I'm My Own Prophet

98 Degrees Says NSYNC Stole the Thunder From Them Amid Comeback Plans

2023-09-19T19:04:00.009-07:00

'The Jennifer Hudson Show' Season 2 Premiere Delayed Amid Hollywood Writers' Strike

*NSYNC set the internet ablaze when they reunited at the VMAs on Sept. 12 to present the best pop award to Taylor Swift, and sparked larger rumors of new music, touring and more, much to the delight of fans. But fellow boybanders 98 Degrees, who are making a comeback of their own, were a little less than thrilled at having the competition.

Speaking with Andy Cohen for the host's SiriusXM live show on Tuesday (Sept. 19), the group -- which consists of members Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre -- shared their feelings about *NSYNC's return to the scene. Cohen wondered "how annoyed" 98 Degrees felt when the "I Want You Back" singers appeared to make their return.

"Stole the thunder," Nick jokingly replied, with Jeffre adding, "It's a boy band universe."

Drew then gave a serious response, saying that *NSYNC's return can only benefit the entire boyband genre in the long run. "When one succeeds, we all succeed. Because we're all kind of like us, *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, we're all clumped into the same, into the same kind of pile there. So, if one's elevated, it elevates everybody," he said.

Nick added, "But I mean, happy for those guys personally too, because we obviously know them well at this point. And excited for the fact that they're hopefully gonna do this -- they've held up for a long time, so [have it] be a big moment. Yeah. Fingers crossed."

98 Degrees is currently on its 25-year anniversary tour, which will see the boyband making stops will make stops in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania and more before concluding with a show at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego on Oct. 8.

Watch 98 Degrees talk about *NSYNC's return -- as well as their own -- in the video below.

49ers Nick Bosa sees path to a good day against Giants in home opener

2023-09-19T19:04:00.007-07:00

SANTA CLARA -- Nick Bosa is sincerely excited to see the 49ers' fans in Thursday's home opener. With no sacks through two games, he sounds even more pumped to see New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in attendance, particularly if he's holding the ball in the pocket.

"It's going to be pretty much the opposite of what we just did with Stafford," Bosa said, referring to Sunday's 30-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams' quick-throwing Matthew Staford. "(Jones) definitely can hold it a little bit and we just have to keep him in the pocket.

"He's going to try to get out any chance he gets. So we'll just try to close in on him, be good in our rush lanes, and we could have a good day."

Bosa could use a great day -- or night, as kickoff is at 5:15 p.m. -- to springboard his season, after missing training camp and the preseason before signing the NFL's richest contract for a non-quarterback only two weeks ago.

Maybe he'll deliver like he did three games into his rookie season, when he seized the "Monday Night Football" spotlight at home and posted two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against the Cleveland Browns and nemesis Baker Mayfield.

"It's going to come," defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said of Bosa's breakout potential, though not necessarily this game. "You saw the effort there (last Sunday) and you saw the push across the board with those guys. Stafford was getting the ball out so fast. It's only a matter of time, a matter of time."

Jones is taking 2.9 seconds to throw through the Giants' two games, including a 40-0 loss to Dallas in which he got sacked seven times. He keyed their comeback from a 20-0 hole Sunday to defeat the host Arizona Cardinals 31-28. (In comparison, Stafford is averaging 2.65 seconds a throw, and the 49ers' Brock Purdy is at 2.66 seconds.)

"I think there's a stat: If you can keep (Jones' completion rate) under 60 percent, he's 0-9. So if we can pressure him a lot and keep his completion percentage down, we have a good chance."

Jones actually is 1-14 when completing less than 60 percent of his passes, including a 2020 home loss to the 49ers (53.1 percent, two sacks) and a 2020 win at Cincinnati (59.3 percent). Bosa missed that game, having sustained a season-ending knee injury the previous week against the New York Jets.

What makes Jones especially dangerous is his rushing ability, whether he's scrambling or keeping the ball on zone-read runs. The 49ers, with their aggressive pass rushers, have not fared well in recent seasons against mobile quarterbacks.

Bosa is aware. To help his recovery and soreness after Sunday's 63-snap workload, Bosa has done pool therapy, lifted weights, as well as "just hydrate and eat a lot." He had three quarterback hits and helped pressure Stafford into a pair of second-half interceptions, before a 49ers-dominant crowd at SoFi Stadium.

"Our fans are awesome on the road but they're awesome here, as well. I'm excited for the first home game of the year," Bosa said. "We haven't seen our fans yet. I'm sure the defense will be called out (in pregame introductions), so it'll be a lot of fun, in prime time."

BARKLEY 'A QUICK HEALER'

Running back Saquon Barkley's ankle sprain may not sideline him Thursday night, as initially expected after his exit from Sunday's comeback win over the host Arizona Cardinals. "I wouldn't count on that. Just not yet," coach Brian Daboll told reporters Tuesday from the Giants' setup in Arizona. "I'm not saying that he's out yet. He's a quick healer. I'm not saying he's in, he's out. We're going to take it all the wayup with him to Thursday, but he feels a lot better today. I just talked to him."

Wilks spoke as if he's not expecting Barkley to play, but that the offensive scheme will remain consistent. "Barkley, its disappointing he's out, but all those guys are capable," Wilks said. "When you look at their offense, the zone read, that to me is their run game, and also (Jones) scrambling, buying time in the pocket and doing things with his feet."

A potential replacement to Barkley is Matt Breida, who played for the 49ers from 2017-19. "We definitely have a good familiarity with him, and we'll be ready," Bosa said of Breida, who led their 2018 team in rushing before getting traded to Miami in 2020 for a fifth-round draft pick (right tackle Colton McKivitz).

AIYUK AVAILABILITY?

Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not missed a game since his 2020 rookie season, and his left shoulder might not keep him sidelined Thursday night. Aiyuk was slated to practice in limited fashion during Tuesday night's light walkthrough, as was the case with cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee).

EX-COWBOYS STARTER SIGNS

In-season signings of veteran cornerbacks haven't panned out well for the 49ers, and they're hoping the versatile Anthony Brown can be an exception, after knee injuries struck backups Sam Womack and Thomas in the past week. Womack went on Injured Reserve on Saturday, clearing a roster spot for Brown's addition Tuesday. Other cornerbacks the 49ers added in recent seasons: Brian Allen (2020), Jamar Taylor (2020), Josh Norman (2021), Dre Kirkpatrick (2021) and Janoris Jenkins (2022).

Brown played the past seven seasons with the Cowboys, a 69-start tenure that ended with his Achilles tear last Dec. 4. He started this season on the Pittsburgh Steelers' practice squad before getting released Thursday. Brown said he's feeling good and "ready to work" after a 10-month recovery from a traditional Achilles repair.

Five years ago, the 49ers brought in a veteran cornerback who panned out and did so following Achilles repair: Richard Sherman. As Brown noted: "He came back, too. And he came here. And they went to the Super Bowl (the following year)."

In the 2021 49ers' wild-card playoff win at Dallas, Brown made a fourth-quarter interception of a Jimmy Garoppolo pass that led to the Cowboys' final touchdown in a 23-17 loss. Two weeks before that game, Brown committed four pass-interference penalties in an overtime loss to the Raiders on Thanksgiving. "It's crazy, just going from the Cowboys, a very big traditional franchise, and coming over to San Fran, another big, traditional franchise," Brown added. "It's a blessing, I'm glad to be here, and I'm ready to work."

GRASS ADDED

Levi's Stadium had grass installed Monday and it was still being manicured ahead of Tuesday's practice. That leaves little time for rookie kicker Jake Moody to get acclimated to it, something that may not happen until pregame warmups. "Yeah, we'll see how the grass is on Thursday night," said Moody, who's tied for second among the NFL scoring leaders after making all of his field goals (six) and point-after kicks (six).

The 49ers have not played at home since preseason games Aug. 19 (Denver Broncos) and Aug. 25 (Los Angeles Chargers). In the past two months, Levi's Stadium has hosted sold-out concerts for Taylor Swift, BeyoncÃ© and Ed Sheeran, the latter of whom attracted a stadium-record crowd of 77,000 on Saturday night.

STAR-STUDDED LINEUP

Count Daboll among those praising the 49ers' cast after their 2-0 start -- and roster creation under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch since 2017. "It's a team full of Pro Bowlers or All-Pros, whether it's McCaffrey, Deebo, Aiyuk, Bosa, Hargrave, Warner. The list goes on and on," Daboll said. "I'd say their team is well constructed. There a lot of challenges with this team in a number of areas."

NICK CHUBB INJURY

When Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb sustained a season-ending knee injury Monday night, it "brings things into perspective," linebacker Fred Warner said. "That's as gruesome as an injury as it gets, and it's honestly like a routine play: a guy goes low to tackle a big, physical running back, and something like that happens. I don't know if there's anything that could have been done differently in that situation.

"Guys are going to be like, 'Why did the defender go so low on him?' Or if you go high, 'Why did he hit him in the head?' Things are happening so quick out there. It's not something that, you can't slow down; if you do, you're going to get hurt. You've got to continue to see ways to help protect the players, but that's just a really unfortunate situation."

1989 Taylors Version Vault Titles Are Here Just Decode 89 Puzzles

2023-09-19T19:04:00.005-07:00

Just a few weeks out from the release of her fourth rerecorded album 1989 (Taylor's Version) -- which drops on October 27 -- Swift, 33, is doing what she does best: leaving Easter eggs for fans to decode. This time, she's paired up with Google for a word puzzle game that will seemingly help uncover the titles of the record's five vault tracks -- the bonus songs that never made the final cut of the original album.

Starting Saturday, September 16, a closed blue vault began popping up when googling Swift's name. Clicking on the vault brings up scattered letters in a word jumble accompanied by a hint to help solve the puzzle. At first, the only clue was, "My name is Taylor and I was born in...," with "1989 Taylor's Version" being the answer.

Beginning on Tuesday, September 19, however, the puzzles began to expand. The hint "Blank Space" leads to "Nice to meet you," while other answers include "Got a haircut," "She lost him," "Love," "Golf Club, "Pen Click" and "Summer Fling."

According to Google, there are a total of 89 puzzles to get through -- because Swift was born in 1989, get it? -- and the vault titles won't be released until 33 million puzzles are solved.

Swift herself took to social media earlier on Tuesday to tease fans about the Easter eggs. "You can tell me when the *search* is over ... if the high was worth the pain," she quipped via Instagram, referencing the 1989 single "Blank Space." The post also included a video of the same blue vault releasing five jumbled letters and symbols that include L, S, U, T, an exclamation point and a period.

While Swifties are usually lightning quick to solve Swift's riddles -- her latest challenge seems to be stumping them more than usual, with fans sharing their impatience via social media.

"Me checking Taylor Swift google page every single minute just to see 'check back soon' while trying to open the vault," one person commented via X (formerly known as Twitter) alongside a photo of a woman trying to open a safe with a knife and hammer.

"Swifties typing Taylor Swift into google every 30 seconds trying to get the 1989 TV vault puzzles to work," another captioned a video of someone typing furiously on their laptop.

Swift announced the release of 1989 (Taylor's Version) on August 9 at her final Eras Tour concert in Los Angeles. The singer sported the album's signature color blue throughout the show before revealing the rerecorded album will drop in October.

"I figured that [this tour] would be fun but I did not know it would be like this. The last time I was pleasantly surprised by something you guys did was when I announced that I was going to be rerecording my first six albums," she told the crowd at the time. "And so now here we are, the last night of the U.S. leg of the Eras Tour in the eighth month of the year on the ninth day. You might have noticed there are different outfits in the show. There's something I've been planning for a really, really long time and I think instead of just telling you about it I'll just show you."

"Surprise!! 1989 (Taylor's Version) is on its way to you ðŸ”œ! The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th," she wrote via Instagram. "To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I've ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can't believe they were ever left behind. But not for long! Pre order 1989 (Taylor's Version) on my site ðŸ˜Ž."

Fans began theorizing that 1989 (Taylor's Version) was coming long before she ever announced it, particularly with the release of "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" which dropped in March 2021. "This Love (Taylor's Version)" was later used for seasons 1 and 2 of Prime Video's The Summer I Turned Pretty, which premiered in June 2022.

Swift released the original 1989 -- a critically acclaimed record that marked her official debut into pop and first collaboration with producer Jack Antonoff -- in October 2014, earning her second Album of the Year Grammy in 2016.

Upon its release, fans heavily theorized the record was a recollection of her on-off relationship with ex-boyfriend Harry Styles -- particularly in songs like "Out of the Woods" and "Style." While Swift never officially confirmed who the songs are about, she told Rolling Stone in February 2015 that "Style" should have just been titled, "I'm Not Even Sorry.'"

"'Style' is actually about those relationships that are never really done," Swift explained during a December 2014 episode of The Morning Show. "You always kind of have that one person who you feel like might interrupt your wedding and be like, 'Don't do it, we're not over yet.' I think everybody has that one person who kind of floats in and out of their life and the narrative is never truly over."

1989 (Taylor's Version) comes after the release of Fearless (Taylor's Version), Red (Taylor's Version) and Speak Now (Taylor's Version) which were dropped in April 2021, October 2021 and July 2023, respectively. Swift's choice to rerecord her first six albums stems from her losing her masters in 2019 when Scooter Braun purchased her music catalog in a Big Machine Records acquisition. (The music mogul later sold the masters for $300 million to a private equity company.) Her self-titled debut and sixth studio album, Reputation, are the final two re-records yet to be announced.

10 Collab Ideas for Taylor Swift and Greta Gerwig

2023-09-19T19:04:00.003-07:00

While there were a few years where Taylor Swift seemed incredibly adept at avoiding the paparazzi, that era seems to be long gone. Over the past few months, the pop star has been spotted out and about with the likes of Matty Healy, Blake Lively and now Barbie director Greta Gerwig.

Swift and Gerwig were seen grabbing dinner with mutual friend Laura Dern (who appeared in one of Swift's music videos and the movie Marriage Story directed by Gerwig's longtime partner Noah Baumbach) and pal ZoÃ« Kravitz on Sept. 18. Between the smashing success of The Eras Tour and Barbie, Swift and Gerwig were two of the summer's highest-profile stars. The sighting, which could have been nothing more than a casual nosh, immediately drew speculation from the internet. Could Greta Gerwig and Taylor Swift be working on a project together?

We of course have no answer to that (until I get some members of the Il Buco waitstaff on the line), but in the meantime, might I pitch the pair on a few ideas? Here are 10 collaborations from Taylor Swift and Greta Gerwig that we'd love to see:

Potential Greta Gerwig x Taylor Swift collaborations

1. Greta Gerwig directing a new Taylor Swift music video

Perhaps the most obvious (and easiest) collaboration between the pair would be for Gerwig to direct a music video for Swift. With the re-releases of Swift's albums Taylor Swift, 1989 and Reputation coming down the line (not to mention any new projects she has up her sleeves), there could be plenty of opportunities for Gerwig to jump in and direct a music video. Gerwig feels especially well suited to "Welcome to New York," should that be on Swift's hit list.

2. Greta Gerwig appearing in a new Taylor Swift music video

That said, in recent years Swift has done most of her own directing. Her "short film" *cough* music video *cough* for All to Well was even pushed as a potential Oscar nominee with Swift appearing in Variety's Directors on Directors with Martin McDonagh. So perhaps as Swift takes on a new career, Gerwig, who started as an actor, would fall back into her old one. I'd certainly watch a music video that starred Gerwig, Dern and Kravitz.

Related: 'Mastermind' Indeed! Taylor Swift's Net Worth In 2023 and How the 'Midnights' Singer Got So Rich

3. Greta Gerwig appearing in Taylor Swift's feature film debut

ICYMI Taylor Swift is not just a pop star anymore, but will be branching out into writing and directing feature films. According to Variety, she has written a script and will be directing the film based on the script for Disney's Searchlight Pictures. We don't know what the movie is about, but Gerwig could theoretically have a part (big or small) in the film, which has yet to go into production. Gerwig most recently starred in White Noise just last year, so she's certainly not retired from that phase in her career.

Related: All of Margot Robbie's 'Barbie' Press Tour Outfits, and the Barbie Looks That Inspired Them

4. Taylor Swift writing a song for Snow White

If Greta isn't working on one of Taylor's upcoming projects, perhaps Taylor is working on Greta's. Swift is no stranger to writing original songs for movies, most recently providing tracks for Cats and Where the Crawdads Sing. Gerwig recently worked on the screenplay for the upcoming live-action remake of Snow White starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. While music for the film is already being provided by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, in addition to the songs from the original, it's entirely possible that Swift could be writing one final song to fill out the soundtrack. With songs like "Love Story" and "Wonderland," she's certainly no stranger to fairy tales.

