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Stojakovic, Wilkinson lead short-handed Cal past Sacramento State, 83-77 in Cal ClassicYoon coup a gift to foes at home, bad for solidarity with Japan, US
- Preliminary Discussions Underway to Establish a Joint Venture SINGAPORE, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EUDA Health Holdings Limited ("EUDA” or the "Company”) (NASDAQ: EUDA), a Singapore-based health technology company that operates a first-of-its-kind Southeast Asian digital healthcare ecosystem, today announced that it has entered into preliminary discussions with Guangdong Cell Biotech Co. Ltd. ("Guangdong Cell Biotech”), a prominent player in stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine, to form a joint venture. Guangdong Cell Biotech develops autologous cell treatments and tailored medicines for various disorders. This potential collaboration aims to leverage the complementary strengths of both companies to accelerate growth and innovation across the biotechnology and consumer health sectors. Discussions are focused on leveraging EUDA's digital healthcare ecosystem as a platform to deliver cutting-edge regenerative therapies developed by Guangdong Cell Biotech to a broader audience in Southeast Asia. Guangdong Cell Biotech's stem cell technology is expected to enrich EUDA's healthcare services with innovative treatment options, enhancing the appeal and effectiveness of its digital platform. Guangdong Cell Biotech represents that it currently has 37 established stem cell and DNA medical treatment facilities in China and presence in Indonesia and Cambodia. A joint venture combining EUDA's expertise in making holistic healthcare solutions accessible to everyone using its portfolio of products and advanced technologies, with Guangdong Cell Biotech's leadership in stem cell treatment, will allow EUDA to enhance its market presence, improve product offerings, and deliver cutting-edge solutions to customers in Asia. Strategic Rationale The potential strategic partnership between EUDA and Guangdong Cell Biotech aims to: "We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Guangdong Cell Biotech,” said Kelvin Chen, CEO of EUDA. "While our discussions are in the early stages, we are optimistic about the potential to combine our strengths in offering non-invasive, holistic wellness consumer products through our ecosystem, with Guangdong Cell Biotech's established 30+ stem cell and DNA medical treatment facilities, further diversifying our healthcare ecosystem and revenue streams going forward.” Wang Taihua, Founder and Chairman of Guangdong Cell Biotech, added, "This potential partnership reflects our shared vision of driving innovation and expanding the impact we have on wellness consumers in Asia. The market for stem cell treatment in China and across Asia is massive, and we look forward to exploring this opportunity and evaluating how we can transform the industry together.” Parties have not entered into a letter of intent or a legally binding agreement at this time. There is no guarantee that parties will form a joint venture or enter into a definitive written agreement to collaborate in the future. About EUDA Health Holdings Limited EUDA Health Holdings Limited is a Singapore-based health technology company that operates a first-of-its-kind Southeast Asian digital healthcare ecosystem aimed at making healthcare affordable and accessible, and improving the patient experience by delivering better outcomes through personalized healthcare. The company's proprietary unified AI platform quickly assesses a patient's medical history, triages a condition, digitally connects patients with clinicians, and predicts optimal treatment outcomes. EUDA Health's holistic approach supports patients throughout all stages of care, including wellness & prevention, urgent care & emergencies, pre-existing conditions, and aftercare services. About Guangdong Cell Biotech Co. Ltd. Guangdong Cell Biotech Co. Ltd and its subsidiaries is a leading enterprise and backbone enterprise in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine in China. The group has established three platforms of stem cell regenerative medicine, immune cell rehabilitation medicine and genomics, covering the field stem cell drug research, clinical research and transformation services, adult cell storage business, CAR-T immune cell products, and research and development of new cell derivative product. They have currently more than 70 invention patents and 3 international invention patents. The group now have over 30 branches and subsidies home and abroad, and cooperates intensively with more than 100 well-known research institutes and clinical institutes. Forward Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements regarding risks and uncertainties. These statements usually use forward-looking words, such as the words "estimates,” "projected,” "expects,” "envisions,” "anticipates,” "forecasts,” "plans,” "intends,” "believes,” "seeks,” "may,” "will,” "should,” "future,” "propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions).These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside EUDA's control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. sYou should not overly rely on forward-looking statements that are only applicable to the date of publication of this document. These forward-looking statements are based on information from EUDA and Guangdong Cell Biotech, as well as other sources that we believe are reliable. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. As parties have only entered into preliminary discussions at this time, they have not entered into any definitive legally binding agreement. There is also no guarantee that parties will form a joint venture or enter into a definitive written agreement to collaborate. The execution of a definitive agreement will be disclosed by EUDA. Contact: Christensen Advisory Roger Hu 852.2232.3968 [email protected]Plan To Sell Scout Vehicles Directly To The Public Has California Volkswagen Dealers Hopping Mad
Justin Herbert tosses 3 TDs, Chargers clinch a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Justin Herbert threw three touchdown passes and the Los Angeles Chargers clinched their second playoff appearance in three seasons with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots. The win also secured the fourth postseason appearance in Jim Harbaugh’s five seasons as an NFL coach, adding to the three he made during his stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Herbert finished 26 of 38 for 281 yards to become the third player in NFL history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes in each of his first five seasons. The Patriots have lost six straight games, their second such losing streak of the season. They are now 2-14 the last two seasons at home. Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. Georgia QB Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Patriots QB Drake Maye returns to game after evaluation for head injury vs. Chargers FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has returned to the game after being evaluated for a head injury following a blow to the helmet in the first quarter of New England’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession of the game when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field on his own power. He briefly sat on the bench before going to the medical tent and then the locker room. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series. But Maye returned at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Miami's Cam Ward sets NCAA's Division I record with 156th career touchdown pass ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward has made NCAA history in his final college game. The Miami quarterback has thrown a record-setting 156th touchdown pass of his college career, connecting with Jacolby George for a 4-yard score with 4:12 left in the first quarter of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. That’s the Division I — FBS and FCS — record, one more than Houston’s Case Keenum threw for from 2007 through 2011. NBA coaches react with dismay over firing of 2-time coach of the year Mike Brown ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Not even two years ago, Rick Carlisle publicly lauded Mike Brown for the job he did on the way to winning the NBA’s coach of the year award. And on Friday, Carlisle was among the coaches reacting with dismay that Brown was fired. The Sacramento Kings dismissed Brown on Friday, with the team off to a 13-18 start this season and mired toward the bottom of the Western Conference — despite back-to-back winning seasons, something that franchise hadn’t managed in nearly two decades. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet.SALINAS, Calif. − The oldest living survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks died Christmas morning. Warren “Red” Upton, of San Jose, Calif., was also the last living survivor of the USS Utah , which sank during Japanese attacks on the U.S. Naval Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. He was 105. Upton had a short hospital stay in Los Gatos surrounded by his family before he died Wednesday, according to Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the nonprofit Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. There are 15 living Pearl Harbor survivors, she said in a phone interview Saturday. Upton was a Navy radioman aboard the USS Utah when torpedoes hit the battleship and quickly capsized it, the nonprofit Pacific Historic Parks said in a social media post . In total, 58 of Upton’s shipmates died when the USS Utah quickly sank, and 461 sailors survived. During the attacks, Upton swam to nearby Ford Island, a naval air station in the middle of Pearl Harbor. He helped another shipmate along the way who couldn’t swim, according to Pacific Historic Parks. The attacks killed 2,403 American service members and civilians. Over 1,000 people were injured. It spurred the U.S. to enter World War II. Upton served as a radioman throughout the war, Farley said. After his service, he returned home to California, where he married his wife, Gene, a former Navy nurse during the war. The two had five children and numerous grandchildren. Gene passed away in 2018. She was 97. Upton remained an active member of his local chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, Farley said. His last visit to Pearl Harbor was in 2019. Many wondered whether he wanted to be cremated and interred inside the USS Utah with his shipmates in Pearl Harbor, Farley said. Only survivors are eligible for the honor, according to the National Park Service . Upton had no plans of doing so, Farley said. “He always said, ‘I was lucky enough to make it off the ship. I’m not going back,’” she said. Services for Upton are still pending.
