. hen asked why he didn’t begin writing novels until his 30s, the celebrated Czech author Milan Kundera said he didn’t have the requisite experience when he was younger. “This jerk that I was, I wouldn’t like to see him,” he added. Many of us look back at our former selves and wince to recall our immaturity. We vary quite a lot in the degree to which we feel friendly toward, and connected to, both our former and our future selves. Psychologists call this trait self-continuity, and suggest that it carries enormous weight in determining our long-term well-being. In recent years, increasing research has shown that a sense of coherence between our past and present selves can bolster mental health and, particularly, . Our connection to our future selves, on the other hand, can sway on our future welfare, from to . Self-continuity, says Cornell University gerontologist Corinna Löckenhoff, who researches the trait, gives us “an understanding of where we came from and where we’re going. It gives us direction and purpose and identity.” The 19th-century psychologist William James compared human experience to being perched on a saddle “from which we look in two directions into time.” But modern researchers have found that the ability—or willingness—to look meaningfully in either direction varies from person to person, just like other psychological traits such as being extroverted or introverted. “Some people feel a great degree of overlap and continuity with their future selves, and some people don’t even think about that self, and it feels almost like a stranger,” says psychologist Hal Hershfield of the University of California, Los Angeles. Most studies of self-continuity look to the future, not the past. Researchers typically measure future self-continuity by asking people how similar they feel to an imagined future self. In a 2009 study of 164 people, for example, Hershfield and his team employed a series of Venn diagrams, with two circles overlapping to various degrees. Participants were asked to pick the circle pair best describing . People’s responses ranged from almost no overlap to almost complete overlap. The differences between people depend on a hodgepodge of factors, in addition to basic influences of nature and nurture. Studies have reported that , whose expected time horizons are shorter, tend to have a greater sense of self-continuity, as do members of , which, as some scholars speculate, tend to have a more holistic, connected world view. But researchers have found that people struggling with , tend to feel less connected to their future selves. The degree of coherence we feel with ourselves over time can support or sabotage us. People with a sturdier connection with their future selves may be more likely to pay for future benefits, and vice versa. The comedian Jerry Seinfeld illustrates the conflict in his riff about how Morning Guy always suffers for the carpe-diem antics of Night Guy: “You get up in the morning, your alarm, you’re exhausted and groggy,” he says. “Oh, I hate that Night Guy! See, Night Guy always screws Morning Guy. ...” The same tension is evident in the broader and more serious failure by many Americans to save for retirement. In a 2022 survey of more than 1,100 retirees, 70 percent said . Hershfield says this emerging crisis is what drew him to focus his research on self-continuity and its behavioral consequences. He and others have found that people with more self-continuity are more likely to engage in behaviors that deliver future benefits, including not only saving for retirement but also taking better care of their health in the present. People with stronger self-continuity are also more likely to behave ethically and responsibly, Hershfield’s research suggests. In a 2012 study, he and colleagues measured the self-continuity of 85 Northwestern University students, then followed up with a test to assess their ethical conduct. Only 50 percent of those who scored low in self-continuity showed up for the follow-up, they found, compared with 73 percent of those who scored high. What’s more, of the low scorers who did show up, 77 percent were willing to lie to an anonymous partner to earn more money when tested with a “ ,” while only 36 percent of the high scorers would do so. A stronger sense of connection with one’s future self may also push people toward environmentally responsible behavior. In a 2022 study, researchers recruited 175 undergraduate students at an unnamed United States public university, randomly assigning them into three groups: one that was encouraged to visualize themselves at age 60, and the others told to visualize themselves, or another person, at the present time. Afterward, all of the students played a game where they could take simulated fish from a pool. The students who focused on their future selves limited the number of fish they took each round , the experiment revealed, while those who focused on the present were more likely to quickly exhaust the pool. For more than a decade, scientists have searched for ways to manipulate self-continuity in study participants to try to get them to behave more prudently. They have reported success with a variety of approaches, including having people interact with a of themselves, sometimes with the help of . Most recently, a new program called developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offers young people a chance to chat with an online, AI-generated simulation of themselves at age 60. A recent found that users who interacted with their future selves reported “increased future self-continuity” and, perhaps as a consequence, significantly less anxiety, compared with those who did not. Future You is a high-tech version of a technique long practiced by high school teachers and counselors who encourage students to write letters to their future selves, as if writing to a pen pal. In a pilot study of high school students in Japan, social psychologist Anne E. Wilson, at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, took the exercise one step further. She and her colleague Yuta Chishima instructed students who had written the letter to their future selves to respond to it as they imagined their future selves might. Writing a letter back from the future made the students feel , the researchers found. A month later, students who had written back from their future self’s perspective reported “more intensive career planning and a greater willingness to study hard at school even when temptations beckon,” compared with students who wrote only the single letter, . To be sure, there are times when a shorter horizon may be useful, researchers from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom note in the 2023 . For example, too strong a sense of continuity with one’s past self might hamper efforts in the present to abandon “sunk costs”—investments already made in a doomed plan or project—they report. The same may apply to quitting a such as . “A bad past could be like an anchor for someone,” says Wilson. “Like, ‘If I’ve failed at this in the past, it means I’m going to fail at this in the future.’ “On the other hand,” adds Wilson, “a bad past could be something that we learn from and then figure out different strategies for the future, so we don’t keep making the same mistakes.” Perhaps like Milan Kundera, who so forcefully repudiated the man he was in his 20s, and died at 94 in 2023, after a long and celebrated writing career. Posted on is a journalist and author and co-author of 12 nonfiction books, including the ADHD family memoir, . Cutting-edge science, unraveled by the very brightest living thinkers.ORCHARD PARK — The Buffalo Bills sorely needed a spark when James Cook lined up behind Josh Allen. The Bills were trailing the New England Patriots 14-0 in the second quarter. Three minutes into the second quarter, the Bills were set to run just their ninth offensive play of the game and Cook had just one rushing attempt at that point. With the play moving to the left, Cook stuck his foot in the ground and slightly reversed field. Cook darted through a gaping hole and out-raced the Patriots defense to the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown. It was the first of 24 consecutive points by the Bills in a 24-21 win over the Patriots. It was the sixth 40-yard gain by the Bills in four games — the third by Cook — and the 14 plays of 40 yards or more already surpassed last season’s total of 10. “Any time you have a big play, it's like a shot of adrenaline,” Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “Like literally like a shot of adrenaline. And it's fun. It makes the game fun, when you have giant chunks and it makes it easier.” When the Bills got to the line of scrimmage, he had guard Alec Anderson lined up as a tight end to his left and fullback Reggie Gilliam on his left. But the Patriots came out with five defenders on the line of scrimmage and eight players in the box. According to right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, the initial play was a duo run — . But the Bills were at a disadvantage in the numbers game so Allen audible to a stretch run to the left. Dawkins and left guard David Edwards mauled their assignments, while center Connor McGovern sealed off nose tackle Davon Godchaux. There were also two key blocks, starting with Torrence immediately getting to linebacker Sione Takitaki. Torrence not only used a 100-pound weight advantage, but caught Takitaki with his momentum already moving to his right. Had Torrence not cleared him out, Takitaki would have been responsible for plugging the cut-back lane. The other block that was pivotal was when Anderson and Gilliam secured a double-team block on defensive end Keion White. Cook also played his part, moving from the left hashmark, past the right (roughly 8 yards), before hitting the cut-back hole opened by Torrence and McGovern. Between the Anderson-Gilliam block and Cook’s patience, Patriots safety Marte Mapu assumed the run was going outside, which is exactly what the play was designed to make him think. Just as Torrence overwhelmed Takitaki, Cook put his left foot into the ground and hit the hole. All Mapu could do was attempt a dive to Cook’s ankles. “Knowing they’re going to bring pressure, you know they’re going to get to the outside,” Torrence said. “So you got to make sure you got the backside. My job was to get to my man and push up fast. Once I got to him, I pushed him fast and I saw Jimbo running right behind me.”niceph777 。

Rain and field goals. The Los Angeles Rams got a crucial win at the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football , with both sides just exchanging field goals in a 12-6 result. Matthew Stafford endured a poor start but the Rams just showed enough over a 49ers side that didn't receive production from Brock Purdy, whose key turnover proved costly in a game of small margins. Purdy had a chance at a Hail Mary on the final play, but didn't even get the ball out, dropping San Francisco to 6-8 in what, though not mathematically, likely ends its postseason hopes. Los Angeles has won seven of its last nine and are 8-6, very well in the mix of things with three games to play. Let's analyze the game further with winners and losers: WINNER: Kyren Williams, Rams When it became clear the game would be affected by rain, Sean McVay turned to his RB1 to deliver. And Williams paid off the faith. Williams rushed for 108 yards on 29 carries, a 3.7 average that may not seem big but definitely had its impact on the Rams' final drive that killed the clock to under 20 seconds in the fourth. LOSER: Brock Purdy, 49ers Purdy is due to get paid soon by the 49ers, and though he obviously deserves a raise given his achievements with the team on a low contract, San Francisco will need to be careful. The former Mr. Irrelevant threw for 142 yards on 14 of 31 completions with a pick, which ultimately turned the game in favor of Los Angeles. Purdy still has the mental capacity to improve, but his fundamental struggles limit the team and his inability to get going when the weather gets shaky is not the best sign. WINNER: Ahkello Witherspoon, Rams In a more delayed revenge game, former 49ers cornerback Witherspoon turned up against his old side. The Ram logged five tackles (four solo) but primarily stood out in coverage, recording three passes defended. LOSER: Deebo Samuel Sr., 49ers In his first game since publicly taking to social media to complain about not getting the ball enough, Samuel Sr. didn't prove much on the field. He recorded just 16 receiving yards on three catches and seven targets, with two rushes for three yards. One inexcusable drop in the third quarter drew audible groans and boos from the home crowd. It will be interesting to see what the 49ers do with Samuel Sr. long term, as he just hasn't provided enough since getting a major pay day. When they've needed to see him do more, he's consistently failed to help. WINNER: Kickers These are the types of games where kickers really earn their pay. With no touchdowns from either side, Rams' Joshua Karty nailed all four of his attempts. 49ers' Jake Moody made both, too, with his 53-yard attempt just sneaking in amid a second straight inconsistent season.The closer a Prince Rupert woman looked at the deer in her yard, the stranger things became for her. “It was the first time I’ve seen anything like that; it was pretty bizarre,” said Joan Dudoward. Dudoward is a senior residing on 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert. A flash of movement caught her eye as she scrubbed her breakfast plates on a typical Wednesday morning. Peeking out the window above her sink, she gasped— a majestic buck with massive antlers stood gracefully in her yard. “As soon as I noticed the huge buck, I ran and grabbed my camera to photograph it. I’ve been taking photos since I was a teenager...I photograph everything,” she said. She says he cozied up to lie on the grass and stayed for about half an hour. “He was wiggling his ears so I zoomed in and noticed a tag clipped on him,” she said. “I thought, why is this dear clipped? I got very concerned.” Dudoward, driven by her curiosity, noted that one side of the clip was labelled “BC WILDLIFE 06-529,” while the other read “CALL RAP: 877-952-7227.” It was suspicious because the number displayed is very similar but different from the official number of B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service, which is 1-877-952-7277. Also, the legitimate acronym for their hotline, Report All Poachers and Polluters, is “RAPP,” not “RAP,” as indicated on the tag. She called the number on the neon green tag to inquire about the buck, but reached a woman who spoke to her very hurriedly, she said. The woman, who identified herself as Jessica, wanted to send Dudoward a “free medical alert device” that she could wear around her neck. “We’re very excited to tell you about a special promotion for select callers,” Dudoward recalls the woman saying. She was then asked questions such as her age to check eligibility. Jessica then explained that as a senior, the device would help her in emergencies, such as falls, by alerting her immediate contacts. To proceed with delivery, she said she needed some personal information from Dudoward, such as her address. Then, Dudoward was abruptly transferred to another agent who continued the call. But when she tried to ask her about the buck and why the agency had clipped its number on his ear, they wouldn’t respond but instead continued to promote their products “That’s just cruelty to animals. They are targeting seniors for sure, and hurting the deer in the process,” said Dudoward. She wondered how they must have handled the wild animal to dart him. She questioned, “Did they sedate him? What exactly happened there?” She was absolutely shocked. Dudoward couldn’t comprehend why B.C. Wildlife, a legitimate organization, would have put this company’s number on the buck's ear. The incident reminded her of this continued pattern of companies attempting to target elderly and vulnerable individuals. “I also have my mother’s old number, and it gets scam calls all the time,” she said. “How can they do that? Especially to seniors. They are trying to decide if they should pay the rent or get medication,” said Dudoward in frustration. She proceeded to contact the legitimate conservation officer’s number, who, like the local RCMP, didn’t pay much heed to her situation, she said. The next day, Dudoward called the agency’s number on the tag again, and the conversation took a completely different turn. Now, the agent asked if she was 18 and was promoting products aimed at youth. They informed her that she needed to pay $3 through a call paywall to proceed to the next step, during which she would be directed to the free products for which she was eligible. “The message keeps changing; this is so strange,” said Dudoward. investigated the call and found that it was an intricately designed AI automated voice call. The system guides the caller through different phases by detecting both their spoken responses and the number keys they press. Contrary to Dudoward’s initial belief, it wasn’t a live human speaking to her, but a pre-recorded one. In fact, similar cases of fraud involving medical alert devices have happened in the U.S. before, prompting the and the to issue cautionary alerts for consumers regarding these “robocalls.” The authorities advised seniors to immediately hang up, not press any keys when prompted, and avoid sharing personal information. “Fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians. Though people of all ages can be victims of fraud, older people get targeted more than others,” states the Canadian Government on its The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says that there have been 40,623 reports of fraud this year up to Oct. 31, resulting in a loss of $503 million. Vishing is a social engineering technique that uses voice communication technology. It involves fraudulent phone calls to trick the victim into revealing personal data. The CAFC advises caution during phone calls. They urge people not to hesitate to say no if something feels off and not to feel pressured by urgency or time limits. They also encourage taking enough time to research before sharing personal information. contacted the B.C. Wildlife Federation for a comment regarding the tag on the buck. “The Conservation Officer Service darted this deer Nov. 5 to remove wires wrapped around its antlers. The tag is legitimate, but unfortunately has the wrong number on it for RAPP. The new versions of the tag have the correct number and COS will stop using these older tags,” said Jesse Zeman, executive director at B.C. Wildlife Federation. Although the exact cause of this mistake is unclear, anyone who suspects fraud should contact CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or their local police.Factbox-How Trump's new FTC chair views AI, Big Tech

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Wesley Celichowski's 22 points helped Air Force defeat Stony Brook 69-61 on Saturday. Celichowski shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 8 for 8 from the line for the Falcons (3-7). Ethan Taylor scored 17 points while going 6 of 11 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and added eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals. Caleb Walker shot 6 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Seawolves (2-7) were led by CJ Luster II, who recorded 27 points. Stony Brook also got 13 points from Collin O'Connor. Andre Snoddy finished with 11 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

NORMAL — After making history by getting to the state title, Mount Zion ran into a buzzsaw in Chicago DePaul. It was a familiar story for public school teams on Friday — it was the fourth game in a row in Friday's IHSA State Football Championships that was a blowout of a public school team by a private school at Illinois State's Hancock Stadium. Public school teams were outscored by a combined 193-26 in four losses against private schools, two of which had previously won state titles in higher classes. Because of the IHSA success factor, Class 1A champion Belleville Althoff, with an enrollment of 288, will be bumped up to the Class 3A postseason next season. The Crusaders played in Class 1A the past two seasons and 2A in 2022. They competed in 4A between 2013-17 and took second in 2015. Althoff had a runner-up finish in 2A in 2012. Lombard Montini, which won the Class 3A title, won a Class 6A title in 2015 and was runner-up in 5A before moving down to 3A before last season. DePaul has a current enrollment of 1,347 students — nearly double the 763 of Mount Zion. A steep growth in enrollment in recent years wasn’t calculated into the recent classifications before the 2023 season that set DePaul as a 4A school. Here's a look at each of the games: DePaul stifles Mount Zion Brayden Trimble’s storied Mount Zion career came to an end with a 40-6 loss to DePaul Prep. The Braves' defense got some stops but their offense couldn’t get rolling. DePaul converted a 4th-and-10 to get into the red zone and then a third down before Nick Martinez got a rushing score near the goal line to open the scoring with 1:42 left in the first. A JuJu Rodriquez 29-yard score put DePaul up 13-0 at the end of the first. Keller Stocks threw a pick on the next possession and Martinez added a five-yard touchdown to his tally and put the Rams up 20-0 early in the second quarter. That ended up being the score at the break before defenses battled through the third quarter. Martinez scored his third touchdown for the Rams to push the lead to 27-0 with 6:29 left in the third. After another stop, DePaul extended its lead with Central Michigan commit Braden Peevy taking a screen pass 40 yards to paydirt to put the Rams up 33-0 with 1:16 left in the third. Nicholas Hathcoat added a 34-yard rushing score to put DePaul up 40 early in the fourth before a running clock took it to victory. Mt. Zion quarterback Keller Stocks throws the ball during the first half against DePaul Prep. Trimble, an Illinois recruit, got Mount Zion on the board with a jump ball touchdown catch over two defenders with 4:50 left. Trimble finished his career with 40 total yards after he carried the Braves to the title game with an impressive postseason. Kaden Becker rushed for 78 yards. Sages can't stop Montini Monticello’s dream run came to an end against Chicago power Lombard Montini. Ike Young’s dual-threat ability got the Sages back in the game, but he was neutralized for most of the evening before he left the game due to injury. Monticello's Nolan Buehnerkemper runs with the ball against Lombard Montini in the Class 3A state title game. Young, an Illinois baseball recruit, finished his career with a senior season that included 49 total touchdowns. Montini got on the board in under two minutes thanks to a couple of long runs by Israel Abrams and Jeremiah Peterson. Peterson got into the end zone from five yards out to open the scoring. After Montini’s score, the Sages drove down the field before they missed a 23-yard field goal. A few plays later, the Broncos were back in the end zone after a 53-yard touchdown catch on a screen by CJ Harkins. That put Montini up 14-0 with 3:50 left in the first. Peterson added a receiving score on a 49-yard screen that ended in a touchdown and pushed the lead to 21 with 30 seconds left in the first. Monticello’s offense stalled again and Abrams got in the end zone for the Broncos to put Montini up 28-0 with 4:50 left in the second. Three minutes later, Harkins was in the end zone on another screen that turned into a 70-yard score to put the Broncos up 35-0 With 30 seconds left, Foran, the school's record holder for single-season receiving yards, caught a tipped pass for a 29-yard score to get the Sages on the board. Chicago Christian beats Maroa In a rematch of the first round of last year’s playoffs where Maroa-Forsyth won by five scores, Palos Heights Chicago Christian got some revenge and a state title. Niko Griggs of Palos Heights catches a deflected pass next to Maroa-Forsyth’s DeAngelo Owen (21) and Dilsharan Singh (55) in the second quarter of the class 2A state championship at Hancock Stadium Friday. Griggs eventually scored a touchdown on the play. (Jim Bowling for Lee Enterprises) A slow start offensively and some missed tackles on defense meant Maroa’s best season since 2018 ended with a 47-0 loss. A screen pass to Mitch Williams was blown up on fourth down on the Trojans' opening drive to give Chicago Christian its first possession in opposing territory. Kenny Jager put the Knights on the board with a 27-yard rushing score a few plays later. Williams left the game in the first quarter with a leg injury and didn’t return. The Trojans couldn’t stop Jager, who ran for 223 yards and broke tackles on almost every carry. Christian Flutman also ran for 86 and three scores. Another Maroa drive stalled and Flutman scampered away for a 39-yard score to put Chicago Christian up 13-0 with 25 seconds left in the first quarter. The Knights were on there way to another scoring drive before Grant Smith forced a fumble and then pounced on it in the middle of the second quarter. The Trojans' offense that had moved the ball at will in the postseason struggled in the title game early with just one first down in the first half. It had the ball in opposing territory late in the second quarter but went three-and-out before missing on a fourth down pass. It looked like Maroa would go into the locker room down two scores, but a deep pass was tipped by Chicago Catholic and Maroa players before Niko Griggs went into a pile of bodies and grabbed the ball out of the air and raced away from defenders for a 59-yard score. A two-point conversion meant the Knights were up 21-0 at the half. The Trojans' defense struggled to get off the field. giving up multiple fourth and third down conversions on Chicago Christian scoring drives. The Knights opened the second half with a long scoring drive, capped by an 18-yard touchdown run by Flutman to take a 27-0 lead with 7:13 left in the third. Aiden Williams got in for a couple plays at quarterback in the first half before taking the reins of the offense after halftime. He fumbled in opposing territory to end a Trojans drive before Flutman got in the end zone again to extend the lead to 33-0 late in the third. Grant Smith finished his career with nine tackles to end his season with a school-record 188 tackles. He’ll join the Illini next season after helping lead Maroa to its fourth state title game appearance in the past 11 years. Belleville Althoff wins behind Hill Althoff's Dierre Hill Jr. put on a historic show, scoring a state title game record seven touchdowns in Althoff's 57-14 win over Lena-Winslow. Althoff finished the season 14-0. Lena-Winslow ended at 13-1 and as the runner-up in Class 1A for the second season in a row. Lena-Winslow, a public school with an enrollment of 239, has anthers have won six state titles in 1A since 2010 and were back-to-back champions in 2021 and 2022. Hill Jr., an Oregon recruit, ran for 438 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries. He also had an 80-yard receiving touchdown and two two-point conversions. He scored from 59 yards out on the third play of the game, and had touchdown runs of five yards, 65 yards, 78 yards, seven yards and 49 yards. The seven touchdowns and 46 points scored are an IHSA record for a state championship, regardless of class. The 438 rushing yards are a state title game record for Class 1A. Hill Jr. finished his senior season with 2,588 rushing yards and 49 total touchdowns. En route to the 1A state championship, Althoff Catholic outscored its five postseason opponents 272-61. Niko Griggs of Palos Heights catches a deflected pass next to Maroa-Forsyth’s DeAngelo Owen (21) and Dilsharan Singh (55) in the second quarter of the class 2A state championship at Hancock Stadium Friday. Griggs eventually scored a touchdown on the play. (Jim Bowling for Lee Enterprises) Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox!AP News Summary at 1:38 p.m. ESTThe AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — TJ Hurley scored 23 points as Vermont beat Northeastern 68-64 on Saturday. Hurley shot 6 for 14 (3 for 6 from 3-point range) and 8 of 9 from the free-throw line for the Catamounts (5-4). Jace Roquemore scored 13 points and added five rebounds. Ileri Ayo-Faleye shot 3 of 5 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line to finish with 10 points. Rashad King led the way for the Huskies (5-3) with 27 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Northeastern also got nine points and 10 rebounds from Youri Fritz. Hurley put up 13 points in the first half for Vermont, who led 35-22 at halftime. Vermont used an 8-0 run in the second half to build a 16-point lead at 47-31 with 12:26 left. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

LONDON (AP) — West Ham forward Michail Antonio was taken to hospital after being involved in a road traffic incident on Saturday. West Ham added the 34-year-old player was in a stable condition. “Michail is conscious and communicating and is currently under close supervision at a central London hospital," the Premier League club said in a statement. “At this difficult time, we kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Michail and his family. “The club will make no further comment this evening, but will issue a further update in due course.” Unverified images of a heavily damaged Ferrari in the Essex area were shared on social media on Saturday. It was not known if it was the car involved in the accident. Antonio signed for West Ham in 2015 and has made more than 300 appearances. West Ham doesn't have a league game until Monday. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

When the Phone Rings chases global fame on Netflix; Park Bo Young, Lim Ji Yeon's K-dramas on buzzworthy record paths

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Hacker scores 21, Bellarmine beats NAIA Brescia 94-66TOKYO — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world's third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. This combination of photos shows the logo of Nissan, left, and Honda, right, seen at the Pittsburgh International Auto Show in Pittsburgh, Feb. 15, 2024. The two companies said they had signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday and that smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also had agreed to join the talks on integrating their businesses. Automakers in Japan have lagged behind their big rivals in electric vehicles and are trying to cut costs and make up for lost time as newcomers like China's BYD and EV market leader Tesla devour market share. Honda's president, Toshihiro Mibe, said Honda and Nissan will attempt to unify their operations under a joint holding company. Honda will lead the new management, retaining the principles and brands of each company. They aim to have a formal merger agreement by June and to complete the deal and list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by August 2026, he said. No dollar value was given and the formal talks are just starting, Mibe said. There are "points that need to be studied and discussed," he said. "Frankly speaking, the possibility of this not being implemented is not zero." A merger could result in a behemoth worth more than $50 billion based on the market capitalization of all three automakers. Together, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi would gain scale to compete with Toyota Motor Corp. and with Germany's Volkswagen AG. Toyota has technology partnerships with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and Subaru Corp. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month, with unconfirmed reports saying Taiwan iPhone maker Foxconn was seeking to tie up with Nissan by buying shares from the Japan's company's other alliance partner, Renault SA of France. Nissan's CEO Makoto Uchida said Foxconn had not directly approach his company. He also acknowledged that Nissan's situation was "severe." Even after a merger Toyota, which rolled out 11.5 million vehicles in 2023, would remain the leading Japanese automaker. If they join, the three smaller companies would make about 8 million vehicles. In 2023, Honda made 4 million and Nissan produced 3.4 million. Mitsubishi Motors made just over 1 million. "We have come to the realization that in order for both parties to be leaders in this mobility transformation, it is necessary to make a more bold change than a collaboration in specific areas," Mibe said. Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi earlier agreed to share components for electric vehicles like batteries and to jointly research software for autonomous driving to adapt better to electrification. Nissan has struggled following a scandal that began with the arrest of its former chairman Carlos Ghosn in late 2018 on charges of fraud and misuse of company assets, allegations that he denies. He eventually was released on bail and fled to Lebanon. Speaking Monday to reporters in Tokyo via a video link, Ghosn derided the planned merger as a "desperate move." From Nissan, Honda could get truck-based body-on-frame large SUVs such as the Armada and Infiniti QX80 that Honda doesn't have, with large towing capacities and good off-road performance, Sam Fiorani, vice president of AutoForecast Solutions, told The Associated Press. Nissan also has years of experience building batteries and electric vehicles, and gas-electric hybrid powertrains that could help Honda in developing its own EVs and next generation of hybrids, he said. But the company said in November that it was slashing 9,000 jobs, or about 6% of its global work force, and reducing its global production capacity by 20% after reporting a quarterly loss of 9.3 billion yen ($61 million). It recently reshuffled its management and Uchida, its chief executive, took a 50% pay cut while acknowledging responsibility for the financial woes, saying Nissan needed to become more efficient and respond better to market tastes, rising costs and other global changes. "We anticipate that if this integration comes to fruition, we will be able to deliver even greater value to a wider customer base," Uchida said. Fitch Ratings recently downgraded Nissan's credit outlook to "negative," citing worsening profitability, partly due to price cuts in the North American market. But it noted that it has a strong financial structure and solid cash reserves that amounted to 1.44 trillion yen ($9.4 billion). Nissan's share price also had fallen to the point where it is considered something of a bargain. On Monday, its Tokyo-traded shares gained 1.6%. They jumped more than 20% after news of the possible merger broke last week. Honda's shares surged 3.8%. Honda's net profit slipped nearly 20% in the first half of the April-March fiscal year from a year earlier, as its sales suffered in China. The merger reflects an industry-wide trend toward consolidation. At a routine briefing Monday, Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said he would not comment on details of the automakers' plans, but said Japanese companies need to stay competitive in the fast changing market. "As the business environment surrounding the automobile industry largely changes, with competitiveness in storage batteries and software is increasingly important, we expect measures needed to survive international competition will be taken," Hayashi said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Syrian opposition fighters have reached the suburbs of the capital, Damascus, and government forces are withdrawing from the strategic city of Homs as the rebels' surprising offensive picks up speed and President Bashar Assad's whereabouts are unknown. Homs is an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces that are the Syrian leader’s base of support. In Damascus, residents described a city on edge, with security forces on the streets and many shops running out of staple foods. The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Eight key countries gathered with the U.N. special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The U.N. envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Here's the Latest: Two officials with Iran-backed Iraqi militias in Syria say the militias are monitoring the situation and have not made a decision to enter in support of Iran’s ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. One of the officials said Iranian militias had withdrawn to Iraq from their positions in Syria. “All the militias are waiting to see what Bashar Assad will do in Damascus. If he resists and does not allow Damascus to fall, it is possible that the Iraqi factions will intervene for the purpose of support,” he said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter. -- Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad Multi-country discussions on Syria have ended on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein says the countries will issue a statement, and there will be follow-up talks “taking into consideration the practical and real situation on the ground.” He said the talks, which lasted over two hours Saturday evening, focused on how to stop the fighting. Eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran gathered with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen. When asked where Syrian President Bashar Assad is, Iraq's foreign minister replied, “I don’t know.” He declined to speculate on whether Assad would be overthrown. Opposition fighters have reached the Damascus suburbs. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Health Ministry says two Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday killed six people and wounded five others. The ministry said an airstrike on the village of Beit Leif killed five people and wounded five, while a drone strike on the village of Deir Serian killed one person. Israel’s military said it was looking into the report. Despite a ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 to end the 14-month fighting between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants that had escalated into all-out war, violations of the truce have continued. The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza says the facility came under heavy Israeli bombardment again on Saturday and three medical staff were killed. Dr. Hussam Abu Safia in a statement posted by Gaza’s Health Ministry said the hospital was hit by over 100 projectiles and bombs, and electricity was cut off. He said the surgery department and neonatal unit were hit, and he pleaded for “immediate coordination for repair operations.” Kamal Adwan is one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza. Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military said it wasn’t aware of any attack Saturday. The hospital director on Friday said Israeli strikes had killed at least 29 people including four medical staff. Israeli Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says the military is monitoring the Syrian border to make sure that “local factions do not direct actions towards us,” adding that Israel is not intervening in the events in Syria. Israel’s military has said it is reinforcing its deployment along the border with Syria. Halevi said if “confusion” arises and actions are directed toward Israel by “local factions” taking control of parts of Syria, Israel has a strong “offensive response.” The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Syria says the U.N. is relocating non-critical staff outside the country. Adam Abdelmoula in a statement Saturday called it a precautionary measure to protect U.N. teams. “Let me emphasize—this is not an evacuation and our dedication to supporting the people of Syria remains unwavering,” Abdelmoula said. The statement did not say how many U.N. staffers were leaving Syria as opposition fighters reached the suburbs of Syria’s capital, Damascus. The statement said the fighting in Syria has displaced over 370,000 people as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, “with many seeking refuge in the northeast and others trapped in frontline areas, unable to escape.” Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran have gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit along with the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, to discuss the situation in Syria. The talks continued late Saturday and no details were immediately available. Qatar, Jordan and Iraq also were part of the discussions as opposition fighters closed in on the Syrian capital, Damascus. BAGHDAD — An Iraqi government spokesperson says about 2,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq seeking refuge as opposition forces advance in Syria. Bassem al-Awadi said the soldiers’ equipment and weapons were registered and taken into custody by the Iraqi army. “We dealt with them according to the principle of good neighborliness and humanity,” he said Saturday. Al-Awadi also said Iraqi officials are concerned about the security of the al-Hol camp and other facilities in northeast Syria where suspected Islamic State group members and their families are detained. The facilities are guarded by U.S.-backed Kurdish forces. Al-Awadi said there is “high security coordination” between Iraqi officials and those forces to “prevent the prisoners from escaping.” Syria's army says it is fortifying its positions in the suburbs of Damascus and in the country’s south, as opposition fighters close in on the capital. The army statement on Saturday also asserted that Syria is being subjected to a “terrorist” and propaganda campaign aiming to destabilize and spread chaos. The statement also said the military is continuing with operations in areas including the central provinces of Hama and Homs, and that it has killed and wounded hundreds of opposition fighters. At least two people were wounded in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank on Saturday, according to the Israeli army and rescue services. The army said the attack took place in the area of the Fawwar refugee camp, near the city of Hebron. It said a soldier was severely wounded, and security forces were looking for the attacker. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said another man in his 40s suffered light injuries from shrapnel. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza sparked the war there. Israel has intensified its military raids in the West Bank, targeting what it says are militants planning attacks, and there has also been a rise in Palestinian attacks on Israelis. The Israeli military says it is helping United Nations forces to head off an attack on a U.N. position in Syria close to the Israeli border. The army said in a statement Saturday that an attack was carried out by “armed individuals” on a U.N. post near the Syrian town of Hader and it was “assisting U.N. forces in repelling the attack.” On Friday, Israel’s military said it would reinforce its forces in the Golan Heights and near the border with Syria, where civil war has reignited between the government and opposition fighters. Hamas has released a video showing Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker making an emotional plea for his release and describing the conditions he and other hostages face in Gaza after being seized in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. His mother, Einav, has become a symbol of the fight to bring back the hostages and is an outspoken critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Matan Zangauker, speaking under duress, appealed to the public to protest in front of Netanyahu’s home and “not let him sleep even for a minute.” Zangauker also referred to 420 days of being held by Hamas militants. “We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening,” he said, describing having little food and medicine and “undrinkable” water. President-elect Donald Trump has made his first extensive comments on dramatic advances by opposition fighters in Syria, saying the besieged President Bashar Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on the Truth Social platform on Saturday. Syrian opposition activists and regional officials have been watching closely for any indication from both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration of how the U.S. would handle the sudden advances against Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-allied leader. Trump condemned the overall U.S. handling of the 13-year civil war in Syria, but spoke favorably of the routing of Assad and Russian forces. ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that there was “now a new reality in Syria” following the rapid advance of rebel forces. Speaking in Gaziantep, a city less than 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Syrian border, Erdogan said that “increasing attacks on civilians” in Syria’s northwest Idlib province “triggered the latest events like the straw that broke the camel’s back.” It was not possible for Turkey to ignore developments in a country with which it shares a lengthy border and it would not allow any threats to its national security, he added in a televised speech. “Our wish is for our neighbor Syria to attain the peace and tranquility it has been longing for for 13 years,” he told a rally of supporters. “We want to see a Syria where different identities live side by side in peace. We hope to see such a Syria in the very near future.” Erdogan claimed President Bashar Assad had erred in rebuffing Turkey’s previous efforts to establish relations, saying Damascus “could not appreciate the value of the hand Turkey extended.” Ankara has supported anti-Assad rebel groups since the early months of the conflict and hosts 3 million refugees dislodged by the fighting. While Turkey lists HTS, the group leading the latest offensive, as a terrorist organization, the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army has worked alongside it. BEIRUT — A resident of the Syrian capital of Damascus says the city is very tense as troops and members of security agencies are deployed on main streets and intersections. The resident told The Associated Press that many shops are closed and those that are open have run out of main commodities such as sugar. He added that if food products are available, some shops are selling them for a price three times higher than usual. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said on condition of anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” — Bassem Mroue in Beirut DOHA, Qatar — Russia’s foreign minister says he has met his Turkish and Iranian counterparts in Doha and that all three countries were calling for an “immediate end to hostile activities” in Syria. Russia and Iran are the chief supporters of Syria’s government, while Turkey backs opposition fighters trying to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Speaking at the annual Doha Forum, Sergey Lavrov said Russia continues to help the Syrian army confront insurgents, military via airstrikes. Asked whether Assad’s rule is threatened by the fast-moving rebel offensive, he said, “We are not in the business of guessing what’s gong to happen.” He blamed the United States and the West for the events in Syria and said, “We are very sorry for the Syrian people who became a subject of another geopolitical experiment. “We are doing everything we can not to make terrorists prevail, even if they say they are not terrorists,” Lavrov said, referring to the de facto leader of the Syrian insurgents, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who says he has cut links with al-Qaida. His group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and United Nations. He said Russia, Iran and Turkey want the full implementation of a U.N. resolution, which endorsed a road map to peace in Syria. Resolution 2254 was adopted unanimously in December 2015. The measure called for a Syrian-led political process, starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Lavrov also downplayed reports that Moscow had withdrawn ships from Russia’s base in Syrian city of Tartus, saying that the vessels had left to take part in naval exercises in the Mediterranean. DOHA, Qatar — The U.S. envoy who brokered the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah says the deal has created a new opportunity for Lebanon to reshape itself. Amos Hochstein told the Doha Forum that the weakness of Hezbollah after nearly 14 months of fighting along, along with blows to its Syrian and Iranian allies, give the Lebanese military and government a chance to reassert itself. “Now is the moment with this ceasefire to rebuild Lebanon again for a much more prosperous future and stronger state institutions,” Hochstein told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the conference. He said Lebanon needs “to do its part” by rebuilding its economy, choosing a president after years of delays and strengthening its central government to attract investors. “And the international community has a requirement and a responsibility to support Lebanon after this devastating conflict and after years of Hezbollah control,” he said. Hochstein told the conference that the turning point in ceasefire efforts was Hezbollah dropping its pledge to keep fighting as long as the war in Gaza continues. He said the change in position was the result of the heavy losses inflicted on Hezbollah, and Lebanese public opinion in favor of delinking the two conflicts. He said key tests for the ceasefire will be whether Israel carries out its promised phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon over the coming two months and whether the Lebanese army is able to move into those areas. BEIRUT — Insurgents and a war monitor say opposition fighters are taking over military posts evacuated by Syrian government forces in the country’s south, bringing them closer to the capital, Damascus. An insurgent official known as Maj. Hassan Abdul-Ghani posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition fighters are now in the town of Sanamein, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the southern outskirts of Damascus, President Bashar Assad’s seat of power. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said insurgents have entered the town of Artouz, which is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Damascus. Opposition fighters have captured wide parts of Syria, including several provincial capitals, since they began their offensive on Nov. 27. BEIRUT — Lebanon’s government has approved a plan to deploy more troops along the border with Israel, part of the ceasefire deal that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. In a rare Cabinet meeting outside of Beirut, held Saturday at a military base in the southern port city of Tyre, the government also approved a draft law to reconstruct buildings destroyed during the Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out in October 2023 and ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire last week. Information Minister Ziad Makary told reporters after the meeting that the committee whose job is to monitor the ceasefire that went into effect on Nov. 27 will hold its first meeting on Monday. The committee is made up of military officials from the U.S., France, Israel and Lebanon as well as the U.N. peacekeeping force deployed along the border. As part of the ceasefire deal, during the first 60 days Israeli troops will have to withdraw from Lebanon, while Hezbollah will have to pull its heavy weapons away from the border area to north of the Litani river. The Lebanese army said this week it will begin recruiting more soldiers, apparently to deploy them along the border with Israel. BEIRUT — The Syrian army withdrew from much of southern Syria on Saturday, leaving more areas of the country, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters, the military and an opposition war monitor said. The redeployment away from the provinces of Daraa and Sweida came as Syria’s military sent large numbers of reinforcements to defend the key central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, as insurgents approached its outskirts. The rapid advances by insurgents are a stunning reversal of fortunes for Syria’s President Bashar Assad , who appears to be largely on his own, with erstwhile allies preoccupied with other conflicts. His chief international backer, Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine, and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up his forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran, meanwhile, has seen its proxies across the region degraded by Israeli regular airstrikes. JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces killed a Palestinian man after he attacked them at a border crossing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday morning, police said. The man shot firecrackers at security forces at the checkpoint and threatened them with a knife, the police statement said. The man wore a t-shirt emblazoned with a symbol of the Islamic State militant group, according to an Associated Press reporter Israeli fire has killed at least 700 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Israel-Hamas war began last year, Palestinian health officials said. In that time, Palestinian militants have launched a number of attacks on soldiers at checkpoints and within Israel. DOHA, Qatar — The prime minister of Qatar says he has seen new momentum in Gaza ceasefire efforts since the U.S. presidential election, with the incoming Trump administration seeking an end to the conflict before it takes office. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, a key mediator in the ceasefire efforts, declined to give specifics of the negotiations but told an international conference in Doha that the gaps between the sides are not large. Qatar, which has served as a mediator throughout the 14-month war, suspended its efforts last month in frustration over the lack of progress. But Sheikh Mohammed said his government has re-engaged in recent days after determining a new willingness by both parties to reach a deal. ’We have sensed after the election that the momentum is coming back,” he told the Doha Forum on Saturday. He said has been in touch with both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration and found that while there are some differences in approach, both are committed to the same goal of ending the war. ’We have seen a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office,” Sheikh Mohammed said. He declined to discuss details, saying he wanted to “protect the process,” but expressed hope for a deal “as soon as possible.” ’If you look at the gaps and the disagreements, they are not something substantial that really affects the agreement,” he said. CAIRO — At least 29 people were killed, including four medical staff, when Israeli strikes pummeled the area around one of the last remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The situation in and around the Kamal Adwan hospital is “catastrophic,” according to Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the hospital. The dead included five children and five women, according to the hospital casualty list, which was obtained by The Associated Press. Friday’s strikes also wounded 55 people including six children and the five women, according to the hospital. Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya is one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the Gaza’s northernmost province , where Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely sealed off the area from humanitarian aid for two months. Israel’s military denied that its forces had struck the hospital or operated inside it. The army said that in the past few weeks, “coordinated efforts with international organizations have been underway in order to transfer patients, companions, and medical staff to other hospitals.” An Indonesian medical team which had been assisting in Kamal Adwan for the past week was forced to evacuate on foot after the area was surrounded by Israeli soldiers, according to a statement from the team. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the medical team’s expulsion. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization representative in the Palestinian territories, said an Israeli tank approached the hospital at around 4 a.m. Friday. Although no official Israeli evacuation order was issued, “people started to climb the wall to escape, and this panic attracted IDF (Israeli) fire,” he said. He spoke by video from Gaza to journalists in Geneva. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been struck multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation in northern Gaza against Hamas militants. In October, Israeli forces raided the hospital, saying that militants were sheltering inside and arrested a number of people, including some staff. Hospital officials denied the claim. MANAMA, Bahrain — Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister has reiterated the kingdom’s call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Prince Faisal bin Farhan described Israel as acting with “impunity and is getting away without punishment” in its war on Hamas there. The prince said that any permanent solution requires a two-state solution, with the Palestinians having east Jerusalem as their capital. After the speech, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a prominent royal in the kingdom who led Saudi intelligence for more than two decades and served as ambassador to the U.S. and Britain, took the stage. He harshly criticized Israel’s conduct in the wars. “Israel has become an apartheid, colonial and genocidal state,” Prince Turki said. “It is about time for the world to address that issue and take the necessary steps to bring those who are thus charged by the International Criminal Court to justice.” Israeli officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Prince Turki’s remarks. The Saudis spoke at the International Institute for Security Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain.Must protect our aquifer If you are reading this letter, there’s a fair chance you live in one of the 14 counties that get their water from the Mahomet Aquifer. Recently, a measure was held up by the Senate Executive Committee in Springfield that would have banned the injection of carbon dioxide through or storage of it under our aquifer. The ban is needed to protect our water supply from heavy-metal contamination, acidification and salinization if stored CO2 were to leak. Several corporations are poised to inject CO2 right through the Mahomet Aquifer for the purpose of storing it deep underground because they stand to gain substantial tax credits/rebates by doing so. But the aquifer was designated as a sole-source aquifer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2015. That means it supplies over 50 percent of the area’s drinking water and there are no other alternative drinking-water sources. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that this technology won’t fail and contaminate our water supply. As proof of the threat, this year, two leaks occurred at Archer Daniels Midland’s sequestration monitoring wells in Decatur. This is all the warning we need. Please contact state Sen. Paul Faraci, D-Champaign, and state Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana. Thank them for sponsoring the bill to keep the Mahomet Aquifer safe and urge them to keep fighting for a ban on carbon sequestration to keep our water safe. Talk to your friends and neighbors and make them aware of the threat. Add your voice in opposition to the proposals that threaten public health in our area. CHRISTINE MAIN Champaign