The Chicago White Sox, coming off one of their worst seasons, were in desperate need of offensive firepower. Adding Munetaka Murakami along with young talent will inject hope into a lineup built around cost-controlled players. Japan’s third baseman Munetaka Murakami (55) runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the United States. (File photo) (AP) The Chicago White Sox made a significant offseason move by agreeing to a two-year, $34 million contract with Japanese power hitter Munetaka Murakami. The deal, which includes a posting fee of approximately $6.575 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, is the rebuilding team’s first major free-agent signing in years. Deal Details Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old left-handed slugger, will join the White Sox on a short-term contract that will allow him to reach free agency again at age 27. The $34 million total falls well short of initial expectations, especially compared to the $90 million deal Masataka Yoshida received from the Japanese Red Sox three years ago for the all-time Japanese Red Sox player. Despite interest from several teams seeking longer, lower annual value extensions, Murakami chose the higher-paying short-term option to prove himself against MLB batters. Postage explained The White Sox owe the Swallows a postage fee for signing Murakami. Here is the official placement fee structure: Contract worth less than $25 million: 20% of contract value Contract worth $25 million to $50 million: $5 million plus 17.5% of the amount over $25 million Contract worth over $50 million: $9.275 million plus 15% of the amount over $50 million For Murakami’s calculation for $4 million is straight for $4 million: 17.5% of ($34 million – $25 million) = $5 million + 17.5% of $9 million = $5 million + $1.575 million = $6.575 million. Munetaka Murakami’s impressive NPB track record Munetaka Murakami has been one of Japan’s leading power hitters since breaking into the league as an 18-year-old. Over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows, he compiled 246 home runs, a .270/.394/.557 slash line, and a walk rate of over 16%. His breakout came in 2022 when he hit 56 home runs, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s long-standing single-season record for a Japanese-born player. Even in an injury-shortened 2025 campaign, Murakami launched 22 homers in just 56 games while posting a .273/.379/.663 line despite elbow surgery and an oblique strain. His career average of 42.6 home runs per 162 games highlights the elite’s raw power, with 90th percentile exit velocities that would have ranked fifth in MLB last season. Boost for White Sox Rebuild The White Sox, coming off one of their worst seasons, were in desperate need of offensive firepower. Adding Murakami along with young talents like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth will inject hope into a lineup built around cost-controlled players. Murakami’s international experience includes a clutch game-winning double for Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic semifinal against Mexico. White Sox fans can now look forward to seeing his highlight reel power in Chicago as the team continues its patient rebuild.

Morocco opens 35th Africa Cup of Nations with spectacular light show Morocco opens 35th Africa Cup of Nations tournament with spectacular light show RABAT, Morocco (AP) – Excited red-and-green-clad fans took to the stadium hours before kick-off as Morocco opened the 35th Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday. The party started the night before with a parade of fans through the capital, Rabat. Winter showers could not spoil the mood. Beninese artist Angélique Kidjo, Moroccan singer Jaylann and French-Moroccan rapper Lartiste performed the tournament’s official song for the first time during a spectacular light show for the opening ceremony on Sunday. “This will be the best Africa Cup ever!” FIFA President Gianni Infantino proclaimed in French as he stood next to a portrait of Moroccan King Mohammed VI. The Atlas Lions, as the home team is known, are among the favorites for what would be only their second African Cup title 50 years after their only success in 1976. The final is January 18 next year. They begin their campaign against island nation Comoros, a team ranked 108th in the world and making their second appearance in the competition. “It’s an excellent game, an extraordinary opportunity to get to know our team, our country,” Comoros coach Stefano Cusin said. “It’s going to be a great night of football.” No host has lost the opening game of the tournament since Burkina Faso in 1998. Morocco is the highest-ranked African team at number 11. The Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, and the country has embarked on one of the most aggressive infrastructure builds in African history to establish itself as a sporting player. The Kingdom will also be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The opening match was to be played in Rabat’s renovated 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, one of nine venues in six cities built or renovated for the tournament. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was named among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury. He showed off his African Footballer of the Year trophy to fans before kick-off in the opening match. The mascot for the tournament is a lion named Assad, inspired by the barbarian lions that once roamed the mountains of North Africa. The last known photograph of a wild lion in Morocco was taken by French army photographer Marcelin Flandrin from a flight over the Atlas Mountains in 1925. Egypt was due to begin its bid for a record-extending eighth title – and Mohamed Salah’s first – against Zimbabwe in Agadir on Monday. Defending champions Ivory Coast begin their title defense against Mozambique in Marrakech on Wednesday. Senegal and five-time champions Cameroon are also among the favourites, while Algeria is the only other country besides Morocco where all its matches are sold out. The future of the biennial tournament took a turn on Saturday with the announcement that it will move to a four-year cycle to align with the FIFA calendar. ___

A birthday celebration turned humorous when a delivery mix-up led to ‘leave at security’ being thrown on a cake. This incident went viral on social media, with many users sharing similar relatable experiences of delivery mishaps. Zomato made a hilarious mistake while delivering a person’s birthday cake. A birthday celebration took an unexpectedly humorous turn after a restaurant misread delivery instructions and turned them into a message written on a cake. Zomato causes hilarious confusion with a birthday cake The incident, which has since gone viral on social media, highlights how a small digital mess-up can quickly become an internet moment. The video was shared on Instagram by a woman named Nakshatra, who documented the surprise during her birthday celebration. In the caption, she explained what went wrong, writing: “So it was my birthday. My friend ordered cake from @zomato and the cake guy literally said ‘left at security’. (sic)” The phrase, which was only intended as a delivery instruction, ended up being carefully thrown onto the cake. In the clip, Nakshatra holds the cake and looks visibly confused as her friends laugh in the background. The camera then zooms in on the cake and clearly shows the words “leave at security” written on top. The contrast between the formal instruction and the festive environment adds to the comic effect. The video quickly gained traction online, with many users saying they were surprised but not completely shocked by the mistake. Several viewers shared similar experiences in the comments, turning the post into a thread of related delivery mishaps. Netizens react to the confusion One user wrote: “Haha, Zomato never fails on their delivery instructions (sic).” Another recalled a comparable incident and said: “I once wrote in the Zomato instructions section – write ‘happy birthday mom’ and they wrote ‘write happy birthday mom’. (sic)” A third person wrote: “Happy birthday leave at security (sic).” A fourth person said: “As soon as I wrote handle with care… They wrote the same (sic).” Another person wrote: “They made you all smile and laugh with a dash of shock (sic).” While one user wrote, “It was my sister’s anniversary. I mentioned that I wanted a happy birthday topper, not a happy birthday. the said my sister on the cake and sent a happy birthday topper for it (sic),” another wrote, “We once ordered a cake and they asked what name should be on the cake? We said Ameer should be the cake. And we wrote the cake on the cake… (sic).” Rather than dampening the occasion, the mistake seemed to add to the celebration. Many users noted that the unexpected message made the birthday more memorable and gave the group a story to laugh about. The clip is a reminder that even simple mistakes can create moments of shared humor, especially in the age of food delivery apps and social media.

The polls to 246 municipal councils and 42 village panchayats were held in two phases on December 2 and 20, and the final figures were announced by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday evening. BJP Maharashtra President Ravindra Chavan and party leader celebrate after winning the Maharashtra local body elections, at BJP headquarters in Nariman Point, in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. 207 of the 288 vacancies and narrowing the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi to a mere 44. The polls to 246 municipal councils and 42 towns were held in two phases on December 2 and 20, and the final figures were released by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday night after showing a clear victory in the evening. See how many seats won by BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress and other parties A total of 288 posts of presidents of municipal councils were up for grabs. In the Mahayuti, the BJP won 117 posts, the Shiv Sena won 53, and the NCP won 37. The opposition fared poorly, with the Congress on 28, the Shiv Sena (UBT) nine and the NCP (SP) seven. Other parties registered with the SEC won four seats, while 28 seats were won by registered but unrecognized political parties. The remaining five were meanwhile won by independents. ‘Trailer’ for upcoming polls As trends showed a clear victory for the Mahayuti, celebrations broke out in the Mahayuti camp. Commenting on the victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the people of Maharashtra and the alliance’s workers on the ground. “Maharashtra stands firm with development! Grateful to the people of Maharashtra for blessing the BJP and Mahayuti in the Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections. This reflects confidence in our vision of people-centric development. We remain committed to work with renewed energy to fulfill the aspirations of every citizen across the state,” he said. “I commend the BJP and Mahayuti Karyakartas for their hard work at the grassroots level,” Modi added. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also wrote a long thank you to the people and the alliance’s leaders and workers, calling the victory a trailer for things to follow. “The people of Maharashtra have once again reaffirmed their unwavering faith in the visionary leadership of Hon Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, along with the leadership of BJP National President and Hon Union Minister JP Nadda ji and BJP National Working President Nitin Nabin ji, paving the way for the BJP’s historic victory,” Fadnavis said. “This victory is just a teaser of what we will see in the upcoming Municipal Corporation elections,” Fadnavis said. Former CM Eknath Shinde and NCP chief Ajit Pawar also hailed the victory, as did Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Reactions in the MVA camp, meanwhile, were muted, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claiming that money power had won the elections for the Mahayuti. “These days, elections are not held as elections, they are auctioned. Elections should not even be held. The way money was brought into elections, votes were bought, and power was misused,” he told ANI. “This is the first time I have seen the CM and Dy CMs campaigning for the local elections… The municipality whose budget is ₹30 crores, around ₹150 crores has been spent on campaigns,” Raut added. Get latest real-time updates Stay updated with latest trends, India, world and US news. Business NewsNewsIndia Maharashtra local polls final results: see how many seats won by BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress and other parties More

Team India took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, highlighting their seamless transition to T20I glory after the World Cup. The series continues in Visakhapatnam before moving to Thiruvananthapuram. India’s Jemimah Rodrigues plays a shot during the first Women’s T20I cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Visakhapatnam.(PTI) India’s women’s cricket team kicked off their five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a dominant eight-wicket win in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (Dec 21). The hosts, fresh from their historic World Cup win, displayed disciplined bowling and clinical batting to restrict Sri Lanka to 121/6 before chasing down the target in just 14.4 overs. Disciplined bowling sets the tone. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to field first on a batting friendly pitch which was later affected by dew. The Indian bowlers maintained tight lines, preventing Sri Lanka from building momentum. Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma impressed with her economy conceding just 16 runs in four overs without a wicket. Deepti Sharma started with a girl and ended with 1/20. Kranti Gaud picked up her first T20I wicket by dismissing Chamari Athapaththu for 15 early. Vishmi Gunaratne top scored for Sri Lanka with 39 off 43 balls, while Hasini Perera (20) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (21) offered brief resistance. A bouncer from Amanjot Kaur hit Samarawickrama’s helmet but she continued after investigations. Late impetus helped Sri Lanka reach 121/6. Smriti Mandhana’s historic milestone After 122, India lost Shafali Verma early for 9, brilliantly caught at square. However, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues steadied the ship with a partnership of 54 runs. Mandhana, who played a run-a-ball 25, became the first Indian woman and second overall to reach 4,000 T20I runs. She quickly achieved this landmark and broke records for the fastest in terms of balls faced. Her innings ended soon after, caught by Inoka Ranaweera. Jemimah Rodrigues leads the chase. Jemimah Rodrigues took charge by building an unbeaten 55-run stand with captain Harmanpreet Kaur. She showed technical precision and reached her half-century off 34 balls with elegant boundaries. She finished unbeaten on 69 off 44 deliveries, guiding India home with 32 balls to spare. Kaur supported well, rotating strike and surviving an early LBW appeal. This win gives India a 1-0 lead, highlighting their seamless transition to T20I glory after the World Cup. The series continues in Visakhapatnam before moving to Thiruvananthapuram. Key performances and short scores Player of the Match: Jemimah Rodrigues for her match-winning knock. Sri Lanka: 121/6 (Gunaratne 39, Madavi 21) India: 122/2 in 14.4 overs (Rodrigues 69*, Mandhana 25)

From Hollywood stars to supermodels, many famous faces have twins, but not all of them grew up together in the limelight. From Scarlett Johansson to Noah Schnapp: Celebrities You Didn’t Know Had Twin Siblings (Getty Images via AFP) Celebrity siblings are nothing new. From the Hemsworth brothers to the Jonas trio, many stars share both family ties and careers. But celebrity twins are a rarer story altogether. Some twins built their fame side by side, like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who became a single brand in the public eye. Others look so similar that fans still struggle to tell them apart on screen. Then there are celebrities whose twins live far from fame, work regular jobs and stay out of the limelight. Here’s a closer look at famous faces who have twins you might not know about. Scarlett and Hunter Johansson Scarlett Johansson, known for her roles in blockbuster movies and the Marvel universe, has a twin brother, Hunter. Hunter is not a celebrity, but an activist who founded the nonprofit Solar Responders, which helped first responders. Speaking to Parade, Scarlett describes him as “her other half” and says he has always inspired her to be a better person. Growing up with their older siblings in New York, the twins shared a normal childhood, far from the fame Scarlett now enjoys. Chloe and Noah Schnapp For those who don’t know, your favorite “Stranger Things” star Noah Schnapp has a twin sister, Chloe. Noah recently celebrated her birthday by calling her “best friends forever and ever.” The pair share a close relationship, even though only one of them is in the limelight. Ashton and Michael Kutcher Actor Ashton Kutcher has a twin brother, Michael, who has faced significant health challenges, including cerebral palsy. Michael revealed in a 2012 Associated Press interview that he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age three and later underwent the heart transplant at 13. In a TODAY Parents interview in May, he said that Ashton “did me the biggest favor … because he allowed me to be myself.” Ashton, in turn, admires Michael’s “relentless work ethic and deep compassion,” noting how his brother’s actions inspire him every day. Rami and Sami Malek Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek has a twin brother named Sami, who works as a teacher. The twins share a playful side, sometimes switching roles for fun when they were younger. In an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Rami recalled jokingly saying “we did bad things,” recalling that they were born identical but began to diverge in their late teens. Over time, the twins have become less identical, but their bond remains strong. Gisele and Patricia Bündchen Supermodel Gisele Bündchen has a twin sister named Patricia. Gisele often calls Patricia her best friend and celebrates their milestones together. Gisele celebrates her twin sister, Patricia, who she calls her “twin and best friend” as they share milestones together. Even after decades, the sisters maintain a close relationship, showing how twins can be lifelong companions. FAQ 1. Who do most fans know of as some famous twins? Some lesser-known celebrity twins include Hunter Johansson, Michael Kutcher, Sami Malek, Patricia Bündchen, and Chloe Schnapp. 2. Do all famous twins work in entertainment? No, very famous twins live private lives. Some, like Sami Malek and Hunter Johansson, have regular jobs and are not public figures, while others are building careers alongside their famous siblings.

Jakarta – Serang Regent Ratu Rachmatuzakiyah said he will immediately coordinate with related parties to normalize the river as an effort to deal with flooding. Zakiyah said that his party is working with the Cidanau, Ciujung, Cidurian River Region Center (BBWSC3) and the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to review the technical implementation in the field. “The information is that BBWSC3 looked here, maybe later we will ask for help to lower the excavator in this area, to normalize the river first for the first phase,” said Zakiyah when he directly inspected the flood location in Kajeroan Village, Ranca Sanggal Village, in Serang, as reported by Antara, Monday (22/12/2025). During the visit, Ratu Zakiyah, accompanied by the acting head of the public works and public housing service (DPUPR) Feriyanto and head of the social service, Yadi Priyadi Rochdian, walked through puddles of water about 50 cm high to monitor the condition of residents who survived since the flood hit on Wednesday (17/12). Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT “Very concerned, it is a pity that all the activities of the residents have been stopped due to the flood conditions. We have seen the situation, there are some who do not want to be evacuated because they are worried that their property will be lost,” he said. Apart from focusing on the physical handling of the river, Zakiyah also ensures that logistics for residents are met. He instructed the volunteer team and BPBD to deliver food directly to the homes of residents who could not be evacuated, especially the elderly and sick residents. “I submit to the town and BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency), we must ensure that residents get enough food. Later ask for it to be delivered to the place or to the resident’s home,” he stressed. The Serang Regency government has also set up a public kitchen to serve the food needs of all affected residents. Zakiyah also asked the Social Service to draw up a forecast budget plan (FBP) if extreme weather continues. “We hope, our prayers are that it will not rain heavily again, it will recede quickly so residents can return to their homes,” he said. Thousands of people affected The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Serang Regency, Banten Province, recorded that the hydrometeorological disaster hit 21 villages spread across nine sub-districts in the Serang region. This disaster occurred as a result of extreme weather during 16-19 December 2025. Member of the Serang Regency BPBD Operations Control Center (Pusdalops), Jhoni Ewangga in Serang, Sunday, said that the type of disasters that occurred included floods, extreme weather and land movement. “The impact of this incident resulted in 1,295 family heads (KK) or 4,449 people being affected. There were no deaths, but vulnerable groups such as 221 elderly and 456 toddlers also felt the impact,” says Jhoni as reported by Antara, Sunday (21/12). Jhoni explained that the nine sub-districts affected were Padarincang, Cinangka, Gunungsari, Ciruas, Pontang, Bojonegara, Mancak, Waringinkurung and Kramatwatu. Apart from submerging residential areas, the disaster damaged 1,159 residential units and a number of public facilities, including the Rohudhotul Mutaqin Islamic Residence, the Al-Muhajirin Jami Mosque and the One Roof School building in Cikedung. (fca/fca)

Jakarta – The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Serang Regency, Banten Province has recorded that hydrometeorological disasters have hit 21 villages spread across nine sub-districts in the Serang area. This disaster occurred as a result of extreme weather during 16-19 December 2025. Member of the Serang Regency BPBD Operations Control Center (Pusdalops), Jhoni Ewangga, said the types of disasters that occurred included floods, extreme weather and land movement. “The impact of this incident resulted in 1,295 family heads (KK) or 4,449 people being affected. There were no deaths, but vulnerable groups such as 221 elderly and 456 toddlers also felt the impact,” says Jhoni as reported by Antara, Sunday (21/12/2025). Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT Jhoni explained that the nine sub-districts affected were Padarincang, Cinangka, Gunungsari, Ciruas, Pontang, Bojonegara, Mancak, Waringinkurung and Kramatwatu. Apart from submerging residential areas, the disaster damaged 1,159 residential units and a number of public facilities, including the Rohudhotul Mutaqin Islamic Residence, the Al-Muhajirin Jami Mosque and the One Roof School building in Cikedung. “The main cause is moderate to heavy rains with high intensity accompanied by strong winds that fell over the Serang Regency area,” he said. On current conditions, Jhoni said that most of the flood affected areas have started to become favorable. In Rancasanggal Village, Cinangka District, the water level (TMA) was reported to have dropped to 5-40 cm, while in Sukamaju Village, Citasuk Village, the water receded by 5-15 cm. “Residents affected in various flood locations have started returning home. Refugee tents in Cigelam Village have also been demolished because the situation is safe,” he explained. BPBD Serang Regency recommends establishing emergency alert status which can be upgraded to emergency response according to analysis in the field. His party also appealed for early vigilance as weather forecasts show that there is still the potential for moderate to heavy rain in the eastern part of Serang Regency. “Current urgent needs for residents include cleaning equipment, sleeping mats, ready-to-eat food, basic necessities, blankets and clean water,” Jhoni concluded. (fca/fca)

Jakarta – The emergency raft carrying the Deputy Governor (Deputy Governor) of Aceh Fadhlullah Dek Fadh capsized while crossing the river. There were no casualties in the incident. Reported by detikSumut, Sunday (21/12/2025), in the video circulating, you can see how a raft is used on the Fadh deck made of wood and drums and pulled with a sling rope. There were a number of people in the raft. Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT While the raft was in the middle of the river, the raft capsized. Fadh and his retinue were submerged. People at the place panicked and ran into the water to help. “The deputy governor of Aceh and his entire entourage were successfully evacuated safely. There were no casualties in this incident,” Head of the Administrative Bureau of the Aceh Regional Secretariat, Akkar Arafat, said in his statement. Akkar said that Dek Fadh paid a working visit to the Pameu area, Central Aceh to directly observe the condition of the people affected by the flood. The group had to board a raft because access to it was cut off due to floods and landslides. “During the crossing, the emergency raft used overturned, causing the deputy governor and his entourage to fall into the river and rescue efforts were immediately carried out,” Akkar said. Read more here. (fca/fca)

Jakarta – Indonesian DPR members Atalia Praratya and Ridwan Kamil have agreed to divorce. The two of them decided to end their marriage after Atalia filed a divorce case at the Bandung Religious Court (PA). In the midst of her divorce process that attracted public attention, Atalia was present at the inauguration of the first Bandung-Semarang flight route at Husein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung City. The media team tried to ask him for information about the divorce case. Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT However, Atalia chose to remain silent. Reluctant to answer journalists’ questions, he walked away and went straight into his private car. “Akang, you are welcome. Ask for prayers, brother,” was a short sentence Atalia uttered at Husein Sastranegara Airport, as reported by detikJabar. Atalia and Ridwan Kamil’s agreement to divorce was announced directly by their two teams of lawyers in Bandung. The two of them underwent mediation and agreed to end their marriage. Read more here. (fca/isa)