wild casino reviews 2023

wild casino reviews 2023 The City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”Captain Sandy Yawn hasn't been thrown off course by Captain Lee Rosbach 's recent digs at her. "I don’t really know what I ever did to him," the Below Deck Mediterranean star exclusively told E! News correspondent Daryn Carp during Bravo's Fan Fest in Miami Nov. 23. "And I’m sorry, Captain Lee, if I offended you in any way. I wish him the best." In fact, Sandy considers their supposed feud completely one-sided. "I don’t know what to say," the 59-year-old continued, "but I don’t walk through life wondering why he doesn’t like me." Last month, Lee surprised Bravo fans when he slammed Sandy during a speaking engagement after being asked who is least favorite Below Deck star was. “My least favorite? Captain Sandy," he told the crowd in a video shared on social media. "And we all know why. I don’t like her. Normally I don’t have to like people to work with them, I can work with almost anyone. I don’t have to like them.” Lee—who recruited Sandy's to fill in for him during Below Deck season 10 when he had to leave the super-yacht due to an injury— added, “But if they do their job—keyword do your job—do it properly and I can put up with almost anything. Don’t do your job and then pretend to be something you’re not.” However, Sandy has been far to busy to worry about Lee's shady comments. Aside from filming Below Deck Med , she's been enjoying every moment of the honeymoon period following her wedding to wife Leah Shafer this past May. "It's incredible," she gushed of newlywed life. "It was the best day of my life. I had no idea the impact I would feel after saying those vows. I am a different human being and I can't tell you how." Sandy added, "Every day, I wake up and I go, 'Oh my God, this is really my life.' It's incredible. I'm living a life beyond my wildest dreams, and I'm glad she's a part of it." Keep reading to look back at Sandy's romantic proposal. And don't miss E! News Monday, Nov. 25, at 11 p.m. for more exclusive interviews from Bravo's Fan Fest. (E! and Bravo are both part of the NBCUniversal family)South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir held an urgent meeting of top security brass on Friday after a shootout at the home of powerful former spy chief Akol Koor, who was sacked almost two months ago amid rumours of a coup plot. Gunfire erupted on Thursday evening in the capital Juba, sparking concerns about the stability of the world’s youngest country that is already plagued by power struggles, ethnic infighting and a deep economic malaise. The shooting around the home of Koor, who was fired by Kiir in early October and placed under house arrest, caused panic among local residents before it was contained after about an hour. Following the meeting, South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesman Lul Ruai Koang said the incident took place after a “misunderstanding” between security forces attempting to relocate the ex-head of the National Security Services. Koang said Koor had now agreed to the relocation “with his dear wife, one bodyguard, and a cook” elsewhere in the city. He would be provided with additional army protection at his new residence, but Koang emphasised he was not under “their (army) detention.” He said four people, two civilians and two soldiers, had been killed during the confrontation. The meeting convened by Kiir included the heads of defence, police, national security and military intelligence. A source in the presidency press unit said Koor was also present. The Sudans Post newspaper quoted a security official as saying the meeting had “resolved all outstanding tensions” and that the spy chief and his family “have been assured of their safety”. In an alert to its staff on the ground on Thursday, the United Nations in South Sudan had said the shooting was linked to the arrest of the former spymaster and advised people to take cover. Koang told AFP that Koor “remains at his house”, and denied claims circulating on social media that he had fled to the UN compound in Juba. There was a heavy deployment of military forces around his home in the Thongpiny district, an AFP correspondent said, but traffic has resumed and people were going about their daily business. – ‘Remain vigilant’ – Police spokesman John Kassara said the situation was now calm but that Thongpiny remained sealed off and residents “should remain vigilant”. Koor became head of the feared National Security Services (NSS) after South Sudan’s independence in 2011 but was sacked in October leading to widespread speculation he had been planning to overthrow Kiir. After his dismissal from the NSS, Koor was appointed governor of Warrap State, Kiir’s home state, but this was abruptly revoked by the president before he took the oath of office. Koang said there had been a “misunderstanding” between two security services forces present at Koor’s residence when a third unit arrived for the relocation. “That was the start of the armed confrontation that you heard,” he said. Four people, two servicemen and two civilians, were killed in the incident, he said, and two civilians were wounded. Koor’s sacking came just two weeks after Kiir again postponed by two years, to December 2026, the first elections in the nation’s history. The delay has exasperated the international community, which has been pressing the country’s leaders to complete a transitional process, including unifying rival armed forces and drawing up a constitution. The NSS was at the centre of controversy in July when parliament approved amendments to legislation allowing the agency to continue to arrest — without a warrant — anyone accused of offences against the state, raising alarm among rights groups and South Sudan’s international partners. The country has struggled to recover from a brutal civil war between forces loyal to Kiir and his now deputy Riek Machar from 2013 to 2018 that killed about 400,000 people and drove millions from their homes. It remains one of the poorest and most corrupt countries on the planet and continues to be plagued by chronic instability and climate disasters. With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

