nice 88 slot net
HOUSTON — The Astros welcomed first baseman Christian Walker to the team Monday, in one of two moves that almost certainly marks the end of Alex Bregman ’s time in Houston. Walker signed a $60 million, three-year contract that will pay him $20 million annually just more than a week after the Astros acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from Cubs in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago . “The way I view it right now is Paredes is going to play third base and Walker is going to play first base,” general manager Dana Brown said Monday. “And Bregman’s still a free agent.” The Astros had hoped to re-sign Bregman, the team’s third baseman for the last nine seasons, but Brown said the negotiations stalled. “I thought we made a really competitive offer, showing that we wanted him back,” he said. “But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there. We locked in Paredes early in that trade, knowing that he could play third or first and then when the opportunity to add another bat came up we just jumped on it.” The addition of a first baseman was a priority this offseason for the Astros after they released struggling first baseman José Abreu less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract. “We knew we had to get better at first base,” Brown said. “We pursued (Walker) and we’re excited to have him because we know that we’re going to have a really good first baseman that can defend and also hit the ball on the seats from time to time.” Walked was attracted by the sustained success of the Astros, who won their first two World Series titles in 2017 and '22. “I’ve been watching this team for a while now, and that edge, the energy, the expectation, you can tell that they’re going out there with a standard,” he said. “And I’m very excited to be a part of it.” Walker is looking forward playing on an infield with star second baseman Jose Altuve. He’s fascinated by the success and consistency Altuve has had over his 14-year career. “I get a chance to learn from Jose Altuve,” Walker said. “Nothing really gets better than that.” Brown was asked what he would tell fans disappointed to see the Astros lose another star after George Springer and Carlos Correa left as free agents in recent years. “I would just tell the fans that look, we are very focused on remaining competitive,” he said. “We’re very focused on winning division and going back to the World Series, and I think with these additions that we have the ability to do that. So, I feel strongly that we’re going to be picked to win the division first off. And if our pitching holds up, which I feel strongly about, as well, I think we’ll get deep into the postseason.” The Astros won the AL West for a fourth straight year this season before being swept by the Tigers in an AL Wild Card Series. Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series. Walker played in 130 games this year, down from 157 in 2023 and 160 in 2022. He was sidelined between July 29 and Sept. 3 by a strained left oblique. He spent the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, where he hit 146 homers with 442 RBIs and a .251 batting average. He didn’t secure a full-time job in the big leagues until 2019. He’s provided consistent power over the past six seasons and has grown into an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons. Walker played college ball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his big league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but couldn’t stick in the majors and was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona in a five-week span. Walker’s contract has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block deals to six teams without his consent. He would earn $200,000 for winning an MVP, $175,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth. Walker also would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $75,000 apiece for making the All-Star Game or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award. Infielder Grae Kessinger was designated for assignment to open a roster spot.
Bitcoin’s aiming for the sky with targets of $140K, while Solana and FLOKI are continuing to steal the spotlight in the market. But guess what? Lightchain AI (LCAI) is making huge waves too, with its presale already crossing $2 million. Priced at just $0.003, LCAI is garnering attention for its innovative fusion of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence. Much like Shiba Inu’s early success, Lightchain AI is poised to disrupt the space with a unique roadmap and strong utility foundation. Bitcoin’s Bullish Outlook Bitcoin is a large name in the cash world and fresh signs show that it may be near a big price leap. Some pros say it could reach $140K fast. A lot of stuff is driving this good idea like more cash love, growing daily use, and long-term fear about costs that make Bitcoin a nice spot to hold worth. Also, Bitcoin's shortage, with its total set at 21 million coins keeps pushing demand as mor͏e buyers hurry to get their share in the digital cash. Tech growth like adding a Lightning Network and broader use of Bitcoin as a legal payment in places like El Salvador helps it rise. With these items put together, Bitcoin's nice look seems set to try its top point ever and could soon reach a $140K place making it role in the market more strong. Solana’s Strong Performance Solana has emerged as one of the most promising blockchain platforms, gaining significant attention for its speed and scalability. While Ethereum can sometimes slow down and have high transaction fees, Solana speeds ahead with its unique proof-of-history system. It can handle more than 65,000 transactions per second—super fast! This makes Solana a great option for developers who want to build decentralized apps (dApps) and DeFi projects without the usual delays. It’s a game-changer for anyone looking to create on the blockchain. On top of that, Solana's low transaction fees make it a popular choice for users who want fast and affordable solutions. The Solana ecosystem has really taken off, with everything from NFT marketplaces to decentralized exchanges popping up. Big investors are also backing Solana, which adds to the excitement about its future. As the platform continues to grow and get better, its strong performance keeps it in the spotlight as one of the leading players in the crypto world. FLOKI A Rising Star in Cryptocurrency FLOKI, inspired by Elon Musk’s Shiba Inu dog, has quickly become a favorite in the crypto world, catching the eye of both regular investors and big players alike. What started as a meme coin has grown into something much more exciting, thanks to its strong and passionate community. While Musk's social media posts helped give FLOKI a boost, its real charm comes from its focus on offering practical utility beyond just the fun side of meme coins. FLOKI is proving that it’s more than just a trend. Unlike most meme coins, FLOKI has built a solid ecosystem with real-world use cases, including a DeFi platform, an NFT marketplace, and even charitable initiatives. These practical applications are helping FLOKI stand out, giving it a unique edge compared to other meme tokens that mostly rely on hype. It’s not just about fun—FLOKI is making waves with real value for its community. FLOKI’s development team continues to focus on building its utility and increasing the project’s legitimacy in the cryptocurrency space. With strategic partnerships and increasing adoption, FLOKI aims to position itself as more than just a speculative asset. As the project advances and its ecosystem grows, FLOKI has the potential to solidify its place among top-performing tokens, attracting long-term investors who see value beyond its meme coin roots. FLOKI’s success shows that even meme-inspired tokens can evolve into powerful blockchain projects with a solid foundation for future growth. Lightchain AI Unique Blockchain & AI Fusion Lightchain AI is making waves in the crypto world by bringing together the best of blockchain and artificial intelligence. It’s not just about innovation—it’s about creating a platform that’s both practical and powerful. While many tokens focus on just one technology, Lightchain AI combines the decentralization of blockchain with AI’s ability to handle massive amounts of data, making it stand out as a truly unique project. Lightchain AI combines the best of both worlds—blockchain and AI—to offer some amazing features like predictive analytics and automation. This opens up exciting opportunities for industries like finance, healthcare, and supply chain management. What makes it even more special is how it uses AI within a decentralized setup, giving it a big edge over traditional systems. It’s all about making things smarter, faster, and more efficient. Lightchain AI is creating a lot of buzz, with over $2 million already raised in its presale . At just $0.003, it’s a fantastic chance for early investors to get involved in a project with huge potential. People are really excited about what’s coming next, and it’s easy to see why. The comprehensive roadmap and innovative tokenomics ensure that Lightchain AI is positioned to make a significant impact. By addressing both blockchain scalability and AI’s data processing capabilities, Lightchain AI is not only setting itself apart but also creating an ecosystem that can thrive in a variety of real-world applications. As the project progresses, its potential to reshape industries becomes increasingly evident. What’s Next for Lightchain AI & Market Landscape? As the cryptocurrency world continues to grow, Lightchain AI is becoming a big name in the market. With its presale raising over $1.2 million, it's clear that many people believe in its future. What sets Lightchain AI apart is its unique blend of blockchain and artificial intelligence. It's not just another crypto project — it offers real-world solutions that make a difference. With a clear plan ahead and strong technology, Lightchain AI is on track to make a big impact. As more investors and users see the value in its innovative approach, Lightchain AI is ready to grow and make waves in the crypto world. As the crypto market continues to evolve, there’s a clear trend toward tokens that provide real-world solutions and scalability. With projects like Solana paving the way and AI gaining more attention, Lightchain AI is right on track to take advantage of this shift. As adoption grows, its unique mix of AI-powered features and blockchain scalability could really help it stand out in the crypto world. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Will Trump send troops to Mexico? His pick for ambassador worries officials there
CSL’s $88 Billion Empire of Blood and Iron Sees Shares FalterHarrison Li holds a photo of his father, Kai Li, one of the three American citizens imprisoned for years by China —AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File WASHINGTON DC — Three American citizens imprisoned for years by China have been released and are returning to the United States, the White House said Wednesday, announcing a rare diplomatic agreement with Beijing in the final months of the Biden administration. The three are Mark Swidan, Kai Li and John Leung, all of whom had been designated by the US government as wrongfully detained by China. Swidan had been facing a death sentence on drug charges while Li and Leung were imprisoned on espionage charges. “Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the White House said in a statement. The release comes just two months after China freed David Lin, a Christian pastor from California who had spent nearly 20 years behind bars after being convicted of contract fraud. US-China relations have been roiled for years over major disagreements between the world’s two largest economies on trade, human rights, the production of fentanyl precursors, security issues that include espionage and hacking, China’s aggressiveness toward Taiwan and its smaller neighbors in the South China Sea, and Beijing’s support for Russia’s military-industrial sector. The release of Americans deemed wrongfully detained in China has been a top agenda item in each conversation between the US and China, and Wednesday’s development suggests a willingness by Beijing to engage with the outgoing Democratic administration before Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January. Trump took significant actions against China on trade and diplomacy during his first term. He has pledged to continue those policies in his second term, leading to unease among many who fear that an all-out trade war will greatly affect the international economy and could spur potential Chinese military action against Taiwan. Still, the two countries have maintained a dialogue that has included a partial restoration of military-to-military contacts. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met this month to discuss potential improvements. In a separate but related move, the State Department on Wednesday lowered its travel warning to China to “level two,” advising US citizens to “exercise increased caution” from the norm when traveling to the mainland. The alert had previously been at “level three,” telling Americans they should “reconsider travel” to China in part because of the “risk of wrongful detention” of Americans. The new alert removes that wording but retains a warning that the Chinese government “arbitrarily enforces local laws, including exit bans on US citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law.” The Biden administration had raised the cases of the detained Americans with China in multiple meetings over the past several years, including this month when Biden spoke to Xi on during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. Politico was first to report the men’s release, which it said was part of a prisoner swap with the U.S. The White House did not immediately confirm that any Chinese citizens in American custody had been returned home. Senators from both political parties praised the move. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he was “overjoyed”—Swidan’s mother lives in Texas—and credited senior Biden administration officials for having “worked tirelessly to secure this achievement.” Li, a Chinese immigrant who started an export business in the US and lived in New York, was detained in September 2016 after flying into Shanghai. He was placed under surveillance, interrogated without a lawyer and accused of providing state secrets to the FBI. A UN working group called his 10-year prison sentence arbitrary and his family has said the charges were politically motivated. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said he had worked for years to try to secure Li’s release, welcomed the news. “Even when it felt like there was no hope, we never stopped believing that one day Mr. Li would return home,” Schumer said in a statement. Leung was sentenced last year to life in prison on spying charges. He was detained in 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19. After Leung’s sentencing, the US recommended—though without citing specific cases—that Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Swidan had been jailed for the last 12 years on a drug charge and, along with Li and Leung, was considered by the State Department to be wrongfully detained.
Siqi Chen, the father of a four-year-old girl named Mira, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor, has raised an astounding $18 million through a Solana-based memecoin named after his daughter. The MIRA token, created to raise funds for Mira’s healthcare and research into rare diseases affecting children, has been trending in the memecoin space since its launch in the early hours of this morning. The MIRA memecoin began its journey after a post by Siqi on September 27, detailing his daughter’s condition. The post went viral, garnering 8.8 million views and 7.8k retweets, sparking widespread sympathy and support. Related Stories A GoFundMe page was created shortly after, with generous donations flooding in from people around the world who wanted to help Mira. The story took an unexpected turn when an anonymous individual created a memecoin based on Mira’s name, launching it on Pump. fun (a Solana-based platform). The coin quickly gained traction in the crypto world, and Siqi, after careful consideration, decided to endorse the project. Siqi, who now holds 50% of the total MIRA supply valued at a staggering $18 million pledged that every penny would be directed toward brain tumor research and efforts to combat rare diseases in children. Initially, the tokens were worth $400,000, but they surged by an eye-popping 4102% in just a matter of hours. At the time of the report, Siqi’s MIRA holdings amounted to 299 million tokens, with the coin trading at $0.0428, a 17.4% drop over the past 24 hours. Despite the volatility typical of memecoins, Siqi confirmed that the entire sum would go toward funding rare disease research at Hakinson’s Lab at the University of Colorado. In a statement, Siqi emphasized that he was committed to using the funds responsibly and was against any “rug pull” schemes that have plagued the memecoin space. He expressed his intention to work on making Solana more sustainable for its global community and to ensure that the funds raised would make a significant impact on the research for brain tumors and other rare diseases in children. While memecoins like Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have historically been criticized for lacking any real-world use case, MIRA has shown that they can be harnessed for a noble cause. Its success demonstrates that memecoins when used responsibly, could help raise awareness and funds for important issues such as rare disease research. However, memecoins also come with risks. They often experience massive price volatility, surging to incredible highs before crashing. As of the report, MIRA’s market performance remains unpredictable, yet the overwhelming support behind the project highlights a shift in the way these tokens can be used for social good.
One person died in Ecuador and ports closed across Peru as massive waves up to four meters (13 feet) high pummeled the region, officials said Saturday. Many beaches along the central and northern stretches of the Peruvian coastline were closed to prevent risk to human life, local authorities said. Waves there submerged jetties and public squares, sending residents fleeing to higher ground, according to images on local media. In neighboring Ecuador, the National Secretariat for Risk Management said a body was recovered in the coastal city of Manta. "The Manta Fire Department reported that, at 6:00 am, the body of a missing person was found lifeless in the Barbasquillo sector," the agency announced on social media. Peru closed 91 of its 121 ports until January 1, the National Emergency Operations Center said on its X social media account. The municipality of Callao, close to the capital Lima and the location of the country's main port, closed several beaches and barred tourist and fishing boats from venturing out. "These waves are being generated thousands of kilometers away from Peru, off the coast of the United States," navy Captain Enrique Varea told Channel N television. "They are waves generated by a persistent wind on the surface of the ocean that is approaching our coasts," he said. Dozens of small fishing boats and businesses near the sea were affected, according to images broadcast on television and social networks. axl/rmb/nro/acbWOKING, England — Inside McLaren's massive technology center, artificial intelligence isn't something that's shouted from the rooftops. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 However, the 60-year-old motorsports giant is an avid user of the tech behind the scenes. At the McLaren Technology Center (MTC), located in Woking, England, the company explained how it's using AI to improve its chances on the Formula One track. "We're an organization that's used traditional machine learning tech products for a long time," Dan Keyworth, McLaren's director of business technology, said in a press briefing at the MTC in October. Using machine learning, McLaren is able to base its decision-making on probability, which in turn helps it train its AI models, according to Keyworth. The racing firm showed off numerous examples of technological innovation at the MTC. They range from real-time data monitoring inside its secretive mission control room, to the use of "digital twins" (3D digital versions of physical objects) of real cars that allow teams to model the conditions that actual vehicles will need to perform in. Keyworth said there are three main areas where McLaren is applying AI in a big way: improving car performance, day-to-day operations, and commercialization. He added that generative AI tools are offering new capabilities for F1 teams, including the ability to run in-depth simulations of certain possibilities that might take place during races. That could span from working out an ideal time a car should spend at pit stops, to deciding on which tires to add onto the vehicle when replacing an old set. "What AI allows us to do from a generative perspective is to actually game out more of those actual scenarios and go, 'What will happen?'" Keyworth said. Some of those scenarios are starting to lead to "pretty accurate" results — to an "almost scary" degree, heh added. F1 not new to tech advances Tech has long been key to success when it comes to motorsports — and not just for McLaren. Various F1 teams have been exploiting modern advances in technology for years — from cloud computing to AI and machine learning. Aston Martin Aramco, for example, touts the use of so-called "data lakes" — massive data storage centers — and machine learning tech to learn from vast volumes of data to predict patterns and improve decision-making. Clare Lansley, Aston Martin Aramco's chief information officer, says machine learning algorithms can blend data on tires, the weather and track conditions, and use predictive analytics to optimize decisions. In an April blog post , she said the speed at which these developments are happening is "really impressive." "By adopting this tech, we are going to be able to free up multiple engineers so they can focus more acutely on car performance," she noted. Another F1 team deploying AI to improve its racetrack performance and strategy is Red Bull-owned Visa Cash App RB. Peter Bayer, CEO of RB, said earlier this year that the Italian F1 team is making use of AI to compete down to "hundreds and thousandths of a second." Speaking at an event with the firm's software partner Epicor at its factory in Faenza, Italy, Guillaume Dezoteux, RB's head of vehicle performance, said that AI can help inform teams when it comes to planning as "it means you don't need to run 100 simulations." Connectivity is 'lifeblood of the sport' Keyworth noted that none of the innovation that goes on inside McLaren would happen without the help of IT tools and equipment from partners like Cisco and Google . "Connectivity is probably the lifeblood of the sport," he said ahead of the Oct. 27 Mexico City Grand Prix race. "Without it, nothing starts. No car can be on the track safely." A key component behind McLaren's ability to keep data flowing through to its teams in real-time is its so-called mobile data centers. These are miniature server rooms that get flown around to different races around the world to keep the digital components of the operation online consistently. "These mobile data centers are flown alongside the famous F1 cars to each race location and brought online remotely to enable real-time storage and data processing" from the MTC, Chintan Patel, Cisco's chief technology officer for the U.K. and Ireland, told CNBC. Another area where AI is adding benefits is commercialization, according to McLaren's Keyworth. For fans and partners, he said, McLaren is increasingly trying to "enrich the journey and experience, and make our fans feel more connected." With AI, McLaren can better target fans located in more nascent markets for F1 like the U.S., where the sport has grown in popularity — for example, by personalizing information to fans at certain times of day. Meanwhile, when it comes to using AI on the business side of things, Keyworth said, the main area of improvement the company is seeing is in "making everybody's lives richer, slicker, faster, more efficient." "It's not a labor replacement — it's a 'laborious' replacement," he said. "You want to unlock your team to do the things that you hired them for — not to work through the overhead that lives in their role."