The Phoenix Suns suffered a setback on Wednesday. All-NBA forward Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least one week due to a left ankle sprain he suffered on Tuesday night, per ESPN's Shams Charania. Phoenix Suns All-NBA forward Kevin Durant will be re-evaluated in one week due to a left ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN. Durant suffered the injury while landing on a Spurs player’s foot during Phoenix’s win on Tuesday night. pic.twitter.com/24Ab04UX4Z The two-time NBA champion (2017, 2018) and 14-time All-Star suffered the injury late in the second quarter of Phoenix's 104-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs (11-10) on Tuesday night. As Durant went to take a shot, he stepped on the left foot of Spurs forward Julian Champagnie. Durant previously suffered a calf strain on Nov. 8 against the Dallas Mavericks (14-8) prior to returning to action in each of the Suns' last four games. When he has taken to the court this season, Durant has put up an average of 25.8 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. The Suns are 12-8, but that does not tell the entire story. Phoenix is 11-2 with Durant in the lineup but only 1-6 without him. Phoenix will begin its four-game road trip Wednesday night with games against the New Orleans Pelicans (4-18), Miami Heat (9-10), Orlando Magic (15-8) and Utah Jazz (4-17). While Durant's one-week absence would keep him sidelined for the first three games of the road trip, there is a chance he could make his return against Utah depending on the severity of the injury. The Suns will turn to Devin Booker (25 PPG) and Bradley Beal (17.5 PPG) for increased production. Players like Grayson Allen (10.5 PPG), Royce O'Neale (9.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG) and Ryan Dunn (six PPG) should see their roles increase with Durant out of action. Although the upcoming schedule is manageable for Phoenix, it is crucial for the team's long-term success that Durant is able to return to the lineup as soon as possible, given Phoenix's struggles without him.ONR issued the notice after an explosive component was unintentionally damaged by workers assembling a unit for testing purposes in August this year. The damage was caused when workers failed to follow appropriate procedures when manually handling the component. The type of activities undertaken in the Explosive Technology Centre, where the incident occurred, could not result in any radiological risk. There was no risk to the public or the environment from this incident. Experiments and tests are routinely undertaken at the site to provide confidence in the safety and performance of components. ONR’s investigation, which was supported by the Health and Safety Executive, found that AWE had failed to effectively plan, organise and control the procedure, which resulted in employees being subjected to additional health and safety risks. AWE has been contacted for comment.32 ways to build community in 20251h handicap meaning 。

Jefferson keeps seeing double as Vikings aim to stay focused on overall offensive productionSen. Mitch McConnell said Thursday he will lead a subcommittee overseeing defense spending as he carves out new roles once he relinquishes his long-running post as Senate Republican leader. The Kentucky Republican revealed he will assume the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The role dovetails with his constant message that America needs a bulked-up military to deter threats from adversaries such as Russia, Iran and China. The transition comes as McConnell is ending his role as the longest-serving Senate leader in history, just as Republicans prepare to take majority control of the chamber after big gains in this month's election. Republicans elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune , a top deputy to McConnell, as the next Senate majority leader. McConnell, 82, said Thursday he will assume the subcommittee chairmanship at a critical time. “America’s national security interests face the gravest array of threats since the Second World War," the senator said in a statement. “At this critical moment, a new Senate Republican majority has a responsibility to secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy.” McConnell frequently evokes Ronald Reagan’s mantra of “peace through strength” when discussing foreign policy risks and how the U.S. should respond. McConnell's stance could clash with President-elect Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine on foreign affairs. McConnell worked with Trump on a tax cuts package and the appointment of conservative judges — including three justices to the nine-member Supreme Court — during Trump's first term as president. Fighting back against isolationism within his own party, McConnell has championed sending weapons and other aid to Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s invasion. McConnell said Thursday he's also set to become chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which is often a more low-key panel at the center of big issues, both at the Capitol and in the country. The committee oversees the administration of the Senate side of the building, including during inaugurations. But it also puts McConnnell at the center of weighty topics, namely federal elections and voting rights as well as the procedures of the Senate, including the debate around the filibuster. McConnell said the committee will have important work in the coming two years. “Defending the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political speech in our elections remain among my longest-standing priorities,” he said. There had been considerable speculation about what roles McConnell would take after stepping down as Republican leader. He has two years left in his current Senate term and has not signaled whether he will run for reelection in Kentucky in 2026. McConnell has been a prolific appropriator for the Bluegrass State, a role he’s well positioned to continue.

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Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr.'s 'serial killer mentality' is serving him well amid bumpy patchHe is the “Builder Governor.” The lasting impression of Eric Holcomb’s eight-year tenure as governor could be measured on what he built, and how he did so and with the steady assets he had at his command. He calls it the “new Indiana” emerging under his watch. He finished Interstate 69 to Evansville, including the hard part through suburban Johnson and Marion counties, with the new Ohio River bridge into Kentucky sited. He completed the $600 million double-tracking of the century old South Shore Line from Chicago to South Bend at the West Lake spur line. There’s the new $1.2 billion prison at Westville the state is paying cash for. There is the new combined $655 million Indiana Deaf and Blind School campus, the new Fall Creek Pavilion at the State Fairgrounds, the new State Archives Building, as well as the first new state park lodge being built in 85 years. There is the combined $300 million Gov. Holcomb is funneling into the 92 county health departments. There’s the amicable IUPUI divorce with twin campuses rising up just blocks from the state capital. As the governor drove from Culver to Potato Creek State Park this month to monitor the first new lodge since 1939 after the initial groundbreaking 14 months prior, Holcomb told Howey Politics, “I want to be graded and measured on the results, not the rhetoric. We don’t just want to build trails, we want to be the trail leader. We want to finish I-69. “We want to stay state-focused on always trying to do big things,” Holcomb continued. It will take a decade or so to fully know the impacts of Holcomb’s eight years in office. He spent a decade as an apprentice to Gov. Mitch Daniels, serving as deputy chief of staff. While running a campaign for U.S. Senate, Gov. Mike Pence plucked him from relative obscurity to replace Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann in March 2016. Four months later after Pence joined the Donald Trump presidential ticket, Holcomb won a second-ballot Republican Central Committee nomination, launching a 106-day come-from-behind victory over Democrat John Gregg. Holcomb had unusual assets. He’s the only Hoosier governor to serve with Indiana General Assembly supermajorities for both entire terms. Earl Goode, his only chief of staff, is finishing an unprecedented 14 years at that job. He signed the most far-reaching abortion restrictions in state history. Holcomb’s Indiana received a stunning $6.7 billion from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $868 million for rural broadband expansion and $100 million for electric vehicle charging stations. He never had to deal with a recession. The state’s jobless rate was always below 5%. The Holcomb administration has, so far, been scandal free. The result is what Holcomb calls an emerging “New Indiana.” “For us, when you look at the progress we’ve made across the economic development front, the workforce development front and the community development front, Indiana is a new Indiana,” he said. “We have a New Albany, a New Haven, New Castle, New Carlisle and there truly is almost a new Indiana when you think about our health innovation industry, LEAP, manufacturing of isotopes and planned genetics and where we’re taking life sciences and the future of mobility being determined here. We’re working on small modular nuclear reactors. Being in a center of the country gives us an advantage of being in the core.” And there were galactic challenges. He faced two pandemics, the first was the opioid crisis and a triple-digit increase in overdoses. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in shutting down much of society in late March 2020 for several months. Two million Hoosiers were infected and 26,115 died during the most lethal public health episode in state history. There was no written pandemic plan on the shelf other than for the flu. “We were transparent and very accessible,” Holcomb said of the weekly web-streamed press conferences that he held with state health officials such as Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box and Dr. Lindsay Weaver. “It was like Indiana went to Oz and when the curtain was pulled back and they got to see their government, which was just like them,” Holcomb said. Despite the criticism from Republicans like Secretary of State Diego Morales, who said he had overstepped his authority during the pandemic, Holcomb won reelection with 1.7 million votes (56.5%). “I had all kinds of people tell me politically this is going to be the end of me and, lo and behold, we got more votes than anyone who has ever run for governor in the history of this state, still to this day, by the way,” he said. What was the most surprising or gratifying thing he witnessed or learned? “To learn of the innovation and ingenuity that comes off the family farm or the family factory floor or the small business that has been taken to scale by someone needing to solve a problem on a bigger scale,” he said. His biggest disappointment? “I would have liked to see pregnancy accommodations done for the state, not just state government,” Holcomb said. What wisdom would he impart to a future governor? “Approach with the attitude that every day you’re gonna learn if you stay connected to the ground,” he said, adding that in “remaining humble” he was “courageous and forward-looking, understanding you are not going to please everybody all the time.”Strictly Come Dancing fans have demanded 'he has to go' following a celebrity's misstep during the quarter-finals. Saturday (November 30) marked the return of the BBC spectacle for Musicals Week, putting the spotlight on six determined duos as they cha-cha'd to cherished tunes from beloved musicals. Montell Douglas with Johannes Radebe, Sarah Hadland alongside Vito Coppola, Tasha Ghouri partnering Aljaz Skorjanec, Chris McCausland paired with Dianne Buswell, JB Gill dancing with Lauren Oakley, and Pete Wicks matched with Jowita Przysta graced the dance floor. In a noticeable gaffe amidst the glam, reality TV alum Pete Wicks was caught off balance waltzing to West Side Story's 'Somewhere'. Although his foibles were glossed over by judges and partner, the audience swiftly swarmed social media calling for his departure. An incensed fan posted: "Pete's time is up I am sorry but he cannot make a good semi-finalist in any world. It'll be a complete injustice if anyone else is eliminated over him this week,". Another viewer was resolute: "Sorry but Pete actually needs to leave tonight...it's his time," reports the Mirror . A third chimed in: "I'm sorry it's week 11 and Pete is tripping over his feet doing the most basic choreography...he needs to go." Some suggested bias, with one spectator commenting: "Why is Pete the ONLY contestant that never receives criticism? He messes up constantly, but they're happy to ignore it, because it's Pete? If it was ANYONE else, they'd be ripped apart and scored accordingly. #strictly." Despite the uproar, Pete and his partner Jowita nevertheless managed to secure 26 points. The quarter-final follows the departure of EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick and Michelle Tsiakkas, who were eliminated after a nail-biting dance-off against Olympian Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe. Despite earning an impressive 32 points from the judges on Saturday night (November 23), the pair found themselves battling for survival in the competition. The judges ultimately decided to keep Montell and her professional partner in the contest. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the dancers last weekend. Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec made history by becoming the first couple in the 2024 series to achieve a flawless score of 40 out of 40 from the judges, following their stunning American Smooth routine. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the dancers last weekend. Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Aljaz Skorjanec made history by becoming the first couple in the 2024 series to achieve a flawless score of 40 out of 40 from the judges, following their stunning American Smooth routine. The remaining duos - Montell and Johannes, Sarah and Vito, Tasha and Aljaz, Chris and Dianne, JB and Lauren, and Pete and Jowita - are set to face the judges' scrutiny once again in Sunday's Strictly Come Dancing results show. Strictly Come Dancing returns on Sunday night on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.College football's rivalry week continued with a major upset on Saturday afternoon as the Michigan Wolverines secured their fourth-straight win over their biggest rival, defeating the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 13-10 in Columbus. The Wolverines secured the win after driving 57 yards down, wasting about 5:30 of time in the fourth quarter. With 45 seconds remaining in the game, the Wolverines made a go-ahead 21-yard field goal, giving them the lead. Ohio State had a chance to tie or take the lead itself on its next possession but failed to convert a first down, ultimately ending the game. In celebration, Wolverines players planted a Michigan flag in the middle of the Ohio State field. The Buckeyes took exception to this and ran to their opponents to stop it from happening. Michigan went to plant the flag at midfield for the second straight time in Columbus and Ohio State decided now was the time to do something about it pic.twitter.com/i6xo9pHpGs This led to a full-on brawl between both teams, with players throwing punches and tackling each other to the ground. The incident forced the police on the scene to take action as they tried to break the rivals up. At one point, cameras panned over to a couple of Michigan players who appeared to be in some agony as they held their eyes shut. According to On3 , these two players were apparently pepper sprayed, showing common reactions to such an occasion. Ohio State police appear to have used pepper spray on players during the brawl😳 (via @CFBONFOX ) https://t.co/FumXdAJzYu pic.twitter.com/nmNFxz7stG College football fans were shocked by the potential pepper spraying during the fight, taking to social media to leave their thoughts. "If this is true, then people need to be fired and prosecuted," one fan said . "Uncalled for in sports." "Player shouldn’t be pepper sprayed after wins when the other team can’t take an L," wrote a second. "That’s a first, never seen football players getting pepper sprayed," added another. © Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Even a fan noticed a cop pepper-spraying some players during the brawl toward the end of the video below. "Wasn’t just UM players, can see the cop spraying OSU guys at the end of this video:" the fan commented. Wasn’t just UM players, can see the cop spraying OSU guys at the end of this video: https://t.co/fnYOo8lnvb With the loss, Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 in Big 10 play) no longer controls its own destiny for the Big 10 Championship Game. However, they will still likely make the College Football Playoff with its new 12-team format. Michigan (7-5, 5-4 in Big 10 play) ended the season on a two-game winning streak. Although they will not be in the CFP, a bowl game is on the horizon for the Wolverines. Related: Calls Mount For Removal Of Major College Football Coach After Rivalry Game

Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Silly season is nigh. Whether the prospect whips you into a flurry of festive cheer or has you gearing up for an annual round of “Bah, humbuggery” – and most of us are in between – there’s plenty to see and do between now and year’s end. Without further ado, here is a very Melbourne Christmas guide with something in the stocking for everyone. THEATRE A Christmas Carol Why did Ebenezer Scrooge become the ultimate grinch? Well, to his mind, life was nothing but a permanent cost-of-living crisis: “What’s Christmastime,” he sneers, “but a time for paying bills without money – a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer.” Relatable. Matthew Wharcus’ production of A Christmas Carol will set budding Scrooges to rights. Now in its third year, it has established itself as a Melbourne Christmas tradition and the charming adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic parable from Jack Thorne ( Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ) is a bell-ringing, carol-singing delight. There’s a new celebrity Scrooge every year – in 2022 David Wenham, last year Owen Teale from Game of Thrones – and Erik Thomson steps into the role this time. The Packed to the Rafters and All Saints star first came to wider attention as Hades on Hercules and Xena: Warrior Princess – with a larger-than-life mean streak that’ll be useful for playing Ebenezer before his de-Scroogification in this elegant and uplifting, family-friendly show. Comedy Theatre, November 22 to December 29. F Christmas is an all-inclusive Christmas special with comedy, circus and cabaret at the Malthouse. F Christmas There are plenty of good reasons for ambivalence about Christmas – it’s a capitalist holiday devoted to conspicuous consumption, and for those without families or rejected by them, it can be an isolating time of year. Malthouse Theatre throws open its doors to subversive festivities with F Christmas , a variety show that welcomes every Christmas orphan or misfit or malcontent to the party. Devised by talented rabble-rousers Sarah Ward and Bec Matthews, it promises to be an all-inclusive Christmas special with comedy, circus and cabaret galore. Director Susie Dee will be in Mrs Claus mode, getting the explosive and anarchic talents of the ensemble – which features aerial elves, tap-dancing turkeys and carollers from hell – to burn the house down on schedule. Forget stocking fillers and decorating the tree. Trade them for wild surprises and glitter bombs of perverse hilarity as this eccentric found family saunters towards a camp Yuletide apocalypse. Malthouse, November 27 to December 15. Grace Carroll and Marcus Morelli star in The Australian Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Credit: Simon Eeles BALLET The Nutcracker This story first cast its spell on me when I was seven, and the enchantments of this Christmas ballet are an unforgettable introduction to the magic of live performance. As young Clara steps into a world where toys come to life on Christmas night, a colourful fantasia unfolds through spectacular and virtuosic dance. Tchaikovsky’s transporting score is most famed for the tinkling tintinnabulations of the Sugar Plum Fairy, though there’s a battle against armies of mice, too. There are two options for watching this fabulous story: The Australian Ballet’s livestream from the Sydney Opera House on December 12 at 7.15pm or the full-dress production at Hamer Hall on December 18 to 20. Carols by Candleight is an institution, so you can be sure the best and brightest stars will perform. CONCERTS Carols by Candlelight The 2024 line-up is still under wraps, but Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight is such an institution you can be sure the best and brightest stars regard it as an honour to sing at what has long been a premier carolling event. Its reach extends far beyond Melbourne and it is broadcast live on Nine (owner of this masthead) on Christmas Eve. Tickets sell quickly if you want to attend live, candle in hand, among the televised throng, so plan accordingly. Sidney Myer Music Bowl, December 24. Kevin McCallistergets the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra treatment. MSO Home Alone in Concert Film screenings with a live orchestra playing the score are popular year-round, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has chosen Christmas favourite Home Alone to celebrate the holidays. Composed by the master of Hollywood scores John Williams, this one features a choir, and carolling and should keep conductor Nicholas Buc’s baton twirling with comic menace as young Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) defends himself from a home invasion in this Christmas comedy classic. For children of a more classical bent, the MSO also has Classic Kids: A Symphonic Christmas , a 50-minute festival concert with familiar carols and festive music, on December 14, with a relaxed performance also available. Hamer Hall, December 5-7. Taylor Swift tribute concert Merry Swiftmas celebrates the singer and Christmas. Credit: Getty Images Merry Swiftmas Are you a Swiftie who failed to catch Tay Tay when she played the MCG and stopped the city in its tracks? Fear not. Merry Swiftmas promises the ultimate Taylor Swift tribute concert, and singing along is encouraged. It’s part of a lively festive season at the Athenaeum that takes in a musical parody of Love, Actually (December 6-23), and Christmas with Silvie Paladino (recently seen in Sunset Boulevard ) backed by the Melbourne Opera Orchestra and choir (December 11). The Athenaeum, December 13-14. ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens opens its gates over summer to al fresco films nightly by the lake at Moonlight Cinema . Outdoor productions of Shakespeare are also an annual event, with the Australian Shakespeare Company performing The Merry Wives of Windsor by night and the much-loved The Wind in the Willows by day (both from December 21). Take a picnic and enjoy. The Queen Vic’s Summer Night Market. Credit: Ewen Bell CHRISTMAS MARKETS Got stockings to fill? Christmas markets abound. The Queen Victoria Market is in full swing with its popular Summer Night Market (November 20 to March 12) every Wednesday, and Santa will be in attendance pre-Christmas. Over at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, you can pick up an array of Christmas delicacies at the Good Food and Wine Show Christmas Market (December 6-8) and if you’re feeling particularly nerdy, there’s a Christmas edition of the pop culture and gaming convention Oz Comic Con on at Jeff’s Shed that weekend, too. At Federation Square, there’s a Christmas edition of the Boho Luxe Market at the Atrium (December 8) and you can celebrate Koorie Krismas on December 14 in a day of workshops, live performance, a market with Koorie arts and crafts and, of course, Koorie Klaus – a jolly fellow in red, yellow and black trim (the colours of the Aboriginal flag much more in the spirit of goodwill to all than red and white), didgeridoo in hand. Everywhere from the Sunday craft market along St Kilda Esplanade to large weekly produce markets at Preston or South Melbourne will be gearing up for their busiest season, too, as well as tucked-away alternatives, such as the bespoke Artist Christmas Market at Life’s Too Short Bar (December 14, 21), where you can pick up unusual bargains and support local creators. A Muppet Christmas Carol starring Robin, Kermit and Miss Piggy. FESTIVE CHEER IN THE CBD AND SURROUNDS The Yarra is a great place to wander, with a Christmas carnival along its banks offering rides and funfair games (December 6-24), or you can stroll down to the Crown Christmas River Show (until December 25) and its spectacular water fountains, lasers and light projections. Stadium Square at Marvel Stadium is transforming into the Nth Pole , a free event with a 360-degree cinema and 18 AFL club-themed Christmas trees. More relaxed options include the bubble artists at The Christmas Bubble Show (Capitol Theatre, December 23-24) or any of the special Christmas film screenings, such as The Muppet Christmas Carol , at that venue. And it wouldn’t be a Melbourne festive season without the Myer Christmas windows . This is the 69th year the department store has dressed its windows in the Bourke Street Mall. For 2024, it has teamed with Australia Zoo and the Irwin family to create a magical encounter with wildlife through puppetry, lighting and mechanical genius, and despite a low-key opening, the display looks fabulous and continues in style what has become a traditional suburban pilgrimage for many families with young kids. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday .