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... Donates Bus For Propagation Of Islam IBADAN – Oyo State governor ‘Seyi Makinde, has commended the Muslim Community in the state for its immense support for his administration and the contributions of the Muslim Ummah to the growth and development of the state since he assumed office. The governor stated this on Tuesday, while receiving the Muslim Community of Oyo State, led by its leader, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, on a courtesy visit at the Executive Chamber, Office of the Governor, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan. Governor Makinde also donated a bus to the Muslim Community, urging them to continue to resist tendencies that can divide the state through religion or politics. The governor said, “Since 2019, I can say it without any bias that some of the quality advice that I have gotten in terms of governance came from our Muslim leaders. So, I don’t discriminate. “When some people came and said that the cabinet is lopsided, while I try to balance things, I also look for quality. If you look at the education sector, Commissioner for Education is a Muslim. SUBEB Chairman is a Muslim. Barrister Abdulraheem Abiodun, the chairman of Education Trust Fund, is a Muslim. I have nothing to hide.” He added, “They said the appointment of Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning is lopsided. It used to be Finance and Economic Planning but when we came in, we split it into two. And it is almost everything that is going on in Finance that is visible to someone doing Budget and Economic Planning. “Anything they want to bring to Exco, they will ask if it has been captured in the budget. If it is there, they will check how much has been spent and how much is remaining. He is the custodian and he is a Muslim. So, we have nothing to hide. “I will keep saying it that if people want to divide us along religious or political lines, we as leaders must resist that attempt and expose them. “So, I want to say that it is our state; some have come and gone and I will go too. Whatever we do for our state is what the successor will meet and continue from there. “I am begging you that we should resist their attempts, because there are people that will profit from our division. But if we don’t allow division, they will go elsewhere. “Day before yesterday, one of the Christian leaders said some people are bringing up the issue of Sharia Court again in Oyo State. And I said, for me in Oyo State, our laws and constitution is what I swore to uphold. If they are within the law, fine. But if they are not, they should expect that I will insist that the law must be followed. “So, I want to use this opportunity to say that if there are certain people using the issue to play politics, they should have a rethink and constantly stay on the side of the law.” Speaking on the Ibadan stampede incident, Governor Makinde assured that the law would take its due course to prevent future occurrence. “The incident at Islamic High School was avoidable and the loss of innocent lives was a sad one. Some of them would have been future leaders. Some are could have been future presidents but the dreams are dead. And then, I listened to people on social media who were saying that because I know Oriyomi Hamzat, justice won’t prevail. I said to myself that these people don’t probably know the kind of person their governor is. “When Prof. was talking, he said something about tempering justice with mercy. Yes, we will get to that but if my child was part of those that died, I would be saying something totally differently. And, no life is bigger than any other life, we are equal before God. “It is easier for people to say I know some certain people and they should be treated as such. What about the 35 innocent souls that died, don’t they also deserve justice? That was why early this year, I signed off the rule of law enforcement authority. We want our systems to be working like that of developed world. Rule is rule; law is law. But for us, we don’t want to do those things and they are impeding our progress. “Inasmuch as we’re are fair to everybody, it is fine. On my watch, whoever deserves justice will get it. And how do we ensure that this thing does not occur again? Those are the things we have to look into. “Finally, I will say that we are not infallible. We are all mortals. Wherever you think we have fallen short, call our attention to it and we will make correction. No matter how we try, we will still make mistakes.” Earlier in his speech, the Leader of the Muslim Community, Alhaji Sanni, expressed gratitude to the governor for the massive recruitment of teachers into the primary and secondary schools, describing the act as capable of lifting people from poverty to prosperity. He also commended the governor’s giant strides in developing the state through various infrastructure projects across the geopolitical zones of the state. Sanni urged the governor to employ more subject teachers and equally allow religious studies teachers to impact directly on the students in order to curb moral decadence among pupils and students in various schools. The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal; former deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; wife of former governor of Oyo State, Chief Mrs Mutiat Ladoja; former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sumonu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; and PDP South-West Woman Leader, Alhaja Bose Adedibu. Others were the Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; top government functionaries and the executive members of the Muslim Community, among others.

The Latest: Matt Gaetz withdraws his name from consideration as Trump’s attorney general

Japan's Diet approved Tuesday a series of legislative changes aimed at restoring voter trust through abolishing "policy activity funds" that can be spent without disclosure and setting up a third-party oversight entity to monitor fund reporting. The passage of the bills through the House of Councillors came on the final day of an extraordinary Diet session that was extended by three days to allow for extra deliberations. It marked the first Diet debate since Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, transitioned to a minority government following the general election in October. The LDP was forced to heed calls from emboldened opposition parties who demanded stricter rules on political funds in the wake of a 2023 slush funds scandal that continues to dog the ruling party. The ruling and opposition parties will continue to discuss early next year whether to abolish donations from companies and other entities, as demanded by the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and others. The LDP, which relies heavily on such funding, remains opposed to an outright ban. Ishiba described the Diet session as marked by "thorough discussions," noting he sought to build consensus as much as possible. "We had to drop some LDP plans, but that's how it is because the ruling coalition does not have a majority," Ishiba said at a press conference. "What is important is making progress." The changes, already approved by the House of Representatives, are intended to boost the transparency of political funds. Some LDP lawmakers had amassed what opposition lawmakers described as "hidden" war chests that had been accumulated from fundraising parties and not properly reported. The ruling and opposition parties decided to abolish the "policy activity funds" lawmakers receive from their parties and can spend on research and efforts to expand support without disclosure. The CDPJ and other opposition parties proposed the change. The LDP initially sought to exclude certain funds from disclosure requirements, citing the need to protect sensitive information related to diplomacy, national security and corporate activities. But it agreed to drop its proposal in the end. A third-party entity will be created to look at how political funds are reported and demand corrective action when irregularities are found, a framework written into law by Komeito and the Democratic Party for the People. The purchase of fundraising party tickets by foreign nationals and entities will also be banned. Losing control of the powerful lower house has meant that the LDP-Komeito coalition needs to seek opposition cooperation on a policy-by-policy basis to pass bills and budgets. The DPP, which increased its number of seats in the Oct. 27 general election, secured from the ruling camp an increase in the income tax threshold from the current 1.03 million yen ($6,500) as part of the party's drive to boost people's incomes. During the parliamentary session, a 13.9 trillion yen supplementary budget for the current fiscal year through March was enacted following a rare revision prompted by a call from one of the opposition parties.

Delray Beach (US), Dec 29 (AP) A high-speed passenger train collided with a fire truck at a crossing Saturday morning in Florida, injuring three firefighters and at least a dozen train passengers, authorities said. The crash happened at 10:45 am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach Fire Rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel reported. Also Read | Earthquake in UAE: Light Quake of Magnitude 2.2 on Richter Scale Hits Falaj Al Mualla. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. Also Read | Azerbaijan Airline Plane Crash: Russian President Vladimir Putin Apologises to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev After Fatal Flight 8432 Crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline's high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad's route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 — giving the railroad the worst death rate in the nation. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths. Railroad safety has been a concern since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, spilling toxic chemicals that caught fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads have not made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. Earlier this month the two operators of a Union Pacific train were killed after it collided with a semitrailer truck that was blocking a crossing in the small West Texas town of Pecos. Three other people were injured, and the local Chamber of Commerce building was damaged. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Colorado is gearing up for the rugged Big 12 schedule, but first the Buffaloes wrap up their nonconference slate with two more games, starting Friday night when they host South Dakota State in Boulder, Colo. Colorado (7-2) has won two straight after competing in the Maui Invitational, most recently a 72-55 win over in-state rival Colorado State. Now the focus turns to South Dakota State and shoring up issues before conference play. "Defensively, we're understanding what our jobs are. Now, we're not where we need to be for sure," coach Tad Boyle said. "But we're making strides in that area. And I think the guys are getting used to playing with each other, understanding each other." The Buffaloes lost a lot of talent from last year's NCAA Tournament team but boast some quality players. Andrej Jakimovski (13.0 points per game), Julian Hammond III (12.3 ppg) and Elijah Moore (12.0 ppg) lead the team in scoring. Sophomore big man Bangot Dak has shown he can be a force after scoring a career-high 16 points in the win over Colorado State. The Jackrabbits (8-4) are coming off a 77-63 loss at Nevada on Wednesday night and complete a two-game trip in Boulder. South Dakota State is led by senior center Oscar Cluff, who tops the team in scoring (17.3 points) and rebounding (11.0) but had a subpar night against Nevada when he scored a season-low six points while battling an ankle injury. "I wish he was feeling a little better," coach Eric Henderson said of Cluff. "He's going to be fine, but he's still nursing that ankle a little bit." Freshman Joe Sayler is second on the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and has reached double figures in each of the last three games. Sophomore Kalen Garry is third on the Jackrabbits in scoring at 9.6 per contest, an average that has been hurt by his last three games when he has averaged just 5.3 points. --Field Level MediaA 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence "dictatorship" is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker's ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world's richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft, which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk's filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI is filing a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would cripple OpenAI’s business and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI's CEO. Musk also sought to be CEO and in an email outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. He grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence , or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI," said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don't want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you've shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman's desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk's early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.”, a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. OpenAI said Musk later proposed merging the startup into Tesla before resigning as the co-chair of OpenAI's board in early 2018. Musk didn't immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. —————————— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), held the annual PIER71TM Great Circle 2024 today at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment opened the event as the Guest-of-Honour which featured the 8th edition of the Smart Port Challenge (SPC) Grand Finals and a MarineTech Start-up Innovation Showcase. Over 400 participants attended the event, including local and international start-ups, venture capitalists, researchers, and members of the maritime community. Since its inception in 2018, PIER71TM has nurtured over 140 MarineTech start-ups, supported by a robust network of over 60 corporate partners. These start-ups have raised over S$80 million in investments from venture capitalists, with 10 start-ups raising close to S$17 million in 2024. Record Number of Maritime Innovation Proposals for Smart Port Challenge 2024 Smart Port Challenge goes global, with eight international roadshows held earlier this year in key maritime hubs across America, Asia, and Europe to expand its each to overseas start-ups. SPC2024 attracted a record number of close to 200 proposals from start-ups in 35 countries responding to the 14 challenge statements on key issues facing the global maritime industry. Twenty-eight start-ups were selected to join the 12-week PIER71TM Accelerate programme. This structured accelerator programme helps start-ups test and validate business model and go-to-market strategies for their proposed solutions, guided by mentors and industry domain experts. Twenty start-ups have secured 30 letters of intent for collaboration with Singapore-based companies, qualifying them for grants of up to S$100,000 for proof-of-concept or pilot projects with maritime companies and additional funding’ of up to S$250,000 for new product development through the MPA Maritime Innovation and Technology (MINT) Fund. A pre-event session also connected Smart Port Challenge finalists with potential funding partners. Three participating start-ups, Sweden-based Cetasol, Hong Kong S.A.R-based Clear Robotics, and South Korean-based Mapsea Corporation, have also established offices in Singapore as part of their regional expansion plan. Winners of Smart Port Challenge Grand Finals 2024 Clearbot, Open Ocean Robotics, and GT Wings emerged as the first, second and third placed winners respectively and Thiospark Energy received a Special Mention based on quality of innovation, market potential in Singapore and the region, industry relevance, and team experience. The judging panel comprised Mr Cyril Ducau, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Pacific Shipping; Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA; and Associate Professor Chai Kah Hin, Associate Provost (Masters’ Programmes and Lifelong Education) and Vice Dean (Office of Graduate Programmes), College of Design and Engineering, NUS. For the first time, additional awards of S$10,000 were awarded to Mapsea for Artificial Intelligence (supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS)), GT Wings for Maritime Sustainability Innovation (supported by OCBC Bank) and Planys Technologies for Smart Port (supported by PSA Singapore). Mr Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive, MPA, said, “We are glad that the Smart Port Challenge is supported by global partners across innovation hubs in America, Asia and Europe. With PIER71TM expanding its outreach, this will help grow the start-up enterprise and innovation ecosystem in Singapore serving the global maritime community. I congratulate this year’s finalists and winners and look forward to seeing their solutions come to fruition.” Professor Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS, said, “PIER71TM has been evolving its programmes to stay ahead of the changing global maritime industry. By expanding our network of mentors, domain experts, and partners worldwide, we help start-ups gain better access to market validation and growth opportunities. We also value our strong partnership with MPA, our co-founding partner, as we continue to work together to drive research, innovation, talent development, and entrepreneurship across the maritime sector.” Ms Elsie Tan, Worldwide Public Sector Country Manager, AWS, said, “AWS is proud to be the Artificial Intelligence theme sponsor for the MPA Smart Port Challenge. This initiative brings together visionary thinkers and innovators to transform the maritime industry through cutting-edge technology. At AWS, we believe AI has the power to revolutionize port operations, drive efficiency, and foster sustainability. We’re excited to support the development of innovative solutions that will shape the future of the maritime sector.” Ms Angeline Teo, Head of Global Transportation, Global Corporate Banking, OCBC, said, “We are thrilled to sponsor this year’s Smart Port Challenge. This collaboration underscores OCBC’s commitment to driving maritime innovation globally and supporting our clients on their journey towards net-zero emissions. As the first Southeast Asian bank to adopt the Poseidon Principles—a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of the shipping sector to promote its decarbonisation —we are excited to support the talented start-ups in the PIER71 cohort and industry partners to co-develop innovative decarbonisation solutions. Together, we can pave the way for greener oceans and transform maritime operations for generations to come.” Mr Alvin Foo, Head of PSA unboxed, Technology & Sustainability Solutions, PSA, said, “PSA is proud to support Smart Port Challenge 2024 as we believe that innovation is essential for transforming the future of port operations. Through the PSA Smart Port Prize, we aim to foster breakthrough solutions that elevate efficiency, sustainability, and resilience across the supply chain. This partnership underscores PSA’s commitment to collaborating with technology pioneers who can drive impactful change and prepare our industry for a more dynamic and sustainable future.” A recording of PIER71TM Great Circle 2024 will be available on the PIER71TM YouTube channel. Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA)CONOR McGregor was found by a civil trial jury to have raped and assaulted Nikita Hand. And supporters of the victim have now called for the DPP to reinvestigate the case . The stony-faced multi-millionaire UFC star had nothing to say as he left the High Court in Dublin city centre after the verdict . The jury awarded almost €250,000 in damages to hair colourist Nikita , who said she was “brutally” raped and “battered” by the mixed martial arts star in a Dublin hotel penthouse six years ago. A crying and shaking Ms Hand bowed her head and listened to the verdict surrounded by family, supporters and her boyfriend. McGregor bowed his head and remained seated upon hearing the jury’s decision. However, despite saying nothing as he left the court, the “disappointed” dad-of-four later vowed to appeal the judgment of the jury. He posted on social media : “I will be appealing today’s decision. “The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. “I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future.” Ms Hand is to be awarded €60,000 in general damages and €188,000 in special damages, totalling €248,000, said Mr Justice Alexander Owens. The court has already been told that ‘special’, or medical damages, have been agreed by both sides. The jury of eight women and four men found former hairdresser Ms Hand had been assaulted by the UFC fighter following the three-week civil trial. A second man, James Lawrence , of Rafter’s Road, Drimnagh, Dublin , did not assault Ms Hand, the jury found. The judge sent the jury out to begin their deliberations just after 3pm on Thursday, before sending them home after around an hour. They resumed at 10am today before announcing a verdict after six hours and ten minutes. During the three-week trial , McGregor took the stand in his own defence , telling the jury that he had “consensual” sex with Nikita Hand, which he described as “enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous” and carried out in a “multitude” of positions. Ms Hand alleged that McGregor - once the highest-earning sports person in the world - “brutally raped and battered” her in the hotel penthouse six years ago. She said McGregor wouldn’t take no for an answer, pinned her down and choked her three times before raping her, leaving her with bruising. The next morning she had to have a tampon removed by a doctor in hospital using a forceps. The doctor described her as having a multitude of injuries which he categorised as “moderate to severe”. Ms Hand sought damages from McGregor and James Lawrence arising from the events of December 9, 2018, at the Beacon Hotel. Mr Lawrence claimed that he twice had consensual sex with Ms Hand after McGregor left the hotel. Ms Hand had said that Mr Lawrence’s claim of consensual sex was “lies”. Both McGregor and Mr Lawrence denied the allegations. Ms Hand said she only discovered Mr Lawrence’s claim that he had sex with her when the defendant gave a statement to gardai as a witness to events on the night. Mr Lawrence was found not to have assaulted Ms Hand. McGregor sat with fiancee Dee Devlin , family and supporters towards the rear of the court today in what was his partner’s first appearance at the three-week trial. Ms Devlin and the former fighter’s mum Margaret sat alongside McGregor in court as the panel delivered their ruling. The sport star’s father Tony, sister Aoife and his brother-in-law, Terry Kavanagh, who is married to Conor’s sister, Erin, also turned up at the High Court for the verdict. Reacting to the decision, Daithi Doolan, the Sinn Fein councillor who lives in Drimnagh which neighbours McGregor’s native Crumlin, said the “overwhelming majority” of the community and the country stand by Nikita. By Cate McCurry, PA WHAT started as a fun night out for a Christmas work party, ended six years later inside the High Court in Dublin, with Nikita Hand winning her case against Conor McGregor. The Dublin woman and the Irish sports star knew each other from growing up in the same area of south-west Dublin and socialising in similar circles. Throughout the three-week civil case, McGregor and Ms Hand sat feet away from each other inside the small Court 24. The mother-of-one sat next to her partner, Gary, for each of the 12 days of the case – he often had his arm around her as the court heard details of McGregor’s version of events. While the mixed martial arts fighter described the mood throughout their time in the penthouse suite as “happy” and “playful” and “full of energy”, Ms Hand spoke of feeling afraid for her life. At one point as he gave evidence, McGregor leaned into the microphone and said Ms Hand’s character was someone who was “joyed and excited” and “having a good night”. He recalled the night in detail, telling the court his “story never weaned”. McGregor said he was shocked when Ms Hand went to police about what had happened in room 715 of the now-closed Beacon Hotel, that he had wanted to take a microphone to the top of the mountains to shout about his version of events. Ms Hand gave evidence for two-and-a-half days, her voice shaking as she told the jury she had struggled to break free from McGregor, how she had been attacked, and how she thought she would never see her young daughter again. She tightened her hand around tissues and at times she was reminded to speak up and into the microphone as her voice became barely audible. The sharply divergent accounts of what happened on December 9 2018 were laid out before the jury. “One side or the other is telling lies,” Justice Alexander Owens told the panel. The court was packed with members of the public every day of the case, with some people attending almost every day. On one occasion, Justice Owens ordered those who could not get a seat in the upstairs gallery to leave. He reminded them that courts did not have to accommodate every person who wanted to watch proceedings. Members of the public squeezed into the public balcony to hear what all parties had to say. Among those seated in the public gallery was a man with his young son dressed in his school uniform, others had shopping bags, while some took packed lunches – pensioners and teenagers sat side-by-side. People in the front row of the public balcony could be seen leaning over the edge of the rails to look down at McGregor, who sat directly below them. Sitting next to McGregor was his father, Tony McGregor, who was in court every day, including during the few hours his son said he could not attend due to an “upset stomach”. For the most part, McGregor stared straight ahead, sometimes glancing to his left where the jury sat. On Friday, he was accompanied in court by his partner Dee Devlin, his parents, sister, brother-in-law and niece. His mother rubbed his arm as they waited for the jury to return their verdicts. John Gordon, senior counsel for Ms Hand, had previously told the jury that they had been subjected to “arrogant, distasteful, dishonest testimony” by the Irish sportsman. In his closing speech earlier this week, Mr Gordon described McGregor’s alleged behaviour as “savage, coward and devious”. He said McGregor had colluded with his friend James Lawrence to concoct a story that they had had consensual sex with the hairdresser in the penthouse. McGregor, who is reported to be worth around €190 million, will now have to pay out more than €248,603.60, not including legal costs. Speaking outside court, Ms Hand said: “I want to show Freya (Ms Hand’s daughter) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you – no matter who the person is – and justice will be served.” Ms Hand lived in Drimnagh earlier this year, but moved after her home was invaded by masked men in June. Mr Doolin said she was “brave” and hoped the case outcome brought her some vindication and closure to a “very traumatic experience for her”. He told The Irish Sun: “We need to remember that behind all the hype and the headline is a woman who’s been traumatized and I hope that she’s able to move on with her life to some extent. “I think the overwhelming majority of people in Drimnagh — I live in Drimnagh, I’m a resident — and indeed people right across Ireland, supported her and are glad that she can hopefully now move on and deal with that trauma. “Because I’m sure the fire going to the DPP and coming back and then her having to take a civil action is very deeply traumatic for herself and her loved ones and I hope they can now get peace.” Ms Hand told the trial she felt “absolutely devastated and let down” when the DPP told her that no criminal prosecution would be taken against McGregor. She sought a review, but the DPP’s decision was upheld. Its director reviewed the file and said that the case was very complex and there was no reasonable prospect of conviction for either McGregor or Lawrence, who was not found liable today. Doolan said: “Obviously the threshold is very different, both for the DPP and the civil case. “I think if there’s an avenue open to the DPP, well then I would encourage them to go down that avenue. But I’m not a legal expert. I can only judge on the evidence presented to me. “I know the evidence that the DPP is slightly different than a civil case but it doesn’t detract from the fact that she has got justice.” Mr Doolin added: “She’s been vindicated and I hope she can move on with her life and deal with that trauma.” The threshold in a criminal case is higher than a civil case. In criminal matters, a jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt while in a civil case, it is on the balance of probabilities.

Memphis beats No. 2 UConn 99-97 in overtime to tip off Maui Invitational LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn in the first round of the Maui Invitational. Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers, who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies. Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender A judge has rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she’s transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship in Las Vegas this week. His order also upholds the seedings and pairings in the tournament. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players against the Mountain West Conference challenging the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi and Los Angeles Angels agree to a $63 million, 3-year contract, AP source says A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and the Los Angeles Angels have agreed to a $63 million, three-year contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal, first reported by the New York Post, was subject to a successful physical. An All-Star with Seattle in 2021, Kikuchi was 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA this year for Toronto and Houston, which acquired him on July 30. Kikuchi was 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts with the Astros. He is 41-47 with a 4.57 ERA in six seasons. Conference title games a chance at a banner, bragging rights and, for some, a season-wrecking loss Indiana should be able to breathe easy. The Hoosiers have very little chance of making it to the Big Ten championship game. In the Southeastern Conference, Georgia has a spot in the league title game but with that comes a lot of worry. Conference title games give teams a chance to hang a banner, but for national title contenders it is an additional chance for a season-wrecking loss — even with an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff field. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the season with a broken collarbone HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Monday that quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone. Pierce said Aidan O’Connell is on injured reserve with a broken thumb. He could be available to start when the Raiders visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. The Raiders also could turn to Desmond Ridder. He replaced Minshew when he was injured late in Sunday’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. UCLA moves up to No. 1 in AP Top 25 women's basketball poll for first time in history UCLA has earned the school's first No. 1 ranking in in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll. The Bruins knocked off the previous top team, South Carolina, which had held the No. 1 spot for the previous 23 polls. UCLA moved up four spots. UConn remained No. 2. Notre Dame pulled off its own upset, beating then-No. 3 USC and moving up to third. South Carolina dropped to fourth, Texas is fifth and USC fell to sixth. Iowa is in the poll for the first time in the post-Caitlin Clark era, coming in at No. 22. Kansas stays at No. 1 ahead of showdown vs. No. 11 Duke; Ole Miss, Mississippi St back in AP Top 25 Kansas remained solidly entrenched at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll ahead of its showdown with Duke in Las Vegas. The Jayhawks received 51 of 62 first-place votes from the national panel of media, putting them well ahead of two-time reigning national champion UConn, which was second with six first-place votes. Gonzaga was third with two first-place votes, Auburn was next with three, and Iowa State rounded out a top five that was unchanged from the previous week. Xavier, Ole Miss and Mississippi State entered the poll at the expense of Illinois, St. John's and Rutgers. Wake up the ghosts! Texas, Texas A&M rivalry that dates to 1894 is reborn AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Any Texas or Texas A&M player who grew up in the state has heard the lore of the rivalry between the two schools, a grudge match that dates to 1894. But for more than a decade it has been only ghostly memories of great games and great plays made by heroes of the distant past. That changes this week when one of college football’s great rivalries is reborn after a 12-year hiatus. Third-ranked Texas plays at No. 20 Texas A&M with a berth in the conference championship game on the line.

MONTREAL — Canadian boxer Tammara Thibeault has signed with a company owned by boxing promoter and influencer Jake Paul ahead of her professional debut. Most Valuable Promotions, which boasts Puerto Rican boxer Amanda Serrano as one of its fighters, announced Friday it signed Thibeault. The 27-year-old from Shawinigan, Que., was scheduled for a bout Friday night in Orlando against fellow Canadian Natasha Spence (8-6-2, 6 KOs), ranked 10th among middleweight contenders by the World Boxing Association. Thibeault and Spence were set to make history as the first women to compete in three-minute rounds at the professional middleweight level. “I’m super happy, I’m really excited,” Thibeault said in a phone interview. “It’s the first time in history that this is happening in a professional debut, and it’s an honour to be part of history like this. For me, it’s the standard: I’ve been doing three-minute rounds for years.” Thibeault has represented Canada at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. She was a favourite in Paris after reaching the 75-kilogram quarterfinals in Tokyo, but suffered a surprise defeat in her first match, losing by split decision to Cindy Ngamba of the Olympic Refugee Team. That loss ended a three-year streak that included gold medals at the 2022 IBA World Amateur Championships, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Pan American Games. Despite the unexpected setback in Paris, Thibeault’s negotiations with MVP were already well underway. “I’ve been negotiating with MVP for about a year. Regardless of the Olympic results, MVP was interested,” said her manager, Katia Banel. “I met (MVP’s Head of Boxing) Mike Leanardi a few months ago and again before making our decision. “Compared to other offers, whether from Matchroom or Boxxer, MVP’s initial offer was always the highest financially, and they presented it first. They offered something unparalleled: a huge signing bonus. Olympians without medals usually don’t have access to such bonuses. They also pay the highest purses in women’s boxing, even for four- or six-round fights. It’s unheard of. It’s like being paid for a 10-round fight.” MVP plans to make the most of its new protégé. Thibeault will fight at least four times a year over the three-year contract. “What’s great with MVP is that we can negotiate higher purses for each fight,” Banel said. “They’ve been very open to negotiating every clause.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Frédéric Daigle, The Canadian Press

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:11 p.m. EST