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Latest News | Labour Reforms, Social Security for Informal Workers, Transformative Policies on Cards in 2025A butterfly collector in Africa with more than 4.2 million seeks to share them for the future NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins has a collection of 4.2 million butterflies representing hundreds of species. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. One expert familiar with Collins and his work suggests that the collection should be digitized for global access. Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved NEW YORK (AP) — Top ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday. That's after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans. The International Chess Federation president said in a statement Sunday that he’d let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, as well as other "minor deviations” from the dress code. Carlsen quit the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday. He said Sunday he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship. 'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ and ‘Baby Boom’ filmmaker, dies at 83 An Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride," Charles Shyer has died. He was 83. On Sunday his daughter Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press that he died Friday in Los Angeles. No cause was disclosed. Born in Los Angeles in 1941 to a filmmaker father, Shyer's big breakthrough came with co-writing “Private Benjamin” for which he and Nancy Meyers received an Oscar nomination. He and Nancy Meyers were frequent collaborators through their nearly 20-year marriage, including on the remake of “The Parent Trap," starring Lindsay Lohan. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Belgium will ban sales of disposable e-cigarettes in a first for the EU BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations. Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke tells The Associated Press that the inexpensive e-cigarettes have turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine. Australia outlawed the sale of “vapes” outside pharmacies earlier this year in some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes. Now Belgium is leading the EU drive. Belgium's minister wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and the New York Knicks and New York Rangers sports franchises. Snoop's game: Snoop Dogg thrills the crowd in the bowl that bears his name TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Miami of Ohio beat Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl, but Snoop Dogg was the main attraction. The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop was much a spectacle as a football game. Snoop Dogg seemed to be everywhere all at once, from a pregame tailgate to the postgame trophy presentation. Snoop Dog donned a headset on Colorado State's sideline, spent some time in the broadcast and even led both marching bands as conductor during their halftime performance. Snoop Dogg saved the best for last, rolling out in a light green, lowrider Chevy Impala with gold rims and accents, the shiny Arizona Bowl trophy in his hand as fans screamed his name. Mavs star Luka Doncic is latest pro athlete whose home was burglarized, business manager says DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized. The star guard’s business manager tells multiple media outlets there was a break-in at Doncic’s home Friday night. Lara Beth Seager says nobody was home, and Doncic filed a police report. The Dallas Morning News reports that jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen. Doncic is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to players over the break-ins. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately.COLLEGE BOWL

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A Pakistani girl’s adorable yet cute request to India to give Kashmir to her country has gone viral on social media. The little girl’s unique approach to Kashmir and Pakistan politics has the internet craving for more. Her adorable voice has Indians rooting for her and requesting that she be given a visa to come to India. The 1-minute video starts with an interviewer interviewing the girl, believed to be in her teenage. The interview begins with the interviewer asking her about one thing she would ask from India. In reply, the girl begins, “Meri ek request hai India se, woh hume Kashmir dede. Kyunki, hamare pass ek hai Azad Kashmir, but woh bahut chota hai. Ab Jammu Kashmir jo hai, woh bahut bada hai. Aur India pehle se bahut bada hai. Isliye main bolungi ki woh log hume Jammu Kashmir dede.” “Lekin Pakistan ke jo halat hai na, mujhe lagta hai ki woh Azad Kashmir le bhi lenge. Hamare Army strong tha, bas gaya ab Army wale bhi politics main agaye. Jung shuru hoga toh Pakistan tabah ho jayega,” the girl quips. Her hilarious interview has caught the attention of Indians who adored her for her honest remarks. “Most probably the feeling of all POK residents...this girl has expressed it, a user commented. Likewise, another user shared, “In such an young age to have gained a clear perception of her own country, unobstructed by impractical notions of honour, valour or sacrifice by the Pakistani army. No mocking, she is only speaking the truth.” “At such a young age, she has a good understanding of the current situation (Pak Army in Politics),” shared another user.

Arm Holdings Plc ARM shares are moving lower on Monday after a U.S. federal court reportedly found that QAULCOMM Incorporated QCOM did not breach Nuvia ‘s license agreement with the company, Bloomberg reported on Friday. The Details: The jury determined that Qualcomm’s chips are properly licensed under its agreement with Arm and concluded that Qualcomm did not violate the terms of its agreement by incorporating technology into its chips without paying a higher licensing rate. However, the jury could not unanimously determine if Nuvia breached its license agreement. This verdict follows a legal battle in which Arm argued that Qualcomm and its subsidiary, Nuvia, required new agreements to continue using the company’s technology. Qualcomm, on the other hand, maintained that it held a broad, separate license for Arm's innovations that covered its operations. Qualcomm relies on its licensing agreement with Arm to integrate the company's technology into its chips. For instance, its partnership with major companies like Samsung relies on this technology to power their devices. Since the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on whether Nuvia breached its license agreement, Arm expressed its interest in filing for a retrial and stated that it was disappointed that the jury did not reach a consensus on the claims. Qualcomm said, "The jury has vindicated Qualcomm's right to innovate and affirmed that all the Qualcomm products at issue in the case are protected by Qualcomm's contract with Arm." See Also: Check Out What Whales Are Doing With Boeing ARM Price Action: At the time of publication, Arm stock is trading 2.97% lower at $128.23, according to data from Benzinga Pro . Image: Image via Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.President-elect Donald Trump has announced key cabinet nominations ahead of his January 20 inauguration. In November, he nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a mission to implement a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, which includes plans to eliminate chemical additives from the U.S. food supply. Recent social media posts have sparked rumors that Kennedy intends to ban Hershey’s chocolate. “BREAKING: Effective January 20th, Hershey’s Chocolate will be BANNED in the United States. Make America Healthy Again,” reads a post on X, featuring a screenshot purportedly from Kennedy’s account. This post claims the ban is part of Kennedy’s “war on bioengineered food.” Commenters questioned whether these claims are true. Has Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans to ban Hershey’s chocolate? No, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not announced plans to ban Hershey's chocolate. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not announced plans for a ban on Hershey’s chocolate. The claim originated from a parody account with the display name “ Robert F. Kennedy Jr - Health Secretary Parody .” The account has since been suspended on X, but it previously spread a similar false claim about Kennedy wanting to ban Diet Coke. Social media posts sharing screenshots from the parody account cropped out the word “parody,” making it appear as if the posts were from Kennedy’s official account. Kennedy’s real X account , with the display name “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,” has 5 million followers and doesn’t include the dash mark and ellipsis seen in the screenshots about a Hershey’s ban. Kennedy has not posted anything about a possible Hershey’s chocolate ban on his real account, nor on his Instagram or Facebook pages. VERIFY found no credible news articles supporting claims of a Hershey’s chocolate ban. Additionally, Hershey’s websites and social media accounts do not indicate any plans to halt chocolate sales in the U.S. after Inauguration Day. We reached out to Kennedy and Hershey’s for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.

Michael Owen names ‘the sad thing about Man Utd these days’ as ex-Old Trafford hero slams ‘stupid’ new signingAuthorities have called off the search for a 51-year-old man who went overboard Thursday on a Norwegian Cruise Line vessel. The man, who was traveling with his family, went over the side around 3 p.m. while the ship was sailing from Ocho Rios, Jamaica to Nassau, Bahamas, the cruise line said in a statement to USA TODAY. A rescue operation took place but was ultimately called off so the ship could continue its voyage. "The guest was traveling with a large group and his family on board is being attended to and supported during this very challenging situation," a spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time.” Man goes overboard on Norwegian Epic The vessel that the man and his family were traveling aboard was a Norwegian Epic cruise ship, a voyage known for its onboard performances, activities and pampering experiences . The Norwegian Epic is in the midst of a seven-night Western Caribbean voyage after departing Saturday from Canaveral, Florida, according to Cruise Hive , a cruise industry blog. After cruise officials learned that the man had gone over the side, authorities were notified and a search began under the guidance of the Bahamas Rescue Coordination Center, the cruise line told USA TODAY. Many passengers assisted in the search and shared updates on social media as onboard announcements indicated that the individual was wearing a blue shirt. Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam, which was nearby, also joined in the search, Cruise Hive reported. "After an extensive search that was unfortunately unsuccessful, the ship was released by the authorities," the Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said in a statement. It was not immediately clear what caused the man to go overboard. The man has not been identified. Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have delivered their annual Christmas messages to Australians, wishing voters a happy holiday. Both leaders used the occasion to express gratitude to emergency workers who will be sacrificing time with their families to serve their communities. Mr Albanese thanked “everyone who has given up their Christmas to help others” while Mr Dutton expressed gratitude to those who “put duty first”. Both political figures also reflected on the meaning of Christmas, highlighting the religious significance for Christians and the broader theme of kindness and generosity. "For Christians, of course, this is a holy celebration. For all of us, it is a season of generosity and kindness " Mr Albanese said. The cost of living crisis, which has weighed heavily on Australian families this year, was a prominent feature of both messages. Mr Albanese acknowledged the festive season “isn't easy for everyone,” while Mr Dutton spoke directly to the financial strain on families. “Many of us will know individuals and families who really are struggling... We should reach out to those who might not be experiencing the spirit of Christmas,” he said. “Even with hardships at home, we should reflect, this Christmas, on how lucky we are to live in the best country in the world.” The Prime Minister has planned to spend Christmas Day in Darwin, where he will commemorate the 50-year anniversary of Cyclone Tracy. Despite the challenges, both leaders closed their messages with well wishes to Australians for Christmas. “I do want to wish everyone the very best and a peaceful and joyful Christmas,” Mr Albanese said. “From my family to yours, I wish all Australians a very happy, relaxing, and safe Christmas,” said Mr Dutton.

BOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl.Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre's brotherhood is still strong after 30 years with new album 'Missionary' LOS ANGELES (AP) — When it comes to music, there’s one person in particular Snoop Dogg trusts to steer the ship without question: hit-making producer Dr. Dre. Their bond, built over 30 years of brotherhood, began when Dr. Dre shaped Snoop’s game-changing debut, “Doggystyle,” a cornerstone of hip-hop history. From young dreamers chasing stardom to legends cementing their legacies, the duo has always moved in sync. Now, the dynamic pair reunites for Snoop’s “Missionary,” his milestone 20th studio album, which releases Friday. The 15-track project features several big-name guest appearances including Eminem, 50 Cent, Sting, Method Man, Jelly Roll, Tom Petty, Jhené Aiko and Method Man. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment.

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton respond to audience questions on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at the Robinson Center auditorium in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Katie Adkins) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was admitted in the “afternoon for testing and observation," Angel Urena, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Urena said. Clinton, a Democrat who served two terms as president from January 1993 until January 2001, addressed the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this summer and campaigned ahead of November's election for the unsuccessful White House bid of Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris .BOISE, Idaho — Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of double overtime and Jordan Hansen ended the game on a fourth-down sack to give Northern Illinois a 28-20 victory over Fresno State on Monday in the Idaho Potato Bowl. Dimopoulos, who played quarterback in high school, also converted the two-point conversion when he passed it to quarterback Josh Holst for his second completion of the season. Holst, a freshman walk-on, was making just his third start at quarterback as NIU was without starter Ethan Hampton, who entered with 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns to go with six interceptions. Holst completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 and two touchdowns for Northern Illinois (8-5). He was also intercepted on the first play of the game. Both teams missed a 35-yard field goal in the final three minutes of regulation, including Dylan Lynch's third miss of the game on the final play to send it to overtime. Fresno State started overtime with a touchdown when Bryson Donelson was left wide open out of the backfield to haul in a 9-yard touchdown pass. NIU needed five plays, and a defensive holding penalty, to score as Holst found Grayson Barnes for a 3-yard touchdown. Donelson finished with 15 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-7). He added three catches for 28 yards and another score. Dual-threat quarterback Joshua Wood was 16 of 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown. Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards to help go over 1,000 yards for the season. Fresno State was without 14 players, including starting quarterback Mikey Keene after he transferred to Michigan. Two top-three receivers, Jalen Moss and Raylen Sharpe, also did not play as the Bulldogs were forced to use five new starters. UTSA 44, COASTAL CAROLINA 15: Owen McCown threw for 254 yards and a touchdown and UTSA scored the opening 27 points of the Myrtle Beach Bowl to cruise past short-handed Coastal Carolina in Conway, S.C. UTSA (7-6) broke away in the second quarter by scoring a touchdown on three straight drives for a 21-0 lead. McCown was 14 of 17 in the first half, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. McCown also scored on a 35-yard run after breaking two tackles near the end zone. The other score was a 9-yard touchdown run by Brandon High. Coastal Carolina (6-7) finished the first half with just 140 total yards — 60 coming on the final drive. The Chanticleers punted on five straight drives to begin the game — with the longest possession lasting seven plays for 25 yards. UTSA added short field goals on its opening two drives of the second half, while Coastal Carolina started with two straight three-and-out drives. UTSA ended CCU’s third drive on Jakevian Rodgers’ first career interception to extend the program's single-game streak with an interception and a sack to 23 games. CCU’s first touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson. But UTSA’s Chris Carpenter returned the ensuing kickoff for a 93-yard touchdown to make it 34-7. It was the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!* * A magnitude 7.6 earthquake, with the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture at its epicenter, struck at 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 1. The quake registered a seismic intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale in Wajima and Shika as well as upper 6 in Nanao, Suzu, Anamizu and Noto. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the first major tsunami warning since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The tsunami reached a wide area which included Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata and Yamagata prefectures. A total of 228 people died as a direct result of the earthquake, while 241 people have died in Ishikawa Prefecture due to quake-related causes, such as stress from life as evacuees, according to figures as of Dec. 17. Including quake-related deaths in Toyama and Niigata prefectures, the death toll from the earthquake totaled 475. The figure is the third highest among death tolls resulting from natural disasters since the Heisei era (1989-2019), following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Fault displacement resulting from the quake caused massive ground upheavals, which some described as being on a scale that could occur “only once in several thousand years,” mainly along the northern coastline of the Noto Peninsula. According to analysis by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the upheavals reached as high as four meters in some parts of Wajima. More than 260 buildings were destroyed in a massive fire that broke out after the quake around the Asaichi-dori area in Wajima. The Wajima Morning Market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the northern Noto Peninsula, with shops for lacquerware and souvenirs as well as stalls selling seafood and other products. Demolition of damaged buildings is underway, paid for using public funds. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. In addition to winning the National League home run and runs-batted-in (RBI) titles in the 2024 regular season, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. He left the Los Angeles Angels last December to join the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract, which was worth about ¥101.5 billion at the time. Surgery on his right elbow prevented him from returning to his two-way role as a hitter and pitcher, but he put his skills in running and hitting on display. Ohtani finished the season with his batting average of .310, 54 homers, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases, clinching the home run title for two years in a row and becoming the first Japanese player to win the RBI title in MLB. The Dodgers won the National League Championship Series and played in the World Series against the American League champion New York Yankees. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees to win the title for the first time in four years. On Nov. 21, Ohtani unanimously won this year’s National League MVP, following being unanimously chosen as the American League MVP in 2021 and 2023. He also became the first primary designated hitter to win the award. The 33rd Summer Olympic Games opened in Paris on July 26 for 17 days of competition through Aug. 11. Japan took 45 medals — 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze — a national record for an overseas Summer Olympics. Japan ranked third in the number of gold medals by country and region, behind the United States and China at 40. Japan finished sixth in the total number of medals. About 11,000 athletes competed in 329 events across 32 sports. The Japanese delegation numbered about 400, the country’s largest for an overseas Summer Games. Haruka Kitaguchi won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw. This was the first time a Japanese woman won a gold medal in an athletics event other than the marathon. Japan’s artistic gymnastics team won the gold in the men’s all-around event, upsetting China on the final apparatus, the horizontal bar. Shinnosuke Oka won gold in the individual all-around event and men’s horizontal bar. The sport in which Japan shone brightest was wrestling. The squad won 11 medals in the 18 weight classes, including eight golds. The women, currently the dominant force in the world, medaled in all six divisions, taking home four golds and two bronzes. Japan also got two golds each in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. The Bank of Japan began delivering newly designed banknotes to financial institutions July 3, marking the first renewal in 20 years. The portrait on the new ¥10,000 bill is that of Eiichi Shibusawa, the industrialist known as the “father of Japanese capitalism,” and the ¥5,000 bill features Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer of women’s higher education in Japan. Bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato is the face of the new ¥1,000 bill. It has been 40 years since the portrait changed from Prince Shotoku to educator Yukichi Fukuzawa on the ¥10,000 banknote in 1984. For the first time in the world, a type of 3D hologram technology that makes the portrait appear to rotate when viewed from different angles was adopted as an anti-counterfeiting measure for the banknotes. The new banknotes use a larger font size or the numerals denoting the value of the bills. Also, the identifying marks on the notes that can be distinguished by touch are differently positioned according to the type of banknote to make them more accessible for visually impaired people. More than 20 robberies by “dark” part-time workers have occurred mainly in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures since August. On Oct. 15, a man in his 70s was murdered and robbed of about ¥200,000 in cash by men who had broken into his Yokohama residence. Most of the perpetrators of these crimes were recruited to take part in the robberies through social media such as X. About 50 people have been arrested in connection with these incidents, including ones who actually committed robberies and ones who collected cash from them. About 80% of those arrested were in their teens or 20s. The National Police Agency has taken emergency measures to strengthen their analysis of smartphones belonging to the perpetrators. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito suffered a heavy defeat and lost its majority in the House of Representatives election on Oct. 27. The ruling camp failed to secure 233 lower house seats, the number required for a simple majority in the lower house, in the face of fierce public anger over money scandals involving LDP politicians. As a result of the 50th lower house election, the ruling coalition holds 215 seats, including 191 held by the LDP. In the final stage of the campaign it was revealed that the LDP headquarters had provided ¥20 million even to branches led by candidates who were unendorsed due to their involvement in a political funds scandal. This sparked further criticism. Opposition parties differed in their election outcomes. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan increased its seats significantly to 148 from the 98 it had before the lower house dissolution, while the Democratic Party for the People quadrupled its number to 28. The number of lower house seats held by the Japan Innovation Party decreased by six, falling to 38. Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the party’s 28th president on Sept. 27. Nine candidates vied to succeed then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the largest number since 1972, when endorsements from 20 LDP Diet members became a condition to file for candidacy. Kishida announced in August he would step down. In the election, Ishiba placed second in the first round of voting, but beat economic security minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff. Ishiba became the 102nd prime minister after voting at the Diet to designate the prime minister, and he launched his Cabinet on Oct. 1. The approval rating for the Cabinet stood at 51% in a Yomiuri Shimbun survey held immediately after the launch, down from 56% logged by Kishida’s Cabinet in a survey conducted in October 2021 upon their launch. An Airbus A350-900 — Japan Airlines Flight 516, which was arriving from Shin-Chitose Airport in Hokkaido — and a Bombardier DHC-8 belonging to the Japan Coast Guard, collided and caught fire on a runway at Haneda Airport on Jan 2. While all 379 passengers and crew on board the JAL aircraft were able to escape, five people on board the JCG aircraft were killed. Only the Bombardier’s captain survived. The air traffic controller had addressed the JCG aircraft as “No. 1,” meaning it was to be the first in line to take off, and instructed the aircraft to run to the stop position before the runway, but the Bombardier proceeded onto the runway and collided with the JAL airplane that was about to land. The JCG aircraft had been scheduled to fly to Niigata Airport to deliver relief supplies to areas hit by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Nihon Hidankyo, or Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Oct. 11. Nihon Hidankyo was highly praised for its continued efforts to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons through activities such as passing on the experiences of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On Dec. 10, cochair Terumi Tanaka reiterated the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons in a lecture he gave in Oslo for the peace prize. Nihon Hidankyo is the second Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Japan, with former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato having won in 1974 for advocating Japan’s three nonnuclear principles. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. announced a voluntary recall of three of its products, including the Benikoji CholesteHelp supplement, on March 22 after kidney illnesses developed in several people who had taken one of the company’s supplements made with benikoji red rice mold. In September, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said it had identified puberulic acid derived fom blue mold detected in the supplements’ ingredients as the cause of the kidney damage. The number of deaths suspected to be related to consumption of the supplements has exceeded 100.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — RJ Felton had 21 points in East Carolina's 71-64 victory over Stetson on Friday. Felton also added eight rebounds for the Pirates (5-1). Joran Riley scored 14 points while going 4 of 11 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds. Cam Hayes shot 3 for 7 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

*Asserts an elder statesman shouldn’t always be a trader, sycophant *Says he didn’t invite Obasanjo to commission projects in Rivers in order not to embarrass Odili Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday, went head-to-head with a former governor of Rivers State, and his estranged benefactor, Dr. Peter Odili, saying he brought Odili back to life, after his retirement into oblivion. Wike, the immediate past governor of the state, warned that as an elder statesman, Odili should not be a trader and sycophant all the time. He said he had shown immense respect to Odili all along, including refusing to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo to commission projects in the state when he was governor, just to avoid embarrassing Odili. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said Wike dropped the firestorm yesterday at a Special Thanksgiving Service organised by Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt. The no-holds-barred riposte on Odili was in response to the latter’s praises for Governor Siminalayi Fubara for stopping Wike from converting Rivers State to his private fiefdom. The FCT minister said it was unfortunate for Odili, who was supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father, to reduce himself to a sycophant and trader. He stated, “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for? You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night, and told me what someone said in the social media. “I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said. What did he say? He said the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a Chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a commissioner, his other daughter is a judge and he is the general overseer. “Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son, that was recommended for commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman?” The FCT minister said it was painful that Odili, out of political sycophancy, forgot all that he had said in the past. He stated that when he was governor, the same Odili had praised him to high heaven, and said all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than him (Wike). According to Wike, “In 2007 after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the state because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about PAMO University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called PAMO University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5 million. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, ‘come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love.’ He was taking them round the house. “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock? People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talks like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed.” Wike asked what could be learned from such a sycophantic elder statesman. “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him? This moment you are saying something; the next moment you are saying something else,” he stated. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” The minister also weighed in on the River State governorship issue, saying, “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? “Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. “We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all these sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he will not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it will humiliate him.”