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COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Victims' families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences . Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals. Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof , convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018 , the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history. Opponents of the death penalty lauded Biden for a decision they'd long sought. Supporters of Donald Trump , a vocal advocate of expanding capital punishment, criticized the move as an assault to common decency just weeks before the president-elect takes office. Donnie Oliverio, a retired Ohio police officer whose partner was killed by an inmate whose death sentence was commuted, said the execution of “the person who killed my police partner and best friend would have brought me no peace.” “The president has done what is right here,” Oliverio said in a statement also issued by the White House, “and what is consistent with the faith he and I share.” Heather Turner, whose mother, Donna Major, was killed in a bank robbery in South Carolina in 2017, called Biden's commutation of the killer's sentence a “clear gross abuse of power” in a Facebook post, adding that the weeks she spent in court with the hope of justice were now “just a waste of time.” “At no point did the president consider the victims,” Turner wrote. “He, and his supporters, have blood on their hands.” There has always been a broad range of opinions on what punishment Roof should face from the families of the nine people killed and the survivors of the massacre at the Mother Emanuel AME Church. Many forgave him, but some say they can’t forget and their forgiveness doesn’t mean they don’t want to see him put to death for what he did. Felicia Sanders survived the shooting shielding her granddaughter while watching Roof kill her son, Tywanza, and her aunt, Susie Jackson. Sanders brought her bullet-torn bloodstained Bible to his sentencing and said then she can’t even close her eyes to pray because Roof started firing during the closing prayer of Bible study that night. In a text message to her lawyer, Andy Savage, Sanders called Biden’s decision to not spare Roof’s life a wonderful Christmas gift. Michael Graham, whose sister, Cynthia Hurd, was killed, told The Associated Press that Roof’s lack of remorse and simmering white nationalism in the country means he is the kind of dangerous and evil person the death penalty is intended for. “This was a crime against a race of people," Graham said. “It didn’t matter who was there, only that they were Black.” But the Rev. Sharon Richer, who was Tywanza Sanders’ cousin and whose mother, Ethel Lance, was killed, criticized Biden for not sparing Roof and clearing out all of death row. She said every time Roof’s case comes up through numerous appeals it is like reliving the massacre all over again. “I need the President to understand that when you put a killer on death row, you also put their victims' families in limbo with the false promise that we must wait until there is an execution before we can begin to heal,” Richer said in a statement. Richer, a board member of Death Penalty Action, which seeks to abolish capital punishment, was driven to tears by conflicting emotions during a Zoom news conference Monday. “The families are left to be hostages for the years and years of appeals that are to come,” Richer said. “I’ve got to stay away from the news today. I’ve got to turn the TV off — because whose face am I going to see?” Biden is giving more attention to the three inmates he chose not to spare, something they all wanted as a part of what drove them to kill, said Abraham Bonowitz, Death Penalty Action’s executive director. “These three racists and terrorists who have been left on death row came to their crimes from political motivations. When Donald Trump gets to execute them what will really be happening is they will be given a global platform for their agenda of hatred,” Bonowitz said. Biden had faced pressure from advocacy organizations to commute federal death sentences, and several praised him for taking action in his final month in office. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, said in a statement that Biden “has shown our country — and the rest of the world — that the brutal and inhumane policies of our past do not belong in our future.” Republicans, including Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, on the other hand, criticized the move — and argued its moral ground was shaky given the three exceptions. “Once again, Democrats side with depraved criminals over their victims, public order, and common decency,” Cotton wrote on X. “Democrats can’t even defend Biden’s outrageous decision as some kind of principled, across-the-board opposition to the death penalty since he didn’t commute the three most politically toxic cases.” Liz Murrill, Louisiana's Republican attorney general, criticized the commuted sentence of Len Davis, a former New Orleans policeman convicted of orchestrating the killing of a woman who had filed a complaint against him. “We can’t trust the Feds to get justice for victims of heinous crimes, so it’s long past time for the state to get it done,” the tough-on-crime