A government investigation has kicked off in New Jersey after recent reports of what news outlets are calling “mysterious” drone sightings in multiple states. Some experts say there are cases in which individuals believe they are seeing drones flying in the sky, but they may be something else. “Historically, we’ve experienced many cases of mistaken identity where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities,” a Department of Homeland Security official said on a Dec. 14 White House press call discussing the government’s response to ongoing drone sightings. In November, “multiple suspicious activity reports” were submitted in New Jersey “regarding unidentified and unknown subjects operating multiple unmanned aircraft, otherwise known as UAS,” the official said. “Our military knows where they took off from. If it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went and for some reason they don’t want to comment,” President-elect Donald Trump said at a Dec. 16 news conference streamed by ABC News. “Something strange is going on, for some reason they don’t want to tell the people, and they should.” Drone sightings have also been reported in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, California and Ohio, according to CNN. On Dec. 13, New York’s Stewart International Airport temporarily closed its runways due to drone activity, according to the news outlet. Airspace over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was also restricted on Dec. 15 for several hours because of drones, WHIO reported. “It is not illegal to fly drones in U.S. airspace,” a Federal Aviation Administration official said on the White House press call. “Generally speaking, it is legal to fly a drone in most locations, both during the day and at night, as long as you remain below 400 feet and you keep those drones in sight at all times, avoiding other aircraft and not causing hazard to any people or property, and avoiding restricted airspace.” Still, the reports of drone activity have been heightened after they have been spotted over “residential neighborhoods, restricted sites and critical infrastructure,” according to CNN. There are ways to identify and distinguish whether or not what you are seeing in the sky is a drone. How to identify a drone The lighting on a drone can be a dead giveaway, experts say. “A series of probably like four lights , they are going to be red, they’re going to be green. If it’s a nighttime flight, they’re going to have auto collision lights that are blinking,” Ashlee Cooper, drone pro for the state of Delaware’s FAA Safety Team and the CEO of Droneversity, told WTXF. There are other signs to look for as well, according to NJ.com. Objects in the air may be larger than they appear. In some cases, an object in the air may appear smaller than it is. This may cause confusion when noticing an airplane flying. Watch how the aircraft moves. Multi-rotor drones have propellers that allow them to maneuver more aggressively and make “tight controlled turns.” Planes do not have the same ability to hover, move from side to side, or takeoff and land vertically. “Planes have a non-zero turning radius,” Pramod Abichandani, an associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, said. “If its nose is pointing in a certain direction, that is generally the direction it will move in.” Drones also make a distinct sound , according to pilotinstitute.com Many consumer-grade drones are quadcopters, according to the website. These type of drones have a distinct buzzing sound. They can be very loud and heard from 100 to 200 feet away. There are also websites such as FlightAware and Flightradar24.com that track airplanes and their routes, helping distinguish if what you are seeing flying above is an airplane. “I am actually hoping that this will be an opportunity to spark the conversation for individuals to get used to some larger sized drones. Drones that are delivering goods, delivering first aid, delivering organs and response. This is something that is happening in states and municipalities as we speak. It’s not science fiction,” Cooper told WXTF. Large drones seen in New Jersey skies at night, reports say. FBI asks public for help Booms and bright flashes dazzle Midwest, videos show. The best may be yet to comeIs this Father Christmas’ coffin? Scientists unearth ‘sarcophagus of bishop who inspired Santa Claus’ at ancient church
Syrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on suppliesOpposition fighters are closing in on Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria's army has abandoned key cities with little resistance. Nervous residents in Damascus describe security forces on the streets. The state news agency has been forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad has left the country. Who are these opposition fighters ? If they enter Damascus after taking some of Syria’s largest cities , what then? Here’s a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and his government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites . This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government. The HTS and Syrian National Army have been allies at times and rivals at times, and their aims might diverge. The Turkish-backed militias also have an interest in creating a buffer zone near the Turkish border to keep away Kurdish militants at odds with Ankara. Turkey has been a main backer of the fighters seeking to overthrow Assad but more recently has urged reconciliation, and Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the current offensive. Whether the HTS and the Syrian National Army will work together if they succeed in overthrowing Assad or turn on each other again is a major question. While the flash offensive against Syria’s government began in the north, armed opposition groups have also mobilized elsewhere. The southern areas of Sweida and Daraa have both been taken locally. Sweida is the heartland of Syria’s Druze religious minority and had been the site of regular anti-government protests even after Assad seemingly consolidated his control over the area. Daraa is a Sunni Muslim area that was widely seen as the cradle of the uprising against Assad’s rule that erupted in 2011. Daraa was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018, but rebels remained in some areas. In recent years, Daraa was in a state of uneasy quiet under a Russian-mediated ceasefire deal. And much of Syria's east is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led group backed by the United States that in the past has clashed with most other armed groups in the country. Syria's government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. Much depends on Assad’s next moves and his forces' will to fight the rebels. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces have started carrying out the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. And Syrian troops withdrew Saturday from much of the central city of Homs, Syria's third largest, according to a pro-government outlet and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. If that city is captured, the link would be cut between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. “Homs to the coastal cities will be a very huge red line politically and socially. Politically, if this line is crossed, then we are talking about the end of the entire Syria, the one that we knew in the past,” said a Damascus resident, Anas Joudeh. Assad appears to be largely on his own as allies Russia and Iran are distracted by other conflicts and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been weakened by its war with Israel, now under a fragile ceasefire. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition,” saying the situation is changing by the minute. He met with foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. President-elect Donald Trump in his first extensive comments on the developments in Syria said the besieged Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on social media. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed.
SK Hynix Expands HBM Production to Meet Surging AI Demand
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for answers. The FBI, Homeland Security, state police and other agencies are investigating. Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety , but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft — and to be allowed to shoot them out of the sky. What's the deal with the drones in New Jersey? Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones statewide since mid-November, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Murphy, a Democrat, said Monday that equipment supplied by the federal government has yielded little new information. He declined to describe the equipment except to say it was powerful and could even “mitigate” the drones, though he added that’s not currently legal on U.S. soil. The state tallied 12 sightings Saturday and just one on Sunday. Murphy urged Congress to give states more authority to deal with the drones. Do the drones pose a threat? The growing anxiety among some residents is not lost on the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Trump for not dealing with the matter more aggressively. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the federal government has yet to identify any public safety or national security risks from reported drone sightings in the northeast, saying officials believe they were lawfully flown drones, planes or even stars. “There are more than 1 million drones that are lawfully registered with the Federal Aviation Administration here in the United States,” Kirby said. “And there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones that are lawfully in the sky on any given day. That is the ecosystem that we are dealing with.” The federal government has deployed personnel and advanced technology to investigate the reports in New Jersey and other states, and is evaluating each tip reported by citizens, he said. The FBI received more than 5000 tips in recent weeks, he added, with only “about 100” deemed credible enough to require additional investigation. Who is operating the drones? Authorities say they do not know. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI said they have no evidence that the aircraft pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” Speculation has nevertheless raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing investigations have found no evidence to support such concerns, but U.S. Rep Chris Smith, a Republican, on Saturday echoed such speculation. “The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea,” he said. On Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder cast doubt on the idea that the drones are engaged in intelligence gathering, given how loud and bright they are. He said about 1 million drones are registered drones in the U.S. and about 8,000 flying on any given day. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh has said the aircraft are not U.S. military drones. Drone operators arrested In Boston, city police arrested two men accused of operating a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport on Saturday night. Authorities said an officer using drone monitoring technology detected the aircraft and the location of the operators. A third man fled police and remains at large. Authorities said the two men face trespassing charges and could face more charges and fines. Ohio Air Force base closes airspace Drones flying around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close its airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson. It was the first time drones had been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings have been reported since, Purtiman said Monday. He said the drones had no impact on any facilities on the base. Officials urge action against the drones Trump has said he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on Truth Social. Kim said he’s heard no support for the notion the government is hiding anything. He said a lack of faith in institutions is playing a key part in the saga. “Nothing that I’m seeing, nothing that I’ve engaged in gives me any impression of that nature. But like, I get it, some people won’t believe me, right? Because that’s the level of distrust that we face," Kim said Monday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut last week called for the drones to be “shot down." Rep. Smith urged the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to bring down one or more drones to try to figure out who deployed them. The objects could be downed over the ocean or in an unpopulated area on land, Smith said Saturday. “Why can't we bag at least one of these drones and get to the bottom of it?” Smith said. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said members of the public must not try to shoot down drones, as that would violate state and federal laws. Drones spotted over New York City Drone sightings were also reported in New York, where a permit is required. Mayor Eric Adams said the city was investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials. The runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the city — were shut down for about an hour Friday night because of drone activity, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “This has gone too far,” she said in a statement. The governor called on Congress to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more investigative authority to state and local law enforcement. Associated Press writers John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.Arizona State makes College Football Playoff with 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. Arizona State roars into college football playoffs, and waits to see who else makes the bracket INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Forget about rankings, analytics or any other number they might place next to Arizona State’s name. Instead, go straight to the “eye test,” or check the scoreboard. Does anyone really want to face the Sun Devils in the College Football Playoff? Someone will have to after ASU clobbered Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 title game. The Sun Devils have won their last two games by a combined score of 94-26. More spots will be handed out when Georgia plays Texas, Oregon plays Penn State and SMU meets Clemson, all with conference titles at stake. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Man City drops more points after draw with Crystal Palace and Man United loses again Manchester City’s Premier League title defense has taken another blow after a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Four-time defending champion City ended a seven-game winless run on Wednesday by beating Nottingham Forest. But City has dropped more points on Saturday after the draw at Selhurst Park. It could have been worse for City after Palace led twice. Pep Guardiola’s team is fourth in the standings and eight points behind leader Liverpool. Liverpool has a game in hand after its derby with Everton was postponed due to a storm. Malinin and Glenn win as US figure skaters take 3 gold medals at Grand Prix Final GRENOBLE, France (AP) — Ilia Malinin has landed six quadruple jumps and Amber Glenn has ended a 14-year wait for gold for the United States on an historic day for American figure skaters at the Grand Prix Final in Grenoble. Malinin and Glenn won their individual events and Madison Chock and Evan Bates retained their ice dance title on Saturday to earn the U.S. three of the four senior gold medals. Glenn continued her breakout unbeaten season and three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto had to settle for third place. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point No. 12 Arizona State's 45-19 victory over 16th-ranked Iowa State. The announced crowd of 55,889 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys appeared far smaller. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Everton vs. Liverpool postponed because of Storm Darragh. Other Premier League games remain on LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — The Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool has been postponed because of Storm Darragh's dangerous winds and heavy rain on the west coast. The Met office says parts of Wales have experienced wind gusts of over 90 mph. The four other Premier League games Saturday remained on as planned. Manchester United will host Nottingham Forest at 5:30 p.m. local time at Old Trafford. The remaining games start at 3 p.m. local time. Aston Villa hosts Southampton and urged fans to use extra time to get to Villa Park in Birmingham. In London, Brentford will host Newcastle, and Crystal Palace will host Manchester City. Ashton Jeanty lets his play do the talking for CFP-bound Boise State BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After Ashton Jeanty streaked through the middle of UNLV’s defense on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run Friday night in the Mountain West Conference title game, he didn’t strike the Heisman pose. He didn’t even lobby for it after the game, instead letting his play do the talking in No. 10 Boise State's 21-7 victory over No. 19 UNLV 21-7. Jeanty added another 209 yards — his sixth game over 200 yards this season — to push his total to 2,497 — just 132 yards short of passing Barry Sanders’ FBS season rushing record. The Broncos earned a spot in the College Football Playoff with the victory. No. 24 Army wins AAC championship in first attempt as Daily runs for 4 TDs in 35-14 win over Tulane WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Bryson Daily rushed for four touchdowns to tie the American Athletic Conference championship game record, and No. 24 Army completed a perfect first season in the league by beating Tulane 35-14. Kanye Udoh rushed for 158 yards, including a 72-yarder to set up a Daily TD, and a score. Daily added 126 yards on the ground for the Black Knights, who overwhelmed AAC opponents with their bruising, clock-eating rushing attack during their first around the league, then ran it to perfection in the championship game. Army moved to 11-1. Daily had runs of 5, 3, 4 and 7 yards.
