Wednesday, October 29, 2025
LinkedPrime

News from October 18, 2025

487 articles found

Dear Abby: Sticky-fingered sis ‘shops’ at my house
Technology

Dear Abby: Sticky-fingered sis ‘shops’ at my house

Dear Abby: I’m having a problem with my sister, who visits me on the average of once a month. She lives four hours away. Her friend and her husband accompany her. They are my only company. I used to enjoy them but no longer. After their visits, stuff is always missing from my house — a hairbrush, my dog’s electric nail file, random dishes and plates, rat traps, laundry detergent packets, dollar store craft items, etc. Abby, I hid the laundry detergent packets, but she found them, and I knew she took them. When I confronted her, she angrily denied it and insisted I was accusing her of things she never did and would never do. When I told her about the beads, she said she never saw them and didn’t know what I was talking about. After that, I didn’t see her for about three months. We made up, and she did it again! Her husband knows. I set a trap for her friend previously, and she didn’t steal anything. My sister was bringing her dirty laundry with her to wash at my house in order to save on her water and electric bill. I put a stop to that. What can I do about her? — Disappearing Act in New Mexico Dear Disappearing: Assuming that the friend who always accompanies your sister during those visits is in the clear, that leaves only “Sissy.” Has she always been light-fingered, or is her pilfering something recent? If it is recent, talk with her husband and tell him you are worried about her. Suggest she be neurologically examined by her doctor for signs of dementia or some other brain-related illness. If she checks out, there is another condition called kleptomania, in which sufferers cannot resist the urge to steal. It is fixable ONLY if they are willing to admit there is a problem and decide to do something about it. Dear Abby: My husband and I are in a quandary. Our 12-year-old granddaughter celebrated her birthday earlier this year. It was a big celebration. Her other grandparents gave her a choice of $100 or an overnight stay at a hotel with a pool. She chose the overnight. It has been several months now, with no hotel stay scheduled. Her other grands live full, busy and chaotic lives. Our granddaughter told me she feels hurt, disappointed and a bit angry. We had a good talk, and I feel she now better understands how adults sometimes forget how quickly time passes. In the meantime, my husband and I would like to slip a $100 bill under her pillow and maybe assuage her feelings toward her other grandparents. We need to know if that would be a wise thing to do or if we should let it be. We understand it isn’t our problem, but it hurts our hearts to see her let down after patiently waiting for her birthday present. What do you suggest? — Grandma Knows Best Dear Grandma: You are lovely people, and I understand your impulse to cover for the other grandparents. That said, I do not think you should do it. Your granddaughter is rightfully disappointed, but she needs to learn that sometimes folks don’t follow through on their promises. If she does, it may come as less of a jolt when she’s a little older. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Abigail van Buren
What to Stream: Brandi Carlile, 'A House of Dynamite,' Demi Lovato and 'Nobody Wants This'
Technology

What to Stream: Brandi Carlile, 'A House of Dynamite,' Demi Lovato and 'Nobody Wants This'

Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear fallout thriller “A House of Dynamite” and albums from Brandi Carlile and Demi Lovato are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: Season 2 of “Nobody Wants This” sees things get more serious between Adam Brody’s rabbi and Kristen Bell’s agnostic podcast host, Ninja Gaiden 4 asks gamers to fight their way through cyber soldiers and other malevolent creatures, and director Ben Stiller pays tribute to his comedian parents with “Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost.” New movies to stream from Oct. 20-26 — An old genre — the hypothetical nuclear fallout thriller — returns in Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite” (Friday, Oct. 24 on Netflix), a minute-by-minute White House drama in which a mystery missile is bearing down on Chicago. The film tells the 18-minute run-up to impact from three different perspectives, with an ensemble including Rebecca Ferguson, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos and Idris Elba, as the president. In my review, I wrote: “With riveting efficiency, Bigelow constructs a taut, real-time thriller that opens explosively but dissipates with each progressive iteration.” — In “Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost,” director Ben Stiller pays tribute to his comedian parents, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, while reflecting on how their show business lives influenced those of his own family. The film, premiering Friday, Oct. 24 on Apple TV, is a distinctly family affair, that culls from the extensive archives of Meara and Stiller, who recorded as much in their private lives as they did in film and television. — Ron Howard’s “Eden” (Wednesday on Prime Video) is based on a true story about a group of disillusioned Europeans who in 1929 sought to create a utopia on an island in the Galápagos. It didn’t go so well. Howard’s film struggled mightily at the box office despite a starry cast including Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney. In her AP review, Itzel Luna wrote that the ensemble, “isn’t always enough to make up for the overambitious plot of a film that drags in the middle.” — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle New music to stream from Oct. 20-26 — On Thursday, the contemporary R&B talent Miguel returns with his first full-length in nearly a decade. The bilingual “Caos” (the Spanish word for “Chaos”) is the long-awaited follow-up to 2017’s “War & Leisure,” and marks a conceptual pivot for the musician. “To rebuild, I had to destroy myself. That is the core confrontation of ‘Caos,’” Miguel said in a press statement. “Through my personal evolution, I learned that transformation is violent. ‘Caos’ is the sonic iteration of me bending that violence into something universally felt.” — Who is busier than Brandi Carlile? Just a few months ago, the musician known for melding folk, alt-country, rock and Americana partnered with the great Elton John for a charming collaborative album, “Who Believes In Angels?” Now, on Friday, she’s gearing up to release a new solo album, “Returning to Myself,” her first since 2021’s “In These Silent Days.” If you need any reconfirmation of her timeless talent, cue up “A War with Time,” written by Carlile and frequent Taylor Swift collaborator, Aaron Dessner of The National. And on piano/background vocals? That’s Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. — It’s a “BRAT” autumn for Demi Lovato, whose ninth studio album, “It’s Not That Deep,” embraces club-dance rhythms in addictive pop songs. That’s a noted departure from her last two records, 2022’s “Holy Fvck” and 2023’s “Revamped,” which leaned more traditionally rock ‘n’ roll. Both modes work for Lovato: give her space to belt with some edge, and she’ll fashion an earworm. — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman New series to stream from Oct. 20-26 — As we get closer to Halloween, a number of new horror shows debut this month. Sam Claflin (“Daisy Jones & the Six”) stars in a new Prime Video mystery from bestselling author Harlan Coben. He plays a forensic psychiatrist who finds himself connecting the dots between a number of cold cases after his father’s death. “Harlan Coben’s Lazarus” debuts Wednesday. — The delightful TV romance between Adam Brody's rabbi, Noah, and Kristen Bell's agnostic podcast host named Joanne carries on Thursday in Netflix's “Nobody Wants This.” Season 2 picks up shortly after the first season ended with the two characters attempting to blend their lives as they get more serious. Joanne is also still grappling with the idea of committing to Judaism because it's a non-negotiable for Noah. In a world that seems to have just gotten more complex in the past year, investing in these two fictional characters' relationship is a great distraction. Team Joah! — AMC continues to adapt and draw from the works of Anne Rice (known as the Immortal Universe), with “Anne Rice's Talamasca: The Secret Order.” Debuting Sunday, Oct. 26 on AMC+, it's about a secret society that tracks immortals like witches, vampires and the like. “Talamasca” stars Nicholas Denton and Elizabeth McGovern and has cameos from “Interview with the Vampire” cast members, Eric Bogosian and Justin Kirk. — A prequel series to the “It” films called “It — Welcome to Derry” (thankfully not titled “Stephen King's: It — Welcome to Derry” and therefore less of a tongue twister), arrives on HBO Max also on Sunday, Oct. 26. Set in 1962, Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo star as Charlotte and Leroy Hanlon, couple who moves to Derry, Maine, with their son and begin to recognize the town is pretty creepy. “It” fans will recognize the Hanlon name and its lore. Also, Bill Skarsgård reprises his Pennywise the Clown role from the films. — Alicia Rancilio New video games to play from Oct. 20-26 — Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 puts you in the cape of a bloodsucker named Phyre who has been asleep for a century and has somehow woken up in Seattle. But you are not alone — a “vampire detective” named Fabian has infected your blood and will update you on grunge, that “Twilight” nonsense and 21st century goth culture. That includes six competing vampire clans, some brutal, some sneaky and some just outright seductive. It’s all based on a popular tabletop role-playing game that has had difficulty translating to video games, but publisher Paradox Interactive has had some success with RPGs like Pillars of Eternity and Crusader Kings. Take a bite Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC. — If you don’t want to be a vampire for Halloween, why not try on Ninja Gaiden 4? In a near-future Tokyo, a prodigy named Yakumo must fight his way through cyber soldiers and other malevolent creatures as he tries to lift a curse from his neon-drenched city. He soon crosses paths with Ryu Hayabusa, the legendary hero of the previous Gaiden games. The latest chapter is a collaboration between two esteemed Japanese studios: Team Ninja, which has been handling this franchise for 20 years, and Platinum Games, best known for the loopy hack-and-slash favorite Bayonetta. The swords start swinging Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC. — Lou Kesten

The Associated Press
27 movies have scored No. 1 on Netflix this year already — here’s the 5 that actually deserved it
Technology

27 movies have scored No. 1 on Netflix this year already — here’s the 5 that actually deserved it

You might think that if a movie scores the No. 1 spot in Netflix’s top 10 most-watched list, it’s a sign of a worthwhile watch. But trust me, that’s far from the case. Popularity doesn’t always (or even particularly often) translate to guaranteed quality, and Netflix’s list of No. 1 movies in 2025 so far proves it. To date, there have been 27 movies that have claimed the crown in the streaming service’s weekly updated list of its most popular movies (per Netflix’s own tracking). That list includes some truly awful flicks, including “The Electric State,” “iHostage,” “Ice Road: Vengeance,” and most recently, “The Woman in Cabin 10.” There are more duds than winners in the list. Fortunately, amongst the numerous Netflix No. 1 hits that really deserved to be buried at the bottom of the streaming library barrel, a small handful of movies that earned the title this year actually deserved such an honor. That’s why I’m highlighting the best Netflix No. 1 movies down below. Best Netflix No. 1 movies in 2025 (so far) My first pick is no doubt a controversial one, as I’m aware that a lot of Netflix subscribers detested this Tom Hardy-fronted action-thriller. “Havoc” holds a miserable 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, so there’s little doubt that many Netflix viewers felt it was unworthy of the No. 1 spot. However, the intense action sequences that only director Gareth Evans could craft won me over and were more than enough to make up for the bland plot in my eyes. “Havoc” sees Hardy play a bruised detective in a city so riddled with criminal players, it makes Batman’s Gotham look utopian in comparison. In this grimy world, Hardy’s Walker must navigate the seedy underbelly of the city under the orders of a corrupt politician (Forest Whitaker). Also starring Timothy Olyphant as an even more corrupt police officer, “Havoc” packs some of my favorite action moments of the year, so I’m still very happy to champion it. "Havoc" on Netflix ‘The Wild Robot’ If you thought Pixar was the only animation studio capable of producing family movies that can reduce even adults into blubbering messes, think again. “The Wild Robot” sees DreamWorks in top form, delivering a wonderful adventure, packed with lovable characters, simple (but important) life lessons, and a truly stunning animation style. By the end, you’ll be rooting for its heroes and shedding more than a few (mostly happy) tears. “The Wild Robot” opens with the eponymous machine washing up on the shores of a remote island. With no way of returning to home base or sending a signal to its creators, the robot (nicknamed Roz and voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is forced to adapt to survive in its new surroundings. Soon after, the robot becomes the adopted mother to an orphaned gosling, and with some help from a sarcastic fox (Pedro Pascal), must protect the island’s inhabitants. "The Wild Robot" on Netflix “Plane” is a very self-aware movie, and that’s what makes this bombastic action flick work. It’s far from award-worthy, but it’s a great Netflix pick when you want a movie full of outrageous stunts, huge explosives and corny dialogue. You could absolutely pick this movie apart if desired, but if you’re willing to embrace the carnage, it’s hard not to have a boatload of fun. Gerard Butler is in fine action-hero form as Brodi Torrance (Butler), a pilot and former Royal Air Force officer who is forced into an emergency landing when his craft is struck by lightning. If that ordeal wasn’t enough, the plane has landed in the middle of a warzone, and the surviving passengers are soon taken hostage. To recuse them, Torrance teams up with Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer, who was on the aeroplane in FBI custody. "Plane" on Netflix 'Happy Gilmore 2' There’s no doubt that “Happy Gilmore 2” isn’t going to leave the legacy that its 1996 predecessor has enjoyed for almost three decades, but as far as streaming follow-ups to classic comedies go, this sequel is a passable effort. Trust me, this isn’t another “Coming 2 America” situation. Sandler slips back into the role of the always-angry golfer with ease, and while the cameos from real sports pros are a little stilted, there are a few good gags here. The movie opens with Gilmore (Sandler) having retired from professional golf after a tragic accident on the course resulted in the death of his wife. Now an alcoholic who has lost everything, Gilmore gets a shot at redemption when he decides to step back onto the green to earn enough money to pay for his daughter’s dream of attending ballet school in Paris. There’s nothing highbrow about “Happy Gilmore 2,” but it’s an easy weekend watch. "Happy Gilmore 2" on Netflix 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' Usually, at this point in the year, the number of Netflix No. 1 movies would be significantly higher, but the reason that 2025 hasn’t followed this observable trend is all down to one movie: “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” This juggernaut fantasy musical has held the No. 1 spot for a cumulative eight weeks since its release in June, and even when it’s been dethroned, it only vacates the throne for a brief period of time before returning to the top 10 summit. It’s a certified Netflix sensation. Not just the most-watched Netflix movie of 2025, but the most-watched Netflix original movie in the platform's history, taking the crown from long-reigning champion, 2021’s “Red Notice.” And it’s not even a close battle. "K-Pop" has scored over 325 million views (“Red Notice” has 230 million) in less than four months. You probably don’t need me to give you a rundown of this one, but it follows the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x as they sell out arenas by day and hunt sinister demons by night. The animated movie holds a 95% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is impressive enough, but it's the almost-perfect 99% viewers' score that tells you how much Netflix subscribers love this one. If you haven’t watched it multiple times already, get "K-Pop Demon Hunters" in your watchlist now. "K-Pop Demon Hunters" on Netflix Every Netflix No. 1 movie in 2025 (so far) "Carry-On""Despicable Me 2""Back in Action""Kinda Pregnant""Aftermath""To Catch a Killer""Venom: The Last Dance""Despicable Me 4""The Electric State""Den of Thieves 2 Pantera""The Life List""iHostage""Havoc""Exterritorial""Nonnas"“Untold: The Fall of Favre”“The Wild Robot”“Tyler Perry’s Straw”“Plane”“Trainwreck Poop Cruise”“The Old Guard 2”“Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding”“Happy Gilmore 2”“K-Pop Demon Hunters”“Unknown Number: The High School Catfish”“Ice Road: Vengeance”“The Woman in Cabin 10” Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! More from Tom's Guide Netflix has made a surprising change to its interface 5 new movies to stream this week on Netflix, Prime Video and moreNetflix just added a psychological thriller movie packed with twists

Rory Mellon
Deadly floods in Mexico another sign of need for improved severe weather warnings
Technology

Deadly floods in Mexico another sign of need for improved severe weather warnings

The most recent torrential rains in east-central Mexico, which have left at least 72 dead and dozens more missing, have raised questions again about the government’s ability to alert people to severe weather in time. Authorities continue to describe the days of torrential rain last week that set off landslides and river flooding as unpredictable. Residents talk about never having seen anything like it. But researchers say what was considered normal before no longer exists because climate change has accelerated these events and made them more frequent. And that requires preparation. “We’re being more and more affected by these phenomena and we can’t go on like this, failing by not knowing what to do and not having … adequate warning,” said Christian Domínguez, a researcher at the Atmosphere and Climate Change Institute at Mexico’s National Autonomous University. She recalled that last year’s crises were drought-related and this year, it’s the rain. It is a pending issue for Mexico and for countries with more resources and advanced technology like the United States, which experienced a devastating flash flood in Texas this year that killed at least 136 people. Experts say society and governments appear to be stuck in the past and have not accepted that severe weather is now the norm. In Mexico’s case, it’s president for the past year, Claudia Sheinbaum, is a trained scientist with a background in climate change. But while she expressed willingness this week to review prevention protocols, she didn’t mention climate change and insisted it was impossible to predict with precision how much rain was going to fall in some places. “The language being used has to be considered” in how to communicate the dangers in an event, Carlos Valdés, former head of Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Center. “The first thing we have to do is recognize that there is a change … the atypical is now the most typical.” Tech gaps and prevention There are technological gaps. For example, Domínguez recognized that Mexico does not have all of the instrumentation for things like measuring river levels in real time that could provide detailed hydrological forecasts or enough weather radars to allow meteorologists to make better forecasts. But she emphasized that even with the existing forecasts there could be much better prevention strategies if officials think not only of preparing for hurricanes, but also the possibility that the confluence of various weather systems, as occurred last week, has the potential to create a dangerous situation. In the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, the day before the main rivers in the northern part of the state jumped their banks, torrential rain was forecast to dump nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain. It ended up being three times that, but the original forecast should have been enough for residents and authorities to get organized, Domínguez said. But in Poza Rica, the hardest-hit city, residents started to flee their homes when the water was already flooding them. Some said authorities warned them too late. Most didn’t think it was going to be so bad. Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist with AccuWeather, said that with climate change severe weather is happening outside of the season when it would be expected and in places not normally associated with a flooding risk. “A severe weather event can develop anywhere when the ingredients come together,” he said. Training and education Mexico has risk maps and civil defense officials are in charge of alerting people, “but beyond alerting, the people have to also understand what is being said,” Domínguez said. In late 2023, shortly after Hurricane Otis devastated Acapulco, having strengthened incredibly in a matter of hours, a woman in a wrecked neighborhood said she had heard a Category 5 hurricane was coming, but didn’t know that meant that all of the houses were going to blow away. Experts say that not only do civil defense officials require training, but people need to be educated too. Over decades, Mexico has developed new ways to alert of seismic activity in central and southern Mexico. With memories of Otis still fresh, Sheinbaum said her administration would focus more on prevention involving hurricanes and rains. On Friday, thousands of soldiers and officials worked to reopen roads cut by landslides and washed out bridges in Veracruz. But just to the north in neighboring Tamaulipas state, officials watching the Panuco River had already issued clearer warnings Thursday about the chance of flooding when it had risen almost a foot (30 cm). Sheinbaum said Friday that the area’s mayors had been informed in time and nearly 500 people had already moved into shelters. “When authorities' actions are good, nothing happens,” Valdés said.

Mara Verza
British naturalist David Attenborough becomes oldest Emmy winner at 99
Technology

British naturalist David Attenborough becomes oldest Emmy winner at 99

David Attenborough has broken Dick Van Dyke’s record for oldest Daytime Emmy winner, taking the trophy for daytime personality, non-daily as host of Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans. Attenborough, who is 99, was not on hand to collect his award on Friday. The British broadcaster’s career as a writer, host and narrator spans eight decades. Van Dyke was 98 when he won as guest performer in a daytime drama series for Days of Our Lives in 2024. He is the oldest actor to win a Daytime Emmy. Jonathan Jackson of General Hospital and first-time nominee Susan Walters of The Young and the Restless won supporting acting honours. Jackson accepted the trophy for playing Lucky Spencer, a role he originated in 1993 and has played on and off ever since. The ABC show also claimed trophies for Alley Mills as guest performer in a daytime drama and its writing team. It was Mills’ second career win for playing Heather Webber. The 74-year-old, who first won in 2023, is best known as the mother on The Wonder Years. “We’re living in really dark times right now. Everything’s crazy,” Mills told the audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. “We just got to keep our spirits high.” Walters plays Diane Jenkins on CBS’ Y&R, which she has appeared in during three different stints. “I’m so happy that I won so I can thank my husband of 40 years,” she said, singling out Linden Ashby, who has appeared on the same show. The Young and the Restless brought a leading 19 nominations into the 52nd annual show. It is just one of three shows nominated for best daytime drama, along with General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.

Associated Press
China-made motor sales surge in South Africa, cutting into rival brands’ dominance
Technology

China-made motor sales surge in South Africa, cutting into rival brands’ dominance

Just a few years ago, Chinese-made cars were rare on South African roads, with manufacturers seen only as fringe players. However, this is quickly changing as Chinese carmakers now outsell some established Western, American and Japanese brands. In recent years, South Africans have increasingly been buying Chinese brands like Chery and Haval, a subsidiary of Great Wall Motor (GWM), driven by affordability and feature-rich vehicles. Banking on growing demand, several Chinese car brands are now eyeing manufacturing and assembly plants in South Africa. The cars are largely internal combustion engine vehicles, but there is no reason to doubt that electric vehicles will follow suit. The South African SUV market saw a major shift between January and August compared to the same period last year, according to S&P Global Mobility. Together, Chinese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) grew their sales volume by as much as 86 per cent, boosting their total market share to 15 per cent. This was driven by Chery, whose volume rose 27 per cent to more than 16,000 units, and Haval, which saw a 45 per cent surge to over 12,000 units, according to S&P Global Mobility. Although Japanese leaders Toyota and Suzuki still command the largest volumes, their individual dominance is waning, with both brands recording a decline in market share in the same period. W. Gyude Moore, a distinguished fellow at the think tank Energy for Growth Hub and a former Liberian public works minister, said that if what one saw on the road was any indication, Chinese cars owned the foreseeable future of South African mobility. “I have been visiting Johannesburg now for a decade and there is an unmissable trend of an increase in Chinese vehicles on the road,” Moore said. Walt Madeira, principal analyst for Europe, the Middle East and Africa vehicle forecasting at S&P Global Mobility, said that Chinese carmakers were succeeding in winning over local buyers and challenging Western brands through competitive pricing, feature-rich vehicles, long warranties and aggressive market expansion. Unlike their competitors, Chinese brands integrate high-end features – such as large touchscreens, driver-assist technology and premium interiors – into their entry-level models as standard. Building on this growing commercial success and the strategic interest in local manufacturing, the South African government is incentivising carmakers to invest in the country. Given the good relations with China and the success of these vehicles, the government is very likely to promote financial advantages for Chinese OEMs to build vehicles locally, Madeira added. Alongside the shift in petrol vehicle sales, EV manufacturers, such as the Shenzhen-based BYD, have increased their market presence in South Africa and other African countries to diversify against mounting global tariff barriers. South Africa’s deputy minister of trade, industry and competition, Zuko Godlimpi, confirmed last month that discussions were under way with Chinese carmakers to invest in local production, particularly for hybrid and electric vehicles. “One area of their interest is to invest in hybrid vehicles and EVs because that is the market that they are servicing globally,” Godlimpi said. This push for local assembly is part of a dual strategy that includes a defensive plan to raise import duties to their “highest ceiling”, as Godlimpi put it, to prevent cheap imports from pricing out South African-manufactured cars. In response to the government’s proposal and the looming threat of higher import duties, Chery wants to set up a complete knock-down plant while GWM is currently holding talks with South African assemblers to start joint manufacturing of pickups. Moore said that in a price sensitive market, Chinese vehicles had the upper hand. He noted that as Chinese manufacturers faced increasing scrutiny in other markets, the growing significance of low and middle income regions made it sound business sense to develop local assembly and manufacturing capabilities there. Chinese carmakers are pivoting towards Africa for new growth, particularly in the EV sector, due to fierce competition at home and higher tariffs in the US and European markets. But despite their success, Chinese car brands in South Africa face challenges, including a still-growing service network and lower resale value compared to Japanese and Korean rivals. The core issue is that Chinese manufacturers prefer to export unless local assembly offers a major financial incentive. Some local manufacturers in South Africa who are unable to compete with Chinese imports on price have been pushing the government to impose import duties. However, Madeira believes the threat of new tariffs is low. “We do not envision South Africa introducing tariffs on Chinese exports, as this would sour relations and China has the superior strength in all negotiations across all industries with South Africa.”

Jevans Nyabiage
Amazon's new $40 Fire Stick is the illegal streamer's nightmare – here's why
Technology

Amazon's new $40 Fire Stick is the illegal streamer's nightmare – here's why

On October 15, 2025, Amazon launched its latest Fire Stick, the 4K Select. It's the first Fire Stick to run Amazon's Linux-based Vega OS, a departure from the Android-based Fire OS it has utilized for many years. As a result, you can no longer "sideload" modified Android apps to create "dodgy" Fire Sticks and illegally stream content. This will have widespread and significant implications for those partaking in illegal streaming. It could be seen as Amazon cracking down on the behavior, and leaves us wondering whether this is the start of a slow death for pirated live TV and sports on its device. The new operating system also means the apps of the best VPNs aren't supported. If you're after one of the best Fire Stick VPNs, you'll have to ensure you have an older device model. However, Amazon expects VPN support to come to Vega OS "soon." A change of operating system The Fire Stick 4K Select is described as "affordable" and is the first streaming stick to run Vega OS. In an announcement post, Amazon said Vega OS has been built specifically for its devices. Linux components have been adopted as its foundation and Vega OS is designed to be "scalable across a variety of devices." Fire OS is "a fork of Android," and therefore older Fire Sticks can be adapted into remarkably efficient illegal streaming devices via the installation of unofficial Android-based apps. These apps can be "sideloaded" onto a Fire Stick, enabling the user to stream movies and sport without genuine subscriptions. Sideloading can breach your terms of service and is often illegal. By switching to a Linux-based OS, these Android apps won't work. This likely won't stop illegal streaming completely, but it appears to be much harder to do on Fire Sticks running Vega OS compared to their Android counterparts. Is Amazon combating illegal streaming? Amazon's move to a new OS could be seen as an attempt to combat illegal streaming. Removing support for the apps that facilitate pirating content is an effective way of stopping illegal streaming on the new Fire Stick 4K Select device. It wouldn't be surprising if future Amazon devices make the switch to Vega OS, although Fire OS isn't going away completely – for now, at least. Amazon described itself as a "multi-OS company" and said it "will continue to launch new devices on Fire OS." There is no information that indicates older Fire Sticks running Fire OS will lose support, or must transfer to Vega OS. We may see illegal streamers turn to non-Amazon streaming devices or simply stick to older, modifiable devices. It's clear that illegal streaming won't go away entirely. But this move could signal the start of a serious effort to stop the practice and may herald the slow death of illegal streaming. According to a GlobalData 2024 report, the sports industry loses approximately $28 million a year to illegal streaming. The Premier League, England's domestic soccer competition, blocked over 600,000 illegal streams during the 2022/23 season. The BBC reported on research by Enders Analysis. The UK-based report found that 59% of respondents who watched pirated material in 2024 did so on an Amazon Fire product. 2024 research by Deloitte found that 25% of American consumers watched pirated content or used someone else's password in the previous 12 months. Of that 25%, 7% only watched pirated content and 4% did both. Respondents gave the following reasons for their actions: Access unavailable content Quicker access to content Access to full or uncensored shows and moviesCan't afford streaming services Don't want to pay for streaming services The cost of streaming services and sports packages, as well as in-person sports events, can be seen as a significant reason people turn to illegal streaming. The 2024 GlobalData report said that, in 2023, the average price of a National Football League (NFL) ticket rose by 8.6% to $120. Major League Baseball (MLB) rose by 3.5% to $37. Research by Goal.com found that the average ticket price for an NFL game in 2024 ranged from $43 (New Orleans Saints) to $250 (Detroit Lions). The team you want to see play impacts individual ticket costs, alongside factors such as availability and demand. VPNs and illegal streaming VPN providers do not support illegal streaming, and the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) has previously said "VPNs are not facilitators of piracy." However VPNs have repeatedly been the target of crackdowns on illegal streaming. The nature of illegal streaming means users will often use VPNs to encrypt and hide their internet traffic. Cloudflare began blocking VPN access to pirate streaming sites in July 2025. Canal+ won an anti-piracy lawsuit in May 2025 which ordered VPN providers to block over 200 "illegal sports streaming sites." Referring to the Canal+ case, the VTI said at the time that "this selective approach is certain to fail, as it targets symptoms rather than addressing the root causes of piracy." The VTI urged "precision, restrain, and accountability" when it comes to technical enforcement of the internet, and recognized the need to safeguard rightsholders. VPNs are not supported on Amazon Fire Stick 4K Select devices at launch, due to a lack of compatibility with Vega OS. Surfshark confirmed to Tom's Guide that it was "actively working to make a supported Surfshark VPN application version" – but it didn't have a specific timeline to share. NordVPN said its Vega OS app was "ready" and will go live on the Amazon Appstore once Amazon updates Vega OS to include VPN protocol support.

George Phillips
Woman accused of murdering her stepmother, shooting her multiple times in Spring home, HCSO says
Technology

Woman accused of murdering her stepmother, shooting her multiple times in Spring home, HCSO says

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) -- A 27-year-old woman is charged with murdering her stepmother, shooting her to death at her Spring home Friday morning. Just before 11 a.m., the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office said a man working on the victim's pool on Hannover Forest heard five gunshots coming from inside the house. When deputies arrived, they said they found the victim, 69-year-old Kathy Brown, dead in the kitchen with multiple gunshot wounds. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said the only other person in the house was the victim's stepdaughter, Dakayla Dailey. Neighbors mourned the loss of the slain woman. "She was kind to everyone on the street. She always had a good thing to say to everybody, so it's quite a shock," Deena Collins said. For news updates, follow Luke Jones on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Luke Jones
China And US Agree To Fresh Trade Talks
Technology

China And US Agree To Fresh Trade Talks

China and the United States agreed Saturday to conduct another round of trade negotiations in the coming week, as the world's two biggest economies seek to avoid another damaging tit-for-tat tariff battle.Beijing last week announced sweeping controls on the critical rare earths industry, prompting US President Donald Trump to threaten 100 percent tariffs on imports from China in retaliation.Trump had also threatened to cancel his expected meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.In the latest indication of efforts to resolve their dispute, Chinese state media reported that Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had "candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges" during a Saturday morning call, and that both sides agreed to hold a new round of trade talks "as soon as possible".On social media, Bessent described the discussions as "frank and detailed", and said they would meet "in-person next week to continue our discussions".Bessent had previously accused China of seeking to harm the rest of the world by tightening restrictions rare earths, which are critical to everything from smartphones to guided missiles.US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also participated in the call, according to the report by Chinese state news agency Xinhua.Hours before the call, Fox News released excerpts of an interview with Trump in which he said that he would meet Xi at the APEC summit after all.The high-level video call came as Washington worked to rally Group of Seven finance ministers in response to the latest Chinese export controls.For now, the G7 ministers have agreed to coordinate a short-term response and diversify suppliers, the EU's economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told reporters in Washington.Speaking after the grouping met this week, Dombrovskis noted the vast majority of rare earth supplies come from China, meaning that diversification could take years."We agreed, both bilaterally with the US and at the G7 level, to coordinate our approach," he said on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's fall meetings.Countries would also exchange information on their contacts with Chinese counterparts as they work out short-term solutions, he added.German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil told journalists he hopes that Trump and Xi's meeting can help to resolve much of the US-China trade conflict."We have made it clear within the G7 that we do not agree with China's approach," he added, referring to the group of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva also expressed hope Friday for an agreement between the countries to cool tensions.The US-China trade war reignited this year as Trump promised sweeping tariffs on imports soon after returning to office.At one point, US-China tariffs escalated to triple-digit levels, effectively halting some trade as businesses waited for a resolution.The two countries have since lowered their respective levies but their truce has remained shaky.

Beiyi Seow, Peter Catterall
Top US and China envoys set trade talks after ‘constructive’ video call
Technology

Top US and China envoys set trade talks after ‘constructive’ video call

Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent held a video call on Saturday morning and stated that trade negotiators from their countries would meet next week. “This evening, Vice-Premier He Lifeng and I engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China,” Bessent wrote on social media on Friday evening in Washington. “We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions.” In a separate read-out, China described He’s discussions with Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as “candid, in-depth and constructive”, touching upon “key issues in bilateral economic and trade relations”. “[The two sides] … agreed to convene a new round of China-US economic and trade consultations at the earliest opportunity,” according to state broadcaster CCTV. No details on the timing or location of the talks were given in either country’s read-out of the call. But Bessent, at a White House event hours before the video conversation, said the meeting would be held in Malaysia. “He [Lifeng] and I, and a delegation, will meet in Malaysia,” the US treasury secretary said. “Probably a week from tomorrow to prepare for the two presidents to meet”. The latest round of trade talks is meant to de-escalate tensions between the world’s two largest economies before a planned meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea. That gathering is scheduled from October 31 to November 1. Tensions flared after Beijing announced on October 9 it would roll out further export restrictions for rare earth elements. The move was expected to strengthen China’s grip on the world’s supply of the minerals that are essential for manufacturing advanced semiconductors, jets and robots. Hours after Beijing announced the export restrictions, Trump threatened to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on all Chinese goods from next month. Days later, Beijing added five American subsidiaries of a South Korean shipping company to its sanctions list. But in an about-face, Trump on Friday suggested that imposing the additional 100 per cent tariff plan appeared unworkable. Speaking to Fox Business Network in an interview broadcast on Friday, the US leader said the high tariffs were “not sustainable”. Trump also confirmed that his meeting with Xi was on track to take place in two weeks in South Korea. “I think we’re going to be fine with China, but we have to have a fair deal,” said Trump. “It’s got to be fair.”

Laura Zhou
Shohei Ohtani has epic night as Dodgers sweep Brewers, return to World Series
Technology

Shohei Ohtani has epic night as Dodgers sweep Brewers, return to World Series

LOS ANGELES — You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. The buzzing of doubt was thick around Shohei Ohtani after a 1-for-18 National League Division Series and a 2-for-11 start to the NL Championship Series, enough to make Ohtani sound a little annoyed by the tone of the questions at a press conference on Wednesday. He swatted those doubts away Friday as only he can. Making his first pitching start since Game 1 of the NL Division Series, Ohtani struck out the side in the top of the first inning then led off the bottom of the first by slamming a 446-foot home run. He didn’t give up a hit until the fourth inning, hit a second home run even farther, added a third home run and struck out 10 while taking a shutout into the seventh inning as the Dodgers beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, on Thursday night, completing a sweep of the NLCS. If Ohtani’s 6-for-6, three-home run night to create the 50/50 club last year might have been the greatest offensive game ever, Thursday’s two-way domination has to be considered for status as the greatest postseason performance. “Sometimes you’ve got to check yourself and touch him to make sure he’s not just made of steel,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, last season’s World Series MVP. “Absolutely incredible. Biggest stage, and he goes out and does something like that. It’ll probably be remembered as the Shohei Ohtani game.” With it, the Dodgers are going to the World Series for the fifth time in the past nine years, the Brewers having offered minimal resistance in the NLCS. The Dodgers are the first defending champion to make it back to the World Series since the Philadelphia Phillies won it all in 2008 then lost to the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series. “It was really fun on both sides of the ball today,” Ohtani, named the NLCS MVP, said through his interpreter. “As a representative (of the team), I’m taking this trophy, and let’s get four more wins.” The Dodgers will try to become the first team to win consecutive World Series titles since the Yankees in 1998-2000 when this year’s Series starts next Friday – in Toronto if the Blue Jays win the American League pennant, or in Los Angeles if the Seattle Mariners do (The Mariners lead the ALCS 3-2 with Game 6 scheduled for Sunday night in Toronto). “This is a one-team, one-dream operation,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Before this season they were saying the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball.” It will be the Dodgers’ 23rd trip to the World Series. Only the Yankees have been there more often (41 times). They arrive at a World Series appearance that seemed to be fore-ordained by their $400 million payroll and accumulation of talent with as much momentum as ever. They have won nine of 10 postseason games and 24 of their past 30 overall. “The goal isn’t to play in the World Series, the goal is to win the World Series,” utility player Kiké Hernandez said. The six-day layoff before Game 1 of the World Series figures to provide more of a challenge to that momentum than the Brewers did despite their status as MLB’s winningest team during the regular season. Dodgers pitching held the Brewers to four runs on 14 hits in the four-game sweep. Ohtani walked Brice Turang to start the game, luring the Brewers into believing he might be human. He struck out the next three to sew doubt and didn’t give up a hit until Jackson Chourio led off the fourth inning with a ground-rule double. Ohtani took care of that threat with a ground out and two more strikeouts. He walked the first batter in the seventh inning and gave up a single, ending his night on the mound at 100 pitches with no runs, only two hits and three walks allowed. He left the mound to a stadium-shaking ovation. “We’re like the (Chicago) Bulls and he’s Michael Jordan,” shortstop Mookie Betts said. His first home run was part of a three-run first inning for the Dodgers. Betts, Will Smith and Tommy Edman had singles to produce one run and another scored on Teoscar Hernandez’s slow ground out to first. Lightning struck again with two outs in the fourth when Brewers reliever Chad Patrick fell behind, 3-and-1, to Ohtani. He threw a cutter that was actually off the plate inside. It was nearly hit off the planet. Ohtani crushed it, sending it over the pavilion roof in right field, an estimated 469 feet (which didn’t seem to do it justice). The ball left his bat at 116.9 mph, topping the 116.5 mph of his first home run and leaving teammates in the dugout throwing their arms to the sky in amazement. The ball bounced off the pavilion roof and into a bush near some tables where startled fans were eating. In the seventh inning, Ohtani made it a threesome, sending a 99-mph fastball from Trevor Megill out to left center. The three home runs covered 1,342 feet – a little over a quarter-mile. A pitcher had hit three home runs in a game (any game, regular or postseason) just once before – Jim Tobin of the Boston Braves in May 1932. “I don’t think there’s any better performance in postseason history,” Roberts said during his team”s clubhouse celebration. Ohtani, a three-time league MVP who is favored to win a fourth next month, is the 12th player to hit three homers in a postseason game and the first since Chris Taylor did it for the Dodgers in October 2021. “That was special,” Freeman said. “We’ve just been playing really good baseball for a while now, and the inevitable kind of happened today – Shohei. Oh my God. I’m still speechless.” Much more to come on this story. Freddie Freeman was in disbelief at Shohei Ohtani's performance when he caught up with @LaurenShehadi 😆 pic.twitter.com/KkcpVZD9V1 — TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) October 18, 2025

Bill Plunkett
Evan Bouchard isn't as good as the NHL's best ever defenceman, says ex-coach and GM. Hmm.

Evan Bouchard isn't as good as the NHL's best ever defenceman, says ex-coach and GM. Hmm.

2. I’m glad that MacLean indicated that the Nicklas Lidstrom comparison was a bit much. Lidstrom was more than a No. 1 d-man. In fact you can make an argument that in terms of career value, Lidstrom was the best d-man in NHL history. He wasn’t as good as Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey at his peak, but he won six Norris Trophies as the NHL’s top d-man and finished second in voting four times. Eight times he was on the NHL’s first all star team. He was a brilliant player from the day he entered the NHL at age 21 to the day he left it at age 41, finishing fifth in Norris voting that final year. He finished in the Top 10 in Norris voting 17 times.

David Staples,Edmonton Journal
‘Huge Stakes’: Mark Penn Explains Why US-China Trade Fight Could Be Tougher Than Ukraine War
Technology

‘Huge Stakes’: Mark Penn Explains Why US-China Trade Fight Could Be Tougher Than Ukraine War

Political strategist Mark Penn warned Friday that the brewing economic confrontation between the United States and China could prove more difficult to manage than the Ukraine-Russia conflict. President Donald Trump said his proposed 100% tariff on Chinese goods was “not sustainable,” and pointed to Beijing’s rare earth export restrictions for derailing trade negotiations. Appearing on “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Penn said that the U.S.–China trade showdown is shaping up to be one of the most consequential economic battles in decades. “I think the president is right. They also both can’t afford to fail because they can’t afford to throw either economy into further disruption because there’s just too much at stake. But this is not going to go easy. We’re going to have more roller coaster rides before this is over,” Penn said. Penn said Trump was correct to call the trade standoff unsustainable, warning that both Washington and Beijing face immense pressure to avoid economic fallout. “It’s not sustainable. And this could be tougher than the Ukraine war. You’ve got two very determined leaders, both with huge economy, both with huge stakes here in terms of the outcome,” Penn told Bret Baier. (RELATED: Mark Penn Says Democrats Have Hidden Agenda When It Comes To Epstein Files) Last week, Trump threatened to slap China with a 100% tariff and warned that his planned summit with President Xi Jinping might be scrapped amid Beijing’s escalating economic pressure campaign. China tightened export controls on rare earth minerals and targeted U.S. companies with new port fees and an antitrust probe in response to Washington’s trade measures. Trump later said that the U.S. would impose a 100% tariff on Chinese goods starting Nov. 1 and restrict exports of critical software, warning the measures could take effect sooner if Beijing escalates further. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

Mariane Angela
SEQ on alert for potentially destructive storms
Technology

SEQ on alert for potentially destructive storms

Senior forecaster Baden Gilbert said the risk extended from the coast, west to Toowoomba, and as far north as Rainbow Beach. He said the area with the greatest risk was the south-east interior, from places such as Boonah and Beaudesert in the Scenic Rim, up through the Lockyer Valley, including areas around Ipswich, and into Kilcoy and Esk. “There is also a risk in that area of getting some very dangerous thunderstorms, so storms that have either destructive wind gusts or giant hail are not impossible,” Gilbert said. “If we get a really big [storm] cell going – and, you know, everything lines up – there could be a risk of heavy rainfall as well, but there’s not as much moisture around.” The trough will move off the coast by Sunday, with the forecast also noting the potential for thunderstorms along the coastal fringe in the early morning.

Matt Dennien
Shohei Ohtani hits 3 homers and strikes out 10 in scoreless outing for Dodgers in Game 4 of NLCS
Technology

Shohei Ohtani hits 3 homers and strikes out 10 in scoreless outing for Dodgers in Game 4 of NLCS

Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs and pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, putting on a spectacular show in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. With 10 strikeouts on the mound and three homers that traveled a combined 1,342 feet at the plate, Ohtani made history in both of his dual roles for the defending champion Dodgers, who are attempting to return to the World Series by completing a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers. After striking out three Brewers in the top of the first, Ohtani hit the first leadoff homer by a pitcher in major league history. He hit a second titanic drive in the fourth and launched a third solo homer in the seventh. The three-time MVP became the 12th player to hit three homers in a postseason game and the first since Chris Taylor did it for the Dodgers in October 2021. Kiké Hernández also accomplished the feat for the Dodgers in the 2017 NLCS. Along with his theatrics at the plate, Ohtani dominated Milwaukee batters during his second postseason pitching start. He allowed only two hits and walked off the mound to a stadium-shaking ovation after the Brewers' first two batters reached base in the seventh, but reliever Alex Vesia escaped the jam to keep the Dodgers' 4-0 lead intact. Ohtani quickly broke out of his postseason hitting slump with a 446-foot shot to right field off Brewers starter Jose Quintana for the first leadoff homer hit by a pitcher in any big league game. Ohtani became the first pitcher to record three strikeouts and a homer in the same inning in the postseason, and the first to do it in any game since Huascar Ynoa for Atlanta in 2021 — before the National League permanently adopted the designated hitter. Ohtani followed with a 469-foot shot off a low, inside cutter from Chad Patrick in the fourth. The ball appeared to clear the pavilion roof above the right-center bleachers at Dodger Stadium after leaving his bat at 116.9 mph. That made Ohtani the first Dodgers player with two multihomer games in one postseason. Ohtani, who hadn’t homered since hitting two in Los Angeles' playoff opener against Cincinnati, is the first Dodgers player with two multihomer games in one postseason. He also became the first player with two homers in a regular-season or postseason game with 116 mph or higher exit velocity since Statcast started tracking in 2015. Ohtani was just as impressive on the mound. The three-time MVP issued a leadoff walk to Brice Turang in the first, but struck out Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich and William Contreras with a mix of 100 mph fastballs and vicious breaking pitches. Chourio doubled leading off the fourth for Milwaukee’s first hit, but Ohtani stranded him with a groundout and two strikeouts. Ohtani got two more strikeouts in the fifth, leaving the mound to yet another standing ovation. Yelich drew a walk in the seventh before Contreras chased Ohtani with a single on his 100th pitch. Before his first homer, Ohtani hadn’t contributed much to the Dodgers with his bat during their otherwise impressive playoff run to the brink of another World Series. The team still had a feeling Ohtani would seize the opportunity to do something special. “I think this is his opportunity to make his mark on this series, and so we’re going to see his best effort,” manager Dave Roberts said several hours before Game 4. “I feel good that he’s pitching for us, and there’s going to be some serious focus and compete tonight.” Ohtani's first homer was a no-doubt shot, and he paused briefly at the plate to admire it. His second leadoff homer of the postseason ended his eight-game drought since he hit two in the Wild Card Series opener against Cincinnati. His second homer was even more astounding, and the screams of disblief from the Chavez Ravine crowd emphasized the historic nature of the night. He also drew a walk in the second inning. Before Game 4, Ohtani was in a 6-for-38 drought as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter in the postseason. The fearsome slugger who was third in the majors with a franchise-record 55 homers during the regular season hadn't connected since Sept. 30. Although Ohtani tripled and scored in the first inning of Game 3 against Milwaukee, that was his only extra-base hit in the last eight games — and just one of his six postseason RBIs came in the past five games. Ohtani went 2 for 11 with three walks in his first three games against the Brewers. While his two-way role requires him to do extensive off-field work to stay ready for both jobs, Ohtani probably wouldn't blame his plate struggles on his pitching responsibilities. In fact, he had pitched in only two games over the past 30 days before Game 4, thanks to the permutations of the Dodgers' schedule. In his last regular-season start, Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings of five-hit ball against Arizona on Sept. 23, throwing a season-high 91 pitches. In his MLB postseason mound debut Oct. 4, he gave up three runs over six innings with nine strikeouts to earn the victory in Los Angeles' 5-3 win at Philadelphia in the Division Series opener. Ohtani also had the motivation of matching his fellow Dodgers starters, who have been phenomenal on the mound ever since the playoff race got serious. The Dodgers' rotation held batters in September to an MLB record-low .173 average for a single month. Since the postseason began, Los Angeles' four starting pitchers — Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani — had allowed just 10 earned runs while pitching 58 1/3 innings with 71 strikeouts over those nine games. What's more, only three Brewers had ever faced Ohtani on the mound heading into Game 4. “It’s always a little advantage (to the) pitcher when they haven’t seen you before,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “But they’re 170 games in. They understand that you’re not facing Shohei, you’re facing the ball.” Roberts said Roki Sasaki was available out of the bullpen in Game 4 for what would be his first back-to-back appearances since the rookie rejoined the Dodgers' roster as a reliever. Sasaki has been mostly outstanding since he became the Dodgers' de facto closer, picking up three saves while allowing just two hits and one run in seven innings of relief across six playoff games. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Greg Beacham
Body returned from Gaza identified as Eliyahu (Churchill) Margalit, killed on October 7
Technology

Body returned from Gaza identified as Eliyahu (Churchill) Margalit, killed on October 7

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced that Eliyahu (Churchill) Margalit was the deceased hostage who was returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip overnight into Saturday. Margalit was 75 years old, from Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was murdered on October 7, and his body was taken into the Gaza Strip. His daughter, Nili, was also kidnapped but was later released. Known by his nickname "Churchill," Margalit arrived at Nir Oz in 1969 with a Nahal (pioneer military) group and devoted his life to raising beef cattle. "Churchill was always in work clothes and boots, driving the feed cart, caring for a sick calf – seven days a week," wrote journalist Sivan Klingbail, who grew up in the kibbutz. On the morning of October 7, as rocket sirens sounded, Margalit went out to check on his horses. A kibbutz security camera recorded him calmly riding his quad bike. "He definitely didn't understand what was happening," said his wife, Dafna Margalit. Minutes later, Eliyahu encountered one of the first groups of Hamas terrorists who infiltrated the kibbutz. He was subsequently killed and his body was abducted to Gaza. "Eli had a special bond with our grandchildren," Dafna said. "He was tough on our kids, but with the grandchildren he was very compassionate and caring. It was a new, corrective experience for him, to express these emotions. Our granddaughter says it's not fair – 'Why did I only have eight years with grandpa?

Haaretz
Myanmar junta forces retake key town on trade route to China
Technology

Myanmar junta forces retake key town on trade route to China

Myanmar’s ruling junta said on Saturday that it had recaptured a town on a trade highway to China from an ethnic armed group in the country’s war-wracked north. Following a 16-day operation, “Tatmadaw reoccupied Hsipaw completely” on Thursday, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said, referring to the military by its Burmese name. Northern Shan state has been rocked by fighting since June 2024 when an alliance of ethnic armed groups renewed an offensive against the military along the highway to China’s Yunnan province. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) captured the last remaining military base in the town of Hsipaw in October that year after weeks of fighting. Hsipaw is normally home to around 20,000 people and sits on a highway from Myanmar’s second city Mandalay to the China border, along which hundreds of millions of US dollars’ worth of trade travels annually. There were 28 clashes and “engagements” in the two weeks leading up to Hsipaw’s recapture, state media said, with the military “seizing 13 dead bodies of terrorists”, referring to members of the anti-junta TNLA. “The military council is committing war crimes against innocent civilians … whether by manpower, heavy weapons, drones or air strikes,” read a statement on Friday by the TNLA’s Department of News and Information channel on Telegram, adding that 29 people had been killed since the junta began its latest offensive. Myanmar’s ruling junta has been fighting a myriad of ethnic armed groups and “People’s Defence Forces” opposed to its rule since it seized power in a February 2021 coup, ending a brief experiment with democracy. Since the coup, the TNLA – one of Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic armed groups – has strengthened its control of a swathe of Shan territory, seizing around a dozen key towns and the country’s main ruby-mining hub. Fighting between the TNLA and the military caused widespread destruction in Shan state’s Kyaukme township – another key town on the trade route from Mandalay to the Chinese border – as the junta retook control of it in early October.

Agence France-Presse
Previous 21 22 23 24 25 Next