paris his first international visit since the election win. Trump and Macron embraced and shook hands several times on the steps of the French presidential palace, with Trump given a full guard of honour despite not yet being in office. "It seems like the world is going a little crazy right now and we will be talking about that," Trump told reporters as he prepared to sit down for the talks with Macron. Despite tensions between the two men during his first term, Trump hailed his ties with the centrist French leader, saying: "We had a great relationship as everyone knows. We accomplished a lot." Macron told Trump it was "a great honour for French people to welcome you" for the re-opening ceremony at Notre Dame, which was devastated by a blaze in 2019 during Trump's first term. "You were president at that time and I remember the solidarity and the immediate reaction," Macron added, speaking in English. When he first took office in 2017, Trump's ties with Macron -- then also a fresh face on the world stage -- began warmly despite their obvious political differences. Their long and muscular handshakes -- which saw each man seek to assert his superiority -- became a light-hearted focus of attention before ties cooled, then soured, following disputes about climate change, trade and defence. They were expected to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as trade. Trump earlier wrote on his Truth Social platform that the United States should "not get involved" in the situation in Syria, where fast-moving rebel forces say they have begun to encircle the capital Damascus. The Republican's return to power has rung alarms in Paris and many European capitals after his promises on the campaign trail to force an end to fighting in Ukraine which could see US military assistance to Kyiv withheld. Zelensky joined the talks around half an hour later, hurrying up the steps of the Elysee and posing for a photo with the two other men. The Ukrainian president, writing on social media, called the three-way meeting "good and productive". "We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way," he added. In his own reaction to the discussions, Macron wrote on social media_ "Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security." Zelensky's spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov told journalists the meeting lasted approximately 35 minutes, with only the three leaders present. European allies have largely enjoyed a close working relationship with outgoing President Joe Biden on the crisis in the Middle East, but Trump is likely to distance himself and ally the United States even more closely with Israel. In a sign of the importance of Trump's one-day trip to Paris, he was accompanied by his pick for White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as well as his Near East and Middle East advisors, Steve Witkoff and Massad Boulos, according to a guest list issued by the Elysee Palace. Tesla tycoon and Trump advisor Elon Musk also flew into the French capital and is expected at Notre Dame later, French sources told AFP.
It is also important to pay attention to personal health and well-being during cold weather. Adequate hydration, nutritious meals, and regular exercise can help boost the immune system and combat seasonal illnesses. Additionally, practicing good hygiene, such as frequent hand washing and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, can help prevent the spread of colds and flu.Wade Taylor IV poured in 24 points, Manny Obaseki put his team ahead for good with a fastbreak dunk and No. 20 Texas A&M staved off Rutgers 81-77 to take fifth place at the Players Era Festival on Saturday in Las Vegas. In a game with seven ties and 10 lead changes, the Aggies (6-2) took a 78-77 lead when Solomon Washington pulled out a defensive rebound and heaved it up court for Obaseki to convert a two-handed slam with 2:12 to play. Rutgers lost a pass out of bounds, and Taylor made two free throws for a three-point game. Rutgers freshman star Dylan Harper went to the rim in the final seconds but had his shot blocked by Washington. Washington had 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks for Texas A&M. Henry Coleman III and Obaseki also finished with 11 points. For Rutgers (5-3), Ace Bailey led the way with 24 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jeremiah Williams scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Harper had 18 points. Centers Emmanuel Ogbole and Lathan Sommerville each fouled out. Texas A&M scored nine of the last 12 points of the game after trailing by as many as nine earlier in the half. A 10-0 run early in the first half, capped by Washington's three-point play, gave the Aggies a 17-9 lead. Rutgers ensured Texas A&M would not lead by more than eight, as Bailey (13) and Harper (eight) combined for 21 of Rutgers' 34 first-half points. After Sommerville put up five straight points for Rutgers, the Aggies made three free throws in the final minute for a 40-34 halftime lead. Rutgers' 13-0 sprint early in the second half flipped the lead to 47-42 in its favor. Harper made a 3-pointer to get things going and Williams scored three straight buckets -- a dunk in transition, an easy layup and an offensive rebound and putback. Bailey's second 3-pointer at 12:51 put the Scarlet Knights up 63-54, but Texas A&M scored the next eight points. Then, down 65-62, Taylor made the Aggies' first 3-pointer of the game to tie it at the 8:21 mark. His team had missed its first 11 tries from long range. Texas A&M won despite going 2 of 15 from the arc (Rutgers was 6 for 26) and being outrebounded 42-35. --Field Level MediaTitle: Anthony Taylor appointed to officiate this weekend's Manchester Derby by the Premier League
During his time at Inter Milan, Radu has been a consistent and composed presence at the back, making crucial saves and organizing the defense effectively. His shot-stopping abilities have saved the team on numerous occasions, and his leadership qualities have made him a respected figure in the dressing room.