The city approved incorporating Axon Fusus software for $541,632 over five years at a recent City Council meeting. Axon Fusus is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based public safety technology company with satellite locations in Seattle, Vietnam, Finaland, Australia, Netherlands and England. Police Chief Tyler McIntosh said the new software will revolutionize the police department. “It brings all of our technological platforms into one single pane, providing the capability to provide responding officers with situational awareness of scenes before they even arrive, making for a far more efficient, effective response,” he said during a presentation at the Dec. 17 City Council meeting. The program allows the city to access a host of cameras, including body-worn, drones and traffic cameras under one system. That platform would also allow citizens and businesses to register their cameras with the city police department and provide access to them if they wanted. The software would also utilize AI for object detection with the ability to enter keywords like particular characteristics of a certain vehicle and locate it within the footage. Axon sales representative Andy Rolinson said the software does not have facial-recognition capabilities. Manchester, New Hampshire police uses the software and Axon is in discussions about providing the software to both Buffalo city police and University of Buffalo police. In a follow-up conversation, Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll said, without the company coming to the city first for approval, any sort of facial recognition wouldn’t be something that could be implemented. But, Axon’s Draft One software enables an officer to upload their bodycamera video file then transcribe the audio from the video and use AI to create a first-person narrative from the transcription for a police report, according to an American Civil Liberties Union report. The ACLU criticized the software in its report. The organization said such use is a “civil liberties and civil rights concerns,” noting such concerns such as AI is “quirky and unreliable,” that a police officer’s memories of the event may offer another perspective of what occurred. Coll said that officers in the Saratoga Springs department are still writing their own reports.MEXICO CITY — It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. That’s why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to avoid a full-blown trade war might be more about doing enough for both sides to claim success. Even a quick phone call — two days after Trump threatened 25% tariffs against his southern neighbor — seemed to change the tone: Trump said on social media that the Mexican president agreed to “stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.” Sheinbaum, meanwhile, assured her constituents that she touted to Trump Mexico’s existing approach to migration, which she stressed respects human rights, and that a new deal to collaborate would avoid new tariffs, without providing specifics. The whole exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s first term, when he threatened to send troops to shut down the border and then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded by sending the national guard to help apprehend migrants. The move had a limited immediate effect, but sent a strong image that proved enough to at least avert tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico. Trump’s threats have a “dual objective,” said Palmira Tapia, a political scientist currently working for the government of the State of Mexico. The U.S. president-elect, she said, is simultaneously seeking to appeal to his constituents and strengthen his hand in talks on migration, drugs and trade. Sheinbaum also faces two challenges: She now must find a way to appease Trump to avoid tariffs that could hit 11% of Mexico’s gross domestic product, while also avoiding the perception — at home, and in the White House — that she will easily bend to demands from up north. “She’s talking to Trump, but she’s also talking to the Mexican public. It has to do with giving a dignified response before her voters, but at the same time trying to stop Trump,” said Catalina Perez Correa, a researcher at the Supreme Court’s Center for Constitutional Studies. “She’s saying, ‘I’m not going to let myself be stepped on by Trump.’ She’s saving face in front of the Mexican public.” Migration reality Mexico has long been a stomping ground for the U.S. when it comes to migration policy. It’s been tasked under successive U.S. presidents with beefing up its border security, increasing highway checkpoints and removing migrants from freight trains they often board. Even though migration rose far beyond the 2019 levels in the years after Lopez Obrador’s show of militarizing the border, Mexico has remained an at-times willing partner, accepting most of the millions of migrants who were quickly turned away from the U.S. border during the pandemic. But it hasn’t always been eager to help: The Biden administration often viewed AMLO, as the former president was known, as needing frequent reminders of its expectations for him on enforcement. In 2023, Biden Cabinet officials even visited AMLO in Mexico City just days after Christmas to urge him to do more as a record number of migrants reached the border. Under pressure from the White House during the U.S. election, Mexico helped it decrease border crossings by 65% over an 11-month period starting in December 2023. To do so, Mexican authorities have been detaining migrants in the north of the country and busing them south. There, they are forced to wait until they get an official appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S. — which can take months, if it ever happens at all. It’s all resulted in more than double the number of apprehensions of undocumented migrants between January and August compared with a year earlier, although Mexico has deported few. Experts have said that’s creating a humanitarian crisis in some of the southern cities where migrants are shipped off to. It’s also ratcheting up tensions with some locals, who argue that there aren’t enough jobs or resources to accommodate the newcomers. “What they’re doing now in Mexico is militarization of the border,” said Perez Correa. To further reduce border crossings into the U.S., Mexico could either carry out mass deportations or offer more opportunities to migrants in its territory. Both scenarios seem unrealistic. Simply increasing deportations would go against Lopez Obrador’s policy — which Sheinbaum inherited — of trying to address the problems in their origin countries that pushed them to leave, and it would be an expense for Mexico. After Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, she reiterated her government offers migrants options for international protection in its territory or “voluntary or assisted return” to their countries. The second option doesn’t seem feasible either: Most people want to go to the U.S., where they expect to have higher-paying jobs, more family or community support, and