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Nearly seven years later, new Raiders practice squad running back Chris Collier smiles and puts his head down when asked about his high school coach’s comments before the Long Island championship game in his senior season. “You found that article?” he laughs. Then-Lawrence coach Joe Martillotti said before the game his team had a plan and was confident in its ability to contain Westhampton star Dylan Laube. Narrator: That plan did not work. Laube ran for 227 yards and six touchdowns in a 54-26 win, setting the Long Island (New York) record with 47 touchdowns on the season. ‘I knew we were done’ Collier, who scored a couple of times that day and had a long touchdown pass wiped out by a penalty, wasn’t surprised. He had first encountered Laube on a football field in a youth league game and was familiar with his abilities. “We were 9 when I played against him the first time, and he went crazy that day,” Collier remembered. “He’s been a great player his whole life. But I remember him because he had this crazy neck pad he wore as a kid all the way up to high school. “(In the championship game), this kid got the ball and he has this move that I’ve seen since we were 9 where it’s just a jab step and go around the corner. Once I saw him do that to probably the two fastest guys on our team, I knew we were done. I don’t even think we got a stop the whole game, and it seemed like he had about 400 yards.” Collier and Laube would go on to successful college careers, but they kept track of each other through social media and the occasional encounter. That was until this week when Collier signed with the Raiders after a stint in Baltimore and they found each other in the same locker room. It just so happens to be the week Laube is set for perhaps his most extensive action of the season with top running backs Alexander Mattison and Zamir White unlikely to play. “I think we’re the only two (current NFL) running backs from Long Island, which is a crazy thought,” Laube said. “But even crazier is that our last high school game was against each other. It’s a full circle thing for us. Football is a very close-knit community on the island because it’s a big lacrosse area. Just to see two kids who played against each other now on the same team on the biggest stage is one of the biggest achievements anyone could ask for.” Collier said it’s been a big topic of conversation back home. “It’s a ‘what are the odds?’ type moment,” he said. “When I heard I was coming to the Raiders, I was like, ‘No way. I’m playing with my boy Dylan.’ It was crazy. All my boys back home and everyone on Long Island has been talking about it. It’s pretty cool we’re in the same locker room.” Laube is doing his best not to live in the past in their interactions, however, regardless of how dominant his performance was that day. “I haven’t said much because I think he knows,” Laube laughed. “It was a tough game for them. But he was the best player on their team and a great athlete. I’ve mentioned it a few times, but it was years ago and now we just kind of have mutual respect for each other.” Laube has saved more of his ire for the host of that game, Stony Brook University. The local school declined to recruit Laube despite his record-shattering performances on the gridiron. “That game was even played on their field, and they never offered me (a scholarship),” he said. “I always took that personal every time I played them. I feel like I made a statement that game. It was the first time my town had made it to the Long Island championship, and it was a crazy game.” Laube went on to become an All-American at New Hampshire and won all four meetings he played in against conference rival Stony Brook. ‘My brother forever’ Collier had 1,800 yards and 25 touchdowns that senior season himself, but was barely recruited because of a serious knee injury suffered in his junior campaign. He had an even more circuitous journey from Nassau Community College to Wagner to Lock Haven, where he had an All-American season in 2023 and got on the NFL’s radar. Now they’re both enjoying defying the odds they overcame to be NFL running backs from an area that doesn’t produce many. And they are now doing it together. “We’ve always followed each other and kept in touch,” Collier said. “But we’ve never really been in the same area. Now that we’re in the same spot, I feel like he’s going to be my brother forever.”None
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CJ Donaldson has two short TD runs, West Virginia beats UCF 31-21 to become bowl eligibleA federal judge ruled Monday that a volleyball player for the San Jose State University women's team, who is at the ce nter of controversy about transgender athletes, can compete in this week's conference tournament. Judge S. Kato Crews, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, denied the emergency motion for a preliminary injunction filed this month against the Mountain West Conference. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit that preceded the emergency motion included San Jose's co-captain Brooke Slusser and 10 athletes from other schools who argued that their Title IX rights are being violated by allowing the athlete to play for a women’s sports team, according to the news outlet. The 132-page lawsuit sought to prevent the player from participating in the conference tournament. In addition to barring the athlete from the tournament, the emergency motion also sought to rescind the conference's policy that establishes wins, losses and forfeits if a member of a non-canceling team has a transgender player; rescind the wins SJSU had and losses against teams that refused to play SJSU and to recalculate winning percentages based on games from earlier this season that some teams forfeited and apply the new calculations, and seedings, to the conference tournament that begins Wednesday. Several conference teams have refused to play SJSU and instead forfeited the games. The player, whom NBC News is not naming, has never spoken publicly, and SJSU has not confirmed that one of its players is transgender. In Monday's ruling, the judge determined that the emergency motion was a heavy lift for the conference at the 11th hour and was not needed because teams that had previously forfeited did so knowing the conference's 2022 transgender policy. “The relief requested with the Emergency Motion would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, Defendants and other teams participating in the tournament depending on the results of any reseeding. On balance, the equities favor the MWC’s interest in conducting and proceeding with the tournament as planned," the ruling read. The judge also cited other laws and previous rulings noting that it's impossible to discriminate against a person based on transgender status without discriminating against them based on sex. In a statement Monday, San Jose State lauded the judge's decision. "San José State University will continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms," the university said said. "All San José State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports under NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules." The Mountain West Conference has said it is taking the suit’s allegations seriously. “The Mountain West Conference prioritizes the best interests of our student-athletes and takes great care to adhere to NCAA and MW policies,” the group said in a statement. “While we are unable to comment on the pending litigation of this particular situation, we take seriously all concerns of student-athlete welfare and fairness.” Last month , multiple teams canceled games against San Jose State, including on Oct. 24, when the University of Nevada, Reno, canceled citing it would not have enough players. Nevada players announced that they were refusing "to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. The school's athletic department said it wouldn’t back out from the match, referencing state equality laws, but added that no players would be disciplined. The game was switched to San Jose, California, “in the interest of both programs,” the teams said in a joint statement — with no further explanation — before Nevada elected to forfeit. Earlier this season, Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State also canceled games against their conference foe. This month, a group of more than a dozen Republican lawmakers urged the Mountain West to ban transgender women from competition after it was reported that a trans student competed on the women’s volleyball team. In a letter sent Nov. 18 to the commissioner of the Mountain West Conference, Republican senators and representatives said the conference was violating Title IX sex discrimination protections and failing to meet its own requirements regarding gender equity. “Permitting biological men to play in women’s sports is not equitable; it is an injustice,” the letter reads. “Under these guidelines, it is only fair that biological males play men’s sports and biological females play women’s sports.” “Clearly, the Mountain West Conference has dropped the ball,” it continues. The group of GOP lawmakers included Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee and Reps. John Curtis, Blake Moore, Burgess Owens and Celeste Maloy of Utah; Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch and Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson of Idaho; and Sens. John Barrasso and Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman of Wyoming.None
The demands of achieving both one-day shipping and a satisfying orgasm collide in Halina Reijn’s a kinky and darkly comic erotic thriller about sex in the Amazon era. stars as Romy Mathis, the chief executive of Tensile, a robotics business that pioneered automotive warehouses. In the movie’s opening credits, a maze of conveyor belts and bots shuttle boxes this way and that without a human in sight. Romy, too, is a little robotic. She intensely presides over the company. Her eyes are glued to her phone. She gets Botox injections, practices corporate-speak presentations (“Look up, smile and never show your weakness”) and maintains a floor-through New York apartment, along with a mansion in the suburbs that she shares with her theater-director husband ( ) and two teenage daughters (Esther McGregor and Vaughan Reilly). But the veneer of control is only that in “Babygirl,” a sometimes campy, frequently entertaining modern update to the erotically charged movies of the 1990s, like “Basic Instinct” and “9 1/2 