jili k.o apk On Saturday, the San Francisco 49ers announced the following roster moves ahead of Sunday's snowy game in Buffalo against the Bills: Promoted CB Nick McCloud to the active roster from the team's practice squad Elevated LB Jalen Graham from the practice squad (standard elevation) Elevated OL Sebastian Gutierrez from the practice squad (standard elevation) McCloud, formerly of the New York Giants, is taking the roster spot of WR Ronnie Bell, who was released this week. Bell had an up-and-down rookie season in 2023. His biggest play this season came in the fourth quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams, when he dropped a pass that likely would have given the 49ers the win. In nine games in 2024, Bell had only two catches for 22 yards. McCloud will mostly be used on special teams, but with CB Deommodore Lenoir out for Sunday's game, and CB Renardo Green questionable, the 49ers may need extra bodies at cornerback. Additionally, CB Charvarius Ward is returning to action after missing a few games following the death of his daughter. Graham is being elevated for the second time this season. Last week, in Green Bay, he recorded one tackle. In October, the 49ers claimed Graham from the Commanders' practice squad. San Francisco waived Graham in early November but re-signed him to their practice squad. LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, and rookie Tatum Bethune is on IR (injured reserve), making the team's depth thin at linebacker. Gutierrez is being elevated for the first time in 2024. With LT Trent Williams already declared out for the game against the Bills, the 6'6, 308 lb. tackle may be needed on Sunday. LG Aaron Banks has also been downgraded to out for the game in Buffalo. Gutierrez has appeared in one game in his NFL career, playing two special teams snaps in 2022. The 49ers (5-6) look to stop a two-game skid. However, doing so will be a difficult task against QB Josh Allen and a talented Bills team. The weather won't help much either, as the Buffalo area is being hit with a large winter storm. This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

Elon Musk’s X gains a new image generator, AuroraMilestone deal for DAZN's position as the global home of sport. This acquisition establishes DAZN's sports platform in Australia , one of the world's most attractive sports markets. Foxtel Group will leverage DAZN's global reach, industry-leading technology and extensive content portfolio to further enhance the viewing experience for Australian sports fans. LONDON , NEW YORK , and SYDNEY , Dec. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DAZN , a world-leading sports entertainment platform, has today announced an agreement to acquire Foxtel Group (' Foxtel ') from its majority shareholder News Corp and minority shareholder Telstra at an enterprise value of US$2.2 billion , subject to regulatory approval. The acquisition establishes DAZN as a leader in sports entertainment in Australia – a highly attractive sports market – while also expanding DAZN's global footprint and enhancing the group's standing as the global home of sport. The addition of Foxtel to DAZN brings the Group's pro-forma revenues towards US$6 billion and provides the additional content, expertise, and expansion opportunities to accelerate DAZN's growth trajectory. Foxtel is one of Australia's leading media companies, with 4.7 million subscribers, who will benefit from DAZN's extensive portfolio of sports content, platform technology, and global reach. From its beginnings as Australia's original pay-TV innovator, Foxtel has evolved to become a digital and streaming leader in sports and entertainment and the proposed transaction positions Foxtel for continued expansion as a digital-first, streaming-focused business. Foxtel will maintain its local character, led by the CEO, Patrick Delany , and his world-class management team. DAZN, a sports streaming platform with a truly global reach, is committed to growing the global audience for domestic Australian sports across the 200 territories in which it is available. Under the terms of the transaction, News Corp and Telstra will become minority shareholders in DAZN, enabling them to retain an interest in Foxtel. Shay Segev , Chief Executive Officer of DAZN, said: "Australians watch more sport than any other country in the world, which makes this deal an incredibly exciting opportunity for DAZN to enter a key market, marking another step in our long-term strategy to become the global home of sport. Foxtel is a successful business that has undergone a remarkable digital transformation in recent years, and we are confident that our global reach and relentless pursuit of innovation will continue to drive the business forward and ensure long-term success. "We are committed to supporting and investing in Foxtel's television and streaming services, across both sports and entertainment, using our world-leading technology to further enhance the viewing experience for customers. We are also committed to using our global reach to export Australia's most popular sports to new markets around the world, and we will continue to promote women's and under-represented sports. "We're looking forward to working closely with Patrick Delany and his team, as well as News Corp and Telstra as shareholders in DAZN, to realise our ambitious vision for the future of sport entertainment." Siobhan McKenna , the Chairman of Foxtel , said the agreement with DAZN was international recognition of the transformation of Foxtel from an incumbent pay TV operator to a sports and entertainment digital and streaming leader. "Over the last seven years the Foxtel team, with the strong support of News, have achieved an extraordinary turnaround in an intensely competitive environment." Foxtel Group CEO, Patrick Delany , said: "Today's announcement is a natural evolution for the Foxtel Group, having reinvented the company over the past five years as Australia's most dynamic technology-led streaming company. "Kayo and Foxtel provide Australian sports fans with access to the best Australian and international sport and shows, including AFL, NRL and Cricket with 4.7 million subscribers. "We are excited by DAZN's commitment to the Australian market. They are experts in the sports media business and can play a significant role in supporting Foxtel as the business grows its streaming capabilities, bringing a bigger and better service to customers across entertainment, news and sport. They are a perfect match for us as we look toward this next era of growth. "We have been grateful for the support of News Corp while we reimagined the future of Foxtel. In 2019, when we merged Foxtel and Fox Sports we had many people questioning our future. "After launching Kayo later in 2019 and BINGE in 2020, today we are the largest Australian-based streamer of sport and entertainment, we have stabilised our Foxtel base and launched Hubbl to help consumers find all the streamed content they love all in one place. This wouldn't have been possible without the support and encouragement of News Corp." NOTES TO EDITORS About DAZN As a world-leading sports entertainment platform, DAZN streams over 90,000 live events annually and is available in more than 200 markets worldwide. DAZN is the home of European football, women's football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL internationally. The platform features the biggest sports and leagues from around the world – Bundesliga, Serie A, LALIGA, Ligue 1, Formula 1, NBA, Moto GP, and many more including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. DAZN is transforming the way people enjoy sport. With a single, frictionless platform, sports fans can watch, play, buy, and connect. Live and on-demand sports content, anywhere, in any language, on any device – only on DAZN. DAZN partners with leading pay-TV operators, ISPs and Telcos worldwide to maximise sports exposure to a broad audience. Its partners include Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Sky, Movistar, Telenet, Vodafone, and many more. DAZN is a global, privately-owned company, founded in 2016, with more than 3,000 employees. The Group generated $3.2bn in revenue in 2023, having grown its annual revenues by over 50% on average from 2020 to 2023, through diverse revenue streams comprising subscriptions, advertising, sponsorship, and transactional. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance, visit www.dazngroup.com . About Foxtel The Foxtel Group is one of Australia's leading media companies with 4.7 million subscribers. Its businesses include subscription television, streaming, sports production and advertising. The Foxtel Group is owned 65% by News Corp and 35% by Telstra. The Foxtel Group's diversified business includes Fox Sports, Australia's leading sports production company, famous for live sports and shows with the best commentators and personalities. It is also the home of local and global entertainment content and continues to be the partner of choice for the widest range of sports and international content providers based on established, long-term relationships, growing streaming audiences, and position as the largest Australian-based subscription television company. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dazn-advances-global-expansion-with-acquisition-of-foxtel-a-leading-australian-sports-and-entertainment-media-group-302337994.html SOURCE DAZN

Fulks scores 23 as Milwaukee beats Akron 100-81Texas vs. Texas A&M live updates: Latest news, predictions, odds and analysis from today’s college football game

Lindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills

THE Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Mindanao) to establish a medical school, with SPMC serving as its base hospital. Dr. Ricardo Audan, SPMC Medical Center Chief, shared the news during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on December 16, 2024, at SM City Davao. He confirmed that the medical school is set to open by August or October 2024. The MOA was signed on November 13, 2024, by UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anne Murao and witnessed by UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leo Cubillan, as well as SPMC Chief Training Officer Dr. Maria Elinore Alba-Concha. The initiative follows UP President Angelo Jimenez's April 2023 announcement about establishing Mindanao's first medical school. The new medical school will complement a hospital being built at the UP Mindanao Mintal campus, located on a 3.28-hectare plot. Jimenez noted that the School of Medicine at UP Mindanao aims to address the region’s low doctor-to-population ratio. Although improvements have been made, Davao City’s Health Office reported in 2022 that there is still one doctor for every 50,000 people in some health districts—far lower than Metro Manila's 1:15,300 ratio. The new medical school will offer a full range of courses, similar to other major universities in Mindanao. UP-Mindanao’s Mintal campus also offers various undergraduate programs in Biology, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Food Technology, Agribusiness Economics, Anthropology, and Communication Arts. RGPIt may take some time before we get a full breakdown of everything that happened in the postgame brawl between Ohio State and Michigan after the Wolverines' 13-10 win over the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. But one thing we can now confirm plain as day is that Michigan players were pepper sprayed. There were accusations that Michigan players were hit with mace or pepper spray as the scuffle between the two teams ensued following the game. Fox cameras appeared to spot several Wolverines players who were wiping their faces and straining their eyes to see as the confrontation at midfield continued. Taking to X after the game, Michigan edge rusher Josaiah Stewart confirmed that he was not only maced, but got beer thrown at his face by a fan at Ohio Stadium - all within the span of a few minutes. "got maced , beer thrown at my face hit by a fan all in 5 min what a state 😂 #2-0," Stewart wrote. Michigan fans are applauding Stewart for leading the team to victory and taking the abuse from the Buckeyes fans like a champ: "You sir are forever a Michigan legend! Congratulations!! Go Blue!!!" one user replied. "You’re a legend Josaiah! Thank you for playing today and bringing home the victory," wrote another. "Congratulations on a fantastic game. It's been so fun to watch your progression as a Wolverine! #GoBlue ," a third wrote. Icon Sportswire/Getty Images Michigan players attempted to plant their flag at midfield of Ohio Stadium after sealing their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes that effectively knocked their arch-rivals out of the Big Ten title game for a fourth straight year. But the defeated Ohio State players were in no mood to see the Wolverines do that and tried fighting with them before snatching the flag away and absconding with it. It remains to be seen who will be disciplined or what actions will be taken against those who deployed the pepper spray against the Michigan players. The NCAA will certainly want to make a statement as well. What sort of discipline or penalties will come about from the pepper spraying that took place? Related: Ryan Day Has To Be Fired If Ohio States Loses To Michigan As Double-Digit FavoritesAmid a fall season characterized by restive shareholders seeking an activist bid to unseat senior management and change the trajectory of the company, Pfizer ( PFE 2.29% ) is communicating that everything is under control. Per its updated forecast for its 2024 and 2025 fiscal years on Dec. 17, the overarching message is that the pharma will continue to seek to control its costs while bolstering its portfolio of medicines as usual. But does that make the stock a buy, or is there reason to be cautious? Let's dig into the details here and make a judgment. This new forecast is a mixed bag To begin, let's compare the new outlook issued by management for 2025 with its recent performance to get a sense of how significant the coming 12 months will be for shareholders. Pfizer's trailing-12-month (TTM) revenue is $59.3 billion, whereas its TTM normalized diluted earnings per share (EPS) is $1.55. Per the updated projection for next year, the business anticipates bringing in revenue of as much as $64 billion, and adjusted diluted EPS of between $2.80 and $3.00. But here's where shareholders are apt to frown. According to the reaffirmed forecast for this year, 2024, the company expects to bring in as much as $64 billion in revenue, and as much as $2.95 in adjusted diluted EPS. See the issue? Even if things go well enough that sales and earnings end up in the upper ranges of management's forecasts, there won't be much in the way of top or bottom-line growth between 2024 and 2025. That means management's plan to implement $500 million in cost savings in 2025 will hardly make a dent. On the bright side, a separate cost-savings campaign dedicated to manufacturing specifically is expected to start to deliver in the second half of 2025, so that might make 2026 a bit better from an earnings perspective. Plus, the overlapping forecast for 2024 and 2025 are, to an extent, a mirage; after removing non-recurring items from this year's forecast performance, Pfizer thinks that its revenue could grow by as much as 5% and its adjusted diluted EPS by as much as 18% in 2025. Still, that isn't actually very reassuring, as management is frank that performing at the lower ends of its estimates would result in zero revenue growth and just 10% EPS growth year over year. The long term looks a bit better than the near term What should investors make of this update from management? For one, there hasn't been much discussion of how the business is going to grow faster in the near future than it is today, which suggests no upcoming major changes in strategy. The previously established goals of becoming more efficient, becoming a world leader in oncology drugs, and continuing to return capital to shareholders while reducing the company's debt burden are still in progress. Likewise, research and development (R&D) activities will continue to be fully funded, and while it hasn't been explicitly mentioned, there is a high probability that Pfizer will continue to look for opportunities to acquire promising biotechs or their pharmaceutical assets to bolster the pipeline. More importantly, shareholders need to brace themselves for another year of the stock being in the doldrums. There's no obvious pending catalyst that would enable big price appreciation. At the same time, if you're interested in collecting a dividend with a toothsome forward yield of 6.7%, right now looks like a great time to buy more shares or invest for the first time -- except for the fact that Pfizer is paying out significantly more than it's generating in earnings; its payout ratio is a lofty 223%. The risk of the dividend getting cut is not very high at the moment, but if weak growth continues for a couple of years longer, it could be on the table, especially if there's an unlucky run of late-stage programs that fail in the pipeline. With all of the above in mind, this stock is still worth buying, provided that you're willing to hold onto it through the slow period ahead. Just be aware that the risk is higher here than it would normally be with a big pharma stock, as this giant looks like it's moving slower than its shareholders might prefer.

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. — For a pair of lower-level downhill events, this sure had plenty of Olympic medal-capturing and World Cup-winning ski racers. The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. People are also reading... “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Lindsey Vonn reacts after her run at a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. Lindsey Vonn competes in a downhill skiing race at Copper Mountain Ski Resort on Saturday in Copper Mountain, Colo. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’" Sports Week in Photos: NBA Cup, NFL snow game and more Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!John Swinney and Gordon Brown at Alex Salmond memorial serviceEDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Ray'Sean Taylor had 18 points in SIU-Edwardsville's 100-52 win over Eureka on Sunday. Taylor finished 6 of 9 from 3-point range for the Cougars (7-4). Jordan Pickett shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 3 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 7 from the line to add 17 points. Ring Malith had 16 points and shot 6 for 7, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc. Raymond Bandzoumouna Jr. led the way for the Red Devils with 10 points. Sam DeJesus added eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Columbia making long-awaited waves in men’s game from Morningside Heights

The stage belonged to Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step on her comeback trail Saturday with her first races in nearly six years. Vonn wasn't particularly speedy and finished in the middle of the pack on a cold but sunny day at Copper Mountain. Times and places weren't the mission, though, as much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit this season. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races that she had enough points to enter World Cup events. The timing couldn't be more perfect — the next stop on the women's circuit is Beaver Creek, Colorado, in a week. Vonn, who used to own a home in nearby Vail, hasn't committed to any sort of timetable for a World Cup return. “Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn wrote on X. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove.” Her competition — a veritable who's who of high-profile ski racers — applauded her efforts. “I don't expect her to come back and win — just that she comes back and she has fun,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She's having fun, and she’s doing what she loves. That’s the best thing that she could do.” In the first race on a frigid morning, Vonn wound up 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds posted by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. In her second race through the course later in the morning, Vonn was 1.53 seconds behind Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who finished in 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning season-long World Cup downhill champion. “It’s really nice to compare with her again, and nice to have her (racing) again,” Huetter said. “For sure, for the skiing World Cup, we have a lot of more attention. It's generally good for all racers because everyone is looking.” Also in the field were Nadia Delago of Italy, who won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, the Olympic silver winner in super-G in Beijing. In addition, there was Marta Bassino of Italy, a winner of the super-G at the 2023 world championships, and two-time Olympic champion Michelle Gisin of Switzerland. “For me, it was really a training, but it was fun to have a World Cup race level right here,” Gisin said. “It was a crazy race.” Vonn remains a popular figure and took the time after each run to sign autographs for young fans along with posing for photos. When she left the sport, Vonn had 82 World Cup race victories, which stood as the record for a woman and within reach of the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. The women’s mark held by Vonn was surpassed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now has 99 wins — more than any Alpine ski racer in the history of the sport. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont, last weekend. Vonn’s last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist left the circuit still near the top of her game. But all the broken arms and legs, concussions and torn knee ligaments took too big a toll and sent her into retirement. She had a partial knee replacement last April and felt good enough to give racing another shot. “It's very impressive to see all the passion that Lindsey still has,” Gisin said. Also racing Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once competed for the United States but now represents Mexico. Schleper was the next racer behind Vonn and they got a chance to share a moment between a pair of 40-somethings still racing. “I was like, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper said. “She’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a highway tuck, the whole thing.’ Then she’s like, ‘It’s just like the good old days.’"Crystal Pullers Market Valued at USD 482.4 Million in 2023, Forecast to Reach USD 799.9 Million by 2034 | TMR

Where to go if you want warm weather this holiday seasonThe government has promoted Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of Nepal Police, Durga Singh and Bharat Bahadur Bohara, to the rank of Additional Inspectors General (AIG). Singh will oversee the Human Resources Development Department, while Bohara will lead the Province Coordination Department at Police Headquarters, Kathmandu. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, disclosed the decisions during a press briefing. The Cabinet also resolved to designate Nepal Rastra Bank as the regulatory body for loans related to public vehicle purchases and the Social Security Fund, the Transport Management Department for business vehicle acquisitions, and the Securities Board of Nepal for investment companies. Additionally, the agreement between Nepal and India governing passenger traffic has been extended until November 24 next year, along with the protocol provisions. The Cabinet approved the use of national forest land in various districts, including Sankhuwasabha, Udayapur, Dolakha, Dailekh, Kalikot, and Jumla, for constructing transmission line towers. In another decision, the government amended regulations concerning pedestrian trails within Shivapuri National Park. The Mulkharka to Chisapani trail, via Jhule, will be extended by 3.5 kilometers. The revised implementation details of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM) were endorsed. The government also decided to table the Nepal Aviation Service Authority Bill, 2081 in the federal parliament and approved the upgrade of Pokhariya Hospital, Parsa, to a 50-bed facility under Madhes Province Hospital. Furthermore, the Cabinet granted permission to table amendments to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Act, 2081 and authorized the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to present the sixth annual report of the Medical Education Commission before the Federal Parliament's Education, Health, and Information Technology Committee. The study report on securities market operations will be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for further action. Land acquisition approvals were also granted, including: Kalaiya Sub-Metropolis, Bara: Four dhurs of land; Budhanilkantha Municipality, Kathmandu: Over four ropanis; Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, Gorkha: More than four ropanis; Punarbas Municipality, Kanchanpur: 15 katthas; Ekdara Rural Municipality, Mahottari: Over 11 katthas. These decisions aim to facilitate infrastructure development, governance, and regulatory oversight across various sectors.

NoneLindsey Vonn takes another step in comeback at age 40, competes in a pair of downhills