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The sentencing in ’s Manhattan criminal hush-money case has been postponed indefinitely while attorneys on both sides argue over its future given his recent election victory. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trump’s case, did not provide a new sentencing date in his one-page scheduling order on Friday. Merchan said in his decision that Trump’s lawyers had to file their argument for dismissal by end of business on 2 December. Prosecutors have one week to respond. The development came in the wake of filings from prosecutors and defense lawyers over their views of how Trump’s case should proceed after he won the 2024 election against . Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, a statement calling the decision a “decisive win”. However, he repeated the president-elect’s claim that the case – which found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsified business records – was a “hoax”. Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday asked Merchan to throw out the case, contending that dismissal was necessary “in order to facilitate the orderly transition of executive power”. Todd Blanche, Trump’s lead attorney and , and Emil Bove, the president-elect’s pick for principal associate deputy attorney general, complained that the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg’s team “appears to not yet be ready to dismiss this politically motivated and fatally flawed case, which is what is mandated by the law and will happen as justice takes its course”. They argued that the US justice department was on the verge of dismissing Trump’s federal cases and pointed to a departmental memo that bars prosecution of sitting presidents. “As in those cases, dismissal is necessary here,” their filing said. “Just as a sitting president is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as president-elect.” They claimed that if this case proceeds, it would “be uniquely destabilizing” and could “hamstring the operation of the whole governmental apparatus, both in foreign and domestic affairs”. They asked Merchan to give them until 20 December to file their push for dismissal. Prosecutors previously told Merchan that they planned on fighting Trump’s expected plans for dismissal in the aftermath of his recent presidential win. Prosecutors also said that other case proceedings should be put on pause until Trump’s dismissal argument is decided. Prosecutors disagreed that Trump’s case should be dismissed simply because appeals would not be decided before his inauguration. While they respected the presidency and understood the logistical issues, “no current law establishes that a president’s temporary immunity from prosecution requires dismissal of a criminal proceeding that was initiated at a time when the defendant was not immune from criminal prosecution, and that is based on unofficial conduct from which the defendant is also not immune.” The prosecution said that courts must respect the varying constitutional interests – the executive branch’s need for independence, and the judicial branch’s need for integrity. Prosecutors told Merchan that there were routes he could take other than outright dismissal, including “deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of defendant’s upcoming presidential term”. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records in an effort to sway the 2016 election on 30 May. The prosecution said that Trump falsely listed reimbursements to his then-lawyer, , who gave the adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence about a purported affair with Trump, as “legal expenses”. The jury reached their guilty verdict in less than 24 hours. These proceedings were the first time a US president – former or sitting – stood a criminal trial, as well as a conviction.To The New York Times, it was a standard journalistic practice done in the name of fairness — asking someone involved in a story for comment. To the mother of the nominee for secretary of defense, it constituted a threat. On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth's mother accused the Times of making “threats” by calling about its story on an email she had sent to her son six years earlier that criticized his treatment of women. Penelope Hegseth sought and received an interview on Fox News Channel to support her son, whose confirmation chances are threatened by a series of damaging stories about his personal conduct. At one point, she said she wanted to directly tell President-elect Trump that her son “is not that man he was seven years ago.” She also called the Times “despicable” and attacked a basic tenet of journalism: giving someone the chance to speak for a story about actions that could be seen in a negative light. The Times' story, published Saturday , quoted from a private email that Penelope Hegseth sent to her son in 2018 while he was in the midst of divorcing his second wife. She criticized his character and treatment of women, suggesting that he get some help. “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego,” she wrote to her offspring. “You are that man (and have been for many years).” She told the Times for its story that she had sent the email in a moment of anger and followed it up two hours later with an apology. She disavows its content now. When the Times called her for comment on the story, Hegseth told Fox News that, at first, she did not respond. She said she perceived the