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2025-01-08   

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LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent.The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have ended higher as gains by many of the so-called Magnificent Seven tech stocks pushed benchmarks up on a holiday-thinned trading day. or signup to continue reading With megacap stocks having outsized influence on markets, their performance during a week in which many investors take time off will be even more pronounced. Meta Platforms, Nvidia and Tesla all closed higher on Monday, with Google parent Alphabet also in positive territory. The gains helped propel the Nasdaq Composite to its third straight increase, and a second advance in three sessions for the S&P 500. According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 gained 42.96 points, or 0.70 per cent, to end at 5,972.23 points, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 192.29 points, or 0.98 per cent, to 19,764.89. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 61.59 points, or 0.14 per cent, to 42,901.85. After a solid run since the November presidential election, Wall Street's rally hit a bump this month, especially after the US Federal Reserve forecast just two 25-basis-point rate reductions for 2025 - down from its September view of four cuts - and raised its annual inflation outlook. This included a selloff last Wednesday triggered by the US Federal Reserve signalling a slower rate-cut pace. Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, noted that while some course correction has occurred in recent days, as interest-rate expectations have been modified by investors, many of the same trends remain in place, including tech and tech-enabled stocks finding favour. "We're really seeing a microcosm today of what we've seen all year long, and the trends are back in place despite what we've seen in the last couple of weeks where things bounced around a little bit," Zaccarelli said. As well as major benchmark gains, a majority of the S&P sectors finished higher on Monday, led by communication services . Markets are also entering a historically strong period for US stocks. Since 1969, the last five trading days of the year, combined with the first two of the following year, have yielded an average S&P 500 gain of 1.3 per cent - a period known as the "Santa Claus Rally", according to the Stock Trader's Almanac. Northlight's Zaccarelli said he believed conditions were right for such a rally, as this year's gains would likely mean investors would hold on to positions as opposed to selling and booking losses which they can use for tax purposes. Qualcomm's shares rose after a jury found its central processors are properly licensed under an agreement with UK-based Arm Holdings. Shares of Arm, which has vowed to seek a fresh trial, fell. Walmart dropped after the US consumer finance watchdog accused the retail giant and workforce payments company Branch Messenger of forcing more than a million delivery drivers into using accounts that cost them more than $US10 million ($A16 million) in junk fees. Eli Lilly gained after the US Food and Drug Administration approved the drugmaker's weight-loss treatment, Zepbound, for obstructive sleep apnea. Shares of sleep apnea device makers ResMed and Inspire Medical fell. Nordstrom's shares declined after the department store chain's founding family and Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool agreed to take the company private. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. 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Former President Jimmy Carter sought international peace and stability, quality education and environmental protections during a turbulent four years in office, said his second-in-command, Walter Mondale. Mondale, a former vice president and Minnesota senator who died in April 2021 , reflected on Carter’s background, presidency and legacy in November 2019. He described Carter as a devout Baptist and fellow small-town kid who wanted to be seen for what he did and wrote. Later in life, Mondale said he enjoyed watching his friend belatedly earn Americans' admiration, noting at the time, “Carter’s place in the country has been rising.” Carter, the longest-lived American president, died Sunday . He was 100 years old. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Q: Carter chose you as his running mate after a visit at his home in Plains, Ga. What was your impression of him then? A: We had a lot in common. We were both small-town kids. I was from Ceylon and Elmore [Minn.], and he was from Plains. And we both had a background in Christianity. My dad was a preacher, and he was a devout Baptist. ... The depth of our common faiths made a big difference, and as the years went on and things got tough, I came to rely on that common background that we had to keep us going. And it did. Q: You were the first vice president with a White House office. Did you need to persuade Carter to change your role? A: He was all for it. ... We took it out of no man’s land and into the West Wing. I saw the president many times a day. I was free to go in there and talk about what I wanted to, whenever I wanted to. Q: Did Carter, a former Georgia governor, draw on your congressional experience? A: One day we were sitting in, I think Blair House [the president’s guesthouse] — that’s before the president went in to take the oath of office and before he’d been in the White House — and he said, “What’s it like?” I said, “Are you asking me what the White House is like?” [Laughs] ... He was elected president and he’d never been in the White House. I had been around a lot, I had been up on the Hill a lot. Well, I lived on the Hill. And I had a lot of friends around the executive branch, and so on. So I think he thought he needed someone like me to fill in the blanks. Q: President Carter has written more than 30 books. Are there certain stances he felt the need to clarify? A: He felt a need to explain himself. Not to justify himself, but just so the public better understood him. ... He didn’t have much confidence, or didn’t have much interest, in explaining himself as a typical politician would do. That was not who he was. He wanted to be seen for what he wrote, what he did. ... So I think one of the reasons he may have written a lot of these books is to explain himself in a different way. Q: He was a religious man who was committed to telling truth. Did that have political ramifications? A: He played it straight. That meant a lot to me. He wanted his administration to stand for international peace and stability. He wanted his government to stand for good education, sound education. He was the first president to get really serious about the environment. He knew something about the science of it. ... We set up the Department of Energy under him. He put people in there that were serious students of this issue. I think he’ll go down as a pioneering voice, before the country had really gotten into it, for environmental protection. Q: What was Carter’s approach to governing amid the frustration of the 444-day Iran hostage crisis? A: When the rescue mission was en route, we did everything we could to look like we were nonchalant, that there was nothing was going on. ... Once in a while I would sneak in when I knew the president was alone and ask him how it was coming. And the last time when he said, “Well, not very good. It just failed.” ... GIs were killed there. It was sad, really sad. Q: How did Carter personally navigate that tragedy? A: He was a deeply crestfallen guy, no question about it. He had hoped that this rescue mission would end the issue and put him out in front. Instead of that it did just the opposite. It kept the issue going, put him behind further and yeah, really tough. And that issue of getting the hostages out plagued us for the rest of our term. Q: After the White House, the Carters returned to the $167,000 house they built in 1961. Why did they choose to continue living a comparatively frugal life in Plains? A: He’s a farm person and he had this home in Plains that they had lived in, raised their family in, and he went back there. He also was building the Carter Library in Atlanta and in that library was a place that they could live, connected with Emory University. He and [his wife] Rosalynn both loved that place ... and this is where Carter is at his best. He works on issues, he travels. He tries to unravel tough problems to get them solved. Q: How often did you communicate in recent years, and what would you talk about? A: He has an annual Carter conference, where he brings in people from around the country. ... We go over issues that concern us now, go over the history of our administration. One of the things we kind of enjoy is that Carter’s place in the country has been rising. As people look at things, remember what he said, maybe watch what this president [Donald Trump] is doing, he becomes more impressive to the American people. And I feel that everywhere when I’m around him. He’s finally earned a different and better place in the opinion of many Americans. And so we enjoy that, finally. This story contains information from the Associated Press.Motoring News Don't miss out on the headlines from Motoring News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Is this how astronauts felt on the first Apollo missions? Strapped into the fastest-accelerating car ever sold to the public, Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT is like a space shuttle on the launch pad. Twisting the driver mode dial on the steering wheel all the way to the right, we lock in “attack mode” to generate maximum power – a staggering 815kW of maximum thrust. That’s eleven hundred horsepower. In a polished luxury sedan you can drive to work. Porsche’s Taycan Turbo GT is Australia’s quickest car. A final systems check shows all is well. I can see the track ahead is clear, and hear a calm voice in my helmet’s earpieces confirming we are go for launch. Sweaty palms protected by fireproof gloves grip the velvet fuzz of the steering wheel as my left boot holds down the brake, my right foot floors the throttle, and my right thumb pushes a boost button on the steering wheel. What happens next is other-worldly. Fat Pirellis bite into the tarmac like a sprinter’s spiked shoes, launching the $450,000 sedan out of the blocks with real ferocity. There’s an initial kick up the pants before it feels as though a giant is sitting on your chest, squeezing you into the seat as the electric sedan explodes for the horizon. The Taycan Turbo GT delivers on track. Your stomach drops as though you’ve just fallen out of a tree. Or realised you forgot to pick up the kids from school. It’s genuinely sickening. A distant synthesised whirr plays through the speakers as it streaks beyond 100km/h just 2.3 seconds after launch. That’s not just quick – it’s the quickest. No standard car can match the Taycan Turbo GT’s straight-line thrust. Not one. America’s Car and Driver magazine recently strapped their timing gear to a Turbo GT and recorded a 0-60mph (96.5km/h) time of 1.898 seconds, which is faster than any Bugatti, Ferrari, Lambo or Tesla. Ever. Porsche claims the quarter mile can be dispatched in 9.5 seconds. Porsche’s contender is the dynamic benchmark for EVs. The downside is you won’t get many chances to use that power. Australian drag racing rules require cars that exceed 140mph (225km/h) or run sub-10-second times in the quarter mile to be equipped with a purpose-built racing seat, a six-point roll cage and an emergency parachute. You might only get one run before being sent home forever. And Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway will turn you away at the gate, having banned electric cars from running on the strip. An optional ‘Weissach Pack’ makes it even quicker. Obviously this sort of performance must be used very carefully on public roads. It’s supremely quiet and comfortable on the highway, offering little clue as to the ultimate performance of its dual electric motors. Competent without being truly engaging in the bends, the ultimate Taycan won’t let you scratch the surface of its potential without breaking the law, and the silent motors mean there is little in the way of traditional fizz to keep you smiling. And it’s not really a track car. The 2.3 tonne Taycan goes like a rocket, but needs plenty of room to stop. It’s nothing like as agile – or engaging – as a traditional sports car on track, with little of the feel and feedback of Porsche’s finest efforts. I can close my eyes and remember myriad details from a drive in a screaming 911 GT3 years ago, but have largely forgotten how the Taycan turned last week. Porsches are normally rock-solid on track, but we had three software glitches on circuit that required the car to be temporarily parked for system resets. No, the issues weren’t terminal. But you might want to bring diagnostic tools and an experienced Porsche technician along for the ride at track days. Carbon ceramic brakes help owners stay in control. Then again, you wouldn’t expect to launch a lunar mission without a support crew. Like NASA itself, the Porsche Taycan Turbo GT is an expensive and impressive technical achievement that opens the door to a new world of technology. Even if it is of minimal real-world relevance to you or I. VERDICT Four stars Australia’s quickest car is an unquestionably rapid triumph of technology. PORSCHE TAYCAN TURBO GT PRICE : About $450,000 drive-away MOTOR: Electric dual-motors, 815kW/1340Nm WARRANTY/SERVICE: 3-yr/unlimited km SAFETY: Eight airbags, auto emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, attention assist and speed assist RANGE: About 500km BOOT: 407 litres SPARE: Repair kit Originally published as Porsche Taycan Turbo GT review More related stories Motoring News Would you pay $150k for a Hyundai? This massive electric family SUV is set to pose a difficult question for one of Australia’s favourite manufacturers. Read more Motoring News Red alert: Car buys Aussies must avoid It’s a good time to be buying a car if you know what you’re doing, if you don’t it could cost you plenty. Read more

Detroit Red Wings (8-10-2, in the Atlantic Division) vs. New York Islanders (8-8-5, in the Metropolitan Division) Elmont, New York; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders host the Detroit Red Wings after Kyle Palmieri scored two goals in the Islanders' 3-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. New York has an 8-8-5 record overall and a 3-3-2 record in home games. The Islanders have a 2-3-1 record when they commit more penalties than their opponent. Detroit is 8-10-2 overall and 4-5-1 on the road. The Red Wings have gone 3-3-2 in games their opponents serve fewer penalty minutes. The teams meet Monday for the third time this season. The Red Wings won the last meeting 2-1. TOP PERFORMERS: Bo Horvat has five goals and nine assists for the Islanders. Maxim Tsyplakov has over the last 10 games. Alex DeBrincat has eight goals and nine assists for the Red Wings. Albert Johansson has over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 4-3-3, averaging 2.7 goals, 4.7 assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Red Wings: 4-5-1, averaging 2.2 goals, 3.5 assists, 2.2 penalties and 4.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game. INJURIES: Islanders: None listed. Red Wings: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .

New Delhi: Ventive Hospitality Limited is set to make its much-anticipated debut on the stock market today, December 30, 2024, following an overwhelmingly positive response to its Rs 1,600 crore initial public offering (IPO). The company’s shares will be listed on both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The IPO, which was open for subscription from December 20 to 24, witnessed strong demand from investors, with an overall subscription of 9.82 times. The allotment of shares was finalized on December 26, and Ventive Hospitality is gearing up for its first day of trading today. Ventive Hospitality Limited IPO: Listing TimeVentive Hospitality shares will be available for trading under the ‘B’ Group of Securities on the BSE and NSE. As per the BSE notice, the shares will participate in the Special Pre-Open Session (SPOS) and be open for trading from 10:00 AM. Ventive Hospitality Limited IPO: Latest GMPThe grey market premium (GMP) for Ventive Hospitality shares indicates a strong debut. As of today, the GMP is Rs 70 per share, suggesting that shares are trading at Rs 713 apiece in the unofficial market—an 11 per cent premium over the IPO issue price of Rs 643 per share. Ventive Hospitality Limited IPO: What Analysts Expect?Analysts predict a premium listing, estimating the shares to debut at around 10% above the IPO price, reflecting robust investor interest and confidence in the company’s prospects. Ventive Hospitality Limited IPO: Price BandThe IPO price band was set at Rs 610 to Rs 643 per share, and the issue comprised a complete fresh issue of 2.49 crore equity shares. Ventive Hospitality Limited IPO: Subscription StatusIt attracted significant interest from various categories of investors: Retail Investors: Subscribed 5.94 times. Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs): Subscribed 13.87 times. Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs): Subscribed 9.08 times. Overall, the IPO garnered bids for 14.17 crore shares, far exceeding the IPO size of 1.44 crore shares. About Ventive HospitalityVentive Hospitality is making its debut with the backing of prominent book-running lead managers, including JM Financial, Axis Capital, HSBC Securities, ICICI Securities, IIFL Securities, Kotak Mahindra Capital, and SBI Capital Markets. KFin Technologies served as the IPO registrar, handling the allotment process. (Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. Times Now Digital suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.) Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Companies, Business Economy and around the world.As we enter the holiday season many young people are no doubt beginning to consider their future options. With a range of paths to pursue, a high rate of youth unemployment in Canada and a higher education sector facing unprecedented challenges it may seem logical to wonder if university is worth it. In my role as president of York University I see these issues play out every day in the lives of my students and faculty. However, I can say with certainty that, yes, university is worth it for both students and society. And while you might think that I might be biased, there is real data to back it up. Simply put, going to university enriches both students and society over the long term. We must ensure that students and universities are supported to help ensure as broad access as possible. While many students entering the market fresh out of university will make entry-level wages, the reality is that over the longer term their earning potential has more room to expand . Those with a bachelor’s degree earn 24 per cent more than the national average. The more education, the higher the earning potential. Students with a university degree are more likely to have stable employment even amidst economic disruption, as the COVID-19 pandemic revealed . Graduates are also more likely to gain employment that offers a wider range of benefits. Simply put, an education increases one’s chances of finding fulfilling employment and living a longer and healthier life. Beyond individual benefits, there are also key benefits to society. Canada relies disproportionately on universities compared to other OECD countries to drive the research and innovation central to a productive and prosperous economy . Further research has shown that education is central to a healthy, democratic society To quote Nelson Mandela: “ education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world .” The world faces a host of wicked problems ranging from economic inequality to climate change, geopolitical conflict and ongoing wars. Universities and graduates play a key role in addressing these challenges. Technology is not going away and it is not slowing down. A recent study revealed that the jobs of more than 60 per cent of Canadians may be at risk to AI . Moreover, an estimated one out of 10 employees in Canada could be at a high risk of automation-related job redundancy. Canada’s already volatile job market will continue to be impacted. Those with higher levels of education are the best equipped to benefit from technologies in ways that complement the work they do . Graduates are also more likely to have the transferable skills needed to withstand workforce disruption. According to the OECD , AI technologies pose less of a risk for highly-skilled workers. In fact, their jobs are less likely to be replaced by automation because they possess the critical thinking skills needed to provide oversight to tasks that use AI and automation. While these technologies are sophisticated and becoming even more so each day, they currently cannot replicate human cognitive, critical and decision-making skills. There is also compelling research that shows students with higher education are more likely to pursue continuing education to upgrade and reskill, a quality that makes students more agile in a shifting labour market. Universities have also been increasing micro-credentials , programs which help learners re-skill while they are holding employment and balancing familial obligations, to support lifelong learning and build a more resilient Canadian workforce. If Canada is to meet the expanding needs of students and of the country then we must invest now in higher education. Access is something I worry deeply about to ensure that we are not leaving any talent behind. Data from the 2017 National Survey of Engagement indicates that 48 per cent of first- and fourth-year undergrad students at York came from households where neither parent held a bachelor’s degree. What’s more, York’s 2020 Economic and Social Impact Report revealed that 59 per cent of students could not have attended university without financial support. Creating accessible educational opportunities for diverse learners to develop responsive skills is critical for a vibrant future workforce and for resilient communities. York and other universities in Canada have a good track record for this. At the same time, social mobility and productivity have been declining in Canada in recent years . Continuing to ensure that eligible students have access to university education including at the graduate level is imperative to address these trends. The significant numbers of Canadian students leaving the country to study medicine overseas while Canada is facing a significant gap in primary care physicians is just one example . These are troubling trends which Canadian universities are committed to addressing. While the commitment and innovation of universities is evident, the unfortunate truth is that universities across much of Canada have seen a steady decline in real dollar funding for years. In Ontario, recommendations from the government’s blue-ribbon panel strongly advocated for the urgent increase in financial support for universities . To meet the changes in Canada’s labour market, universities have developed new programs to meet the talent needs in areas such as science, technology, engineering and health . We have also worked to enhance access through flexible teaching formats and strengthened international and cross-sector research collaborations to tackle complex societal problems . Universities have also increased supports for students including activities to help them connect with careers and become more entrepreneurial and efficient . In short, universities in Canada are one of the country’s most important assets. If we are to continue delivering the high-quality education for which we are known and serving the needs of the communities who rely on us, especially given fierce global competition for talent, it is essential that we secure a financially sustainable model for universities. Canada’s high youth unemployment has many people anxious about how they will fare in a job market that bears a striking resemblance to the Hunger Games. Expanding employment opportunities is necessary and will require collaboration across all sectors. But the data are clear. A university education will provide our youth with a running start and the ability to adapt as they go. Rhonda Lenton is chair of the Council of Ontario Universities.

Road weariness preceded the holiday break for the Kings and now their rest will come to an abrupt close as they hit the ice for a rare pair of consecutive home games in which they’ll host their arch nemeses Saturday and a fellow “Expansion Six” franchise Sunday. First up, it’ll be the Edmonton Oilers, who took the crown of the hottest team in the NHL from the Kings as they vaulted from fifth to second in the Pacific Division in two and a half weeks’ time. Then, the Kings will welcome the Philadelphia Flyers, who still play on Broad Street but have been decidedly less bullyish of late, having dropped four of their past five decisions to slip back into the mushy middle of the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers most recently lost to the rival Pittsburgh Penguins by a 7-3 score, the same count that the Kings beat them by on Dec. 19 in Philly. For the Kings’ part, they wrapped up their second seven-game road trip of the season Sunday, finishing with the same 3-2-2 mark they did on their season-opening swing. They rallied for a point in Nashville and then endured a regulation defeat in Washington after what Capitals goalie Logan Thompson described as a “playoff-style game” concluded the Kings’ journey with losses on back-to-back dates. “I thought (the trip) wasn’t bad. We battled back in Nashville to get a point, which was good to get a point after coming into the third [period] down two,” defenseman Mikey Anderson told reporters. “Overall, you’re proud of the effort. All in all, it wasn’t a terrible road trip.” Phillip Danault missed that finale but participated fully in Friday’s practice, per Hockey Royalty’s Russell Morgan, who also reported that Trevor Moore and Trevor Lewis skated in red non-contact jerseys. Danault missed just one game while Moore has been out for the past five. Already missing top defender Drew Doughty, the Kings will need every healthy hand on deck this weekend. While Philly’s Travis Konecny and Matvei Michkov will present challenges Sunday, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and captain Connor McDavid entered Friday’s slate of games tied for the second-longest active scoring streak (nine games) while having the two most prolific surges. Draisaitl’s 20 points and McDavid’s 18 over the past nine games have helped the Oilers to an 8-1-0 record in those outings as part of an 11-2-0 display that’s propelled them above the Kings as well as the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. The Oilers have allowed three or fewer goals in 12 of their past 13 games, falling 6-5 to the Florida Panthers in a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final after their only other loss in that span came 1-0 to Pacific-topping Vegas. Both McDavid and Draisaitl have turned in a four-point performance during their active scoring sprees. Zach Hyman has returned to form, piling up 10 of his 13 goals this season in his past nine games. Former Kings winger Viktor Arvidsson had a goal and an assist in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Ottawa, which marked his third game back from a lower-body injury. Related Articles Edmonton has eliminated the Kings from three straight postseasons, with special teams taking on an outsized role, particularly last spring when the Oilers were all but automatic on the power play and were perfect on the penalty kill. The Kings entered the finale of their road trip in an 0-for-10 funk but converted on the power play for their only goal against Washington, while the Oilers have had a top-five power play since Dec. 1, cranking at a 30.8% clip with the extra man. When: 1 p.m. Saturday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNW When: 6 p.m. Sunday Where: Crypto.com Arena How to watch: FDSNW

An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionCherry on top! Edinburgh hooker eyes Scotland recall after dominant display against Glasgow Dave Cherry hasn't featured for Scotland since falling down stairs at last year's Rugby World Cup The hooker issued a reminder to Scotland coach Gregor Townsend that he remains available for selection Glasgow's Kyle Steyn has vowed to use pain of 1872 Cup setback as motivation for the rest of his side's campaign By GRAEME MACPHERSON Published: 22:00, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 22:00, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments If the advent of a new year provides fresh opportunity for all then what chance Dave Cherry donning a Scotland shirt again in 2025? Stranger things have surely happened. Cherry was an integral part of Gregor Townsend ’s plans at last year’s World Cup, coming off the bench in the loss to South Africa . Then came his downfall, literally, as he reportedly tumbled down a flight of stairs on a day off, suffered a concussion and was sent home. Fifteen months later and Cherry hasn’t featured in a Scotland squad since, never mind taking to the field. It is a curious state of affairs partially explained by the emergence of his Edinburgh team-mates Ewan Ashman and Patrick Harrison, who have pushed their way into the picture. But given the retirement of Stuart McInally and Fraser Brown, and with George Turner decanting to Japan, Cherry’s experience would surely have proved handy at some point. The 33-year-old has mostly kept his counsel in the intervening period but emerged following Edinburgh’s 1872 Cup win over Glasgow to insist that he hasn’t quietly slipped into international retirement. There is an undoubted pecking order now at hooker and Cherry is at the back of it but, should the opportunity arise, the Edinburgh-born player revealed he would jump at the chance to pull on a Scotland jersey once again. Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry is applauded by rival Glasgow stars after Murrayfield win Cherry was a big presence for the capital side as they salvaged pride after last week's loss Cherry makes a big hit on Glasgow's Scotland fly-half Tom Jordan as Warriors are closed out Asked if he had given up on a recall, Cherry replied: ‘Not at all. I want to make it clear I am still going and still available. My desire to get back in and play for Scotland is still there. ‘(Townsend) has basically said just keep doing what you’re doing, and that’s about it. I’m just focused on myself and my own performance and trying to put my best foot forward. Hopefully I get selected.’ More performances like Saturday’s — both individually and as a collective — won’t do his chances any harm. Edinburgh smothered Glasgow’s attacking intent, restricting one of rugby’s most potent attacks to just the one penalty try late in the contest. Cherry, on his 100th club appearance, was at the heart of the battle and ought to have had an assist to his name too late in the first half when Luke Crosbie spilled his pass right on the Glasgow line. Edinburgh still aren’t getting the most out of their attacking resources — Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham barely saw the ball once again — and they still have to show they can perform outside of the capital. This, though, was a defiant response to their Hampden humbling the previous weekend. ‘Clarity through the week led to intent in the game,’ added Cherry. ‘It showed out there, it was far clearer what we were doing. Our defence was structured and that kind of led to the win. ‘Our discipline and turnovers were spot on. We were only two and two (penalties and turnovers) at the half and that made a big difference to our game this week. We were able to control Glasgow better and their defence, not give them as many entries. I think that was the ultimate winning of the match, our defence. ‘I was discussing it with the lads afterwards. It felt more than a 10-7 scoreline. There were opportunities and both sides didn’t convert. But it’s four URC points and that’s the big one for us. We needed to get back on the horse and we have done that.’ Cherry last featured for Scotland at the 2023 World Cup against South Africa Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has seen his options at hooker diminish recently It was the ideal way for Cherry to bring up his landmark appearance, even if Edinburgh never really threatened to overturn the 19-point first-leg deficit to lift the trophy. ‘I’m very pleased (to become a club centurion),’ he beamed. ‘As a little boy, I never thought I would reach that landmark so I am absolutely delighted. But the bigger picture is about the team and their performance, rather than my own. ‘Our home form has been good but we need to take that on the road. Playing Glasgow, you always want to win those games — a big crowd and a big occasion for myself. I am delighted with the team’s performance. We went in believing we could get those 19 points. Ultimately we didn’t, but we will take the win and the four points.’ The late yellow card shown to Harrison saw Cherry summoned back from the stand for another 10-minute shift which he wasn’t hugely enthusiastic about. ‘Well... we were winning and the clock has got to be run down,’ he added. ‘They said: “Take your time” so I was more than happy to do that.’ Kyle Steyn says Glasgow will head into their New Year break licking their wounds but determined to make amends when they return. Steyn raises a smile after his side's aggregate win, but it was all too much for Zander Fagerson Steyn did his best to look excited as he lifted the 1872 Cup but, having just lost the match, if not the tie, to Edinburgh, it was hard for the captain to get too enthusiastic about it. It was deja vu for the visitors who also lost the Murrayfield leg last year only to rebound and go on to win the URC title. And Steyn hoped this setback could similarly provide a springboard when Warriors return for Champions Cup matches against Racing 92 and Harlequins. ‘Yeah, it’s very frustrating,’ said the Scotland winger. ‘Fair enough to Edinburgh, I thought they stood up pretty well and did well to slow down our ball. We did struggle to find some momentum in attack but I thought we created enough opportunities to get the job done and didn’t close enough of them out. ‘The problem was our ruck speed. It becomes pretty easy to defend once our ball was that slow. They’ve done well there and we’ll take our lessons. ‘We’ve had loads of changes in pretty much every game and I’m really proud of the boys, especially up front. We’ve had four or five changes every week and whoever has played has stepped up. I think it’s disappointing to end this year, for what it has been, with a game like this, but that will keep the hunger going for next year. ‘We’ve got Racing at home and we’ve got to go down to Quins after losing narrowly down there last year. There are motivations aplenty and the way the first two rounds have gone, every game now is going to be important. ’ Share or comment on this article: Cherry on top! Edinburgh hooker eyes Scotland recall after dominant display against Glasgow e-mail Add comment

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Balloting in Uruguay’s runoff election came to a close on Sunday, starting a countdown to the announcement of official results in a tight battle for the presidency between the conservative ruling coalition candidate and his left-wing challenger. Independent polling firms will start releasing so-called quick counts now that polls have closed, but the official results are not likely to be released for hours. Depending on how tight the vote turns out to be, electoral officials may not call the race for days, as happened in the contentious 2019 runoff that brought center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou to office and ended 15 years of rule by Uruguay’s center-left Broad Front coalition. Though polls show Uruguayans largely satisfied with the current government’s performance, complaints about sluggish growth, persistent violent crime and stagnant wages could add Uruguay to a long list of countries where frustrated voters have punished incumbents in elections around the world this year. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguayans went to the polls Sunday for a second round of voting to choose their next president , with the conservative governing party and the left-leaning coalition locked in a close runoff after failing to win an outright majority in last month's vote . The staid election has turned into a hard-fought race between Álvaro Delgado, the incumbent party's candidate, and Yamandú Orsi from the Broad Front, a coalition of leftist and center-left parties that governed for 15 years until the 2019 victory of center-right President Luis Lacalle Pou . The Broad Front oversaw the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and the sale of marijuana in the small South American nation of 3.4 million people. Orsi's Broad Front took 44% of the vote while Delgado's National Party won 27% in the first round of voting Oct. 27. But other conservative parties that make up the government coalition — in particular, the Colorado Party — notched 20% of the vote collectively, enough to give Delgado an edge over his challenger. Congress ended up evenly split in the October vote. Most polls have shown a virtual tie between Delgado and Orsi, with nearly 10% of Uruguayan voters undecided even at this late stage. Many said they believed turnout would be low if voting weren't compulsory in the country. “Neither candidate convinced me and I feel that there are many in my same situation," said Vanesa Gelezoglo, 31, in the capital, Montevideo, adding she would make up her mind at “the last minute.” Analysts say the candidates' lackluster campaigns and broad consensus on key issues have generated extraordinary indecision and apathy in an election dominated by discussions about social spending and concerns over income inequality but largely free of the anti-establishment rage that has vaulted populist outsiders to power elsewhere . “The question of whether Frente Amplio (the Broad Front) raises taxes is not an existential question, unlike what we saw in the U.S. with Trump and Kamala framing each other as threats to democracy," said Nicolás Saldías, a Latin America and Caribbean senior analyst for the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit. “That doesn't exist in Uruguay.” Both candidates are also appealing to voter angst over a surge in violent crime that has shaken a nation long regarded as one of the region’s safest, with Delgado promising tough-on-crime policies and Orsi advocating a more community-oriented approach. Delgado, 55, a rural veterinarian with a long career in the National Party, campaigned on a vow to continue the legacy of current President Lacalle Pou — in some ways making the election into a referendum on his leadership. He campaigned under the slogan “re-elect a good government." While a string of corruption scandals rattled Lacalle Pou's government last year, the president — who constitutionally cannot run for a second consecutive term — now enjoys high approval ratings and a strong economy expected to grow 3.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has also eased in recent months, boosting his coalition. Delgado served most recently as Secretary of the Presidency for Lacalle Pou and promises to pursue his predecessor's pro-business policies. He would continue pushing for a trade deal with China that has raised hackles in Mercosur, an alliance of South American countries promoting regional commerce. "We have to give the government coalition a chance to consolidate its proposals,” said Ramiro Pérez, a street vendor voting for Delgado on Sunday. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher and two-time mayor from a working-class background, is widely seen as the political heir to iconic former President José “Pepe” Mujica , an ex-Marxist guerilla who raised Uruguay's international profile as one of the region's most socially liberal and environmentally sustainable nations during his 2010-2015 term. “He's my candidate, not only for my sake but also for my children's,” Yeny Varone, a nurse, said of Orsi. “In the future they'll have better working conditions, health and salaries.” Mujica, now 89 and recovering from esophageal cancer , was among the first to cast his ballot after polls opened. “Uruguay is a small country, but it has earned recognition for being stable, for having a citizenry that respects institutional formalities,” he told reporters from his local polling station. “This is no small feat.” While promising to forge a “new left” in Uruguay, Orsi plans no dramatic changes. He proposes tax incentives to lure investment and social security reforms that would lower the retirement age but fall short of a radical overhaul sought by Uruguay's unions. The contentious plebiscite on whether to boost pension payouts failed to pass in October, with Uruguayans rejecting generous pensions in favor of fiscal constraint. Both candidates pledged full cooperation with each other if elected. “I want (Orsi) to know that my idea is to form a government of national unity,” Delgado told reporters after casting his vote in the capital's upscale Pocitos neighborhood. He said that if he won, he and Orsi would chat on Monday over some yerba mate, the traditional herbal drink beloved by Uruguayans. Orsi similarly pledged a smooth and respectful transition of power, describing Sunday's democratic exercise as “an incredible experience" as he voted in Canelones, the sprawling town of beaches and cattle ranches just north of Montevideo where he served as mayor for a decade. “The essence of politics is agreements,” he said. “You never end up completely satisfied.” Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Villa Tunari, Bolivia, contributed to this report.

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