espn sport betting

or signup to continue reading The is one of the still few large SUVs in Australia available with a hybrid option – but spoiler alert, it's still in very short supply. This is the , which is the penultimate variant in the range sitting under the even more electrified Sorento GT-Line PHEV AWD, which costs $11,000 more. Priced from a little over $73,000 before on-road costs, the updated model is a few thousand dollars dearer than before – and , unfortunately. Still, the top-spec Sorento Hybrid is around the same money as a mid-tier . The related has just arrived with better supply and a wider range of variants, but a more polarising design. Key upgrades as part of the mid-life refresh include a fresh exterior design, as well as an updated interior and an enhanced technology suite. The hybrid drivetrain, meanwhile, is unchanged. Should you be getting in the queue for one of these electrified Kias, or are you better off looking at other options? The model year 2025 (MY25) Kia Sorento didn't see any further price adjustments since the initial launch earlier in the year, though each facelifted model carries a circa-$3000 premium over the equivalent pre-update model. As was the case pre-update, the Sorento Hybrid (HEV) and Plug-in Hybrid are only available in top-spec GT-Line guise due to limited supply. Kia Australia says it's working with the factory to increase allocation, but the car is sourced from the factory that supplies Europe, North America and the Korean domestic market. If you've sat in an updated Sorento GT-Line, it's pretty much the same here. Save for energy flow graphics and a dedicated hybrid menu in the infotainment system and cluster, it's otherwise the same as a Sorento GT-Line in V6 or diesel flavours. That means you get a nicely trimmed cabin with Nappa leather upholstery, lashings of gloss black, and brighter silver tones, and it's all nicely put together and has an upmarket look and feel to it. Even the base Sorento S scores a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Kia Connect, and higher grades get embedded satellite navigation with real-time traffic updates. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard across the board, as is DAB radio. The GT-Line gets the upscale twin 12.3-inch array which effectively gives the Sorento the same full digital cockpit as the larger all-electric EV9. There's also a 10-inch head-up display with better graphics, and can project turn-by-turn navigation prompts from third-party mapping apps from smartphones. There's a digital rear-view mirror on the flagship too. Kia's latest software features here, bringing wireless smartphone mirroring across the range (yay!) and Kia Connect for connected navigation, over the air software updates, and remote functions including cabin pre-conditioning, and more. Higher grades offer extended functionality too, such as surround camera snapshots on the GT-Line, and you can control the vehicle's windows GT-Line models with auto up/down functionality. All of this is accessed via the Kia Connect smartphone app. We've tried these features in other Kias, and they're handy once you get it all set up. The Bose 12-speaker premium audio system is also good, with crisp audio and punchy bass. Comfort and space up front are pretty good, with plenty of nooks and crannies to store your phones, wallets, and keys. There's a big shelf under the centre stack for your phone, toothed cupholders, and several bins and cubbies – though the door pockets will only fit smaller bottles. The GT-Line offers a wireless phone fast charger. Worth noting is some of the cubbies aren't felt or rubber lined so harder items can rattle around a bit. Another new feature of the Sorento is the touch bar that serves as a climate control panel and virtual hard controls for the infotainment system. We've seen this on the EV6 and Sportage; unlike some touch-based controls the Kia ones work much like conventional switchgear. As before, the GT-Line gets a slew of luxury features like heated and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and manual rear sunshades. A panoramic sunroof is again reserved for the flagship, and it's a great feature if your kids like to look up at the sky while in the car. Not much has changed in the rear other than some new seat designs and new USB-C ports on the seat backs in higher models, but there's still plenty of goodness in the second and third rows. Adults easily fit behind adults in the second row, even three abreast without it being too much of a squeeze. The third row is one of the more practical for the segment, though it's not as good as the Palisade or Carnival and the curtain airbags only cover that second window – and therefore technically don't offer full three-row coverage. The Sorento is also very kid-friendly, with five top-tether and four ISOFIX anchors meaning you can fill up the rear two rows with child capsules if you need the space. The second row has a one-touch entrance function too to make getting in and out of the rearmost seats easier. The third row itself remains one of the best in class, with enough room for average-sized adults for shorter journeys and more than enough space for kids. Disappointingly, the Sorento doesn't get a proper third zone of automatic climate control like numerous rivals do. Rounding out the rear amenities are a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, net-type map pockets behind the front seats, cupholders, and bottle holders in the doors themselves, as well as a 12V outlet behind the centre console. GT-Line models also feature heated outer second-row seats. Regardless of which Sorento you choose, there's a full-size alloy spare wheel under the boot floor as well. Props to Kia for continuing to offer this, which no doubt will be a key point of difference to many buyers. As before, it's a 1.6-litre turbocharged hybrid drivetrain underneath the skin. The combustion-only Sorento range is already good, and the HEV adds an electrified powertrain into that mix. With a small turbocharged engine and an electric motor built into the six-speed automatic transmission, the Sorento HEV requires little learning curve to get accustomed to its driving characteristics. The Sorento HEV will often start in silence, but on cold starts the petrol engine fires up shortly after with the buzzy, muted tone this unit has in other Hyundai-Kia products. It sometimes sends slight vibrations into the cabin, but it's far from harsh. Being mated to a conventional auto and not a dual-clutch, as well as having an electric motor fill the void that would normally be turbo lag, the Sorento HEV actually gets off the line quite smoothly. Compared to something like a Kluger Hybrid, which uses an e-CVT, you might need to get used to the shifting between cogs, but otherwise it's pretty conventional. You'll find it doesn't stay in EV mode much during acceleration unless you're really feathering it or rolling at slow speeds in stop-start traffic. The Sorento HEV is clearly pitched at those that rarely venture onto the open road, with its hybrid system doing its best work in town. The gearing sees the 1.6-litre engine spinning at about 2000rpm at 100km/h. By comparison, the V6 and diesel will be far less stressed on the freeway thanks to their eight-speed 'boxes. It's also evident in the indicated fuel consumption. Our week ended with an indicated readout of 6.8L/100km which is good for this size of vehicle given we mainly drove to and from the office in peak hour with high traffic, though it's still a bit up on the brand's 5.7L/100km claim. Spend more time on the highway and you'll see sevens. Technically the electric motor acts as a launch gear and reverse, so you could consider it a seven-speeder, but the final drive appears a touch short to really make this a proper all-rounder. If you spend more time on the freeway, the diesel even without idle stop-start will do better numbers than the more expensive hybrid. Otherwise it's all pretty much standard Sorento, as with the mid-life update both the Sorento HEV and PHEV have been given the same ride and handling tune as the wider range, which wasn't the case previously. As you'd expect, the Sorento HEV handles with accuracy and confidence, with a lovely balance between comfort and engagement. The updated model feels nicely tied together to mask its size, and is a little softer in its damping to add an extra layer of compliance over undulations and harder hits. The Sorento HEV barely has any added weight compared to the equivalent petrol or diesel. While Kia Australia doesn't quote 0-100km/h times, the UK division quotes 8.7 seconds for the Sorento Hybrid, with the PHEV reducing that to 8.4 seconds. According to British specs, the diesel is almost half a second slower. It doesn't feel as outright punchy as the V6, nor as effortlessly torquey as the diesel. It splits the two in terms of performance and refinement, adding the electrified low-speed drive as a bonus while also achieving diesel-like economy for the most part. Insulation from road and wind noise is good, and the new Santa Fe arguably pushes the game forward again with its very clear focus on premium rivals in terms of presentation and ambience. The array of driver assistance systems works well, as we found in the core range. Highway Driving Assist combines adaptive cruise and lane centring for a semi-autonomous highway driving experience, and works well if for the odd confusion in freeway construction zones or if a vehicle suddenly cuts you off. Blind Spot View Monitor bolsters the standard blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assist features by showing you a live side camera feed every time you indicate, and the surround camera with 3D view likewise increases visibility. If there's one complaint, it's the annoying beeps and bongs of the Speed Limit Assist default to on and can be quite annoying even if they're quieter than previous iterations. Best to add the shortcut to the assistance menu to the star-labelled button on the steering wheel. The Sorento HEV is exclusively offered in flagship GT-Line trim, meaning it comes fully loaded. The new Sorento carries over the pre-update model's five-star ANCAP safety rating, based on Euro NCAP tests. It's worth noting the updated Australian range doesn't pick up more airbags like Korean models, which get rear-side inflators and a driver's knee airbag – bringing the total to 10. Local models also appear to miss out on the 'reverse guide lamp' that's similar to the rear lights offered by Genesis models. The Kia Sorento lineup is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. High-voltage battery and motor components for electrified models are covered for seven years or 150,000 kilometres. Scheduled maintenance is required every 12 months or 10,000 kilometres – whichever comes first. Kia models with turbocharged petrol engines have shorter mileage intervals than naturally aspirated petrols and turbo-diesels. It's also worth noting the related Hyundai Santa Fe with a similar hybrid system is far cheaper to service, at least over a five-year period. * The Sorento Hybrid remains a solid option for families wanting to reduce their emissions, if you can get your hands on one. While the Australian-market diesel continues with older Euro 5 emissions systems, the HEV is easily the cleanest way to get around. If you're spending more time in town, it'll outdo both the V6 and oiler for fuel consumption. It'll take some time to make up the $4000-$5000 premium over the equivalent V6 and diesel, and the lack of national drive-away pricing means that initial deficit could be wider from the get-go. But, if you're not buying for the fuel savings and just general reduction of impact and perhaps future resale, it could be the better bet. There are a few things going against it, however. High relative consumption on the highway is one, which I imagine will only get worse with seven on board. As noted earlier, regular highway stints or plans to tow would make the cheaper and more readily available diesel a better option. Very short supply is the other huge grey cloud. You could be waiting a very long time for one. It isn't be subject to FBT exemptions like the PHEV is until April 1, 2025 – which if you're leasing, could make the plug-in more attractive. Finally, there's the fact the new Santa Fe Hybrid does the same things but offers a wider range of variants and better supply (starting from $15,000 less), as well as a more power (172kW v 169kW). It may have looks that polarise, but it has a newer version of the same mechanicals underneath. That all said, the Sorento stacks up well still against the Toyota Kluger like-for-like, and will no doubt be a very capable family chariot for those lucky few that can get one in their driveway. Hopefully open up more supply Down Under. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementGaza Strip: Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 22 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said. Also on Sunday, Israeli authorities allowed Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, to enter Gaza and celebrate a pre-Christmas Mass with members of the territory's small Christian community. A strike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza City killed at least eight people, including three children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Israeli military said it struck Hamas militants sheltering there. A strike on a home in the central city of Deir al-Balah late Saturday killed at least eight people, including three women and two children, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Another six people were killed in separate strikes on Sunday, according to local hospitals. Israel has carried out daily strikes in Gaza more than 14 months into the war with Hamas. It says it only targets militants, accusing them of hiding among civilians, but the bombings frequently kill women and children. Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Entrepreneurship Validating Your Startup Idea: Steps to Ensure Market Fit By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By - Neil Patel, Co-Founder and Author at Neil Patel Digital Digital Marketing Guru View Program Design Canva Magic Write: Ideas to Stunning Slides in No Time By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI for Everyone: Understanding and Applying the Basics on Artificial Intelligence By - Ritesh Vajariya, Generative AI Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Entrepreneurship Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Analysis Learn Power BI with Microsoft Fabric: Complete Course By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Israel and Hamas have recently appeared to draw closer to a ceasefire agreement that would include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but several obstacles remain, and the long-running indirect talks have repeatedly stalled. Vatican envoy celebrates Mass with Gaza's Christians Dozens of worshippers gathered in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City as Pizzaballa and other clergy celebrated Mass. A Christmas tree was decorated with golden ornaments and twinkling white lights, and altar boys wearing red and white robes held candles. "For Christmas, we celebrate the light and we are wondering where the light is. This is one of the places where the light is," Pizzaballa said. The buzz of Israeli drones circling overhead, a sound that has grown ubiquitous across Gaza during the war, could be heard throughout the Mass. The rare visit to Gaza by the Latin Patriarch came a day after Pope Francis had again criticized Israel's actions in Gaza. Francis said Saturday that his envoy had been unable to enter the territory because of Israeli bombing. "Yesterday children have been bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war," Francis said during his annual Christmas greetings at the Vatican. The pope recently called for an investigation to determine if Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a conclusion later reached by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The International Court of Justice is investigating genocide allegations brought against Israel by South Africa. Israel, which was founded as a refuge for Jews after the Nazi Holocaust, adamantly rejects such allegations. It says it has made great efforts to spare civilians and is only at war with Hamas, which it accuses of genocidal violence in the attack that ignited the war. War grinds on as winter sets in Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel's subsequent bombardment and ground invasion have killed over 45,000 people in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90% of Gaza's 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into squalid tent camps along the coast as the cold, wet winter sets in. Israel has been carrying out a major operation in northern Gaza since early October, battling Hamas in the most isolated and heavily damaged part of the territory. Tens of thousands have fled as the military has ordered a complete evacuation and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. The Israeli military body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza, known as COGAT, said it had facilitated the evacuation of over 100 patients, caregivers and others from the Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital in the far north, which have struggled to function. COGAT said it had also facilitated the delivery of 5,000 liters of fuel and food packages to the hospitals. Palestinian security force member killed in West Bank In the volatile northern West Bank town of Jenin, militants shot and killed a member of the Palestinian security forces and wounded two others. The Western-backed Palestinian Authority launched a rare crackdown there earlier this month. A statement from the security forces blamed the shooting on "outlaws," without elaborating. The PA is internationally recognized but deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters. Under interim peace agreements reached in the 1990s, the PA exercises limited authority in population centers in the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Mideast War, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )espn sport betting 。

( MENAFN - IANS) United Nations, Dec 28 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is saddened by the passing of India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who played a "pivotal role" in shaping the nation's "economic trajectory", according to his Associate Spokesperson Stephanie Tremblay. "The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh," she said in a statement on Friday. He "played a pivotal role in India's recent history, particularly in shaping its economic trajectory," the statement said. "As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Singh oversaw a period of significant economic growth and development in India." "Under his leadership, India also strengthened its collaboration with the United Nations, contributing actively to global initiatives and partnerships," it added. Singh cooperated with Guterres's two predecessors Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon during his 10 years as Prime Minister, meeting them at the UN headquarters in New York as well as at other international forums. Singh addressed the UN General Assembly five times. Fighting climate change has been a top item in the UN's agenda along with sustainable development for poverty eradication. In pursuing these goals, Singh reiterated India's commitment but also constantly reminded world leaders that the developing countries' historical context should be taken into account and the developed countries had a special responsibility in pursuing them. At the UN Climate Change Conference in Denmark in 2009, he declared, "India was a latecomer to industrialisation and as such we have contributed very little to the accumulation of greenhouse gas emissions that caused global warming, but we are determined to be part of the solution." When the negotiations began while he was Prime Minister for the landmark Paris Climate Change Accord that was adopted in 2015, he made it a firm condition that it should be "equitable" taking into account the disproportionate role the developed countries had in creating the greenhouse gas crisis and its consequences suffered by developing countries. He also attended the Rio+, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio De Janeiro in 2012. While criticising the developed countries for their parsimony in funding development around the world, he also said, "Sustainable development mandates the efficient use of available natural resources. We have to be much more frugal in the way we use natural resources." While the UN was working on its ambitious 2030 Sustainable Development Goals that was adopted in 2015 after he left office, Singh emphasised that it should provide funding for developing countries and technology transfer. In 2013 in his last address to the UN General Assembly, he said, "The problems of over a billion people living in abject poverty around the world need to be attacked more directly. Poverty remains a major political and economic challenge and its eradication requires special attention and a new collective thrust." "It is, therefore, important that the UN set clear and concise goals (for its sustainable development agenda) and provide practical and well-defined means of implementation, including the adequate flow of resources and transfer of technology, taking the views of developing countries fully into account," he added. MENAFN27122024000231011071ID1109036087 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.I'm 34, a CEO and a great catch... and my girlfriend is an AI chatbot. My mother is desperate for me to marry but I may never date a 'real' woman again

Fugitive dog gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets

" Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ) Takes Home Snow Leopard for Best Film Wu Kang -ren ( " Abang Adik " ) Named Best Actor Diamond Bou Abboud ( "Arze" ) Wins Best Actress Sergei Bodrov Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award HOLLYWOOD, Calif. , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 10th annual Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) announced its winners at a star-studded Closing Night Gala Awards Ceremony Thursday, November 21 , at the Culver Theater. Over 60 films and special screenings, including 24 Academy Award submissions for Best International Feature Film, were presented over the nine days of the AWFF, held November 13 - 21. The ceremony was hosted by Kyrgyz director and actress Elnura Osmanalieva and TV host, Golden Globe member, filmmaker and actor Mico Saad . FOR PHOTOS: CLICK HERE The Main Competition presented a series of exclusive Snow Leopard Awards with the assistance of Iris Wang , Jury President, producer ("Kung Fu Yoga," "The Composer"). Crime/drama " Abang Adik " ( Malaysia ), directed by Jin Ong , won the Snow Leopard Award for Best Film . The film also won the Snow Leopard Best Actor Award for Wu Kang -ren . The Snow Leopard for Best Actress went to Diamond Bou Abboud for the social dramedy "Arze" ( Lebanon ), directed by Mira Shaib . The Snow Leopard Special Jury Prize went to family drama " In the Arms of the Tree" ( Iran ) directed by Babak Khajeh Pasha . The Snow Leopard Panavision Award for Best Cinematography , along with a $45,000 Panavision Camera Package Grant, was awarded to cinematographer Zhanrbek Yeleubek for Kazakhstan's coming of age drama " Bauryna Salu, " and accepted by the film's director Askhat Kuchinchirekov and producer Dias Feld. The Snow Leopard Audience Award went to " The Glassworker " ( Pakistan ), directed by Usman Riaz . Writer, director and producer Sergei Bodrov ("Mongol," "Prisoner of the Mountains") received the AWFF Lifetime Achievement Award . The award was presented by Kazakhstan actress Ayanat Ksenbai ("About Mannequin"). Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Ho-Sun Chan ("Warlords," "Comrades: Almost a Love Story ") was presented with the Outstanding Cinematic Achievement Award by producer Andre Morgan ("The Cannonball Run," "The Warlords"). The Rising Star Award went to Filipino actress Kathryn Bernardo ("The Hows of Us," "Hello, Love, Goodbye") presented by actress Kieu Chinh ("The Joy Luck Club," "Hamburger Hill"). Executive Director Georges N. Chamchoum said, "There is always a beginning and end to everything—except at the Asian World Film Festival. This 10 th Anniversary year was filled with inspiring milestones, discovery, joy, and thrills! The myriads of movies we screened, the special country spotlights and the dedicated filmmaker panels, have brought the richness of our heritage to the forefront. Asia is a wellspring of incredibly talented filmmakers, offering valuable lessons, especially in this age of technology. The AWFF continues to showcase exceptional movies filled with heart, soul, and captivating storytelling. Onward to November 2025!" The Bruce Lee Award , in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation, was presented to martial artist and actor Mark Dacascos ("Brotherhood of the Wolf," " John Wick : Chapter 3 – Parabellum") by Lee's daughter Shannon Lee , CEO of the Bruce Lee Foundation. The Asian Vision Best Film Award was given to "Night Courier" ( Saudi Arabia ), directed by Ali Kalthami. The Short Film Jury composed of filmmakers and industry professionals from the U.S. and abroad, was headed by Jury President, Head of HDR Content Workflow, Barco) Joachim Zell . The Best Short Film , with a prize of a $15,000 Panavision Camera Package grant, went to " Lullaby" (UK/ Vietnam ) directed by Chi Thai . The award was presented by producer Zhu Xufang and accepted by actress Mai Thu Huyen ("A Fragile Flower," "Kieu"). A Special Mention was given to " Mar Mama " (Palestine), directed by Majdi El Omari . The complete awards list is as follows: SNOW LEOPARD COMPETITION AWARDEES SNOW LEOPARD HONORARY AWARDS ASIAN VISION BEST FILM AWARD: "Night Courier" ( Saudi Arabia ) directed by Ali Kalthami AWFF BRUCE LEE AWARD (in partnership with the Bruce Lee Foundation) Mark Dacascos SHORT FILM FINALISTS The AWFF series of Snow Leopard Awards is bestowed in partnership with The Snow Leopard Trust to raise awareness for the endangered snow leopard and their Asian ecosystem. AWFF SPONSORS The Asian World Film Festival is proudly sponsored by Aitysh Film, Pechanga Casino Resort, Panavision, Bruce Lee Foundation, Korean Cultural Center ( Los Angeles ), Korean Film Council (KOFIC), Taiwan Academy ( Los Angeles ), Hollywood Arab Film Association ( Los Angeles ), Vietnam Cinema Association ( Hanoi, Vietnam ), Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, Kyrgyz Film, Ministry of Culture & Tourism Republic of Turkiye, Directorate General of Cinema (Turkiye), Republic of Turkiye Los Angeles Consulate General, Beirut Film Association ( Lebanon ), Meihodo ( Japan ), MoRedii, Culver City Arts Foundation, CAPE ( Los Angeles ), AARP ( California ), Blackmagic Design, Emporium Thai ( Los Angeles ), NAMOO ( Marina Del Rey ), Jackson Market & Deli (Culver City, Shin Beijing ( Los Angeles ), H.C. Foods and Asahi Beer , among many others. ABOUT THE ASIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL (AWFF) Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, the Asian World Film Festival (AWFF) was founded by Kyrgyz public figure Sadyk Sher-Niyaz to bring the best of Asian cinema to Los Angeles and to strengthen ties between the Asian and Hollywood film industries. The festival screens feature films from more than 50 countries, spanning from Japan to Turkey and Russia to India and Southeast Asia . As of 2024, AWFF is the only Los Angeles -based festival that showcases most Asian submissions Academy Award ® and Golden Globe ® for Best International Feature Film and Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language respectively. AWFF is a non-profit organization under Aitysh USA . Follow AWFF on: Website: https://www.asianworldfilmfest.org/ X (formally Twitter): https://twitter.com/asianworldff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AsianWorldFilmFest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asianworldff/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@asianworldfilmfestival3974 Media Contact: Rick Markovitz 818-421-3334 386812@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/10th-annual-asian-world-film-festival-announces-winners-at-closing-night-gala-302314470.html SOURCE Asian World Film FestivalAlex Ovechkin on track to break Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record

When it comes to finding the smartest to buy on the TSX with $1,000, ( ) is a company I’d characterize as an easy pick as a top candidate for an investor looking to compound their wealth over the long term. This e-commerce giant has grown to one of the largest companies in Canada and is a burgeoning star in a sector that may be more overlooked than it should be right now. Here’s why I think investors looking to put their next $1,000 to work (particularly in a TFSA) may want to consider Shopify as their growth stock pick at this point in the market cycle. The e-commerce revolution continues on E-commerce has become more than a trend in the modern economy. With global retail e-commerce sales projected to exceed $7 trillion by 2025, companies leading this digital transformation are set for massive growth. Indeed, Shopify is leading the charge in terms of providing a platform that enables the democratization of e-commerce, making this company indispensable for those who believe the future is bright for companies engaging in online commerce. Shopify provides a comprehensive platform that enables businesses (large and small) to build, manage, and grow their online presence. With over 2.1 million businesses relying on Shopify’s tools and services, the dominance of the company in the e-commerce sector is undeniable. Notably, Shopify has expanded its reach with products like Shopify Plus, which caters to enterprise clients, and Shopify Markets, which simplifies global commerce. The company’s robust ecosystem ensures merchants stay engaged and loyal, driving consistent revenue growth. Proven financial strength Shopify has consistently demonstrated its ability to grow revenues, even in challenging economic environments. In the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, Shopify reported a 25% year-over-year increase in revenue, highlighting its ability to expand market share and attract new merchants. Furthermore, Shopify’s subscription-based model provides a steady income base, complemented by its merchant solutions, which scale with the success of its users. The company’s strategic cost management has resulted in better profitability, a critical factor for long-term growth stocks. Shopify’s ability to weather market fluctuations while maintaining strong financial performance makes it a safe yet high-potential investment. For investors with a $1,000 budget, this is a company that promises both growth and resilience. Bottom line The global shift toward digital commerce is far from over, and Shopify is ideally positioned to benefit from this ongoing transformation. While North America remains Shopify’s largest market, the company’s international expansion efforts are bearing fruit. Markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa are seeing exponential growth in e-commerce, and Shopify is tapping into these regions with localized solutions and partnerships. In my view, Shopify remains a top growth stock I’d put my next $1,000 into for these reasons and others. I think the company’s goal of playing a more integral role in the global economy is one that investors can get behind, particularly those who see a much larger percentage of global business being carried out online over time.Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here . Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week

The Eagles are looking to clinch the NFC East title while completing a rare sweep of the rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Philadelphia. The Eagles (12-3) will have to play without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts, who sustained a concussion during last weekend's 36-33 loss at Washington that snapped their team-record 10-game winning streak. He was ruled out on Friday after missing practice all week. Backup quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered a rib injury against the Commanders, but he was a full participant at Thursday's practice and was limited on Friday. Pickett is expected to start, with Tanner McKee his backup on Sunday as Philadelphia tries to sweep Dallas for the first time since 2011. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (7-8) are clicking with their own QB2 at the controls. Cooper Rush has guided Dallas to wins in four of the last five games, throwing nine touchdown passes and just one interception in that span. The Cowboys are in the unfamiliar position of playing spoiler, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Two more wins would give Dallas its fourth straight winning season under fifth-year coach Mike McCarthy. "It's hard to win games in this league. It's definitely an end goal just to have a winning season," Cowboys right guard Brock Hoffman said. "... But definitely where we've been at on this journey, take it week by week, win these last two games, have a winning season, and it's definitely a big boost going into next season." The Eagles cruised to a 34-6 win over the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, in the first meeting in Week 10, with Hurts throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for two scores. Rush finished with just 45 yards on 13-of-23 passing. Pickett replaced a woozy Hurts in the first quarter against Washington and finished the drive with a touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. "I thought it was so cool for our guys to have the confidence in (Pickett) to just hop in there and handle a third down, handle another completion, throw a third-down touchdown in the red zone," Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said Tuesday. "I thought that was a really cool moment." A sixth-round pick out of Stanford in 2023, McKee has yet to appear in a regular-season game. "I feel like I've always been preparing to be the starter and preparing to play, and so my preparation is going to stay the same," McKee said Tuesday. "And you know, I'm obviously excited for any opportunity that I do get, but we're going to take it day by day for those guys." No matter who plays QB, the Eagles likely will lean heavily on Saquon Barkley. With a league-leading 1,838 rushing yards, he needs 268 in the last two games to break Eric Dickerson's 1984 NFL single-season record of 2,105. Philadelphia's injury report Friday also included the team ruling out wide receiver Britain Covey (neck), who also returns punts, and running back Will Shipley (concussion), a contributor on kickoff return duty. Linebacker Nakobe Dean (abdomen) is doubtful after limited participation on Friday, while defensive end Bryce Huff (wrist) was a full participant and listed as questionable. He would need to be activated from injured reserve to play on Sunday. The Cowboys have shut down star wideout CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season because of a sprained right shoulder. Also ruled out for Sunday are cornerbacks Kemon Hall (hamstring) and Amani Oruwariye (foot). Guard TJ Bass (thigh) is doubtful, while those with questionable status are wide receivers Jalen Brooks (knee) and Jalen Tolbert (finger), offensive tackles Chuma Edoga (toe) and Asim Richards (ankle), linebackers Eric Kendricks (calf) and Nick Vigil (foot), and safety Donovan Wilson (knee). --Field Level Media

AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:03 p.m. ESTIn the latest edition of the Power On newsletter , Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman laid out a couple updates on Apple’s developments on health features for AirPods . We’ve heard reports on this matter in the past, but this provides a little more insight. According to the newsletter, Apple is working on a wide variety of health features, including a heart-rate monitor, a temperature sensor, and new sensors that’ll track “a slew of physiological measures.” Apple’s primarily focused on developing the heart rate sensor at the moment. In internal testing, Apple is noticing more accurate heart-rate info off of the Apple Watch , but Gurman reports that AirPods aren’t too far off. We don’t have details on the other health features, nor a precise timeline, though Gurman says we’ll see it roll out “over the coming years.” The features may debut in AirPods Pro 3. Apple is also working on cameras for AirPods. This project was previously cancelled, but got revived with Apple’s sudden interest in developing products for the era of AI. Gurman notes that this is a priority project for both AI teams and AirPods teams, but it’s still a couple years away: In fact, it’s now seen as a priority for the teams within Apple’s AI and AirPods hardware development groups. That said, I wouldn’t expect the technology to hit the market for a couple more years — assuming it doesn’t get canceled again. Apple released a new firmware update for AirPods Pro 2 earlier this year, enabling hearing health features and the ability to use AirPods as an FDA-certified hearing aid. With the release of these features, it’s obvious that Apple is moving in a more health-oriented direction, so introducing AirPods health features for users without an Apple Watch is a probable move. Follow Michael: X/Twitter , Bluesky , Instagram

Like most of life’s better ideas, the genesis of this article was in the pub. It came via a discussion about the merits or otherwise of Tottenham Hotspur ’s football team. You know the drill: they’re great to watch, can beat the best and lose to the worst. Spurs gonna Spurs, etc. The pub-based chat, though, became particularly heated when the topic turned to expected goals (xG). Advertisement “Spurs’ underlying xG numbers are pretty good, so I’d expect them to climb the table,” The Athletic opined. “Mate, seriously do not talk to me about xG, that’s just fancy journalism bulls*** that you lot use to make a point.” Enter this article’s protagonist, Dominic Townsend. Dom is a Wycombe Wanderers fan, middle class, educated to degree level and a likeable, right-minded fellow. He absolutely cannot stand xG and its use in modern mainstream media. What followed in The Salisbury, a cracking traditional boozer in Haringey, north London, was a wine-fuelled debate for the ages, arguing the toss over the merits or otherwise of xG and other data terms. At its conclusion, Dom was angry/drunk enough to accept the challenge of repeating his views to an international audience via the medium of the internet and agreed to continue the xG debate with a proper data expert. Enter The Athletic ’s very own Duncan Alexander, an ex-Opta OG in xG. Duncan is also a Wycombe fan — but, incredibly, the pair have never met. So what is xG? Why do we use it? What other data terms might cross over into the mainstream? And what about xA, PSxG, PPDA, field tilt, duels and progressive passes and carries? Dom v Duncan. Let battle the duel commence. Expected goals (xG) Dominic Townsend: “I should probably start by saying I actually work for a data company, so despite Tim’s protestations I’m definitely not anti-data. Expected goals, I’ve had explained to me a couple of times and I broadly get what it is. I think ‘possible goals’ is a better way of putting it. “I also think the xG figure should start at a hundred, and then every time you miss a chance it takes a certain percentage off. I don’t understand how you could have more possible/expected goals than you actually score, because there’s illogicality there.” Advertisement Duncan Alexander: “Well, not really. But yeah.” Townsend: “And it isn’t used in the right way on television. It gets flashed up on (BBC’s) Match of the Day and everyone is expected — pun intended — to know what it means, but I’m not sure everyone does. I don’t hear many other people talking about xG in a pub.” Alexander: “Maybe you’re going to the wrong pubs.” Townsend: “Haha, well maybe I’m not !” Alexander: “I think it has crossed into common parlance with younger generations.” Townsend: “You’re calling me old, basically.” Alexander: “Well, you’re younger than me, but yes. I think you make some really good points. The name... I worked with the person who basically invented the model, or borrowed it from ice hockey. He’ll admit as well that the name isn’t great — it makes people think it’s predicting stuff that’s happening in the future. “It’s a measure of chance quality. To your point about how you can have more expected goals than actual goals in a game... the easiest example to use is a penalty, which has a .78 xG rating because historically 78 per cent of penalties are scored. “And then a shot from the ‘D’ just outside the box probably has a 0.04 xG rating because four per cent of those shots go in.” Townsend: “OK, so that makes sense.” Alexander: “There’s an awful lot of data behind it — probably more than half a million shots are in the database. “It’s at its best when judging a team over a longer period. If you look at rolling xG over a large amount of games you can see where a team’s good and bad form kicks in. It’s OK in a one-off game scenario, and sort of OK in a one-off shot. The xG rolling average can show a team’s form over time “The other thing people sometimes get the wrong end of the stick is; ‘How can you measure Lionel Messi and Che Adams (editor: apologies to Che Adams) on the same expected goals basis, because they’re obviously different players in terms of skill and quality?’. “But the point is you’re rating everyone above or below the average. Messi has outscored his xG pretty much every season he’s played football. Son Heung-min at Spurs, Harry Kane ; these players consistently overperform.” Townsend: “So, hang on. Is xG a worldwide average based on overall stats and positions of shots, or is it a team stat against the average? I guess what I’m trying to say is: if you’re saying Messi, Kane and Son outperform xG, is that because it’s a worldwide average?” Alexander: “Essentially yes, although it’s not worldwide. Opta, the most common model, is taken from 10 or 11 leagues. Advertisement Townsend: “OK so how about if Liverpool and Southampton play each other and have the same xG of 2.10... but it’s not the same xG is it, because Liverpool’s players would be expected to score more goals because they have better players? Alexander: “Well that’s where the name doesn’t quite fit and possible goals would work better.” Townsend: “I think that’s the problem, you’ve just explained it to me and I’ve followed what you said but I still have a question mark around certain aspects. “And I guarantee you most pundits that use xG numbers in their analysis have no idea and wouldn’t be able to explain what you just did .” Alexander: “I won’t mention who it was but I was once on a Premier League programme with an ex-player talking about xG, he didn’t understand its usage but after 45 minutes of me going through the semi-famous Manchester United win at Arsenal when they battered them on xG but lost 3-1, he got it. He had a moment of realisation. “So yeah, you’re right. But it has only existed in the professional game for over a decade and it wasn’t until 2017 that it was pushed to the media. So certain old dogs just won’t have learned the new tricks. “I remember looking at Twitter the night Match of the Day first flashed up xG alongside shots, yellow cards and, yeah, it didn’t go down well. Seven years later, there are clearly still some sceptics...” Townsend: “Haha, yes. OK, just clarify something for me. Paul Gascoigne at Euro 96, that famous chance against Germany when the cross comes in and he slides in to score, but doesn’t actually touch the ball. It’s a huge chance for a goal, but not a shot, so is xG registered for that?” Alexander: “That’s a very good point. Opta have a metric called ‘Big Chance’ and that Gazza one would go down as one and get an xG value. It’s a niche example for data people: how can you get xG from a shot you didn’t have?” Townsend: “So it does count?” Alexander: “Yeah, but they’re rare. A better example is probably the Alejandro Garnacho overhead kick at Goodison Park last season. That had maybe a six per cent xG because his body was in a good position in the box, you’d expect to score a decent amount of goals from there, but what he actually did with his back to goal was a one-in-10,000 thing... xG didn’t take into account he was facing the wrong way and acrobatically flinging himself. “That’s why doing individual shot xG isn’t the perfect use. Where it really has powerful value is looking at how a team does over a season or multiple seasons.” Goal of the Season | Premier League 2023/24 🥇 Alejandro Garnacho (for Manchester United vs. Everton ) “Audacious acrobatics and devastating footwork... There have been plenty of brilliant goals this season, but none come close to this one.” #TAFCAwards | #MUFC pic.twitter.com/68gSOEdbd0 — The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 21, 2024 Townsend: “The thing is — and obviously The Athletic is leading the charge here — it’s appealing to the way Americans talk about sport. I think that’s probably fine. But there are certain things that don’t translate as well. The Gascoigne one, let’s say wingers hit the byline and cross just over a striker’s head 20 times in a game, does that count? Because it’s a goal opportunity but the striker may have mistimed their run.” Alexander: “Well, that’s where we bring in our good friend expected assists (xA).” Expected assists (xA) Alexander: “How do you credit players for good passes that are not taken advantage of? Or how do you credit players who consistently do things that go unrecognised? “The Steven Gerrard figure, Hollywood-balling it across the pitch, or playing through balls, they get a lot of credit, but what about the player consistently making those passes that open up space? That’s the logic behind xA. You award a value to each pass, given how the sequence of play then progresses. Advertisement “Rather than just looking at each bit of the game as an individual pass, cross, header, etc, you start linking everything together and assigning value. “A difficult pass at the start of a chain, because it moves the opposition around, might lead to a good chance. So it’s a way of rewarding those players further back. How do you value Rodri , etc?” Townsend: “That’s a really interesting one. As you’ll know, having supported a lower league club, there are certain players who really stand out in games for being a class above League One /League Two level, but that class might not be properly reflected in their goals/assists numbers because their team-mates are crap. “When every pundit and journalist is asking what a team actually needs, xA can help fill in those gaps.” Alexander: “Data is not there to try to solve football. Or to turn football into a spreadsheet. What it’s there for is to explain stuff and add context to things we all know.” Townsend: “This is where I come back to pundits, because I feel it’s their responsibility to use the incredible amount of data available to them to back up their points. “Some of them, you can tell, were good players and think they’re above data because it’s all (points to forehead) up here.” Alexander: “That’s definitely true, but also if you’re on Match of the Day, that’s for a general football audience. My mum watches Match of the Day... no offence to my mum, I’ve told her about xG. “You do get some people who know about data in football who think they know better than an ex-pro, but in reality, they don’t because they’ve never played at that level. “Conversely, a lot of ex-pros don’t think they need to know about data because they scored a hat-trick at Mansfield once. “In the spirit of open-mindedness, whatever your position or knowledge base or history, everyone can enhance their understanding and knowledge of football at any point.” Post-shot expected goals (PSxG) Alexander: “Right, so xG is where the shot is taken from, but then if that shot is on target you can measure how likely it is that it would have been a goal. I.e., if you shoot at the top or bottom corner, it’s got a higher chance of being scored than if you hit it in the middle of the goal. “The most common usage is for goalkeepers. If they’ve saved 10 shots on target but all those shots were in the middle of the goal where they’re probably stood, then that’s valued less than if the shots were aimed at the top corner. Advertisement “It’s essentially an evolution and an add-on to the main xG model.” Townsend: “See, again, I like that as a metric but the name is terrible. Post-shot?” Alexander: “Yeah, to be honest, it can be xGOT (expected goals on target).” Townsend: “We really need to talk about the whole naming thing. At what point did the whole media industry get in a room and go: ‘Right, you know football has existed for 100-odd years and everyone is fine with shots, saves, assists, tackles, closing down...’.” Alexander: “Well, you say that...” Townsend: “Basically we’re going to get to change all these terms with weird naming conventions and we’re not going to tell anyone about it.” Alexander: “Yeah, that’s my fault, basically. But to be honest that happens in football all the time. If you go back and look at the reports of John Barnes’ home debut for Liverpool in 1987, it says he scored one and made one, which he did. Now, we’d say he got a goal and an assist, but ‘assists’ weren’t around then, that terminology came from American sport in the 1990s.” “People would have valued an assist in the 1890s, there just wasn’t the terminology. In the same way xG would have been understood in a different way... someone runs through on goal in 1905 for The Wednesday and they miss the shot, people would have said, ‘He should have scored that’. Essentially that’s still xG, but they were wearing more hats.” Townsend: “So for PSxG, the concept works well but again it’s about presenting it in a certain way. So the keeper is in the form of their life and this is why, here’s the data which backs it up.” Alexander: “Any kind of acronym, it’s not particularly helpful to start throwing letters around, speaking of which...” PPDA (passes per defensive action) Alexander: “This is an interesting one because it’s pretty basic and measures a team’s press. “If you’ve got a PPDA of 10, the opposition are having 10 passes for every defensive action you’re doing against them.” Townsend: “What’s a defensive action?” Alexander: “A tackle, a challenge, an aerial duel, any kind of defensive interaction from the offensive players.” Townsend: “So, tackle one to tackle two, there are 10 passes occurring?” Alexander: “Yes and some games that might be 25... it’s a proxy for the higher the figure, the less you are pressing or being intense against that team, because you’re allowing them to have 25 passes before you tackle or press them. Advertisement “Again, over a longer period of time, a PPDA for a season tallies that the lowest figures are for the teams that press the most and the highest figures are the ones who sit off and are passive or reactive. “It’s pretty simple. Just two numbers divided by each other. And it correlates pretty well with what happens on the pitch.” Townsend: “I like that a lot. That should be used more commonly, you hear so much about whether teams press high or not.” Alexander: “Of all the stats that get explained, that’s the one people go; ‘Oh yeah, fair enough, good, I like it’.” Townsend: “Good, I like it.” Duels Townsend: “This sounds quite medieval.” Alexander: “Duels have an interesting backstory. When Opta was in its infancy, it started working on English football and in England we like tackles. But in Germany, they value a metric called duels so when Opta started working with the Bundesliga , German clients asked them why Opta didn’t have duels data. “Essentially, any time two players from opposite teams come together it can be classed as a duel. So, it’s a composite metric of tackles, aerial challenges, dribbles, etc. “Aerial duels are a particularly good metric and high numbers tend to directly relate to players who are good in the air, like Chris Wood .” Townsend: “So it’s the number of duels and then the percentage of duels won? And that’s based on the duels you’ve won against everyone, not just your battles against a certain player?” Alexander: “Yeah, that’s right.” Townsend: “That’s absolutely reasonable. The word has been in medieval parlance for centuries. Well done the Germans.” Field Tilt Alexander: “Field tilt is a slightly improved version of possession: it’s the proportion of touches a team has in the final third. “You ignore the middle bit of the pitch, you just look at the defensive and attacking thirds and you say; ‘If Man City have got a field tilt of 82 per cent, they’re having loads of the ball in the attacking third’. Advertisement “If a team averages a 70 per cent field tilt over a season, you know they’ve been possession-heavy on the front foot.” Townsend: “Again, I get it, but again I’m going to sound like a broken record because I’ve got an issue with the name. It just makes me think of a sloping pitch.” Alexander: “Just imagine yourself in a pub shouting; ‘Come on, we’ve got to turn this field tilt around’.” The Athletic’s matchday snapshot from December’s Manchester Derby Townsend: “Can you see the traditional list of shots, fouls, corners evolving over time so that in 10 years we’ve got PPDA and field tilt being used in the mainstream media? “Because when I’m in the States, they have the most unbelievable rolling sports coverage and they go over every single play in detail. All of this parlance that’s coming into football feels influenced by the States. “Certain sports do lend themselves more naturally to stats — stop-start games like American Football, basketball, cricket and rugby, for example. “I think the difficulty over here is that, broadly speaking, you’ve got Match of the Day which clearly doesn’t have enough time. Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football is the only long-form mainstream show that uses data well. “And to be honest xG is actually one of the most complicated things we’ve explained today but it’s used the most, whereas some of the others like PPDA which are easier to understand and really helpful, don’t get used.” Alexander: “Yeah... I can’t argue with some of that. I do think as time goes on, people in their 20s now and younger are using those terms more. Terminologies become outdated and we’re in a permanent cycle of ‘In my day’. “I’m pretty sure when we’re old, we’ll say to some kid on a hoverboard: ‘In my day we called it xG’.” Progressive passes and carries Alexander: “Right, so this is related to metrics like xA. Data for a specific pass doesn’t tell you that much, but if you then ascribe value to a good pass, or a cross-field pass that opens up the pitch, or a pass that takes out four opposition players, progressive passes is a way of applying value to that. Advertisement “It’s the same with carries. Rather than just dribbles, which is going past a player, with carries you can measure distance. So players who have carries over 10 yards and then end with a key pass or a shot, it’s a better way of valuing what a player does. Townsend: “The very obvious comparison there would be yards carried in American Football? I think that makes a lot of sense. And progressive passes, does that mean forward passes?” Alexander: “At The Athletic , we count a completed pass as ‘progressive’ if it’s at least 10 metres long and moves the ball at least 25 per cent of the remaining distance to goal...” GO DEEPER Why progressive actions are football's most important metrics Townsend: “I like the idea of being able to judge someone via these metrics... it takes the fun out of saying; ‘My player’s better than yours, mate’. But as someone who likes to win arguments, having more data is probably quite handy. “Basically, where we’ve got to with all this is 1) I agree with pretty much everything you’ve said but 2) Everyone needs a Duncan in the pub with you to explain all this.” Alexander: “I’m happy to go to any pub in any town and offer that service.” Townsend: “Just make sure you call it ‘possible goals’.” (Top photos: Getty Images; design by Demetrius Robinson)

The number of affordable homes started in London has fallen 88 per cent, new statistics have revealed, with some boroughs starting just one new affordable property each in the space of a year. Only 3,156 affordable homes began construction across the whole of Greater London between April 2023 and March of this year, down from 26,386 starts in the previous 12 months, according to Government data. Bexley, Harrow, Richmond-upon-Thames, and the ‘square mile’ of the City of London each saw only one new affordable property started. Work began on just two in Kensington and Chelsea, and only three each in Brent, Enfield and Lambeth. In Newham, four got started. ‘Affordable housing ’ is a wide-ranging category which includes homes let at rents of no more than 80 per cent of local market rates, as well as shared ownership homes and social rent properties which are set at around 50 per cent of market levels, among other property types. London’s 88 per cent reduction in affordable homes started in the last financial year compares with a 39 per cent fall across the whole of England, where starts fell from 71,771 in 2022/23 to 43,439 in 2023/24. A Government spokesman said the statistics “emphasise the scale of the housing crisis we have inherited” and that changes to the planning system, along with increased funding and making local housing targets mandatory, would improve the situation. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her recent Budget a £500m “top up” to the previous Conservative Government’s £11.5bn England-wide Affordable Homes Programme. Of that extra £500m, London was allocated £100m, bringing the capital’s total share to £4.1bn . Rob Anderson, research director at the Centre for London think tank, said: “While policy change such as planning reform to unlock areas on the ‘grey’ belt or incentivise housebuilding on brownfield land is a step in the right direction, it will not be enough to turn the corner on this crisis... “The £500m uplift announced in the recent Budget was welcome, [but] the evidence suggests it will not be enough to deliver the number of social homes needed - estimates range from £4.6bn a year as a minimum, while a comprehensive programme could require up to £15.1bn annually. “That’s why the upcoming spending review [in the spring of next year] is crucial. The Government needs to commit to a real step-change in investment, collaborating with the mayor, local authorities, and housing providers to deliver on their housebuilding targets. “These are significant sums. But housing is a foundational issue – it affects our health, our productivity and is key to sustainability. If the Government really wants to fix the foundations, reduce waiting lists for the NHS, kickstart a new era of growth and achieve its net-zero targets, housing is the place to start.” The London boroughs which saw the most affordable homes started in 2023/24 were Barking and Dagenham (584 starts, down from 1,021 the previous year), Greenwich (406, down from 2,615) and Redbridge (351, down from 575). Andy Hulme, chief executive of housing association The Hyde Group, said: “At a time when record numbers of homeless children are living in temporary accommodation, this sharp fall in affordable housing starts should be concerning for everyone. “Unfortunately, this will lead to more people becoming homeless in the coming months and years, as less affordable housing is being delivered at a time when the demand for affordable housing is increasing. “However, the most acute housing problem is the steep long-term fall in the supply of social housing, which has fallen off a cliff over the past thirty years... “To tackle the housing emergency, we need more grant funding to build more social homes and we need a more ambitious ten-year rent settlement that includes a fair approach to rent convergence.” A spokesman at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “These statistics emphasise the scale of the housing crisis we have inherited. We will fix this by delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housing in a generation. “We will also make changes to the planning system, restore mandatory housing targets for councils, and we have boosted the Affordable Homes Programme by £500m. “Everywhere must play its part to bring the housing crisis to an end and we will work in close partnership with the mayor to radically boost housebuilding in the capital and build the homes that London needs.” A spokeswoman for mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The disastrous inheritance from the previous Government has left national housebuilding on its knees, with developers previously predicting housebuilding could fall to the lowest level since the Second World War. “While the impact of this legacy is being felt most acutely in London, it is apparent across the country, with the Office for Budget Responsibility projecting housing completions will fall this year and next. “Despite this, thousands of affordable homes are still being built across London, with the mayor’s success on affordable housing meaning the capital is well placed to carry on building homes, even during this incredibly tough period. “Under his tenure the mayor has started more new council homes than any time since the 1970s, and Sadiq will continue to work hand-in-hand with the new Government to turn the tide on the last 14 years of underinvestment in housebuilding, helping to create a better, fairer London for everyone.” A spokeswoman for London Councils, the capital’s local government association, said: “Despite massive challenges, boroughs are working hard to accelerate housebuilding and have made solid progress in recent years. London saw more council-built homes started in 2022 than any year since the 1970s. “However, market conditions for starting to build new housing are currently incredibly tough. There are 287,000 potential new homes in London with planning permission, including 70,000 affordable homes, that have yet to be built. There are a lot of barriers to unlocking these sites – such as skyrocketing construction costs, and in recent years, a lack of capital funding and infrastructure. “On top of this, London's higher land values mean that current grant levels are insufficient to secure the viability of schemes. Many boroughs can’t make up the shortfall – across London there’s a cumulative £700m funding gap in social housing budgets. “We are committed to overcoming these barriers to our building ambitions, working closely with Government and the Greater London Authority.”

Fugitive dog gains fame in New Orleans eluding dart guns and nets

Ovi scores but Kane, Wings prevailOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Liam Payne's ex-girlfriend Sophia Smith has announced on social media that she is engaged. The influencer revealed the adorable moment her fiancé James Bridgwood asked for her hand in marriage over the Christmas period. Sophia, 30, dated Liam between 2013 and October 2015, after initially meeting at St. Peter's Collegiate School in Wolverhampton. As reported by the Mirror , Liam - who tragically died in October aged 31 - had asked Sophia out over 20 times before she agreed to date him. Sophia shared a clip of James popping the question in a spacious room in their home. They were surrounded by rose petals and a bottle of champagne as they relaxed in pyjamas, with their daughter, Angelina Grace, who she gave birth to in April 2023. Captioning the adorable upload, which was accompanied by Dan Berk's acoustic track, Anyone, Sophia said: "Yes a million times over. 25.12.24," alongside a read heart emoji. The star was seen emotional as she looked down at her ring while Angelina appeared blissfully unaware as she asked her parents to play with her dolls. Sophia, who has remained close to Liam's bandmates relatives and colleagues was flooded with celebratory messages. Lottie Tomlinson gushed: "Congratulations," alongside crying emojis and pink hearts. Lou Teasdale added: "Aw Soph," with a red heart. I'm A Celebrity star Maura Higgins typed: "Congratulations." One follower added: "Omggggggggg. Congratulations!!!!!!!" "Favourites forever can't stop watching this video," said a second. While a third went on to write: "Yayyyyy! So happy for you both! Congratulations." Over the course of their relationship, Sophia was often seen alongside Liam and attended One Direction's final concert tour with him. Following their split almost ten years ago, Liam told how he was "absolutely devastated". Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, he said: "In order to do right by somebody, sometimes it’s better not to do what your heart wants, but to do what's better for them." It was reported that the former couple, were discussing plans to marry one another before they called time on their romance . He told Attitude Magazine: "We have talked about marriage, but 22 seems a bit young for us. Sophia needs to go off and do what she wants to do. I don't want her to be one of those stay-at-home girlfriends who doesn't really do much." Her joyous news comes almost three months after Liam tragically died. The former One Direction singer tragically died aged just 31. He fell from the third floor of a hotel. An autopsy ruled that Liam had died instantly after his fall which caused "multiple traumatic injuries" and subsequently led to "internal and external haemorrhage." Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile , select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter .At a Wednesday news conference where he joined other local leaders to discuss Preakness 2025, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke briefly about the case of Luigi Mangione, the Maryland man who has been charged in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “I was 3 years old when my dad died in front of me because he didn’t get the health care he needed. And so the brokenness of the healthcare system is something I’ve lived with. It still very much sits with me to this day. Working to fix it is something I still make a core part of my why and my ethos,” said Moore, whose father died from a rare, but treatable virus. Related Articles “I also know that the way we solve things is not by killing people in cold blood. The way we solve things is not killing people because we don’t like the industry they’re in or the company they represent. And I’m glad that the wheels of justice are now moving. “We need to have justice for what happened to Brian Thompson. I would just ask people to remember that because of the actions of this person, there are two teenagers right now in Minnesota who are growing up like I did. Fatherless. And we can never forget that.”

When Is Tailang Swami Jayanti 2025? Know Date, Ekadashi Tithi, Puja Vidhi, Shubh Muhurat and Significance To Mark the Birth Anniversary of Tailang SwamiScrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” 'I'm a travelin' dog and I've made a lot of stops/All over this town...' Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. '...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely...' People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. Neighbor Tammy Murray had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues van toward reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim came to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth. '...If you're ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle...' Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something," she said. "He's doing that, too.” Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” '...and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return...' Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.”Egyptian-Uzbek Joint Committee Meets To Boost Economic Ties