Weeks.” Reijn, the Dutch director of has critically made her film from a more female point of view, resulting in ever-shifting gender and power dynamics that make “Babygirl” seldom predictable — even if the film is never quite as daring as it seems to thinks it is. The opening moments of “Babygirl,” which A24 releases Wednesday, are of Kidman in close-up and apparent climax. But moments after she and her husband finish and say “I love you,” she retreats down the hall to writhe on the floor while watching cheap, transgressive internet pornography. The breathy soundtrack, by the composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, heaves and puffs along with the film’s main character. One day while walking into the office, Romy is taken by a scene on the street. A violent dog gets loose but a young man, with remarkable calmness, calls to the dog and settles it. She seems infatuated. The man turns out to be Samuel (Harris Dickinson), one of the interns just starting at Tensile. When they meet inside the building, his manner with her is disarmingly frank. Samuel arranges for a brief meeting with Romy, during which he tells her, point blank, “I think you like to be told what to do.” She doesn’t disagree. Some of the same dynamic seen on the sidewalk, of animalistic urges and submission to them, ensues between Samuel and Romy. A great deal of the pleasure in “Babygirl” comes in watching Kidman, who so indelibly depicted uncompromised female desire in Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” again wade into the mysteries of sexual hunger. “Babygirl,” which Reijn also wrote, is sometimes a bit much. (In one scene, Samuel feeds Romy saucers of milk while George Michael’s “Father Figure” blares.) But its two lead actors are never anything but completely magnetic. Kidman deftly portrays Romy as a woman falling helplessly into an affair; she both knows what she’s doing and doesn’t. Dickinson exudes a disarming intensity; his chemistry with Kidman, despite their quickly forgotten age gap, is visceral. As their affair evolves, Samuel’s sense of control expands and he begins to threaten a call to HR. That he could destroy her doesn’t necessarily make Romy any less interested in seeing him, though there are some delicious post-#MeToo ironies in their clandestine CEO-intern relationship. Also in the mix is Romy’s executive assistant, Esme (Sophie Wilde, also very good), who’s eager for her own promotion. Where “Babygirl” heads from here, I won’t say. But the movie is less interested in workplace politics than it is in acknowledging authentic desires, even if they’re a little ludicrous. There’s genuine tenderness in their meetings, no matter the games that are played. Late in the film, Samuel describes it as “two children playing.” As a kind of erotic parable of control, “Babygirl” is also, either fittingly or ironically, shot in the very New York headquarters of its distributor, A24. For a studio that’s sometimes been accused of having a “house style,” here’s a movie that goes one step further by literally moving in. What about that automation stuff earlier? Well, our collective submission to digital overloads might have been a compelling jumping-off point for the film, but along the way, not every thread gets unraveled in the easily distracted “Babygirl.” Saucers of milk will do that. “Babygirl,” an A24 release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “strong sexual content, nudity and language.” Running time: 114 minutes. Three stars out of four.South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. They are investigating whether his short-lived martial law decree earlier this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Mr Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Mr Yoon has dodged several requests by the joint investigation team and public prosecutors to appear for questioning and has also blocked searches of his offices. It is not clear whether the court will grant the warrant or whether Mr Yoon can be compelled to appear for questioning. Under the country’s laws, locations potentially linked to military secrets cannot be seized or searched without the consent of the person in charge and it is unlikely Mr Yoon will voluntarily leave his residence if he faces detainment. Mr Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended after the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14 over his imposition of martial law that lasted only hours but has triggered weeks of political turmoil, halted high-level diplomacy and rattled financial markets. His fate lies with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Mr Yoon from office or reinstate him. Mr Yoon has defended the martial law decree as a necessary act of governance, describing it as a warning against the liberal opposition Democratic Party, which has been bogging down his agenda with its majority in the parliament. Parliament voted last week to also impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had assumed the role of acting president after Mr Yoon’s powers were suspended, over his reluctance to fill three Constitutional Court vacancies ahead of the court’s review of Mr Yoon’s case. The country’s new interim leader is Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also finance minister.