calls as a threat — “they say unless you make a statement we will publish it as is and I think that's a despicable way to treat anyone,” she said. “I don't think a lot of people know that's the way they operate,” she said, speaking about the story. She accused the newspaper of being in it "for the money. And they don't care who they hurt, families, children. I don't believe that's the right way to do things.” Charles Stadtlander, a spokesman for the Times, said Hegseth's claim “is flatly untrue,” and she was in no way threatened. “The Times did what it always does in reporting out a story, simply reaching out and asking for a comment, which we included,” he said. Such a call is the opposite of a threat — it's an attempt to be fair, said Tom Rosenstiel, a University of Maryland professor and co-author of “Elements of Journalism: What News People Should Know and What the Public Should Expect.” “She's basically saying that brake lights are a threat because they alert you that the car ahead of you is about to stop," he said. But many Americans would perceive that call as a threat, or certainly as rude and a violation of privacy, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. “She didn't write that email to be on the front page of The New York Times,” he said. A secondary question is the newsworthiness of publishing the content of the private email, one that Hegseth said she almost immediately regretted sending and doesn't reflect how she perceives her son. Graham suggested that the newspaper wouldn't do the same for the nominee of a Democratic president-elect. “The New York Times is out to destroy these nominees,” he said. In its initial story, the Times wrote that it had obtained a copy of the email “from another person with ties to the Hegseth family.” “This was a piece of independently reported journalism published in the name of public awareness of the nominee to lead the largest department in the federal government,” Stadtlander said. “We stand behind it completely.” In many circumstances, an email from a mother to her son would be considered a private matter and out of bounds to a news organization, Rosenstiel said. But in this case, Hegseth, a former Fox News weekend host chosen by Trump to lead the Pentagon, has built himself into a public figure and is up for a very important job — and one that leads the military, which involves waging war and in which character is considered a fundamental trait. “It makes this news, honestly,” Stadtlander said. The Times wrote about Penelope Hegseth's Fox interview on Wednesday, leading with her saying her son “was not the same man he was in 2018 when she fired off an email accusing him of routinely abusing women and lacking decency and character.” There was some question about whether Hegseth would appear for an interview at his former network on Wednesday, after CNN's Kaitlan Collins posted on X the night before that “multiple people” said that was expected. A Fox News representative said that no such interview had been scheduled, and the nominee was on Capitol Hill meeting with senators. He has faced a flurry of other damaging reports, including stories about a sexual assault allegation reported to police in 2017. No charges were filed then, and Hegseth said the relationship was consensual. The New Yorker magazine wrote about reports of financial mismanagement , sexist behavior and excessive drinking when Hegseth ran a veterans' organization, and NBC News wrote about people at Fox News concerned about his alcohol use. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.

It’s easy to think that machine learning is a completely digital phenomenon, made possible by computers and algorithms that can mimic brain-like behaviors. But the first machines were analog and now, a small but growing body of research is showing that mechanical systems are capable of learning, too. Physicists at the University of Michigan have provided the latest entry into that field of work. The U-M team of Shuaifeng Li and Xiaoming Mao devised an algorithm that provides a mathematical framework for how learning works in lattices called mechanical neural networks. “We’re seeing that materials can learn tasks by themselves and do computation,” Li said. The researchers have shown how that algorithm can be used to “train” materials to solve problems, such as identifying different species of iris plants. One day, these materials could create structures capable of solving even more advanced problems—such as airplane wings that optimize their shape for different wind conditions—without humans or computers stepping in to help. That future is a ways off, but insights from U-M’s new research could also provide more immediate inspiration for researchers outside the field, said Li, a postdoctoral researcher. The algorithm is based on an approach called backpropagation, which has been used to enable learning in both digital and optical systems. Because of the algorithm’s apparent indifference to how information is carried, it could also help open new avenues of exploration into how living systems learn, the researchers said. “We’re seeing the success of backpropagation theory in many physical systems,” Li said. “I think this might also help biologists understand how biological neural networks in humans and other species work.” Li and Mao, a professor in the U-M Department of Physics, published their new study in the journal Nature Communications. The idea of using physical objects in computation has been around for decades. But the focus on mechanical neural networks is newer, with interest growing alongside other recent advances in artificial intelligence. Most of those advances—and certainly the most visible ones—have been in the realm of computer technology. Hundreds of millions of people are turning to AI-powered chatbots, such as ChatGPT, every week for help writing emails, planning vacations and more. These AI assistants are based on artificial neural networks. Although their workings are complex and largely hidden from view, they provide a useful analogy to understand mechanical neural networks, Li said. When using a chatbot, a user types an input command or question, which is interpreted by a neural network algorithm running on a computer network with oodles of processing power. Based on what that system has learned from being exposed to vast amounts of data, it generates a response, or output, that pops up on the user’s screen. A mechanical neural network, or MNN, has the same basic elements. For Li and Mao’s study, the input was a weight affixed to a material, which acts as the processing system. The output was how the material changed its shape due to the weight acting on it. “The force is the input information and the materials itself is like the processor, and the deformation of the materials is the output or response,” Li said. For this study, the “processor” materials were rubbery 3D-printed lattices, made of tiny triangles that made larger trapezoids. The materials learn by adjusting the stiffness or flexibility of specific segments within that lattice. To realize their futuristic applications—like the airplane wings that tune their properties on the fly—MNNs will need to be able to adjust those segments on their own. Materials that can do that are being researched, but you can’t yet order them from a catalog. So Li modeled this behavior by printing out new versions of a processor with a thicker or thinner segment to get the desired response. The main contribution of Li and Mao’s work is the algorithm that instructs a material on how to adapt those segments. Although the mathematics behind the backpropagation theory is complex, the idea itself is intuitive, Li said. To kick off the process, you need to know what your input is and how you want the system to respond. You then apply the input and see how the actual response differs from what’s desired. The network then takes that difference and uses it to inform how it changes itself to get closer to the desired output over subsequent iterations. Mathematically, the difference between the real output and the desired output corresponds to an expression called the loss function. It’s by applying a mathematical operator known as a gradient to that loss function that the network learns how to change. Li showed that if you know what to look for, his MNNs provide that information. “It can show you the gradient automatically,” Li said, adding that he had some help from cameras and computer code in this study. “It’s really convenient and it’s really efficient.” Consider the case where a lattice is composed entirely of segments with equal thickness and rigidity. If you hang a weight from a central node—the point where segments meet—its neighboring nodes on the left and right would move down the same amount because of the system’s symmetry. But suppose, instead, you wanted to create a lattice that gave you not just an asymmetric response, but the most asymmetric response. That is, you wanted to create a network that gives the maximum difference in the movement between a node to the weight’s left and a node to its right. Li and Mao used their algorithm and a simple experimental setup to create the lattice that gives that solution. (Another similarity to biology is that the approach only cares about what nearby connections are doing, similar to how neurons operate, Li said.) Taking it a step further, the researchers also provided large datasets of input forces, akin to what’s done in machine learning on computers, to train their MNNs. In one example of this, different input forces corresponded to different sizes of petals and leaves on iris plants, which are defining features that help differentiate between species. Li could then present a plant of unknown species to the trained lattice and it could correctly sort it. And Li is already working to build up the complexity of the system and the problems it can solve using MNNs that carry sound waves. “We can encode so much more information into the input,” Li said. “With sound waves, you have the amplitude, the frequency and the phase that can encode data.” At the same time, the U-M team is also studying broader classes of networks in materials, including polymers and nanoparticle assemblies. With these, they can create new systems where they can apply their algorithm and work toward achieving fully autonomous learning machines. This work is supported by the Office of Naval Research and National Science Foundation Center for Complex Particle Systems, or COMPASS. Astrobiology, cybernetics, SynBio,1 2 3 4 Ludhiana: Six months ago, four activists from Ludhiana called for blocking the polluted water entering villages from the city. They are the ones who have brought the Kale Pani Da Morcha , the protest movement aimed at addressing severe pollution in Buddha Dariya, to this point. These activists, Kapil Arora (civil engineer), Jaskirat Singh (chemical engineer), Kuldeep Khaira (dairy owner and RTI activist), and Dr Amandeep Bains (dentist), took up the initiative when they saw that the AAP government did nothing to solve the Buddha Dariya pollution issue, despite having contested elections on this platform. The activists claimed it deeply troubled them to see CM Bhagwant Mann and Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan remain silent on the issue. These activists were also part of the Mattewara and Zira Factory morchas. Kuldeep Singh Khaira, a resident of Isher Nagar, Gill Road, and an RTI activist since 2006, has been raising numerous issues through his RTI queries. “We have been working on environmental issues for a long time together, and Buddha Dariya has always been at the back of our minds as it is a major issue not only for this city but also for the entire state,” he said. He mentioned that many politicians and bureaucrats talked about clearing the drain as before, but nothing happened on the ground. Khaira further said that what pinched the most was the silence of the present government, which had contested elections on this issue. He said CM Bhagwant Mann should watch his previous videos where he visited the houses of people who lost their loved ones to cancer and other diseases, all because they are forced to drink such polluted water. Kapil Arora, a civil engineer and resident of BRS Nagar, came into the limelight in 2021 when a small portion of the Gill Chowk flyover collapsed. As a member of the Council of Engineers, he pointed out the issues with the flyover and has since been active on various environmental issues. Arora has filed at least 30 cases in the National Green Tribunal, with 17 or 18 cases still active. Regarding this morcha, he said: “Initially, when we gave the government a three-month ultimatum, we believed they would take action during this period. We even extended the deadline from Sep to Dec, but it did not work.” He said that water body pollution is a very serious issue, and now they want to see whether the government will support them or those who are polluting everything. Arora further said that they will conduct a peaceful protest and block the outlets, but if any untoward incident occurs, the government will be responsible. Jaskirat Singh, a chemical engineer and software developer residing in Model Town, has been dedicated to this cause since 2006. He has joined many other groups addressing environmental issues, whether it be the axing of trees, Buddha Dariya, or other violations. He said: “We are not after money, and this is perhaps the major reason we could take up this issue to this point. But the sad part is the silence of the state government. The govt wants activists and industrialists to be at loggerheads with each other.” Asked why they are targeting CETPs first, he said: “Document show that CETPs are discharging their treated water into Buddha Dariya illegally, by going against the agreement. We are not violating anything, but helping implement the PPCB’s orders. After CETPs, we will fight other violations. Dr Amandeep Bains, a dentist residing in Basant Avenue, is quite vocal about various issues in Punjab, whether religious, political, or social. He began his environmental work with the NGO RBS Roots, under which he conducted plantation drives and cleanliness campaigns at the Satluj and Sidhwan canals. Despite having a fractured leg when he joined the Kale Pani Da Morcha, he was active in the events. Bains said: “We can’t let our kids die just for a few industrialists. Clean water is a basic right, and AAP govt has failed. CM Mann was to take a dip in Buddha Dariya after the rejuvenation project was completed, but to date, he has not even bothered to talk to us about this issue.” He said that they will ensure this issue reaches a conclusion. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , and Mini Crossword .

Gukesh Dommaraju: Who is this Indian teen chess prodigy taking on China’s Ding Liren for the world crown?In today's digital era, facial recognition technology, traditionally linked with high-end devices, is undergoing a revolutionary shift. Avtar Singh, an expert in resource-constrained computing and mobile vision, has developed an innovative framework that bridges the technological divide. This groundbreaking solution brings facial recognition capabilities to low-end devices, ensuring accessibility for broader audiences while maintaining high standards of accuracy and performance. Revolutionizing Algorithm Efficiency Traditional facial recognition systems often demand computational resources beyond the reach of budget-friendly devices. A novel approach addresses this challenge by leveraging algorithmic simplification inspired by efficient object detection frameworks. By optimizing feature extraction and detection processes, memory usage is reduced from 250MB to approximately 110MB. Advanced techniques such as model pruning and architecture scaling achieve a 70% reduction in computational demands while maintaining over 93% accuracy. This innovation enables the integration of facial recognition technology into devices previously deemed unsuitable. Smart Frame Processing for Real-Time Performance Real-time facial recognition on low-end hardware is challenging. A novel grid-based prediction system optimizes resources by selectively processing every third frame at full resolution, with intermediate frames interpolated. This approach reduces response times to an average of 156ms, significantly outperforming traditional methods. The multi-scale strategy focuses on high-confidence detection regions, achieving a balance between accuracy and speed, making it ideal for resource-constrained environments. Harnessing the Power of Hybrid Cloud-Edge Computing The framework seamlessly integrates local device processing with cloud computing to optimize workload distribution. Facial detection is handled locally to minimize initial computational demands, while complex feature extraction tasks are offloaded to cloud servers. By transmitting compressed feature maps instead of raw images, the system reduces bandwidth usage by 80%, enhancing efficiency. This hybrid approach ensures consistent performance even under varying network conditions and maintains low latency, with processing delays kept under 250ms, providing a robust solution for real-time applications. Energy-Efficient Innovations Energy consumption is a critical concern for low-end devices, as continuous facial recognition operations can quickly drain battery life. This challenge is addressed through dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) combined with optimized cache utilization, reducing energy consumption per inference to just 12mJ and significantly extending device operational lifespan. Furthermore, intelligent workload scheduling prevents thermal throttling, ensuring consistent performance over prolonged usage periods while maintaining energy efficiency and device reliability. Real-World Applications and Testing The proposed framework has undergone extensive testing on resource-constrained devices, including processors clocked at 1.1 GHz to 2.0 GHz and RAM capacities between 1GB and 3GB. Demonstrating consistent accuracy rates exceeding 90% and inference times between 155ms and 180ms, the results underscore its efficiency and reliability. These advancements pave the way for deploying sophisticated AI solutions in emerging markets, where low-end devices are prevalent, bridging technological disparities and enabling access to cutting-edge technology in underserved regions. A Blueprint for Responsible AI As facial recognition technology becomes more accessible, ethical considerations like data privacy and algorithmic accountability become increasingly important. A three-tier privacy framework ensures robust protection for user data, emphasizing a responsible approach to technology. This model not only democratizes access to advanced capabilities but also establishes a standard for balancing innovation with societal responsibilities, fostering trust and accountability in its implementation. In conclusion, Avtar Singh 's groundbreaking research revolutionizes facial recognition technology by enhancing accessibility and global impact. Through optimized algorithms, hybrid cloud-edge computing, and energy-efficient designs, this innovative framework overcomes barriers like cost and resource constraints. By addressing these challenges, it fosters inclusivity and bridges the digital divide, ensuring advanced AI technologies benefit diverse communities worldwide. This approach not only promotes equitable technological progress but also creates transformative impacts, improving lives and enabling meaningful advancements across various global contexts. .

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Relief, defiance, anger: Families and advocates react to Biden's death row commutationsA study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says. Chloe Robinson said reported strikes represent a fraction of their true extent, and a lack of protection measures leaves whales vulnerable as global shipping expands. The study found shipping takes place across 92 per cent of the ranges for humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales worldwide, but measures to reduce vessel strikes have been implemented in less than seven per cent of high-risk areas. “That could really spell, you know, potential extinction for some of these species,” said Robinson,director of whales for Ocean Wise, a B.C.-based organization that provided data for the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. “A recent study estimated anything up to 20,000 whales are killed a year through ship strikes, globally, and that’s just an estimate, a best-case estimate.” Robinson said she was surprised to see Swiftsure Bank, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, emerge as a risk hot spot for strikes of fin, blue and humpback whales. The area is a “migration highway” for humpbacks, she noted. The study also identified a hot spot for the same three species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. “This is something that Ocean Wise has been looking into because a lot of the management measures occur offshore and not sort of within the Gulf of St. Lawrence itself and even the St. Lawrence Seaway, (which) leads down to the Great Lakes,” she said. “That was a huge hot spot, which was really interesting for me.” Robinson said there have been smaller studies on the risk of ship strikes in different regions, but the study published Thursday is the first to map the distribution of the four whale species, using a variety of data sources, then compare it with the Automatic Identification System, a tool used for tracking vessels worldwide. “This was really the first of its kind to map these two on top of each other,” she said. The researchers found the highest levels of risk in the Indian, western North Pacific and Mediterranean, while it also identified high-risk areas in the eastern North Pacific, North and South Atlantic Ocean along with the South China Sea. The Southern Ocean was the only region that did not contain any ship-strike hot spots due to low levels of shipping, despite high use by whales, the study found. Robinson said the findings support a strong case for maritime authorities to adopt measures such as whale alert systems, speed limits and no-go zones. “We know where there are areas where there are lots of whales and lots of ships, so this is where we need to target for management,” she said in an interview. Robinson said Canada is home to many “eyes on the water” and researchers exploring innovative techniques for monitoring whales. But the country lacks mandatory mitigation measures, and it’s not alone. “Next to none of the measures globally are mandatory. So, having voluntary measures (is) great, provided people comply,” Robinson said. Ocean Wise launched an alert system in 2018 that notifies large vessels of the presence of whales in Pacific Northwest waters, and Robinson said about 80 per cent of mariners from Washington state up to Alaska have signed up. The WhaleReport alert system mainly functions in what she describes as “inshore” waters around busy ports in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The Port of Vancouver has also seen a high rate of compliance for its ECHO program, Robinson noted. The program encourages vessels to take voluntary steps, such as slowing down or staying farther away from whales, in order to reduce underwater noise and the potential for strikes in busy shipping areas. Robinson favours a multi-pronged approach to reducing ship strikes, but she said one single measure she believes could have a big impact would be equipping vessels with an infrared camera to detect whales within several kilometres. “Maybe some mariners ... respond better to knowing there 100 per cent is a whale 200 metres in front of your vessel, versus, ‘slow down, there might be a whale here.’” Robinson said such cameras can cost betweenUS$50,000 and $75,000. But the cost was a “drop in the bucket” of major companies’ profits, she said. The cameras also present a public-relations opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves as operating in a more whale-friendly manner, Robinson said. “I know people who have had to go and have therapy after killing a humpback whilst at the helm,” she added. “I think there’s a lot to be said (for) the long-term benefits of this kind of technology.” The study also found areas with lower traffic that could provide refuge for whales, especially with added protections. It shows the Arctic Ocean, for example, has very few high-risk areas for vessel strikes, and Robinson said some researchers view it as potential sanctuary. But without protections, Robinson said Arctic waters could become the next high-risk hot spot as sea ice melts with climate change, opening up shipping routes. “Knowing the plans to expand shipping routes into these areas to cut shipping time, make things faster, right through prime whale habitat, I think this is a really good opportunity to get ahead of the issue before it becomes an issue,” she said. Whales play crucial roles in their ecosystems, including cycling nutrients that support other species, and they’re a boon for tourism, Robinson said. They’re also “magical” creatures that people feel connected to, she said, and they remain vulnerable after many species were hunted to the brink of extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024.

The Orlando Magic were hit with a devastating blow on Saturday, as All-Star hopeful Franz Wagner was diagnosed with a torn oblique . Perhaps not coincidentally, it’s the same injury that has had franchise star Paolo Banchero sidelined for multiple weeks . If the Magic were still a bottom of the barrel team, they might be able to wallow in their misery. However, at 16-9 (third in the East), they need to focus on keeping their footing. To that point, there are multiple free agents on the market who could help them put point on the board while they’re without their best players, like Lonnie Walker IV and TJ Warren. Yet, there are better options on the trade market. Jazz Trade Will Help Magic Keep Rhythm Enter Collin Sexton While Wagner and Banchero play in the frontcourt, it’s obvious that the Magic are unable to rely on their backcourt players to provide consistent offense. As a result, even when Wagner and Banchero return, they’ll need a reliable third option. There are a few backcourt players who have proven themselves capable of leading a team in scoring but the only ones thought to be available are Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine , Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas , and Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton . Among those options, Sexton is the best fit due to his combination of scoring ability, defensive upside, and age. Collin Sexton tonight: 26 PTS, 4 AST (9-16 FG, 2-5 3P, 6/7 FT) Jazz really made it a game for awhile https://t.co/Vo68efQlp1 pic.twitter.com/V5v2LeFwxe — Q (@qshironalberti3) November 28, 2024 It’s unclear what the asking price is for Sexton, but Jazz CEO Danny Ainge’s reputation precedes him. When Sexton was rumored to be a target of the Milwaukee Bucks’ trade negotiations in the 2023 offseason, the Jazz wanted the Bucks to give up perennial Sixth Man of the Year candidate Bobby Portis . However, that was before Sexton emerged as Utah’s starting shooting guard. In that role, he averaged 21.1 points per game with a 28.3 percent usage rate last season (51 games). In the 20 games he’s started this season, he’s averaging 17.6 points per game with a 24.2 percent usage rate. With that being said, Utah could want at least a first-round pick for the 26-year-old. Despite his reputation, he’s been among the most productive and efficient scorers in the league since being drafted. This season, Sexton averages 21.6 points per 36 minutes and has made 41.8 percent of his threes. For context, Jalen Suggs and Anthony Black average 23.5 points per game combined this season, both shooting below 32 percent from three. Cole Anthony Exits If they can’t get a first for Sexton, a similar player probably has to be included in the deal. That player may not have to be a starter, but capable of being a volume scorer. In this case, Cole Anthony would be the most obvious candidate to be traded. The 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Anthony has fallen out of favor in recent seasons. In fact, he’s completely out of Orlando’s rotation. After averaging 16.3 points per game in his second season, the UNC product has regressed as a scorer and shown minimal improvement in several other areas. Still, Anthony’s microwave scoring ability bears similarities to Jordan Clarkson ’s, who happens to be a favorite of Jazz head coach Will Hardy. If Hardy was to see Anthony as Clarkson’s eventual successor, his career could be revived out West. To that point, Anthony is still just 24 years old, while Clarkson is 32. No matter how you slice it, Utah gets the short end of the stick though. Anthony is averaging just 4.9 points per game this season and his stock is trending down. Sexton is averaging 16.9 points per game this season and his stock is trending up. The Magic need to give up more. John Collins, Too?! Goga Bitadze , Kentavious Caldwell-Pope , and Gary Harris are among the veterans that Orlando could also consider moving in a deal with the Jazz. Bitadze helps them shore up their center depth and provides a safety net if they find a deal for Walker Kessler . Caldwell-Pope and Harris are 3-and-D wings who could slot into Sexton’s spot, providing a better complement for Keyonte George in the backcourt. From the Magic’s side, the focus should be on finding a way for John Collins to be part of the trade package. Frankly, Collins is an even more useful acquisition than Sexton in the short-term. He’s played multiple frontcourt positions throughout his career, which will help them survive without Wagner and Banchero. So will his relatively potent offense, as he’s averaging 17.9 points per game this season while scoring in myriad ways. John Collins games with 20 points in his last two season 23-24 (68 games played) 12 24-25 (21 games played) 7 John is on another level this year pic.twitter.com/NQjbunypn0 — Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) December 7, 2024 Truthfully, the Magic may budge off of a first-round pick if they can get both him and Sexton. When it’s an either-or proposition, that’s when the thought of adding in draft assets gets a bit tricky. Because of their short-term and inexpensive contracts, Harris and Bitadze should both be added to the trade package. To help make salaries match, Caleb Houstan and Jett Howard have to be added to the deal as well. With that being said, the transaction could ultimately look like this: Maybe there aren’t any perfect trades, but this is as close to one as either team may get. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.SKM, which led ’20-’21 stir, calls for farm unityA book can inspire joy and stir the imagination, and even better this holiday season is the gift of sharing that book with your child. “Turning the pages of a high-quality, print book filled with colorful pictures and rich, expressive language is best,” said Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician. “While touchscreens and other electronic devices may be popular, they are typically passive or solitary experiences for children and do not offer the same benefits of interpersonal connection and relationship building.” Starting from infancy, reading aloud helps build the foundation for healthy social-emotional, cognitive, language and literacy development. Sharing books helps with language development and vocabulary, and gets them ready to listen and learn in school. And over the past decade, research has found that reading together helps foster positive interactions, strengthening the safe, stable and nurturing relationships young children must have to thrive. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading with your child every day, even if only for a few minutes, and making it part of the bedtime routine. Each evening, set aside 20 to 30 minutes with screens off for sharing books. Remember that the experience should be fun. You don’t have to finish a story if your child loses interest. Let your child choose the book, even if it means reading the same book over and over. You can invite your child to “read” to you from a familiar book that they have memorized. Navsaria suggests asking about the illustrations or what your child thinks will happen next. You can say: “Can you find all the blue things?” or “Show me all the things that can fly.” Point out colors, shapes, numbers and letters and respond with enthusiasm to your child’s questions and comments. Local libraries offer a wide variety of children’s literature, including fairy tales, poetry and nursery rhymes, as well as non-fiction books on subjects children love, such as the ocean or dogs. Follow your child’s interests in choosing books. Children’s librarians can help you with high-quality book selections on a wide range of topics. And during the holidays, consider building your home library and reinforcing the value of great books by giving them as gifts. By age 4, a child can typically tell you which books they want to share with you; pretend to read a favorite book aloud to you; and tell you how a story is like things they have seen or done. They may ask you questions about books you are enjoying together or “correct” you if you skip a word or page in a favorite book. As children grow older, reading can help develop character and values that are important to your family. In fact, a really great book has the power to counterbalance negative outside influences and teach children important lessons as they grow. “It might be a book on kindness after your child experienced or witnessed cruelty,” Navsaria said. “It might be a book on expressing emotions after your child saw or heard scary news coverage, or maybe a book on understanding differences after your child saw someone who looked different than they expected.” The AAP and Reach Out and Read have compiled a list of books – organized by age and topic – to help you raise children who are curious, brave, kind, thoughtful and aware of the world around them. You can find the list here: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx “Books are great conversation starters,” Navsaria said. “They’re also just a lot of fun and can help create wonderful memories, particularly during the holidays when you’re spending extra time together. A shared reading experience, as a tender, magical and loving time spent with your child, is truly a gift. It speaks to the heart of what parenting is.”

AP News Summary at 4:08 p.m. ESTPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley knew the Eagles season rushing record could be his on Sunday with the type of stellar performance that has become the standard during his first season in Philadelphia. As for the exact moment Barkley hit the milestone, he wasn't sure — until the “MVP!” chants echoed throughout the Linc after a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter . “The records are great, they put a smile on your face,” Barkley said, “but the season is far from over.” Needing 109 yards to break LeSean McCoy's record, Barkley rushed for 124 yards and pushed his season total to 1,623 in a 22-16 victory over Carolina . Barkley needed just 13 games to pass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. He also overtook Wilbert Montgomery, who had 1,512 yards in 1978. “I never wrote the goal down to break it,” Barkley said. “You're always aware of it. That's how I train. That's how I operate in the offseason. I want to be great.” Barkley also maintained his pace to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. “That would be extremely cool to do,” Barkley said. “If it happens, it happens, and not with the mindset of, I'm scared to go try to do it. Whatever it takes to win football games.” Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. At that pace and with one more game to play than Dickerson, he would become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards yards over the final four games to top Dickerson’s 40-year-old record. He averaged 6.2 yards on 20 carries against the Panthers to help the Eagles win their ninth straight game. McCoy, who was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame this season, remains the franchise’s rushing leader with 6,792 yards. Referencing his old uniform number, McCoy congratulated Barkley on social media with “a lot of love, coming from 2-5." “Being a fan of Shady's growing up, and seeing the spectacular things he was able to do with the ball in his hand, to be able to have my name mentioned with him definitely means a lot,” Barkley said. Barkley left the New York Giants in the offseason and signed a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed to join the Eagles, who made him the highest-paid running back in franchise history. The 27-year-old has been worth every dollar. Barkley is among the favorites for league MVP, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the only player with better MVP odds entering Sunday. Barkley has a franchise-record nine 100-yard rushing games in a season. Although he was held out of the end zone Sunday, he began the day leading the league with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards. Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, topped 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons with the Giants. He finished with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 scores as a rookie. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who had been unwilling to spend on elite running backs, pounced on Barkley and the decision was celebrated as a success in Philly from the first game of the season. Barkley rushed for two scores and caught a TD pass in the opener against Green Bay. His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004. Barkley only soared in production and popularity from there, his highlight reel stamped by a reverse leap over the head of a Jacksonville defender last month. He's since vaulted over every running back ahead of him on the Eagles rushing list — and has a chance at NFL history. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL