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Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Victor Wembanyama plays 1-on-1 chess with fans in New York Victor Wembanyama went to a park in New York City and played 1-on-1 with fans on Saturday. He even lost a couple of games. Not in basketball, though. Wemby was playing chess. Before the San Antonio Spurs left New York for a flight to Minnesota, Wembanyama put out the call on social media: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square park to play chess? Im there,” Wembanyama wrote. It was 9:36 a.m. And people began showing up almost immediately. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Patriots QB Drake Maye returns to game after evaluation for head injury vs. Chargers FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye has returned to the game after being evaluated for a head injury following a blow to the helmet in the first quarter of New England’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession of the game when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field on his own power. He briefly sat on the bench before going to the medical tent and then the locker room. He was replaced by backup Jacoby Brissett in the next series. But Maye returned at the 10:15 mark of the second quarter. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. NBA coaches react with dismay over firing of 2-time coach of the year Mike Brown ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Not even two years ago, Rick Carlisle publicly lauded Mike Brown for the job he did on the way to winning the NBA’s coach of the year award. And on Friday, Carlisle was among the coaches reacting with dismay that Brown was fired. The Sacramento Kings dismissed Brown on Friday, with the team off to a 13-18 start this season and mired toward the bottom of the Western Conference — despite back-to-back winning seasons, something that franchise hadn’t managed in nearly two decades. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet. McCord throws for 453 yards, 5 TDs in No. 22 Syracuse's 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns to break Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference season passing record and lead No. 22 Syracuse to a 52-35 victory over depleted-yet-scrappy Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night. LeQuint Allen rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns for his second straight 1,000-yard season for the Orange (10-3), who had their first 10-win season since 2018. Fran Brown joined Paul Pasqualoni (1991) as the only Orange coaches since World War II to win 10 game in their first season. The Cougars (8-5) lost their fourth straight game but were spirited despite losing coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, quarterback John Mateer to Oklahoma, both coordinators and the quarterbacks and running backs coach. Southern California overcomes 17-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 35-31 in Las Vegas Bowl LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jayden Maiava threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Ford with eight seconds left to give Southern California a 35-31 victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night. A graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, Maiava helped the Trojans (7-6) overcome a 17-point deficit. After Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed raced 19 yards for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining to regain the lead, Maiava drove Southern California 75 yards in 10 plays for the winning score.The Aggies (8-5) opened the third quarter by scoring 17 straight points to take a 24-7 lead.A week ago, Matt Gaetz was on his way to becoming Donald Trump’s avenging angel as U.S. Attorney General, the nation’s top law enforcement official. But now that the former Florida congressman has withdrawn his nomination amid persistent questions about his involvement in a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old girl, his political prospects are not so clear put. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.The aching Steelers still control their destiny in the AFC North. Their grasp, however, is slipping
A single underwater cable supplies Beaver Island with its power. Storms, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe with climate change, have knocked out the lights for days. A maritime accident once cut electricity for months in the 600-person island 30 miles off the coast of western Michigan. What if water surrounding Beaver Island could be the key to delivering the small island with more reliable — and clean — power? Backed by a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Michigan are working with island residents to explore converting wave energy into electricity. If they’re successful, naturally occurring waves would make the remote community more resilient to climate change and mitigate climate change-fueling carbon emissions. Remote islands with compromised grid reliability are early candidates for nascent wave energy converters. Once the technology is established and costs drop, the renewable power source is expected to complement solar and wind power in urban coastal communities as well, said Vishnu Vijayasankar, a doctoral candidate leading the university’s efforts. Vicky Fingeroot, a Detroit native, began traveling to Beaver Island in 2006. “I never thought about energy or how we got it when I bought my first piece of property here back then,” she said. It wasn’t until she moved to Beaver Island full time in 2021 and experienced her first power outage that grid reliability crossed her mind. A strong storm took down multiple overhead power lines that carry electricity ashore from the underwater line. More weather was on the way, so plane and ferry services were paused. There was no way on or off the island. The local line worker who knew how to turn on the backup generator was attending an out-of-town funeral. “It was the perfect storm, no pun intended,” said Fingeroot, who was on the board of trustees for one of the island’s two townships. Left without power for several days, her community’s vulnerability was suddenly thrust in front of her. “What about the elderly who need oxygen? What were they going to do? And are there warming centers?” she recalled worrying. When the emergency diesel generator was finally turned on, it powered only the two main business roads on the north end of the island. Many residents on the island’s southern end had to rely on personal propane generators until the lines were repaired. Both diesel and propane generators are polluting technologies. The generator had been installed after an outage in winter 1999 that lasted over three months. The lake froze over, inhibiting service technicians from reaching the underwater power cable, which had been nicked by a tugboat anchor. The island had expressed interest in exploring renewable energy sources then, but the technologies were new and still expensive, said Beth Croswhite, who has lived on the island for over four decades and served in local government. The 2021 outage, an influx of clean-energy funding under the Biden administration and dramatic decreases in the cost of renewables revived conversations about renewable energy. Beaver Island was one of 12 communities selected to reenvision its energy grid with support from the Department of Energy. Much of the focus in the program so far has been on solar power. The community also was approached by researchers at the University of Michigan seeking to explore wave energy as an additional carbon-free power source. In the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, remote communities are exploring tidal energy as well. Tides — changes in water level caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon — are too small in the Great Lakes. But waves, which are caused by strong winds and changes in atmospheric pressure, are abundant in the fall and early winter. Originally from India, Vijayasankar couldn’t believe how much wave activity Lake Michigan had when he first visited in October. “I went (to the shore) during October and there was a crazy amount of waves. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was worried that our device might not be able to withstand Lake Michigan,” he said. At the most basic level, a wave energy converter uses the rise and fall of the water to move a motor. That kinetic energy gets run through a generator that converts it to the electric energy needed to power homes and businesses. Wave energy converters are less common than wind turbines and solar panels, largely because of design challenges. One design makes floating buoys that bob up and down with the crest and trough of the waves. Another depends on the crest of the waves to compress air in a chamber, forcing it up through a turbine that spins. Every model comes with pros and cons regarding myriad issues, including but not limited to storm resiliency, energy generation and marine life safety. In the design phase of the Beaver Island project, anticipated to last two years, the university researchers are hosting dinners and creating a survey to ensure their blueprint is accepted by residents. A preliminary survey showed that residents were most concerned about marine life safety, signaling to Vijayasankar that he should nix designs with exposed turbines. Researchers also will have to address resident concerns about the seasonality of waves. They’re typically stronger during the colder months until the lake freezes over. Wave energy likely will be a complement to the solar power Beaver Island is also exploring, Vijayasankar said. There may be lots of waves on stormy days when the sun isn’t shining, for example. Large-scale batteries — which scientists are racing to perfect — could help store excess wave energy produced by passing storm systems for later use. “The end goal is to make us sustainable, and I don’t see us doing it with one thing. I see us doing it with many things,” Fingeroot said. “This wave energy project, there’s certainly an openness to it.”Karachi [Pakistan], November 30, (ANI): Small traders and shopkeepers in Pakistan are deeply concerned as their sales have dropped by 70 per cent and continue to fall, driven by the economic instability caused by political unrest. All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman, Atiq Mir expressed serious concern over the declining sales, stating that markets and bazaars in Karachi have experienced a 70 per cent drop in sales compared to last year. He linked this downturn to several factors, including soaring food inflation, high energy tariffs, shrinking incomes, rising taxes, and widespread political and economic instability, Express Tribune reported. Also Read | California: Teacher Dies of Rabies After Being Bitten by Bat in Classroom at School in Dos Palos. On the other hand, e-commerce sales have been steadily increasing, driven by intense sales events like Blessed Friday, Big Friday, 11.11 sales, and others that offer substantial discounts for a limited time. He expressed concern that 80 per cent of traders and shopkeepers can no longer afford electricity bills, worker salaries, or shop rents. At the same time, he criticized the government for celebrating a fabricated surge in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), taking on excessive debt, and presenting misleading economic data, while the actual economic conditions continue to worsen in Pakistan's financial hub. Also Read | Reliance Tops Wizikey Media Visibility Rankings for 2024, Achieves 97.43 out of 100 Showing YoY Improvements. Mir urged policymakers and the Pakistan Army to step in, requesting a reduction in energy tariffs, measures to control inflation, job creation, and immediate actions to resolve political and economic instability. He also called for tighter regulation of artificial price increases for essential items like meat, milk, fruits, and vegetables, as well as the elimination of corruption and inefficiencies within government departments. Chairman of the Arambagh Markets Association, Asif Gulfam, commented, "Doing business in the current economic climate is extremely challenging, as uncertainty affects buyers, sellers, and investors--the key pillars of any business. Everyone is distressed and watching the country's worsening situation, holding on to hope for improvement." He pointed out that, despite some scams, e-commerce is steadily gaining traction as more consumers turn to online shopping. Gulfam emphasized that more than 350 online stores in Saddar have their own delivery riders, ensuring prompt home delivery of products. E-commerce is a well-established market in the West, where the holiday shopping season kicks off on the last Friday of November, with customers beginning to buy Christmas gifts. In Pakistan, online retail is highly competitive but operates differently from traditional markets. Consumers are increasingly seeking last-minute deals as retailers compete on price, timing, and delivery savings. The report further stated that a spokesperson for Daraz explained that "11.11, originally known as Singles' Day in China and later becoming the world's largest shopping festival, was brought to Pakistan by Daraz in 2018. Since then, it has become our biggest sale of the year, offering discounts of up to 80 per cent on over 10 million products. This year, more than one-third of all orders came from non-metro areas, highlighting how e-commerce is breaking down barriers." She further noted that consumers in smaller cities and rural areas now have access to products from sellers nationwide, which were previously unavailable to them. In a time when many are still feeling the effects of high costs, despite some relief from inflation, 11.11 offered an excellent chance for consumers to maximize their savings. "Our goal is to make shopping more accessible, rewarding, and inclusive for all Pakistanis," she concluded. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Georgia QB Carson Beck takes hit on throwing arm before halftime, leaving status uncertain
The aching Steelers still control their destiny in the AFC North. Their grasp, however, is slipping
In Garfield Park, Camarria Williams often enjoyed walks with her mom. There, the 11-year-old girl also discovered a new cancer-fighting molecule in an unexpected source: goose poop. Williams and her twin sister Camerria, who attend the William H. Brown STEM Magnet School, spent the fall of 2022 participating in a science program at a West Side Boys & Girls Club where they worked with researchers to identify potential antibiotics that occur in nature. The twins from North Lawndale were part of the third cohort of middle school students who participated in the “Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab,” a partnership between the Boys & Girls Club and a UIC lab run by pharmaceutical sciences professor Brian Murphy. During a field trip to Garfield Park to collect samples rich in bacteria, Williams knew exactly where to look. She thought back to memories feeding the park’s geese with her mother, she said. “The reason I got the poop was because the goose eat everything,” Williams said. Now 13, Williams is officially a published scientific researcher. She is listed as a co-author in a study about the new cancer-fighting compound discovered by isolating bacteria from her goose poop sample, which appeared in a peer-reviewed scientific journal this October. “It was an amazing experience with the Boys & Girls Club, that they can venture and learn more and go in different atmospheres,” said Antwainetta Hunter, Williams’ mother. “It is our future, children are our future. And so the goals that they’re making, I think that it is wonderful and amazing what they’re experiencing now.” During the 14-week afterschool program, young members of the James R. Jordan Club on the Near West Side learned how to collect environmental samples, program robots and test bacteria for disease-fighting properties. The middle schoolers not only gained a scientist’s skillset but also actively participated in the work of Murphy’s lab at UIC, which aims to identify potential antibiotics that occur in nature. West Side middle schooler Camarria Williams, right, their mother mother Antwainetta Hunter, center, and her twin Camerria pose for a portrait James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club on Dec. 20, 2024. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune) “We decided we want to involve students directly in really interesting biomedical research and try and connect each step of that research with a different career in the sciences, just to try and try and get that spark, to get them interested at an age where they should start to think about, ‘oh wow, I could actually potentially make a career out of this,’” Murphy said. Murphy, who launched the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab in the spring of 2022, said that he believes that universities have an obligation to use their resources to serve their community. Murphy’s goal with the program was to help establish a stronger pipeline to careers in STEM in Chicago neighborhoods that have faced “decades” of “engineered inequity,” he said. The program ran three cohorts of middle schoolers in 2022 at the James R. Jordan Club. After Williams made her discovery, the program ran one more time in early 2023 at the Bartlett J. McCartin Boys & Girls Club in Bridgeport, with high school students participating. Although the initial funding has run out, Murphy said that he and Boys & Girls Club leadership have applied for new grants with the hopes of offering the program again in 2025. Williams was one of the James R. Jordan Club’s “core club kids,” stopping by every day after school and participating in different programs, said Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago technology program manager Jonathon Rodriguez. Williams said she initially joined the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab because it seemed like “a lot of opportunities.” After the program, both of the Williams twins said they became interested in pursuing science in the future. Both also said their favorite part of the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab was visiting UIC’s campus and getting a tour of a real-life science lab. “We walked around and they had these chemicals, and they were working on something,” Williams said. “It was just fun.” Williams said that she preferred the Boys & Girls Club program to her science classes at school as it had more hands-on experience, adding “I just want to go out and find stuff and see what it can do.” When she grows up, she said, she wants to be either a climatologist, a pediatrician, scientist or a professional volleyball player. For the West Side club, the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Program was a “real world kind of experience and exposure that our kids in our community normally don’t get the opportunity to do,” Rodriguez said. “For Camarria specifically, to be able to say ‘Hey, you participated in this program, you gave it a shot and then it led to something that you know is going to be utilized by the scientific community,’” Rodriguez said. “It’s just a testament to mentorship and programs that really focus on providing unique opportunities and experiences to our kids... their hard work and their dedication can lead to something.” The program was structured in order to “bring (students) along in the process of antibiotic discovery,” said Jin Yi “Jeanie” Tan, a fourth-year PhD student in Murphy’s lab who helped coordinate the program and run key experiments. Each cohort was quite small, Tan said, with Williams’ group consisting of seven middle schoolers. First, the students went out into their neighborhood – which for Williams was Garfield Park – to collect samples from nature, Tan said. They then worked with graduate student or postdoc mentors from UIC to isolate different types of bacteria from the samples and conduct tests to screen them for potential antibiotic properties, according to Tan. For safety reasons, Murphy said, children usually are not allowed to work with bacteria during science experiments, which previously was a barrier to him engaging youth from the community in his lab’s work. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy’s lab was able to partner with UIC’s Institute for Tuberculosis Research to purchase a “colony-picking robot,” which could pick up bacteria colonies and transfer them onto new plates where they would be tested against a pathogen. This robot could be “programmed from a safe place” with the young participants still “making all of the decisions,” Murphy said. Boys & Girls Club members were brought to the UIC lab to program the approximately $200,000 robot and watch it at work, Murphy said, which for some was their “first time ever going to a college.” At the end of the program, the students were taught “how to analyze bioinformatics data” so that they could each choose which of their bacteria colonies “look promising” and should theoretically be prioritized for future research, Tan said. “For Camarria, she prioritized the bacteria with antibiotic properties,” Tan said. “So I followed up on the strains that she prioritized, which is where in the lab I would grow it up and purify the compounds and then do some further testing. And that’s where we found this new compound that had some cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines.” The bacterium that Williams isolated and selected from her initial goose poop sample contained a cancer-fighting molecule that had never been documented before, according to Murphy. The lab’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club had yielded “high-end biomedical research that was actually publishable,” he said. After over a year of research conducted by Tan and other UIC scientists to determine the structure and properties of the new compound, the scientists wrote a paper on their findings that was published on Oct. 24 in ACS Omega, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society. Williams is now listed by name as a co-author of the study “Discovery of New Cyclic Lipodepsipeptide Orfamide N via Partnership with Middle School Students from the Boys and Girls Club.” When she found out about the significance of her own discovery, Williams said she was happy that “I did something that did work.” She now has a paper copy of the journal with her name inside. Listing Williams as an author “wasn’t charity,” Murphy said, but rather followed his lab’s own policies. Murphy’s students need to fulfill two of three criteria in order to be listed as a co-author on a study: physical lab work, intellectual input or participation in writing the manuscript. Williams had checked the box for the first two of these requirements. “It was Camarria’s intellectual input that chose the goose poop,” Murphy said. “None of us would have thought to do that, and she did it.”Opposition fighters are closing in on Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria’s army has abandoned key cities in the west and south with little resistance. Nervous residents in Damascus describe security forces on the streets. The state news agency has been forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad has left the country. Who are these ? If they enter Damascus after taking , what then? Here’s a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and his government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year . The aim? Overthrow the government This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, , or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government. Possible rifts ahead The HTS and Syrian National Army have been allies at times and rivals at times, and their aims might diverge. The Turkish-backed militias also have an interest in creating a buffer zone near the Turkish border to keep away Kurdish militants at odds with Ankara. has been a main backer of the fighters seeking to overthrow Assad but more recently has urged reconciliation, and Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the current offensive. Whether the HTS and the Syrian National Army will work together if they succeed in overthrowing Assad or turn on each other again is a major question. Others take advantage While the flash offensive against Syria’s government began in the north, armed opposition groups have also mobilized elsewhere. The southern areas of Sweida and Daraa have both been taken locally. Sweida is the heartland of Syria’s Druze religious minority and had been the site of regular anti-government protests even after Assad seemingly consolidated his control over the area. Daraa is a Sunni Muslim area that was widely seen as the cradle of the uprising against Assad’s rule that erupted in 2011. Daraa was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018, but rebels remained in some areas. In recent years, Daraa was in a state of uneasy quiet under a Russian-mediated ceasefire deal. And much of Syria’s east is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led group backed by the United States that in the past has clashed with most other armed groups in the country. Syria’s government now controls just four of 14 provincial capitals. What’s next? Much depends on Assad’s next moves and his forces’ will to fight. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces have started carrying out the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs. If that city is captured, the link would be cut between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. “Homs to the coastal cities will be a very huge red line politically and socially. Politically, if this line is crossed, then we are talking about the end of the entire Syria, the one that we knew in the past,” said a Damascus resident, Anas Joudeh. Assad appears to be as allies Russia and Iran are distracted by other conflicts and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been weakened by its war with Israel, now under a fragile ceasefire. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, is calling for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition,” saying the situation is changing by the minute. He met with foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. President-elect Donald Trump in his on the developments in Syria said the besieged Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on social media.
MACON, Ga. (AP) — Myles Redding returned an interception 25 yards for a first-quarter touchdown and Whitt Newbauer threw a four-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth quarter as No. 7-seeded Mercer beat No. 10 Rhode Island 17—10 on Saturday. Mercer advances to the FCS semifinals for the first time and will face No. 2 North Dakota State, which beat No. 15 Abilene Christian 51-31. Redding swooped in front of Hunter Helms' intended receiver for his seventh interception of the season with 3:33 left in the first quarter, tying him with teammate TJ Moore for the most in the nation. Rhode Island got a 17-yard field goal from Ty Groff as time expired in the first half and took the lead late in the third quarter when Helms connected with Marquis Buchanan on a 56-yard touchdown for a 10-7 lead. Senior Dwayne McGee set up two fourth-quarter scores for the Bears, slashing through the right side for a 33-yard gain to give Mercer a first-and-goal at the Rhode Island 10. On third-and-goal from the 4, Newbauer found Adjatay Dabbs for the go-ahead touchdown. After the Bears twice forced the Rams to punt in their own half of the field, McGee ran 40 yards on first down to give Mercer a first down at the Rhode Island 25, setting up a 24-yard Reice Griffith field goal for the game's final score. McGee finished with 114 yards on 21 carries and CJ Miller added 81 yards on 10 carries for Mercer (11-2), which remained unbeaten in seven home games. Helms finished 22 of 33 passing for 266 yards and Buchanan caught 11 passes for 119 yards to lead Rhode Island (11-3), but the Rams managed just 46 yards on 26 carries on the ground. — 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-footballThe University of Arizona’s Eller College is launching an accelerated MBA program to allow experienced professionals and recent graduates to complete the studies in one year, half the traditional time. The program, spanning 10 months, will begin in summer 2025 for its first cohort of students, offering them a chance to pursue a master's of business administration at a reduced cost and with less time away from professional jobs. “This is a national trend. The interest in a two-year MBA has been waning, because it’s extremely costly for the student to leave the workforce for two years and to give up that revenue and join a full-time MBA program,” said Jayanthi Sunder, vice dean of programs and strategic initiatives at Eller College of Management, in an interview Thursday with the Arizona Daily Star. “But at the same time, there are students who want that immersive experience of a full-time, in-person program," which UA's new one-year MBA will offer, Sunder said. "Not everyone wants to do a weekend program or an evening program. So, some of them want to have that networking opportunity, that face-to-face feedback in their classes and what not.” The one-year program will now be the only option of a full-time MBA course at the college, said Pamela Jorden, assistant dean of MBA academic operations. The previously offered two-year program has been paused for the time being, she said. Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. As a business school in a changing market, Eller must be flexible and recognize and meet student needs, Jorden said. While certain schools were closing down their full-time MBA programs, Eller wanted to “not close it, but fix it” and make its ranked program more marketable, she said. Eller's current full-time MBA program is ranked No. 26 this year among public universities and 50th overall by U.S. News & World Report. The idea is to appeal to students who are ambitious, driven and willing to work hard for one year and turbocharge their careers, Sunder said. “The biggest cost a student faces going into a two-year program is two years of lost income,” said Sunder. “Money is a huge deal, especially when it comes to MBAs,” agreed Ayusha Pendse, an Eller student pursuing a dual degree in Management Information Systems and an MBA. While the two-year MBA program has now been paused, Jorden said the college still offers students the option to do a dual degree where they could complete two degrees in two years, one of them being an MBA. “We believe, as the flagship university of the state, we need to provide them with the opportunities to make sure they stay in Arizona, get jobs in Arizona” and keep talent in the state, said Sunder. Sunder said Eller will be the first college in the state, and one of the early ones in the country, to offer a one-year MBA program. Curriculum The one-year MBA program will require students to complete “39 units of comprehensive business education,” delving into core business mastery, effective business communication, data and analytics training, real-world experience, and leadership and career development. Each part was curated with support from research and input from faculty and current students, administrators say. The overall tuition and fees for the program is $32,620 for Arizona residents and $54,874 for non-Arizona residents. This is less than the $52,244 tuition paid by Arizona residents in the two-year MBA's last class of 2025. Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. The program will be divided into three semesters — summer, fall and spring. The summer semester will be remote learning, while the fall and spring will be in-person at Eller’s main campus. The previous two-year MBA program was spread over four semesters. The summer semester was designed to be remote due to a couple of reasons. The first is the visa issues faced by international students, which could hinder them from getting into the country by July, said Jorden. An added benefit of the online classes during the summer is to give recently graduated students the opportunity to pursue an internship over the summer, getting them real-world experience as well, said Sunder. While the core courses of the one-year program have been kept the same as the two-year program, with the addition of one marketing course, the number of electives has been reduced, said Jorden. Since the accelerated program cuts down the time students get for networking, job hunting and portfolio building, Jorden said it is flexible and customizable. If students feel one year is short, they can opt for a dual degree and it doesn’t change much for them, she said. However, students choosing the dual degree option will have to pay the dual degree tuition. The one-year MBA degree as it stands now is not a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) degree, but Jorden said Eller is working to get it that title down the line. The idea is to attract students and professionals from STEM backgrounds as well as Tucson leaders, she said. Among the programs previously offered by Eller, the only ones which qualified as STEM degrees were the MBA dual degrees. The evening MBA in Tucson, the executive MBA in Phoenix, the online MBA or the MBA concentrations and specializations were not STEM. Applications The application requirements for the one-year program won’t be very different, but will have a little more flexibility in terms of examinations such as GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) or GMAT (Graduate Management Aptitude Test), depending on each student's background, said Jorden. “We’re still looking for high GPA (Grade Point Average). We have to make sure they can do the program, and we’re not going to set people up to fail,” she continued. “We want to make sure they’ve got some quantitative skills." In certain instances, a GRE or GMAT will be required, "because we want again to make sure that the rigor of the program is something that they can do." Students at the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. Applications for the program’s first summer 2025 cohort were opened on Nov. 28. Upcoming deadlines are Dec. 15 for Round 1 applicants, Jan. 15 for Round 2 and international applicants, Feb. 1 for Round 3 and April 1 for Round 4. "The rounds are in place to encourage submission of applications, and it allows us to set expectations on when they should hear from us," wrote Janet Flores, the college's senior director of marketing and communications, in an email to the Star Friday. "The deadlines are chosen to spread out the submissions and straddle holidays. We admit on a rolling basis. The advantage to applying in the earlier rounds is that more seats and scholarships are available." May 31 is the "domestic student deadline," for U.S. citizens or green card holders who won't need a student visa to attend the program. International students have an earlier deadline to accommodate their visa processes. “Our recruiting team is really good and very experienced, and they are ready to talk to students,” said Sunder. “So, if you’re even thinking, ‘Oh, I’m not sure if this is the right program for me,’ I’d say schedule a call and talk to them. Because, they’d be happy to say, ‘No, you’re the perfect student for it,’ or they would say, ‘go out and work for two years and come back.’” Application information is available at eller.arizona.edu/programs/mba/one-year/admissions . Reporter Prerana Sannappanavar covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson.com . Contact her at psannappa1@tucson.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Higher Education ReporterAs we close out the past year and look ahead to 2025, the holiday season is a time when we reflect on what we've achieved and how we can make next year better--achieve our personal goals, give back to our communities, and contribute to the betterment of the world. When we give, there's no shortage of noble causes, from alleviating poverty and improving education to protecting the environment and advancing healthcare. We should, in theory, all align around shared aspirations to make 2025 a year of progress for all. But the hard truth is that global cooperation has struggled mightily over the past decade. In 2015, the UN came up with a 169-point agenda to fix all the problems facing humanity by 2030. The so-called Sustainable Development Goals were agreed on by all the world's leaders with the best of intentions. Yet, with five years left, the world is wildly off-track on almost all the 169 promises. The fight against poverty, disease and hunger has lost momentum. Why aren't we making more headway? In large measure, because we try to do too much. Trying to focus on everything means we have prioritised nothing and achieved very little. A new year offers a fresh opportunity. Instead of trying to do it all -- both as a society but also as individuals with our own giving -- we should focus first on the interventions that yield the most progress. That means those that provide the highest returns on investment for people, the planet and future generations. Here's the catch: the best investments aren't necessarily the ones that grab headlines or attract celebrity endorsements. I've worked with more than 100 of the world's top economists and several Nobel Laureates to find which of the many global goals deliver the most return on investment. Across hundreds of pages of peer-reviewed, free analysis, we have identified the 12 smartest things we could do to make life better for the poorer half of the planet. These solutions are seldom making headlines, but they are cheap and incredibly powerful. When a pregnant mother lacks essential nutrients and vitamins, her child's growth and brain development will be slower. Her kids will be condemned to doing worse throughout their entire lives. A mere $2.31 (80 baht) can ensure that an expectant mother receives a basic multivitamin supplement that means her children will grow up healthier, smarter, and more productive. Every dollar spent on nutritional supplements for pregnant women can yield up to $38 in economic benefits. This is not a far-off utopia. It's an actionable, proven solution that could be scaled up immediately. Another simple but powerful investment is in improving learning. In the world's poorest countries, only one-in-ten 10-year-olds can read and write. We need to fix this, not just because it's the right thing to do but to reduce future strife and reliance on aid, and to ensure countries can write their own success stories. Most schools group kids in classes by age, regardless of their ability. Some students struggle while others are bored. The solution is simple but transformative: teach children individually at the right level. Obviously, teachers can't manage this for every child, but technology can. Countless studies show that even if the other seven hours of daily schooling remain traditional and ineffective, after one year the student will have learned as much as normally takes three years. The costs are modest: Sharing a tablet costs about $31 per student per year. The return on investment is extraordinary: Children who learn more become more productive adults, resulting in a return of $65 for every dollar spent. This is a great long-term investment for a more self-sufficient world. There is a compelling case to focus on tackling the diseases that have already been wiped out in rich countries, like malaria and tuberculosis that have become diseases of poverty. The simple act of providing more anti-mosquito bed-nets and expanded malaria treatment across Africa would save 200,000 lives every year, with benefits worth $48 for every dollar spent. Healthy, productive individuals are more likely to innovate, work, and contribute to the world. As we approach the new year, we need to stop chasing grand lists of unachievable goals and focus on what's working. Our resolution should be to direct whatever resources we have toward the actions that bring about the greatest improvements in people's lives. In 2025, my hope for the world is that governments and institutions will finally stop dithering and focus on solutions that deliver the best returns. By concentrating on what works, we could achieve more in one year than we did in a decade of dithering. As individuals, we can do our own small part to make 2025 the year we resolve to get serious about progress for all. Bjorn Lomborg is President of the Copenhagen Consensus and Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover.
Trump aims to appoint son-in-law’s father as US ambassador to France
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on Nigerians to remain united and patient as the government intensifies efforts to address economic challenges and promote sustainable development. Speaking after a Christmas service at the Anglican Church, Marina, Lagos, Orelope-Adefulire expressed deep sympathy to families affected by recent stampedes across the country, pledging that the government would ensure better planning to prevent similar tragedies in the future. “We deeply regret the incidents and extend our sympathies to the affected families. Moving forward, events will be better organized to prevent agitation and desperation among attendees. We have learned our lesson and will ensure that such tragedies do not happen again,” she said. The SSAP-SDGs reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering peace and progress, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in achieving a better Nigeria. “As a nation, we are determined to create a safer and more prosperous environment for all. Let us trust in God’s plan for Nigeria and work together to achieve lasting peace and development,” Orelope-Adefulire added. Echoing her sentiments, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reassured Nigerians of the government’s determination to mitigate hardships caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and other economic policies. He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve lives through initiatives in health, education, and transportation, while urging citizens to maintain peace and harmony during the festive season. “We cannot afford to throw in the towel now,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Yes, the removal of fuel subsidies has caused an increase in prices, but we’re seeing positive signs of recovery. Food prices have begun to come down, and I believe the Federal Government’s promise of a prosperous 2025 will be fulfilled.” Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Oliver Ali Abah, likened the nation’s struggles to the pain of childbirth, urging Nigerians to remain steadfast in their faith and trust in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He emphasized that challenges are temporary and expressed optimism about the nation’s potential. Similarly, Right Reverend Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi, Archbishop of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, called on leaders to address economic hardships while urging citizens to unite in prayer and hope for a brighter future. “The suffering in the country is immense. Our leaders must take steps to alleviate this burden and ensure that 2025 brings hope and prosperity,” Okupevi said. The collective message from political and religious leaders underlines the importance of patience, unity, and faith in navigating Nigeria’s current challenges. As Orelope-Adefulire noted, “Together, we can create a Nigeria that is not only safer and more prosperous but one that truly leaves no one behind.”None'Congress Never Showed Respect To Manmohan Singh': JP Nadda Accuses Party Of 'Cheap Politics'
Opposition fighters are closing in on Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria’s army has abandoned key cities with little resistance. Nervous residents in Damascus describe security forces on the streets. The state news agency has been forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad has left the country. Who are these opposition fighters ? If they enter Damascus after taking some of Syria’s largest cities , what then? Here’s a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and his government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites . The aim? Overthrow the government This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government. Possible rifts ahead The HTS and Syrian National Army have been allies at times and rivals at times, and their aims might diverge. The Turkish-backed militias also have an interest in creating a buffer zone near the Turkish border to keep away Kurdish militants at odds with Ankara. Turkey has been a main backer of the fighters seeking to overthrow Assad but more recently has urged reconciliation, and Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the current offensive. Whether the HTS and the Syrian National Army will work together if they succeed in overthrowing Assad or turn on each other again is a major question. Others take advantage While the flash offensive against Syria’s government began in the north, armed opposition groups have also mobilized elsewhere. The southern areas of Sweida and Daraa have both been taken locally. Sweida is the heartland of Syria’s Druze religious minority and had been the site of regular anti-government protests even after Assad seemingly consolidated his control over the area. Daraa is a Sunni Muslim area that was widely seen as the cradle of the uprising against Assad’s rule that erupted in 2011. Daraa was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018, but rebels remained in some areas. In recent years, Daraa was in a state of uneasy quiet under a Russian-mediated ceasefire deal. And much of Syria’s east is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led group backed by the United States that in the past has clashed with most other armed groups in the country. Syria’s government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. What’s next? Much depends on Assad’s next moves and his forces’ will to fight the rebels. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces have started carrying out the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. And Syrian troops withdrew Saturday from much of the central city of Homs, Syria’s third largest, according to a pro-government outlet and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. If that city is captured, the link would be cut between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. “Homs to the coastal cities will be a very huge red line politically and socially. Politically, if this line is crossed, then we are talking about the end of the entire Syria, the one that we knew in the past,” said a Damascus resident, Anas Joudeh. Assad appears to be largely on his own as allies Russia and Iran are distracted by other conflicts and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been weakened by its war with Israel, now under a fragile ceasefire. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition,” saying the situation is changing by the minute. He met with foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. President-elect Donald Trump in his first extensive comments on the developments in Syria said the besieged Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on social media. ___ Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed.
American Airlines stock slides 1.9% after technical glitch briefly impacts flight operations on Christmas EveTEANECK, N.J. (AP) — Dylan Jones had 22 points in Fairleigh Dickinson's 98-54 victory over Lehman on Saturday. Jones shot 6 for 10 (6 for 9 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Knights (4-7). Terrence Brown added 19 points while shooting 7 for 12 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line and also had six rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Cameron Tweedy had 11 points and shot 4 of 5 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line. The Lightning were led in scoring by Kai Parris, who finished with 12 points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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The 25-year-old Sweden international took his goal tally for the season to 12 in the 3-0 Boxing Day win over Aston Villa at St James’ Park, 10 of them in his last 10 Premier League games, after a challenging start to the new campaign. Isak managed 25 goals in a black and white shirt last season to further justify the club record £63million the club paid to bring him to Tyneside from Real Sociedad during the summer of 2022, but as delighted as he is with his big-money signing, head coach Howe is confident there is even more to come. Murph 🔗 Alex Isak Different game. Same link up. 💪 pic.twitter.com/OMhZf7dtKZ — Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 27, 2024 Asked where the former AIK Solna frontman currently ranks in world football, he said: “My biggest thing with Alex is I am evaluating his game on a daily and weekly basis and I just want to try to push him for more. “Everyone else can say where he is in the pecking order of world football. His game is in a good place at the moment. “My job is to not sit back and appreciate that, my job is to try and find areas he can improve, push him towards that and never stop pushing him. He has all the ingredients in there. Football never stops evolving and changing and he has to evolve with it. “There is a lot more to come from him. Our job is to help him deliver that. “Of course the main responsibility is for Alex to keep his focus, ignore the plaudits and keep helping the team, not be selfish. It is about Newcastle and he plays his part.” It is no coincidence that Newcastle have prospered as Isak has rediscovered his best form, and they will head for Manchester United – where they have won only once in the top flight since 1972 – on Monday evening looking for a fifth successive win in all competitions. He has scored in each of the last five league games having grown into the mantle of the Magpies’ main man, a role performed with such distinction in the past by the likes of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer, and he has done so with the minimum of fuss. Asked about his character, Howe said: “He is calm, cool – he is what you see on the pitch. “He doesn’t get overly emotional, which for a striker is a great quality because that coolness you see and calmness in front of goal is part of his personality, part of what he is. He seems to have an extra half a second when other players don’t. “With Alex, the beauty of his attitude is that he wants to improve. We give him information and he is responsive. He is not a closed shop. “He is in no way thinking he has arrived at a certain place. He knows he has to keep adding to his game. The challenge is great for him to keep scoring freely as he is now.”
The Atlanta Falcons drafting of Michael Penix Jr. just six weeks after signing Kirk Cousins to a $180 million contract doesn't seem like that much of a head-scratcher anymore. Penix, the eighth overall pick in this year's draft, was supposed to serve as Cousins' understudy for a year or two, a plan that was scuttled when Cousins quickly lost the zip and accuracy on his passes and his grip on the starting job. It was hard to argue with making the change after Cousins had nine picks and one touchdown pass in his last five starts — but it was a daring move nonetheless with the Falcons trailing first-place Tampa Bay by a single game with three weeks left. Penix made the move pay off with a solid first NFL start in the Falcons' 34-7 rout of the New York Giants on Sunday that bolstered Atlanta's playoff hopes , and the Falcons (8-7) moved back into first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers' loss at Dallas on Sunday night. The left-hander was not at all overwhelmed by the moment, completing 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards — numbers that would’ve been better if not for at least three dropped passes, one of which Kyle Pitts bobbled right into the hands of a New York defender for Penix’s lone interception. “He went out and played almost flawless football,” coach Raheem Morris said. Cousins will almost certainly be looking for his fourth team in 2025. If the Falcons cut ties as expected, they'll have paid Cousins $90 million for 14 games. Cousins' career earnings are about $321 million and his record is 84-77-2, including a 1-3 mark in the playoffs and 7-7 this season. In the spirit of expedited judgments, let's take a gander at how other quarterbacks have fared with their new teams in 2024. The Pittsburgh Steelers landed the biggest bargain of the season in Wilson, whom they signed for the veteran's minimum of $1.21 million, leaving his former team, the Denver Broncos, on the hook for the remaining $37.79 million of his 2024 salary. Wilson's calf injury in camp forced the Steelers to start Justin Fields, who went 4-2 before Mike Tomlin made the risky switch to Wilson, who's gone 6-3 with 15 TD throws and four interceptions. With the Steelers (10-5) playoff-bound, Wilson will make his first postseason appearance since 2020. The only question is whether it'll be at home as AFC North champ or on the road as a wild-card. They're tied with the Ravens atop the division but currently own the tiebreaker. This was expected to be a rebuilding year in Minnesota after the Vikings lost Cousins in free agency. They signed Darnold, the third overall pick in 2018, to a $10 million, one-year contract and drafted national champion J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason opener and has undergone two surgeries, opening the way for Darnold's breakthrough season. Darnold brought a 21-35 career record with him to Minneapolis and all he's done is go 13-2 while setting career highs with 32 touchdown passes, 3,776 passing yards and a 67.2% completion percentage. The Vikings are tied with the Lions atop the packed NFC North and the division crown could come down to Minnesota's season finale at Detroit on Jan. 5. The Las Vegas Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract and he beat out incumbent Aidan O'Connell for the starting gig. But he only went 2-7 and sustained a season-ending broken collarbone in a Week 12 loss to the Broncos, opening the door for O'Connell (1-4) to return. The Raiders' 19-14 win over Jacksonville on Sunday snapped a 10-game skid but might have taken them out of the Shedeur Sanders sweepstakes. They are 3-12, a game behind the Giants (2-13), who jettisoned QB Daniel Jones less than two years after signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract and have gone with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito instead. The Chicago Bears had high hopes after drafting Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, but it might turn out that the second QB taken — Washington's Jayden Daniels — is better than the first as was the case last year when C.J. Stroud outperformed Carolina's Bryce Young. Williams has a terrific TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5, but the Bears are 4-11 and have lost nine in a row. Their last win came way back on Oct. 13 against Jacksonville. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU has led the Washington Commanders (10-5) to the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2020. His bolstered his Rookie of the Year credentials with a five-TD performance Sunday in leading the Commanders to a 36-33 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. For the year, Daniels has 22 TD throws and eight interceptions. The former Auburn and Oregon star hasn't looked much like a rookie after starting an NCAA QB record 61 times in college. The Broncos (9-6) could snap an eight-year playoff drought with a win Sunday at Cincinnati thanks to Nix's steady play , Sean Payton's exhaustive guidance and Denver's traditionally stingy defense. Nix was drafted 12th overall after the Broncos released Wilson despite a a whopping $85 million dead money charge on top of the $37.79 million they're paying Wilson to play for Pittsburgh this year. With 22 TDs and 11 interceptions, Nix has almost matched Russell's win total (11-19) in his two seasons in Denver. AP Sports Writer Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report. Behind the Call analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL during the season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. People are also reading... This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!A week ago, Matt Gaetz was on his way to becoming Donald Trump’s avenging angel as U.S. Attorney General, the nation’s top law enforcement official. But now that the former Florida congressman has withdrawn his nomination amid persistent questions about his involvement in a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old girl, his political prospects are not so clear put. “His future is not as bright as it once was,” said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. “I don’t mean to imply this is the end of his political career, or lobbying career, because he still has the ear of the president-elect.” Gaetz’s fall has left him politically adrift and battered by allegations of drug-fueled sex parties. One option — considered a remote possibility — would be to try to reclaim the North Florida congressional seat he resigned from on Nov. 13, a move that effectively shut down the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations. In his resignation notice, Gaetz said he was stepping down from his current term to pursue the Attorney General nomination and didn’t “intend to take the oath” for the upcoming term he was reelected to on Nov. 5. Technically, Gaetz could show up when Congress reconvenes on Jan. 3 to be sworn into that new term, said Michael T. Morley, a professor of election law at Florida State University College of Law. Ultimately, the House would decide whether Gaetz could change his mind and keep his seat, Morley said. Mark Herron, a Tallahassee lawyer specializing in state and federal election and ethics laws, agreed that Gaetz has wiggle room on his future in Congress. “I don’t think anything is real until Jan. 3,” he said. The Constitution requires that House vacancies be filled by a special election, and state governors are responsible for scheduling those special elections. Gov. Ron DeSantis has already ordered Secretary of State Cord Byrd to schedule a special election for Gaetz’s district seat but no date has been set as of Thursday. GOP state Reps. Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzman announced they would run for the opening, but they signaled Thursday they would step aside if Gaetz needs to run to get his old job back. Gaetz easily won reelection in November with 66% of the vote in the solidly red North Florida district. Salzman called Gaetz a “real friend” and said she “will stand with the congressman and whatever he decides.” In a post on X, Rudman wrote he will support Gaetz “100%” if he wants to return to Congress. Politically, though, it might not make sense for Gaetz to return to Congress, which would resurrect a House ethics report said to contain damaging testimony against him, Morley said. His colleagues could vote to censure or expel him based on the report’s findings. One of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats likely will be open as Trump has tapped Sen. Marco Rubio to be his Secretary of State. But it seems unlikely that DeSantis would appoint Gaetz to take Rubio’s Senate seat, Jewett said, especially if DeSantis wants to stay in Trump’s good graces by appointing his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as many MAGA supporters want. Gaetz can also expect other high profile political candidates to run for Rubio’s senate seat when a special election is held in 2026, he added. “They would have no compunction going after him and the baggage he brings.” Gaetz has been mentioned as a possible GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2026, when DeSantis leaves office. But U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is Trump’s most likely choice for governor in 2026, said state Sen. Joe Gruters, a Trump backer and former chair of the Republican Party of Florida, and the president’s endorsement could effectively end the race. “It’s a primary of one,” Gruters previously told The Orlando Sentinel. Gaetz has repeatedly denied accusations that he paid for sex, had sex with a 17-year-old girl and used illicit drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice investigated those allegations for several years but did not file charges. But House ethics investigators continued with a separate investigation and were preparing to release their findings when Gaetz resigned. Two women who testified to the committee behind closed doors said Gaetz paid them for sex, and one of the women testified she witnessed Gaetz having sex with her 17-year-old friend at a July 2017 Orlando-area house party, their attorney Joel Leppard said. The ethics panel had a paper trail linking Gaetz to more than $10,000 in Venmo payments made to two women who were witnesses in the probe, ABC News reported. Although his political brand his tarnished, Gaetz continues to hold favor with Trump, and “he could still get a soft landing somewhere,” Jewett said. In his statement, Gaetz didn’t describe his future plans — only that he will “remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.” In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Gaetz has a “wonderful future.” Gaetz’s wife, Ginger, posted a photo on social media of the couple walking up the Capitol steps after news broke that he had withdrawn. “The end of an era,” she wrote. ©2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Northwest MPs support nuclear waste decisionPrabowo Subianto, the newly sworn-in president of Indonesia, is known for his hands-on approach to diplomacy and foreign policy, often departing from the country’s established positions and sparking debates. His recent visit to China, his first official overseas trip since assuming office, ignited fresh controversies. A joint statement issued during the visit called for “joint development in areas of overlapping claims” in the South China Sea (SCS). The statement also announced an agreement to establish an “Inter-Governmental Joint Steering Committee to explore and advance relevant cooperation.” This sharply contrasts with Indonesia’s long-standing position of not recognizing any overlapping claims with China in the SCS and rejecting the legality of the Nine-Dash Line. While Indonesia is not a direct claimant in the South China Sea dispute, it is increasingly entangled in the conflict due to China’s claims over parts of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding Indonesia’s Natuna Islands. Indonesia asserts sovereign control over the Natuna Islands and upholds its territorial and maritime rights based on legal and historical grounds. In an attempt to manage the fallout from Prabowo’s diplomatic gaffe, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry clarified that it does not recognize China’s claims over the SCS and reaffirmed that Indonesia’s position remains unchanged. However, critics argue that Indonesia has unwittingly strengthened China’s position by signing the joint statement, which Beijing could reference in future disputes. Such concerns stem from fears that China may leverage the document to legitimize its claims against Indonesia. While the statement highlights a significant diplomatic error, it does not signify a shift in Indonesia’s stance on the South China Sea dispute. Instead, it underscores the challenges Southeast Asian leaders face in balancing nationalistic positions with the complexities of engaging China at the highest levels. Prabowo is not the first Southeast Asian leader to face backlash following a visit to Beijing. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s March 2023 trip to China also drew criticism after he stated that Malaysia was “open to negotiations” with China over bilateral disputes in the SCS. Like Indonesia, Malaysia has consistently rejected the Nine-Dash Line and maintains there are no overlapping claims with China in the SCS. Following Anwar’s remarks, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry clarified that the country’s policy on the SCS dispute remained unchanged. Malaysia’s position has since remained consistent under Anwar’s leadership, suggesting that Indonesia’s stance is unlikely to waver despite Prabowo’s recent misstep. Anwar’s visit to Beijing secured investment deals worth $38.6 billion for Malaysia, while Prabowo’s trip resulted in agreements valued at $10 billion. These investments are crucial for Prabowo’s administration to fund key welfare programs, including his flagship initiative to provide free meals for schoolchildren and pregnant women. Prabowo’s electoral success was partly built on such welfare promises, and delivering on them is vital for maintaining domestic legitimacy. As Evan Laksmana argues , for most Southeast Asian leaders, political legitimacy is closely tied to public goods, major investments, and welfare schemes, often financed through strengthened trade ties with China. In this context, the joint statement may have been a transactional maneuver to secure economic gains rather than a strategic policy shift. Moreover, the diplomatic controversy reflects Prabowo’s personalistic and hands-on approach to foreign policy rather than a calculated change in Indonesia’s SCS strategy. Although he is expected to continue the legacy of his predecessor, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Prabowo appears intent on imprinting his personal style on policy decisions. Unlike Jokowi, who delegated much of Indonesia’s foreign engagement to career diplomat Retno Marsudi, Prabowo has adopted a more direct role. His appointment of Sugiono, a close aide and ideological protégé , as foreign minister marks a departure from tradition. Sugiono is the first non-career diplomat to hold the position since 2001. Historically, Indonesia’s foreign ministry has acted as a buffer against unilateral presidential influence on foreign policy. However, Prabowo’s decision to appoint Sugiono signals his intention to centralize foreign policy decision-making. Reports suggest that the foreign ministry had advised Prabowo’s team on Indonesia’s position regarding the SCS dispute, but this input was allegedly overlooked. The joint statement with China emphasizes “head-of-state diplomacy” as a political safeguard and strategic guide for China-Indonesia relations, reflecting Prabowo’s preference for a one-man approach to foreign policy. His active engagement on the international stage is evident from the 20 trips he made abroad as defense minister and president-elect between Indonesia’s general election in February 2024 and his inauguration in October. This level of activity suggests that Prabowo’s tenure will feature more frequent presidential diplomacy compared to Jokowi’s two terms. This is not the first time Prabowo has made a controversial diplomatic move. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in June 2023, he proposed a four-point peace plan to resolve the Ukraine conflict. It was promptly dismissed by Ukraine’s defense minister. Jokowi later clarified that the proposal represented Prabowo’s personal views, not the Indonesian government’s stance. Similarly, Prabowo has previously diverged from official policy by expressing a more sympathetic attitude toward the AUKUS agreement. While Malaysia’s foreign ministry, under a more experienced Anwar Ibrahim, appears more adept at managing such controversies, Anwar has also made statements that contradicted Malaysia’s official positions, such as his remarks on Myanmar . In conclusion, the clarification from Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry suggests that the joint statement is unlikely to have lasting implications and may become a “dead letter.” To further address concerns, Foreign Minister Sugiono stated that Indonesia has not yet decided on any joint development areas with China in the SCS. Ultimately, the joint statement seems to reflect Prabowo’s personalistic diplomacy aimed at securing economic concessions rather than signaling a shift in Indonesia’s established position on the SCS dispute. While it is crucial for Southeast Asian leaders to avoid such gaffes, considering the overwhelming dependence on China for trade and investments, this trend is likely to continue. The point, however, is how adept Southeast Asian foreign policy bureaucracies could be in managing such unexpected twists and turns.