Ilya Samsonov turned aside 31 shots for his 14th career shutout and Tanner Pearson had a goal and an assist as the Vegas Golden Knights extended their season-best winning streak to six games with a 3-0 victory over the Calgary Flames on Sunday night in Las Vegas. It was Samsonov's first shutout with the Golden Knights and marked his sixth win in his past seven starts. Brett Howden and Victor Olofsson also scored goals and Shea Theodore added two assists for Pacific Division-leading Vegas, which improved to an NHL-best 15-3-0 at home. The Golden Knights also moved into a tie with the Winnipeg Jets for the NHL lead in points with 53. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Northern California was under a rare and brief tsunami warning alert Thursday that tested local emergency notification systems after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook part of the state. The National Weather Service canceled its alert after roughly an hour and before the tsunami was expected to arrive. In that hour, some cities and counties ordered evacuations while others relied on social media and text messages to inform people of the warning. Some people headed for higher ground, while others drove to the beach to get a better view. People took to social media to figure out why a warning was issued and then canceled so quickly, and how the NWS determines when to send alerts. Here are answers to more questions. What exactly is a tsunami? The word for tsunami comes from the Japanese characters for harbor and wave. It's a series of extremely long waves set in motion when energy from an earthquake causes the ocean floor to suddenly rise or fall, according to the National Weather Service . How common are they in California? Since 1800, California's shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis, most of them minor, according to the California Geological Survey. Phones buzzed Thursday when the National Weather Service issued its warning just minutes after the quake struck west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County. It read in part: “You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now.” Why was there an alert if there wasn't a large tsunami? The National Weather Service Bay Area posted on the social platform X early Friday that the region doesn't get tsunami alerts often and “there are lot of questions, frustration, and even some anger” about Thursday's event. A warning alert is the most serious of four tsunami alerts, including a watch alert for a possible tsunami and an advisory alert telling people to stay out of the water and away from the shore. The last time California received a warning alert was 2011 when an earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast. Basically, a distant, offshore earthquake or other trigger event gives scientists more time to analyze data and confirm that a large tsunami was generated before sounding a warning. But Thursday’s earthquake was local and close to the coast, forcing a hasty high-level alert in order to give people the maximum time to prepare as tsunami waves can travel very fast, up to 500 mph (800 kph) in the deep ocean, the NWS wrote. “By the time we actually observe it, it may be too late, because it's right there in our back doors,” said Dalton Behringer, a meteorologist with NWS Bay Area, on Friday. Scientists used the time Thursday to monitor buoys and get more information on the earthquake itself, he said. They canceled the alert after seeing little sea-level change and determining the quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, he said. “These things happen so infrequently for us, I think it just caught a lot of people off-guard,” he said. How did Northern California respond? Authorities in Eureka, the biggest city in Humboldt County, sent texts and went door-to-door to order businesses in high-risk areas to evacuate, said City Manager Miles Slattery. He said only a small portion of the city was at risk, and Thursday's test run showed evacuees need to work on leaving by foot, rather than by car. In the San Francisco Bay Area, the commuter light-rail system known as BART stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Responses varied as fire and police in Berkeley evacuated certain areas of the city while in San Francisco, officials sent alerts and messages on social media telling residents to stay away from water, beaches, harbors, marina docks, and piers. “Move at least one block inland,” said the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. Emergency personnel in vehicles with public address systems also went to make sure no one was on beaches and other low-lying areas. But some critics said San Francisco should have sounded its loud emergency sirens, which have been off-line since 2019 for repairs. In San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco, officials considered but decided against sounding its tsunami warning sirens after receiving more comprehensive information from the NWS that any tsunami would affect coastlines north of the Golden Gate Bridge, said Michelle Durand, a spokesperson for the county. Fire and police cleared the beaches while emergency personnel gathered to monitor the situation, she said, which “prioritized both public safety and the prevention of unnecessary panic.” Janie Har, The Associated PressEdtech Market to grow by USD 162.7 Billion (2024-2028), driven by learners shift to eBooks, with AI shaping market trends - Technavio
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 06, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that a shareholder lawsuit has been filed against Zuora, Inc. (NYSE: ZUO) (“Zuora”) in connection with the sale of the company to Silver Lake at $10.00 per share. Click here to submit your information: https://kaskelalaw.com/case/zuora/ Under the terms of the buyout offer, Zuora stockholders are only expected to receive $10.00 per share in cash in exchange for their ZUO shares. Notably, at the time the proposed buyout at $10.00 per share was announced, numerous stock analysts were maintaining price targets for ZUO shares in excess of $12.00 per share . Following the closing of the proposed transaction, Zuora’s stockholders will be cashed out of their investment position and the company’s shares will no longer be publicly traded. Zuora shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 – 0750 to receive additional information about this matter and their legal rights and options with respect to the proposed buyout. Alternatively, investors may submit their information to the firm by clicking on the following link (or by copying and pasting the link into your browser): https://kaskelalaw.com/case/zuora/ Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com . CONTACT: KASKELA LAW LLC D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. ( skaskela@kaskelalaw.com ) Adrienne Bell, Esq. ( abell@kaskelalaw.com ) 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (888) 715 – 1740 (484) 229 – 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions.
Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiWhen it comes to artistic expression, having the right tools can make all the difference. That's why the on are a must-have for every artist. With an incredible 57% discount, today is the perfect chance to elevate your craft without breaking the bank. One of the standout features of these is their vivid and bold color output. These markers promise to make your artwork pop, offering vibrant hues that show brilliantly on both light and dark surfaces. Whether you're working on paper or decorating a ceramic piece, these markers deliver impressive results time and again. Additionally, their water-based ink formulation ensures that your creations remain neat and precise. The no-bleed quality of these markers means you can work on fine paper without worrying about ruining other pages. This makes them perfect for artists who use sketch pads or planners and want to maintain clean visuals. Versatility is another reason to consider adding the to your collection. Designed to adhere to multiple surfaces including metal, wood, glass, and even rock, these markers allow for a range of applications beyond traditional paper projects. Whether you're painting a wood sign or personalizing a metal item, these markers have you covered. The ability to layer colors is a boon for artists seeking to add depth and dimension to their work. These make it simple to build rich compositions without the need for additional tools or techniques. This paint-like finish combined with the control of a marker’s brush tip is achieved effortlessly by simply uncapping and creating—no priming required. Moreover, the diversity offered by this 12-count set of assorted colors gives you a vast palette for endless creativity. Each color is meticulously selected to ensure it stands out, allowing artists of all levels to experiment with new styles and concepts. Ultimately, purchasing the on today provides you with a toolset that amplifies creativity while being budget-friendly. With the current discounted rate, it’s an opportunity that no art enthusiast should miss. Whether you’re exploring new surfaces or aiming to achieve professional-grade finishes, these markers will quickly become a favorite asset in your art supplies.
Saints hope to ride the Rizzi factor back to relevance after their bye week
Article content Cruising can be an ideal vacation, serving up something for everyone. The stunning sea. The fabulous food. And the exotic pleasures of a variety of ports of call. But when you add luxury to the itinerary, a cruising vacation sails to the next level. That was certainly our experience from the moment we boarded Silversea’s Silver Nova — and especially when we opened the door to our cabin for the first time. I and my best friend and travelling companion guffawed in awe. Having travelled on several cruise lines before, this was our first sailing in suite accommodations, and oh how sweet they were. But more on that shortly. First things first ... THE NOVA SHIPS Launched in 2023, Silver Nova, along with sister ship Silver Ray, which began sailing this past summer, belong to the ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line’s new Nova class of ships. The idea, Silversea touts, is to bring passengers closer to their destinations than ever before thanks to innovative designs and curated experiences. The Nova-class ships are asymmetrical, a first for Silversea and a construction that allows for most of the steel structure of the ship to be inside, giving way to larger window openings. How large? Well, the ships have more than 4,000 square metres of exterior glass — and that means plenty of incredible views from virtually every space. In fact, the Nova ships want to put the focus on the destinations so much that 100% of the elevators are water-facing, a first for a cruise ship, says Silversea. I’m usually a take-the-stairs gal (helps balance all the vacation calories!), and the ship isn’t massive so it’s very easy to get around. But I opted a few times to take the elevator just for the views (and take it from me, it doesn’t take much to miss your floor as you’re gazing at the blue ocean and sky outside!). The decor is “whispered luxury” — where the design disappears so that the guest can be at the centre — harkening to the cruise line’s Italian roots with soft and neutral tones complemented by ocean and earth-inspired accents. The spaces feel rich yet also bright and comfortable. SWEET SUITES The Nova ships are the largest yet for Silversea and have 364 suites — with 13 categories to choose from — each boasting private balconies with glass balustrades, walk-in closets, and the luxury of 24-hour butler service. What amazed us about our Medallion Suite was that it felt more like we were in a five-star hotel room than on a cruise ship. Open the cabin door and you enter into a hallway that accesses a powder room which links to a washroom with a large shower, separate deep tub and wide sink. Then there’s a central bedroom — that can be sealed off for privacy with sliding panels — with the walk-in closet that leads to the washroom, plus a desk area and also a sitting area with fridge, TV, couch, table and chair. All that PLUS the expansive balcony meant we never felt claustrophobic in our quarters. And that fridge? It is stocked daily with our favourite choices thanks to our butler — did we mention Silversea is all-inclusive with around-the-clock in-suite dining? The roomy suites are perfect for long voyages, which are part of Silversea’s diverse itinerary roster that hits more than 900 destinations on all seven continents (it wasn’t too bad for our too-short weekend cruise either!). POOL TIME Another bonus of asymmetrical ship design is that instead of having the outdoor pool in the centre on Deck 10, with lounge chairs surrounding it facing inward and blocking the view of the sea, the pool is built to the side so that you can look out at the ocean and the destinations while taking a swim. As a water fan, I love that because sea views, for me, are one of the best parts about cruising. Plus, the Nova pool deck seating mostly looks out to the horizon, which like the outfacing venues on board keep the destinations in focus, a key aspect of the ship design. Though my favourite place to be during warm sailing days, the pool deck is far from the only space to enjoy on the Nova ships. Tops for me also includes the Venetian Lounge (theatre with cabaret-style seating to take in live performances, movies and more), the Panorama Lounge (for late-night dancing), the Observation Lounge (from which you can access the super-cool Library), and the Otium Spa (modern fitness area and treatment rooms plus an indoor pool and relaxation area inspired by Roman baths). FOODIE FUN “The truest way to experience a destination is through the indigenous bounty and the food and drink the place is known for” ~ Chef Nina Compton, godmother of Silver Nova Spotlighting the spectacular ports of call continues with Silversea’s S.A.L.T. culinary program. Sea and Land Taste brings local food, wine and culinary expertise from every destination on board and offers shore excursions for passengers to delve deeper into the local cuisine. Part of the experience includes exclusive access to culinary experts, restaurateurs, food and drink producers, and authors. In addition to the S.A.L.T. Kitchen restaurant and S.A.L.T. Bar, passengers can try their hand at crafting dishes in the S.A.L.T. Lab during the day (I was better than I would have imagined at making Johnny cakes!), while at night, the space on the Nova ships offers Chef’s Table, an interactive dining experience of 11 courses for a small group. Chefs prepare the meal right in front of you while explaining its origins and telling stories, guiding you along the way so that you get so much more than just a delicious meal — you walk away with an understanding of the culture, history and gastronomy of the destination. And you know it’s legit because Silversea says it is the only cruise line to have a food anthropologist who checks all the menus and lab classes to make sure the details are right in what they talk about, where the ingredients are from or even how they are spelled. The ship dining options aren’t limited to S.A.L.T., either, with a total of nine restaurants on board along with 10 bars and lounges that range from cozy to elegant. Highlights for us included Marquee, an outdoor space with soaring slated shades and tiled floor near the pool offering a pizzeria and a grill, the Dusk Bar with its relaxed outdoor space perfect for watching sunsets, and the gourmet meals served three times a day at elegant Atlantide. RESPONSIBLE SAILING The Nova-class ships were built with sustainability in mind and have hybrid power systems that parent company Royal Caribbean Group — which also includes Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean lines — says are a significant step towards a net zero future. Liquified natural gas (LNG) is the main fuel source, backed up by a bank of batteries, helping the ships be 40% more energy efficient than required international standards. A heat waste recovery system harnesses excess heat to use elsewhere in the ship like the boilers, and a waste management system helps reduce air emissions and keep waste from landfill. Couple all that with increased use of LED lighting to lower power consumption and single-use plastics elimination, and Silversea says its Nova ships put safeguarding the oceans at the forefront. IF YOU GO Silversea has a dress code in indoor spaces after 6 p.m. (no jeans, shorts, sneakers or flip flops), with either elegant casual or formal wear as an option. Casual wear akin to five-star resorts is always OK in outdoor venues. If it sounds stuffy, it sure never felt that way. It’s relaxed luxury and we are here for it. Find out more about Silver Nova, Silver Ray and the rest of Silversea’s fleet and cruising options at silversea.com . cmcleod@postmedia.comRavens WR Zay Flowers (shoulder) questionable vs. TexansGippsland South MP Danny O’Brien has been appointed leader of the Victorian Nationals, replacing long-time leader Peter Walsh, who helmed the party for 10 years. The change in leadership was confirmed at a Nationals party room meeting at state parliament on Tuesday morning. Danny O’Brien is the Victorian Nationals’ new leader. Credit: Chris Hopkins Lowan MP Emma Kealy, who was Walsh’s deputy, had been floated as a candidate for leader, rivalling O’Brien, before Tuesday’s vote. In a statement, the Nationals said O’Brien was elected unopposed after Walsh recently advised the party room he would step down. Kealy will continue as deputy leader. “It is the greatest honour to have been elected as leader of the Nationals,” O’Brien said. “For over 100 years, the Nationals have served the interests of rural and regional Victoria. That will not change. “It remains our singular focus as the only party solely dedicated to serving the interests of the 25 per cent of the population who live outside the metropolitan area.” Emma Kealy will remain the party’s deputy leader. Credit: Eddie Jim Kealy said the Nationals had a “formidable” team of champions in the parliament. “I look forward to continuing my role in leadership, working with Danny, our MPs and all our members and supporters who are fighting together for a fair deal for regional Victorians,” she said.
The Royal Forest Department has bought locally-made weapons from the Ministry of Defence, saying it was the first time the department has obtained modern submachine guns for the protection of over 32 million rai of the country's forest zone. The department and the Defence Industry and Energy Centre last week held a handover ceremony of 20 NIN9 submachine guns. The weapon was designed and developed by the centre under the government's policy on strengthening the domestic weapons industry for self-reliance in defence weapons development. Bannarak Sermthong, the department's deputy chief, said 408 forest protection units were created nationwide to protect and preserve the forest areas from encroachment and illegal logging. However, their limited stock of weapons and old equipment have posed problems, Mr Bannarak said. "If these new NIN9 guns prove a good fit for our operation, we will ask the cabinet for a budget for more purchases," he said. He said the department decided to go with the NIN9s because of their light weight and durability. The guns are also resistant to heavy rainfall and dust, which makes them perfectly suited for forest patrol operations, he said. He said the price is around 95,000 baht per unit, cheaper than imported weapons which cost around 120,000 per unit. The Defence Industry and Energy Centre Commander Lt Gen Pawarit Panthong said the move is a significant step to support the domestic arms industry and the department's mission to protect and preserve the forest. The centre would train the department's forest patrol team on how to use and maintain the weapon properly, said Lt Gen Pawarit.The Insightful Legacy of Jimmy Carter: Quoting Wisdom Through the Decades
Faraday Future Announces it Will Change its Stock Ticker Symbol to "FFAI" and Host an “FF AI Open Day” Event in Early 2025Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100 ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent roughly 22 months in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife Rosalynn then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said he died peacefully Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, James Earl Carter Jr., died Sunday at the age of 100. His life ended where it began, in Plains, Georgia. He left and returned to the tiny town many times as he climbed to the nation’s highest office and lost it after four tumultuous years. Carter spent the next 40 years setting new standards for what a former president can do. Carter wrote nearly a decade ago that he found all the phases of his life challenging but also successful and enjoyable. The Democrat's principled but pragmatic approach defied American political labels, especially the idea that one-term presidents are failures. The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100 Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. He left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Jet crash disaster in South Korea marks another setback for Boeing 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, an airline 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. South Korean authorities seek warrant to detain impeached President Yoon in martial law probe SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean law enforcement officials have requested a court warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate whether his short-lived martial law decree this month amounted to rebellion. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which is leading a joint investigation with police and military authorities into the power grab that lasted only a few hours, confirmed it requested the warrant on Monday. Investigators plan to question Yoon on charges of abuse of authority and orchestrating a rebellion. Tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi kill 2 and injure 6 as severe weather system moves east HOUSTON (AP) — A strong storm system is threatening to whip up tornadoes in parts of the U.S. Southeast, a day after severe weather claimed at least two lives as twisters touched down in Texas and Mississippi. Strong storms moving eastward Sunday are expected to continue producing gusty, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes through Sunday. That is according to National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira. So far, the line of severe weather has led to about 40 tornado reports from southeastern Texas to Alabama, Pereira said, but those reports remain unconfirmed until surveys of damage are completed. Israeli hospital says Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli hospital says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone successful prostate surgery. Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center said his prostate was removed late Sunday and that he was recovering. Netanyahu’s office had said Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, would serve as acting prime minister during the procedure. Doctors ordered the operation after detecting an infection last week. Netanyahu is expected to remain hospitalized for several days. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. Syria's de facto leader says it could take up to 4 years to hold elections BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s de facto leader has said it could take up to four years to hold elections in Syria, and that he plans on dissolving his Islamist group that led the country’s insurgency at an anticipated national dialogue summit for the country. Ahmad al-Sharaa, who leads Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group leading the new authority in Syria, made the remarks in an interview Sunday. That's according to the Saudi television network Al-Arabiyya. It comes almost a month after a lightning insurgency led by HTS overthrew President Bashar Assad’s decades-long rule, ending the country’s uprising-turned civil war that started back in 2011. A fourth infant dies of the winter cold in Gaza as families share blankets in seaside tents DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A fourth infant has died of hypothermia in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by nearly 15 months of war are huddled in tents along the rainy, windswept coast as winter arrives. The baby's father says the 20-day-old child was found with his head as “cold as ice” Sunday morning in their tent. The baby’s twin brother was moved to the intensive care unit of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Their father says the twins were born one month premature and spent just a day in hospital, which like other Gaza health centers has been overwhelmed and only partially functions. Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key elections BERLIN (AP) — Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has caused uproar after backing Germany’s far-right party in a major newspaper ahead of key parliamentary elections in the Western European country, leading to the resignation of the paper’s opinion editor in protest. Germany is to vote in an early election on Feb. 23 after Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition collapsed last month in a dispute over how to revitalize the country’s stagnant economy. Musk’s guest opinion piece for Welt am Sonntag, published in German over the weekend, was the second time this month he supported the Alternative for Germany, or AfD.