The Phoenix Suns (23-21) host the Los Angeles Clippers (26-19) on Monday, airing on Arizona’s Family (Ch. 3 TV) and NBA TV at 7:30 p.m.
This is the Suns’ second game of their three-game homestand and the third of a four-game Pacific Division season series. The Suns won the first two meetings in L.A. in October. Both teams are going for their third straight win.
Led by Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, the Western Conference’s eighth-place Suns have played well in January, winning seven of their last nine, and are 8-4 overall this month. The Clippers are sixth in the West standings, led by veteran stars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, plus their top scorer this season Norman Powell.
Check azcentral for live updates of scores, highlights, and statistics during the Suns-Clippers game.
Ryan Dunn out for Suns, Kris Dunn out for Clippers
The Clippers’ backup guard Kris Dunn — no relation to Ryan — is out because of left knee injury management. Cam Christie (left ankle), Jordan Miller (illness) and former Suns’ forward P.J. Tucker (not with team) also are out.
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The Phoenix Suns are looking to extend their winning streak to three games as they face off against James Harden and the LA Clippers tonight. Stay tuned for live updates as the Suns seek to continue their momentum and secure another victory on the road. #SunsVsClippers #NBA #LiveUpdates
President Donald Trump, who has promised to deliver American energy dominance, is directly calling on help from foreign oil producers to help lower energy prices.
Trump argued that cheap oil would help end the war in Ukraine, which Russia has financed in part with its vast amount of oil revenue.
“I’m also going to ask Saudi Arabia and OPEC to bring down the cost of oil, you got to bring it down, which frankly, I’m surprised they didn’t do before the election,” Trump said during his virtual remarks at Davos. “That didn’t show a lot of love by them not doing it. I was a little surprised.”
The price of oil is set by global markets, though it is influenced by the amount of oil produced by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members. OPEC has been propping up prices by restraining production.
Of course, cheap oil prices leading up to the election could have driven down gasoline prices, helping Trump’s opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris.
It’s noteworthy that Trump is directly asking for help from OPEC, a foreign cartel that competes directly with the US oil industry whose support helped elect him.
“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” Trump said Thursday. “Right now, the price is high enough that that war will continue…They’re very responsible, actually, to a certain extent, for what’s taking place.”
Trump seemed to be suggesting that a sharp selloff in oil prices would hurt the Russian economy to the point that Moscow agrees to end the war in Ukraine.
In a flurry of executive actions, President Trump is seeking to reshape the US government and make sweeping changes to key policies. Stay tuned for live updates as the administration moves forward with its agenda. #Trump #ExecutiveActions #GovernmentReshaping
The Tulane Green Wave men’s basketball team aims to remain at the top of the American Athletic Conference as they head to Philadelphia, Pa., to face the Temple Owls.
The team sits at 4-1 under the UAB Blazers, whose 11-7 overall record bests the Green Wave’s 10-8 by one win. A win against the Owls would improve them to a 5-1 start in league play.
That would match the basketball program’s best conference start since they began 5-1 in the 2022-23 season. Head coach Ron Hunter is in his sixth year with the team and is well on the way to efforts to secure a second season with a record above .500.
Tulane is coming off an 80-65 victory over the FAU Owls— a second consecutive AAC victory the team pulled off with conviction.
Guard Rowan Brumbaugh has slotted in as a strong No. 2 option behind Kaleb Banks, who transferred from the Indiana Hoosiers. Banks leads the team with points per game with 18.5, and his rebounds and blocked shots are also leading the Green Wave.
Brumbaugh transferred from the Georgetown Hoyas and leads the team in assists and averages only 2.0 turnovers per game. He’s improved his shot efficiency, and his playmaking allows for some variety around Banks.
Meanwhile, Greg Glenn had a career-high 11 assists in the win over FAU. The team is starting to meld together as they enter a critical stretch in conference play.
Sunday will mark the 24th all-time meeting between Tulane and Temple, with the Green Wave victorious in the last three contests. The Owls lead the overall series 14-9.
Temple is coming off an 88-81 victory over the No. 18 ranked Memphis Tigers and now sits at 3-1 in conference play with an overall 11-6 record, placing them at No. 5 in the American standings.
The Tulane Green Wave is gearing up for a crucial conference showdown against the Temple Owls as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the standings. With both teams vying for supremacy in the American Athletic Conference, this matchup promises to be a thrilling battle between two talented squads.
Tulane has been on a hot streak as of late, racking up impressive wins and showcasing their depth and skill on both ends of the court. Led by a dynamic group of players, including standout performers like Jaylen Forbes and Gabe Watson, the Green Wave has proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with in the conference.
On the other hand, the Temple Owls are hungry for a statement win as they look to climb up the standings and assert themselves as contenders in the conference. With a talented roster and a strong defensive mindset, Temple will be looking to stifle Tulane’s high-powered offense and secure a crucial victory on their home court.
As these two teams prepare to face off in a high-stakes battle, fans can expect a competitive and intense game that will surely keep them on the edge of their seats. The outcome of this matchup could have significant implications for the conference standings, making it a must-watch for fans of college basketball.
Don’t miss out on all the action as the Tulane Green Wave takes on the Temple Owls in what promises to be a thrilling showdown between two top teams in the American Athletic Conference. Stay tuned for what is sure to be an exciting and closely contested game between these two talented squads.
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Photo by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Used with permission.
This article was written by Shukhat Hurramov for Vlast.kz and published on January 5, 2025. An edited version is published on Global Voices under a media partnership agreement.
Living and working in Russia with an Uzbek passport is becoming increasingly dangerous. Uzbekistan’s government is trying to redirect traditional labour migration flows to other countries.
The killing in mid-December of Russian general Igor Kirillov and his assistant in Moscow was pinned on an Uzbek citizen, who allegedly confessed. Russian authorities said he was recruited and trained by Ukrainian intelligence services. After every such incident, allegedly involving Central Asians, waves of xenophobia hit migrant communities.
On the way out
Mukhabbat, 65, has three sons who all work in Russia. She lives in Yakkabag, a small town in southern Uzbekistan. When she talks about her sons, her voice becomes shaky, her eyes swell up with tears. Their children, her grandchildren, sleep in the next room.
“My heart pounds when I hear about how the police beat people who just came to work. After the war began, my sons told me that they were offered Russian citizenship if they joined the Russian army. I cried and asked them not to do this. For the sake of their children,” Mukhabbat said, wiping away her tears.
There are no young people on the streets of the village of Kishlik, which is a couple of hours’ drive from the southern city of Samarkand and not far from Yakkabag. Most of them have gone to earn money in Tashkent or abroad.
Old pensioners sit around a small village store. They said that there once were enough jobs and money for everyone. Now, Uzbekistan’s provincial youth have gone elsewhere as the local opportunities have dried up. The group said they miss their children and grandchildren. They know well about the worsening attitude toward migrant workers in Russia.
Photo by Migrant.uz. Used with permission.
Dependence on Russia
The Uzbek government now plans to redirect migrant workers, who are traditionally traveling to Russia, to other high-income countries. Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov said in November 2024:
In 2025 alone, we plan to take measures to employ more than 200,000 citizens in 21 economically developed countries, such as Germany, Great Britain, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Canada, Poland, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others.
According to official data, there are currently 1.14 million Uzbek migrant workers abroad. At the beginning of the year, there were 1.7 million. These figures, however, only reflect those who hold work permits. The real figure is certainly higher because many work without papers.
Here is a YouTube video about Uzbek migrant workers in Germany.
In November, Aripov also presented to parliament his cabinet’s Action Program for the near future, based on the presidential strategy “Uzbekistan-2030”. In addition to redirecting labour migration flows, it provides for the creation of more than 2.5 million “high-paying jobs” within the country and improves working conditions in the agricultural sector.
The country’s economy, especially in rural areas, depends on remittances that migrant workers send to their families. In the first ten months of 2024 alone, remittances amounted to more than USD 12 billion — 34 percent higher than in the same period in 2023.
According to the Central Bank, USD 9.8 billion (or 78 percent of the total volume of money transfers) came from Russia, and over USD 600 million came from Kazakhstan.
Alisher Ilkhamov, Director of London-based Central Asia Due Diligence, believes that the issue of redistributing the flow of migrant workers from Uzbekistan has been on the agenda for a long time. Ilkhamov told Vlast in an interview:
The massive numbers of migrants going to Russia has created a dependency, limiting Uzbekistan’s sovereignty and creating significant risks for Uzbek migrants themselves, because of their being forced to participate in the war in Ukraine and the anti-migrant hysteria unleashed in Russia.
Botir Shermukhammedov, the editor-in-chief of Migrant.uz, believes that it is currently impossible to redirect the entire flow of migrants to high-income countries. He argued:
We must understand that this is a very long and complex process. In 2023, the Agency for External Labor Migration sent only 38,000 Uzbeks to work abroad, instead of the planned 200,000. In my opinion, the agency, with its existing infrastructure, is not at all ready to send as many as 200,000 of our fellow citizens a year to work abroad. There are simply not as many applications.
Although the flow of new migrant workers to Russia has noticeably decreased, Shermukhammedov believes that it is still necessary to negotiate with Russian officials on the repeated violations of their labour rights as well as their recruitment for the war.
Despite the government’s willingness to employ some of the returnees from Russia, this policy is unlikely to succeed. Uzbekistan’s population now stands at more than 37.5 million people, 22.5 million of whom are employed. According to official data, the unemployment rate is declining, but a wave of returnees, as well as those deported by the Russian authorities, could spoil these optimistic statistics.
“I know Russian, but now I am learning English”
Russia and Kazakhstan remain the favourite destinations for migrant workers from Uzbekistan. The exact number of Uzbeks working abroad is difficult to ascertain. The Agency for External Labor Migration claims that there are about 2–3 million people. Some experts say the figure could be as high as five million.
During his visit to Tashkent in May 2024, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin promised that “the Russian authorities are doing and will do everything necessary to provide decent working conditions and social protection for Uzbek citizens” working in Russia.
Despite his promises, the attitude towards migrant workers in Russia is only worsening. This is especially noticeable after the terrorist attacks in the Moscow region in the spring of 2024 and the recent murder of a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, and his assistant allegedly by an Uzbek citizen.
Here is a YouTube video about raids against Central Asian migrant workers in Russia.
A wave of xenophobia, as well as pressure to enlist with the Ministry of Defense, forced many Uzbeks and people from other Central Asian republics to return to their homeland. Since the beginning of this year, more than 467,000 labour migrants have returned to Uzbekistan: 257,000 from Russia, 129,000 from Kazakhstan, 14,000 from Korea, and more than 66,000 from other countries, the government reported.
Ilkhom, 44, is a native of Andijan in eastern Uzbekistan. He worked in Russia for more than twenty years. In mid-October 2023, he was summoned to one of the St. Petersburg police departments and persistently offered to enlist in the army.
In Uzbekistan, enlisting for a foreign army is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and Ilkhom knows this. Ilkhom said that he was eventually released, but continued to be summoned afterwards. This pressure led him to decide to leave Russia for good.
I know that the Russian army fighting in Ukraine needs soldiers, but this is not our war. Some of my fellow countrymen have agreed to become contractors and go to the front. They are attracted by money and the opportunity to obtain citizenship.
Now, Ilkhom works as a taxi driver in Tashkent. “Maybe I will return to Russia, but only after the war is over. Or maybe I will go to another country. My Russian is not bad, but now I am learning English,” said Ilkhom while contemplating his future.
Uzbekistan is looking to expand its labor market opportunities by seeking out new partnerships and collaborations with international companies. The country, known for its rich cultural heritage and growing economy, is eager to tap into new markets to provide its citizens with more job opportunities and economic growth.
With its strategic location in Central Asia and a young and skilled workforce, Uzbekistan has the potential to become a key player in the global labor market. By forging new partnerships and collaborations with international companies, the country aims to attract foreign investment, create new job opportunities, and boost its economy.
Uzbekistan’s government is actively promoting its labor market to international businesses, highlighting the country’s competitive advantages and business-friendly environment. With a focus on innovation and technology, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a hub for skilled labor and entrepreneurship.
As Uzbekistan seeks new labor markets, it is also committed to ensuring the rights and welfare of its workers. The country is working to improve labor standards, promote fair wages, and provide a safe and inclusive work environment for all employees.
Overall, Uzbekistan’s efforts to expand its labor market are a positive step towards economic growth and development. By embracing new partnerships and collaborations, the country is well-positioned to attract investment, create new job opportunities, and drive innovation in its economy.
COLUMBIA, Mo. — It seems the Missouri men’s basketball team has been thinking more about the Long Island Sharks than expected.
The Tigers played the Sharks in a December nonconference game and beat them by 27 points — one of the series of fairly blah “buy” games that made up the first chunk of Mizzou’s season.
Very little stands out about that game against LIU now a month and change after it was played, but there has been a lasting takeaway for MU: In demolishing the Sharks, it had avoided a letdown.
Six days before that game, Missouri had upset No. 1 Kansas for a Border War win, with court storming and all the fanbase fanfare that came with an emotional rivalry win.
Tigers coach Dennis Gates had been worried that there could be a letdown the next time they took to the floor after downing the Jayhawks, but there wasn’t. Mizzou dominated Long Island as it needed to do.
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Now, a few days removed from MU’s other top-five win this season — Tuesday night’s road upset of No. 5 Florida — Gates is leaning on what the team did in the wake of the victory over KU to keep the foot on the gas ahead of Saturday’s game against Arkansas.
It’s a matter of “regulation,” Gates explained.
“We were able to do that and use our templates or practice plans and mentality after the Kansas game,” he said. “I thought our guys showed — in practice, in the focus that they had — the ability to stay humble, so to speak.”
Missouri (14-3, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) is a home favorite against the Razorbacks (11-6, 0-4) for Saturday’s 5 p.m. tipoff in a game to be televised on SEC Network, facing an opponent with a highly respected coach but a roster that hasn’t quite clicked in his first year.
Under coach John Calipari, who left Kentucky after last season with a national championship and six Final Four appearances to his name, Arkansas is not off to a roaring start. The Hogs beat Michigan and Miami for a couple of high-major wins in nonconference play but lost to Illinois and Baylor on neutral floors.
Arkansas is 0-4 in Southeastern Conference play under new coach John Calipari.
Michael Woods, Associated Press
Their first three losses of SEC play — to No. 6 Tennessee, No. 21 Mississippi and the aforementioned Gators — were understandable. The Razorbacks’ Tuesday loss at Louisiana State seemed more concerning. And while Arkansas is one of three SEC teams sitting at 0-4 in league play heading into the weekend, Gates called it a Top 25 club.
“That’s who they are,” he said. “I’m not looking at it any other way, haven’t looked at it any other way. They are a great team, coached by a Hall of Fame coach who’s won national championships, who’s been in this position before, and he’s always responded in a way to get his team back to playing.”
Calipari’s reputation certainly precedes him, even if his current team seems to be in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament.
“Obviously, he’s a Hall of Fame head coach,” Missouri guard Caleb Grill said, “so what I see is a team that is very talented. They have NBA pros on their team, so we just got to come out ready to play like we have the first four games in conference play so far.”
Missouri guard Caleb Grill drives to the basket against Lindenwood earlier this season at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
Arkansas’ roster turned almost completely over between last season and this one.
Forward Adou Thiero, who followed Calipari from Kentucky, is the Razorbacks’ leading scorer and rebounder with 16.7 points and six rebounds per game. He’s an efficient scorer inside but not much of a shooter — and he’s prone to stealing the ball.
D.J. Wagner, another former Kentucky player, plays more than 34 minutes per game. And Calipari, naturally, has a freshman guard doing big things: Boogie Fland, the highest-rated point guard in the 2024 class by some recruiting services, averages 15.7 points an outing while also running around for more than 34 minutes per game.
One of the few Arkansas players to stay in Fayetteville between former coach Eric Musselman’s exit and Calipari’s hiring is former Mizzou forward Trevon Brazile. He has cracked the Hogs’ rotation, playing 18.5 minutes per game and rebounding productively.
Gates said he sees this Arkansas team as “very similar” to the type of rosters Calipari assembled at Kentucky.
“When you look at rebounding, they have the size — I think this is one of his bigger teams that he’s had, when you look at the size down in the post,” Gates said. “When you look at the individual play of guards, they have guard play. They have wings with size. It’s right there, and they’ve been in every game.”
Saturday’s game was trending toward sellout status on Friday, with limited tickets available. A rowdier crowd is likely to occupy one end of Mizzou Arena with MU students back in Columbia for the start of the spring semester.
Missouri is giving away replica basketball jerseys to the first 1,000 students to arrive at the game — jerseys that come with the bonus of free admission to the Harpo’s bar in downtown Columbia afterward.
“When they’re in the building, doing and making the impact that they make, (it’s) a great, great atmosphere,” Gates said.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz talks about what stands out about Mizzou’s program and the challenges of the transfer portal. Video courtesy of Mizzou Athletics, edited by Jenna Jones.
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The Mizzou men’s basketball team is gearing up to face off against Arkansas in their upcoming game, and they are determined to avoid a letdown after their recent successes. With a solid record so far this season, the Tigers are looking to continue their momentum and secure another win against a tough opponent.
Despite their strong performance in recent games, the team knows that they cannot afford to become complacent. They are focused on staying disciplined, executing their game plan, and playing with intensity from start to finish. Head coach Cuonzo Martin is emphasizing the importance of staying mentally tough and not underestimating their opponent.
Arkansas is sure to provide a challenge for the Tigers, so they will need to bring their A-game in order to come out on top. With their sights set on a successful season, the Mizzou men’s basketball team is ready to showcase their skills and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with in the conference.
Fans can expect an exciting and competitive matchup as the Tigers look to continue their winning ways and avoid a letdown against Arkansas. Stay tuned for what is sure to be a thrilling game!
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ATHENS — Georgia basketball hopes there’s no place like its home on Saturday.
The No. 23-ranked Bulldogs wouldn’t just be shocking the world if they were to upset No. 1 Auburn — more like shocking the galaxy.
Georgia is a 7-point underdog against Bruce Pearl’s explosive, battled-tested Tigers, and beating the best team from the best conference would represent a program-changing sort of win.
But for UGA to extend its home win streak to 14 —13 stands as 10th-longest in the nation, second among SEC teams (Kentucky, 15) — Georgia will need to play its best basketball after the game tips at 1 p.m. (SEC Network) in Stegeman Coliseum.
Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC) just beat No. 15 Mississippi State by an 88-66 count on Tuesday without the benefit of star forward Johni Broome, a 6-foot-10, 240-pounder averaging 17.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per outing.
Broome, who has an ankle injury, might miss the game at Georgia, as well.
Still, the Tigers have plenty of offensive firepower with five other players averaging double-digit scoring in Pearl’s deep lineup.
It’s par for the course in a deep SEC, which currently has six of the top 11 teams, and nine programs, in all, ranked in the current AP Top 25.
Coach Mike White’s Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2) stand among them, thanks in large part to freshman star Asa Newell.
“Great player, great pro, great upside, hard worker, great kid, he checks off every box you possibly could want to check off,” Pearl told DawgNation. “And he’s more mature than many freshman — he’s a mature freshman, and guys like that do it the right way.”
Pearl, now in his 11th season at Auburn, notes how much the league has changed since his arrival in it at Tennessee in 2005.
“We were struggling to get three or four teams in the league in the NCAA tournament; it was Billy Donovan and Florida and Kentucky all the time, and then who else, and every now and then another team or two would make a run,” said Pearl, who led Tennessee to NCAA tournament bids all six years he was there.
“But I think the league, with the SEC Network, Mike Slive’s commitment, and of course, Greg Sankey, there’s a real commitment,” Pearl said.
“We have new facilities, we have upgraded coaching and we’ve got NIL, and so it’s about time men’s basketball has caught up to football, and caught up to baseball, caught up to gymnastics, softball, tennis, golf, across the board.”
To Pearl’s point, White has put bite in the Bulldogs, as they beat No. 6 Kentucky and then-No 17 Oklahoma in Athens last week.
As much as it has been about coaching and facilities improvement at UGA, freshman post Somto Cyril explained this program has added incentive in home games.
“When we play in Georgia, this is our home,” Cyril said. “When you come into our home, expect us to fight, and we’re going to compete.”
Auburn is the fifth Top 25 opponent Georgia has played in as many games at the front end of its SEC schedule.
The Bulldogs had never played four consecutive ranked opponents, much less five, before this season.
Here’s a look at the nine SEC teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this week:
1. Auburn (16-1, 4-0 SEC)
Coach Bruce Pearl, 64 years old
• Year/record at current school: 11th season, 350-230 (.657)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
74-69 vs. No. 4 Houston;
83-81 vs. No. 5 Iowa State;
85-72 vs. No. 12 North Carolina
87-69 vs. No. 16 Purdue
88-66 vs. No. 15 Mississippi State
4. Alabama (14-3, 3-1 SEC)
Coach Nate Oats, 50 years old
• Year/record at current school: 6th season, 131-57 (.697)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
100-87 vs. No. 25 Illinois
85-80 vs. No. 6 Houston
94-79 vs. No. 20 North Carolina
107-79 vs. No. 12 Oklahoma
94-68 vs. No. 10 Texas A&M
5. Florida (15-2, 2-2 SEC)
Coach Todd Golden, 39 years old
• Year/record at current school: 3rd season, 55-30, (.647)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
73-43 vs. No. 1 Tennessee
6. Tennessee (16-1, 3-1 SEC)
Coach Rick Barnes, 70 years old
• Year/record at current school: 10th season, 216-102 (.679)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
77-62 vs. No. 13 Baylor
74-56 vs. No. 23 Georgia
8. Kentucky (14-3, 3-1 SEC)
Coach Mark Pope, 52 years old
• Year/record at current school: 1st season, 14-3 (.824)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
77-72 vs. No. 6 Duke
90-89 (OT) vs. No. 7 Gonzaga
106-100 vs. No. 6 Florida
95-90 vs. No. 14 Mississippi State
81-69 vs. No. 11 Texas A&M
11. Texas A&M (13-4, 2-2 SEC)
Coach Buzz Williams, 52 years old
• Year/record at current school: 6th season, 110-66 (.625)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
78-64 vs. No. 21 Ohio State
77-73 vs. No. 21 Creighton
70-66 vs. No. 11 Purdue
80-78 vs. No. 17 Oklahoma
15. Mississippi State (14-3, 2-2 SEC)
Coach Chris Jans, 55 years old
• Year/record at current school: 3rd season, 56-30 (.651)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
90-57 vs. No. 18 Pitt
79-66 vs. No. 21 Memphis
21. Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0 SEC)
Coach Chris Beard, 51 years old
• Year/record at current school: 2nd season, 35-14 (.714)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
74-64 vs. No. 4 Alabama
23. Georgia (14-3, 2-2 SEC)
Coach Mike White, 47 years old
• Year/record at current school: 3rd season, 50-36 (.581)
• Ranked wins this season (teams ranking at time of game):
66-63 vs. No. 22 St. John’s
82-69 vs. No. 6 Kentucky
72-62 vs. No. 17 Oklahoma
BRUCE PEARL VISITS WITH DAWGNATION
The University of Georgia football team has been on a roll this season, standing tall among the SEC giants. With a record of 9-1, the Bulldogs have their sights set on making history as they face off against Auburn this weekend.
Georgia’s defense has been dominant, allowing only 7.6 points per game and leading the nation in total defense. Their offense, led by quarterback Stetson Bennett and running back Zamir White, has been equally impressive, averaging over 38 points per game.
A win against Auburn would not only solidify Georgia’s spot as a top contender in the SEC, but it would also mark the first time since 1982 that the Bulldogs have gone undefeated in conference play. The team is hungry for this historic achievement and will be giving it their all on Saturday.
The rivalry between Georgia and Auburn is always intense, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for the win. This game is sure to be a hard-fought battle, with both sides leaving it all on the field.
So, Georgia fans, get ready to cheer on your Bulldogs as they seek to make history against Auburn. This game is not one to miss, as Georgia looks to continue their dominance in the SEC and make a statement to the college football world. Let’s go Dawgs!
Tech magnate and Department of Government Efficiency Co-chairman Elon Muskreportedly plans to buy the Washington, D.C.-based Line hotel to turn it into a “private social club.”
The purchase indicates Musk is setting down roots in the Capitol as President-elect Donald Trump begins his second term in office and the pair start work together.
The hotel is located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington. There is a public auction in New York City on Jan. 23.
The hotel has 220 rooms and also has sister locations in Austin and San Francisco. It opened in 2017 and is going to public auction because it was foreclosed on. A person involved in the project said the financial performance of the hotel failed to meet expectations. He added that it was a “textbook example of grand ambition coupled with over-improvement, guided by a flawed partnership that was led by brand builders and not investors.”
The hotel is about 2.5 miles away from SpaceX’s Washington offices, where Musk has had a group of employees working on his DOGE initiative as well. Once Trump is inaugurated, Musk will use the Eisenhower Office Building in the White House complex to operate DOGE.
The prime office space gives Musk easy access to Trump, who has encouraged DOGE’s mission of reducing government waste. The unofficial agency has reportedly already gone to work, interviewing employees of departments across the federal government before Trump has gotten into office.
Musk said he will aim to cut $2 trillion but admitted that it seemed like an optimistic number.
“I think we’ll try for $2 trillion. I think that’s like the best-case outcome,” he said. “But I do think that you kind of have to have some overage. I think if we try for $2 trillion, we’ve got a good shot at getting $1 [trillion].”
Musk contributed hundreds of millions to the president-elect’s campaign and took a major role in his victory. Since then, he’s stuck around Trump at public events and has been spotted at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla companies hold billions of dollars in government contracts, which has led critics of the executive to claim he’s growing close to Trump to benefit his companies.
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has set his sights on turning a luxury hotel in Washington, D.C. into a “private social club.” Musk recently purchased the St. Regis Hotel, located just a few blocks away from the White House, and is reportedly planning to transform the historic property into a members-only destination for the elite.
The St. Regis Hotel has long been a favorite among politicians, diplomats, and celebrities, and Musk’s vision for the property is to create a space where the world’s most influential individuals can gather and network in an exclusive setting. The hotel’s ballrooms and meeting spaces will be converted into private dining rooms and lounges, while the guest rooms will be reserved for club members and their guests.
Musk’s plans for the hotel have already sparked speculation and excitement among Washington’s elite, with many eager to secure a coveted membership to the exclusive club. While details about membership fees and benefits are still being finalized, it’s clear that Musk’s vision for the St. Regis Hotel is to create a luxurious and sophisticated oasis for the world’s power players.
As Musk continues to expand his empire and venture into new industries, his foray into the hospitality sector with the St. Regis Hotel is sure to be a bold and innovative move. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in the world of luxury travel and social clubs.
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Daniel Penny, who was acquitted of causing the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway, is seeking the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed by Neely’s father.
Andre Zachery filed a lawsuit against Penny in December, shortly before a jury found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, demanding “judgment awarding damages in a sum which exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower Courts which would otherwise have jurisdiction.” Penny’s attorneys are seeking to get that lawsuit dismissed, Fox News reported.
Zachery, who was not a part of Neely’s life, alleged that Penny caused the death of his son and should pay him for it.
“All injuries or damages sustained by Plaintiff as alleged in the Verified Complaint, if any, were caused in whole or in part by the culpable conduct, negligence, carelessness, and lack of care on the part of Plaintiff, and any recovery against this Defendant must be diminished in proportion to Plaintiff’s relative wrongdoing, fault, misfeasance, malfeasance, failure to exercise due care and/or other culpable conduct,” Penny’s attorneys wrote in response to the lawsuit, Fox reported.
Penny’s attorneys, Steven Raiser and Thomas Kenniff, also released a statement defending Penny against the charges brought against their client in what they described as the “largest and most resourced” district attorney’s office in America.
“The result was a full acquittal and a verdict that underscored New Yorkers’ belief in their right to defend themselves and their neighbors from random violence,” the attorneys told Fox News Digital. “We are committed to defending this ill-conceived civil action brought by Jordan Neely’s estranged father with the same vigor with which we defended the criminal case.”
Penny was found not guilty on December 9, after the district attorney’s office dropped its second-degree manslaughter charge against him when the jury failed to return a verdict.
Jurors were initially tasked with determining whether Penny “recklessly” caused the death of Neely by using the chokehold – or second-degree manslaughter – or if he was guilty of criminally negligent homicide, a lesser charge that carried a maximum sentence of four years in prison. According to court documents, the lesser charge required the jury to determine Penny failed to recognize Neely’s life was at risk as he held him in the chokehold.
The manslaughter charge was dismissed the Friday before the jury reached its final verdict, and it took them less than an hour to return a not guilty verdict for the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide.
In a recent development, Daniel Penny, the defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by Jordan Neely’s father, is seeking the dismissal of the case. The lawsuit, which alleges negligence on the part of Penny resulting in the death of Neely, has been a point of contention since it was filed.
Penny, through his legal team, has argued that the lawsuit lacks merit and should be dismissed. They claim that there is no evidence to support the allegations made against him and that Neely’s death was a tragic accident that was not the result of any wrongdoing on Penny’s part.
Neely’s father, on the other hand, is adamant that Penny should be held accountable for his actions and is seeking justice for his son. The case has garnered significant attention and has divided opinions among the public.
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen whether the court will grant Penny’s request for dismissal or if the case will proceed to trial. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
AMES — He sheds his warmups and heads to the scorer’s table. The timing’s almost like clockwork, and Curtis Jones knows his mission: Be as efficient and impactful as possible.
Then the hot-shooting Iowa State guard simply plays his role, night in, night out, on both ends of the floor.
“I think it’s just I’ll do whatever is kind of asked of me,” said Jones, who averages a team-high-tying 16.3 points off the bench for the No. 3 Cyclones, who face No. 25 Baylor (9-3, 1-0) in Saturday’s 1 p.m. Big 12 home opener (CBS) at Hilton Coliseum. “And what’s asked of me right now is really just be as aggressive as possible. Actually, really just take what’s there.”
So far, that’s been just about everything for Jones, who learned recently that he might be granted another season of eligibility based on a recent court ruling the NCAA is appealing. For now, it appears Jones and any collegiate athlete who previously competed at a non-NCAA institution and would otherwise be exhausting his or her eligibility this season, could have the option of coming back for one more season. That’s the farthest thing from the former JUCO and Buffalo transfer’s mind, though, and for good reason.
ISU (11-1, 1-0) is currently riding its second-longest home win streak in program history (25), and the teams that crafted the longest string of success at home — in the 1999-2000, and 2000-01 seasons — will be honored at Saturday’s game. So a nod at the past and deep focus on the present commands Jones’ rapt attention, and he’s not allowing his mind to wander into what-if territory.
“Nobody’s told me (I) could for sure come back, so, I mean, if it happens, great,” said Jones, who has led the Cyclones in scoring five times this season. “Whatever happens, I’m just gonna continue to do what I’m doing.”
That, ISU head coach T.J. Otzelberger said, hinges merely on staying on course.
“(He’s) probably our most consistent (scorer), and to have that coming off the bench, gives you a huge spark,” said Otzelberger, whose team has won four of its past five meetings with the Bears. “It is something that’s really unique for other teams in their preparation to be able to say, hey, look, the guy who’s leading them in scoring and 3-pointers made is coming off the bench. So how do you factor that in? (So) it’s not just the scoring and production. It’s also the activity. He is flying around offensively.”
Jones’ ability to play his role to perfection dovetails nicely into his teammates’ capacity for doing the same thing. Backup big man Brandton Chatfield collected seven offensive rebounds against the Buffaloes and positively affected several more — one of which led to one of Jones’ deep 3-pointers. His fellow guards, Keshon Gilbert and Tamin Lipsey, provide scoring punch and disruption on the defense end, and forward Joshua Jefferson contributes a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor — including a program-record-tying eight steals in Boulder. Couple all of that with Milan Momcilovic’s wide-ranging talents, Dishon Jackson’s powerful presence in the paint, and Nate Heise’s toughness off the bench, and everyone in ISU’s rotation is starring in their respective roles.
“I always feel like it’s the iron sharpens iron (saying),” Otzelberger said. “When you have more guys that have the ability to do it, it makes the others play better.”
Especially, Jones, who Otzelberger described as “a no-ego guy.” He just checks in and plays with a ruthless enthusiasm that’s difficult to contain, let alone suppress for an extended period of time.
“I know the rhythm,” said Jones, who has pulled into a tie for 20th all-time at ISU in made 3-pointers with 106. “(I) try to come out with a lot of energy right away.”
In this post, we will discuss how Curtis Jones is putting his ego aside in order to stay hot for the No. 3 Iowa State basketball team as they prepare to face off against No. 25 Baylor. Jones has been a key player for the Cyclones this season, and his selfless attitude and focus on the team’s success have been instrumental in their success. Stay tuned to see how Jones continues to shine on the court and help lead the Cyclones to victory.
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Welcome to the NHL On Tap, a daily look at the games on the NHL schedule. There are five games on the schedule for Friday, including one televised nationally in the United States and Canada.
Sidney Crosby is five points from passing Joe Sakic for ninth place on the NHL all-time scoring list and will continue his chase when the Penguins (17-17-5) visit the defending Stanley Cup Champion Panthers (23-14-2). The Pittsburgh captain has six assists in his past four games and has overtaken Mario Lemieux as the Penguins’ all-time assists leader; Crosby has 1,035 career assists, two more than Lemieux. Crosby has 1,637 points (602 goals, 1,035 assists) in 1,311 games and is 86 points behind Lemieux as Pittsburgh’s all-time leading scorer; Lemieux had 1,723 points (690 goals, 1,033 assists) in 915 games. Florida has lost three of its past four games — including 4-0 losses at home to the Tampa Bay Lightning and Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 23 and 28. Center Sam Reinhart leads the Panthers with 45 points (22 goals, 23 assists) in 39 games, but does not have a point in his past four games.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each look to extend his scoring streak to 13 games when the Oilers (22-12-3) host the Ducks (16-17-4). The two can become the first set of Edmonton teammates with simultaneous 13-game point streaks since Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier overlapped for 14 games from Oct. 31-Nov. 29, 1987. Draisaitl has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) on his 12-game streak, while McDavid has 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) on his. Draisaitl’s run has lifted him into a second-place tie with Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen in the NHL scoring race with 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists) in 37 games, behind Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, who has 64 points (14 goals, 50 assists) in 39 games. Edmonton is 9-2-1 in its past 12 games following a 4-1 win against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday. Anaheim will try to extend its winning streak to a season-high four games following a 4-3 overtime win at the League-leading Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Forward Troy Terry had two goals and an assist in the victory and six points (four goals, two assists) on a four-game point streak.
Montreal Canadiens at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; CHSN, TSN2, RDS)
The Blackhawks (12-24-2) will play their first game since a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in the Discover NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, with Chicago seeking to avoid what would be a season-high six-game losing streak. Center Connor Bedard had an assist for the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic and can extend his point streak to an NHL career high six games; he has seven points (three goals, four assists) on a five-game run. The Canadiens (17-17-3) are 6-1-0 in their past seven games and can extend their winning streak to a season-high four games. Forward Emil Heineman had a goal in a 3-2 win at the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and has points in six of his past seven games (seven points; three goals, four assists).
Other Friday games
Ottawa Senators at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, TSN5, RDS2)
The Senators (19-16-2) are 4-3-0 in the first seven games of a season-long nine-game road trip necessitated by the IIHF World Junior Championship, being played in Ottawa. The Blues (18-17-4) are playing their first game after defeating the Blackhawks in the Discover NHL Winter Classic on Tuesday. Defenseman Cam Fowler had two goals in the win, his 1,000th NHL game. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in nine games since being acquired in a trade with the Ducks on Dec. 14.
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNP, FDSNSO)
The Canucks (18-11-8) will try to win consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 29 and Dec. 1, when they host the Predators (11-20-7) in the second game of a back-to-back; Vancouver won 4-3 in a shootout at the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Nashville has been outscored 15-7 during a three-game losing streak. Forward Jonathan Marchessault has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in his past 10 games for the Predators.
Tonight, the NHL is serving up a matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Florida Panthers, and all eyes will be on Sidney Crosby as he seeks to resume his point chase for the Penguins.
After missing the past few games due to injury, Crosby is eager to get back on the ice and continue his impressive season. The veteran center has been a force to be reckoned with, tallying points at a blistering pace and solidifying his place as one of the league’s top players.
Facing off against the Panthers, Crosby will have his work cut out for him as he goes up against a strong Florida team that is also vying for a playoff spot. With both teams hungry for a win, tonight’s game promises to be a thrilling and intense battle.
Will Crosby be able to pick up where he left off and lead the Penguins to victory? Or will the Panthers prove to be too much for Pittsburgh to handle? Tune in tonight to find out as these two teams go head-to-head in what is sure to be a must-watch matchup.
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