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November 23 - A pair of teams with minimal rest will face off in Nassau, Bahamas, on Sunday when No. 22 St. John takes on Georgia. St. John's (5-1), which will play its third game in four days, began the stretch in the Bahamas Championship on Thursday, dropping a heartbreaker to No. 13 Baylor. The Red Storm led by 18 in the first half before Baylor forced overtime. From there, St. John's rallied from five down with 1:47 left to send the game to a second overtime, where it saw Baylor knock down a pair of 3-pointers in the final seven seconds -- including Jeremy Roach's buzzer-beater -- to knock off the Red Storm 99-98. In the third-place game on Friday, St. John's breezed past Virginia 80-55. RJ Luis Jr. led the way with 18 points and four steals, followed by Kadary Richmond's 12 points, as the Red Storm took a one-point lead with 15:21 left in the first half and didn't trail again. "I'm really impressed with our guys, coming off a double-overtime, extremely emotional loss," St. John's head coach Rick Pitino said. "To respond that way was extremely impressive, both offensively and defensively." Pitino, in his second year with the Red Storm, was moved by something off the court on Friday, involving captain Zuby Ejiofor, who chipped in eight points, nine boards, two steals and two blocks. Ejiofor was serenaded by St. John's fans during the win, following his two missed free throws at the end of double overtime against Baylor. "When you've only been in a job for a year, you search for things you love about a place," Pitino said. "Tonight I found out what I love about St. John's. Our fans chanted Zuby's name the whole game, which doesn't happen anywhere else in America. I was really impressed with our fans and I thank them for making Zuby feel good, because he gives you all the energy." Luis leads the Red Storm with 17.3 points per game, followed by Ejiofor (10.7), Aaron Scott (10.5), Deivon Smith (10.3) and Richmond (10.2). Georgia enters Sunday's matchup looking to rebound from its first loss after falling to No. 15 Marquette 80-69 on Saturday. Georgia (5-1) battled back from a 15-point, second-half deficit, but was held to just three points over the final 4:57 in Saturday's loss. Blue Cain led the Bulldogs with a season-high 17 points, including five 3-pointers. "It's a process. It's a journey with this team," Bulldogs head coach Mike White said. "It's about continuing to make strides, continuing to protect our culture. ... At the end of the day, wins and losses are going to take care of themselves. We just have to embrace the process and enjoy it." Five-star freshman recruit Asa Newell was held to a season-low nine points but leads the team with 15.5 points per game. Silas Demary Jr. is second with 13.8. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Adcetera's creative partnership with Roborock sends the S8 MaxV Ultra into space HOUSTON , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Adcetera, a Houston -based digital marketing agency, announces the launch of a historic video campaign in partnership with Roborock , one of the world's leading robot vacuum brands. The campaign, centered around the theme "Beyond Limits," culminated in the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra being launched 120,000 feet above the Earth, making it the first robot vacuum in space. When Roborock began searching for an agency to develop a video campaign around their hashtag, #BeyondLimits, Adcetera's creatives stepped in to develop a narrative that could bring those two words to life. The resulting social media campaign features three scientists frustrated by outdated cleaning tools. Their solution? Invent the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. After putting the vacuum through a series of "Beyond Limits" tests, the scientists take it one step further and launch it into space. The collaboration included partnering with Sent into Space, a UK-based company specializing in sending objects into the upper stratosphere. On September 17, 2024 , the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra successfully launched from Sheffield, UK , reaching 120,000 feet above Earth and enduring extreme temperatures, thus proving the product's endurance and innovation. The project involved building a unique laboratory set, sourcing talent and hundreds of props, a post-production that included multiple special effects, and coordinating an international space launch — all executed with precision to ensure the project stayed on schedule, within budget, and within scope. Stella Lin , Marketing Specialist at Roborock, praised the collaboration: "It was a pleasure collaborating with Adcetera on these projects. I believe they not only demonstrate Roborock's exceptional product quality and groundbreaking achievements, but also serve as a strong testament to Adcetera's professional expertise." To date, the video series has collectively garnered tens of millions of views across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. "We're proud of how our team turned a larger-than-life idea — an idea that felt almost impossible — into reality," said Adcetera's Chief Creative Officer Rowan Gearon . "We're pushing creative boundaries just like Roborock pushes the limits of technology." About Adcetera Adcetera is a full-service, integrated digital marketing agency with an obsession to deliver innovative solutions that drive growth for brands. Headquartered in Houston, TX , with offices in Chicago, IL and The Woodlands, TX , they are a distinctively diverse team of innovators, creators, and leaders from around the world, deeply proud of the award-winning work and the ongoing value provided to brands, businesses, and communities for over 40+ years. Adcetera is a privately held, WBENC-certified, HUB-certified, woman-owned business. For more information visit adcetera.com . Follow on LinkedIn . Adcetera – Strategic. Creative. People. About Roborock Roborock is a leading smart cleaning brand renowned for its intelligent cleaning solutions. With a steadfast dedication to becoming a global leading smart appliance player, Roborock enriches lives with its innovative line of robotic, cordless, wet/dry vacuum cleaners, and washer-dryers. Rooted in a user-centric approach, our R&D-driven solutions cater to diverse cleaning needs in over 15 million homes across 170+ countries. Headquartered in Beijing and with strategic subsidiaries in key markets, including the United States , Japan , the Netherlands , Poland , Germany , and South Korea , Roborock is dedicated to elevating its market presence worldwide. For more information, visit https://global.roborock.com/. SOURCE ADCETERA'Military courts lack transparency,' UK says after sentencing of May 9 rioters UK calls on Pakistan govt to uphold obligations under International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights In response to the sentencing of 25 accused involved in the May 9 events by military courts, the United Kingdom on Monday said that the military courts lack transparency, independent scrutiny and undermine the right to a fair trial. In a statement, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said the UK calls on the federal government to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). However, the spokesperson said, the UK respects Pakistan’s sovereignty over its own legal proceedings. As many as 25 individuals involved in the May 9, 2023, attacks on state installations were sentenced to two to 10 years by military courts. "Field General Court Martial (FGCM) have in [the] first phase promulgated the punishments to 25 accused," the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, about the suspects who resorted to violence during the May 9 protests. The convictions were objected to by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the European Union (EU). A day earlier, the European Union expressed concern over the sentencing of 25 accused by a military court, saying that the verdicts were seen as inconsistent with the obligations that Pakistan has undertaken under the ICCPR. "In line with article 14 of ICCPR, every person is entitled to a fair and public trial in a court that is independent, impartial and competent, and has the right to adequate and effective legal representation," said a statement issued by the EU's European External Action Service. Furthermore, it said, article 14 also stipulates that any "judgement rendered in a criminal case shall be made public". Under the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), beneficiary countries, including Pakistan, have voluntarily agreed to implement effectively 27 international core conventions — including the ICCPR — in order to continue benefitting from GSP+ status, the statement concluded. The protests broke out after PTI founder Imran Khan was taken into custody in a graft case. In turn, scores of party workers were arrested and more than 100 civilians are facing military trials. However, the party maintained that it had no role in the incidents involving military installations, including the attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ), and has called for a judicial probe into last year's events. PML-N senator says 'govt committee accepts PTI's demand to meet Imran Khan' Case registered against bus driver for killing woman at Ayesha Manzil 'Global reaction’: PTI concerned over delay in £190m case verdict against Imran, Bushra We must prepare on war-footing to deal with climate change: Bilawal

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Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Christmas Eve, after key U.S. benchmarks rose overnight helped by gains in tech stocks. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are Japan's Nikkei 225 slipped 0.32% as minutes of the Bank of Japan's October meeting showed that members agreed to stick with raising rates if the economic and inflation outlook was met . Japanese automaker Honda surged 15%, while Nissan shares fell over 5%, a day after they announced starting formal discussions to merge, paving the pay to create the world's third-largest automaker by sales . Discussions are set to conclude in June 2025. South Korea's Kospi was down 0.26% while the Kosdaq was 0.16% higher. South Korea's consumer confidence slipped to the lowest in over two years. The country's consumer sentiment index dropped by more than 12 points from November to 88.4 in December, falling below the 100-point mark that separates optimism from pessimism, a survey released by the Bank of Korea showed. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose 0.42% on open, while mainland China's CSI 300 was up 0.10%. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was 0.35% higher in a shortened trading day. Overnight in the U.S., stocks rose as strength in technology names helped the broader market. The S&P 500 gained 0.73% to 5,974.07. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.98% to 19,764.89, as Tesla and Meta Platforms added more than 2% and Nvidia climbed more than 3%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased earlier losses and ended the day 66.69 points higher, or 0.16%, to 42,906.95. Trading was thin on Monday and is expected to remain muted during the week. The New York Stock Exchange closes early Tuesday for Christmas Eve at 1 p.m. ET, and the market is shut on Christmas Day. —CNBC's Yun Li contributed to this report.There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? There are times when a postseason bowl seems like the first game of next year for the participating teams. That cliche means something a little different for NC State and East Carolina. The Wolfpack and Pirates face each other in the Military Bowl on Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland. Then they’ll see each other again in about eight months. NC State opens the 2025 season at home against ECU on Aug. 30. There is certainly plenty of familiarity between these two programs, even though NC State (6-6) is in the ACC and East Carolina (7-5) is in the AAC. The teams — located about 80 miles apart — have met 32 times, most recently in 2022 when the Wolfpack won 21-20. From 1970-87, these teams played each other every year. Since 2004, they haven’t gone more than two consecutive seasons without meeting. “Hour and a half down the road and you’re playing — whether you play every year or don’t play every year — I think it’s still a rivalry,” East Carolina coach Blake Harrell said. “Our fans still get excited. They still think that’s a rivalry. Our players still think that’s a rivalry.” NC State leads the series 19-13 and has won three straight — but East Carolina won three in a row before that. “It’s weird playing a team that we open with next year,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “We don’t play them that much. We play them every three years, so it’s really a roster turnover. Every time we see them, it’s a different ballclub for the most part. But yeah, finishing with who you open with is unique.” Postseason history NC State and East Carolina met in the Peach Bowl in 1992 — during an eight-year hiatus in their regular-season series. ECU scored three touchdowns in the final 7:26 to win 37-34. “We had that time during COVID, we obviously all had some down time. I remember searching through YouTube, just past games to check out. That game did pop up,” Harrell said. “That was a special moment for that team and that program at the time, and this could be a special moment for this team and this program.” Last time here NC State is playing in the Military Bowl for the first time. East Carolina was supposed to participate in 2021, but the game was canceled. The Pirates lost to Maryland in the 2010 edition. Long-term choice Harrell took over on an interim basis in the middle of the season when Mike Houston was fired. After leading the Pirates to four straight wins, Harrell had the interim tag removed. Next man up Freshman CJ Bailey took over at quarterback for NC State this season after concussion problems ended Grayson McCall’s career. Bailey has completed 64.1% of his passes. Only Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson threw for more touchdowns as a freshman for the Wolfpack than Bailey, who has 14 TD tosses. “He’s a really good player. Doesn’t play like a freshman to me,” Harrell said. “Makes really good throws down the field, has a really good arm, and then if he takes off scrambling or if the quarterback-designed run game, he’s a long strider. He can eat up some ground. Nobody ever catches him.” ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football AdvertisementGordo navideño 2024: Bolitas que repartirán millonarios premios ya están listas para el sorteo

With presents gathering under Christmas trees, and most players back at pre-season training, we’re only six weeks away before the 2025 trial matches start. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer > Yet, there are still concerns that linger across the NRL ranging from key position question marks to how well recruits will fit into their new teams. New Broncos coach Michale Maguire needs to stamp out the rock star mentality that cruelled the club since the 2023 decider. Meanwhile, the Knights are hoping for another playmkaer to stand up and support Kalyn Ponga so they can shed the one-man team tag. And the Sharks need star recruit Addin Fonua-Blake to hit the ground running in a bid to put an end to their failures in the finals. Below, we dive into each team’s Christmas wish list because even a club like the four-peat Panthers are in need of a little something from Santa. Read on for every NRL club’s Christmas Wish. BRONCOS What they need: Madge’s messaging to get across Brisbane drew a line in the sand when they sacked Kevin Walters in September, less than 12 months after the coach took them to the grand final. The shock move and then hiring of hard taskmaster Michael Maguire put the entire club on notice after a shocking 2024 season. The message was clear: no more Mr Nice Guy for a coach. The Broncos players need to stop acting like rock stars and get back to being footballers. The Broncos faithful demand success and it’s time for the players to act accordingly. Young guns Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam are saying all the right things since Maguire arrived, but the proof will be in the pudding. Walsh spoke about “taking on more of a leadership role” but a few weeks later was spotted at the back of the group during fitness drills. After Mam injured several people in a car and was caught drug driving, Maguire booted him from Red Hill and to a construction site to learn about the real world. If Maguire gets his message across, the Broncos will absolutely be contending for a premiership in 2025. MORE NRL NEWS OFF-SEASON CENTRAL: DCE’s contract backflip as Manly devise Trbojevic switch ‘CARNIVORE’: Cleary ahead of schedule in bid to forge new halves combo amid diet TRANSFER CENTRE: Eels pick up gun after Bulldogs release; Raiders star extends RAIDERS What they need: Their young guns to kick on Ricky Stuart has been open about adopting a youth policy in a bid to end the club’s 31 year title drought, but that all depends on if and how quickly those young guns develop. In halves, Ethan Strange and Ethan Sanders, fullbacks Kaeo Weekes and Chevy Stewart and outside backs Xavier Savage, Matthew Timoko and Sebastian Kris, the Raiders have one of the most exciting young crops of backline stars in the game. The upside is they still have so much room for improvement, but how quickly they find consistency will determine how far the Raiders go in 2025. The pack is led by Hudson Young, Zac Hosking, Morgan Smithies and Joseph Tapine, who all arguably still have their best football in front of them. The challenge for Stuart’s young brigade is to learn quickly from their mistakes and narrow the distance between their best and worst games, to get the Raiders firing and pushing for the finals. If enough of their young guns fire, the Raiders will be a dangerous beast in 2025 and they can build a premiership contender around them for the next five years at least. BULLDOGS What they need: Their middle forwards to gel It often takes time for new recruits to find their feet at their new clubs, and in 2024 the Bulldogs showed a mountain of improvement. Under Cameron Ciraldo, they made their first finals appearance since 2016, going down to the Sea Eagles in week one. So how can they improve in 2025? Their middle forwards needed strengthening, and Ciraldo and Phil Gould have done just that, signing several enforcers. While Canterbury made do with the players they had, it was clear the likes of Sam Hughes and Josh Curran desperately needed help in the front row, with Max King sitting out for an extended period with a wrist injury. Tom Amone, 28, has been drafted in from the Super League, departing Leigh Leopards. He has previously played for the Rabbitohs and Tigers, and made his NRL debut in 2019. Phil Gould labelled him the “best front row forward in the UK for the past two years” and he could slot straight into the middle forward rotation. Meanwhile, Sitili Tupouniua also arrives after 106 games at the Roosters. The 27-year-old has played majority of his football in the back row, but a shift closer to the middle of the field could be on the cards with Jacob Preston, Viliame Kikau and Jaeman Salmon already in the Bulldogs’ ranks. Should both of those recruits hit the ground running at Belmore, the Bulldogs are only going to get better and a deeper finals run could be a possibility. DOLPHINS What they need : To lift the Bennett curse The Wayne Bennett curse is very real. Bennett has been replaced at NRL clubs six times and it’s been decades since any of his successors tasted sustained success. Jason Demetriou (Rabbitohs) and Anthony Seibold (Broncos) are the most-recent examples of clubs spiralling after the legendary coach departs. But take a trip further down history lane and you’ll see the curse ended the head coaching careers of Ivan Henjak (Broncos), Steve Price (Dragons) and Rick Stone (Knights). The only coach to enjoy premiership success at a club after Bennett left is the great Tim Sheens, who replaced him at the Raiders in 1988. Bennett guided Canberra to their first grand final in 1987, but Sheens took the Green Machine to four more deciders over the next seven years and won three of them. Kristian Woolf has replaced Bennett as the Dolphins head coach after serving as his assistant for the expansion club’s first two seasons. Club officials are confident Woolf will end the curse because he’s the product of a succession plan years in the making. But try telling that to Demetriou, who did the exact same thing at Souths and lasted just 58 games in the role before he was axed. SHARKS What they need: Addin Fonua-Blake to hit the ground running The Sharks finally broke their finals curse under Craig Fitzgibbon and now they need a big man to break down the next door - winning the premiership. Addin Fonua-Blake is arguably the best front-rower in the world and has been named in the Dally M Team of the Year for the past two seasons. Cronulla came from the clouds to sign Fonua-Blake after the Warriors granted him a release back to Sydney for family reasons. Now Fitzgibbon must work out how to ensure his side gets the most out of the Tongan star while the Sharks remain in their premiership window. If AFB can get the pack consistently going forward then it will put halfback Nicho Hynes on the front foot and allow him to rediscover his Dally M Medal form. There’s talk Braydon Trindall may wear the No. 7 jersey next season, but Hynes will still be crucial to their success. “I feel like if we keep everyone on board then we can fight for a premiership every year,” Hynes said. “When you’re going so well as a club, obviously people want to come hunting your players. “They (teammates) might get offered a bit more money than what we have (in the salary cap) and I would never begrudge a teammate for wanting to look after family and go and find a good opportunity. “But in saying that I feel like we’re building something special – it’s something you want to be a part of.” TITANS What they need: A halfback to stand up The Titans have arguably the best forward pack in the competition, with former Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard joining a talented group that includes the likes of rep players David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moeaki Fotuaika. The Titans also have plenty of talent in their backline in Jayden Campbell, Keano Kini and AJ Brimson. However, there are plenty of question marks at the halfback position. The Titans just haven’t been able to settle on one in quite some time. Tanah Boyd was too hot-and-cold and was allowed to let walk in the off-season. 34-year-old Kieran Foran had some good moments in 2024 in the No. 7, but he’s at the back end of his career and is more of a five-eighth than a natural halfback. The Titans have a couple of interesting halfback options on their roster who have both yet to feature in an NRL game. They are rugby union convert Carter Gordon and teen talent Zane Harrison. Gordon has been impressive at training and in the Q Cup since joining the club halfway through 2024. A former flyhalf for the Wallabies, halfback would be the smoothest positional transition for Gordon. Whether it’s Gordon, Blues u-19 rep Harrison or perhaps Foran, the Titans need strong play from their halfback in 2025, as the lack thereof is what is keeping them from being a finals team. SEA EAGLES What they need: Tom Trbojevic to stay fit If the Sea Eagles want to compete for a premiership, Tom Trbojevic simply must stay on the field. The 28-year-old has been consistently plagued by injuries in his NRL career, with his most recent being an AC joint blow to close out the 2024 season. Before that a hamstring injury ruled him out of Origin, while he also suffered a pectoral rupture in the series opener in 2023. Throw in the mix other hamstring and shoulder injuries and it’s been a horrid run since 2020 for the superstar fullback. It’s clear to see that Anthony Seibold’s side are a better team when Trbojevic is wearing the No.1 jersey, and the club have previously floated the idea of him playing in the centres where he featured once in 2024 against the Cowboys in Round 18. There’s been reports that the Sea Eagles will consider shifting him to five-eighth if Daly Cherry-Evans doesn’t play on in 2026, hoping to prolong his career. But regardless, Manly have a big opportunity in 2025 if they can keep their big-name stars fit, especially Trbojevic who has shown in the past he can be the competition’s best player, winning the Dally M Medal in 2021. “If Manly want a genuine chance of winning a trophy at some stage, Turbo has got to be the fullback,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox League during the 2024 season. “If they want to take down the big teams, he has to be at fullback.” STORM What they need: To stop Nathan Cleary Melbourne’s grand final side is getting even stronger with the addition of prop Stefano Utoikamanu and they’re already favourites to win the competition next year. But Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary will have something to say about that as he chases a ridiculous fifth straight premiership. The Storm have the best spine in the NRL with Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant are all in the prime of their careers. They really should have converted their 2024 minor premiership - finishing four points clear - into a title but Cleary once again guided his side to victory in the big dance. However, their legendary coach Craig Bellamy believes the grand final heartbreak could ignite a Storm dynasty. “Hopefully we’ll be wiser for (the grand final loss) and learn a few things,” Bellamy said. “There’s a bit of a theory (that) you’ve got to lose one before you win one. Hopefully that’s the case. “Just going on our experience, our 2020 side, we had nine players from that squad that played against us this year for other teams. “It was an inexperienced side, for playing in a grand final, and hopefully we can build on that next year and go from there because we aren’t losing too many.” KNIGHTS What they need: Somebody to help Ponga It was almost comical at times just how much better Kalyn Ponga was than his teammates during the 2024 season. Newcastle’s season came to an end against the Cowboys in the first week of finals after Ponga missed two chances to win the game at the death. But the reality is the Knights would have been nowhere near playing finals, let alone winning one, without Ponga. Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien used 11 different halves combinations in 2024 and Cooper Cronk believes the Knights need to find another running threat at five-eighth to ease the pressure on Ponga in attack. Jackson Hastings could try and fill that void, but he’s fallen out of favour with O’Brien, while English recruit Will Pryce is another option. But Pryce has only just turned 22 and still has some defensive frailties in his game which it’s hard to see him overcoming this summer. “I think (Jack) Cogger’s probably got enough of the fundamentals of a No.7 to be the organising, ball playing, majority kicking game player,” Cronk said. “But I think they need more of a running threat than Kalyn Ponga. “If I was Adam O’Brien, I’m probably going Cogger at No.7 and then finding someone a little bit dynamic that can run the football at No.6. “Not like a fullback in Kalyn, but just someone who can add a point of difference on the other side.” COWBOYS What they need: A harder edge The Cowboys have all the talent in the world and have proven they can score from anywhere on the field, but defence has been what’s let them down in 2023 and 2024. What’s been so strange about their defensive issues over the past two seasons, is that the season prior in 2022, they were a very stout football team. In 2022, the Cowboys were 20 minutes away from a grand final before being run down by the Eels in a prelim. That season, their defence was a huge reason for their success. North Queensland allowed 361 points in the regular season. In 2023 and 2024, that number spiked to 542 and 568 respectively. Their roster in 2023-2024 was extremely similar to the 2022 one, so it’s an attitude issue that Payten must get to the bottom of. If he and his team can become steelier defensively, the Cowboys are premiership threats. The arrival of John Bateman is a sure indication that Todd Payten is looking for more toughness in his players if they are to challenge for a first title since 2015. EELS What they need : Jason Ryles to bring some Craig Bellamy magic to the Eels. No rookie coach has done a better apprenticeship than Jason Ryles after working under Craig Bellamy at the Storm and Trent Robinson at the Roosters. But working well under the master coaches and going out and succeeding in your own right are two totally different things and when you factor in the Eels’ history, Ryles will be under the blowtorch from Round 1. The Eels have the longest title drought in the NRL stretching back nearly 40 years and it is hard to see how the team that played in the spoon bowl last year has gotten that much better on paper. They may have signed Zac Lomax and Josh Addo-Carr, but they let three of their best players in Blaize Talagi (Panthers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Titans) and Clint Gutherson (Dragons) go. The key will be Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown and how they take ownership of the side in Gutherson’s absence and fullback Isaiah Iongi’s development in the No.1 jersey. But if Ryles wants to take this team back to the finals, let a lone compete for a drought-breaking title, he is going to have to inspire largely the same roster to greater heights in 2025. That comes down to making players better individually as part of a passionate team goal, which is what has made Bellamy so successful over such a long period of time. Ryles will be looking to sprinkle that magic in each of his players’ Santa stockings this Christmas and hope his players can deliver their best seasons’ on the field in 2025. Ryles needs to give the players clarity in the game plan and get them to buy into his vision for taking them back to the top or it could be another long season. PANTHERS What they need: A clean bill of health The Panthers have kept surgeons busy this off-season, with Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Blaize Talagi and Mitch Kenny all having shoulder surgeries. Cleary and Edwards both had a Latarjet procedure, while Kenny went under the knife on both of his shoulders, having had scans after a holiday in Europe, which showed he had underlying issues. Talagi, meanwhile, suffered his injury while playing for Samoa. All four are set to be key figures in Penrith’s spine in 2025, and Edwards and Cleary could be racing the clock to be fit for their Las Vegas season opener. Regardless, Panthers powerbrokers will be hopeful the quartet will recover from their surgeries in a timely manner, and Cleary has already revealed he’s ahead of schedule, returning to pre-season training on December 12. “There are a few guys at the club who have come back from shoulder surgery and everyone is doing really well. We’re all progressing well together,” Cleary said. If the Panthers can have some luck with injuries write off their chances for a fifth straight title at your peril. RABBITOHS What they need: A big dose of Bennett magic There’s no beating around the bush — 2024 was a nightmare season for the Rabbitohs. They sacked Jason Demetriou, came 16th and marquee man Latrell Mitchell had a year to forget. South Sydney powerbrokers turned to Wayne Bennett to turn the club’s fortunes around, and there’s arguably not a better coach to do just that. The 74-year-old is widely regarded as the game’s best ever mentor, with an innate ability to get the best out of his players and mould his squad into a competitive side. The last time Bennett was in charge in Redfern was during the 2021 season, taking them to the grand final and eventually going down to the Panthers. The Rabbitohs have a host of talented players, namely Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham. Throw in the mix talented English halfback Lewis Dodd, and they’ve got a strong side. So there’s no reason why they can’t return to finals football, and if they are to find themselves in the top eight Bennett is going to look like a genius... once again. DRAGONS What they need: Their halves to forge a strong partnership It’s always a tough ask to step into the shoes of an experienced playmaker, but Lachlan Ilias has been tasked with doing just that for the second time in his career. Ending a drawn out contract saga, Ben Hunt was granted a release and eventually joined the Broncos, having previously requested a release from his Dragons contract on multiple occasions. Ilias was the man to replace Adam Reynolds at the Rabbitohs, which came with lofty expectations of the halfback who at the time was inexperienced in first grade. In 2024, Ilias was then dropped by Demetriou in March before suffering a nasty leg injury in NSW Cup, which ended his season prematurely. Fast forward to pre-season an Ilias will once again be replacing an experienced halfback in Hunt. There’s no doubting the 24-year-old is a quality player, but only time will tell if he is able to forge a competitive partnership with five-eighth Kyle Flanagan. With Flanagan inking a contract extension recently and Daniel Atkinson joining next year, the two halves in 2025, could be playing off for a spot in the team in the 2026 season. Regardless, the former Souths No.7 has revealed he was a Dragons fan as a youngster. “That was my first team while I was growing up, so it’s not too unfamiliar, but it feels good... and I’m just so glad that Shane (Flanagan) gave me a chance and said, it would be really nice to have you here.” ROOSTERS What they need: Next crop of leaders to stand up The Roosters lost an enormous amount of experience at the end of the 2024 season, with almost 1000 caps walking out the door. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Hull KR), Joseph Manu (rugby), Luke Keary (Catalans), Joseph Suaalii (rugby), Sitili Tupouniua (Bulldogs) and Terrell May (Tigers) all departed. Throw in fellow stars Brandon Smith and Sam Walker missing the first half of next season with ACL injuries and the Roosters will be doing well just to make the top eight. It means players like Angus Crichton, Connor Watson, Lindsay Collins and Victor Radley will need to step up and fill the leadership void. If they don’t then their shocking record against the top teams will continue into 2025. Since the start of 2020, the Roosters have just one win from 22 games against Penrith and Melbourne. “I hear it all the time they say ‘Roosters football, the Roosters way.’ Well they’ve got to tear it up because it (isn’t) working,” Matty Johns said on Fox League. “Their inability to beat those sides isn’t about the roster, it is about the style of football they play. “It’s a big season and a big off-season of self assessment.” WARRIORS What they need: Someone to fill the void left by Shaun Johnson Shaun Johnson’s decision to retire from rugby league has left a massive void in the halves for the Warriors. The 34-year-old’s form directly correlated to New Zealand’s form, but now they’ll be desperate that one of their playmakers can stand tall in the No.7 in 2025. Te Maire Martin was the man who stepped into the halfback role in his absence in 2024, and the 29-year-old was impressive when called upon. Martin has 93 NRL games under his belt now across stints at the Panthers, Cowboys and Broncos, which followed his time away from the game due to a brain injury. Luke Metcalf looks almost certain to return to the No.6 jersey, while Martin could be facing competition from Chanel Harris-Tavita and also new recruit Tanah Boyd. Harris-Tavita shapes as a solid utility option on the bench, with the ability to play in the halves, at hooker and even the outside backs at a push. Boyd, meanwhile, is an out-and-out halfback and was allowed to leave the Titans to seek first grade opportunities elsewhere by Des Hasler. The 24-year-old has overall struggled to cement his spot in first grade sides, but he has ability and was handed a two-year deal by Warriors powerbrokers, adding depth to their playmaking stocks. TIGERS What they need: Lachlan Galvin to re-sign It’s clear Lachlan Galvin is the future at the Tigers. The 19-year-old was arguably the unofficial Dally M Rookie of the Year in 2024, being out of the running due to a suspension. The teenager ran the ball dangerously, attacked the line with the confidence of a superstar and he also possesses some impressive playmaking skills. Galvin is arguably the hottest young prospect in the game, but requested a release from his Tigers contract mid-season, before backflipping on that move. As it stands, the teenage gun will be free to negotiate with rivals from November 1 in 2025, with two more years on his contract. However, there’s been suggestions that the club should hand him a 10-year deal, with chief executive Shane Richardson saying: “We’re working closely with Galvin, his family and his agent about extending him in the new year”. It’d be a big showing of faith from Galvin to sign a fresh deal, but the Tigers should only improve in 2025 with the arrival of a host of big-name stars, including Jarome Luai, Terrell May, Sunia Turuva, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird. John Bateman’s impending departure will reportedly free up cap space to hand to the young gun, and if the Tigers can get his extension over the line it will be a huge boost.

Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca serves 7,880 individuals annually through over 40 programs designed to alleviate hunger and homelessness, help domestic violence victims, prepare individuals for the workforce, provide early childhood development, improve health outcomes, strengthen families and mitigate crisis. Our ability to provide hope and sustainable opportunities through lifechanging programming is something we are truly grateful for. Through federal, state and local grants we are able to craft and administer programs to holistically address the conditions of poverty locally and build sustainable pathways to economic security for those facing often unjust, heartbreaking inequities. This alone can have a profound impact on the people we serve, but without you, our community, none of this would be possible. The acts of kindness, the monetary donations, physical donations, food donations and the gifts of time sustain our agency, inspire our staff and meaningfully change lives. CAP is proud to take part in the global generosity movement, Giving Tuesday, on Dec. 3 as we work to meet the emergent end of year needs. Giving Tuesday is an inclusive community of millions of givers, with an activity in every country on every continent. It celebrates and uplifts grassroots generosity as a universally held value. Something we are very familiar with at CAP. This year, we will be seeking donations to our food pantry and the Head Start Backpack Program, a weekend program that alleviates child hunger for 230 children enrolled in Head Start. In Cayuga County, 19.6% of adults and 17.4% of children face food insecurity. As funding has stayed stagnant, the need continues to increase. On average, CAP’s food pantry serves 1,223 individuals each month. Food insecurity often becomes more pronounced during the holiday season. While many people celebrate with big holiday meals, others struggle to access basic food needs. This time of year can bring additional financial and emotional burdens that can include heating bills, holiday expenses and child care during school breaks. Families living paycheck to paycheck often have to make impossible choices between food and other essential needs. For children who rely on school meals, the holidays mean losing access to a critical source of nutrition. The gap places additional strain on already struggling families and increases the demand for assistance. Bags of food at CAP Cayuga/Seneca's food pantry. CAP typically sees a surge in demand during the holidays, with November being the busiest month of the year for the food pantry. Over the last two years, we have seen an 82% increase in need in November as families seek help to provide special meals and meet everyday needs. This increase poses challenges to our pantry in keeping the shelves stocked due to stagnant funding, rising food costs and disruptions in the supply chain. Every year, with more families reaching out for help, it can be a heartbreaking time for those who are forced to make impossible choices, but it’s also a time when we see our community come together to make a difference. Monetary donations can help us purchase more healthy, nutritious food from local farmers and food in bulk through the Food Bank of Central New York. By volunteering, your gift of time can have a lifechanging impact, even an hour a week or month, by delivering food through our mobile pantry, helping pack food boxes or unloading our trucks and stocking shelves in our pantry and warehouse. Donations of nonperishable items, including canned proteins, low-sugar cereal, spaghetti sauce, canned soups, stews, fruit and 100% juice, can help dramatically reduce the number of hungry families. Monetary contributions will also allow us to fill the Head Start backpacks with additional food over the two-week holiday break. A refrigerator full of food at CAP Cayuga/Seneca's food pantry. Every day, we meet people who are living in very different circumstances who have the courage to seek help or give help, and allow us to be part of their story. Each act of generosity is a chance to connect, serve and uplift one another. To find out how you can join the movement, visit caphelps.org , email questions@caphelps.org or call (315) 255-1703 ext. 155. Jennifer Rossi is the marketing and development director at Community Action Programs Cayuga/Seneca and can be reached at (315) 255-1703 ext. 155 or jrossi@caphelps.org . Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Why F1's Las Vegas Grand Prix will be 'bigger and better' than last year

MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler will not play in the final two games of Miami's ongoing road trip while recovering from illness, the team said Friday. That means Butler will not play Saturday at Atlanta or Sunday at Houston. The earliest he could play again is Wednesday at home against New Orleans. Butler hasn't played since the first quarter of Miami's Dec. 20 game against Oklahoma City, when he twisted an ankle, left the game and then was ruled out because of illness. Miami has played three games since without Butler, two because of the illness and then Thursday's win in Orlando with him back in Miami conditioning for a return. He is not with the team on the road trip. The Heat said Thursday that they are not going to trade Butler, that announcement coming after ESPN, citing sources, said the six-time All-Star would prefer to be moved before the trade deadline on Feb. 6. Butler has not publicly expressed any desire to be traded. He is averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists this season. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAPercentages: FG .400, FT .760. 3-Point Goals: 7-22, .318 (Riek 2-6, Best 1-1, Rogan 1-1, Bergens 1-2, Sparks 1-3, Bleechmore 1-6, Perry 0-1, Curtis 0-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 1 (Munkadi). Turnovers: 7 (Munkadi 2, Bergens, Best, Bleechmore, Perry, Riek). Steals: 5 (Best 2, Johnson, Perry, Riek). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .600, FT .900. 3-Point Goals: 7-16, .438 (Poulakidas 6-7, Gharram 1-2, Brathwaite 0-1, Mullin 0-1, Simmons 0-1, Mbeng 0-2, Townsend 0-2). Team Rebounds: 5. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Aletan, Gharram, Poulakidas). Turnovers: 5 (Mbeng 2, Celiscar, Gharram, Townsend). Steals: 4 (Mbeng 3, Molloy). Technical Fouls: None. A_2,100 (9,323).

Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm, is facing challenges in the wake of Storm Darragh. Regrettably for the star of Clarkson's Farm and his crew's various establishments in Oxfordshire, have been unable to endure the harsh conditions of the storm, which recently swept across the UK, bringing gusts of up to 93mph in certain areas. Taking to Diddly Squat's Instagram account it was announced the Grand Tour tent section of the venue was being shut down until further notice after it was battered by high winds and rain, necessitating some urgent repair work. This closure is particularly unfortunate as the tent draws visitors because it is the same tent Jeremy and his former Grand Tour co-stars Richard Hammond and James May used on their global tour. However, it proved no match for Storm Darragh. Due to the extent of the damage, the closure also meant Jeremy had to shut down the farm's butchers, off-licence Hops and Chops, the shop and the garden kitchen, known as The Famer's Puppy. "Sadly, our Grand Tour tent will be closing for some much-needed wind repair today," read a post on their social media account. But there was a silver lining: The Farmer's Dog main pub would remain open to the public as the storm continued to pass through. Jeremy's fans have rallied to bring a dash of humour to an otherwise unfortunate situation after his beloved Diddly Squat farm suffered damage amid the storms. Followers flocked to the comment section with quips like, "What did May do? Or did Hammond crash into it? " and "Reminds me of Hammonds motorhome on top gear where he managed to set fire to metal". However, not all banter was well-received, as one overzealous commenter learnt when suggesting Jeremy should have preemptively dismantled his pub to avoid storm damage. They wrote: “Surprised you didn't take it down before the storm came would of been easier.” Clarkson's curt response was: "It takes 24 people seven days to put that thing up or take it down." As fans are eager to find out the status of the pub, questions such as "Will the tent and farm shop be open again by this coming Thursday 12th?" were asked, to which the establishment assured that the farm shop is "standing strong" and would resume trading by Thursday. The Farmer's Dog launch at the cusp of summer on August 23 was a smash hit, drawing in crowds keen to sample what Clarkson's latest culinary extension of his Diddly Squat brand in Chipping Norton had to offer. Jeremy snapped up the five-acre spot, originally The Windmill pub, bagging the property for "less than £1m" before rebranding it to his taste. Presently, the establishment welcomes patrons Wednesday through Sunday, from midday until 11pm, offering beverages and dishes crafted with locally-sourced ingredients from British farms.