In conclusion, Reddit's launch of Answers marks a significant milestone in its quest to revolutionize search technology and solidify its position as a leading destination for information and discussion. By combining the power of AI with its vibrant community and diverse content, Reddit is poised to shine a bright light in the competitive landscape of digital platforms. Let the battle for search supremacy begin – Reddit is ready to take on the challenge and emerge victorious in the quest for knowledge and discovery.The village committee has also extended its heartfelt apologies to the spectators and individuals affected by the accident, and has offered support and assistance to those in need. They have emphasized their commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism in all future events and activities organized by the community.
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78First Quarter ULM_Godfrey 26 pass from Armenta (Larson kick), 12:27. ARST_Z.Wallace 2 run (Van Andel kick), 6:50. Second Quarter ARST_Rucker 32 pass from Raynor (Van Andel kick), 7:52. Third Quarter ULM_Hardy 72 run (Larson kick), 11:59. ARST_Summers 12 pass from Raynor (Van Andel kick), :40. Fourth Quarter ULM_Hardy 1 run (Larson kick), 9:15. ARST_C.Jackson 44 pass from Raynor (Van Andel kick), 7:58. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Louisiana-Monroe, Hardy 30-204, Armenta 8-52. Arkansas St., Z.Wallace 18-130, Spencer 6-31, Raynor 12-22, Cross 2-5, (Team) 1-(minus 1). PASSING_Louisiana-Monroe, Armenta 11-22-1-137. Arkansas St., Raynor 18-26-0-170. RECEIVING_Louisiana-Monroe, Godfrey 5-58, D.Wells 2-21, Hardy 2-4, T.Griffin 1-37, Cole 1-17. Arkansas St., C.Jackson 6-69, Rucker 3-49, Stevenson 3-20, A.Jones 2-15, Summers 1-12, Cross 1-5, Spencer 1-1, Z.Wallace 1-(minus 1). MISSED FIELD GOALS_None.
One of the key factors contributing to the sustained drop in gasoline prices is the fierce competition among oil-producing countries. In an effort to gain market share and maintain their competitive edge, major oil-producing nations have been flooding the market with oil, driving prices down in the process. This intense rivalry has ultimately worked in favor of consumers, who are now able to enjoy the benefits of lower fuel costs as a result of this pricing war.The fight for the future of the Liberal Party of Canada has begun. It is no longer a question of whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should resign — for most of caucus, that question is settled. It may even be settled for the prime minister. He is in British Columbia, possibly taking the 2024 version of a walk in the snow, a run down the ski hill. What is now up for debate is who should pick the next Liberal leader and what that means for the party. On Monday, the Star has learned, the Liberals’ Atlantic caucus met over Zoom and came to the same conclusion as their Ontario counterparts did last Saturday: Trudeau needs to go. They tasked their caucus chair, Nova Scotia MP Kody Blois, to report the message to the Prime Minister’s Office and ask for a national caucus meeting in early January for MPs to decide whether an interim leader should be appointed. Cabinet ministers who were on the call did not dissuade their colleagues. In fact, according to three sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc focused on what should happen after Trudeau’s resignation. LeBlanc argued the party didn’t have time for a lengthy leadership race and left the impression that caucus should pick the next leader. (LeBlanc did not respond to a request for comment.) It’s a self-interested argument, of course. LeBlanc, affable and experienced, would be a strong contender for leader — if not the most likely — from caucus’s standpoint. He wouldn’t be the first to make the argument. After Chrystia Freeland’s surprise resignation as finance minister , prime minister Jean Chrétien’s former chief of staff, Eddie Goldenberg, called for Trudeau to resign effective Jan. 6 and for Freeland to be selected by the caucus and cabinet as the next permanent leader. Goldenberg, in an essay on Nationalnewswatch.com , argued the party didn’t have three or four months to hold a contest and it should suspend a normal leadership convention. For Canadians who lived through the last time the Grits anointed their leader, it may seem a strange argument to make. Could the Liberal Party of Canada’s 2011 near-death experience have been avoided if the party hadn’t chosen to crown Michael Ignatieff leader in 2009 and instead allowed a one-member-one-vote contest? Road testing leaders doesn’t necessarily mean a better candidate or a better election performance. Stéphane Dion was elected by the party in 2006, beating out Ignatieff, and his lacklustre performance during the leadership campaign was pretty much duplicated during the 2008 election. But a leadership contest does allow for a preview of what’s to come. What’s more, it injects energy, allows for new entrants, for new ideas, for new data points to be collected be it money, or emails and phone numbers of potential Liberal voters. In a Friday morning email to caucus colleagues, obtained by the Star, Calgary MP George Chahal expressed frustration at the current state of affairs and argued against a caucus vote. “Any rational individual in a position of leadership would resign,” and “any group of individuals providing advice based on data and logic would reach the same conclusion,” Chahal wrote, lamenting the past six months that had been spent trying to make the case as respectfully as possible. “Unfortunately, a small cabal have (sic) decided to pursue a reckless strategy of mutual assured political destruction. It is clear the Liberal Party of Canada is not their priority,” he wrote. Trudeau no longer had the support of caucus, Chahal expressed, and “to maintain some dignity” the prime minister should immediately tender his resignation. Caucus, he wrote, should elect an interim leader who could head the government for the next 60 to 75 days, and he called for the party — through its governing board — to start the immediate process for an expedited leadership process that is transparent and democratic. “I and other members (of) caucus do not support a