Barcelona Considering Free Signing Son Heung-min Next Summer to Strengthen Forward Line and Expand Asian MarketYPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) — On a damp Wednesday night with temperatures dipping into the 30s, fans in sparsely filled stands bundled up to watch Buffalo beat Eastern Michigan 37-30 on gray turf. The lopsided game was not particularly notable, but it was played on one of the nights the Mid-American Conference has made its own: A weeknight. “A lot of the general public thinks we play all of our games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not just some of them in November,” MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a telephone interview this week. “What it has done is help take what was a pretty darned good regional conference and has given it a national brand and made it a national conference.” When the conference has played football games on ESPN or ESPN2 over the last two seasons, the linear television audience has been 10 times larger than when conference schools meet on Saturdays and get lost in the shuffle when viewers have many more choices. The most-watched MAC game over the last two years was earlier this month on a Wednesday night when Northern Illinois won at Western Michigan and there were 441,600 viewers, a total that doesn’t include streaming that isn’t captured by Nielsen company. During the same span, the linear TV audience has been no larger than 46,100 to watch two MAC teams play on Saturdays. “Having the whole nation watching on Tuesday and Wednesday night is a huge deal for the MAC,” Eastern Michigan tight end Jere Getzinger said. “Everybody wants to watch football so if you put it on TV on a Tuesday or Wednesday, people are going to watch.” ESPN has carried midweek MAC football games since the start of the century. ESPN and the conference signed a 13-year extension a decade ago that extends their relationship through at least the 2026-27 season. The conference has made the most of the opportunities, using MACtion as a tag on social media for more than a decade and it has become a catchy marketing term for the Group of Five football programs that usually operate under the radar in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and New York. Attendance does tend to go down with weeknight games, keeping some students out of stadiums because they have class or homework and leading to adults staying away home because they have to work the next morning. “The tradeoff is the national exposure,” Buffalo coach Pete Lembo said. “You know November nights midweek the average fan is going to park on the couch, have a bowl of chips and salsa out in front, and watch the game from there." When the Bulls beat Ball State 51-48 in an overtime thriller on a Tuesday night earlier this month, the announced attendance was 12,708 and that appeared to be generous. There were many empty seats after halftime. “You watch the games on TV, the stadiums all look like this,” Buffalo fan Jeff Wojcicki said. “They are not packed, but it’s the only game on, and you know where to find it.” Sleep and practice schedules take a hit as well, creating another wave of challenges for students to attend class and coaches to prepare without the usual rhythm of preparing all week to play on Saturday. “Last week when we played at Ohio in Athens, we had a 4-four bus ride home and got home at about 3:30 a.m.,” Eastern Michigan center Broderick Roman said. “We still had to go to class and that was tough, but it's part of what you commit to as an athlete.” That happens a lot in November when the MAC shifts its unique schedule. During the first two weeks of the month, the conference had 10 games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays exclusively. This week, there were five games on Tuesday and Wednesday while only one was left in the traditional Saturday slot with Ball State hosting Bowling Green. Next week, Toledo plays at Akron and Kent State visits Buffalo on Tuesday night before the MAC schedule wraps up with games next Friday and Saturday to determine which teams will meet in the conference title game on Dec. 7 in Detroit. In all, MAC teams will end up playing about 75% of their games on a Saturday and the rest on November weeknights. When the Eagles wrapped up practice earlier this week, two days before they played the Bulls, tight end Jere Getzinger provided some insight into the effects of the scheduling quirk. “It's Monday, but for us it's like a Thursday,” he said. Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler said he frankly has a hard time remembering what day it is when the schedule shift hits in November. “The entire week gets turned upside down,” Loeffler said. “It’s wild, but it’s great for the league because there’s two days a week this time of year that people around the country will watch MAC games.” AP freelance writer Jonah Bronstein contributed to this report. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today announced a new multi-year, franchise partnership with Myntra Jabong India Private, Ltd., Myntra’s business-to-business wholesale entity (Myntra Jabong), to expand the global reach of its brands in India. Over the life of the franchise agreement, Myntra Jabong will build a brick-and-mortar retail store presence in the country, regional e-commerce sites and branded digital storefronts operated by a network of licensed and independent third parties. As one of India’s leading players in the fashion and lifestyle space, Myntra Jabong is well-positioned to help grow A&F Co.’s brands across the country and deliver a seamless, shopping experience. Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., said, “With the strength of A&F Co.’s brands today, we are thrilled to partner with Myntra Jabong to more deeply engage with new and existing customers in India. It’s an incredibly dynamic and diverse market, and one where we see tremendous long-term potential as we continue to pursue global brand growth.” She added, “Staying close to our customers and putting them at the center of everything we do has been the foundation of our transformation and the key to our success in recent years. In Myntra Jabong, we have found a like-minded partner whose expertise and capabilities will allow us to go to market with these same strategies in India.” Talking about the partnership, Nandita Sinha, Chief Executive Officer of Myntra, said , “We are delighted to bring the much-sought-after and iconic brands, Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, renowned for their commitment to enduring quality and exceptional comfort, to India, for our fashion-forward customers. We will apply Myntra's fashion and tech expertise to connect Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister with the country's thriving fashion audience and help them scale as we have done with numerous other global brands. The Indian lifestyle market offers potential to global brands, and we are pleased to be their preferred partner in crafting their India growth journey.” Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 This press release may contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our brands, distribution channels, and business partnerships, relate to our current assumptions, projections, and expectations about our business and future events. Any such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the company’s control. The inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by the company, or any other person, that the objectives of the company will be achieved. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “are confident,” “will,” “could,” “outlook,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by applicable law, we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Factors that may cause results to differ from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024, and otherwise in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is a global, digitally led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs. The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates 750+ stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites abercrombie.com and HollisterCo.com . About Myntra Myntra is one of the leading platforms for fashion, beauty and lifestyle in India. An integral part of the Flipkart Group, Myntra brings together technology and fashion to create the best experience for millions of its customers. Myntra offers a wide range of over 9700 brands such as MANGO, H&M, Levi’s, U.S. Polo Assn., Tommy Hilfiger, Louis Philippe, Jack & Jones, Forever 21, Marks & Spencer, MAC, Huda Beauty and Estee Lauder. With a wide reach, Myntra services over 95% of the pincodes covering the length and breadth of the country. Myntra Jabong India Private limited is a wholesale entity of Myntra.

As Evan bid farewell to China, he carried with him not only cherished memories of his travels but also a newfound love and respect for its rich culinary heritage. The tastes, smells, and textures of Chinese cuisine had captivated his heart and palate, forever shaping his relationship with food and fueling his desire to continue exploring the world, one delicious meal at a time.

Ultimately, the case of the female master's graduate being sheltered in the village has sparked a debate that raises important questions about freedom, safety, and community responsibility. As the truth behind the situation is revealed, it is hoped that lessons can be learned and efforts can be made to prevent similar incidents in the future.One of the key priorities for Guan Zhiou and the Ministry of Natural Resources will be to enhance the protection and management of natural resources, including water, land, and forests. By promoting efficient and sustainable resource utilization practices, Guan aims to address environmental challenges such as pollution, deforestation, and habitat destruction.

According to official sources, the investigation into Liu Yusheng's alleged wrongdoings is still ongoing, with details of the case remaining shrouded in secrecy. However, rumors have been circulating about possible embezzlement of hospital funds, fraudulent activities, and abuse of power during his tenure as the deputy dean of Anhui Provincial Hospital.

The 707 Special Forces unit was established with the mission of safeguarding South Korea and its citizens from external threats. Trained to operate in the most challenging and high-stakes environments, the unit earned a reputation for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to their duty. Their successful missions and impeccable track record solidified their status as one of the most respected special forces units in the world.Throughout the day, participants engaged in lively discussions, exchanged valuable insights, and networked with like-minded professionals who share a common goal of safeguarding intellectual property rights in the e-commerce ecosystem. The event provided a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, paving the way for a more secure and sustainable digital economy.Moreover, the cast and crew of "Ming Dynasty" have been actively engaging with fans through various promotional appearances and interviews, sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes and insights into the making of the show. This personal touch has helped to humanize the series and create a deeper connection between the audience and the characters they have grown to love.