greater safety than in Mexico. Chemical diversions Deaths related to fentanyl — the cheap, synthetic opioid — have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. That’s why reining in the flow of the drug was on Trump’s list of demands. Should recent history be any indication, intervention is never simple. The U.S. arrest of a Mexican alleged drug leader has led to prolonged shootouts in recent months. And in any case, some academics argue simply confiscating more drugs means traffickers learn to produce more, to meet U.S. demand. So far, Mexico has worked to improve its technical capabilities to detect illicit substances at its ports, especially precursor chemicals and fentanyl. “The Navy has provided material and personnel to all ports for the fulfillment of these tasks, the personnel have the necessary training to be able to detect these substances,” said Captain Jose Barradas in an interview at the Manzanillo port, in the state of Colima. “All merchandise that arrives is prone to review under strict security protocols.” Sheinbaum also picked former Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch to lead a new national security strategy, a move that was read inside Mexico as a signal of her willingness to increase enforcement in areas where the previous administration had been more hands-off. There’s more that could be done — but it would be hard. Trying to seize these substances at ports is insufficient because synthetic drugs tend to be very small, making them more difficult to detect than traditional drugs, said Victoria Dittmar, researcher at Insight Crime. Those who produce them often innovate with their recipes and use new chemicals that are not illegal. “Mexico can open collaboration paths with the private sector, with the chemical industry, because they know perfectly well its supply chains and the vulnerable areas where there could be diversions,” she said. “This collaboration is essential.” Mexico can also work to identify intermediaries that connect fentanyl producers with chemical suppliers abroad and in the country, people who work in certain companies and are authorized to divert these substances, according to Dittmar. Still, “the main weakness is not putting demand reduction as a priority, to prevent overdose deaths,” Dittmar said. “It’s a shared responsibility. It’s not just the fault of Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, but it’s an issue that affects the entire North American region.” A senior Mexican official said that the country’s actions to address drug trafficking have moved the nation in the direction of the fentanyl crackdown that Trump is demanding. The official cited a new law that will allow for coordinated intelligence efforts that is due to be implemented next year. History repeats It’s plausible that in the medium-term Trump will lower the intensity of his threats because a trade war would be the worst case scenario for both countries, said Tapia, the political scientist. But until then, she said, “Sheinbaum is on trial as to how well she will do” relative to her predecessor, who had a respectful relationship with Trump and often praised him. One strategy that Sheinbaum could pursue: Finding ways to give Trump the appearance of political victory. That was part of the rationale behind AMLO’s deployment of the National Guard — a move Trump still talks about now. “We got thousands of Mexicans patrolling our border free of charge,” he boasted at a recent event about his relationship with AMLO. “He’s a socialist,” Trump said. “But these are minor details.” ——— (With assistance from Eric Martin, Carolina Millan and Ramsey Al-Rikabi.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MEXICO CITY — It would take years, if ever, for Mexico to accomplish what incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding to avoid tariffs: stemming the flow of migrants and drugs over the border. That’s why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to avoid a full-blown trade war might be more about doing enough for both sides to claim success. Even a quick phone call — two days after Trump threatened 25% tariffs against his southern neighbor — seemed to change the tone: Trump said on social media that the Mexican president agreed to “stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately.” Sheinbaum, meanwhile, assured her constituents that she touted to Trump Mexico’s existing approach to migration, which she stressed respects human rights, and that a new deal to collaborate would avoid new tariffs, without providing specifics. The whole exchange was reminiscent of Trump’s first term, when he threatened to send troops to shut down the border and then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responded by sending the national guard to help apprehend migrants. The move had a limited immediate effect, but sent a strong image that proved enough to at least avert tariffs of up to 25% on all imports from Mexico. Trump’s threats have a “dual objective,” said Palmira Tapia, a political scientist currently working for the government of the State of Mexico. The U.S. president-elect, she said, is simultaneously seeking to appeal to his constituents and strengthen his hand in talks on migration, drugs and trade. Sheinbaum also faces two challenges: She now must find a way to appease Trump to avoid tariffs that could hit 11% of Mexico’s gross domestic product, while also avoiding the perception — at home, and in the White House — that she will easily bend to demands from up north. “She’s talking to Trump, but she’s also talking to the Mexican public. It has to do with giving a dignified response before her voters, but at the same time trying to stop Trump,” said Catalina Perez Correa, a researcher at the Supreme Court’s Center for Constitutional Studies. “She’s saying, ‘I’m not going to let myself be stepped on by Trump.’ She’s saving face in front of the Mexican public.” Migration reality Mexico has long been a stomping ground for the U.S. when it comes to migration policy. It’s been tasked under successive U.S. presidents with beefing up its border security, increasing highway checkpoints and removing migrants from freight trains they often board. Even though migration rose far beyond the 2019 levels in the years after Lopez Obrador’s show of militarizing the border, Mexico has remained an at-times willing partner, accepting most of the millions of migrants who were quickly turned away from the U.S. border during the pandemic. But it hasn’t always been eager to help: The Biden administration often viewed AMLO, as the former president was known, as needing frequent reminders of its expectations for him on enforcement. In 2023, Biden Cabinet officials even visited AMLO in Mexico City just days after Christmas to urge him to do more as a record number of migrants reached the border. Under pressure from the White House during the U.S. election, Mexico helped it decrease border crossings by 65% over an 11-month period starting in December 2023. To do so, Mexican authorities have been detaining migrants in the north of the country and busing them south. There, they are forced to wait until they get an official appointment to apply for asylum in the U.S. — which can take months, if it ever happens at all. It’s all resulted in more than double the number of apprehensions of undocumented migrants between January and August compared with a year earlier, although Mexico has deported few. Experts have said that’s creating a humanitarian crisis in some of the southern cities where migrants are shipped off to. It’s also ratcheting up tensions with some locals, who argue that there aren’t enough jobs or resources to accommodate the newcomers. “What they’re doing now in Mexico is militarization of the border,” said Perez Correa. To further reduce border crossings into the U.S., Mexico could either carry out mass deportations or offer more opportunities to migrants in its territory. Both scenarios seem unrealistic. Simply increasing deportations would go against Lopez Obrador’s policy — which Sheinbaum inherited — of trying to address the problems in their origin countries that pushed them to leave, and it would be an expense for Mexico. After Sheinbaum’s call with Trump, she reiterated her government offers migrants options for international protection in its territory or “voluntary or assisted return” to their countries. The second option doesn’t seem feasible either: Most people want to go to the U.S., where they expect to have higher-paying jobs, more family or community support, and greater safety than in Mexico. Chemical diversions Deaths related to fentanyl — the cheap, synthetic opioid — have reached epidemic levels in the U.S. That’s why reining in the flow of the drug was on Trump’s list of demands. Should recent history be any indication, intervention is never simple. The U.S. arrest of a Mexican alleged drug leader has led to prolonged shootouts in recent months. And in any case, some academics argue simply confiscating more drugs means traffickers learn to produce more, to meet U.S. demand. So far, Mexico has worked to improve its technical capabilities to detect illicit substances at its ports, especially precursor chemicals and fentanyl. “The Navy has provided material and personnel to all ports for the fulfillment of these tasks, the personnel have the necessary training to be able to detect these substances,” said Captain Jose Barradas in an interview at the Manzanillo port, in the state of Colima. “All merchandise that arrives is prone to review under strict security protocols.” Sheinbaum also picked former Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch to lead a new national security strategy, a move that was read inside Mexico as a signal of her willingness to increase enforcement in areas where the previous administration had been more hands-off. There’s more that could be done — but it would be hard. Trying to seize these substances at ports is insufficient because synthetic drugs tend to be very small, making them more difficult to detect than traditional drugs, said Victoria Dittmar, researcher at Insight Crime. Those who produce them often innovate with their recipes and use new chemicals that are not illegal. “Mexico can open collaboration paths with the private sector, with the chemical industry, because they know perfectly well its supply chains and the vulnerable areas where there could be diversions,” she said. “This collaboration is essential.” Mexico can also work to identify intermediaries that connect fentanyl producers with chemical suppliers abroad and in the country, people who work in certain companies and are authorized to divert these substances, according to Dittmar. Still, “the main weakness is not putting demand reduction as a priority, to prevent overdose deaths,” Dittmar said. “It’s a shared responsibility. It’s not just the fault of Mexico, the U.S. or Canada, but it’s an issue that affects the entire North American region.” A senior Mexican official said that the country’s actions to address drug trafficking have moved the nation in the direction of the fentanyl crackdown that Trump is demanding. The official cited a new law that will allow for coordinated intelligence efforts that is due to be implemented next year. History repeats It’s plausible that in the medium-term Trump will lower the intensity of his threats because a trade war would be the worst case scenario for both countries, said Tapia, the political scientist. But until then, she said, “Sheinbaum is on trial as to how well she will do” relative to her predecessor, who had a respectful relationship with Trump and often praised him. One strategy that Sheinbaum could pursue: Finding ways to give Trump the appearance of political victory. That was part of the rationale behind AMLO’s deployment of the National Guard — a move Trump still talks about now. “We got thousands of Mexicans patrolling our border free of charge,” he boasted at a recent event about his relationship with AMLO. “He’s a socialist,” Trump said. “But these are minor details.” ——— (With assistance from Eric Martin, Carolina Millan and Ramsey Al-Rikabi.) ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

MoU signed on youth training on Japanese language, culture LAHORE : Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has signed a historic agreement with Hazza Institute of Technology (HAZZA) and Japan-Pakistan Innovative Institute (JPII) to establish state-of-the-art Japanese language and cultural training centres in Punjab, providing a gateway to global opportunities for Pakistani youth in Japan. This significant step has been taken for the socio-economic development through global upskilling initiatives under the leadership of Punjab CM. This initiative aligns with CM’s mission to empower the youth of Punjab by equipping them with internationally competitive skills and creating pathways for employment in high-demand sectors abroad, including information technology, logistics, elderly care, hospitality, and agriculture. The collaboration includes several key highlights such as the establishment of six Japanese Language and Cultural Training Centres in Punjab. Through this initiative, 2,000 youth will receive training on the Japanese language, culture, and professional standards.

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.NEW YORK — There's a Christmas Day basketball game at Walt Disney World, featuring Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Wemby. An animated game, anyway. The real game takes place at Madison Square Garden, where Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs face the New York Knicks in a game televised on ABC and ESPN and streamed on Disney+ and ESPN+. The special alt-cast, the first animated presentation of an NBA game, will be shown on ESPN2 and also stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. Madison Square Garden is a staple of the NBA's Christmas schedule. Now it merges with a bigger home of the holidays, because the "Dunk the Halls" game will be staged at Disney, on a court set up right smack in the middle of where countless families have posed for vacation photos. Why that location? Because it was Mickey Mouse's Christmas wish. "Basketball courts often have the ability to make a normal environment look special, but in Disney it can only turn out incredible," Wembanyama said in an ESPN video promoting his Christmas debut. The story — this is Disney, after all — begins with Mickey penning a letter to Santa Claus, asking if he and his pals can host a basketball game. They'll not only get to watch one with NBA players, but some of them will even get to play. Goofy and Donald Duck will sub in for a couple Knicks players, while Mickey and Minnie Mouse will come on to play for the Spurs. "It looks to me like Goofy and Jalen Brunson have a really good pick-and-roll at the elite level," said Phil Orlins, an ESPN vice president of production. Walt Disney World hosted real NBA games in 2020, when the league set up there to complete its season that had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Those games were played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. The setting for the Christmas game will be Main Street USA, at the entrance of the Magic Kingdom. Viewers will recognize Cinderella's castle behind one baseline and the train station at the other end, and perhaps some shops they have visited in between. Previous alternate animated broadcasts included an NFL game taking place in Andy's room from "Toy Story;" the "NHL Big City Greens Classic" during a game between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers; and earlier this month, another NFL matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys also taking place at Springfield's Atoms Stadium as part of "The Simpsons Funday Football." Unlike basketball, the players are helmeted in those sports. So, this telecast required an extra level of detail and cooperation with players and teams to create accurate appearances of their faces and hairstyles. "So, this is a level of detail that we've never gone, that we've never done on any other broadcast," said David Sparrgrove, the senior director of creative animation for ESPN. Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom from France who was last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, looks huge even among most NBA players. The creators of the alternate telecast had to design how he'd look not only among his teammates and rivals, but among mice, ducks and chipmunks. "Like, Victor Wembanyama, seeing him in person is insane. It's like seeing an alien descend on a basketball court, and I think we kind of captured that in his animated character," said Drew Carter, who will again handle play-by-play duties, as he had in the previous animated telecasts, and will get an assist from sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Wembanyama's presence is one reason the Spurs-Knicks matchup, the leadoff to the NBA's five-game Christmas slate, was the obvious choice to do the animated telecast. The noon EST start means it will begin in the early evening in France and should draw well there. Also, it comes after ABC televises the "Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade" for the previous two hours, providing more time to hype the broadcast. Recognizing that some viewers who then switch over to the animated game may be Disney experts but NBA novices, there will be 10 educational explainers to help with basketball lingo and rules. Beyond Sports' visualization technology and Sony's Hawk-Eye tracking allow the animated players to make the same movements and plays made moments earlier by the real ones at MSG. Carter and analyst Monica McNutt will be animated in the style of the telecast, donning VR headsets to experience the game from Main Street, USA. Other animated faces recognizable to some viewers include NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who will judge a halftime dunk contest among Mickey and his friends, and Santa himself, who will operate ESPN's "SkyCam" during the game. The players are curious how the production — and themselves — will look. "It's going to be so crazy to see the game animated," Spurs veteran Chris Paul said. "I think what's dope about it is it will give kids another opportunity to watch a game and to see us, basically, as characters." Get local news delivered to your inbox!BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ) Stock Price Expected to Rise, UBS Group Analyst Says

Rivian: Don't Be Fooled By The MarketSC families, former prosecutors frustrated with Biden's decision to spare death row inmates

Democrats need less identity politics, more practical economicsDefense industry cooperation between Türkiye and Finland is expected to expand, along with other fields, within NATO’s framework, according to Turkish Ambassador to Helsinki Deniz Çakar recently. Çakar stated that the tech startup conference Slush 2024, held in Helsinki on Wednesday and Thursday, was one of the most comprehensive events in its field. She noted that Turkish tech startups have been growing in number each year, with around 40 participants during the event's inaugural year. "This year, the number of participants from Türkiye reached around 400, including students and entrepreneurs, and this was made possible by the support of the Turkish government and its development agencies,” Çakar told Anadolu Agency (AA). She also highlighted the trade relations between Türkiye and Finland, noting that the trade volume between the two countries reached 2.1 billion euros ($2.2 billion) in 2023. "The figure for the first eight months of this year was around 1.2 billion euros, and we estimate it will reach 2 billion euros by the end of the year, so we expect a similar figure to last year,” the ambassador added. "The first meeting of the Türkiye-Finland Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was held in Türkiye in 2022, and the second meeting will take place in February 2025. We will host the Turkish trade minister and a large delegation, and such visits will significantly contribute to developing trade relations. Finnish companies have shown interest, and Turkish firms bring opportunities in areas like green transformation, renewable energy, and digitalization,” she said. Çakar noted that relations between Türkiye and Finland have reached a new dimension since Finland’s NATO membership, advancing steadily. "Türkiye-Finland relations are at their best this year as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of our relations. Increasing cooperation in the defense industry, among other fields, benefits both countries,” she said. "We hosted the Finnish president twice in the past two years, and our relations have advanced through regular mechanisms, including on matters of terrorism, with interior, justice and foreign affairs ministries, as well as the permanent joint mechanism established during the NATO membership process,” she added. Çakar pointed out that the increased meeting traffic benefits both countries as they "understand each other much better" and work toward overcoming challenges. Regarding technology and investment opportunities, the ambassador stated that Finland serves as a gateway to global markets, and the Slush 2024 conference presented an opportunity for "tech-oriented young people and entrepreneurs in Türkiye." The Turkish Embassy in Finland is focused on fostering cooperation between Turkish and Finnish firms. Çakar emphasized that Finland is impressed by Türkiye’s efforts in certain regions, encouraging Finnish authorities and the business community to cooperate, invest and work with Türkiye in Central Asia and Africa. "The Turkish contracting sector continued operations in Ukraine without interruptions, even during the war period, and its knowledge-based support creates room for cooperation with the Finnish contracting sector, which we expect,” she said. "Developing and deepening Türkiye-Finland relations through more mutual meetings in trade and economy, as well as within the military cooperation framework, will provide endless opportunities and benefits to both countries,” she concluded.

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl is set to spend Christmas with his wife Jordyn Blum and their kids, despite the stir caused by his bombshell revelation of being unfaithful. The 55 year old rock icon took everyone by surprise when he confessed to cheating and fathering another child, separate from his marriage. Married since 2003 to director and actress Jordyn , Dave is a doting dad to Violet Maye, 18, Harper Willow, 15, and Ophelia Saint, 10. But the massive news came in September when he announced on social media that he had a fourth daughter "outside of my marriage" and was committed to mending fences with Jordyn and their children. There was a buzz among fans, worried whether this would spell the end of his marriage; but now, it seems the couple may be healing and choosing to remain united. People magazine got the inside scoop from a source confirming: "They are all spending Christmas as a family," reports the Mirror US . Plus, another insider shared, "Dave's been prioritizing his family. He knows he messed up. It's one of those situations where you don't realize what you have until you're about to lose it. He doesn't want to lose his family." Dave left fans stunned with his personal announcement earlier this year. The rock icon took to social media to reveal a bombshell, confessing: "I've recently become the father of a new daughter, born outside of my marriage. I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her." He continued, expressing his commitment to his family: "I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and their forgiveness. We're grateful for your consideration toward all the children involved, as we move forward together." Fans were left in a state of shock, taking to various platforms to voice their astonishment. One fan even injected a bit of humour into the conversation, quipping on X: "Dave Grohl is having a child out of wedlock and announced it like a football team firing its coach lol." One fan was clearly not entertained, posting in disbelief: "Not Dave Grohl making a text post to announce he cheated on his wife, fathered a child through the cheating, and lost the trust of his wife and 3 daughters, but plans to 'be a good father' to the new baby. What the f**k!!!!!!!" After confessing to his affair, Dave's previous comments have resurfaced and are biting him in the backside, like when he called Jordyn his "future ex-wife". Reminiscing about their first encounter, he shared with Q Magazine how he was hit on by a stunner while he was all scruffy from a Tenacious D jam session, saying, "Some bombshell comes up and starts talking to Taylor. I was just out of a Tenacious D session. I've got Vans trainers on, no socks, dirty shorts and a dirty T-shirt." "So I'm just having some drinks and acting like a jackass. And by the end of the night I was pissed and I'm staring at her going, 'You're my future ex-wife,'" he recalled. "'So she gave me her number: 'Jordyn, your future ex-wife.'"

Amusing ourselves to death Postman argues that “typographic mind” was yielding to “televisual mind” The late cultural critic Neil Postman, in his book ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ (1985), warned of a society losing its capacity for rational discourse, succumbing to a culture dominated by television’s relentless pursuit of entertainment. Postman argued that the “typographic mind” – one moulded by print culture, reading, analysis, and sustained attention – was yielding to the “televisual mind”, driven by images and short snippets of uncontextualised information. Today, the problem has gone beyond television’s passive consumption. With devices in hand, we encounter entertainment that is relentlessly measured and optimised to hold attention. Instead of exploring topics with patience, the information diet now consists of quick fixes: a meme here, a viral clip there, creating a false sense of being ‘informed’. Content in the form of short clips, introduced by platforms like TikTok and imitated across other social media applications, exemplifies this shift. The simple reason for this shift is that such content requires minimal attention while offering maximum gratification Why have we collectively decided to sacrifice depth for gratification, reflection for reaction, and understanding for amusement? These are not just questions of taste or trend; they are cultural signposts reflecting a deep shift in how we process information and engage with the world. The ephemeral nature of these clips caters to ever-diminishing attention spans, where the audience is often restless, scrolling mindlessly until something grabs their eye. This raises an existential question: if we continue down this path, what kind of society do we become? Without the habit of reading deeply, without the patience to understand context, nuance, or historical perspective, we risk turning into passive consumers of packaged meaning. Originality, once nurtured by a long apprenticeship with the written word and the contested realm of ideas, may die a quiet death in this sea of easily digestible content. Yet, to throw up our hands and lament this state of affairs as inevitable would be a grave mistake. It is still possible to restore balance. Educational institutes, for one, have a crucial role to play: they can arrange more in-person sessions that encourage dialogue, debate, and sustained engagement with complex texts, helping students rediscover the pleasure and power of active learning. Classroom discussions where students must defend their ideas with evidence and reasoning may stand as a barricade against the erosion of deep thinking. Outside of academia, parents and communities could become more deliberate about screen time. Perhaps a cultural shift encouraging family reading hours, local book clubs, and literary festivals can help. If we want to save ourselves from an unthinking future, we must cultivate environments that reward focus, inquiry, and meaningful conversation. Public policy can also nudge us in this direction: more libraries can be established, and existing ones can be better funded, critical media literacy courses introduced from early school years, and creative writing workshops supported as a form of community development. None of this is simple, and none of it is guaranteed to succeed. We are grappling with powerful technologies and profit-driven platforms that have mastered the art of catching our eye and holding it just long enough to move on to the next instant distraction. But the stakes are high. Our capacity for independent thought, our ability to reflect, and our understanding of complexity are all at risk. If we value these attributes – and we should – we must resist the lure of amusement for its own sake. Instead, we must strive to preserve and foster a culture where genuine engagement, intellectual depth, and originality are not only possible but prized. In doing so, we might yet avoid amusing ourselves to death. The writer is a Lahore-based lawyer.The City boss is enduring the worst run of his glittering managerial career after a six-game winless streak featuring five successive defeats and a calamitous 3-3 draw in a match his side had led 3-0. The 53-year-old, who has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, signed a contract extension through to the summer of 2027 just over a week ago. Yet, despite his remarkable successes, he still considers himself vulnerable to the sack and has pleaded with the club to keep faith. “I don’t want to stay in the place if I feel like I’m a problem,” said the Spaniard, who watched in obvious frustration as City conceded three times in the last 15 minutes in a dramatic capitulation against Feyenoord in midweek. “I don’t want to stay here just because the contract is there. “My chairman knows it. I said to him, ‘Give me the chance to try come back’, and especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and see what happens. “After, if I’m not able to do it, we have to change because, of course, (the past) nine years are dead. “More than ever I ask to my hierarchy, give me the chance. “Will it be easy for me now? No. I have the feeling that still I have a job to do and I want to do it.” City have been hampered by a raft of injuries this term, most pertinently to midfield talisman and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. The Euro 2024 winner is expected to miss the remainder of the season and his absence has been keenly felt over the past two months. Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne has also not started a match since September. The pressure continues to build with champions City facing a crucial trip to title rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Defeat would leave City trailing Arne Slot’s side by 11 points. “I don’t enjoy it at all, I don’t like it,” said Guardiola of his side’s current situation. “I sleep not as good as I slept when I won every game. “The sound, the smell, the perfume is not good enough right now. “But I’m the same person who won the four Premier Leagues in a row. I was happier because I ate better, lived better, but I was not thinking differently from who I am.” Guardiola is confident his side will not stop battling as they bid to get back on track. He said: “The people say, ‘Yeah, it’s the end of that’. Maybe, but we are in November. We will see what happens until the end. “What can you do? Cry for that? You don’t stay long – many, many years without fighting. That is what you try to look for, this is the best (way). “Why should we not believe? Why should it not happen with us?”Will Riley scored a game-high 19 points off the bench as No. 25 Illinois shrugged off a slow start to earn an 87-40 nonconference victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday afternoon in Champaign, Ill. Morez Johnson Jr. recorded his first double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, Kylan Boswell posted 13 points and Tomislav Ivisic contributed 11 for Illinois (4-1). Coming off a 100-87 loss to No. 8 Alabama on Wednesday, the Illini led by as much as 52 despite hitting just 10-of-40 3-point attempts. Jalen Ware paced Maryland Eastern Shore (2-6) with 10 points before fouling out. Ketron "KC" Shaw, who entered Saturday in the top 20 of Division I scorers at 22.3 points per game, went scoreless in the first half and finished with seven points on 2-of-11 shooting. The Hawks canned just 22.1 percent of their shots from the floor. Illinois broke out to a 6-0 lead in the first 2:06, then missed its next six shots. That gave the Hawks time to pull into an 8-8 tie on Evan Johnson's 17-foot pullup at the 12:21 mark. That marked Maryland Eastern Shore's last points for more than seven minutes as the Illini reeled off 17 straight points to remove any suspense. Johnson opened the spree with a basket and two free throws, Ben Humrichous swished a 3-pointer and Tre White sank a layup before Kasparas Jakucionis fed Ivisic for a 3-pointer and an alley-oop layup. Jakucionis set up Johnson for a free throw, then drove for an unchallenged layup to make it 25-8 with 5:15 left in the first. Evan Johnson snapped the visitors' dry spell with a driving layup at the 4:56 mark, but Illinois went on to establish a 35-15 halftime lead on the stretch of 11 offensive rebounds that turned into 12 second-chance points and 13 points off UMES' 10 turnovers. Maryland Eastern Shore needed nearly four minutes to get its first points in the second half as Illinois pushed its lead to 42-15. The Illini margin ballooned all the way to 70-24 on Boswell's driving layup with 8:11 to go. --Field Level MediaTULSA, Okla. — Tulsa fired football coach Kevin Wilson on Sunday and will elevate wide receivers coach Ryan Switzer on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. The Golden Hurricane lost to South Florida 63-30 on Saturday, dropping their record to 3-8. The school’s decision concludes Wilson’s two-year tenure with a 7-16 record, including 3-12 in American Athletic Conference play. “With the rapidly evolving landscape of college athletics, we know the importance of positioning our football program and athletic department to thrive and excel in the upcoming years,” athletic director Justin Moore said in a statement. “Our standard will be to play in bowl games every season, compete for conference titles, and build a program that everyone connected to the Golden Hurricane will be proud of.” Wilson spent six years as Indiana’s head coach, going 26-47 from 2011 to 2016. He then joined Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State and stayed on under Meyer’s successor, Ryan Day, before taking over at Tulsa.

COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — Zach Calzada passed for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and he rushed for a score as Incarnate Word beat East Texas A&M 38-24 on Saturday to claim the Southland Conference title. Incarnate Word (10-2, 7-0) became the first team in program history to finish undefeated in conference play. The No. 6 Cardinals await the FCS selection show on Sunday to learn the playoff matchups. Calzada came in leading the FCS in passing touchdowns with 30 on the season and No. 6 for passing yards (3,018). He finished 26 of 40 with an interception against East Texas A&M. Incarnate Word linebacker Darius Sanders made his third interception in two games then Calzada launched a 43-yard pass to Jalen Walthall to tie it at 14 midway through the second quarter. The Cardinals' Marcus Brown blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt that would have broken a tie at 24 early in the fourth. Calzada found wide-open Logan Compton in the end zone for a 31-24 lead. Mason Pierce was also left wide open for an 18-yard score with 2:43 left. Ron Peace was 21 of 38 for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interception for East Texas (3-9, 2-4). He also rushed for a score. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Robin Goodfellow's racing tips: Best bets for Friday, November 22 By STEVE RYDER Published: 22:45, 21 November 2024 | Updated: 22:50, 21 November 2024 e-mail View comments Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Friday's meetings at Newcastle, Ascot , Catterick and Chepstow. Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Friday's meetings Newcastle ROBIN GOODFELLOW 3.39 Fast Fred 4.10 Blue Lakota 4.40 Brooklyn 5.15 EQUILATERAL (nap) 5.45 Hitched 6.15 Brummell 6.45 Northern Spirit 7.15 The Gay Blade 7.45 Ana Emaraaty GIMCRACK 3.39 Laudable 4.10 Blue Lakota 4.40 Lemurian 5.15 BERGERAC (nap) 5.45 Jumeira Vision 6.15 Brummell 6.45 Last Outlaw 7.15 Mumcat 7.45 Ana Emaraaty NEWMARKET – 5.45 HITCHED (nap) NORTHERNER – 4.10 Blue Lakota (nb); 6.45 MONSIEUR KODI (nap). Ascot ROBIN GOODFELLOW 12.20 First Confession 12.55 Rare Edition 1.30 Celtic Dino 2.05 Corrigeen Rock 2.40 Break My Soul 3.15 Regatta De Blanc 3.50 Calvino GIMCRACK 12.20 First Confession 12.55 Gidleigh Park 1.30 Joyeuse (nb) 2.05 Gemirande 2.40 Alnilam 3.15 Regarde 3.50 Calvino NEWMARKET – 2.05 Terresita (nb) Catterick ROBIN GOODFELLOW 12.05 You Some Girl 12.40 Character Testing 1.15 Imperial Rule 1.50 Duke Of Luckley 2.25 Kilbarry Hill 3.00 Just Loose Change 3.32 Snapaudaciaheros GIMCRACK 12.05 You Some Girl 12.40 Character Testing 1.15 Imperial Rule 1.50 Dream Jet 2.25 Kilbarry Hill 3.00 Just Loose Change 3.32 Mighty Gesture Chepstow ROBIN GOODFELLOW 12.30 Espoir Des Forges 1.05 Western General 1.40 Byzantium 2.15 Billytherealbigred (nb) 2.50 Eceparti 3.25 Hidden History 3.59 Sinnatra GIMCRACK 12.30 Western Article 1.05 Just Over Land 1.40 Byzantium 2.15 Tommys Charm 2.50 Haas Boy 3.25 Boyles Hill 3.59 Sinnatra Share or comment on this article: Robin Goodfellow's racing tips: Best bets for Friday, November 22 e-mail Add commentOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Foo Fighters legend Dave Grohl is set to spend Christmas with his wife Jordyn Blum and their kids, despite the stir caused by his bombshell revelation of being unfaithful. The 55 year old rock icon took everyone by surprise when he confessed to cheating and fathering another child, separate from his marriage. Married since 2003 to director and actress Jordyn , Dave is a doting dad to Violet Maye, 18, Harper Willow, 15, and Ophelia Saint, 10. But the massive news came in September when he announced on social media that he had a fourth daughter "outside of my marriage" and was committed to mending fences with Jordyn and their children. There was a buzz among fans, worried whether this would spell the end of his marriage; but now, it seems the couple may be healing and choosing to remain united. People magazine got the inside scoop from a source confirming: "They are all spending Christmas as a family," reports the Mirror US . Plus, another insider shared, "Dave's been prioritizing his family. He knows he messed up. It's one of those situations where you don't realize what you have until you're about to lose it. He doesn't want to lose his family." Dave left fans stunned with his personal announcement earlier this year. The rock icon took to social media to reveal a bombshell, confessing: "I've recently become the father of a new daughter, born outside of my marriage. I plan to be a loving and supportive parent to her." He continued, expressing his commitment to his family: "I love my wife and my children, and I am doing everything I can to regain their trust and their forgiveness. We're grateful for your consideration toward all the children involved, as we move forward together." Fans were left in a state of shock, taking to various platforms to voice their astonishment. One fan even injected a bit of humour into the conversation, quipping on X: "Dave Grohl is having a child out of wedlock and announced it like a football team firing its coach lol." One fan was clearly not entertained, posting in disbelief: "Not Dave Grohl making a text post to announce he cheated on his wife, fathered a child through the cheating, and lost the trust of his wife and 3 daughters, but plans to 'be a good father' to the new baby. What the f**k!!!!!!!" After confessing to his affair, Dave's previous comments have resurfaced and are biting him in the backside, like when he called Jordyn his "future ex-wife". Reminiscing about their first encounter, he shared with Q Magazine how he was hit on by a stunner while he was all scruffy from a Tenacious D jam session, saying, "Some bombshell comes up and starts talking to Taylor. I was just out of a Tenacious D session. I've got Vans trainers on, no socks, dirty shorts and a dirty T-shirt." "So I'm just having some drinks and acting like a jackass. And by the end of the night I was pissed and I'm staring at her going, 'You're my future ex-wife,'" he recalled. "'So she gave me her number: 'Jordyn, your future ex-wife.'"