JQJO — General news · Page 77

BOSTON – One day after he and the Celtics’ coaches routed local reporters 57-4 in a surprise pickup game, head coach Joe Mazzulla explained he staged it to “humanize” interactions and put both sides in the same competitive arena. He noted the staff’s full-court pressure, thanked participants, and even removed his usual podium to keep “guards down.” Citing past tense exchanges, Mazzulla compared a shove during the game to his own sharp reaction to a question, calling it competitive, not personal. He said the event was serious and should happen again.

The Cowboys’ low-cost trade for George Pickens is paying off and complicating the future. Acquired from the Steelers for a 2026 third- and 2027 fifth-rounder, with a 2027 sixth returning, he’s making $3.656 million and has 32 catches, 525 yards and six touchdowns, pacing for career highs. With free agency in March and expectations above $30 million per year, Dallas faces tough choices; the 2026 franchise tag is $23.958 million, which he likely wouldn’t accept. Pickens praises the locker room and prioritizes winning, while Jerry Jones plans to wait on talks and the team’s agent relationship isn’t great.

Kevin Federline's Oct. 21 memoir, You Thought You Knew, recounts his rise from Fresno and, chiefly, his turbulent marriage to Britney Spears. He alleges Spears drank while pregnant, used cocaine, engaged in sexual scenarios with staffers, partied with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton as their sons cried, and once frightened a child while holding a knife. Spears' camp calls the book profiteering after child support ended, saying she cares about Sean Preston and Jayden James. Federline says he wrote for his children, frames it as a warning about her well-being, and notes the boys' contact with her remains "fluid."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for economic retaliation against the U.S. after Stellantis decided to move planned Jeep Compass production from Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois as part of a $13 billion U.S. expansion. Blaming U.S. President Donald Trump, Ford urged tariffs if Prime Minister Mark Carney cannot secure a deal. Carney, who left Washington without an agreement, called the shift a consequence of tariffs; Ottawa warned the company to honor commitments and threatened legal action. Brampton workers, already idled since a 2023 closure, received a robocall as Stellantis touted thousands of U.S. jobs, heightening anxiety across Canada’s auto sector.

Astronomers have spotted another “odd radio circle,” and this one stands out: researchers at the University of Mumbai, aided by citizen scientists and the world’s largest low-frequency radio telescope, report the most distant and most powerful ORC yet. Unlike earlier single-ring examples, it shows two intersecting rings. Published in the Royal Astronomical Society’s journal, the study suggests these vast radio structures may arise from superwind flowing from host galaxies, rather than shockwaves from merging black holes or galaxies. Scientists say the find underscores human pattern recognition and hints at a broader family of exotic plasma formations.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa opened Wednesday’s press conference with an apology for comments about “guys not showing up to player-only meetings” after Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. After coach Mike McDaniel and teammates said such matters belong in-house, Tagovailoa said he failed to lead “to the best of my abilities,” calling it a mistake. He told reporters he’s addressed it with teammates and leaders, noting his intent was right but could be misconstrued publicly. Tagovailoa added he doesn’t believe the Dolphins have a culture problem, but acknowledged questions will linger until they win consistently.

US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is arranging a $20bn facility backed by private banks and sovereign wealth funds to help Argentina meet debt payments, separate from last week’s $20bn swap line with its central bank. Aimed at supporting President Javier Milei, the effort followed US currency-market interventions last week and Wednesday. Bonds rallied and the peso steadied after announcement, though pressure flared after Trump suggested support could be withdrawn if Milei’s party falters in Oct. 26 midterms. Central bank chief Santiago Bausili said he hopes the swap is finalized before the vote.

After a three-week hiatus, South Park returns Wednesday with Twisted Christian, in which Eric Cartman becomes possessed and may be the key to stopping the Antichrist. A promo shows staff warned about a student cult around the numbers six and seven, as Cartman, Butters, Tweak and others chant “6, 7.” The season’s arc has exposed Satan’s affair with Donald Trump, revealed Satan’s pregnancy, and brought both through a portal after a cursed Labubu summoning, while a recent bottle episode centered on Israel-Gaza and Kyle’s mom. It’s episode six of Season 27; more dates follow, with streaming on Paramount+ post-premiere.

Meta is rolling out group chats on Threads, letting users message multiple friends in a single conversation rather than separate DMs. Chats can include up to 50 followers and be renamed for easy identification, much like Facebook Messenger. The feature is launching globally except in the UK and Australia; spokesperson Alec Booker told The Verge the company aims to add those regions as quickly as possible. Upcoming updates promise better inbox controls and link-based invitations. The rollout coincides with Threads enabling messaging in the EU over the next few days, covering both one-on-one and group chats.

An arresting photograph of a rice weevil poised on a single grain of rice has won the 2025 Nikon Small World photomicrography contest, offering fresh insight into the structure and behavior of this well-known agricultural pest. The image, made by Zhang You of Yunnan, China—who also placed 15th—balances artistry and scientific rigor, he said, crediting deep entomological study and lighting. Luck helped, too: he had never seen a weevil with wings spread until finding one naturally preserved on a windowsill, a serendipitous moment underscored by the difficulty of preparing such tiny spread-wing specimens.