secret conclave where caucus chooses the new leader,” Chahal wrote. Some MPs fear that Trudeau will hang on as long as possible so that LeBlanc’s argument — that there isn’t enough time for a leadership race — comes to fruition. That could leave Trudeau in place — the Conservatives seem intent on ensuring that happens — or ensure a caucus insider is appointed. The Prime Minister’s Office seems resistant to the idea of appointing an interim leader, further fuelling those concerns. This week, Trudeau’s former principal secretary Gerald Butts weighed in, arguing that Goldenberg’s argument would “confirm Canadians’ worst instincts about the Liberal party. “ ‘There’s no time for democracy’ is a tell of an argument,” Butts wrote on Substack . “It’s also bad strategy. If you want to know who can play hockey, put on a hockey game. It doesn’t matter who you think you support at this moment, we’ll all have a more seasoned view if we see these people in live action. “Competitions create better competitors. In politics, leadership campaigns make for better general election campaign teams. They train people, test ideas, build resilience,” he wrote. There is self-interest there, too. Butts is close with former Bank of Canada governor and likely Liberal leadership candidate Mark Carney. But he’s not wrong. Battle lines are being drawn, camps are organizing and attempting to sway the party executive and caucus to enact rules that benefit their interest. What’s clear is that the longer Trudeau takes to make his decision, the more Canadians will know he’s less interested in building the Liberal movement he spoke of in 2013 when he was elected party leader, and more interested in returning to “the old ways of doing politics” he used to denounce.
Ohio State Coach Ryan Day Called Out For Decision During Postgame Brawl( MENAFN - Gulf Times) The Azerbaijan airlines plane that crashed in Kazakhstan this week suffered physical "external interference", the airline and Azerbaijan's transport Minister said Friday, citing preliminary results of an investigation, adding to speculation it was hit by a Russian air defence system. The jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau on Wednesday, killing 38 of the 67 people on board, after attempting to land at its destination in the Russian city of Grozny and then diverting far off course across the Caspian Sea. Russia's Aviation chief said Friday that Grozny was being attacked by Ukrainian drones at the time the plane had tried to land, but the Kremlin has declined to comment on reports the plane was accidentally shot down by Russian air defence missiles. Statements from Azerbaijan citing the investigation into the incident suggest Baku believes the plane was hit mid-air. "Based on the opinion of experts and on the words of eyewitnesses, it can be concluded that there was external interference," Azerbaijani's transport minister, Rashad Nabiyev, told reporters. "It is necessary to find out from what kind of weapon," he added, citing reports from survivors of hearing "three explosions" as the plane was over Grozny. Azerbaijan Airlines said it had suspended flights to 10 Russian airports and that preliminary results suggested the crash of Baku-Grozny flight J2-8243 was "due to physical and technical external interference". The head of Russia's civil aviation agency, Dmitry Yadrov, said in an earlier statement that "the situation on this day and at these hours in the area of Grozny airport was very complex". "Ukrainian attack drones at this time were making terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure in the cities of Grozny and Vladikavkaz," Yadrov said, referring to a nearby city. He said the Azeri pilot made "two attempts to land the plane in Grozny that were unsuccessful" in "thick fog". "The pilot was offered other airports. He took the decision to go to Aktau airport," he added. The Kremlin earlier Friday declined to comment on the deadly crash. "Until the conclusions of the investigation, we do not consider we have the right to make any comments and we will not do so," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Some aviation and military experts have pointed to signs of shrapnel damage on the plane wreckage as evidence it was hit by air defence systems. An Azerbaijan pro-government website, Caliber, and several other media have cited unnamed Azerbaijani officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S1 air defence system caused the crash. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a "thorough investigation" and also pointed to Russian involvement. "Every loss of life deserves a thorough investigation to establish the truth. We can see how the clear visual evidence at the crash site points to Russia's responsibility for the tragedy," he said in a post on social media. A Russian survivor, Subkhonkul Rakhimov, told state broadcaster RT that an "explosion" appeared to happen outside the plane as it attempted to land in Grozny in fog, causing shrapnel to penetrate inside. "I wouldn't say it was inside the plane because the skin of the fuselage near where I was sitting flew off," he said. "I grabbed a life jacket and saw there was a hole in it -- it was pierced by shrapnel." Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev said Friday that he had phoned his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, with both pledging that the "causes of the crash would be fully examined", according to a statement from Baku. Contacted by AFP, Azerbaijani government officials did not respond to questions about the possible causes of the crash. But Rasim Musabekov, an Azerbaijani lawmaker and member of the parliament's international relations committee, urged Russia to apologise for the incident. "They have to accept this, punish those to blame, promise that such a thing will not happen again, express regrets and readiness to pay compensation," Musabekov told AFP. He suggested the plane was not allowed to land at Grozny or a nearby Russian airport -- instead being "sent far away" across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan -- in an attempt to "cover up a crime." MENAFN27122024000067011011ID1109036194 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.
can increase their financials at a higher rate than the industry average, thus delivering superior returns in the long run. Given their higher return potential, these companies trade at higher valuations. Also, due to the developing nature of these companies, they can be riskier. Against this backdrop, let’s look at three top Canadian growth stocks that can deliver multi-fold returns over the next 10 years. Celestica ( ) offers design, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions and supports companies at every stage of product development. The company has classified its business into two operating and reportable segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) and Connectivity & Cloud Solutions (CCS). The ATS segment covers aerospace, defence, industrial, health tech, and capital equipment businesses, while CCS covers communications and enterprise end markets. With the increased usage of AI (artificial intelligence), the demand for AI-ready data centres is rising, thus driving the demand for high-bandwidth switches and storage controllers. Amid growing demand, Celestica continues to develop and introduce new products that meet the high bandwidth needs of hyperscale data centres. It has forged a strategic partnership with Groq, which has developed a proprietary silicon platform specializing in accelerated inferencing. Given the favourable environment and its growth initiatives, I expect the uptrend to continue, thus delivering multi-fold returns in the long run. WELL Health Technologies The second stock I am bullish on is ( ), which develops technologies and services to aid healthcare professionals in delivering positive patient outcomes. Earlier this month, it reported an excellent third-quarter performance, with its growing by 23%. Solid organic growth and acquisitions over the last four quarters more than offset the decline from divestments to drive its top line. During the quarter, the company had 1.48 million patient visits and 2.24 million patient interactions, representing a 41% year-over-year increase in both segments. Amid top-line growth, its adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) grew 16%. However, its adjusted EBITDA to WELL shareholder stood at $25.1 million, representing a 10% increase from the previous year’s quarter. Moreover, the growing adoption of virtual healthcare services, increased usage of software products in the healthcare sector, and digitization of patient records have created a multi-year growth potential for WELL Health. The company continues to invest in AI to develop innovative products and tools to support healthcare providers and improve patient outcomes. The company also has a solid acquisition pipeline, with 17 letters of intent and definitive agreements, which could contribute around $100 million to its annualized revenue. These growth prospects and attractive NTM (next-12-month) multiple of 1.2 make WELL Health an attractive long-term buy. Docebo ( ), which offers a learning platform to organizations worldwide, is my third pick. In the recently reported third-quarter performance, the company posted a revenue of $55.4 million, beating its guidance. Year over year, its top line grew by 19% amid 266 new customer additions and a 9.8% increase in its average revenue per customer. Amid top-line growth, its adjusted EPS (earnings per share) grew by 80% to $0.27, while its adjusted EBITDA increased by 93% to $8.7 million. Meanwhile, the LMS (learning management system) market is growing at a healthier rate amid increased adoption of digital learning platforms, growing internet penetration, and the development of innovative products. Analysts are bullish on the sector and project a double-digit annualized growth for the rest of this decade. Given its highly customizable platform and the addition of AI-powered tools, Docebo is well-positioned to benefit from this expansion. So, I expect the uptrend in Docebo’s financials and stock price to continue.In the wake of this controversy, it is essential for influencers and public figures to reflect on their words and actions, ensuring that they promote positive and empowering messages that uplift and support others. Using one's platform to perpetuate harmful ideologies and attitudes is not only unethical but also damaging to one's reputation and influence.Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive acceleratesHow Seahawks can shake up NFC West with Week 12 win over Cardinals