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Musk crops up at AfD campaign kick-off as thousands protest across Germany

Tens of hundreds of Germans rallied on Saturday towards the far proper forward of subsequent month’s legislative elections, as US tech billionaire Elon Musk as soon as once more endorsed the anti-immigrant AfD occasion.

Musk, talking by video hyperlink, informed hundreds of AfD supporters gathered within the japanese metropolis of Halle that their occasion was “the most effective hope for the way forward for Germany.”

AfD supporters on the rally shouted their approval as occasion co-leader Alice Weidel seemed on smiling.

In the meantime, protesters towards the AfD turned out in cities throughout Germany.

The most important gatherings happened in Berlin and Cologne, with some 35,000 and 20,000 demonstrators, respectively, mentioned police. Organisers in Berlin claimed that 100,000 folks attended the protests within the capital.

The protesters there used their cell phones to type “a sea of sunshine for democracy” in entrance of the Brandenburg Gate, brandishing letters forming the phrase “Resistance”.

AfD is polling at round 20% forward of Germany’s 23 February elections, a file for a celebration that has already shattered a decades-old taboo in post-war Germany towards supporting the far proper.

The mainstream conservative CDU/CSU alliance leads on about 30%, with CDU chief Friedrich Merz the favorite to change into chancellor after the elections.

Protests throughout Germany

Musk, an in depth affiliate of US President Donald Trump, informed the AfD rally: “I believe this election arising in Germany is extremely vital.

“I believe it might determine the whole destiny of Europe, possibly the destiny of the world.”

Musk has rattled European politicians in latest weeks with feedback on his social platform X supporting AfD and far-right politicians in different international locations, together with the UK.

He additionally drew consideration this week for making a public gesture some observers interpreted as a straight-armed Nazi salute, a declare he dismissed as a smear.

Like Trump, the AfD opposes immigration, denies local weather change, rails towards gender politics and has declared warfare on a political institution and mainstream media it claims restrict free speech.

The anti-AfD rallies happened in some 60 cities following calls from a wide range of organisations, attracting extra folks than the police had initially anticipated.

The protests handed off peacefully, with banners saying “Nazis out” or “AfD is just not an alternate,” a reference to the far-right occasion’s full identify “Different for Germany”.

The CDU’s Merz additionally got here in for criticism. Many protestors worry he’s tempted to interrupt his occasion’s coverage of refusing to enter into coalition talks with the AfD.

There was additionally a protest within the southern metropolis of Aschaffenbourg, the place a lethal knife assault this week by an Afghan migrant additional infected the talk over immigration.

Just a few thousand additionally turned out within the japanese metropolis of Halle, the place the AfD rally was addressed by Musk.

“The German persons are actually an historical nation which works again hundreds of years,” Musk informed them.

“I even learn Julius Caesar was very impressed by the German tribes,” he mentioned, urging the supporters to “battle, battle, battle” for his or her nation’s future.

He mentioned the AfD wished “extra self-determination for Germany and for the international locations in Europe and fewer from Brussels”, a reference to his criticism of what he sees as heavy-handedness from EU authorities.

Weidel informed her rally that migrants in Germany needed to be despatched residence.

“We’d like re-migration to stay safely in Germany,” she mentioned.

Jurickson Profar, Braves free-agent contract: 3 years, $42 million

ATLANTA — Jurickson Profar’s earliest baseball fandom was aided by fellow Curacao native Andruw Jones’ rise to greatness. He’ll now get his personal alternative to function a Braves outfielder.

The Braves stuffed certainly one of their most vital wants on Thursday once they signed Profar to a three-year, $42 million deal. He’ll obtain $12 million this yr after which draw a $15 million wage each of the following two years.

“Based mostly on final yr, we had Jurickson because the second-best free-agent bat,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos mentioned. “We imagine who he was final yr is who he’s going ahead.”

With the addition of the switch-hitting Profar, the Braves have gained a veteran who might help compensate for Ronald Acuña Jr.’s early-season absence and supply stability whereas probably serving as an on a regular basis outfielder. Acuña’s timetable hasn’t been set, however he might miss at the very least six weeks whereas recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee.

Profar’s large plate self-discipline additionally makes him a prime candidate to fill the leadoff spot whereas Acuña recovers.

“You like the truth that there’s contact and on-base [skills] and he switch-hits,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “It is actually an ideal complement and match to our group.”

The Braves can enter the season understanding Profar might be in left discipline and Michael Harris II might be in middle. Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz, who each have Minor League choices remaining, stand as the highest candidates for proper discipline. Kelenic’s struggles towards left-handed pitchers might result in a platoon with the right-handed-hitting De La Cruz. However Kelenic can have a possibility to win an on a regular basis position in camp. Profar matches greatest as a left fielder. He has performed simply 33 video games in proper and all however 4 of these video games had been in 2021.

“We’ll get [Kelenic] plenty of reps in proper discipline [during Spring Training],” Anthopoulos mentioned. “He is bought the vary and arm energy to play all three [outfield positions]. Jarred can have each alternative to be that man.”

It took till Profar’s age-31 marketing campaign — his eleventh season within the Main Leagues — for him to seemingly get away, however he definitely proved it’s by no means too late to shine. In his second stint with the Padres, after hardly enjoying in 2023, Profar posted a .280/.380/.459 slash line as San Diego’s beginning left fielder in ‘24. He hit 24 homers, drove in 85 runs and stole 10 bases, incomes Nationwide League All-Star honors and cementing himself as one other huge bat together with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado within the Padres’ lineup.

Profar’s success got here together with his determination to make vital modifications to his decrease half. He added a leg kick, opened his stance and noticed his common exit velocity soar from 86.5 mph in 2023 to 91.1 mph final season. Anthopoulos is hopeful these modifications will show as useful as they did to Justin Turner, José Bautista and Josh Donaldson.

Anthopoulos was the Blue Jays’ normal supervisor when Bautista and Donaldson made their meteoric rises.

“Profar had all of the substances,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “I feel tapping into the facility was the one piece that was going to raise his bat.”

It was a stellar season largely backed up by Statcast quality-of-contact metrics, which ranked Profar above the ninetieth percentile in MLB in anticipated wOBA (.364) and anticipated batting common (.283). He proved to be a disciplined hitter, strolling at a powerful 11.4% clip, placing out solely 15.1% of the time and rating within the ninetieth percentile in each chase price and whiff price.

Profar, who got here up by way of the Minors as a shortstop, has now seen essentially the most Main League motion in left discipline, making 499 profession appearances there in comparison with 219 at second base, 104 at brief and 89 at third. He graded out as a poor defender in left in 2024 (-7 Outs Above Common), however due to his bat, Profar was price 3.6 bWAR.

It was handily Profar’s greatest offensive season, as he got here into 2024 with a profession .706 OPS earlier than posting an .839 OPS with the Padres. He debuted with the Rangers in 2012 as a 19-year-old and performed in 85 video games the next season, however after a shoulder damage and subsequent surgical procedure to restore a torn labrum in 2014, he missed two entire seasons and didn’t return to MLB till 2016. Profar was traded to the A’s after the 2018 season in a three-team deal, then dealt to the Padres a yr later.

After exhibiting a bit extra prowess with the bat in 2022 (.243 BA, .723 OPS), Profar signed a one-year, $7.75 million cope with the Rockies for ‘23. He was launched by Colorado in late August and signed by San Diego to a Minor League deal earlier than re-upping with the Padres for 2024.

“We imagine in these swing modifications and we imagine that is who he could be going ahead,” Anthopoulos mentioned. “Somebody on the opposite aspect trying on the glass as half empty will say, ‘Nicely, he is executed it only one yr.’ That is the danger you are taking with this stuff. A number of occasions we go after the upside gamers.”

Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks Nip Washington Capitals, 2-1, Snap Washington’s 12-Game Point-Streak

Picture: @Capitals

The Washington Capitals misplaced to the Vancouver Canucks by a rating of 2-1 at Rogers Enviornment on Saturday to fall to 33-11-5 (.724 factors proportion) this season and 2-1-0 on their season-long five-game highway journey. Washington’s profitable and point-streaks ended at six and 12 (9-0-3), respectively. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves within the loss.

Washington’s Strains

Connor McMichael — Dylan Strome — Alex Ovechkin
Aliaksei Protas — Pierre-Luc Dubois — Tom Wilson
Taylor Raddysh — Lars Eller — Ethen Frank
Brandon Duhaime — Nic Dowd —Andrew Mangiapane

Rasmus Sandin — John Carlson
Martin Fehervary — Matt Roy
Jakob Chychrun — Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Lindgren
Logan Thompson

  • Scratched
    • LW Jakub Vrana
    • D Dylan McIlrath
    • D Alexander Alexeyev
  • Injured
    • LW Sonny Milano (upper-body)
    • C Nicklas Backstrom (hip)
    • RW T.J. Oshie (again)

After making 22 saves for his first shutout of the marketing campaign in a 3-0 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, Lindgren began consecutive video games for the primary time this season with Thompson, a Calgary native, set to get the nod on Tuesday on the Calgary Flames, based on head coach Spencer Carbery.

Vancouver’s Strains

Danton Heinen — J.T. Miller — Brock Boeser
Nils Hoglander — Elias Pettersson — Linus Karlsson
Jake DeBrusk – Pius Suter — Conor Garland
Max Sasson — Teddy Blueger — Phil Di Giuseppe

Quinn Hughes — Filip Hronek
Elias Pettersson — Carson Soucy
Derek Forbort — Vincent Desharnais

Kevin Lankinen
Thatcher Demko

  • Scratched
  • Injured
    • RW Kieffer Sherwood (lower-body)
    • C Dakota Joshua (leg)
    • D Noah Juulsen (undisclosed)
  • Suspended

First Interval

Scoring

  • 12:23, 1-0 Vancouver: After getting a cross by Hoglander from the precise half-wall, Hughes walked round Duhaime from the highest to the slot and backhanded a shot over the blocker of Lindgren.

Stats

  • 13-12 Washington in pictures
  • .737 Washington on faceoffs
  • Washington didn’t rating on their first two energy performs
    • Vancouver had two alternatives
  • 7-3 Vancouver in hits
  • 6-2 Vancouver in blocked pictures
  • 6-6 in giveaways
Graphs: Pure StatTrick

Second Interval

Scoring

  • 1:24, 2-0: Hughes walked the blueline and let a wrist shot go from up high that handed a maze of site visitors and the blocker of Lindgren after Boeser banked a cross off of the wall to him from down low.

Stats

  • 23-21 Washington in pictures
    • together with 11-8 within the third
  • .588 Washington on faceoffs
  • Each groups had two energy performs
  • 15-9 Vancouver in hits
  • 12-11 Vancouver in blocked pictures
  • 11-11 in giveaways

Third Interval

Scoring

  • 12:31, 2-1: After Protas’ level shot was stopped, the puck leaked out whereas Lankinen tried to cowl the puck. Dubois was proper there to stuff the rebound into an open cage. Dubois has scored all three of Washington’s targets towards Vancouver this season and three in his final 4 video games. Dubois turned the ninth Capital to achieve the 10-goal mark this season. The Capitals are one among two groups within the NHL to have 9 gamers with 10 or extra targets (additionally Carolina Hurricanes). Protas prolonged his level streak to 4 video games (2-3-5). With the secondary helper, McMichael has recorded 4 assists in his final 4 video games.

Stats

  • 32-25 Washington in pictures
    • 10-4 Washington within the third
  • .545 Washington on attracts
  • 24-14 Vancouver in hits
  • 19-15 Vancouver in blocked pictures
  • 19-15 Washington in giveaways

Washington’s lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for first place within the Metropolitan Division remained at seven factors, however Washington has a recreation in hand.

Washington’s 12-game level streak tied for the seventh longest in franchise historical past and marked the group’s first level streak of 12 or extra video games for the reason that 2019-20 season (13 from 10/16/2019–11/13/2019: 11-0-2).

Subsequent recreation: Tuesday at Calgary (9 PM ET, Monumental Sports activities Community in-market, ESPN+ out-of-market).

By Harrison Brown

About Harrison Brown

Harrison is a diehard Caps fan and a hockey fanatic with a ardour for sports activities writing. He attended his first recreation at age 8 and has been a season ticket holder for the reason that 2010-2011 season. His fondest Caps reminiscence was watching the Capitals hoist the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas. In his spare time, he enjoys journey, pictures, and hanging out along with his two canines. Observe Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonB927077

XXXTentaction’s Best Songs: 10 Essential Tracks

It’s been almost seven years since XXXTentacion was tragically shot and killed throughout an armed theft in Deerfield Park, Florida, in June 2018 on the age of 20.

All through his meteoric rise, X — born Jahseh Onfroy — established a deep connection to thousands and thousands of followers as one of many leaders of the SoundCloud era of rap whereas additionally vulnerably opening up about his psychological well being and battles with despair.

X dedicated full-time to rap in 2016 when he moved in with fellow Florida rapper Denzel Curry and exploded onto the mainstream scene in early 2017 with the re-release of his hostile “Look At Me!” single, which blew up on SoundCloud earlier than hitting DSPs.

The Rojas on the Beat and Jimmy Duval-produced hit launched X’s profession into one other stratosphere as his mugshot cowl artwork was seemingly inescapable on social media with “Look At Me!” reaching No. 34 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and was one in every of Billboard‘s Songs That Outlined the Decade for the 2010s.

He even tried to feud with Drake over allegations that the 6 God imitated his “Look At Me!” movement on Extra Life‘s “KMT” observe in 2017. Earlier than his demise, X launched a pair of studio albums with 17 and ?. Within the week following his homicide, “SAD!” rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 to posthumously give X his first chart-topper in June 2018.

Whereas his expertise as a musician is simple, XXXTentacion’s legacy stays an advanced one as a result of myriad of mounting authorized prices towards him together with home violence, assault, witness tampering and theft. On the time of his passing, X confronted 15 felonies initially stemming from an arrest in 2016.

Thursday (Jan. 23) marks what would have been XXXTentacion’s twenty seventh birthday. From the melancholy to the fashion, there was no telling how far X was going to push his artistry in his 20s. Try our record of what we really feel are the late rapper’s 10 finest songs beneath.

Canucks 2, Capitals 1: All hail Quinn Hughes

If there’s one factor the Canucks have managed to do that season, it is play properly on Saturday nights

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Printed Jan 25, 2025  •  Final up to date 19 hours in the past  •  4 minute learn

Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes scores in opposition to Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren throughout NHL sport in VancouverJan. 25, 2025. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

So far as we all know, Quinn Hughes nonetheless desires to be a Vancouver Canuck.

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And thank goodness for that as a result of within the midst of this depressing season, the Canucks’ captain is placing collectively one of many nice all-time seasons by a defenceman.

It’s been a blessing, it’s given us one thing to observe, but in addition miserable because it ought to add as much as a lot extra.

Dealing with up in opposition to the workforce with probably the most factors within the NHL to this point this season, you figured this gained’t go properly given how badly the remainder of the week has gone.

However that is additionally Saturday night time, and if there’s one factor the Canucks have managed to do that season, it’s play properly on Saturday nights.

Remarkably, the Canucks at the moment are 8-2-2 on Saturday nights.

That included spectacular wins the earlier two Saturdays over the Oilers and the Leafs.

Now this win wasn’t fairly as spectacular as these video games, however it was a win and that’s all that issues.

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Hughes scored each Canucks targets as the house workforce floor out a 2-0 lead in opposition to the Washington Capitals, who got here into this sport having gained six straight video games.

That purpose

Hughes’ first purpose was a outstanding feat of ability. He attacked a niche within the Capitals’ zone protection and with an nearly supernatural understanding of the three-dimensional house between him and the purpose, lifted an ideal backhand shot in the direction of the purpose and previous a helpless Charlie Lindgren.

It was as magical as Hughes has been this season.

“That was wonderful. It was excellent,” J.T. Miller mentioned. “Whenever you’re enjoying like that, you’re not even considering you’re simply enjoying, you’re simply making the play in entrance of you.”

Elias Pettersson the defenceman, enjoying his first NHL sport, was in awe.

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“I used to be shocked,” he mentioned, with a large smile. “It was an unbelievable purpose.”

Unbelievable, maybe, in the event you didn’t see it with your personal eyes.

The purpose was precisely the form of play Rick Tocchet says he’s been encouraging his workforce to go after.

“When he will get the puck he assaults the within,” Tocchet mentioned. “He’s not scared to go the inside. That’s the way you rating targets.”

It’s one thing that Tocchet is aware of he and his assistants actually must press on his workforce about: that’s what they need to do. They did it fairly properly final 12 months, in spite of everything.

“We’re attempting to dive into that. I don’t know if it’s a confidence factor. I don’t knoww what it’s, however as coaches, we’ve acquired to maintain preaching it. We acquired to follow it. … We’ve acquired to essentially, actually harp that greater than ever.”

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An eighth time on Saturdays

None of Rick Tocchet, J.T. Miller nor Kevin Lankinen knew the Canucks’ Saturday night time document was so good.

“That’s a cool stat,” Lankinen mentioned, pausing. “That’s a extremely cool stat.”

“Saturday night time’s, the very best time to play hockey anyway.”

That’s additionally three Saturdays in a row the place the Canucks have defeated high opponents.

“Perhaps the environment? It’s slightly extra heightened sport and we’re enjoying good groups, so possibly it brings the very best out of us? I don’t know,” Miller mentioned.

Tocchet mentioned regardless of the general struggles of the season, it didn’t shock him to study that his workforce had performed so properly on Saturdays.

“I’m simply glad we gained.”

Minute muncher

Hughes performs big minutes each night time.

And but once more he was the Canucks’ minutes chief.

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The Canucks persistently get out of hassle when he’s on the ice.

After which there are nights like this one the place he scores two targets and is the whole offence.

The puck hits the publish behind Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen throughout  NHL sport in VancouverJan. 25, 2025. Photograph by DARRYL DYCK /THE CANADIAN PRESS

Mediocre offence

This was a boring sport at each ends of the ice.

The Capitals are the NHL’s finest defensive workforce by targets in opposition to.

They gave little away to Vancouver. And the Canucks, who’ve had some defensive struggles these days, had been stout at their finish of the ice too.

The shot chart within the Canucks versus Capitals sport on Saturday. Photograph by Pure Stat Trick

“I assumed performed slightly quicker. I assumed our breakouts had been higher, like that was one thing we labored on yesterday,” Rick Tocchet mentioned. “You understand, I assumed, we had slightly little bit of depth from all people … That win hopefully offers us confidence.”

All hail Lankinen

If there’s a vice-MVP this season, it’s Kevin Lankinen, as everybody is aware of.

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It’s due to video games like this one the place he got here up huge on the few moments he wanted to.

There have been a pair goalmouth scrambles the place he coated the purpose line properly and kicked away issues properly.

Dedication

J.T. Miller’s time as a Canuck could also be numbered, however he’s nonetheless discovering moments. They haven’t been each night time, however he was fairly good on this one.

One of the best second was him laying out for a block within the sport’s closing moments, taking a shot away from Jakob Chychrun, the Washington blueliner who was hammering away level photographs with abandon.

Dubois loves the Canucks

Pierre-Luc Dubois has simply 10 targets this season: three are in opposition to Vancouver.

NEXT GAME

Monday

Vancouver Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues

4:30 p.m., Enterprise Middle, TV: ESPN Pacific, Radio: Sportsnet 650

Advisable from Editorial

  1. Canucks followers ask: What occurred to this workforce’s tradition?

  2. ‘We’d like that’: Canucks debuting D-Petey, Tocchet loves his ‘enthusiasm’

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Senator Murkowski Releases Statement on Hegseth Nomination

01.23.25

Washington, DC – At the moment, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) launched the next assertion on her determination to vote in opposition to confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Protection:

“Since Mr. Hegseth’s nomination final November, I’ve met with him and thoroughly reviewed his writings, varied experiences, and different pertinent supplies. I carefully adopted his listening to earlier than the Senate Armed Providers Committee and gathered substantial suggestions from organizations, veterans, and Alaskans. After thorough analysis, I need to conclude that I can’t in good conscience assist his nomination for Secretary of Protection. I didn’t make this determination evenly; I take my constitutional duty to supply recommendation and consent with the utmost seriousness.

I commend Pete Hegseth’s service to our nation, together with main troops in fight and advocating for our veterans. Nonetheless, these accomplishments don’t alleviate my important issues relating to his nomination. Managing the Division of Protection requires huge expertise and experience because the division is without doubt one of the most complicated and highly effective organizations on the earth, and Mr. Hegseth’s prior roles in his profession don’t reveal to me that he’s ready for such immense duty. His management of two veteran organizations was marked with accusations of economic mismanagement and issues with the office tradition he fostered.

Though he has just lately revised his statements on girls in fight since being nominated, I stay involved concerning the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to girls presently serving and people aspiring to affix. Girls have served our nation with distinction, overcoming immense obstacles to excel in fight and management roles, and so they need to know that their chief honors and values their dedication to our nation.

Whereas the allegations of sexual assault and extreme ingesting do nothing to quiet my issues, the previous behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, together with infidelity on a number of events, reveal an absence of judgment that’s unbecoming of somebody who would lead our armed forces. These behaviors starkly distinction the values and self-discipline anticipated of servicemembers. Women and men in uniform are held accountable for such actions, and so they deserve leaders who uphold these similar requirements.

Above all, I consider that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Protection, and should be prioritized with out compromise. The chief of the Division of Protection should reveal and mannequin the requirements of habits and character we anticipate of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination to the function poses important issues that I can’t overlook. Given the worldwide safety surroundings we’re working in, it’s important that we verify a Secretary of Protection, nonetheless, I remorse that I’m unable to assist Mr. Hegseth.”

Cole Caufield à Vancouver: une transaction insensée

L’annonce de la transaction monstre entre les Hurricanes de la Caroline, l’Avalanche du Colorado et les Blackhawks de Chicago a secoué le monde du hockey, mais une véritable bombe médiatique a été larguée par Pierre LeBrun juste après l’annonce officielle.

Selon l’insider de TSN, Elias Pettersson était à deux doigts de devenir un membre des Hurricanes de la Caroline avant que la triple transaction ne se concrétise. Un coup de théâtre qui soulève une query brûlante :

Dès que la rumeur a commencé à circuler, les amateurs et les specialists se sont demandés quel joueur des Canucks aurait été inclus dans cette échange avortée.

La réponse la plus believable semble pointer vers Elias Pettersson. JT Miller, à 32 ans le 14 mars, est sur la pente descendante et la Caroline n’aurait jamais accepté d’envoyer Necas à Vancouver pour un gars vieillissant comme Miller. 

Âgé de 25 ans et encore sous contrat pour plusieurs saisons, Pettersson représente une choice plus secure et sturdy pour la Caroline que Mikko Rantanen, qui deviendra joueur autonome cet été.

Surtout que les Hurricanes sont très faibles au centre avec Jordan Staal et Jesperi Kotkaniemi derrière Sebastian Aho.

Le risque est immense pour les Hurricanes : ils pourraient perdre Rantanen pour rien s’ils ne parviennent pas à le prolonger.

Alors que l’échange aurait inclus Martin Nečas et d’autres éléments, plusieurs specialists s’accordent à dire que la Caroline aurait peut-être mieux fait d’opter pour Pettersson, qui est une valeur sûre et sous contrat à lengthy terme.

La révélation de LeBrun met également en lumière une query brûlante pour le Canadien de Montréal :

Qu’aurait-il fallu pour que Kent Hughes fasse l’acquisition d’un joueur de la trempe d’Elias Pettersson ?

En comparant la valeur marchande de Martin Nečas (55 factors en 49 matchs, dont 16 buts), il est clair qu’un échange incluant Pettersson aurait exigé du CH un prix élevé.

Selon plusieurs sources, pour rivaliser avec l’offre de la Caroline, Kent Hughes aurait dû sacrifier Cole Caufield, son jeune franc-tireur, ce qui n’est absolument pas dans les plans de l’organisation.

Pour le Canadien, Caulfield fait partie du noyau de base, et l’idée de l’échanger pour Pettersson est impensable.

Mais cette state of affairs permet de mieux comprendre à quel level l’acquisition d’un joueur d’élite demande des sacrifices considérables.

Hughes, prudent dans sa gestion, sait que l’échange de jeunes skills pour une pièce majeure comme Pettersson pourrait à court docket terme être un acquire, mais à lengthy terme un risque immense.

En décidant d’aller chercher Rantanen plutôt que de tenter l’acquisition de Pettersson, les Hurricanes ont pris un pari audacieux.

S’ils ne parviennent pas à signer Rantanen avant l’ouverture du marché des joueurs autonomes, cette transaction pourrait se transformer en un véritable cauchemar.

La pression est désormais à son comble sur la path des Hurricanes, qui doivent rapidement convaincre Rantanen de prolonger, sous peine de voir cette transaction se retourner contre eux.

Pour les Canucks, voir cet échange s’effondrer laisse un goût amer. Échanger Elias Pettersson, qui est encore sous contrat, aurait permis à Vancouver d’acquérir Nečas et d’autres actifs pour mieux bâtir leur profondeur offensive.

Mais les négociations n’ont pas abouti, et maintenant les Canucks doivent se demander si l’event de maximiser la valeur de Pettersson reviendra.

Cette révélation explosive de Pierre LeBrun révèle les dessous d’un échange avorté qui aurait pu changer le visage de la ligue.

L’acquisition de Rantanen par la Caroline est un coup de poker qui met en lumière les risques énormes pris par les équipes en quête de succès immédiat.

Pour Kent Hughes et le Canadien de Montréal, cette state of affairs prouve l’significance d’une gestion prudente et calculée des actifs.

Il est clair que dans la réalité actuelle de la LNH, chaque décision peut avoir des répercussions majeures sur l’avenir d’une franchise.

Les yeux de toute la LNH sont maintenant tournés vers la Caroline : Rantanen signera-t-il, ou cette transaction deviendra-t-elle l’une des plus grandes erreurs de la décennie?

Pourquoi la transaction a échoué entre les Canucks et les Hurricanes?

Malgré des négociations intensives entre les Canucks de Vancouver et les Hurricanes de la Caroline, la transaction impliquant Elias Pettersson ou JT Miller a finalement échoué. Plusieurs sources rapportent que l’un des principaux obstacles était la volonté absolue de Vancouver d’obtenir un centre en retour de l’un de ses joueurs vedettes.

Cependant, la Caroline ne possédait aucun centre de premier plan vulnerable de répondre à leurs exigences.

Dans la LNH, les centres de premier plan sont des atouts rares et précieux, bien plus difficiles à échanger qu’un ailier.

Vancouver souhaitait à tout prix un joueur succesful de remplacer immédiatement la manufacturing de Pettersson ou Miller, mais la Caroline ne pouvait offrir un centre de premier plan. 

Face à cette deadlock, les Canucks ont commencé à considérer l’choice Martin Nečas, un ailier de expertise qui pourrait compenser la perte d’un de leurs centres. 

Un autre facteur vital dans les discussions a été le conflit interne entre Elias Pettersson et JT Miller. Depuis longtemps, des tensions existent entre les deux joueurs, ce qui a poussé la path des Canucks à explorer des choices d’échange n’incluant pas un centre en retour.

À travers cet échange potentiel, Vancouver cherchait à résoudre ce problème interne en échangeant Pettersson contre Nečas et d’autres actifs.

Un autre élément qui a freiné les discussions est le manque de jeunes centres de premier plan dans le bassin d’espoirs des Hurricanes. L’espoir Bradley Nadeau, bien qu’un wonderful attaquant en devenir, n’est pas un centre naturel, ce qui posait un problème de succession pour les Canucks.

Ils souhaitaient une answer immédiate et à lengthy terme au poste de centre, ce que la Caroline ne pouvait pas offrir.

Finalement, les Canucks ont décidé que les actifs qui accompagnaient Nečas n’étaient pas suffisants pour sacrifier un joueur du calibre de Pettersson.

Vancouver a donc mis fin aux pourparlers, préférant attendre une meilleure offre qui pourrait inclure un centre véritablement succesful de prendre la relève.

Si Kent Hughes voulait tenter d’acquérir Elias Pettersson, il aurait probablement dû sacrifier un joueur de premier plan.

Tout le monde pense à Nick Suzuki. Mais en voyant la valeur attribuée à Nečas dans les négociations, il devient évident que le joueur le plus proche en valeur dans l’effectif du CH serait Cole Caufield.

Surtout que ce dernier est signé pour encore 7 ans alors que Necas est seulement signé pour la saison prochaine.

 Hughes est cependant fermement convaincu que Suzuki et Caufield sont ceux qui ramèneront la Coupe Stanley à Montréal.

Elias Pettersson ne deviendra jamais un membre du Canadien de Montréal.

Trump pick said he settled assault accusation for $50K

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2025-01-23 16:00

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January 23, 2025

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2025-01-23 17:49:07.000000

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Pete Hegseth instructed Sen. Elizabeth Warren that he paid $50,000 to a girl who accused him of sexually assaulting her. He has mentioned he was falsely accused over the incident, which grew to become a spotlight of Democrats in his affirmation hearings.

President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of protection revealed the quantity he paid in written responses to an in depth checklist of over 70 questions despatched to him prematurely of his affirmation hearings by Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat on the Senate Armed Companies Committee, and obtained by The nineteenth. The Related Press first reported the settlement quantity. 

Hegseth paid the confidential settlement to a girl who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Republican ladies’s convention in Monterey, California, in October 2017. 

She reported the matter to police, however no expenses have been ever filed in opposition to Hegseth. He and his representatives have maintained that the encounter was consensual. On the time, Hegseth was nonetheless legally married to his second spouse and had not too long ago welcomed a baby with the lady who would develop into his third. 

“Once more, utterly false expenses in opposition to me. They have been absolutely investigated and I used to be utterly cleared,” he mentioned in his January 14 affirmation listening to. 

“However you acknowledge that you simply cheated in your spouse and also you cheated on a girl by whom you had simply fathered a baby? You’ve got admitted that,” pressed Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia.  

“I’ll enable your phrases to talk for themselves,” Hegseth mentioned. 


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The Washington Put up reported in November {that a} pal of Hegseth’s accuser despatched a memo to Trump transition officers detailing the accusations. Hegseth reached a settlement with the lady in 2020 to keep away from risking his job at Fox Information, his legal professional Tim Parlatore beforehand mentioned, describing his consumer as a sufferer of a “blackmail” effort.

“Realizing that it was the peak of the MeToo motion and any public accusation would lead to his rapid termination from Fox, Mr. Hegseth in the end determined to enter right into a settlement for a considerably lowered quantity,” Parlatore instructed shops, together with ABC Information. 

About 5 days after the alleged assault, an emergency room nurse contacted legislation enforcement after treating a girl who she mentioned might have been drugged and raped, in response to a 22-page batch of police paperwork that embody the emergency room nurse’s report, the lady’s testimony to officers and Hegseth’s model of the occasions.

The girl underwent a rape equipment examination and offered police with the garments she was carrying that evening. She instructed the nurse she “was unsure, however believes that one thing might have been slipped into her drink, as she can’t keep in mind many of the evening’s occasions,” the police report reveals. 

In his written responses to Warren, Hegseth mentioned that he and the lady didn’t enter right into a nondisclosure settlement and that they “signed a confidential settlement settlement for her nuisance claims.” 

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a fight veteran, was among the many critics who mentioned the allegations in opposition to Hegseth and his admitted infidelity made him susceptible to blackmail from international adversaries. 

“It might sow confusion as a result of our leaders within the navy wouldn’t know to what they might speak to the secretary of protection about,” she instructed MSNBC. 

“And by the best way, for our allies, I might be reluctant to share data with the US navy, our management, data that may maintain us protected and maintain our troops protected as a result of they didn’t know if  this man is compromised,” she mentioned.

On Thursday afternoon, the Senate voted to advance Hegseth’s nomination, with last affirmation set for Friday night. Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, voted in opposition to shifting Hegseth’s nomination ahead. Each mentioned they’d issues with Hegseth’s lack of expertise for the position, and Murkowski particularly cited the assault allegations. There are 53 Republicans within the Senate, which means Hegseth can lose three Republicans if Vice President JD Vance votes to interrupt a tie. 

“Whereas the allegations of sexual assault and extreme ingesting do nothing to quiet my issues, the previous behaviors Mr. Hegseth has admitted to, together with infidelity on a number of events, reveal a scarcity of judgment that’s unbecoming of somebody who would lead our armed forces,” Murkowski mentioned. 

Deux Elias Pettersson pour le prix d’un à Vancouver

Partisans des Canucks de Vancouver, n’ajustez pas votre téléviseur samedi soir: il y aura bel et bien deux Elias Pettersson dans la formation de vos favoris.

L’entraîneur-chef Rick Tocchet a confirmé que Pettersson, le défenseur né en 2004, devrait effectuer ses débuts dans la Ligue nationale de hockey face aux Capitals de Washington.

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Le jeune homme dispute une première saison complète en Amérique du Nord. Il a amassé 13 factors en 36 rencontres avec Abbotsford, dans la ligue américaine. Plus porté sur la défense, il maintient un bon différentiel de +8, le meilleur de sa formation.

Dès le second où les Canucks ont sélectionné Pettersson avec le 80e choix du repêchage de 2022, les amateurs se sont mis à rêver du second où il partagerait la glace avec son homonyme.

Elias Pettersson, l’attaquant né en 1998, est un pilier de l’attaque de Vancouver et en est à sa septième saison avec le membership. Les rumeurs de transaction l’entourant ont certainement fait douter les partisans des Canucks de pouvoir assister à cette réunion particulière.

«C’est peut-être de ça qu’on a besoin», a lancé ce dernier à la blague.

«C’est excitant. Il a bien paru depuis le camp d’entraînement et j’ai entendu dire qu’il faisait bien à Abbotsford. Nous sommes heureux pour lui», a ajouté le «vieux» Pettersson.

La façon la plus easy de les distinguer sera avec les numéros. L’attaquant porte le 40 tandis que le défenseur porte le 25 à Abbotsford. Ça reste plus facile que les frères Daniel et Henrik Sedin, qui en ont confondu plus d’un avec les numéros 22 et 33 pendant leur carrière.

Brush fire, smoke, flames, evacuations, map in La Jolla

The fireplace was reported round 2:13 p.m. Thursday within the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A brush hearth erupted close to UC San Diego amid gusty Santa Ana circumstances Thursday, scorching about two acres and prompting evacuations within the busy space as crews labored to subdue the flames. Crews had the unfold of the blaze halted as of three:45 p.m.

The blaze started spreading close to the intersection of Gilman Drive and Through Alicante in La Jolla shortly earlier than 2:30 p.m. Thursday, in keeping with the San Diego Fireplace-Rescue Division.

Firefighters battled the flames on the bottom and aboard water- dropping helicopters as police cleared the general public out of surrounding areas, together with properties alongside Bremerton Place, Sugarman Drive and Through Mallorca.

The fireplace triggered no reported structural injury or accidents. The trigger was underneath investigation.

Evacuation info:

Evacuations have been ordered alongside Bremerton Place, Sugarman Drive and Through Mallorca, however have since been lifted.

  • North of La Jolla Parkway
  • South of Torrey Pines Highway
  • East of La Jolla Parkway, Torrey Pines Highway
  • West of Gilman Drive

An evacuation has been established at Parking Lot P781 situated northeast of 9420 Athena Cir, La Jolla, CA 92037

Put together for a Wildfire evacuation

CalFire has constructed an inventory of issues to have prepared in case you and your loved ones are evacuated throughout any wildfire or catastrophe. 

Guarantee your wildfire ‘Go Bag’ contains:

  • A 3-day provide of non-perishable meals & 3 gallons of water per individual
  • A map with at the least 2 evacuation routes
  • Vital prescriptions or medicines
  • A change of garments & further eyeglasses/contact lenses
  • Further automotive keys, bank cards, money, or traveler’s checks
  • A primary assist equipment & sanitation provides
  • A flashlight & battery-powered radio with further batteries
  • Copies of necessary paperwork (beginning certificates, passports, and many others.)
  • Pet meals & water

All the time have sturdy footwear and a flashlight close to your mattress, prepared for sudden night time evacuations.

If time permits, take into account including:

  • Valuables which are simple to hold
  • Household pictures and irreplaceable gadgets
  • Private pc knowledge on laborious drives and disks
  • Chargers for cell telephones and laptops

WATCH RELATED: The way to know when it is time to go throughout a wildfire:

What components contribute to excessive hearth hazard in Southern California?

Dry, heat Santa Ana winds

Santa Ana Winds happen when air from the desert area blows westward towards the California coast.  This ends in dry air that flows est to west over the mountains and in the direction of the valleys and coast of Southern California. Santa Ana winds usually really feel heat as a result of because the cool desert air strikes down the facet of the mountain, it’s compressed, which causes the temperature of the air to rise. We are likely to see relative humidity plummet and temperatures soar throughout offshore wind occasions like this. 

These winds create excessive hearth circumstances not just for a fireplace to begin however offshore, Santa Ana winds are the right fan wanted to permit a fireplace to blow up in dimension as soon as it begins. 

Lack of rain, dry vegetation

The water yr restarts yearly on October 1 and measures the rain totals for the season by means of the next September. When rain totals are under common, the vegetation that after was inexperienced turns brown and dry and might function gasoline for wildfires. The saturated floor might help mitigate hearth threat considerably, however the reverse tends to raise our hearth threat. The earlier and extra regularly we see substantial rainfall, the decrease our threat of a wildfire beginning and spreading quickly. 

Electrical tools issues

When a area is in important hearth hazard, energy corporations are likely to shut off energy in pre-planned methods in an effort to stop electrical tools from sparking or beginning fires. It is usually as a result of electrical consumption tends to climb with hotter temperatures (normally because of A/C wants) and might result in general stress on the facility grid. If you mix the danger of fireplace with deliberate energy shut-offs, many faculty districts will shut. Colleges can be used as monitoring websites for hearth crews within the occasion of a fireplace beginning.