Republican said in a written statement to the AP. Two men whose sentences were commuted were Norris Holder and Billie Jerome Allen, on death row for opening fire with assault rifles during a 1997 bank robbery in St. Louis, killing a guard, 46-year-old Richard Heflin. Holder’s attorney, Madeline Cohen, said in an email that Holder, who is Black, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury. She said his case “reflects many of the system’s flaws,” and thanked Biden for commuting his sentence. “Norris’ case exemplifies the racial bias and arbitrariness that led the President to commute federal death sentences,” Cohen said. “Norris has always been deeply remorseful for the pain his actions caused, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure to Richard Heflin’s family.” Swenson reported from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.Percentages: FG .463, FT .632. 3-Point Goals: 5-11, .455 (Mincy 2-5, Parrish 1-1, King 1-2, Stewart 1-2, Harvey 0-1). Team Rebounds: 0. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 4 (Harvey, Peterson, Pierce, Stewart). Turnovers: 10 (Harvey 2, Pierce 2, King, Mincy, Parrish, Peterson, Scott, Stewart). Steals: 9 (Stewart 3, Mincy 2, King, Peterson, Pettaway, Pierce). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .271, FT .444. 3-Point Goals: 6-27, .222 (Harper 2-3, Nelson 1-2, Farmer 1-3, Galette 1-4, Maxey 1-6, Kirkland 0-1, Uijtendaal 0-2, Wilkerson 0-2, Carroll 0-4). Team Rebounds: 0. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Dynes, Galette). Turnovers: 15 (Galette 4, Carroll 3, Harper 2, Maxey 2, Wilkerson 2, Nelson, Uijtendaal). Steals: 6 (Farmer 3, Harper, Maxey, Nelson). Technical Fouls: None. A_103 (7,203).

GOTHENBURG, Sweden , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stena RoRo has taken delivery of E-Flexer No. 12 - in a series of 15 vessels - from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The ship is the Guillaume de Normandie and is long-term chartered to the French shipping company Brittany Ferries. In April next year, the ship will enter service on the Portsmouth - Caen route, replacing the Normandie, which has sailed the route since 1992. This is the fifth of five ordered E-Flexer vessels for the Brittany Ferries fleet. Just as with four of the five E-Flexer ships that Stena RoRo has delivered to Brittany Ferries, the vessel will be powered by multi-fuel engines as well as the market's largest battery-hybrid package of 12 MWh. With these batteries, the ship will be able to operate in and out of port solely on battery power and even maneuver when docking and undocking without using the ship's diesel engines. This is a unique technical solution that provides significantly lower CO2 emissions for the ship. The E-Flexer concept has been continuously developed in line with future environmental requirements, and through its technical design and high degree of innovation, it can fulfill and exceed both existing and future international requirements. The Guillaume de Normandie is also equipped with a shore connection with an output of 8 MW for high-speed charging of the batteries, which also enables a completely fossil-free stay when in port. With the installed battery capacity, the vessel can operate at speeds of up to 17.5 knots on batteries alone. The ship's engines can be powered by marine diesel (MGO), liquefied natural gas (LNG), biodiesel or biogas. In addition, the PTI/PTO system with the Battery Power function can be used for propulsion at sea or maneuvering in port. The system is scalable, which means that in the future, the Guillaume de Normandie can operate entirely on batteries or with a combination of the different fuels. The ship's modern interior (designed by Figura Arkitekter AB) has been especially created for the current route and with clear influences from Normandy. The ship is certified for 1300 passengers along with 2410 lane meters of cargo, whereof 176 lane meters for personal cars. The E-Flexer series is based on a basic concept with vessels larger than most existing RoPax ferries and features a highly flexible design. Each ship is tailored to customers' needs, both commercially and technically. An optimized design of the hull, propellers and rudders along with opportunities to incorporate new environmentally friendly technology contribute to the E-Flexer vessels being at the absolute forefront in terms of sustainability and performance as well as cost and energy efficiency. "It is with great satisfaction and pride that we have now taken delivery of the twelfth E-Flexer vessel in the series," says Stena RoRo AB Managing Director Per Westling . "Within the framework of the E-Flexer concept, there has been continuous technical development and we can offer our customers flexible and future-proof propulsion systems that by a wide margin meet both today's and future environmental requirements. The large battery hybrid system we installed on the Guillaume de Normandie means that the ship can operate optimally, in step with regulatory developments, or in accordance with the operator's own policies." The Guillaume de Normandie is chartered to Brittany Ferries for 10 years. The total of five E-Flexer ships ordered by Brittany Ferries are renewing and modernizing the company's current fleet of cargo and passenger ships. The first ferry, the Galicia , was delivered in the autumn of 2020, the second in November 2021 , the third in December 2023 . The Saint-Malo was delivered in October 2024 , which is the fourth vessel in the series, and the Guillaume de Normandie in December 2024 , the fifth and final ship. Stena RoRo currently has 15 confirmed orders at CMI Jinling, Weihai shipyard for E-Flexer vessels, as well as two orders for New Max RoRo vessels. Twelve vessels have now been delivered. Stena E-Flexer orders: 1. Stena Line : Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivered in 2019 2. Stena Line ; Stena Line's network in the Irish Sea, delivered in 2020 3. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivered in 2020 Long-term charter agreement 4. Stena Line : Stena Line network in the Irish Sea; delivered in 2021 5. DFDS; DFDS network; delivered in 2021 Long-term charter agreement 6. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivery 2021 Long-term charter agreement; LNG operation 7. Stena Line ; Stena Line network, delivered from the shipyard in May 2022 Extended version 8. Stena Line ; Stena Line's network, delivered from the shipyard in September 2022 Extended version 9. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network; delivered in December 2022 Long-term charter agreement, LNG operation 10. Marine Atlantic; Marine Atlantic network, delivered in February 2024 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 11. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivered in 2024 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 12. Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries network, delivered in 2024 Long charter agreement; LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 13. Corsica Linea, Corsica Linea network, delivery 2026 LNG operation with battery-hybrid installation 14. Attica Group, delivery April 2027 Methanol-ready, battery-hybrid installation 15. Attica Group, delivery August 2027 Methanol-ready, battery-hybrid installation E-Flexer No. 12 specifications for Brittany Ferries: Length: 194.7 m Draught: 6.5 m Beam: 27.8 m Capacity: 1300 passengers and 2410 lane meters, of which 176 lane meters are intended for automobiles Passenger cabins: 222 distributed over four decks Speed: 23 knots (17.5 on batteries only Photos: CMJS Shipyard Captions: Guillaume de Normandie – Brittany Ferries Batteri room 1 Batteri room 2 Les Planches, the ship's bar on deck 8, shows clear influences from Normandy There is a special lounge on deck 6 for the ship's pod cabin guests Riva Bella , the restaurant in the forward section of deck 7 For more information, please contact: Per Westling , Managing Director, Stena RoRo AB Tel: +46 31 855154; +46 704 85 51 54 Email: per.westling@stena.com Since 1977, Stena RoRo has led development of new marine RoRo, cargo and passenger concepts. We provide custom-built vessels, as well as standardized RoRo and RoPax vessels. The company leases about fifteen vessels to operators worldwide, both other Stena companies and third parties. Stena RoRo specializes above all in using its technical expertise for the design and production of new vessels and the conversion and technical operation of existing vessels in order to deliver tailor-made transport solutions to its customers. We call this "Stenability". Since 2013, we have had responsibility for the design and completion of Mercy Ships' new hospital vessel the Global Mercy – the world's largest civilian hospital ship. The ship was delivered in 2021. www.stenaroro.com Brittany Ferries is a French ferry company and tour operator based in Roscoff, France . The company was founded by an agricultural cooperative in Breton for exporting vegetables to the UK. The first ferry voyage was from Roscoff to Plymoth on January 2, 1972 , the day after the UK joined the EEC – the European Economic Community, the predecessor to the EU. The cargo consisted of artichokes and cauliflower. The company quickly expanded with more ships and routes when it became clear that the biggest market was British tourists who wanted to explore Brittany and later Normandy as well. Brittany Ferries presently operates 14 routes connecting France , Great Britain , Spain and Ireland . In a normal year, the company has sales of approximately 450 million Euros and transports approximately 2.5 million passengers and 205,000 freight units. The company is still largely owned by French farmers, supported by the regions of Brittany and Normandy, and prides itself on being the largest employer of seafarers in France . www.brittanyferries.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/r/stena-roro-takes-delivery-of-the-battery-hybrid-vessel-guillaume-de-normandie,c4086104 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/9515/4086104/3189235.pdf Stena RoRo takes delivery of the battery hybrid vessel Guillaume de Normandie https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/guillaume-de-normandie,c3365506 Guillaume de Normandie https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/battery-pack,c3365507 Battery pack https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/battery-pack,c3365508 Battery pack https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/les-planches-the-ship-s-bar-on-deck-8-with-influences-from-normandie,c3365509 Les Planches the ship s bar on deck 8 with influences from Normandie https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/dormitary-pod-lounge-area---on-deck-6,c3365510 Dormitary pod lounge area - on deck 6 https://news.cision.com/stena-roro/i/riva-bella-the-restaurant-in-the-forward-section-of-deck-7,c3365511 Riva Bella the restaurant in the forward section of deck 7

