zbet game Brazil shares higher at close of trade; Bovespa up 1.40%It’s Thursday, meaning week 12 of the 2024 NFL season is officially underway. Tonight, it’ll be Pittsburgh vs Cleveland on TNF. Then on Sunday (noon), the Minnesota Vikings will play on the road vs the (4-6) Chicago Bears. If the purple can fly out of the Windy City with a victory in hand, they’d stretch their current win-streak to four and it’d be their 5th straight win in Chicago. That’s right, the Vikings are on a four-game winning streak at Soldier Field, dating all the way back to 2020. Want more good news? The team got healthier today. After Sam Darnold (Foot), and Jonathan Bullard (Toe) were listed as “Limited” on the Minnesota Vikings injury report yesterday, both players were “Full” participants on Thursday, relieving any lingering concerns that Darnold could be a surprise scratch vs the Bears. Week 12 Minnesota Vikings injury report looks healthier Thursday The only player who did no practice in full today was TE Josh Oliver (Wrist/Ankle), who was a “DNP” for the 2nd-straight day. In all likelihood, Oliver will not play this weekend, though his injuries are not reported to be season-threatening. Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/hTJjgPGZfX A win on Sunday afternoon would mean a gawdy 9-2 record, for the Minnesota Vikings, which would put continued pressure on the NFC North leading Detroit Lions, who most see as, far and away, the best team in the NFL this season. But this is the National Football League. If the Vikings can stay healthy, and figure out a few things on both sides of the football, anything can happen, down the stretch. Remember, Minnesota and Detroit play each other in the 2024 season finale. It’s still very possible a division title and No. 1 seed in the NFC are both on the line. Of course, the Minnesota Vikings injury report will have to remain clean, in order for that dream to become reality. So far, so good, in week 12. This article first appeared on Minnesota Sports Fan and was syndicated with permission.

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Op-Ed | This year, spare a thought for a new way of givingFeeling let down by Yellowstone Season 5? Try these 3 TV shows instead

The holiday season took a turn for the worse for some Nintendo Switch owners as they discovered a number of beloved Cartoon Network games had vanished from the eShop. Titles like Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time, OK K.O.! Let’s Play Heroes, and both Steven Universe RPGs (Save the Light and Unleash the Light) were suddenly unavailable for purchase as of December 23rd, 2024. This digital disappearance follows a similar incident from July 2024 where Adult Swim titles were also delisted. While no official statement has been released by Warner Bros. Discovery, Cartoon Network Games, or Adult Swim Games, speculation abounds. Some theories point to licensing issues, while others suggest it may be related to the recent wave of layoffs and cost-cutting measures at Warner Bros. Discovery. Whatever the reason, the sudden removal has left many fans disappointed and wondering about the future of these games on the platform. The Missing Titles Here’s a rundown of the Cartoon Network games that have been confirmed as removed from the Nintendo Switch eShop: A Growing Trend? This isn’t the first time digital games have suddenly disappeared from online stores. Earlier this month, Sega pulled several of its own titles from various platforms. The increasing frequency of these removals raises concerns about the long-term availability and preservation of digital games. Unlike physical media, digital purchases can be rendered inaccessible due to licensing agreements, server closures, or company decisions, as seen in this instance. What This Means for Players If you already purchased any of these Cartoon Network games, you should still be able to redownload and play them. However, those who were hoping to add them to their collection are now out of luck. The delisting not only limits access for new players but also potentially impacts the games’ communities and future updates. The Future of Digital Ownership The delisting of these Cartoon Network games highlights the ongoing debate surrounding digital ownership in the gaming industry. While digital storefronts offer convenience and a vast library of titles, events like this remind us that our access to these games can be precarious. Many gamers are now advocating for greater transparency and consumer rights when it comes to digital purchases. They argue that companies should provide clearer information about the potential for game removals and offer options for offline play or alternative access in such situations. My Personal Take As an avid gamer and someone who writes about gaming trends, this news is both disappointing and concerning. I’ve always been a fan of Cartoon Network shows, and I enjoyed playing some of these titles on the Switch. It’s frustrating to see them disappear without any clear explanation, especially during the holidays. This situation emphasizes the need for better communication between publishers and consumers. While I understand that licensing and business decisions can be complex, a simple heads-up about upcoming delistings would go a long way in maintaining trust and goodwill with players. Moreover, it raises questions about the longevity of our digital game libraries . Will we still have access to our favorite titles years down the line? Or will they vanish without a trace? These are issues that the gaming industry needs to address as digital distribution becomes the dominant model. Looking Ahead It remains to be seen whether these Cartoon Network games will ever return to the Switch eShop. Perhaps Warner Bros. Discovery will reconsider their decision or offer an alternative way to access them. In the meantime, fans can only hope for more transparency and a greater focus on preserving digital games for future generations.Ursid meteor shower 2024: How and when you can witness this year's last celestial showOp-Ed | This year, spare a thought for a new way of giving

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NoneNASSAU, Bahamas — Jeremy Roach made a 3-pointer at the buzzer, and No. 13. Baylor rallied from five points down in the final 18 seconds of the second overtime to beat No. 22 St. John's 99-98 on Thursday night at the Baha Mar Championship. St. John's led 98-93 when Deivon Smith made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left. The Bears cut it to two on VJ Edgecombe's 3-pointer and then fouled the Red Storm's Zuby Ejiofor, who missed both free throws. Norchad Omier rebounded the second miss with 4.1 seconds left, dribbled up the floor and passed to Roach. The Duke transfer elevated over Smith and swished the game-winning 3. Omier had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Roach scored 20 points for the Bears (4-1), who rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit. Roach's 3 gave Baylor a 77-74 lead late in regulation, but Kadary Richmond's jumper with 7 seconds left sent the game to overtime. Ejiofor had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, and Aaron Scott scored 20 points for St. John's (4-1). Takeaways St. John’s: The Red Storm showed they could play elite defense, especially in the first half. They held the Bears to 36.7% shooting as they took a 44-30 lead at the break. Baylor: The Bears stormed back thanks to 10 3-pointers in the second half and the two extra periods. Key moment Richmond made a pair of free throws with 25 seconds left in the first OT and Roach missed a jumper at the buzzer. Key stat Despite being even in the rebounding battle, Baylor outscored St. John’s 22-8 in second-chance points. Up next Baylor faces the winner of Thursday night’s late game between No. 11 Tennessee and Virginia in the championship game Friday night. St. John's will play in Friday's consolation game.

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A founding member of the Village People and long-time critic of Donald Trump’s use of the group’s song YMCA is changing his tune and says he would now consider performing the 70s anthem at the president-elect’s upcoming inauguration. Victor Willis told Fox & Friends First that he would also allow the president-elect to continue using the song at events. “I decided to allow the president-elect’s continued use of YMCA because he seems to genuinely, genuinely like the song, and so many other artists were stopping him from using their music,” Willis told Fox Thursday. Willis had for years demanded that Trump stop using the song, which is widely regarded as a popular gay anthem often performed by the distinctively outfitted Village People , an odd choice for a man opposed to the LGBTQ community. Willis added: “I decided to contact BMI [Broadcast Music, Inc.] and told them not to terminate his political use license because he seemed to be bringing so much joy to the American people with his use of YMCA .” Trump’s wooden dance moves to the song have gone viral across social media and even prompted responses in the world of sports. Willis sang and co-wrote the tune, and now says Trump’s use of it has contributed to it hitting the sales charts again 46 years after its initial release. The founding member of the Village People previously condemned Trump’s use of the song as well as Macho Man. He earlier said that the group would prefer the song be “kept out of politics.” But YMCA’s comeback has led some to speculate that the band may perform at Trump’s inauguration in January. “If you were to ask me today if the Village People would perform at the inauguration, I would probably say not because we’d be concerned about endorsement” of Trump, Willis told Fox. “However, because the president-elect has done so much for YMCA and brought so much joy to so many people, the song has actually gone back to number one [in sales], and it’s still number one today, so if he were to ask the Village People to perform the song live for him, we’d have to seriously consider it,” he added. He noted: “The financial benefits have been great ... YMCA is estimated to have grossed several million dollars since the President Elect’s continued use of the song. Therefore, I’m glad I allowed the President Elect’s continued use of YMCA ., And I thank him for choosing to use my song.” Willis has rejected the notion that the song is a gay anthem. He urged those thinking the song isn’t intended as straight to “get their minds out of the gutter.” “Come January 2025, my wife will start suing each and every news organization that falsely refers to YMCA , either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that YMCA is somehow a gay anthem because such notion is based solely on the song’s lyrics alluding to elicit [sic] activity for which it does not,” he declared on Facebook. The song’s lyrics refer to young men new in a city heading to the YMCA gym and rooming to “hang out with all the boys” and “do whatever you feel.” But Willis argued on Facebook that the line “you can hang out with all the boys” is “simply 1970s Black slang for Black guys hanging out together for sports, gambling or whatever. There’s nothing gay about that,” he insisted. But, he added: “I don’t mind that gays think of YMCA as their anthem.”

Kecam Technologies Ltd, an innovator in technology solutions, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Foxit, a globally recognised provider of advanced document and digital signing solutions. This collaboration aims to introduce Foxit eSign to a broader market across Africa, enabling businesses and organizations to adopt secure, seamless, and efficient digital document signing processes. Kecam Technologies Ltd has built a reputation as a trusted provider of IT solutions, offering services in areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. With a strong commitment to prioritising customer needs, the company empowers organizations to achieve their operational goals through cutting-edge technology solutions tailored to meet modern business demands. Foxit eSign is an advanced platform designed to revolutionize the document signing process by eliminating the inefficiencies of traditional paperwork. The platform helps businesses reduce operational costs, comply with international security standards, and enhance overall efficiency. Its intuitive user interface and ability to integrate with various systems make it an ideal solution for organizations of all sizes and industries. This partnership represents a significant milestone for Kecam Technologies in its mission to deliver transformative solutions to clients across diverse industries and regions. By adding Foxit eSign to its portfolio, the company is equipping businesses with the tools they need to transition seamlessly into the digital age while maintaining a strong focus on security and usability. The solution incorporates legally binding digital signatures compliant with international standards like eIDAS and ESIGN, encrypted document handling for enhanced data security, seamless integration with popular tools such as Microsoft 365 and Salesforce, and an intuitive design that ensures a smooth user experience. Bonny Mekwunye, vice chairman of Kecam Technologies Ltd, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Foxit in introducing their industry-leading eSign technology to our customers and through authorised valued added resellers across Nigeria and many African countries. This partnership underscores our commitment to driving innovation and providing solutions that enable businesses to operate more effectively and securely in an increasingly digital world while strengthening relationships with our channel partners.” Miguel Crux of Foxit highlighted the synergy between the two companies, saying, “Kecam Technologies’ deep understanding of client needs, channel management expertise, and dedication to delivering state-of-the-art technology make them the perfect partner for expanding Foxit eSign’s reach across Africa. Together, we aim to redefine how businesses handle document management and digital signatures.” Foxit, a global leader in secure document solutions, is renowned for its innovative tools for PDF editing, document security, and digital signatures. Trusted by millions worldwide, Foxit’s solutions enhance productivity and safeguard sensitive information, making them a preferred choice for businesses seeking reliability and excellence in document management.By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS NEW YORK (AP) — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you . In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger tries to scan a ticket ahead of their assigned group. This new software won’t accept a boarding pass before the group it’s assigned to is called, so customers who get to the gate prematurely will be asked to go back and wait their turn. As of Wednesday, the airline announced, the technology is now being used in more than 100 U.S. airports that American flies out of. The official expansion arrives after successful tests in three of these locations — Albuquerque International Sunport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Tucson International Airport. The initial response from customers and American employees “has exceeded our expectations,” Julie Rath, American’s senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery, said in a statement. She added that the airline is “thrilled” to have the technology up and running ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday . American got lots of attention when it unveiled its gate-control testing last month. Analysts say that isn’t surprising. It’s no secret that line cutting in airports hits a nerve. Whether intentional or not, just about every air traveler has witnessed it, noted Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. It can add to frustrations in what can already be a tense environment, with particular anxiety around passengers wanting to sit together or rushing for some overhead bin space. Harteveldt doesn’t see American’s recent move as “shaming” customers who cut the line. “What it is intended to do is bring order out of chaos,” he said. “And I hope it will defuse any potential flare ups of anger (from) people who simply think they’re entitled to board out of turn .... It’s just not fair.” Harteveldt added that he thinks this change will enhance the experiences of both customers and gate agents. Others say more time will tell. Seth Miller, editor and founder of air travel experience analysis site PaxEx.aero, said he can see the benefits of more orderly and universal gate-control enforcement, particularly for airlines. But he said he isn’t “100% convinced this is perfect for passengers” just yet. Families, for example, might be booked on several different reservations across more than one group, he said. Airlines typically have workarounds for that, and American noted Wednesday that customers traveling with a companion in an earlier group can simply have a gate agent “override the alert” to continue boarding. Still, Miller said, “you have to go through the extra hoops.” And a difficult customer still might choose to hold up the line and argue when they’re not allowed to board, he added. Another question is whether customers who encounter a beep will walk away feeling embarrassed. But Harteveldt said he was happy to learn that American’s alert is “not a bellowing sound that can be heard throughout the terminal,” or accompanied by your name read over a loudspeaker, noting that this is important to avoid feelings of shame. Expanding this technology just a week before peak Thanksgiving travel could be “both good and bad,” Harteveldt adds. On one hand, the tech could help significantly improve the boarding process during such a busy time, he said, but airport employees might also have appreciated more time to prepare. Both Miller and Harteveldt said they wouldn’t be surprised if other carriers soon follow American’s lead. Headaches over airport line cutting are far from new. While maybe not to the extent of American’s new tech, Miller noted he’s seen gate agents from other airlines ask people to leave a line and wait for their group. Harteveldt added that he’s been to some airports in Asia and Europe with “sliding doors” that ensure passengers are in the right group before boarding a plane. The more than 100 airports that American is now using its gate-control technology in are all spoke, or non-hub, locations — including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The airline says it expects to further expand to its hubs and other airports in the coming months.The Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officers should be the stewards of the State’s wealth and promoters of its opportunities, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayn has said. He was speaking after inaugurating the KAS Day celebration and the first-anniversary meeting of the Kerala Administrative Service Officers Association here on Sunday. The KAS officers were appointed in various departments to bring about progressive changes. The KAS is not a means to preside over the continuation of the old projects and schemes. On the contrary, the KAS officers are meant to break new ground for changes, he said. As the first batch of the KAS, the government has stood by the difficulties faced by the officials. The government has intervened to a large extent in the service problems faced by the officials, said the Chief Minister. He added that the government will immediately take measures to address the rest of the issues faced by them. The process regarding the amendment of the special rule will be completed expeditiously. Along with this, the government will also examine the possibility of providing periodic training to the KAS officers on the model of the All India Services. The KAS officials should try to turn insignificant departments into significant ones, said Mr. Vijayan while praising the interventions made by the officials in the meetings of the G20 summit and events like Keraleeyam and Navakerala Sadas. Both the State government and the public have high expectations of the KAS officials. They should nurture a positive attitude towards matters related to the people. The Chief Minister also said that maximum care should be taken to reduce the delay in taking decisions on files by using advanced technologies. The process of recruiting the next batch of KAS officers is in the final stage. As the first KAS batch, the officers have to set an example for the coming batches, he said. Governance should be done giving due respect to democracy. “We need a bureaucratic society guided by progressive secular values. A new work culture with an accountable approach is essential for working constructively. The government has introduced some new perspectives in the field of governance. The officers should have the qualities like adaptability, empathetic behaviour, awareness of civil rights, and confidence to work constructively,” he added. Published - December 22, 2024 07:42 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit