Enovis Corporation: Reasonably Valued With Caveats

Free tax filing with IRS Direct File: What you need to know

Free tax filing with IRS Direct File: What you need to know

NEW YORK — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction, arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate” granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges. “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’” Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater “that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump’s attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump – one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost – citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses – concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts – things they did in the course of running the country – and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. Send questions/comments to the editors. « PreviousGeorgetown ventures out of D.C. for first time to face West VirginiaEmma Roberts’ 4-year-old son is her ‘double’ in adorable birthday postThe government has blocked 128 prisoners trapped under cruel indefinite jail terms from moving to open conditions in the past 12 months, The Independent can reveal. Figures show the justice secretary has refused to allow scores of inmates serving abolished Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) jail terms to progress to an open prison despite the Parole Board recommending their transfer. Politicians and campaigners have hit out at the “scandalous” number of prisoners being stopped from progressing to a lower category prison where they may be eligible for day release, warning it reinforces the sense that IPP is the sentence of “no hope”. More than 2,600 are languishing under the “torture sentences” with no release date 12 years after the indefinite terms were abolished amid human rights concerns. These include shocking injustices highlighted by The Independent such as James Lawrence , who is still in prison 18 years after he was handed an eight-month jail term; Thomas White , who set himself alight in his cell after serving 12 years for stealing a phone; and Abdullahi Suleman , who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. At least 90 IPP prisoners have taken their own lives as they lose hope of ever being freed. The government has come under fire for refusing to resentence IPP inmates , with prisons minister James Timpson last month telling the House of Lords it was “right” that release decisions are made by the independent Parole Board. Instead, he said IPP inmates must focus on progressing towards being approved for release by the Parole Board despite more than 700 having served at least 10 years longer than their minimum term. However, in answer to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Kim Johnson, justice minister Sir Nicholas Dakin said that the secretary of state is free to accept or reject the Parole Board’s recommendations to move someone to an open prison. And figures reveal that the government has refused to follow Parole Board recommendations to progress IPP prisoners in 61 per cent of cases in the past year. In the first four months of 2024, under the previous Tory government, every single IPP prisoner recommended for progression was denied a move to open prison. The numbers allowed to transfer have increased since the Labour government was elected in July, although 45 per cent were still blocked from transferring in the last six months of 2024. The figures come as a former justice secretary called for thousands of prisoners to be moved to open prisons to tackle overcrowding and help prepare inmates for release, David Gauke, who has been commissioned by the government to lead a review of sentencing policy, believes the move would save money and help reduce reoffending. Urging ministers to look to Spain where one in four prisoners are allowed to leave prison walls during the day, he told The Times : “We don’t make as much use of open prisons as we might do.” Lord Woodley, who has tabled a private member’s bill for IPP prisoners to be resentenced, said the figures of those blocked from moving to open prisons were “scandalous”. “Without wishing to sound cynical, some might say the government seem happy to hide behind the Parole Board when it suits them, but to ignore their advice when it doesn’t,” he said. Reformed IPP prisoner Marc Conway, who was one of the heroes of the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack, said the shocking figures only serve to reinforce the feeling that IPP is the sentence of no hope. “It is concerning that people have done everything that the Parole Board has asked and they have said they are in a good position to move to open conditions, then the government stepped in to override it,” he said. “Rulings like this actually reinforce that IPP is the sentence of no hope. It will enforce their feeling that no one cares about them. “It’s the people at the top who have got the power. When you feel like you are fighting a whole establishment rather than an individual process you start to feel dehumanised. You start to feel like you are not worthy. These are all factors as to why people attempt suicide and self-harm.” Last year Nicholas Bidar , 36, became the first IPP prisoner to have his parole hearing held in public. He described himself as a political prisoner after he was recommended for transfer to open conditions in 2021, but this was blocked by Dominic Raab, the home secretary. He remains in maximum security HMP Long Lartin. A family member said the refusal to move him, despite the panel of parole board experts advising he was ready, was “devastating”. “His words to us afterwards were literally, ‘I don’t want to wake up, I don’t want to be here,’” they told The Independent . “He said, ‘I am not coming home, I’m going to die here.’ That’s how he has felt since that happened.” Bernadette Emerson, co-founder of IPP Committee in Action, has been fighting for her husband Abdullahi Suleman, who is still inside 19 years after he was jailed for a laptop robbery. She said the figures show why IPPs feel like they have “no chance whatsoever”. “They are trapping IPPs either way,” she said. “Without resentencing going ahead what’s going to happen for IPPs if the government is doing these blocks all the time? “They need to drastically improve the situation for IPPs and give them the chance to progress to release and be given their life back.” A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “It is right that IPP sentences were abolished. We recently terminated the lifetime licences of more than 1,700 rehabilitated offenders, and are improving the rehabilitation and mental health support for those still in prison. “The Lord Chancellor considers the recommendations from the independent Parole Board as to whether to place IPP prisoners in the open estate and public safety is at the heart of any decision.”

Two weeks ago, Ole Miss had arrived . Lane Kiffin finally had his big win . The focus of the previous year, all the money, all the talent procurement, all about making the College Football Playoff , seemed a slam dunk. On Saturday, Florida players took an Ole Miss logo from its sideline and used it for dunking practice. Ole Miss had not arrived. It was being dunked on . Advertisement Barring a miracle of carnage among other contenders, no amount of politicking by SEC commissioner Greg Sankey can save the Rebels . They’re probably done. But ultimately, Ole Miss is not set to miss the Playoff because it lost Saturday to Florida. It’s probably going to be left out because it lost at home to Kentucky, way back in September. Therein lies the ultimate lesson about the new world of the Playoff, what it takes and why Kiffin and his program didn’t have it this season. Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. document.querySelectorAll(".in-content-module[data-module-id='the-pulse-newsletter'] .in-content-module-img img ").forEach((el) => { el.setAttribute("style", "pointer-events: none;");}) Free, daily sports updates direct to your inbox. The game has changed. It no longer requires perfection or near perfection. It requires survival. In the world of megaconferences, where schedules are more varied, teams need to be built for the long haul, physically and mentally. They can’t put everything into one or two big games but shirk the other ones. They can’t get too up or too down. It’s much more an NFL -style approach: just get in the Playoff. Ole Miss wasn’t that team this year. But a good example of that is the team Ole Miss beat two weeks ago: Georgia . Kirby Smart’s team looked overmatched in Oxford on both sides of the ball. It looked physically beat up and mentally tired from a schedule rated the hardest in the country entering this weekend by ESPN and two other computer models. But as bad as the Bulldogs looked in that game, they still have only two losses and are still alive in the Playoff chase. Georgia, for all its warts, including the 18-point loss in Oxford, is on the verge of making the Playoff because it won enough big games — Texas, Clemson , Tennessee — and because when it had its come-to-Jesus game at Kentucky, it won it. Just like it survived Florida, which is improving each week, as the Rebels are painfully aware. And Georgia, just to be sure, still needs to beat Georgia Tech next week. That’s an adjustment for a Georgia program that had not lost a regular-season game in four years. Advertisement “Of course, your goal going into every season is not to lose one. (But) with the extended Playoffs, that added a little more leeway,” Georgia guard Tate Ratledge said. “When we saw the schedule, we knew what it was going to be. We were going to play a lot of really good football teams, and we have another one this week. There’s no weeks off.” GO DEEPER Ole Miss loses to Florida 24-17 as CFP chances slip away Well, there sort of was a week off for Georgia, which pulled away from U-Mass on Saturday , 59-21. Tennessee , the biggest winner from Ole Miss’ loss on Saturday, had its own phone-it-in game, 59-0 over UTEP . But both teams have losable games next week, and here’s another illustration of how the game has changed in the bigger and harder SEC: Nobody is absolutely, safely in the Playoff yet. The only one-loss team is Texas , which has no ranked wins and would be sweating it if it loses at Texas A&M next week. Alabama , Georgia and now Tennessee may be on the right side of the bubble, but one loss between now and the SEC championship may change that. Oh, and about the SEC championship: Kiffin set himself up for a karmic fall this week when, in his usual admirable honesty, he said he and other coaches wanted to avoid playing in the SEC championship. Get that week off to rest up and not risk a loss that could cost them Playoff seeding or even a Playoff spot. Well, that’s not an issue for the Rebels anymore. This team is good enough to win the whole thing. It has an elite defensive front, elite receivers and a quarterback in Jaxson Dart who often has looked elite this year — but not the final few minutes of the debacle in Gainesville. Kiffin will be dinged again for not having what it takes ... again. That’s still premature. Kiffin is struggling to close the deal as a coach, but he keeps getting close. He has matured from the coach who talked too much at Tennessee, got fired on the tarmac at USC and wore out his welcome at Alabama. Set aside his past, and there’s a great offensive mind and program-builder, and he’s still only 49 years old. Advertisement There’s still a chance of something great happening for Kiffin, and it could still be at Ole Miss, which has a collective head Walker Jones who has made it clear the offseason spending push was about trying to capitalize and then sustain and not about 2024-or-bust. It doesn’t look like it worked for this year. So it’ll be back to the transfer portal this offseason, and questions will continue about whether that’s truly the best model. They’ll also continue about Kiffin. The jury remains out on that. What is clear is that for all the talk that the expanded Playoff will devalue the regular season, it’s harder to make it than many thought. There are a lot of good teams. But there are still some mediocre teams too. And there’s a lesson that Kiffin, Ole Miss and every contender can take: don’t lose to Kentucky . (Top photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)2024 was an interesting year in music — one that perhaps foreshadows the future of music-listening habits. As we move further away from monoculture, and people's musical listening experiences are increasingly curated by algorithms, ubiquitous songs that everyone from grandparents to their grandchildren know are becoming rare gems. In that way, a list looking at the top 100 Canadian songs of the year is more representative of the music that rose above the fray in each respective genre, rather than simply the most popular songs. The 15 best Canadian albums of 2024 A committee of CBC Music producers considered streaming numbers, record sales, cultural impact and artistic merit when putting this list together, with an emphasis on highlighting artists from all 13 provinces and territories. Songs released between Nov. 1, 2023 and Oct. 31 were eligible for the list. It's a big endeavour that gives us a small snapshot of the year in music. From the rap beefs that kept people glued to their phones to the songs with messages about social change amidst an increasingly uncertain world, this year was full of singles that got people talking. Scroll through the list to discover the songs that made us dance, sing along and, most importantly, stop and think in 2024. 100. 'Beautiful Neighbourhoods,' Braden Lam Braden Lam's inviting voice rings out over gentle guitar and vibraphone on "Beautiful Neighbourhoods," a timeless single that hums with warmth and longing. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 9 ) 99. 'Tides,' Gnarwhal Yellowknife band Gnarwhal fuses alt-rock and progressive metal on this fuzzed-out track that hits like a wall of sound while lead singer Mark Kilbride chants prophetic lyrics. 98. 'Mr. Rain,' Joce Reyome "Mr. Rain" is a grooving blues number that finds Charlottetown-based Joce Reyome begging the rain to stay away, and in turn keep her woes at bay. 97. 'Shine Your Light,' Echoes Of... feat. Naja P and Maazes Echoes Of..., a collective of musicians and producers who live in Iqaluit, teamed up with Naja P and Maazes for this serene, but uplifting, mood stabilizer. 96. 'You've Got Gold,' Hendrika "You've Got Gold," an empowering song about the magic in everyone, builds and builds until Hendrika unleashes the full powerhouse quality of her voice. 95. 'Devil Talking,' David Myles A soulful rave-up from this master of entertainment from Fredericton, N.B., complete with sweet backup vocals from Reeny. Kellie Loder, the East Pointers, David Myles lead 2023 East Coast Music Award winners 94. 'Jiujitsu,' Merv xx Gotti Merv xx Gotti's glimmering, guitar-driven bedroom pop hits its peak on "Jiujitsu," a charming, mildly nonsensical song about going through the motions. 93. 'I Feel Alive,' Art d'Ecco A wild, brassy, glam-rock dance-a-thon courtesy of this Victoria rocker on a rapid rise. 92. ' The Raven and the Dove,' Old Man Luedecke A total sound departure from this Juno-winning banjo man from Chester, N.S., in that there is no banjo to be heard on this Afie Jurvanen-produced electro-indie makeover. 91. 'Sunrise Roulette,' Jordan Astra The slinky production and swinging drums of "Sunrise Roulette" gets shoulders shimmying and toes tapping, while Jordan Astra sings about hitting the road, gambling with more than just money and losing track of the moments in between. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 25 ) 90. 'I Believe in Love (And It's Very Hard),' Rose Cousins Few artists can move you from tears of sorrow to fits of laughter in one song, album or live set, but Rose Cousins can — and she does it effortlessly on "I Believe in Love (And It's Very Hard)." 89. ' Vibrations,' Mick Davis and Thin Love This was the most popular song of 2024 for seven straight weeks on CBC Music's Top 20, thanks to the unabashed energy these Newfoundland rockers pour into it. 88. 'You,' Wolf Castle feat. Zamani Pabineau First Nation rapper Wolf Castle's R&B collaboration with Halifax's Zamani goes down real smooth, as "You" blooms into a gorgeous song about romantic devotion. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 8 ) 87. 'Ayoye,' Sarahmée Senegalese Canadian rapper Sarahmée's single "Ayoye" is packed with explosive energy and boisterous bars, as she melds hip-hop, Afrobeat, reggae and electronic sounds. 86. 'Ghost,' Sebastian Gaskin With immense gusto, Sebastian Gaskin sings straight from their soul over sweeping, bombastic beats as they learn to accept that although they'll never see the person they lost again, their spirit is always near. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 85. 'Wake Up,' Backxwash "Wake Up" is a shining example of Backxwash's evolution: a seven-plus-minute epic, the track serves up an industrial metal soundscape as Backxwash turns out gospel-inspired verses, fighting through every line with heavy determination. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 24 ) 84. 'El Cosechero,' Lhasa de Sela feat. Yves Desrosiers This posthumous release from the Félix and Juno Award-winning singer Lhasa de Sela is a stirring folk number sung in Spanish. 83. ' Quviasukkuvit (If It Makes You Happy),' Elisapie Elisapie's stripped-down cover of Sheryl Crow's 1996 mega-hit "If It Makes You Happy," translated into Inuktitut, creates a warm, soft update titled "Quviasukkuvit." 82. 'Redneck Rehab,' Corb Lund Corb Lund infuses this country track with some stomp-clap-hey sensibilities as he sings about trying to ditch some unhealthy vices. 81. 'Buffalo,' the OBGMs The rip-roaring punk-rock single "Buffalo" reveals a tenderness to the OBGMs, as lead singer Densil McFarlane laments the end of a relationship: "Used to drive me to the show/ now we don't even talk at all." 80. 'Jungle,' Lou Phelps Wealth is the name of the game on "Jungle," a booming track from Lou Phelps where he raps about dripping in "Diesel, Kiko, acne" and everything in between. 79. 'Pon My Mind,' Bolu Ajibade "If you lost, I'll find you/ puzzled, I will solve you," sings Bolu Ajibade to a new love interest on this sultry Afrobeats tune that's filled with passion. 78. 'Evening Dream,' Mo Kenney This Dartmouth, N.S., singer-songwriter has a knack for steady melodies and choruses that pull on the heartstrings, and "Evening Dream" is one of their best. 77. 'Get to You,' Begonia Yearning is central on Begonia's moody pop single "Get to You": "And I can't contain don't even try/ like a star up in the sky you're an explosion," she sings as she burns for a lover. 76. 'Babyboo,' Sylo, Nonso Amadi "Keep holding on, keep holding on, I'm there with you," sings Sylo before his and Nonso Amadi's vocals intertwine on this blissful R&B love song. 75. 'Live,' DijahSB and Veggi DijahSB gets celebratory while romanticizing the grind, bringing their signature charm and humour to each verse: "Playing with the heat like Bron in his prime." 74. 'Come Out,' Aysanabee feat. Raye Zaragoza Gentle guitar and Aysanabee's soaring vocals generate warmth on "Come Out," a tender ode to lovelorn strangers seeking connection. 73. 'Seven Ponds (live),' Sina Bathaie Sina Bathaie's immersive live performance of "Seven Ponds" flows beautifully and spotlights the multi-instrumentalist's knack for injecting his electronic music with the sounds of his Iranian heritage. 72. 'Chabakrou,' DJ Karaba, Kawtar Sadik This sizzling house song blends Kawtar Sadik's rich singing with DJ Karaba's tropical beats for a transportive, summery listen. 71. 'Pathways,' Julian Taylor feat. Allison Russell Julian Taylor and Allison Russell's voices blend together effortlessly on this rootsy number about romance: "I'll be there as we grow older," Taylor sings, offering a love that's eternal. 70. 'Goon,' Dear Rouge Slick guitar and edgy vocals bring a defiance to Dear Rouge's electrifying track that aptly describes the moment when unwanted male attention at the bar goes too far. 69. 'Proppa Ghanda,' King Cruff, Banx & Ranx Rapper/singer King Cruff, a grandson of Bob Marley, teamed up with Quebec's hitmakers Banx & Ranx for one of the catchiest earworms of the summer. 68. 'Shake,' pHoenix Pagliacci This soulful single from pHoenix Pagliacci is supremely enthralling, speaking to the uncertainty and dread many people feel looming overhead. 67. 'Botoxxx,' Isabella Lovestory Isabella Lovestory's tongue-in-cheek lyricism — joking about Botox freezing her face so no one can tell she's sad — amps up the fun on this high-octane, neo-perreo track. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 8 ) 66. 'Silver Lining,' Claudia Bouvette Claudia Bouvette is Montreal's rising alt-pop tour de force, and her song "Silver Lining" makes space for sadness while still breaking free of its stranglehold. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 9 ) 65. 'Neon Signs,' the Weather Station Toronto's Tamara Lindeman tells a story of controlled confusion on "Neon Signs," the lead single off her forthcoming album, Humanhood , set for release in early 2025. 64. 'Back for More,' Liza and Tobi The old-school R&B of this duet from Toronto artists Liza and Tobi is a perfect hit of early aughts nostalgia, as they sing about irresistible attraction. 63. 'Silencio,' Patrick Watson feat. November Ultra Patrick Watson's characteristic, whispered falsetto is captivating on this song about the power of allowing silence in, and how it can make you a better listener. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Oct. 23 ) 62. 'The Angel and the Saint,' Goldie Boutilier A new beginnings anthem for anyone in need of one, "The Angel and the Saint" is Goldie Boutilier's celebration of her own grit and perseverance after years of hardship. 61. 'Pain or Pleasure,' Moonshine feat. Amaal Nuux, Aluna, Vanyfox In this infectious tune, batida (an electronic genre created by Lisbon's African immigrant community) and R&B meet to encourage increased heart rate, hip-swaying and bodies melting together on the dance floor. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Nov. 22, 2023 ) 60. 'Slide,' SadBoi With a nostalgic beat that evokes "Tokyo Drift" by Teriyaki Boyz, and braggadocious lyrics that will make anyone feel like the hottest person in the room, "Slide" is the song to listen to while getting ready for summer exploits. ( What is this year's song of the summer?, June 26 ) 59. ' Spiralling Out,' Softcult Softcult sisters Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn create a sound that feels like a happy memory from the late '90s on this latest track. 58. 'Get Back Again,' the Tragically Hip Long considered the holy grail of unreleased Tragically Hip songs, this touching ballad was recorded for 1991's Road Apples but was ultimately left in the vault until this year. Its staying power and beauty are undeniable. Gord Sinclair reworks unreleased Tragically Hip song for charity: listen 57. 'Daydream,' Billianne The Milton, Ont., pop-folk singer premiered "Daydream" live on NBC's The Today Show , with an endearing performance that captures the song's playfulness, her serene vocals playing tag with acoustic and electric guitar, drums and a resonant harp. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 56. 'My Forever,' Sophie feat. Cécile Believe This previously unreleased track appeared on British producer Sophie's posthumous self-titled album, and it's a touching ode to a close friend that takes on new meaning following Sophie's death, with Cécile Believe cementing their friendship in song: "I want to go back to forever/ you'll always be my forever." 55. 'Feeling Alive,' Jayda G "Feeling Alive" builds on the euphoric feeling peppered throughout Jayda G's 2023 album, Guy , leaning into an even more upbeat dance sound. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 14 ) 54. 'Hey Mom I Made It,' Sacha The empowering song details the emerging country singer's journey of personal growth and healing: "Yeah, I've been through hell and back again and I'm still standing," she sings on the explosive, infectious chorus. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 1 ) 53. 'Bomb,' Kelly McMichael Newfoundland-based singer Kelly McMichael blew up summer with this awesome '90s throwback indie rocker that lands somewhere between Liz Phair and Sloan. 52. 'About Us,' Maggie Andrew In this pop-punk song about domestic violence, the Halifax singer and 2024 Searchlight winner shows off her ability to craft an earworm while delivering heartbreaking material. CBC Music's Searchlight 2024: the winners 51. 'Magpie,' Peach Pit Vancouver indie pop-rock group Peach Pit comes roaring in with the title track from its 2024 album, delivering a chef's kiss of a live show sing-along. Watch Peach Pit's delightful post-rainstorm performance at CBC Music Fest 50. 'Love Like That,' Jonita, Ali Sethi "Love Like That" is a stirring merger of American pop with Indian folk — specifically, 13th-century Qawwali rhythms — as Jonita and Ali Sethi's vocals soar on this duet about embracing an ideal love full of devotion. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 24 ) 49. 'Fortnight (Blond:ish Remix),' Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone While Taylor Swift's original track builds drama through its subtle soundscape, the sonic stakes are raised on Juno-nominated DJ/producer Blond:ish's official remix. ( Songs You Need to Hear, June 5 ) 48. 'Shine', Ardn feat. SiR Edmonton rapper Ardn teams up with American R&B singer SiR for a slow jam about rising above life's challenges. 47. 'Explode,' Mother Mother Mother Mother siblings Ryan and Molly Guldemond lean into the push and pull of loving too much and never knowing when to let go — until things explode, which they appropriately yell on the head-banging chorus. Song Cycle: How Mother Mother's 'Hayloft' was made 46. 'I Got You,' Devon Cole "I Got You" is an aspirational friendship model that the Calgary singer wrote for herself, but Cole's sweet vocals and that catchy melody will get anyone hooked. 45. 'Manic Pixie Pacifist,' Haleluya Hailu Over bright synths, cheery guitar and vibrant drums, Haleluya Hailu gives an indie-pop nod to one of the best-known character tropes in film: the manic pixie dream girl. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Feb. 21 ) 44. 'Cave,' Wild Rivers Knowing you need to leave a relationship is not the same as actually leaving but, while you're in limbo, Toronto folk-pop trio Wild Rivers has just the right blues-inflected song for you. 43. 'Validate,' Clairmont the Second Clairmont the Second's dexterous lyrical ability is on mighty display on "Validate," a song that starts with sirens ringing out and an unforgettable bar: "I cannot f--k with no frauds/ street's cold but I never shiver." ( Songs You Need to Hear, Nov. 6 ) 42. 'Hooked,' Zeina In English, Arabic and French, Zeina sings about all the ways she's infatuated with her lover, uplifted by an earwormy melody that samples Shawn Desman's snappy early aughts track "Shook." ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 10 ) 41. '2wice Again,' Planet Giza "2wice Again" slides between R&B and hip-hop with ease, as MC Tony Stone infuses every lyric with charm and an old-school feel to the jazz-tinged beats that give the song an air of timelessness. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Feb. 21 ) 40. 'Body,' Lokre Leaving hyper independence behind, Lokre flits between soaring high notes and languid, deep tones effortlessly, as she recounts all the ways her love is blossoming and expanding for her new partner. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 39. 'Off With Her Tits,' Allie X "An upbeat borderline ridiculous satirization of particularly agonizing thoughts that never give me a break," Allie X wrote when she released this electro-pop song that builds and builds until everyone is screaming the title. 38. 'Let it Rain,' Valley The alt-pop trio deliver a downtempo hit of nostalgia on "Let it Rain," with twinkling bursts of piano that sound like raindrops splattering on the ground. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 28 ) 37. 'Easy to Miss,' Mackenzie Porter A country-pop ballad for the broken-hearted, "Easy to Miss" enumerates all the hard things after a breakup — except for the missing. 36. 'Confusion Song,' Luna Li A lush pop meditation on the breakup recovery period, written during a time of big changes for Luna Li after she broke up with her partner of eight years, and moved from Toronto to Los Angeles. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 22 ) 35. 'Need Nothing,' Katie Tupper The dulcet tones of "Need Nothing" are a balm, and Saskatoon's Katie Tupper is at her best when she's leaning into sweetness. ( Songs You Need to Hear, March 6 ) 34. 'Here to Stay,' Boy Golden Winnipeg guitar slinger Boy Golden delivers a stripped-down toe tapper that would slide perfectly into a barn dance playlist. Introducing Boy Golden, your new favourite country outlier 33. 'In Montreal,' Kaïa Kater feat. Allison Russell "In Montreal" is Kaïa Kater's nod to Leonard Cohen, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and "all the other incredible songwriters of Montreal" — elevated by two voices of folk music's future. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 32. 'Fur Elise,' Faouzia The Carman, Man., artist gives the classic Beethoven composition a modern twist in this heartwrenching song where she begs her lover to "play me like my name is Fur Elise/ lie to me and say you'll never leave." 31. 'Ridin',' Jessie Reyez feat. Lil Wayne This pearl-clutching rock-R&B number with highly suggestive lyrics, and a particularly raunchy verse from Lil Wayne, isn't for the faint of heart . ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 4 ) 30. 'Laminate the Sky,' Ombiigizi Daniel Monkman and Adam Sturgeon of Ombiigizi use the flimsy, laminated treaty cards they received in their youth as a symbolic motif on "Laminate the Sky," a psych-rock song exploring freedom of movement, expression and self. 29. 'In Emerald,' Wyatt C. Louis "In Emerald" is a musical postcard from a trip Wyatt C. Louis took to Seattle — a country-tinged folk song co-written with Nixon Boyd (Hollerado) and beautifully enhanced with pedal steel guitar played by Matt Kelly (City and Colour). ( Songs You Need to Hear, Jan. 24 ) 28. 'No Chill,' PartyNextDoor The Toronto R&B star flexes his vocal acrobatics over this moody track where he tries to show love to someone, but admits: "Ever since I copped you all that ice you got no chill." The 5 best songs PartyNextDoor has written for other artists 27. 'One Last Dance,' Baby Rose and BadBadNotGood BadBadNotGood provides a wistful backdrop for Baby Rose's lovelorn melodies, delivered through her achingly soulful voice. 26. 'In 2 Deep,' Chikoruss Montreal newcomer Chikoruss isn't afraid to chase a girl who's in a relationship in this glossy 2000s R&B-inspired number. 25. 'Bucket,' Ruby Waters On "Bucket," Ruby Waters' voice is playfully elastic, stretching up as she tries to entice a lover to get into trouble with her before admitting she's burning the candle at both ends. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 3 ) 24. 'Black Ice,' Rezz x Subtronics Two EDM powerhouses reunite for this chilling, nocturnal anthem, which takes listeners on a few exciting and unexpected turns. Meet Rezz: the Canadian producer making 'eery and grungy' EDM hits 23. 'Corazón,' Nelly Furtado feat. Bomba Estereo "Corazón" is a celebration of Latin drums and sticking to your guns, and Nelly Furtado's defiant lyricism is emboldened by the explosive percussion of Colombian supergroup Bomba Estereo. ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 17 ) The story of maternal solidarity behind Nelly Furtado's new single, 'Corazón' 22. 'Did Life Work Out for You,' Charlotte Cardin "Did Life Work Out for You" is a tender song, with pared-back piano and shimmering guitar chords as Cardin sings with a mild country twang, reminiscing on a summer fling that perhaps could have been something more. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 11 ) 21. 'Dead Man,' Alessia Cara "Dead Man" is a tragic song about an ill-fated romance, and over a jazz-inspired drumbeat and bright bursts of horns Alessia Cara wonders: "If you really care, then why am I feeling you slip right through my hands?" ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 24 ) 20. 'To the Dancefloor,' Debby Friday "To the Dancefloor" is a call to all the club girls who believe anything can be solved with a night of hedonistic release, as Debby Friday delivers an anthem for surrendering to your desires and letting the rhythm take you. ( Songs You Need to Hear, April 24 ) 19. 'Red Future,' Snotty Nose Rez Kids feat. Electric Fields "We them ground movers, earth shakers, no saviour. While they preying on us, we been building something greater," Snotty Nose Rez Kids rap on this powerful anthem that reminds the next generation that the future is in their own hands. 18. 'Spit,' Bambii feat. Beam and Lady Lykez Bambii gets raunchy and feral on "Spit" — the synths ring out like sirens, the drums hit at hyperspeed and the reverberated bass creates a nocturnal atmosphere. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Aug. 14 ) 17. 'My Way,' Charlotte Day Wilson The sleek opener to Charlotte Day Wilson's sophomore album, Cyan Blue , "My Way" is both unabashed in its R&B swagger and in the Toronto artist's starkly honest songwriting. Video Experience the soulful sounds of Charlotte Day Wilson live! 16. 'Who's Gonna,' Lu Kala The addictive bassline in "Who's Gonna" officially opened the door to rising pop star Lu Kala's funk era, and an unexpected sax solo really brings the song home. ( Songs You Need to Hear, May 15 ) 14. 'Bora Bora,' AP Dhillon feat. Ayra Starr A transportive track that fuses traditional Punjabi music with tropical Afrobeats grooves, from two rising stars in global music. ( Songs You Need to Hear, Sept. 4 ) 14. 'Takes One to Know One,' the Beaches Hot off the heels of their first Polaris Music Prize shortlist nomination, these Toronto rockers released an honest look into the messy layers that unravel as a relationship advances. ( Songs You Need to Hear, July 17 ) 13. 'How Far Will We Take It?,' Orville Peck feat. Noah Cyrus Noah Cyrus's voice beautifully complements Orville Peck's signature baritone on this sombre ballad, one of many standout duets on the latter's album, Stampede . How a duet album with friends helped Orville Peck return to music The year of yeehaw: 5 Canadian country music moments that shaped 2024 12. 'All I Want is You,' Cindy Lee A perfect encapsulation of what it feels like to yearn for someone, as Cindy Lee's Patrick Flegel admits in the most simple yet heartbreaking line: "All I've got is the truth/ all I want is you." A quick guide to Cindy Lee's Polaris-shortlisted album, Diamond Jubilee 11. 'Honey,' Caribou An irresistible, pulsating bassline drives one of Caribou's most rave-worthy tracks, complete with a drop that'll land listeners into a blissful state of euphoria. 10. 'Antidote,' Karan Aujla Karan Aujla's "Antidote" is like a reflex test — if your body doesn't respond immediately upon hearing this song, are you even alive? The Punjabi Canadian artist got his start writing songs for other artists, but since his 2018 breakthrough, Aujla has proven his own star power as a vocalist as well. His voice is mesmerizing and the production on "Antidote," courtesy of Ikky, perfectly conveys the song's push-pull that lives in every antidote — tempting fate and then trying to survive the aftermath. Watch Karan Aujla and Ikky bring a Punjabi pop explosion to the Juno stage 9. 'It's OK I'm OK,' Tate McRae Although Tate McRae was barely alive at the time, she's really leaning into the Y2K resurgence with "It's OK I'm OK," where her coy vocal delivery and the banging 808s would fit seamlessly on a pop-R&B crossover from the early 2000s. Nostalgia is very sexy right now, and modernizing a familiar sound or sample (as she did with 2023's hit single "Greedy") is a surefire bet — and one that's paid off for McRae, to the tune of 130 millions streams on Spotify and counting. The music video takes things a step further with rhinestone mania, low-rise denim and trucker hats à la Simple Life , but most clearly, the choreo seems like an homage to Britney Spears at her peak. If there's one thing McRae always delivers, it's visuals that are just as scintillating as her music, and the video has already racked up 24 million views since its release in September. 8. 'Timeless,' the Weeknd and Playboi Carti "Timeless" premiered at the Weeknd's live-streamed São Paulo concert in September, just as he and Playboi Carti were each teeing up new albums. (Spoiler alert: the Weeknd's upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow , won't be out until January 2025, and Playboi Carti's is still pending.) The collaboration, which is the streaming superstars' second together, opens with an ethereal mix of synths and the Weeknd's falsetto before that smooth, slinky beat drops and Playboi Carti hops on (with a production assist from Pharrell Williams). It's a coming together of two of the most popular artists in the world right now — and the song, which has only been out for two months, has already amassed more than 270 million streams on Spotify, and 25 million on YouTube. 7. 'Heart of Gold,' Shawn Mendes On "Heart of Gold," a standout track from Shawn Mendes's latest album, the pop star sings about a childhood friend who died of an overdose. There's a delayed sense of grief as he sings, "I didn't even feel the pain/ and then it hit me all at once/ when we talked about you yesterday," which nods to the cost of fame and how friendships can fade with time and distance. But on the other side of that heartbreak is an outpouring of love, a gratitude for the time they did get to spend together. "We shot for the stars/ I see you up there," he sings to him. At his best, Mendes's music can hold a multitude of staggering feelings and distill it into something truly beautiful and cathartic. 6 must-hear songs from Shawn Mendes's new album, Shawn 6. 'Family Matters,' Drake May 3, 2024, will be remembered as a pivotal day in rap beef history, marked first by the release of Kendrick Lamar's "6:16 in L.A." and followed up shortly after by Drake's explosive track "Family Matters." A seven-minute trap and drill assault with three beat switches, "Family Matters" solidified that Drake could stand tall in the self-proclaimed "20v1" battle. While directly addressing accusations against him as well as returning pointed shots at Lamar, the Weeknd, Rick Ross, Metro Boomin', A$AP Rocky and more, Drake's fierce lyricism and unrelenting energy were a return to form, captivating fans and swinging the momentum, however briefly, in his favour. Even though he would ultimately lose, he was going to take most of his opponents down in the process. While Lamar's "Meet the Grahams," released less than an hour later and followed up the next day by "Not Like Us," would prove to be too much to come back from, "Family Matters" still stands out as a defining moment. Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: the juiciest moments in their beef 5. 'Dirt Roads,' Tia Wood Tia Wood honours her Salish and Plains Cree background on "Dirt Roads," a touching tribute to her home in Saddle Creek, Alta. Blending traditional Indigenous singing with a contemporary R&B/pop mix, she uses her striking vocals to evoke nostalgia: "Dirt roads lead me back home," she sings. There's so much heart in every verse and Wood makes you feel the immense joy, fear and hope she's experiencing in real time, as she balances chasing success with staying grounded. Being unapologetically herself is what makes her artistry distinct, and the lyrics about her identity are proof: "Should I take out my braids or leave 'em in?/ They look at me like I'm a Martian." The song appeared on her debut EP, Pretty Red Bird , and its anthemic, moving delivery cemented it as a standout. 'It almost felt unreachable': Tia Wood on pursuing music full-time after TikTok stardom 4. 'Imaan,' Mustafa The beauty of "Imaan" shines in its juxtapositions: Sudanese strings and the Egyptian oud meld with an acoustic guitar as Mustafa sings of a love between "two Muslims journeying through their love of borderless Western ideology and how it contradicts with the modesty and devotion in which they were raised," as described in the press release. "There is nowhere for me to go (there is nowhere for me to go)/ Imaan, you hold/ everything in your palm," Mustafa's gentle voice rises with longing, while Swedish singer Snoh Aalegra steps in with backup vocals that add depth to the song's already rich texture. "Bursting with emotion, 'Imaan' is a seismic followup to 'Name of God' that hints at how affecting Mustafa's forthcoming debut album will be," CBC Music's Natalie Harmsen prophetically wrote in March 2024 when the song came out: Mustafa's Dunya album nabbed the No. 1 spot on CBC Music's " 15 best Canadian albums of 2024 ." On Dunya, Mustafa wants to be remembered correctly Mustafa wins the 2024 Prism Prize for outstanding video 3. 'Stick of Gum,' Nemahsis 2024 was a sink or swim year for Nemahsis, and swim she did. The Palestinian Canadian singer-songwriter says she was unceremoniously dropped by her label in October 2023, after posting about " the occupation of my homeland ." In an interview with CBC Q ' Tom Power , she shared that all her music industry connections cut off contact with her in the following weeks: "I was fully ostracized ... I didn't think there was going to be a future in music." All of this on the precipice of her debut album, Verbathim , that she was worried might be shelved indefinitely. After another label letdown, she and her team made the decision in May to release the album independently, starting with the first single, "Stick of Gum." Her defiance is palpable, as is her disdain for an industry that attempted to cast her aside. The driving guitar melody and buoyant synths rise above the fray, as Nemahsis unleashes layered lyricism about navigating the social politics of desirability and marketability. She filmed the music video in Jericho in the West Bank where her family lives, turning the song into an ode to her homeland as much as it is an indictment of her mistreatment. 2. 'Bloom,' Aqyila Aqyila's dreamy vocals make "Bloom" the sweetest love song released this year. A snippet of the song went viral on TikTok before it was released, and by the time it hit streaming platforms it had already lived up to the hype: majestic instrumentation, complete with a sweeping string intro, brings Aqyila's vision of a healthy relationship to life. "This kind of love is freein' me," she sings on the chorus, tenderly letting her feelings flow. It's the tug of wanting to completely give in to her emotions that propels the song, and she sounds elated to have found a love that is gentle and kind. "Everything you do, how you call my name/ Sunday afternoon, come and make it rain," she sings softly, the ecstasy of the romance taking over and allowing her to be mushy. Q&A 'I was in shock': R&B star Aqyila on winning a Juno after finding viral success 1. 'Witchy,' Kaytranada feat. Childish Gambino Kaytranada and Childish Gambino cast their own spell with this golden-hued R&B ode to the magic of falling in love — the ultimate incantation. "Witchy" could have easily soundtracked Saturday nights at the roller rink in another era, but Kaytra's sorcery here is the ability to make even the most vintage-sounding production feel thoroughly contemporary and fresh. As his alter ego, Childish Gambino, Donald Glover is clearly having the best time, his falsetto twinkling like a meteor shower. The result is a feel-good, star-dusted anthem of the year that conveys one of life's pure pleasures: the dizzying, intoxicating, all-consuming enchantment of being thoroughly under another's thrall. Meet Kaytranada, the dance music producer taking over hip-hop and R&B Kaytranada's 11 most timeless collaborations

New Delhi, Dec 29 (PTI) Artificial intelligence (AI) transitioned from a temporary trend to a widespread reality, gaining traction across industries due to its potential to enhance efficiency, generate revenue and create entirely new roles, yet concerns around its use and impact on jobs remained. Gone are the days when it was merely a buzzword; AI has now become an integral part of business strategy across various sectors. But its full impact on jobs is little known and so is the issue of intellectual property, data ownership and its privacy implications, and liability - who is liable if an accident or mishap occurs due to the use of AI. As technology becomes increasingly human-like and pervasive, organisations are now striving to unlock business value through innovative methods to engage customers and employees, enhance operational efficiencies, and generate new revenue streams, Wipro CIO Anup Purohit said. "We are working towards a future where AI is integrated seamlessly into everyday operations beyond the honeymoon period and into a mature phase," he said in an interaction with PTI. "This growth isn't confined to technology firms; conventional sectors like banking, finance, and healthcare are also progressively integrating AI to improve operational efficiency and boost customer engagement. "AI is no longer the flavour of the season but is now the reality at scale. It is gaining momentum across all business domains and sectors. Even those that were traditionally considered laggards like BFSI or healthcare are looking forward to embracing AI. "CIOs today are shifting their approach away from POC to executing initiatives at scale ... to turn the GenAI 'trend' into business value by solving real business problems and cutting out the noise while managing costs," Purohit said. However, Indian enterprises will need to scale AI by expanding the gamut beyond basic virtual assistants and predictive analytics to a combination of AI-tech-based scalable use cases, according to nasscom. "With the global AI market valued at approximately USD 235 billion and projected to grow to over USD 631 billion by 2028, AI is redefining industries and economies. The possibilities seem endless, from predictive analytics in agriculture to personalised healthcare solutions. In addition, emerging technologies such as quantum computing and federated learning are poised to redefine the AI landscape and open new frontiers," Tech Mahindra COO Atul Soneja said. Agentic AI: The new frontier of Autonomous Intelligence The futuristic movies where technology takes over human tasks are set to become a reality in 2025, as an increasing number of enterprises adopt agentic AI to handle mundane and repetitive jobs. Arun Parameswaran, MD, Sales, Salesforce India, believes 2025 will mark the true dawn of agentic AI – a new era where AI systems move beyond being reactive assistants to becoming proactive, autonomous agents capable of transforming customer engagement, business efficiency, and decision-making. "We will witness AI agents working collaboratively, transforming productivity and redefining problem-solving at an unprecedented scale. The future will not just be about using AI; it will be about creating and customizing agents that collaborate to understand and execute strategic tasks and decisions, both in personal and business contexts," he said. AI agents will significantly enhance business processes by improving efficiency and customer service, Purohit said. Sky's the Limit: Cloud Computing soars alongside AI In addition to AI, cloud computing continues to gain traction. Major players like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are expanding their footprints in India, catering to the increasing demand for scalable and flexible IT solutions. This shift towards cloud services is enabling businesses to innovate rapidly and respond more effectively to market changes. According to research firm IDC, the overall Indian public cloud services market is expected to reach USD 24.2 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 23.8 per cent for 2023-28. "The integration of AI with cloud services will allow companies to quickly scale their AI models, manage extensive datasets in real-time, and gain insights for smarter decision-making. "The combination of AI and cloud services will help businesses innovate more swiftly, respond to market changes with greater flexibility, and maintain a long-term competitive edge," Purohit said. *Adapt or fade away: Upskilling essential amid AI boom The rapid evolution of technology is also reshaping the job landscape and demand for skilled talent is set to soar as AI continues to redefine job roles across sectors. "With the rapid deployment of AI-led solutions, the industry will soon witness a demand-supply gap of skilled talent. Future professionals will need to build deeper business and communications skills, such as listening, problem-solving, as well as specific domain expertise to leverage AI to solve complex business problems," Purohit said. Future professionals will need a robust blend of technical expertise and soft skills, including adaptability, emotional intelligence, and strong communication abilities. As businesses increasingly rely on AI-driven solutions, there will be a critical need for individuals who can bridge the gap between technology and business strategy. "AI/Gen AI will impact knowledge work (white-collar work) in ways that no prior technology has, and this is likely to cause significant and continuous shifts in knowledge work (the what) and ways of working (the how) for all businesses. All businesses will need to define work next-practices continually to remain competitive," TCS CTO Harrick Vin said in an interaction with PTI. Future roles will require greater levels of critical thinking, design, strategic goal setting, and creative problem-solving skills, he said. "This would mean different things in the context of various types of work. For example, for the domain of software DevOps, teams will start to de-prioritise basic scripting skills for infrastructure provisioning and configuration, low-level monitoring configurations and metrics tracking, and test automation, among others. Instead, they will focus more on product requirements analysis, definition of acceptance criteria, software and architectural design," Vin said. For professionals entering the tech industry in 2025, he listed three primary and most needed skills' -- Learning to learn; Critical thinking/analysis; and Techno-functional skills for applying computational thinking and methods to solve complex domain problems. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)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. And this wasn't on a whim: He knows how to play and even brought his own chess set. 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. People began showing up almost immediately. Washington Square Park is a known spot for chess in New York — Bobby Fischer among others have famously played there, and it's been used for multiple movie scenes featuring the game. Wembanyama was there for an hour in the rain, from about 10-11 a.m. He played four games, winning two and losing two — he told Bleacher Report afterward that both of the losses were to professional chess players — before departing to catch the Spurs' flight. Wembanyama had been trying to get somewhere to play chess for the bulk of the team's time in New York — the Spurs played the Knicks on Christmas and won at Brooklyn on Friday night. The schedule never aligned, until Saturday morning. And even with bad weather, he bundled up to make it happen. He posed for photos with a couple of dozen people who showed up, braving a morning of cold rain to play chess with one of the NBA's biggest stars. “We need an NBA players only Chess tournament, proceeds go to the charity of choice of the winner,” he wrote on social media after his chess trip was over. Wembanyama is averaging 25.2 points and 10.1 rebounds this season, his second in the NBA after winning rookie of the year last season. The Spurs play at Minnesota on Sunday. AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

A former Ross Lyon protege has been locked in to lead the likes of Michael Walters and Alex Pearce in Perth next year, with Xavier Clarke announced as coach of the Indigenous All Stars for February’s exhibition clash against Fremantle. Clarke will lead the representative side for the February 15 clash at Optus Stadium, with former Sydney favourite Michael O’Loughlin named the squad’s chairman of selectors. Having played under Lyon for the latter part of his 105-game career at St Kilda between 2002 and 2008, Clarke - now an assistant at North Melbourne - will help direct fellow Lyon disciples Walters and Pearce in the one-off game against their AFL club. Dockers recruit Shai Bolton is also likely to feature for the All Stars, pitting him against his new Freo teammates before he’s even played a game in purple. The game will see O’Loughlin return to Perth, almost two decades after the city was the setting for one of his most iconic career moments. The Swans great and Australian Football Hall of Fame member booted the winning goal late in the 2006 qualifying final against West Coast, with his celebration in close proximity to members of the Eagles cheer squad at the western end of Subiaco Oval producing one of modern footy’s most memorable images. “To have a former player of the calibre of Micky lead the selection of this side is fantastic,” AFL social policy and inclusion manager Tanya Hosch said. “His football record speaks for itself but he has also been an immense leader amongst the Indigenous community and continues to give back to through his work on numerous foundations and through his business. “He epitomises the on and off field excellence and community spirit that characterises the Indigenous All Stars side and we are thrilled to have him on board leading the selection next year.”