nemo fish
nemo fish
Cristian Romero has backed Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou and believes the team's struggles this season are down to injuries. Spurs lost at home to Chelsea on Sunday, despite leading 2-0, just three days after going down 1-0 at Bournemouth. It leaves Spurs with just one win in seven - which came at Manchester City - across all competitions. The latest defeat saw Spurs drop to 11th in the Premier League, having picked up just 20 points from 15 games. The form has prompted speculation over Postecoglou's job, but vice-captain Romero has given his backing to his boss. Romero told Telemundo: "He's a great coach. We saw it in the first season. In this second one we've suffered a lot of injuries. "Players are the first ones to be criticised, then if we lose 10 games, the staff can be changed, but nobody talks about what is actually happening. "We are very happy with this staff, me and my colleagues. We love how they work and the football they try to play. We'll try to move on quickly." Spurs skipper Heung-min Son believes the players “need to step up” as the club looks to correct an alarming inconsistent run of results. "We've got to stick together in such difficult moments," he told Sky Sports, before adding: “I think it's time the players also need to step up. We need some big support and big cheering up."PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter's in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter's path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That's a very narrow way of assessing them," Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn't suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he'd be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter's tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter's lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor's race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama's segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival's endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King's daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters' early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan's presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan's Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.
Market Trends: Tech Leads the Gains Amid Federal Reserve Speculations
In a thrilling turn of events, Nvidia is venturing deeper into the realm of robotics. The tech giant is slated to unveil the Jetson Thor, the next generation of compact computers tailored for humanoid robots, anticipated in the first half of next year. This strategic pivot aligns with Nvidia’s ambition to dominate the burgeoning robotics industry, as highlighted in a recent Financial Times report. Faced with intensifying competition from tech behemoths like AMD, Google, and Amazon, Nvidia is embracing the “physical AI” domain. The company’s investments aim to bolster emerging robotics firms, evidenced by its involvement with Microsoft and OpenAI in a funding round for Figure AI, a humanoid robotics company valued at $2.6 billion. Nvidia’s robotics sector, though currently a smaller segment of its vast $35.1 billion in quarterly sales, is poised for significant growth. Data center revenue may constitute the lion’s share, but the company is clearly betting on the future of robotics. In related developments, MIT researchers have demonstrated breakthroughs in AI for warehouse robots. Their innovative system, known as PRoC3S, empowers robots to navigate and manipulate odd-shaped packages with human-like dexterity. This cutting-edge technology could revolutionize warehouse operations amidst surging demand for eCommerce, bridging the gap between robotic efficiency and human finesse. As the robotics and AI landscapes evolve, Nvidia’s bold initiatives signal its commitment to leading the charge in this technological revolution. With advances in autonomous vehicles and robotics, the possibilities for transformation are endless. Nvidia’s Bold Robotics Move: A Game Changer for the Industry? Nvidia is making significant strides in the robotics arena with the upcoming release of the Jetson Thor, a new line of compact computers specially designed for humanoid robots. Set to debut in the first half of next year, this development underscores Nvidia’s strategic shift towards dominating the rapidly expanding robotics industry. Focus on Physical AI Amid growing competition from industry titans such as AMD, Google, and Amazon, Nvidia is investing heavily in the physical AI domain. This area focuses on empowering robots to interact more seamlessly with the physical world, akin to human abilities. A prime example of this approach is Nvidia’s recent funding partnership with Microsoft and OpenAI for Figure AI, a humanoid robotics company. Expanding Market Segment While Nvidia’s robotics division currently makes up a smaller portion of its $35.1 billion quarterly sales, the segment is predicted to experience substantial growth. Despite data center revenue being substantial, robotics is fast becoming a key focus, reflecting Nvidia’s long-term vision for technological leadership. Breakthroughs in Robotics and AI Parallel to Nvidia’s expansions, significant breakthroughs are being witnessed in robotics-related AI research. A team of MIT researchers has introduced PRoC3S, an AI system that enhances warehouse robots’ ability to navigate and handle unusually shaped packages with precision reminiscent of human workers. This advancement could vastly improve efficiency in warehouse operations, especially with the rising demand in eCommerce. A Look Into the Future Nvidia’s ventures represent a broadening enterprise into the future of robotics and AI, where advancements in autonomous vehicles and robotic solutions could reshape entire industries. With the Jetson Thor, Nvidia is well-positioned to drive innovation and change the landscape of how robots integrate into various sectors. For more about Nvidia’s innovations and ambitions within the tech landscape, visit their official website through this Nvidia link . Conclusion As the robotics and AI domain continues to evolve rapidly, Nvidia’s strategic investments and technological advancements foreshadow a future dominated by intelligent and highly capable robots. This shift could mark the beginning of a new era where AI and robotics seamlessly blend to transform industries worldwide.Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey has been fined $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) during their 34-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16. NFL insider Tom Pelissero posted a clip of the incident to X. The NFL fined #Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey $11,255 for unsportsmanlike conduct (taunting) — holding the ball towards #Steelers WR Calvin Austin III on his pick-six last week. pic.twitter.com/nhxhjfSKkk Early in the fourth quarter, Humphrey picked off Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. The NFL fined Humphrey because it believed he was taunting Pittsburgh receiver Calvin Austin by holding the ball out towards him while running it back. However, after the game Humphrey claimed that wasn't the case. "I want to make this pretty clear," Humphrey said. "When I was running with the football, I saw [Ravens linebacker] David Njabo, a really great teammate of mine, and I was trying to pitch him the football. Some people brought up to me that it looked like taunting or something, but I was trying to pitch him the football. There was no taunting there at all. I just want to make that very clear." It is important to note that Humphrey was not flagged on the play. The lack of consistency between being penalized and fined for something has been very frustrating for players over the last several years. Both Austin and Njabo were behind Humphrey as he was running, so it's difficult to establish intent. Regardless, that's a pretty hefty amount of money for something that didn't hurt anyone. Humphrey has a good reputation as a standup person, making the fine even more harsh. The veteran defender is a former All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. In 15 games played this season Humphrey has 63 tackles, six interceptions (tied for second-most in the league), 14 passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. As unfortunate as this is, Humphrey will have to try to put it behind him and move forward. He and the Ravens are rolling, winners of their last three games. They clinched a playoff berth with their Christmas Day win over the Houston Texans, and can secure the AFC North title with a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 18, or with a Steelers' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.Politics Our political journalists are based in the Maine State House and have deep source networks across the partisan spectrum in communities all over the state. Their coverage aims to cut through major debates and probe how officials make decisions. Read more Politics coverage here . AUGUSTA, Maine — Democratic lawmakers nominated Attorney General Aaron Frey to continue in his role Tuesday amid a challenge from a county prosecutor. Members of the majority party also picked a Bangor legislator to serve as Maine’s next treasurer. Frey, a former state representative from Bangor who succeeded Gov. Janet Mills as the state’s top law enforcement officer after the 2018 election, won the secret ballot vote over Maeghan Maloney, the district attorney for Kennebec and Somerset counties. Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck is not seeking a fourth, two-year term, which resulted in a contest between House Majority Leader Mo Terry, D-Gorham, and Rep. Joe Perry, D-Bangor. Democrats picked Perry as they met Tuesday afternoon and evening in Augusta. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows faced no Democratic challenger for the position she has held since 2021, when Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap also took office. The Legislature returns Wednesday to vote on each nominee. Perry said he was “so grateful to have received the nomination” from his colleagues. Frey and Maloney, who are both former state representatives, each pitched themselves to lawmakers ahead of Tuesday as leaders who would push back against President-elect Donald Trump. Frey noted he had already done that during Trump’s first term while also highlighting lawsuits he has filed against opioid manufacturers , oil companies and the makers of harmful PFAS chemicals . Maloney differentiated herself from Frey by pledging to support the Wabanaki Nations and alluding to the Mills administration’s opposition to more sweeping tribal sovereignty legislation. Help us raise $100,000 to fund trusted journalism for your community. Make a tax-deductible donation now . Both Maloney and Frey have faced recent controversies, with Maloney accused of violating bar rules by attempting to contact a woman in a criminal case without going through her attorney and Frey apologizing last year after his romantic relationship with an employee he supervised came to light before he had someone else oversee his partner. Republican lawmakers picked up several seats in the November election but do not have the numbers to elevate their preferred attorney general choice unless enough Democrats join them. The GOP put forward Robert B. Charles, who grew up in the Kennebec County town of Wayne and served as assistant U.S. secretary of state for international narcotics under former President George W. Bush. More articles from the BDN
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Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsKey investors question PIL that led to HC stay on Religare AGM
AP News Summary at 11:08 a.m. ESTThe Pa. boys basketball season kicks off this week and some of the very best players in the state return for another year in the loaded Mid-Penn Conference. • Sign up for PennLive’s daily high school sports newsletter Here’s a look at PennLive’s division-by-division preview, as we surveyed all the conference’s coaches to figure out the lay of the land heading into the season. Below is a look at a re-shuffled Mid-Penn Capital Division, which features constant contender Trinity as well as a bevy of teams that should challenge the ‘Rocks. 8. James Buchanan Coach: Matt Piper Last year: 3-19 Key players: G Drew Crouse, 6-1, Sr.; G Jake Miller, 6-0, Sr.; F Jim Bell, 6-2, Sr. Buzz: The Rockets return some talent from a year ago as they continue to build. A couple of baseball standouts will lead the hoops team, as Crouse, Miller and Bell should all combine to form a solid senior core. Junior Jayden Rineer could be the breakout player on the roster. 7. Camp Hill Coach: Scott Barrows Last year: 4-18 Key players: F Brighton McKnight, 6-5, Sr.; G Ty Kirchhoff, 5-8, Sr.; C Ian Goodwin, 6-5, Jr.; G AJ Serdar, 6-0, Jr.; G Nate Miller, 5-10, Jr.; G Jack Stewart, 5-10, Jr.; G Owen Grove, 6-1, So. Buzz: The Lions only won four games a year ago, but return one of the division’s top players in Brighton McKnight to build around. Ian Goodwin as a big to pair with him should provide some size down low for the Lions—it is up to guards like Ty Kirchhoff to add to their production in the backcourt to have Camp Hill make a step forward. 6. Steel-High Coach: Rashaud Macon Last year: 7-15 Key players: G Tristan Crawford Jr., 6-1, Sr.; G/F Cashmere Mangus, 6-4, Sr.; G/F Alquan Johnson, 6-4, Sr.; G Anthony Ramos, 6-1, Sr. Buzz: The Rollers earned a playoff berth last year, and with a couple of key returners back, should be able to make another run to the postseason this winter. Tristan Crawford Jr. and Cashmere Mangus will pair as a top duo, while Rashad Holland Ali, a junior, will be counted on in an expanded role for the group. 5. Susquehanna Township Coach: Avery Cloud Last year: 9-13 Buzz: layers: G/F Alfonso Burnett, 6-3, Sr.; G Mekhi Slappy 5-11, Jr.; G Travis Turner, 6-1, Sr. Buzz: ‘Hanna has the talent, particularly at the top of the roster. Alfonso Burnett is a top-level three-position player, while Mekhi Slappy proved to be one of the very best shooters in the MPC. Travis Turner is also a consistent contributor. If Avery Cloud can find some consistency beyond them, the Indians could surprise. 4. Bishop McDevitt Coach: Jason Grace Last year: 10-11 Key players: F Max Henderson, 6-6, Sr.; F Ethan Hammer, 6-1, Jr.; F Liam Fuller, 6-7, Jr.; G Patrick Denisco, 5-9, Jr.; G Jadus Byrd, 5-10, Sr.; F Jack Hower, 6-3, Sr., F Carter White, 6-5, Jr.; G Aaron Kopcha, 5-11, So. Buzz: The Crusaders were very young in Jason Grace’s first season, but in 2024-25, Bishop McDevitt expectations are back to the top. Max Henderson leads the group, a versatile forward standing at 6-foot-6, who will pair with Liam Fuller in the frontcourt to provide some hard-to-match measurables. Patrick Denisco could be a breakout candidate as well. 3. Boiling Springs Coach: Brett Sheaffer Last year: 16-9 Key players: G Brandon Ascione, 6-2, Sr.; G Ethan Yenser, 5-9, Jr.; G/F Riley Lucido, 6-4, Sr.; G Eli Kimmel, 5-10, Sr.; F Caleb Rife, 6-2, Sr.; G/F Mason Labuda, 6-3, Sr.; G/F Jon Wonders, 6-1, Sr.; G Timmy George, 5-10, Jr.; G Pierce Brownawell, 5-10, Jr.; G Davion Davis, 5-11, Jr. Buzz: The Bubblers had a nice season under coach Brett Sheaffer last year, and a nice cast of returners has Bubbletown thinking bigger this winter. Brandon Ascione leads the group as a five-tool star, while Ethan Yenser is among the very best long-distance shooters in the league. The group won a playoff game last year and could be in the mix for another long run this year. 2. Big Spring Coach: Jason Creek Last year: 19-7 Key players: G/F Aidan Sallie, 6-3, Sr.; F Brexton Heckendorn, 6-4, Sr.; G/F Ayden Martinez, 6-1, So.; G Alan Walker, 5-11, Sr.; F Eli Sadvary, 6-6, Sr.; G Wes Reall, 5-10, Sr.; G/F Nader Alajlouni, 6-1, Sr.; G Nathan Baranoski, 5-11, So.; G Landon Sallie, 6-2, Fr.; F Jaedon Zaragoza, 6-5, Fr. Buzz: The Bulldogs are coming off perhaps the best season in program history, earning a district silver medal and making the school’s first PIAA tournament. But the expectations remain in 2024-2025, with all-league star Aidan Sallie back in the fold. They lose point guard Jake Knouse, but defensive aces Brexton Heckendorn and Ayden Martinez are back, and freshman Landon Sallie—Aidan’s brother—is expected to contribute immediately. 1. Trinity Coach: Larry Kostelac Last year: 19-6 Key players: G Owen Schlager, 6-3, Sr.; G Reece Brown, 6-2, Jr.; G Dre Steele, 5-11, So.; F Quintin Wise, 6-7, Sr.; G Marcus Yeager, 6-3, Jr.; G Nike Craig, 6-2, Fr.; G Tucker Grace, 6-0, So.; F Eshaw Iddi, 6-6, So.; G Maddox Jarzynski, 6-2, Jr.; G Jared Kieff, 6-1, Jr.; G Kenyon Portee, 6-1, So.; F Robert Lewis, 6-5, Jr.; F Liam Sexton, 6-6, Jr.; G Nick Smith, 6-2, So. Buzz: Trinity had a good year last year, winning another state playoff game. But a District 3 title game loss left a sour taste in the group’s mouth. Siena commit and PennLive Player of the Year Owen Schlager is back, along with Reece Brown and Dre Steele, and the team hopes to bounce back and pick up that district gold, along with a deep postseason run, this winter. PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR Owen Schlager, Trinity Buzz: Schlager is the reigning PennLive boys basketball player of the year, and with good reason. The 6-foot-3 senior Siena commit has been a star since stepping foot onto the varsity roster as a freshman, and is coming off leading the MPC in scoring. He should be among the very best in the state once more this winter. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Auto repair from your car insurer and fire extinguishers courtesy your home insurer? Not outlandish ideas, but part of the government's plans to allow insurance companies to sell related products and services. The government may allow general insurers to bundle their core insurance products with non-insurance products and services to increase insurance penetration and allow companies to offer competitively priced insurance products, two persons aware of the plans said. Also read | The plan, if rolled out, will allow the sale of gym memberships and basic healthcare by health insurers; vehicle repairs, diagnostic services and roadside assistance bycar insurers; and safety consultations, fire extinguishers and safety alarms from home insurers. The thinking is that insurers would provide comprehensive risk mitigation solutions that would help reduce the incidence of losses for them, resulting in better-priced products and lower overall risk for the nation, one of the two persons cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Seeking amendments Insurers have sought amendments to permit the sale of value-added services as they try to deliver new and valuable services to customers, the finance ministry said, citing the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai). “The proposal to enable insurers and insurance intermediaries to provide services related or incidental to the insurance business as specified by Irdai is under consideration," the ministry said in response to the observations of the Parliament's standing committee of finance on the matter. The second person cited above said that the finance ministry is working on the Insurance Amendment Bill, which will also redefine insurance. The bill is expected to be presented in the Parliament's budget session after securing Cabinet approval, the person added. This will allow the Centre to notify any other or ancillary business that insurance companies may be permitted to undertake beyond their core operation of providing insurance and risk coverage products to customers in consultation with Irdai, the person added. Also read | A query emailed to the finance ministry remained unanswered till press time. “These are good suggestions theoretically. In practice, Insurance is still a push product. If an insurance company runs a diagnostic centre, does it mean that their customers should only use that to get an insurance claim? Car repair is still a domain of OEMs and dealers. No dealer makes money in selling a car. They make money in service/repair of vehicle. My view is that insurers should focus on their core business," said C R Vijayan, former secretary general of General Insurance (GI) Council, the official representative body of the general insurance industry. Better auxiliary services “In my opinion, this is fine. To provide better auxiliary services while selling insurance products is a must-have, as customer demands have changed and they are looking for combined products. Like, if I am going to the gym, then I need better pricing for a health product; if I drive better, then I need a competitive quote on my motor insurance. So, allowing these frills baked into the insurance products will not only ensure innovation and provide a competitive edge to insurers, but will also help customers get very personalized coverages. So, it's in the right direction," said Debashish Banerjee, partner and insurance sector leader at Deloitte India. However, insurers may still not be allowed to sell financial products such as mutual funds on the lines of banks, as the government and regulators fear these specialized financial products could add more risk to their insurance operations. Also read | Irdai had earlier suggested permitting insurance companies to sell even mutual funds, but the proposal did not find favour with the government, the first person said. According to Banerjee of Deloitte, keeping insurers out of mutual funds is fair, since MFs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), while insurance comes under Irdai. In countries where a single regulator for banks, insurers and stock markets oversees all financial products, it's easier to sell all products under a single umbrella. In India, unless an insurance company also takes a banking licence and is regulated by Reserve Bank of India and Sebi, they won't be able to sell MF products. DFS, Irdai to decide The department of financial services (DFS) in the finance ministry and the insurance regulator would decide on a list of related activities or activities incidental to the core insurance business. These may include services and wellness packages clubbed with general insurance products. According to a note on the insurance amendments by law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas published earlier, insurers need to be customer-driven in their approach towards products and services and offer a range of value-added services to their customers in addition to the core insurance product. Also read | “Typically, value-added services include non-core services in an industry, or the enhancements made to the core product or service offered to customers. The UK permits both value-added services and cross-selling services by insurers. Singapore allows life insurers to provide financial advisory to its clients, while Malaysia allows life insurers to provide services incidental to the insurance business," the note said, adding that Australian law, on the other hand, permits the conduct of business that is incidental to the insurance business of general insurers. However, life insurers are permitted only to carry out life insurance.
Getting whipped by a downtrodden Oklahoma squad came back to haunt Alabama. So did a historic loss to Vanderbilt. That's because the Crimson Tide (9-3) were passed over for the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff when the selections were announced on Sunday. Alabama appeared in good shape to make the playoffs until visiting the Sooners and losing 24-3 on Nov. 23. Oklahoma finished the regular season with a 6-6 mark. SMU (11-2) earned the final at-large spot despite losing to Clemson 34-31 in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Saturday night. "I think it's the right decision," Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee told CBS Sports said. "... We didn't ever have a bad loss." Selection committee chairman Warde Manuel said it was a tough choice to take the Mustangs over the Crimson Tide. "We looked at the number of wins Alabama had against ranked opponents," Manuel, the Michigan athletic director, told ESPN. "We looked at SMU's schedule and they were undefeated in conference. Their losses were to ranked teams. "We also looked at Alabama's losses to unranked teams. It was quite a debate. We value strength of schedule and that's why Alabama as a three-loss team is ranked ahead of teams that have two losses." SMU's loss to then-No. 17 Clemson came on a last-second field goal in Saturday night's Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The Mustangs also lost 18-15 at BYU on Sept. 6. SMU beat then-No. 22 Louisville on the road and then-No. 18 Pitt in Dallas. "Losing on a last-second field goal ... we felt SMU still had the nod over Alabama," Manuel said of the Mustangs' loss to Clemson. "... It's just looking at the entire body of work over both teams." Alabama's other two losses included the shocking 40-35 stumble at Vanderbilt on Oct. 5 that marked the Commodores' first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team. The Crimson Tide also lost 24-17 to then-No. 11 Tennessee on Oct. 19. The Crimson Tide posted three ranked victories, beating then-No. 2 Georgia, then-No. 21 Missouri and then-No. 15 LSU. Alabama will face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Dec. 31. It is a rematch from last season when the Wolverines defeated the Crimson Tide 27-20 in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl. The second team out was No. 13 Miami (10-2), which saw its chances plummet by losing two of its last three regular-season games. The Hurricanes, who started 9-0, lost 28-23 to host Georgia Tech on Nov. 9 and completed the regular season with a 42-38 road loss against Syracuse. Miami didn't play a Top 25 team this season. Instead of navigating the playoff field, Miami will face No. 18 Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 28. "Everyone that doesn't get in feels disappointment," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said of being passed over. "We will have the onus of just doing better. Go forward and have the opportunity to get better. ... "We have a ton to play for and we'll thankful for the opportunity." SMU plays No. 6 Penn State in its first-round playoff game on Nov. 21. "We're excited about the challenge and the opportunity to prove that the committee made the right decision," Lashlee said. --Field Level MediaFOODIES have been left totally divided over Aldi’s new Christmas sauce. Not only have people claimed that the much-loved chain has gone ‘too far’ with the condiment, but others have described it as ‘gross’. But with just 17 days until December 25th, what do YOU think about the unique product? Every December, the supermarket releases plenty of festive treats - but some are ‘horrified’ and think this new buy could be too much. It comes after shoppers spotted Aldi’s two new festive takes on the classic Mayonnaise condiment - Cranberry Mayonnaise and Sage and Onion Stuffing Mayonnaise. Each 250g jar costs just £1.29, making it super affordable, but not everyone was keen. According to the supermarket, the Bramwells Cranberry Mayonnaise is the "ultimate gravy alternative on Christmas Day. It offers a "creamy take on the traditional sweet and tangy sauce". Meanwhile, the Sage and Onion Stuffing mayo brings a "delicious twist on tradition". But food fans were totally divided by the unique sauces, in particular the Sage and Onion Stuffing Mayonnaise. Bargain hunters flocked to social media to share their thoughts, after the chain shared a snap of the cheap buy on the official @ aldiuk Instagram account. The supermarket penned: “Our NEW Sage & Onion Stuffing Mayonnaise will have you switching up your Christmas traditions this year. “Perfect for dipping your pigs in blankets into or adding EVEN MORE festive flavours to your party nibbles.” The post has quickly racked up over 6,500 likes, but foodies were seriously divided - whilst some thought the chain had gone ‘too far’, others thought it sounded ‘amazing’. IF you’ve ever shopped in Aldi or Lidl then you’ll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff. Aldi’s speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals. It’s all part of Aldi’s plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers. Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process. It also uses “shelf-ready” packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock. One user wrote: "Why do they have to mess about with traditional ingredients at Christmas time when they work perfectly well as they are all year?" Another commented: "Oh noooo this sounds so gross, sorry not sorry but mayo with sage AND stuffing...no no no.” Ermmm no! Not for me Whilst a third simply said: "Vile!" Alongside sick emojis, someone else slammed: “Ermmm no! Not for me.” I’ll be buying all the jars At the same time, many were quite keen to give the sauce a try. One Aldi fan beamed: "Ooohhh yum sage and onion!" A second chimed in: “That sounds immense.” Meanwhile, someone else penned: “Omg, this sounds amazing.” Another foodie was overjoyed and claimed: “I’ll be buying all the jars.” WHY fork out for an expensive bottle of wine when you can virtually get the same taste, but for less? Whispering Angel, £17 Aldi dupe: Chassaux Et Fils Atlantique Rosé, £4.99. Or Aldi's Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé, £12.49. Cali Red by Snoop Dogg, £12/£13 Aldi dupe: The Reprobates Californian Red, £9.99. Dark Horse Merlot, £10 Aldi dupe: Beachfront Malbec, £6.99 Laurent Perrier Rose champagne, £80 Aldi dupe: Crémant Du Jura, £8.99 Aperol Spritz, £17 Aldi dupe: Aperini Aperitif, £6.99
Cricket Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. Young gun Sam Konstas says he’s ready for the next challenge of his career and “hopes” a Test debut comes “soon” after a breakout summer. Konstas, who has scored twin tons for NSW and then a classy century against India on Sunday, is only 19 but has been touted as Australia’s next long-term opening batsman thanks to a hot start to the Sheffield Shield season. But despite all the hype, he missed out on the initial Test squad for the India series, with calls for his selection set to intensify if he continues to score runs and the Australian top order keeps failing with the bat. Konstas hasn’t spoken with Australian coach Andrew McDonald but says he’s ready and eager to open the batting for his country just days after he blasted 107 off 97 balls for the Prime Minister’s XI against India in Canberra. Sam Konstas says he’s ready to make his Test debut after his eye-catching century for the Prime Minister’s XI. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images “I really want the chance, I love being challenged and hopefully that can happen soon,” Konstas said at the SCG on Wednesday morning. “I feel like I’m in a good headspace. It’s been the best few months I’ve had, and hopefully one day I can represent my country. “For me, it’s focusing about Friday (Shield game against Western Australia) and then trying to score runs to put myself forward. It would be a huge honour to represent my country one day.” That knock in Canberra came against a quality Indian attack that was missing spearhead Jasprit Bumrah but was still able to trouble the hosts, with only one other batter in the top eight scoring more than five. “It was a huge honour representing the PM’s XI. Playing the best from India was a good challenge and it was good to get a few runs to help the team,” Konstas said after playing some audacious strokes against the pink ball. “Backing my game and trusting it (helped me score the runs). I was there for a reason and was trying to be present in the moment. “It was a good challenge against India because they’re very feisty and get in the contest. Just challenging my skill set and trying to be the best version of myself (helped).” Konstas looks ready for the BBL after playing some aggressive shots against India. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP Konstas only has one more red-ball match before the Shield goes on break for the BBL, but that will give him the chance to work closely with David Warner, who will captain him at the Thunder and teach him all about opening for Australia. Warner and Steve Smith have reached out, while he’s also leant heavily on NSW teammates Moises Henriques and Jack Edwards. But his most valued mentor has been former international star Shane Watson, whom he met while he was a student at Cranbrook High School in Sydney, with Watson’s wife now his manager. Watson has helped him work on his technique and how to deal with missing out with the bat as he did in three of his four knocks for Australia A, with Konstas praised for how he handled the disappointment of missing out on the Test squad. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get the runs that I would have liked, but (I’ve been) reflecting on how I could have done better and challenging how they got me out and the tactics they used, so it was good to get a little reward on Sunday,” he said. “I analyse a little bit but not too much so I can then go back through my process and chat to Watto about what’s next. “When I was younger I was probably over-analysing stuff with my technique, so just trying to trust the process and bring the best version every ball. “For me, it’s about being in the present and being the best version of myself, and then hopefully let the result take care of itself. “That’s been a change in mindset. Shane Watson has helped me with that, and then I’ve tried to put in good performances for the team.” Originally published as ‘I really want the chance’: Teen star Sam Konstas stakes his claim for Test debut with eye-catching century against India More related stories Cricket Jaiswal’s Starc sledge hints at wonderkid’s secret weakness Yashasvi Jaiswal went viral when he told Mitchell Starc he was bowling ‘too slow’. That taunt might just have told Australia how to undermine the game’s newest sensation. Read more Cricket Multicultural makeover for iconic Aussie event An iconic sporting event will look and feel like the true modern Australia, with festivities receiving investment from one state government. Read moreAssociated Banc’s (ASB) Sector Perform Rating Reiterated at Royal Bank of Canada
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