The United Nations envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has stressed the importance of a political resolution to the tensions brewing in northeast Syria. Kurdish-led authorities and Turkish-backed groups are at a crossroads that could spell severe consequences for the entire nation if not handled with diplomatic prudence. Hostilities have surged following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad, with Turkish-backed Syrian rebels making advances. The Kurdish YPG, pivotal within the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, has suggested a strategic withdrawal for peace, a move met with resistance from Turkey, which demands complete disbandment of the YPG, seen as an offshoot of militant factions. Amidst discussions between Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Syria's new leadership, the call for compromise remains urgent. Thousands protested in northeast Syria, asserting their autonomy. As the political landscape evolves, the prospects for a new Syria rest on navigating these challenges with inclusivity and diplomacy. (With inputs from agencies.)US consumer confidence drops unexpectedly to near-recession levels ahead of Trump’s 2nd term

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jalen Hurts remained in the NFL's concussion protocol on Monday, limiting his ability to practice this week for the Philadelphia Eagles and casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's game against Dallas. If Hurts can't play, the Eagles would turn to backup Kenny Pickett — who suffered a rib injury and couldn't protect a big lead in a 36-33 loss to Washington — with third-stringer Tanner McKee on deck. The Eagles (12-3) need to win one more game over the final two to clinch an NFC East title and one of the conference's top two seeds. Coach Nick Sirianni gave no additional health update on Hurts but did say the QB who led the Eagles to 10 straight wins before he was forced out with the head injury wouldn't need much time this week to get ready against the Cowboys, if he was cleared. “Jalen knows how to prepare,” Sirianni said. “He knows how to get himself ready. He's a true pro." The Eagles are 9 1/2-point favorites over the division rival Cowboys (7-8), per BetMGM Sportsbook. Sirianni said the Eagles would lean on the medical staff on a daily basis to know where Hurts — who threw two touchdown passes and ran for a pair of scores in the first meeting against Dallas in November — was in his recovery from the head injury. Hurts was ruled out early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. “He's always done a good job of protecting himself both as a passer and a runner,” Sirianni said. “Any time you lose one of your best players, you wish they'd do something else or not take that hit." Hurts shook off a sluggish start over the first four games and has thrown 18 touchdowns against just five interceptions to turn the Eagles into Super Bowl contenders. “Every time there's a player out,” Sirianni said, “there's an adjustment to be made.” What’s working Saquon Barkley and the running game. Barkley was held to 41 yards after the first quarter but 150 yards is 150 yards and he still has a shot at NFL history. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,838 yards rushing and is 268 yards away from passing Eric Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984 for the season mark. Barkley is 162 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history with 2,000 yards rushing in a season. What needs help Backup QB. Pickett was 14 of 24 for 143 yards in relief, throwing a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown and an interception. Pickett played his first meaningful football in a year. The Eagles use McKee as the emergency QB, but the sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft could be in the mix if Hurts sat out against Dallas. Pickett is from New Jersey and said when he was acquired from Pittsburgh that he had “great memories” of going to games at Lincoln Financial Field with his dad and grandfather since he was 5. The chance to run out of the home team tunnel — which he could get Sunday if he's the starting QB — left him absolutely delighted. Pickett, a first-round pick out of Pitt in 2022, went 14-10 as a starter for the Steelers. “I was impressed by Pickett, honestly," Washington coach Dan Quinn said Monday. "I thought he threw the ball with good accuracy to the right spots. He’s a nice athlete (who can) move, so I can see why they would want him in that system. I thought he got outside and had good scramble ability. Wasn’t surprised they didn’t run the sneaks to go through that.” Stock up Zack Baun. The linebacker barely caused a ripple on the transactions wire in March but has been arguably the MVP of the defense. He forced a fumble in the third quarter that set up a score, one of five turnovers for the Eagles. He also had two tackles for losses. Stock down The No. 1 seed. The Eagles all but cost themselves a shot at the top spot in the NFC and a bye with the late-game collapse in Washington. The Eagles will clinch the division with a victory over the Cowboys or Giants and most likely will finish with the No. 2 seed. They are one game behind both the Detroit Lions (13-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-2) in the NFC standings. Eagles fans can still chant, “We're No. 1!” but it's a long shot. To clinch the No. 1 seed, the Eagles need to beat Dallas and the Giants. And the Lions need to lose their last two games against San Francisco (6-9) and Minnesota. And the Vikings needs to lose to Green Bay (10-4) and beat the Lions in Week 18. Should the status quo remain, the Eagles would host Washington in a playoff game. Injuries Beyond Hurts, edge rusher Josh Sweat left with an ankle injury and defensive tackle Jordan Davis limped off in the second quarter. ... Pickett said he had his ribs X-rayed and would undergo further testing. Sirianni had no update Monday on Pickett's condition. Key number 1,000 — Brown became the first Eagles receiver to top 1,000 yards in three straight seasons since Mike Quick from 1983-85. Next steps The Eagles can clinch the division and a home playoff game with two lightweights left on the schedule, both at home. The Eagles play Dallas on Sunday in a game bumped to a 1 p.m. kickoff and end the season against the New York Giants. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

ESPN, TNT Sports Tag-Team on Emirates NBA Cup Production in Las Vegas The long and winding trek to the Emirates NBA Cup will conclude over the next few days at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and Saturday’s doubleheader will decide which two teams will battle it out for the second-annual trophy. In a March Madness–esque effort, ESPN and TNT Sports will each produce a semifinal matchup from the arena, relying on help from each other and the league’s broadcast-operations department. “[These games] feel different because we’re in a neutral venue and working much closer with the NBA,” says . “We’re able to do things that we wouldn’t be able to do in an ordinary NBA arena.” After a successful inaugural competition in 2023, the NBA Cup tourney’s start a month ago demonstrated the teams’ buy-in, with new jerseys, newly designed courts, and an enhanced commitment to play with heart and grit. Fans have turned up to the venues to watch in person, and viewers have tuned in to broadcasts on national and regional networks. As the tournament hits its final stage, the tension on the court will continue to ratchet up. And the championship-level game will be matched by championship-level technologies and workflows. “It feels like we’re in the playoffs despite being in the middle of the season,” says . “This year, it has been a little bit easier after last year’s tournament and with the great working relationship that we have with the league.” TNT Sports, which will broadcast the first semifinal, will deploy an impressive tech arsenal, including 10 hard cameras, six handhelds, four super-slow-motion cameras, its standard above-the-rim robotic camera at each basket, an RF Steadicam, and live coaches mics heard in real time. Another TNT Sports’ standard is remote graphics production from its Techwood facility in Atlanta, an effort that began on . Airing on ESPN, the second semifinal and Tuesday night’s final will be the first productions to boast five shallow–depth-of-field cameras: a Sony FR7 PTZ robo on each bench, a new Canon C80 on an RS-4 Pro gimbal, and an RF handheld with capabilities to add virtual graphics. Other tech toys include an ARRI ALEXA35 4K Live Production System camera with a Fujifilm DUVO 25-1000mm box lens, SMT Optics strategy tracker and shot-distance tracker with NBA Hawk-Eye data, and TGI Sport on-court virtual advertising. Each broadcaster will have a dedicated configuration in the compound. TNT Sports will roll with its West Coast workhorse, NEP Supershooter 8 A and B units, as the main game truck and NEP TS2 for an onsite edition of emanating from the outdoor plaza of T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will be working from NEP EN3 A and B for game coverage and Live Media Group MU-14 for onsite versions of and . The game truck will share multiple camera feeds for studio coverage, and the studio team’s virtual jib camera will be integrated into the live game telecast. On Saturday, TNT Sports and ESPN will come together to produce two semifinal games in a single night. Although the schedule at T-Mobile Arena is a lot more favorable this year — the tech infrastructure for last year’s portion in Las Vegas because of a Vegas Golden Knights game — key to the tournament’s success is to reflect on last year’s effort and adapt strategies for this weekend. “We tried sticking to the blueprint and made the necessary adjustments for replicating it,” says Brown. “The NBA made some tweaks, but we looked to leverage the lessons learned from last year.” A neutral-site production for a trophy game is reminiscent of the NBA Bubble during the COVID-shortened season in 2020. As two of the NBA’s domestic rightsholders, TNT Sports and ESPN had long had a strong partnership, but that effort at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando strengthened their relationship. Four years later, that time together is reflected in Las Vegas. “The camaraderie and friendship that we have with TNT Sports is unmatched,” says Okuno. “When it comes to operations, we’re always there to help each other out. When the NBA Cup came into our schedules last year, we took the approach of doing it together.” This willingness to work together in the same venue has translated into sharing selected resources and equipment. TNT Sports’ RF Steadicam, for example, will be used on ESPN’s nightcap on Saturday. ESPN, for its part, is offering Skycam, court-length RailCam, a Sony HDC-5500 low-slash camera, and robotic PTZ cameras. The ESPN-provided cameras will be operating in 1080p/59.94 fps SDR for both semifinal games. Audio will be shared via MADI and Dante paths, along with comms between the broadcasters’ onsite trucks. To free up space in the shared broadcast compound, the broadcasters will deploy a few remote workflows. Besides TNT Sports’ remote graphics from Techwood, ESPN graphics, clock and score, and four EVS replay operators for game coverage will be located in Bristol, CT. The final cut of the studio show will be distributed from ESPN’s production facility in Los Angeles. In addition, to manage the respective team’s workload, the broadcasters split their crews to produce the two remaining quarterfinal matchups in New York City and Houston on Wednesday. The new NBA-sanctioned competition is bringing in new viewers on its own, but, to offer more viewing options, TNT Sports will execute its last . Having debuted on , the alternative broadcasts will once again place the roster of the teams into the world of , with player icons, badges, and energy bars. When you add this activation to a full plate of production responsibilities, it’s another wrinkle that Brown and his crew have to account for. “This will add some complexity to our setup,” he notes, “since we’ll have a couple of dedicated cameras for this altcast. We’ve really leaned into alternative telecasts, and, for the avid basketball fan, it serves as an awesome companion. The [ ] trails about four seconds behind the main telecast, so it gives fans a chance to react to what they’re seeing on TV and then look over to see the stats associated with that same play.” On ESPN, the broadcasts will bring on-court sound to life via new Digital Q5X Player Mic-Xs. A staple of for many seasons, their use has been refined over the past two years, particularly for better sound quality and less obstruction on the player and uniform. A tech playground for the league and ESPN, the two latest NBA Summer Leagues at the Thomas & Mack — a short, 2.5-mile drive down Tropicana Ave. from T-Mobile Arena — was the perfect place to experiment with the refined implementation. We had to test it very thoroughly and incorporated the players’ input [into our testing],” notes Okuno. “We also had to make sure that it was transmitting [the signal] accurately.” Many sports fans look forward to the holiday season, to settling down with loved ones during a relatively slower time of the year. For sports-production professionals, it’s an extremely busy portion of their work schedule, but the crews at ESPN and TNT Sports are made up of hardworking folks who value their time together. At ESPN, Okuno is joined by , , , , , and of game operations and , , , and of studio operations. At TNT Sports, Brown is joined by ; ; ; ; and . The common goal of producing a quality televised product, along with viewers flocking to watch the action, results in a highly anticipated three-game ending to the tournament in its second year. “The standard was set very high last year to produce an NBA Finals–level production in 2023,” notes Okuno. “This year’s Emirates NBA Cup is about elevating our camera and audio technology.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks are dragging down the market Friday as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.3%, with more than 90% of stocks in the benchmark index losing ground. The benchmark index was managing to hold onto a modest gain for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 418 points, or 1%, to 42,878 as of 1:43 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.8%. Technology stocks were the biggest weight on the market Friday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slumped 2.7%. Its enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes. Other Big Tech stocks losing ground included Microsoft, with a 2% decline. A wide range of retailers also fell. Amazon fell 1.9% and Best Buy slipped 1.8%. The sector is being closely watched for clues on how it performed during the holiday shopping season. Energy stocks held up better than the rest of the market, with a loss of just 0.1% as crude oil prices rose 1.4%. The S&P 500 gained nearly 3% over a 3-day stretch before breaking for the Christmas holiday. On Thursday, the index posted a small decline. “There's just some uncertainty over this relief rally we've witnessed since last week,” said Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist for LPL Financial. Despite Friday's drop, the market is moving closer to another standout annual finish . The S&P 500 is on track for a gain of around 25% in 2024. That would mark a second consecutive yearly gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The gains have been driven partly by upbeat economic data showing that consumers continued spending and the labor market remained strong. Inflation, while still high, has also been steadily easing. A report on Friday showed that sales and inventory estimates for the wholesales trade industry fell 0.2% in November, following a slight gain in October. That weaker-than-expected report follows an update on the labor market Thursday that showed unemployment benefits held steady last week. The stream of upbeat economic data and easing inflation helped prompt a reversal in the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy this year. Expectations for interest rate cuts also helped drive market gains. The central bank recently delivered its third cut to interest rates in 2024. Even though Inflation has come closer to the central bank's target of 2%, it remains stubbornly above that mark and worries about it heating up again have tempered the forecast for more interest rate cuts. Inflation concerns have added to uncertainties heading into 2025, which include the labor market’s path ahead and shifting economic policies under incoming President Donald Trump. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Amedisys rose 4.7% after the home health care and hospice services provider agreed to extend the deadline for its sale to UnitedHealth Group. The Justice Department had sued to block the $3.3 billion deal, citing concerns he combination would hinder access to home health and hospice services in the U.S. The move to extend the deadline comes ahead of an expected shift in regulatory policy under Trump. The incoming administration is expected to have a more permissive approach to dealmaking and is less likely to raise antitrust concerns. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Markets in Europe gained ground. Bond yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.61% from 4.59% late Thursday. The yield on the two-year Treasury slipped to 4.31% from 4.33% late Thursday. Wall Street will have more economic updates to look forward to next week, including reports on pending home sales and home prices. There will also be reports on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity.The Prime Minister is leading a country "totally unprepared" for war with a "woefully small and poorly equipped" military, a former intelligence officer has claimed. Colonel Philip Ingram said Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Government had its head "buried deep" and that the politicians running the country were "naive" to the global threats posed by the likes of Vladimir Putin 's Russia . The colonel's words come as Sir Keir visited British forces at bases in Cyprus just as it has been announced there will be defence spending cuts of more than £500 million, with frigates, helicopters and amphibious assault vessels due to be scrapped. Col Ingram, a counter-terror expert who was one of the most senior intelligence officers in the British Army, told GB News : “I am concerned by the lack of national preparedness. “How would central and local Government function in a time of war with heavy infrastructure damage? Our Army is woefully small and poorly equipped for warfighting. “But what concerns me above all is the naivety of our politicians. The Government has its head buried deep and doesn’t want to listen to the reality of what is happening across the globe. “Ministers must step up and start to prepare for war now.” Col Ingram said UK involvement in conflicts such as Ukraine , where British Storm Shadow missiles are reportedly being fired into Russia , put the country in the sights of warmongering dictators like Putin. He added: “The defence industrial base is not currently capable of building the equipment and ammunition needed for war, in the rapid time frames it would be needed. We rely on our Nato allies too heavily, but many of them are unprepared also.” Shadow Minister for Defence Mark Francois told GB News: “History tells us, again and again, that appeasing dictators does not work. “If we want to deter a wider conflict with Putin, we need to increase defence spending, to spend a bit more now rather than a vast amount more, in both blood and treasure, later. “That’s why Labour’s repeated refusal to put a date on when we will increase our defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP is so dangerous.” Defence Secretary John Healey said the Government is pressing ahead with cuts to the armed forces despite increasing global instability. In a statement to MPs, Mr Healey warned that further cuts could be required but insisted he had the support of armed forces chiefs for the decisions he had made. He said: "For too long our soldiers, sailors, aviators have been stuck with old, outdated equipment because ministers wouldn't make the difficult decommissioning decisions. "As technology advances at pace, we must move faster towards the future. So today, with full backing from our service chiefs, I can confirm that six outdated military capabilities will be taken out of services. "These decisions are set to save the MoD £150 million over the next two years and up to £500 million over five years, savings that will be retained in full in defence."