Manmohan Singh combined courage, vision & humilityBemidji cabinet factory receives $94,850 to install 48-kilowatt solar arraySouth Korean opposition to propose new impeachment Bill after bid to impeach President Yoon failsAcknowledged for strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and continued commitment to sustainability through net-zero initiatives and responsible value chain management INCHEON, South Korea , Dec. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS), a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced its continued recognition by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI), a globally recognized benchmark for evaluating the sustainability performance of over 2,500 publicly traded companies. Samsung Biologics was recognized for its dedication to embed sustainable business practices across its operations, particularly robust environmental efforts, including progress toward achieving net-zero emissions and an enhanced focus on carbon reduction across the value chain. The company has been listed for four consecutive years. "This achievement demonstrates our commitment to driving sustainability across our operations and the broader biopharma value chain," said John Rim , President and CEO of Samsung Biologics. "We remain focused on delivering meaningful progress toward a net-zero future while supporting our clients and partners with their ESG goals and contribute to a healthier world." Samsung Biologics continues to advance ESG initiatives, including its leadership role within the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). As a champion of the Supply Chains Working Group in the SMI Health Systems Task Force, the company actively engages global suppliers to decarbonize and build more resilient value chains. The global CDMO is accelerating transition to renewable energy through its Power Purchase Agreement, Renewable Energy Certificate, also having completed Product Carbon Footprint measurements to support our clients in achieving net-zero. This year, Samsung Biologics joined the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative and also received an EcoVadis platinum sustainability rating. About Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd. Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS) is a fully integrated, end-to-end CDMO service provider, offering seamless development and manufacturing solutions from cell line development to final aseptic fill/finish as well as laboratory testing support for the biopharmaceutical products we manufacture. Our state-of-the-art facilities are CGMP compliant with bioreactors ranging from small to large scales to serve varying client needs. To maximize our operational efficiency and expand our capabilities in response to growing biomanufacturing demand, Samsung Biologics offers a combined 604 kL total capacity. The company launched Bio Campus II with the construction of Plant 5, which will be operational in April 2025, adding 180 kL biomanufacturing capacity. Additionally, Samsung Biologics America enables the company to work in closer proximity to clients based in the U.S. and Europe. We continue to upgrade our capabilities to accommodate our clients by investing in a dedicated antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) facility, mRNA technologies, and additional aseptic filling capacity. As a sustainable CDMO partner of choice, we are committed to on-time, in-full delivery of the products we manufacture with our flexible manufacturing solutions, operational excellence, and proven expertise. Samsung Biologics Media Contact Claire Kim , Head of Global Marketing Communication cair.kim@samsung.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samsung-biologics-listed-among-top-most-sustainable-companies-in-dow-jones-sustainability-world-index-302333085.html SOURCE Samsung Biologics © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON — A White House official said Friday the U.S. identified a ninth telecommunications company impacted by a wide-ranging Chinese espionage effort and that further steps are planned to curb cyberattacks from Beijing. As the Biden administration learns about the scope and scale of the so-called Salt Typhoon breach that it attributed to China, officials are laying the blame on companies that were slow to identify the attack. “The reality is that China is targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. Those are private sector companies, and we still see companies not doing the basics,” Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday. “That’s why we’re looking forward and saying ‘Let’s lock down this infrastructure,’” she added. “And frankly, let’s hold the Chinese accountable for this.” The Commerce Department this month moved ahead with a ban of China Telecom and, according to Neuberger, similar actions will be released in the next month. Salt Typhoon is the name given to the hacking group behind the attacks. Microsoft Corp. assigns cyberthreat actors different names, to better identify and reference incidents, with the moniker “typhoon” used for activity originating from or attributed to China. Neuberger said one of the nine telecoms breached involved an administrator account that had access to over 100,000 routers. “So when the Chinese compromised that account, they gained that kind of broad access across the network. That’s not meaningful cybersecurity to defend against the nation-state actors,” Neuberger added. The U.S. still doesn’t have an exact assessment of how many Americans were targeted, Neuberger said. A large number of individuals were affected by geolocating around the Washington, D.C., and Virginia area — but fewer than 100 individuals’ phone calls and texts were hacked, she said. The Federal Communications Commission is voting on a rule in mid-January that would help protect America’s critical infrastructure, Neuberger said. She said the General Services Administration is reviewing government contracts to require better cybersecurity practices. Neuberger also cited an alarming increase in the number of health-related hacks that exposed Americans’ health care information and left them vulnerable to blackmail and said that the Department of Health and Human Services will propose new rules to protect medical data. ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Damascus braces, insurgents bear down on Syrian capitalThe Sacramento Kings have fired coach Mike Brown less than halfway through his third season with the team mired in a five-game losing streak, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday because the firing hadn't been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the firing. Brown won NBA Coach of the Year in his first season in 2022-23, when he helped Sacramento end the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 seasons. But Sacramento lost in the play-in tournament last year and was off to a 13-18 start this season, leading to the move to fire Brown about six months after he agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season. The Kings have lost an NBA-worst nine games this season after leading in the fourth quarter with the worst one coming in Brown's final game as coach Thursday night against Detroit. Sacramento led by 10 points with less than three minutes to play only to collapse down the stretch. Jaden Ivey converted a four-point play with 3 seconds left when he made a 3-pointer in the right corner and was fouled by De’Aaron Fox. That gave the Pistons a 114-113 win, leaving the Kings in 12th place in the Western Conference. The Kings came into the season with hopes of finishing in the top six in the West and avoiding the play-in tournament after acquiring DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal over the summer to add to a core that featured Fox, Domanta Sabonis and Keegan Murray. Fox, who is in the second-to-last year of his five-year, $163 million contract, declined to sign an extension in the offseason. He said on a podcast with Draymond Green earlier this month that he wanted to be on a team that could “compete at a high level.” Sacramento has been far from that this season, thanks in large part to an NBA-worst 3-11 record in games decided by five points or fewer. Brown publicly criticized Fox for his role in the game-winning play Thursday night, saying he should have been closer to Ivey instead of committing a foul on a close out. "You should be hugged up to your man at the 3-point line,” Brown said. “Everybody should, and why there was a closeout by Fox, I’m not sure. I got to go back and watch the tape. But for sure 100% we told our guys, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, can’t give up a 3, stay on the high side, stay on the high side.” Brown has a 107-88 record in two-plus seasons in Sacramento with a winning record in both of his full seasons. Rick Adelman is the only other coach to post a winning record in a full season since the Kings moved to Sacramento Brown previously had two stints as coach in Cleveland and spent one-plus season as Lakers coach. He has a 455-304 record and has made the playoffs in seven of his nine full seasons. He won Coach of the Year twice, also getting the award in Cleveland in 2008-09. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
NFL star Joe Burrow became a victim of the same crime several other athletes have also become victims of when his home was broken into while he was playing in an away game. A break-in took place on Dec. 9, 2024, while the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was in Texas with his team to face the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football . Authorities got a call from a woman who was at his house and noticed a bedroom window “shattered” and the room “ransacked.” The mystery woman who called the incident in happens to be pretty well-known herself and now people are speculating about whether or not she and Burrow are a couple. Here’s more about that. Who is Olivia Ponton? The woman who called in the burglary is Olivia Ponton. If you haven’t heard of her before she’s a fashion model and social media influencer. She was born on May 30, 2002, in Naples, Florida. Ponton has millions of followers on TikTok and has modeled for some top brands including Ralph Lauren, Coach, Calvin Klein, and SKIMS. In 2022, she posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition joining the “Rookie class” that year. While Borrow and Ponton haven’t come out and confirmed any reports that they’re dating, her mother, Diane, also called the police about the break-in and said her daughter was “staying there.” In that 911 call, Diane told a dispatcher: “Someone is trying to break into the house right now. My daughter is there. This is Joe Burrow’s house. She is staying there. He’s at the football game.” According to audio obtained by TMZ Sports , Ponton can later be heard on a separate 911 call referring to the quarterback’s residence as “my house” saying: “Someone broke into my house ... It’s completely messed up.” People reported that an insider has since shared that the football player and swimsuit model “have been hooking up since the early fall and are keeping it casual.” Burrow was in a relationship with another woman named Olivia for several years Before he was linked to Ponton, Burrow was in a relationship with a woman named Olivia Holzmacher for years. They met and began dating in college while studying at Ohio State University in 2017 (Burrow later transferred to Louisiana State University). They made their Instagram debut in August of that year when Holzmacher posted a photo of herself and Burrow cuddled up on the university’s football field. After graduation, Holzmacher began working as a senior process specialist and analyst at The Kroger Company, which is based in Cincinnati. Prior to that, she was a supervisor at a gym called Lifetime Fitness in Deerfield, Ohio. Holzmacher often gushed about Burrow on social media but she hasn’t shared a picture of them together since January 2024, which led many to believe that they split up a while back.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted amid mixed trading Monday, ahead of this week’s upcoming meeting by the Federal Reserve that could set Wall Street’s direction into next year. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, coming off its first losing week in the last four . The Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2% to a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a laggard and fell 110 points, or 0.3%. Broadcom leaped 11.2% to help lead the S&P 500 for a second straight day after delivering a profit report last week that beat analysts’ expectations. The technology company is riding a wave of enthusiasm about its artificial-intelligence offerings in particular. The market’s main event, though, will arrive on Wednesday when the Federal Reserve will announce its last move on interest rates for the year. The widespread expectation is that it will cut its main rate for a third straight time, as it tries to boost the slowing job market after getting inflation nearly all the way down to its target of 2%. The question is how much more it will cut rates next year, and Fed officials will release projections for where they see the federal funds rate ending 2025, along with other economic indicators, once their meeting concludes. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will also answer questions in a press conference following the meeting. For now, the general expectation among traders is that the Fed may cut a couple more times in 2025, according to data from CME Group. But such expectations have been shrinking following reports suggesting inflation may be tougher to get all the way down to 2% from here. Besides last month’s slight acceleration in inflation, another worry is that President-elect Donald Trump’s preferences for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation down the line. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle has dropped his earlier forecast of a cut by the Fed in January, for example. Beyond the possibility of tariffs, he said Fed officials may also want to slow their cuts because of uncertainty about exactly how low rates need to go so that they no longer press the brakes on the economy. Expectations for a series of cuts to rates by the Fed have been one of the main reasons the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year and is heading for one of its best years of the millennium . The economy has held up better than many feared, continuing to grow even after the Fed hiked the federal funds rate to a two-decade high in hopes of grinding down on inflation, which topped 9% two summers ago. On Wall Street, MicroStrategy jumped as much as 7% during the day as it continues to benefit from the surging price for bitcoin , which set another all-time high. But its stock ended the day down by les than 0.1% after bitcoin’s price pulled back below $106,000 after setting a record above $107,700, according to CoinDesk. The software company has been building its hoard of the cryptocurrency, and its stock price has more than sextupled this year. It will also soon join the Nasdaq 100 index. Bitcoin’s price has catapulted from roughly $44,000 at the start of the year, riding a recent wave of enthusiasm that Trump will create a system that’s more favorable to digital currencies . Honeywell rose 3.7% after saying it’s still considering a spin-off or sale of its aerospace business, as part of a review of its overall business. It said it plans to give an update with the release of its fourth-quarter results. They helped offset a drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI. Its stock fell 1.7%. Because it’s grown so massive, with a total value topping $3 trillion, it was the single heaviest weight on the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 rose 22.99 points to 6,074.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 110.58 to 43,717.48, and the Nasdaq composite rose 247.17 to 20,173.89. In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.39% from 4.40% late Friday. The two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for the Fed, eased to 4.24% from 4.25%. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly across much of Europe and Asia. They sank 0.9% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai after China reported lackluster economic indicators for November despite attempts to strengthen the world’s second-largest economy. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.2% as law enforcement authorities pushed to summon impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning over his short-lived martial law decree, and the Constitutional Court met to discuss whether to remove him from office or reinstate him. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US
Marginalised by caste, marginalised in education
Jalen Johnson scores 28 to lead the Hawks over the Heat 120-110
Although iOS comes with a native Apple Music app, there are some third-party apps that offer even better experiences for those who subscribe to Apple’s streaming service. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber and want to find out how to better enjoy your music library, check out some of the best iOS apps with Apple Music integration. SongCapsule Instead of working as an alternative player to Apple Music, SongCapsule (formerly known as Next DJ) brings features that will help you rediscover your current music library. The app uses algorithms to generate smart playlists and Magic DJs — which contains a mix of songs from your favorite artists and genres. Although it’s always a good thing to discover new songs, sometimes we have great songs in our library that end up being forgotten after some time. That’s why one of my favorite features of SongCapsule is the Forgotten Songs playlist, which does exactly what the name suggests. It brings together all your favorite songs from the past in one place. You will also find other smart playlists with the most played songs from specific artists and genres, not to mention the playlist with songs you added to your library but never played them. Playlists are automatically generated based on your Apple Music data and updated each time you open the app. SongCapsule is available on the App Store for $4.99 as a one-time purchase. The app has versions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. SongCapsule Quiz From the same developers as SongCapsule, SongCapsule Quiz is a game inspired by iPod’s Music Quiz, but now with a “fresh and modern approach” designed for the streaming era. As the name suggests, the player had to guess the name of the song that was playing. Once you’re ready to play, just tap Start Quiz, and the game will start playing the songs. To make things more interesting, you can achieve a score of up to 1,000 points per round. The faster you choose the right song, the more points you get. The game shows you all the songs you guessed correctly with their respective points, as well as the ones you got wrong. You can share your score with your friends on social networks. But more than that, the game integrates with Apple’s Game Center. SongCapsule Quiz is available on the App Store . You can try it for free, although there’s a Deluxe version available through a subscription or lifetime purchase. Marvis Maybe you’re someone who is subscribed to Apple Music but doesn’t like the official Music app. The Marvis app is a great alternative to the official Apple Music app as it brings all the features you expect to let you explore your music library by albums, playlists, genres, and more. The home screen of the app can be customized with just the sections you need and the way you want. For instance, you can choose from Recently Played songs, Most Played songs, Loved songs, Top Charts, New Releases, Radio Stations, and more to make your Home experience unique within the app. Another interesting feature of the Marvis app is a side menu that can be accessed with gestures, which is great for when you have to use the phone with just one hand. You will also find a great and intuitive interface that works both in portrait and landscape mode. Marvis is available on the App Store for $9.99 as a one-time purchase — and it offers an additional integration with Last.fm that can be unlocked with a $5.99 in-app purchase. The app works with iPhone and iPad. Soor Just like Marvis, Soor is another alternative to the official Apple Music app for iOS — and it also brings cool features for users who are not satisfied with the default iPhone Music app. Soor’s interface is highly customizable, with options to change the Home sections, set a light or dark theme, rearrange the playlists, and more. In addition to your local music library sections such as albums and playlists, you can also add For You, New Songs, Hot Tracks, and other sections directly from Apple Music. With a feature called Magic Mix, you can create Genius-like playlists with filters for artists, albums, genres, composer, play count, and others. The app also comes with multiple widgets for the iOS home screen, which is great for customizing your iPhone while also making it easier to access your favorite songs. This includes Now Playing, Magic Mix, and Music Collection widgets. It even has Cover Flow. Soor is available on the App Store for $6.99 as a one-time purchase. The app is compatible with iPhone and iPad. Don’t forget to read the full Soor review here on 9to5Mac . MusicHarbor Apple Music doesn’t provide a way to follow your favorite artists in order to track their latest and upcoming albums and songs, but MusicHarbor does just that. Instead of offering suggestions or working as an alternative player to Apple Music, MusicHarbor is built for users who know exactly who they want to follow. You just open the app, search for artists and start following them — and MusicHarbor does the rest. The app brings a list of all albums released by each artist, and it also shows any upcoming content, such as singles and video clips. You can also enable push notifications to be notified whenever one of the artists you follow releases a new song. Furthermore, MusicHarbor has a button that redirects you to a web page with the latest news about the artist and a dedicated tab to show any scheduled concerts. There are also widgets, iCloud data sync, and theme options available for users. You can try MusicHarbor for free on the App Store , but some features require in-app purchases to be unlocked. You can use it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Longplay Longplay is also an interesting app that was introduced this year to let users rediscover their music library. Unlike all the other apps on this list, Longplay is focused on exploring entire albums and playlists that you have — excluding those that you’ve added only some of its songs to the Apple Music library. Once you open the app, it shows only the artwork from your albums and playlists. You can rearrange the main app view by selecting only albums or playlists, or using one of the smart “Sort by” options. There are no extra options or anything that makes you think about where to start. All you need to do is tap into an album or playlist and start listening to it. By long pressing the albums, Longplay offers options to play it in shuffle mode or to use AirPlay. It’s a fun app, and Apple Music users should give it a try. Longplay is available on the App Store for $5.99 as a one-time purchase. The app has versions for iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Vision Pro. NowPlaying NowPlaying helps you discover the stories behind the songs and albums you’re listening to. You can see at a glance when the album was released, its ranking in the charts, and even how many versions of the album have been released. All in a super-pleasant interface. More recently, the developers launched a version of the NowPlaying app for Apple TV, which focuses exclusively on albums and encourages users to explore music as “complete works rather than isolated tracks.” NowPlaying is also available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and even Apple Vision Pro. You can try the app for free , although there’s a Gold version that can be unlocked through in-app purchases. Wrap-up With these apps, you can definitely have a whole new experience with Apple Music. You can replace the official Music app or rediscover songs you don’t even remember right now. It’s worth mentioning that although these apps work best with an Apple Music subscription, they also work with songs purchased from the iTunes Store or synchronized from a computer to the Music app. Buy new AirPods at a discount
FOXBORO -- Jerod Mayo heard it from Patriots fans on Saturday as New England spiraled its way to an embarrassing 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers . In the final minutes of the blowout defeat, "Fire Mayo" chants began to fill Gillette Stadium. It's a growing sentiment around New England as the Patriots now sit at 3-13 on the season. They have now lost six straight games for the second time in Mayo's rookie season, and the doubt that Robert Kraft picked the right guy to replace Bill Belichick is only growing stronger among the fanbase. Mayo was asked about those chants for his job following the loss. "Look, you hear those things, but at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats and we've got to play better," he said. "If we play better, we don't have to hear that stuff." There have been reports in recent weeks that Mayo was essentially safe despite the team's struggles this season -- so long as the team wasn't completely embarrassed over the final three weeks. The Patriots lost to the Bills in Buffalo last weekend, 24-21, but it was one their better efforts of the season. But any good that came from that close loss was blown out with Saturday's humiliating outcome. The pressure has to be building for Mayo, though he did his best to dismiss it after the game. "I'm always under pressure and it's been that way for a very long time," he said. "Not just when I became the head coach of the Patriots." Mayo remains confident in his coaching staff While there's a chance that Mayo might ultimately hang on to his job and get a second season in New England, his coordinators and positional coaches may not get that opportunity. Defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington should have the hottest seat of the bunch, as the team's defense has regressed throughout the season. Covington inherited a Top 10 defense, but the Patriots have looked more like a Bottom 10 unit throughout the year. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt is also feeling some heat as the Patriots failed to score more than a touchdown on Saturday -- and that one score came off a free play. New England has yet to score 25 points in any game this season, and was held under 20 points for the ninth time on Saturday. But Mayo continues to back his coordinators and assistant coaches. "I have nothing but confidence in the coaching staff, and we'll get better. That's part of what we have to do," he said. We'll see if they even get that chance after next week's finale against the Bills. Loses like Saturday's usually lead to sweeping changes, though it remains to be seen if the Krafts will go that route with Mayo and his staff. Drake Maye on Patriots coaching staff While fans seem done with Mayo, Patriots players are still very much behind their head coach. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye has defended Mayo and Van Pelt every step of the way, and was asked Saturday why he has confidence they'll be able to turn things around in New England. "I think they're still bringing it every week. I think that's the biggest thing you see. They're not quitting. They're still coaching as hard since Week 1. They're still studying film as hard. We're still meeting as hard," said Maye. "I think the biggest thing was you don't see those guys quitting. I think the score may not tell that today, but I feel like the guys are still wanting to win," Maye added. "We're still leaving it out there every week, and I think that was kind of my message to the team. Man, just give it all you got. It's our last two games, and this one today, so we've got one more chance next week, so just leave it all out there." Patriots players continue to back Jerod Mayo Maye isn't alone in his support for Mayo and Patriots coaches. After the game, veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne joined WBZ-TV's Steve Burton on Patriots Fifth Quarter and voiced confidence in his head coach -- and asked for patience among the fanbase. "The relationship I have with Jerod, I love where we stand. He treats us as men first before players, and I think that will go a long way," said Bourne. "It's going to take some times – you just have to have some patience, fans." Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux didn't like hearing boos from Patriots fans on Saturday, but he understood their frustration. However, he did not like the "Fire Mayo" chants, calling them "ridiculous." Davon Godchaux: “The ‘fire Mayo’ chants are ridiculous.” "I know we don't tank around here. We still want to win football games, but, you know, the 'fire Mayo' chants is just ridiculous. I mean, the guy's first year, first season," said Godchaux, according to The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed . "It's not going to be golden. We didn't expect to go win a Super Bowl this year. I get it. Nobody wants to get beat 40-7. But the 'fire Mayo' chants is just ridiculous." So Patriots players are still very much on board with Mayo. With that being said, receiver DeMario Douglas sure would like to start winning some football games. "My two years, I've been been losing and I feel like it's time to make a change. We got pieces, and we'll add more pieces next year," he said at the podium on Saturday. "I'm trying to be in the playoffs, I'm trying to go for a run, and have a winning season. I'm tired of losing." Matthew Geagan is a sports producer for CBS Boston. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years. He moved over to the web in 2012 and has covered all the highs (and a few lows) in Boston sports.Demonstrators calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, on Dec 7, outside the National Assembly in Seoul. SEOUL – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has managed to cling on to power for now, after an impeachment motion against him over the Dec 3 martial law debacle failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for it to pass. Tabled by the 192-member opposition bloc for voting on Dec 7, the motion needed eight more votes from ruling party lawmakers to meet the 200-vote quorum. But the motion fell short with 195 votes – 194 for, and one against, from a ruling party lawmaker. All but three of the 108 ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers boycotted the vote. They were determined to prevent Mr Yoon from being impeached as it would mean a snap presidential election, which the PPP would most likely lose. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who lost to Mr Yoon by a sliver of a margin in 2022, is widely tipped to win if a snap election is called. The opposition Democratic Party of Korea said it will propose a new impeachment Bill against Mr Yoon on Dec 11, which will be put to a vote on Dec 14. Two Bills were tabled on Dec 7, the first being a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations surrounding First Lady Kim Keon Hee, and the second was Mr Yoon’s impeachment. PPP lawmakers were seen leaving the plenary hall after voting on the first motion, evidently to abstain from voting on the impeachment motion. The PPP lawmakers’ departure prompted Speaker Woo Won-shik to declare in exasperation: “How do you think the people, the world, and history will view you not voting on the unjust martial law and its aftermath? Aren’t you afraid of the judgment of history? Aren’t you afraid of the judgment of the people? Aren’t you afraid of the judgment of the world?” The Speaker made repeated calls for their return, and eventually three returned to applause from the floor. Mr Ahn Cheol-soo, a three-time presidential candidate, and Ms Kim Ye-ji, a visually impaired politician, had previously indicated they would vote for the impeachment, given the strong public sentiment against the six-hour brush with martial rule. Mr Kim Sang-wook disappointed the opposition members who had cheered his return to the session, when he revealed that he had voted against the motion, as per party stance. Speaker Woo, who declared the plenary session closed at 9.20pm (8.20pm Singapore time), more than four hours after it began, told the floor it was regrettable that Parliament was unable to adhere to the “democratic process on a matter of national importance”, and apologised to the nation on behalf of the National Assembly. Under South Korean Constitution, the Bill could have been open for 72 hours after it was tabled at 12.48am on Dec 5, which meant the National Assembly could have waited till 12.48am on Dec 8. But by 9pm, it was clear that the PPP lawmakers – holed up in another part of the building, supposedly for a party general meeting – were not coming back. Earlier, the Bill for a special counsel probe into Ms Kim’s alleged stock manipulation, election interference and leaking of classified information, failed to pass by two votes. The Bill against Ms Kim had been pushed through three times before, but were vetoed by President Yoon each time, most recently on Nov 26. Following the failed impeachment bid, an outraged Mr Lee, leader of the Democratic Party, criticised the PPP as a “criminal party that has betrayed the country”. Having earlier vowed to repeat the impeachment process until successful, Mr Lee pledged that he would not give up and would “normalise the country” by the end of the year. Nearly 150,000 upset South Koreans had thronged the boulevard outside the National Assembly, calling for the impeachment and arrest of Mr Yoon, while about 20,000 supporters of the conservative PPP gathered at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul, about a 20-minute drive away. Protests were also held in other parts of the country, like Gwangju, where a violent uprising in May 1980 resulted in more than a thousand deaths. The uprising was during the country’s last period of martial rule from October 1979 to January 1982, until Mr Yoon’s late-night declaration of martial law on Dec 3 threw the nation into a tailspin and dredged up painful memories. Kyung Hee University’s political scientist Ahn Byong-jin was among those at the National Assembly protest on Dec 3. The 57-year-old, who was jailed briefly in 1990 for student activism under the rule of then-president Roh Tae-woo, said that as “a Korean citizen, I must express my anger”. The late president Roh was an army general before becoming president from 1988 to 1993. In 1996, he was found guilty of his involvement in the Gwangju massacre and sentenced to 17 years in prison but later received a pardon. Professor Ahn described the Dec 7 impeachment failure as “the end of the story”. He said the next round of impeachment motion will not pass muster, as the opposition is unlikely to get the critical eight votes from the PPP, since party chief Han Dong-hoon has decided to block the impeachment. Mr Han had earlier flip-flopped, stating on Dec 5 that his party would block the impeachment, before declaring the very next day that Mr Yoon needed to be suspended from his presidential duties immediately as he was a danger to the public. He appeared to have softened his stance again after meeting the President on Dec 6, when Mr Yoon denied ordering the arrest of key politicians, including Mr Han. After three days of lying low, Mr Yoon finally apologised to the nation in a televised address on the morning of Dec 7. He said he had been driven to desperation as a leader, and expressed his deepest apology to South Korean citizens “who must have been greatly shocked”. In addition to plummeting approval ratings, Mr Yoon’s presidency has been plagued by repeated pushes by the opposition for legal action against his wife, and his policies have been blocked at every turn by the opposition-dominated National Assembly. Mr Yoon was said to be particularly incensed by the opposition’s 22 impeachment motions against his officials during his term, in particular the latest impeachment motions against the state auditor and three prosecutors, which provoked him to declare martial law on Dec 3. The impeachments against the four high-ranking officials were ultimately passed on Dec 5. In his apology, Mr Yoon also promised to entrust his power to the PPP to stabilise the political situation and “take responsibility for future state affairs”. Dr Bong Young-shik of Yonsei University in Seoul slammed Mr Yoon’s two-minute apology as “insincere and shorter than the time it takes to cook ramyeon (Korean instant noodles)”. “Mr Yoon only said that he would work with his party, without mentioning the National Assembly or the opposition. But they are all stakeholders (in policymaking). So this apology is just superficial.” While PPP leader Han assured the public after the failed impeachment attempt that Mr Yoon would effectively be suspended from duties until he steps down, Dr Bong is convinced it is just an attempt on the part of the PPP to buy time until political rival, Mr Lee, is knocked out of the running. Mr Lee faces possible disqualification as a presidential candidate, after being found guilty on Nov 15 by the Seoul Central District Court of lying about corruption allegations during his 2022 presidential campaign. He was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years. His appeal is due to be heard at the Supreme Court within the next six months. If the guilty ruling is upheld, Mr Lee will not be able to run for president. With him out of the picture, the PPP would be able to repair some damage and field candidates like Mr Han, who garnered 11 per cent in a presidential preference poll of 1,000 respondents released on Dec 6. Mr Lee was most favoured at 29 per cent. Referring to the PPP’s calculus, Dr Bong quipped: “Between national interest and party interest, the latter will prevail.” He predicted that the political stalemate will remain “for a very long time”, with South Korea’s economy likely to take a huge hit from the instability. As for Prof Ahn, he believes that the power of the people will ultimately prevail. Describing the sentiment of the protesters on the ground as “very passionate”, similar to demonstrations during former president Park Geun-hye’s impeachment in late 2016, Prof Ahn said he was surprised to see the younger crowd more outraged than he was. “The younger generation are so angry that they will not give up (on removing Mr Yoon from office) so easily. Eventually Yoon and his faction, they will suffer a very severe punishment. But until that time, we are going to go through a very difficult time.” Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowUS may hit new debt limit as early as Jan 14, Yellen says