5. Taylor Swift writing a song for the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia films for Netflix

Perhaps more likely would be Swift coming on board to write new music for Gerwig's upcoming Chronicles of Narnia adaptations for Netflix. Gerwig is signed on to direct two of the streamer's seven films based on C.S. Lewis' novels, and they obviously need music.

6. Taylor Swift playing the White Witch in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Let us not forget that, like Greta Gerwig, Taylor Swift is also an actress (although perhaps not quite as highly regarded). Swift was most recently in Amsterdam where she was run over by a car not ten minutes into the film. If Swift is anxious to prove herself a multi-hyphenate, there's no better way than with a splashy role like the White Witch. Tell me you wouldn't love to see her flaunting a red lip and offering poor Edmund Turkish delight.

7. Taylor Swift appearing in the sequel to Little Women

While there has been no mention of Greta Gerwig making a sequel to Little Women, Louisa May Alcott did technically write two followups, Little Men and Jo's Boys. Perhaps Gerwig is anxious to return to New England for another wintery shoot and wants Swift to tag along. I'm unfamiliar with the Little Men characters available for Swift to play, but you can never have too many bonnet-wearing townspeople.

8. Greta Gerwig writing a song for Taylor Swift's next album

Getting away from the acting/directing options for a second. It's also entirely possible that Swift wants Gerwig to help write a song for Swift's next album. Taylor loves to pass out writing credits to her friends and in addition to musicians like the Haim sisters and Lana Del Rey, she's also written music with Kravitz and her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Gerwig is certainly an acclaimed writer, so perhaps she could help provide Swift with her next hit track?

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9. Taylor Swift and Greta Gerwig appearing in Noah Baumbach's new movie with Brad Pitt and Adam Sandler

What if the Greta/Taylor meetup was all a red herring, and they are actually both working on the next film from Gerwig's longtime love and creative partner Noah Baumbach? The New York Post reported in 2022 that Baumbach's next project would be a Netflix film starring Adam Sandler and Brad Pitt. Maybe it also stars Gerwig and Swift? Or Gerwig helps on the script and Swift provides music? Who can say?!?

Related: Will There Be a 'Barbie' Movie Sequel? Here's Everything We Know About 'Barbie 2'

10. Taylor Swift playing a Barbie

And last, but certainly not least, maybe Taylor Swift is just grabbing dinner with Greta Gerwig to beg and plead that she also be a Barbie should Gerwig ever make a sequel. I mean if Dua Lipa can be a mermaid, why not Taylor Swift?

Next, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Concert Film Is Already Breaking Records in a Big Way

039I know how powerful your voices are039 Taylor Swift urges fans to vote

2023-09-19T19:04:00.001-07:00

Taylor Swift has encouraged her fans to make sure they are registered to vote in the upcoming midterm elections.

Taylor Swift has encouraged her US fans to vote.

The 'Cruel Summer' hitmaker - who has 272 million followers on Instagram - urged her supporters to use their "powerful" voices and ensure they are registered to go to the polls at the upcoming midterm elections.

Sharing a link to vote.org's Everything You Need to Vote page - where people can sign up, check their registration, request an absentee ballot, receive election reminders and check the registration deadlines in their state - she wrote on her Instagram Story: "Are you registered to vote yet?

"I've been so lucky to see so many of you at my US shows recently.

"I've heard you raise your voices, and I know how powerful they are. Make sure you're ready to use them in our elections this year!

"Register to vote in less than 2 minutes at vote.org/nvrd.(sic)"

This isn't the first time the 33-year-old star has encouraged her fans to vote.

In July, she called on people in Nashville to take part in the city's mayoral elections.

Showing off her 'I voted today' sticker, she wrote at the time: "Hi Nashville! Early voting for our city officials and some statewide seats begins today.

"We have the opportunity to choose those who will represent us for the next four years.

"I voted today and I urge each and every one of you to do the same and make your voice heard.(sic)"

Back in 2020, Taylor took to Twitter to condemn "racial injustice" in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

She also encouraged US citizens who are old enough to vote to make their voices heard for the country's presidential election - which ultimately saw Joe Biden take office after beating then-leader Donald Trump - so they can elect people who will fight to end systemic racism.

In a series of tweets, she wrote: "Racial injustice has been ingrained deeply into local and state governments, and changes MUST be made there. In order for policies to change, we need to elect people who will fight against police brutality and racism of any kind. #BlackLivesMatter

"We need to fight for mail-in voting for the 2020 election. No one should have to choose between their health and having their voice heard. http://VOTE.ORG (sic)"

He wont try it with emirs Oluwo of Iwo blasts Obasanjo for ordering Oyo monarchs to stand

2023-09-17T19:10:00.007-07:00

On Saturday, September 16, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, condemned the action of former President Olusegun Obasanjo against some traditional rulers in Oyo state, Ibadan.

The Punch reported that the monarch frowned at Obasanjo ordering traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo State, noting it was tantamount to desecration of Yoruba traditional stools.

Reacting, Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his press secretary, Alli Ibrahim, condemned the former president's action and demanded a letter of apology from him.

Insisting that Yoruba monarchs could not be treated as uniform men who would be ordered around, the Oluwo blamed the royal fathers who responded to Obasanjo's order, The Cable report added.

The monarch said:

"The show by the former general is condemnable. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He will never dare that against the Northern Emirs."

Contrary to the traditional belief that Ifa picks the Obas in Yorubaland, the Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has said it is state governors who select kings.

The outspoken monarch said this in an interview he granted Nigerian Tribune ahead of his eighth coronation anniversary.

In another report, the Oluwo of Iwo recently sparked emotions online with a post he shared about polygamy and homosexuality.

The monarch, in his viral post, slammed the idea that polygamy is seen as a crime while homosexuality is regarded as a human right.

He further noted that he still finds it baffling how the Western world has been able to successfully sell the idea that polygamy is a crime to Africans.

Congress Not Willing To Be Drawn Into Sanatana Dharma Row P Chidambaram

2023-09-17T19:10:00.005-07:00

P Chidambaram said, "There has been no discussion on Sanatana Dharma". (FILE)

Hyderabad (Telangana):

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that his party is unwilling to be drawn into any controversy surrounding Sanatana Dharma and further informed that there was no discussion on it during the Congress Working Committee meeting which is underway in Hyderabad.

Addressing the press conference in Hyderabad, P Chidambaram said, "There has been no discussion on Sanatana Dharma (during CWC meeting). The Congress president has made it absolutely clear that the Congress party is not willing to be drawn into any controversy on Sanatana Dharma. We believe in 'Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava' ("All religions are the same) and we stand by that position. That has been the consistent position of Congress party for many decades and we are not getting drawn into any controversy over that issue."

The controversy related to the issue of Sanatana Dharma erupted after Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader Udhaynidhi Stalin had said that the Sanatana religion should be eradicated. The DMK leader also drew a parallel between diseases like dengue, and malaria and the 'Sanatana Dharma'.

Reacting to these remarks, the DMK and INDIA bloc received sharp criticism from the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Launching a scathing attack on the INDIA bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh appealed to the people of the poll-bound states, stating that the Opposition has a "hidden agenda to end Sanatana Dharma".

"This INDI alliance adopted a resolution to end our 'Sanatana' culture. They are bent on destroying the ideologies, cultures and traditions that have kept the country and our people together for centuries," PM Modi said.

Earlier on Friday Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda hit out at opposition bloc INDIA and alleged that the agenda of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi is to "abuse and disrespect" Sanatan Dharma.

"Nowadays, there have been many talks on Sanatana Dharma. On 1st September this INDI alliance held a meeting in Mumbai. On 3rd September their strong ally DMK's Chief's son Udhayanidhi Stalin insulted Sanatan Dharma. The next day on September 4, Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge who is also Minister in the Karnataka government disrespects Sanatan Dharma," Mr Nadda said.

"Till now Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been silent on this. I allege that both mother and son have formulated the agenda to abuse and disrespect Sanatan Dharma in the Mumbai meeting which is handed over to DMK and other parties. This is the agenda of Mata Sonia and Beta Rahul," he added.

Meanwhile, P Chidambaram also informed that there have been requests by members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that a Bharat Jodo Yatra 2 should be organized from the eastern parts of the countries to the west. "That matter is under consideration," he said.

This is the first meeting of the reconstituted Congress Working Committee, the party's top decision-making body under Mallikarjun Kharge's presidency. The party is strategizing for the upcoming assembly elections in the five states.

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

YouTubes New Medical Misinformation Policy Throttles Prominent Naturopath

2023-09-17T19:10:00.003-07:00

"As medical information -- and misinformation -- continuously evolves, YouTube needs a policy framework that holds up in the long term, and preserves the important balance of removing egregiously harmful content while ensuring space for debate and discussion," according to YouTube's announcement of its new "misinformation" "policy framework," a euphemism for "censorship regime."

"Moving forward, YouTube will streamline dozens of our existing medical misinformation guidelines to fall under three categories -- Prevention, Treatment, and Denial. These policies will apply to specific health conditions, treatments, and substances where content contradicts local health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO)," it continues.

Related: YouTube Adopts WHO 'Medical Misinformation' Censorship Regime

Prominent naturopath Dr. Eric Berg, with 11 million subscribers on YouTube, explains here how the new "medical misinformation" policy has affected his standing on the platform.

Dr. Berg, according to his own accounting, has 928 videos pertaining to the ketogenic, or keto, diet, an eating protocol that severely limits the intake of carbohydrates to achieve a state of ketosis, which is the burning of fat as the primary fuel source for the body rather than glucose.

Yet when you search YouTube for "keto diet," none of Berg's hundreds of videos -- even though he has 11 million subscribers and many of them (like this one) have views in the millions, show up in the search results. Instead, the viewer is treated to a barrage of mostly hysterical videos with lesser view counts warning of the dangers of the keto diet.

Try it for yourself.

While limiting carb intake, especially simple carbs, is sage advice, I'm not actually sold on long-term keto being a net positive for all people. But that's neither here nor there.

I have learned an awful lot of valuable information from Dr. Berg over the years. Like any savvy consumer of information -- which we all should strive to be and which our institutions would encourage us to be, were they actually looking out for our interests -- I do not take anything that Berg or anyone else says as gospel truth.

I glean a bit of valuable insight from his channel and then look for other sources that corroborate or dispute his claims. That's how functional adults grapple with new information presented to them.

Instead, under the care of the nanny state, we are exhorted to turn our critical thinking skills off and mindlessly "trust the experts." We ought never to "do our own research," as Forbes instilled in the American public in the context of COVID-19.

Berg is just one of many social media figures with a non-conventional, non-pharmaceutical orientation providing medical information on the web targeted by the corporate state for censorship in the post-COVID era.

Via Washington Post, September 2021:

Woman and father charged with murder incest after 3 dead infants found in cellar in Poland

2023-09-17T19:10:00.001-07:00

Police discovered the bodies of three newborns in the basement of a house in northern Poland, and have detained and charged a 54-year-old man and his 20-year-old daughter with murder and incest, Polish media reported Saturday.

The body of a newborn, identified as the child of the 20-year-old woman, was found Friday in the village of Czerniki south of Gdansk. A further search of the premises revealed another body in an advanced state of decomposition on Friday followed by a third on Saturday, according to Polish media reports.

Prosecutor Mariusz Duszynski from the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdansk, told the all-news broadcaster TVN24 that the woman was charged with two counts of murder and one of incest.

The woman's 54-year-old father was also brought to the prosecutor's office. In the afternoon, prosecutor Duszynski announced that the man had been charged with three counts of murder in the case of the newborns and two of incest.

Polish media suggested that was an indication that he had been in an incestuous relationship with a second daughter as well.

Without building students of Fatehabad government school forced to study under trees

2023-09-17T19:03:00.009-07:00

The school, which has 132 students, is being run from a chaupal (community centre) which has two rooms, one is being used by the staff and the other to store mid-day meal food and other items. The students have no option but to sit under the trees in extreme weather conditions, and if it rains, they struggle to find shelter.

Kuldeep Dabla, headmaster, Government Primary School, Badopal, said seven years ago, their school building was given to Kendriya Vidyalaya for a period of two years and the education department has asked them to construct their building in the same period.

"The Kendriya Vidyalaya authorities and the government have failed to construct buildings in the last seven years and now they are running their classes there. Our students have been shifted to a community centre here, which has two rooms, one is being used by the staff and the other occupied for mid-day meals. We have raised this issue before education department officials but to no avail," he added.

Devi, president of the school management committee, said that people send their wards to government schools with a hope that they would get better education and facilities, but children are suffering as they are sitting under the trees.

"It has been seven years, and the apathy continues. Now winter will come, and the students will have to sit on the floor under the open sky. When will the condition of schools improve," she added.

Ved Singh Dahiya, Fatehabad district elementary education officer, said the government school's building was given to KVS for two years but they failed to construct their school and there is no hope in the near future also.

"We are looking for an alternate site for the government school students and I am personally monitoring the situation. I had apprised senior officials, who told me that other buildings for primary school could not be made as they have their own building which is presently used by the KVS. The building for Kendriya Vidyalaya is under construction and it is not possible to ask them to vacate the school," Dahiya added.

Wilson penalty gets Newcastle back to winning ways

2023-09-17T19:03:00.007-07:00

NEWCASTLE, England - A Callum Wilson penalty earned Newcastle United their first victory in four Premier League games as they narrowly beat Brentford 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday.

After a first-half of few chances, Wilson thought he had nudged Newcastle ahead just after the interval only for the referee to blow for a foul on Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

Flekken was the one doing the impeding in the 64th minute, however, as he felled Anthony Gordon in the penalty area and Wilson stepped up to covert from the spot.

Newcastle were awarded another spot-kick late on, but referee Craig Pawson's decision was overturned following a VAR review.

Brentford never really looked like avoiding their first defeat of the campaign as Newcastle moved up to 11th in the standings, level on six points with Thomas Frank's team in 10th.

Newcastle's three successive defeats before Brentford's visit had dampened expectations around St James' Park after an impressive campaign last term, where they lost only three of their final 14 matches.

Against a well-organised Brentford, Newcastle looked every inch a team out of form, with Bruno Guimaraes' close-range header their only real chance of note in the opening period.

Newcastle were vastly improved after the break, with Wilson at the heart of all that was good about them.

Flekken had no chance of keeping out Wilson's expertly-taken spot-kick, as the English striker netted his eighth goal in his last seven league starts.

He has also now scored 15 of the 16 penalties he has taken in the Premier League, with only Matthew Le Tissier, Danny Murphy and James Beattie netting a higher share among players to have taken as many as Wilson.

A disappointing response from Brentford ensured they failed to score for the first time in eight leagues games and Newcastle kept only their third Premier League clean sheet since February. REUTERS

Wilson penalty gets Newcastle back to winning ways with 10 victory against Brentford

2023-09-17T19:03:00.005-07:00

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) -- Fresh from signing a new contract, Callum Wilson struck from the penalty spot as Newcastle beat Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday.

Wilson has just signed a one-year extension to keep him at the club until 2025. And he quickly began to repay the faith Newcastle showed in him with the winner against Brentford at St. James' Park.

It was the Magpies' first win since the opening game of the season and ended a three-match losing run.

Wilson converted a 64th-minute penalty and Eddie Howe's team moved up to 11th in the standings.

Newcastle had not won since routing Aston Villa 5-1 on Aug. 12 and had since slipped to defeats against Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton.

The win should help boost confidence ahead of the team's Champions League opener against AC Milan on Tuesday.

Newcastle was awarded a penalty after Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken's clumsy challenge on Anthony Gordon.

Wilson, who was made to wait before taking the spot kick, blasted high to Flekken's left to open the scoring.

He thought he had been handed another penalty later when Harvey Barnes' header hit Bryan Mbeumo's arm. But referee Craig Pawson overturned the decision when asked to review the incident.

Wildfires abate for NHL rookie camp to go ahead in Penticton B.C

2023-09-17T19:03:00.003-07:00

PENTICTON, B.C. -- A rookie tournament for four of Canada's NHL teams appeared in jeopardy a short time ago.

As wildfires ravaged the hillsides of nearby West Kelowna, heavy smoke and accommodation demands for emergency responders forced the cancellation of Penticton's biggest annual event, Ironman Canada, on Aug. 29.

The Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks running their September rookie tournament in the southern Okanagan was in question.

"A couple of friends of mine from Kelowna me sent some pictures and the entire mountain was in flames," said Edmonton Oilers general manager Ken Holland, who grew up just north of Kelowna in Vernon., B.C.

"For about four or five days there, maybe a week, it was very, very scary."

Property damage was extensive, but favourable winds and tireless efforts from firefighting crews brought the blazes under control.

NHL prospects played two-touch soccer on the plaza outside Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre under clear, blue skies and in late-summer temperatures after convening for their four-day tournament ending Monday.

For Holland, there's nowhere better to start the NHL season than back home in the Okanagan.

"I think it's paradise," he said. "I used to play against Penticton in peewee, bantam, midget, when I was on the travel teams. Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton. I remember, growing up, going up and down, playing all those cities in minor hockey."

Holland, 67, would have strapped on his goalie gear in Penticton's old Memorial Arena built in 1951.

The arena still stands behind the South Okanagan Events Centre that opened in 2008 and is home to the BCHL's Penticton Vees, the Okanagan Hockey Academy and the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame.

The new arena features two ice sheets and more than enough dressing-room space to house four teams' worth of NHL hopefuls.

The Young Stars tournament launched in 2010 as a five-team affair that included squads from San Jose and Anaheim, and has taken different forms over the years.

The current Western Canadian configuration ran for several seasons, including Connor McDavid's noteworthy NHL debut in 2015.

But by 2018, participation had dwindled to just the Canucks, Jets and a pair of university teams.

After the 2019 event was cancelled, Holland restarted conversations among his fellow Western Canadian GMs to get Young Stars back on the calendar.

A true believer in the value of evaluating prospects against their peers, Holland was the architect behind the launch of the NHL's first-ever prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich., back in 1997, when he was with the Detroit Red Wings.

"We felt that it was difficult, not fair to young players to evaluate them with veteran players on the ice at main camp," Holland said.

Other teams followed suit. The pioneering Traverse City event is one of seven prospects tournament underway Saturday involving 29 NHL clubs.

"Next week, all these young kids are going to go to NHL camp and they're going to be on the ice with established NHL players," Holland said.

"It's a way to get them comfortable in their surroundings, play some games. And I think you also build chemistry. We're hopeful that some of these players that are on our team, down the road, will be Edmonton Oilers. They're coming -- some from junior, some college. Now they're starting to build some friendships and eventually work their way through (AHL) Bakersfield and ultimately to the NHL."

With his star-laden roster in Edmonton, Holland isn't losing sleep over how to market his current team. But events like Young Stars can build excitement for the future as they introduce fans to the next wave of talent on the horizon.

On his flight to the Okanagan, Holland said he met a number of Oilers fans on their way to the tournament to watch the potential future stars in action.

"Fans of these four teams get to watch these games and these players, but in return, we're playing in a world-class facility," Holland said.

"Penticton is a special part of Canada. We get to play some games on a great rink and in a great part of the world, and so I think it's a win-win."

As summer slides into shoulder season, those fans and the teams also offer a tidy boost to the local economy. But for all the benefits, mounting these events can be a challenge.

Time and travel constraints typically limit game action to a straight round-robin format -- only Traverse City crowns a champion.

In Penticton, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the Young Stars relaunch from 2020 to 2022, and this summer's wildfires served as another reminder that outside forces are always at play.

New Canucks captain Quinn Hughes and team president Jim Rutherford visited the West Kelowna Fire Hall on Friday to meet with firefighters and present a cheque to aid wildfire relief.

Proceeds from this year's limited edition Young Stars Classic T-shirt will also be directed toward the cause.

At the SOEC, the Oilers kicked off the tournament with a 3-1 win over the Jets before the Canucks beat the Flames 7-1.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2023.

Why did Koby Altman get arrested What we know about Cavaliers executives latest controversy so far

2023-09-17T19:03:00.001-07:00

Cleveland Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman finds himself in an unwanted controversy. Altman was reportedly arrested and charged with operating a vehicle impaired on Friday night. ESPN further revealed that he was charged with "committing a marked lanes violation and OVI."

The incident occurred in Celevaland itself around 9:00 PM. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers stopped Altman before charging him with OVI. Here's what ESPN wrote:

"Troopers initiated a traffic stop and during their interaction with the driver indicators of impairment were observed," the OSHP said, according to multiple reports. "The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for OVI and soon after offered a breath test which he refused."

The Cavaliers executive cooperated respectfully with the troopers, said the Police. Meanwhile, the organization has noted the incident and released a statement too.

"We are aware of an incident involving Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman," the Cavaliers said in a statement Saturday. "We are currently gathering more information and have no further comment at this time."

The unfortunate incident took place just a day before (Friday, September 15th) Koby Altman's 41st birthday on Saturday, September 16th.

The Cavaliers will hope the controversy circling Koby Altman doesn't force them to take strict actions against him. He has been integral to the franchise's success over the last decade. The Cavaliers have seen plenty of extreme lows, but their peak has been just as good.

Altman joined the team in 2012. He was the team's director of pro personnel during their 2016 championship run. Altman took over as assistant general manager in their title defense season. The team made the finals again but failed to get over the hump. Altman was the GM in 2018 when the Cavs made their last finals run, which ended in a 4-0 result against the Warriors.

Cleveland went into rebuild mode after that season. They were among the bottom-feeders in the Eastern Conference. Many questioned the team's brass and front office for the lack of direction in their roster-building process.

However, in 2021, the Cavaliers were back to within touching distance of a playoff spot. They finished with the seventh-best record. Darius Garland, their 2019 first-round pick, and center Jarrett Allen made the All-Star teams that season.

The following year, the Cavaliers acquired Donovan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz and finally made the playoffs without LeBron James for the first time since 1998.

Who are the Strictly Come Dancing 2023 couples

2023-09-17T18:55:00.009-07:00

The reality competition series returned to our screens on Saturday (16 September) night, with a launch show in which the celebrity contestants learnt which professional dancers they would be coupled up with.

This year's batch of celebrities also hit the dance floor for the first time in a group number with the professional dancers.

The first Strictly live show will take place on Saturday (23 September), when all 15 couples dance with their partners.

Abbington, 51, has appeared on stage and screen for many years, but is best known for playing Mary Watson in the BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. She was previously married to Martin Freeman, who played her on-screen husband John Watson.

Italian dancer Pernice, 33, joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 and won with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021. Last year, he was the second dancer to leave the competition with Richie Anderson.

On dancing with Pernice, Abbington told Claudia Winkleman: "I'm ecstatic! We get on really well, same sense of humour, and [are] dedicated to working hard."

Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima

Love Island star and documentary host Zara McDermott will be dancing with Graziano Di Prima. You can find out more about her here.

McDermott, 26, rose to fame on the ITV2 dating show, but has since branched out into presenting work, covering serious subjects such as revenge porn. She is the first Love Island star to go on Strictly.

Hailing from Italy, Di Prima, 29, joined Strictly in 2018, dancing with Vick Hope. He went without a partner for two years before competing again in 2021, placing sixth last year with Kym Marsh.

During the Strictly launch show, McDermott said that she was "probably the most nervous I've been in my life", adding: "I'm not a natural born performer or extrovert, so this is the biggest challenge of my life!"

Jody Cundy and Jowita PrzystaÅ‚

Paralympian Jody Cundy and Jowita PrzystaÅ‚ are competing together. You can find out more about him here.

Cundy, 44, is a champion athlete who has represented Great Britain at seven Summer Paralympics. He's won a total of eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals across swimming and cycling events.

2023 is only PrzystaÅ‚'s second series on Strictly, but the 29-year-old dancer got off to an impressive start in 2022 after lifting the Glitterball Trophy with wildlife presenter Hamza Yassin.

Learning she was dancing with Cundy, she said: "I need to admit I'm actually a bit nervous because I don't want to let him down, but I have a lot of ideas."

Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Lauren Oakley

Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy is dancing with Lauren Oakley. You can find out more about him here.

Guru-Murthy, 53, has presented at Channel 4 News for 25 years and is known for his unrelenting interview style.

Oakley, meanwhile, is a newcomer and is competing on her first series of Strictly.

Guru-Murthy praised the "brilliant" pairing, with Oakley, 32, adding: "It might be the first time that I'm partnered with somebody, but I know it's a big ask for the celebrities to go out there and dance. So I think I need to be kind and give you confidence to have fun, but when it's time to be strict I know how to be strict, don't worry about that!"

Angela Rippon and Kai Widdrington

Legendary newsreader Angela Rippon is dancing with Kai Widdrington. You can find out more about her here.

"When I saw it was Kai I couldn't have been happier I promise you," Rippon said of her partner, with Widdrington adding: "I am absolutely delighted to have Angela, I think we are going to be fabulous."

Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin

Musical theatre star Layton Williams and Nikita Kuzmin are in the only same-sex partnership of the series. You can find out more about Williams here.

Williams, 29, was just 12 when he kicked off his professional career as the lead in Billy Elliot in the West End. To musical theatre fans, he's best known now for playing teen drag queen Jamie New in the musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie from 2019 to 2022, but TV viewers will recognise him from the Jack Whitehall comedy Bad Education.

Ukrainian dancer Kuzmin, 25, joined Strictly in 2021 and has danced with Tilly Ramsay and Ellie Simmonds.

Discussing Williams's previous dance experience, Kuzmin said: "Ballroom and Latin are completely different to anything Layton has done so far, the technique, posture and especially to co-ordination is completely different. He has a lot to learn and I can't wait to teach him."

Harman, 50, is best known for playing "bad boy" Dennis Rickman on the BBC soap from 2003 to 2005. He has also had a career in musical theatre, having appeared in the original Mamma Mia! cast and won an Olivier Award for his role as Lord Farquaad in Shrek the Musical.

His partner Jones, 34, has appeared on Strictly for seven series, during which she competed in the show's first same-sex couple with Nicola Adams.

Hearing about Jones's "strict" teaching style, Harman said: "Everyone keeps telling me this and every time they tell me this I get more and more terrified, but I am pretending I'm really calm about it."

The son of the late Jade Goody and presenter Jeff Brazier, 20-year-old Brazier can be seen playing Freddie Slater in EastEnders. He began his career as a model, having been scouted when he was just 16, and has walked for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan.

Buswell, his partner, is an Australian dancer who joined the show in 2018. The 34-year-old reached the final with Joe Sugg in 2018, and the pair have dated since.

Brazier said he was "so pleased" with his partner, with Buswell adding: "I am so happy I have already adopted Bobby as my little brother, and I already care so much about him. I just want him to have the best time ever."

Eddie Kadi and Karen Hauer

Comedian Eddie Kadi is in a couple with Karen Hauer. You can find out more about him here.

Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kadi and his family moved to London when he was eight. He got into stand-up at university and in 2010 was the first Black British comedian to headline the O2 Arena.

Hauer, 41, is Strictly's longest serving pro dancer, having joined the show in 2012. Despite this, she has never won the competition, but reached the final with Jamie Laing in 2020.

Kadi, 40, compared Hauer to "Kryptonite", saying: "She's got a sound, 'ta ta', when you get something a little bit wrong. 'Ta ta'. I'm like, oh my God, I've got to get used to 'ta ta'."

Annabel Croft and Johannes Radebe

Former tennis player Annabel Croft will compete with Johannes Radebe. You can find out more about her here.

At the age of 15, Croft became the youngest player to compete at Wimbledon for 95 years. She retired aged 21 and moved into broadcasting, and has said she hopes Strictly will let her "find some joy" following the death of her husband earlier this year.

Radebe, 36, competed on Strictly for the first time in 2019, and came second place in 2021 with John Whaite in the show's first ever male same-sex pairing. In recent interviews, Whaite has admitted that he "fell in love" with his partner during the competition.

Croft, 57, was overjoyed to be coupled up with Radebe, saying: "I've got the best partner I could possibly have wished for. Honestly he's so special, you really are so special. It's such an honour and a privilege to be dancing with you, thank you."

Leach, 22, is known to most for her 12-year stint as Faye Windass on the ITV soap. She began when she was just nine and left the show in May.

Coppola, 30, competed on Strictly for the first time in 2022, where he reached the final with Fleur East.

Leach said: "I'm over the moon that Vito is my partner. Honestly, I'm so excited! I think we are going to have so much fun."

Adam Thomas and Luba Mushtuk

Actor Adam Thomas is dancing with Luba Mushtuk. You can find out more about him here.

The brother of Love Island star Scott Thomas and Corrie's Ryan Thomas, Thomas, 35, is best known to most for his roles on Waterloo Road and Emmerdale.

This is Mushtuk's sixth year on Strictly, but only her third with a partner. She competed in 2019 and 2020, when she was first out and came 11th respectively. In the years since, Mushtuk, 33, has not had a partner.

Learning who his partner was, Thomas said: "I'm loving life... what is not to love? I'm on Strictly Come Dancing and I've got this Russian princess! I'm buzzing, absolutely over the moon."

Angela Scanlon and Carlos Gu

TV presenter Angela Scanlon will compete with Carlos Gu. You can find out more about her here.

Gu seemed positive about his new partnership, telling Winkleman: "I have made a better plan and we are going for the Glitter Ball... We'll do it one step at a time, no rush."

Nikita Kanda and Gorka MÃ¡rquez

Radio presenter Nikita Kanda and Gorka MÃ¡rquez are dancing together. You can find out more about her here.

Hailing from Birmingham, Kanda, 28, hosts the BBC Asian Network's breakfast show. The DJ has also had roles in West End productions of The Wiz, Bugsy Malone, Annie and Pocahontas.

This is Spanish dancer MÃ¡rquez's seventh year on Strictly. The 33-year-old has come second twice: with Alexandra Burke in 2017, and Helen Skelton last year.

Asked about her dancing skills by Winkleman, Kanda said: "I am a party animal but when it comes to choreography, that's what I'm here to learn... I need to learn some new skills, I'm just like one arm up in the air."

Les Dennis and Nancy Xu

Entertainer Les Dennis is in a couple with Nancy Xu. You can find out more about him here.

An all-round entertainer, Dennis, 69, rose to fame as a comedian before branching out into presenting. To most, he's best known as the host of Family Fortunes, but has also appeared in a number of musicals in the West End.

Chinese dancer Xu competed on her first series in 2021 and has placed fourth and fifth in her two previous competitions.

After he was the last couple to be announced, Dennis said of Xu, 32: "I am so happy... as soon as I met Nancy I knew I could learn from her, she is a great teacher and she is so enthusiastic."

What we learned from Indiana footballs 2114 loss to Louisville

2023-09-17T18:55:00.007-07:00

The Hoosiers had the ball at what officials described at the "one and a half foot line" facing a fourth and one with less than five minutes to go trailing by a touchdown.

Indiana quarterback Tayven Jackson, who made a diving play at the pylon for the near score on the previous play, handed off to Josh Henderson only to see the running back swallowed by Louisville's defensive line.

The Cardinals were able to run out the clock in the final minutes and escape with a 21-14 win.

It wasn't the feel good ending IU fans were hoping for after watching their team comeback from a 21-0 deficit on the back of strong play from the redshirt freshman quarterback and a defense that woke up after surrendering 300-plus yards in the first half.

Tayven Jackson wasn't perfect in his return to Lucas Oil Stadium.

There will be some throws he will certainly want back -- most of them a little high -- after he watches the film and some runs where he didn't cut up field quick enough, but those mistakes won't overshadow the 13-play, 97-yard drive in the third quarter OR the

Louisville simply had no answer to Jackson for much of the second half.

He opened the quarter with a 30-yard strike to Jaylin Lucas for a score, extended that lengthy scoring drive by converting a pair of third downs with throws to Lucas and Cam Camper and had a 41-yard bomb in the fourth quarter to Camper to put IU on the verge of tying the game.

Lucas was his favorite target on the day with the elusive running back leading the team with nine catches for 88 yards, but he completed passes to seven different targets including completions of 20-yards or more to four of them.

He extended plays with his legs when Louisville got pressure and showed the poise his coaches talked about that helped him the job.

Indiana fans won't soon forgot the way he commanded the offense this early in his career.

Allen refocused his team against Indiana State last week when the defense was on the verge of giving up some points with a fiery talk on the sideline.

He let his play calling do the talking on Saturday.

Allen caught Louisville completely off guard to start the second half when he called for an onside kick that his specialists executed to perfection. The offense made quick work of the short field to erase the shutout and the whole sequence created a palpable sense of momentum for the Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium.

That call and the subsequent choice to go for it on fourth down at midfield later in the quarter seemed to help the regain some confidence.

It was Allen's way of saying I believe in you and they seemed to feed off that. After giving up 300-plus yards of offense in the first half, the defense forced a three-and-out and had an interception on Louisville's two possessions in the quarter.

Also, it's worth mentioning that Allen's gamble to extend the quarterback competition into the season paid off in a big way as well.

Indiana allowed one passing play of 30 yards or more in the first two games.

Louisville surpassed that mark in the first quarter against the Hoosiers with a pair of long completions from Jack Plummer to Jamari Thrash including a 85-yard touchdown that was the ninth longest pass play in school history.

Thrash proved to be a mismatch for a secondary playing without Nic Toomer, the Stanford transfer who has been IU's top corner through the first two weeks of the season.

Those coverage busts left a lasting mark on Indiana's confidence -- the front four couldn't generate pressure alone and the miscues made the Hoosiers reluctant to blitz -- as Louisville put together a pair of long scoring drives to close out the half to take a 21-0 advantage into halftime.

The Cardinals came close to landing some deep shots later in the game as well, but had a would-be 56-yard touchdown to Thrash called back on a holding call and another one picked off by Phillip Dunnam when it appeared the receiver didn't realize the ball was coming his way.

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on Twitter @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

What channel is LSUs football game today TV schedule streaming options and more

2023-09-17T18:55:00.005-07:00

The LSU vs Mississippi State game will be among the weekend's most interesting matchups. For one, it's the first showdown between SEC rivals for the season. Another reason is that the Tigers look to give the Bulldogs their first loss of the year, after coming off a massive win against Grambling.

That said, here's everything you need to know to catch the game ASAP. All times shown here are Eastern.

The LSU vs Mississippi State game is live on ESPN. It will also be available on a variety of online streaming platforms, including:

The game is scheduled to start at 12 P.M. ET.

The current injury report for the LSU Tigers is as follows, as per Sports Illustrated:

These two players will have more than enough backing to fill their absences. This includes LSU's JUCO TE Connor Gilbreath, whom head coach Brian Kelly might trust to get a few reps in blocking sets.

For the currently undefeated Mississippi State Bulldogs, here are the players included in their injury list (via the Clarion Ledger):

The Bulldogs are more or less in the same ballpark as LSU when it comes to their injury report for today's game. This means that they could give the Tigers a run for their money and have a good chance to remain undefeated.

Albert was a former Kentucky Transfer who suffered a knee injury during preseason practice.

According to head coach Zach Arnett, they gave him a couple of weeks to recover and see if he could play with a brace. Albert couldn't make it work and had to undergo a knee operation that put his hopes of playing this season out the window.

As for Dinkins, he was originally listed as a backup to Nathan Pickering, but he didn't see the field against Arizona. For this game against LSU, he wasn't part of the depth chart.

What channel is Colorado vs. Colorado State today How to watch Deion Sanders on Saturday night

2023-09-17T18:55:00.003-07:00

Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes have taken the college football world by storm. The former Jackson State head coach is 2-0 in the new world of Power Five, with wins over TCU and Nebraska.

Saturday, Colorado will host in-state rival Colorado State in Boulder as Sanders, Shedeur Sanders, and Travis Hunter get ready to Pac-12 play next week. The game will have a late start of 9 p.m. CT, and has had plenty of hoopla around it. Both "College Gameday" and "Big Noon Kickoff" had their sets in Colorado on Saturday, lest anyone question the stranglehold Sanders has on college football discourse.

Sanders, of course, went 29-6 with the Jackson State Tigers and brought the FCS to the forefront during his tenure by recruiting Hunter, the top recruit in the country, and making Jackson State a destination school. He has done the same in Colorado, and it has paid dividends.

Upon joining the Buffaloes, Sanders somewhat infamously told the incumbent players to transfer, as he would be bringing his own players in. That included quite a few players Sanders coached at Jackson State.

REQUIRED READING: Colorado's Deion Sanders is creating a national movement one iconic moment at a time

Here is how to watch Colorado vs. Colorado State in a marquee matchup.

Colorado vs. Colorado State will be played on ESPN. It can be streamed on Watch ESPN, the ESPN App, or Fubo.

Colorado vs. Colorado State is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. CT from Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

Warnock on brink of quitting Huddersfield with mystery foreign boss lined up

2023-09-17T18:55:00.001-07:00

NEIL WARNOCK is set to quit Huddersfield Town after Wednesday's home game with Stoke.

Following Saturday's 2-0 win over Rotherham that lifted Town into 16th spot, the veteran boss said he would address speculation about his future on Monday.

And talkSPORT claims a mystery foreign boss has already been lined up to take charge, with a press conference imminent.

Warnock, 74, said: "It (social media) did say this was my last game so that's wrong then.

"So you'll have to wait until Monday now, the press conference. We'll discuss it then.

"I'm ever so proud of what we've achieved here. I've enjoyed every minute of it and I'm not prepared to talk about it [now], but a wonderful performance [against Rotherham].

"I'm just enjoying my football, the crowds and the atmosphere, and when I see the lads put in a performance like that."

On the visit of Stoke, he added: "Of course I will be [here], I want to beat Stoke, more than anything."

Warnock came out of retirement in February to keep relegation-threatened Town in the Championship against all odds.

He then signed a new one-year contract after the takeover by American Kevin Nagle.

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UP Medical Colleges To Have Organ Donation Facility By 2024 End Health Minister

2023-09-17T18:48:00.011-07:00

The Health Minister also inaugurated a super speciality wing at the Sarojini Naidu Medical College and said people from Agra and the nearby districts would benefit from it.

Financial aid would also be given to improve organ donation facility, Mansukh Mandaviya said (File)

Agra:

Medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh will have a facility of organ donation by the end of next year, said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday.

The Health Minister, who was in Agra to attend an organ donation programme organised on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on Sunday, said the medical colleges would have a facility to retrieve or transplant organs when it is donated by any donor.

"Financial aid would also be provided to improve this facility in the medical colleges," he said.

Mr Mandaviya earlier led around 8,000 people in taking a pledge for organ donation at the GIC ground.

"In the organ donation programme, there were more than 8,000 people who pledged to donate their organs and also registered themselves in the National Organ Donation Registry," he said.

The Health Minister, who also inaugurated a super speciality wing at the Sarojini Naidu Medical College (SNMC), said that people from Agra and the nearby districts would benefit from it.

"It will help them to get treatment in Agra," he added.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare S P Singh Baghel, highlighting the benefits of the organ donation programme, said it is important to donate organs to save the lives of people.

Baghel added that awareness should be spread in this regard.

The local residents of Agra turned out in large numbers to attend the organ donation programme. A local resident posted the certificate of the programme on his social media handle to make others aware about organ donation.

The health ministry will on Sunday introduce the 'Ayushman Bhav' campaign - to ensure optimum delivery of health schemes to every intended beneficiary, including those in the last mile - during the 'Seva Pakhwada' starting on the prime minister's birthday.

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The campaign will end on October 2. It will have three components Ayushman Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Ayushman Sabhas in every village and panchayat.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

UNAM vs San Luis Prediction and Betting Tips September 17 2023

2023-09-17T18:48:00.009-07:00

UNAM entertain San Luis at the Estadio OlÃmpico de Universitario in the Liga MX on Sunday (September 17).

The hosts have two wins in seven league games, winning twice and losing twice, leaving them tenth in the standings with nine points. The game is crucial for the hosts who could drop from the top 10 if they lose.

Pumas finished 14th last term and did not qualify for the final phase. They're facing the league's strongest team and must be at their best to emerge unscathed. UNAM will take confidence from their 3-1 success against the visitors in their last meeting, though.

San Luis, meanwhile, are enjoying a blistering start to the season, winning five of seven games, scoring 16 goals and conceding six. They're leading the points table with 16 points and are closely followed by UANL and Juarez, who are level on 14 points.

Atleti de San Luis finished 18th last season but qualified for the final phase via the Torneo Clausura reclassification. They reached the quarterfinals but lost to America 4-3. San Luis will take confidence from their impressive away record, boasting four wins in their last five trips.

Cesar Huerta, Juan Dinenno and Gabriel Fernandez have stepped up to the plate for UNAM with two goals apiece.

Meanwhile, Unai Bilbao has been San Luis' leading light in attack, scoring four league goals while Dieter Villalpando has delivered three assists. San Luis will be keen to show their bite against UNAM, thanks to their stellar individual and team play.

UN nuclear agency slams Iran for barring several inspectors from monitoring its program

2023-09-17T18:48:00.007-07:00

BERLIN (AP) -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog harshly criticized Iran on Saturday for effectively barring several of its most experienced inspectors from monitoring the country's disputed program.

The strongly worded statement came amid longstanding tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is tasked with monitoring a nuclear program that Western nations have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists the program is peaceful.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said Iran had withdrawn the designation of "several experienced Agency inspectors," barring them from taking part in the monitoring of its program.

"Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency's most experienced inspectors designated for Iran," he said.

Grossi went on to "strongly condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure," saying it "constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran."

Iran's Foreign Ministry linked the move to what it said was an attempt by the United States and three European countries to misuse the body "for their own political purposes." He appeared to be referring to Britain, France and Germany, which said Thursday they would maintain sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"Iran had previously warned about the consequences of such political abuses, including the attempt to politicize the atmosphere of the agency," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

The Vienna-based IAEA reported earlier this month that Iran had slowed the pace at which it is enriching uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels. That was seen as a sign that Tehran was trying to ease tensions after years of strain between it and the U.S.

Iran and the U.S. are negotiating a prisoner swap and the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in South Korea.

World powers struck a deal with Tehran in 2015 under which it agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. U.N. inspectors were tasked with monitoring the program.

Then-President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the accord in 2018, restoring crippling sanctions. Iran began breaking the terms a year later. Formal talks in Vienna to try to restart the deal collapsed in August 2022.

Iran has long denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and continues to insist that its program is entirely for peaceful purposes, though Grossi has warned Tehran has enough enriched uranium for "several" nuclear bombs if it chose to build them.

Tehran likely would still need months to build a weapon. The IAEA, the West and other countries say Iran had a secret military nuclear program it abandoned in 2003.

"Without effective cooperation, confidence and trust will continue to be elusive," Grossi said Saturday. Without these inspectors, he said, the agency will not be able to effectively "provide credible assurances that nuclear material and activities in Iran are for peaceful purposes."

___

Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed.

UCLA vs. North Carolina Central Live updates start time and analysis

2023-09-17T18:48:00.005-07:00

Chip Kelly said it himself. Now he needs to live up to his own words.

"I think the way you keep your entire team happy is that you're fair with everybody," Kelly said in July at Pac-12 media day, "and then things are won on the field."

By any objective measure, freshman Dante Moore has won the right to be UCLA's starting quarterback. After splitting time with Ethan Garbers and slightly outperforming the redshirt junior in the season opener, Moore starred in his first start Saturday night against San Diego State.

In three quarters, Moore threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns -- the latter statistic tying a school record for a true freshman -- while showing the poise of a fifth-year senior during a 35-10 victory.

U.N. nuclear agency slams Iran for barring several inspectors from monitoring its program

2023-09-17T18:48:00.003-07:00

The U.N. nuclear watchdog harshly criticized Iran on Saturday for effectively barring several of its most experienced inspectors from monitoring the country's disputed program.

The strongly worded statement came amid longstanding tensions between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is tasked with monitoring a nuclear program that Western nations have long suspected is aimed at eventually developing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists the program is peaceful.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said Iran had withdrawn the designation of "several experienced Agency inspectors," barring them from taking part in the monitoring of its program.

"Iran has effectively removed about one third of the core group of the Agency's most experienced inspectors designated for Iran," he said.

Grossi went on to "strongly condemn this disproportionate and unprecedented unilateral measure," saying it "constitutes an unnecessary blow to an already strained relationship between the IAEA and Iran."

Iran's Foreign Ministry linked the move to what it said was an attempt by the United States and three European countries to misuse the body "for their own political purposes." He appeared to be referring to Britain, France and Germany, which said Thursday they would maintain sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"Iran had previously warned about the consequences of such political abuses, including the attempt to politicize the atmosphere of the agency," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.

The Vienna-based IAEA reported earlier this month that Iran had slowed the pace at which it is enriching uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels. That was seen as a sign that Tehran was trying to ease tensions after years of strain between it and the U.S.

Iran and the U.S. are negotiating a prisoner swap and the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen in South Korea.

World powers struck a deal with Tehran in 2015 under which it agreed to limit enrichment of uranium to levels necessary for nuclear power in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. U.N. inspectors were tasked with monitoring the program.

Then-President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. out of the accord in 2018, restoring crippling sanctions. Iran began breaking the terms a year later. Formal talks in Vienna to try to restart the deal collapsed in August 2022.

Iran has long denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and continues to insist that its program is entirely for peaceful purposes, though Grossi has warned Tehran has enough enriched uranium for "several" nuclear bombs if it chose to build them.

Tehran likely would still need months to build a weapon. The IAEA, the West and other countries say Iran had a secret military nuclear program it abandoned in 2003.

"Without effective cooperation, confidence and trust will continue to be elusive," Grossi said Saturday. Without these inspectors, he said, the agency will not be able to effectively "provide credible assurances that nuclear material and activities in Iran are for peaceful purposes."

Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed.

Two youth leaders arrested for having sex with kids in Florida

2023-09-17T18:48:00.001-07:00

A Florida youth pastor and softball coach have been arrested for sex crimes with minors in separate cases.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said David Robinson, a 34-year-old youth pastor, sent multiple texts with sexual content to at least two minors, aged 12 and 17 between January and June 2023.

'He disgraced the name of the church where he served and is challenging the faith of its parishioners due to his actions,' Chronister said.

Robinson is suspected of sending the minors Bible verses and ask them questions such as 'Are you sexually active? Have you ever been pregnant? Have you ever been penetrated?'

He is facing nine counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor and is being kept at the Polk County Detention Center.

David Robinson, a 34-year-old youth pastor allegedly sent multiple texts with sexual content to at least two minors, aged 12 and 17 between January and June 2023

Apart from working at the Shiloh Baptist Church, Robinson used volunteer at various Christian schools in east Hillsborough County

'I'm disappointed and disgusted that a youth leader in our community preyed on these young teens, using his position of trust to communicate in ways that are not fitting of any adult, let alone a man of God,' Chronister said.

Apart from working at the Shiloh Baptist Church, Robinson used to volunteer at various Christian schools in east Hillsborough County.

Chronister also confirmed Matthew Galhouse, a 40-year-old softball coach in Pasco County, was arrested for engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old in a park.

She allegedly was on a softball team in the county.

Officials also said that the 17-year-old was invited back to his house in New Tampa, Florida, and Galhouse hired her to babysit for his child for about three months. While at his house, he would would engage in sexual relations.

Matthew Galhouse, a 40-year-old softball coach in Pasco County was arrested for engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old in a park. She allegedly was from the softball team Lady Hawks

He has been charged with 12 counts of sexual battery. The case was brought to light after the teen's parents started becoming suspicious and started checking her phone.

'Not only did he bring her back to the house to have sex with her at his house here in Hillsborough County, he also then said, "I feel comfortable, I'll hire you to be the babysitter for my child." So when she would babysit, he took that as an open invitation to have sex with her,' Chronister said.

'This is an adult who took advantage of his victim and used his position of power and influence to get what he wanted.

'Thank you to the victims for their courage, thank you to the parents for being good parents and thank you to anyone out there who knows that these two youth leaders in our community that preyed on these young, impressionable, female adults. I am grateful for the bravery of this victim who spoke out and I plead with anyone else who may have been victimized by this softball coach or the youth pastor to please speak with our detectives.'

'Thank you to the victims for their courage, thank you to the parents for being good parents and thank you to anyone out there who knows that these two youth leaders in our community that preyed on these young, impressionable, female adults,' said Sheriff Chad Chronister

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office had already arrested and charged Galhouse on August 25 and when they suspected that similar crimes had taken place at his home, they alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office too

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office had already arrested and charged Galhouse on August 25 and when they suspected that similar crimes had taken place at his home, they alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office too. He is being detained at Pasco County Detention Center.

The Office stated on Facebook: 'Matthew Galhouse was arrested for sexual battery with a victim between 12 and 18, sexual activity with a suspect over 24 and a victim aged 16/17, promoting sexual activity with a victim 16 years or younger, traveling to meet a minor and stalking after engaging in illegal activities with a victim who was a member of the softball team.'

They also clarified that 'Galhouse was not employed at any school in Pasco County, and has been employed at the Lady Hawks softball team since approximately 2018.'

No trial date for either cases has yet been released.