jolibet legit or not Joe Burrow has reached another milestone in what has been a banner 2024 season for the Cincinnati Bengals ' quarterback. During the Bengals' Week 17 game against the Broncos , Burrow reached 40 touchdown passes for the season while joining an exclusive fraternity of players that have reached that total. Burrow's 40th touchdown pass was a short completion to Tee Higgins that gave the Bengals a 7-3 lead late in the first half. Burrow to Higgins puts the @Bengals ahead! 📺: #DENvsCIN on NFL Network 📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uCgqT8VFne Burrow is the 11th and newest member of the 40 Touchdown Club. This marks the 20th time that a quarterback has thrown at least 40 touchdown passes in a season. Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have thrown for at least 40 touchdowns a record three times. Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford have done so twice. Kurt Warner, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson are also members of the 40 TD Club. NFL's 40 TD pass seasons Peyton Manning 55 Tom Brady 50 Patrick Mahomes 50 Peyton Manning 49 Dan Marino 48 Aaron Rodgers 48 Drew Brees 46 Aaron Rodgers 45 Dan Marino 44 Tom Brady 44 Drew Brees 43 Patrick Mahomes 41 Matthew Stafford 41 Matthew Stafford 41 Kurt Warner 41 Tom Brady 40 Andrew Luck 40 Aaron Rodgers 40 Russell Wilson 40 Burrow, 28, is enjoying the best year of his career, which is saying something given that he led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021 and followed that year up with an MVP-caliber season in 2022. Burrow missed the final seven games of the 2023 season after sustaining a wrist injury that required surgery. Despite the injury, Burrow has not only returned to his pre-surgery form, he is playing at a level that is once again worthy of MVP consideration.By Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Frustrating search for gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO enters fifth day

The San Diego Union-Tribune’s panel of economists and business leaders reflect on the past year and share what they’re grateful for this year. Question: What are you most thankful for, economically, this Thanksgiving? Economists Caroline Freund, University of California-San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy Innovative economy: I am thankful that the U.S. economy remains the strongest and most innovative in the world. Despite the COVID shock, global conflicts and domestic polarization, the economy is growing, unemployment is low, and inflation is under control. The U.S. is leading in new technologies, such as AI and biotechnology, which will boost productivity and advance health care. But we can’t do it alone, and must continue to work with our allies and partners for a better future. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research Recognizing “it’s the economy, stupid”: What matters most in politics is the economy, which remained the top issue for voters nationwide according to exit polls. Negative views on the economy seems to have overridden bad feelings about Trump, while Harris was unable to convince voters her economic plan was different from Biden’s, which frustrated most voters. Lower rates of inflation do not mean prices are coming down but just rising more slowly. What really hurts consumers is higher compounding prices. James Hamilton, University of California-San Diego Soft landing: It’s hard for the Fed to bring inflation down without causing a recession. Many analysts were predicting a recession for 2024, and some were even saying that a recession had already started. But we’re almost through the year now and the unemployment rate remains quite low by historical standards. To be sure, there are real concerns about the economic policies and geopolitical conflicts that the new year may bring. But, right now, we have prosperity and peace. Norm Miller, University of San Diego Freedom, civility and capitalism: I recently finished reading “Patriot” by Alexi Navalny, which details the ruthlessness and corruption of autocrats like Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un and many leaders in Africa. Corruption at all levels of government inevitably undermines the benefits of free markets and diminishes the wealth of any afflicted nation. While our country is not without its flaws, and some government agencies and police actions are not always just, we are still far better off than much of the world. David Ely, San Diego State University Lower inflation rate: The rate of inflation has declined significantly since 2022 and is now approaching the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. While prices remain well above pre-COVID levels, the stress and uncertainty created by rapidly escalating prices has diminished. The central bank was sufficiently comfortable with inflation and other economic data to begin lowering its target interest rate in September. Additional cuts to its target interest rate over the next year are likely. Executives Phil Blair, Manpower Jobs: Jobs are available for whomever wants one. The San Diego economy, while not flourishing, is still able to support anyone anxious to work at a fair and reasonable pay rate. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors Prosperity: Notwithstanding a brutal national election, razor close and with an outcome that is highly unsettling to many, ours remains a nation of unquestionable prosperity. The key challenge over the months and years ahead is whether our “lived” economy can match the healthy metrics of lowered inflation, low unemployment and GDP growth, among others. I think time will cure the current economic angst, unless we meddle too much with things like tariffs and mass deportations. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates San Diego’s well-rounded economy: San Diego’s economy is robust and diverse, with vital sectors in biotechnology, health care, military, tourism and telecommunications. It is also a hotspot for innovation and startups, particularly in the biosciences. Tourism is a significant economic driver, supporting many local businesses, including ours. Add in the military, education, sports, weather, quality of life, and voila. The icing on the cake is having my family here. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth Economic foundations: I am thankful we currently live in a country with eager entrepreneurs, abundant risk-taking investors, a booming public market, historically low unemployment, and stable laws where most people have the opportunity to thrive. Frankly, I am quite concerned about how the coming chapter may impact these norms. I expect several extreme policies to have an uneven impact on industries, international trade, the protections and availability of labor, inflation, social programs and consumer confidence. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health Health care: I’m grateful for great health care in San Diego and the enormous economic value and community benefit provided by the many health care organizations, hospitals and tens of thousands of physicians, nurses, technicians and support teams providing care to our communities. We often take health care for granted, but please don’t. Many health care organizations are at risk and face shortages of physicians and other providers. Additionally, violence against health care workers is rising. I’m thankful for these heroes every day. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere A resilient U.S. economy: In a presidential election year, uncertainty and volatility can cloud the market and raise fear in investors. Despite this, we have seen low unemployment, improved consumer confidence, continued economic growth and lowered inflation. The market’s performance this year has reflected an underlying economic strength and optimism. Investors were also relieved to see a quick and decisive election outcome. ©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Two years ago, as baseball’s winter meetings approached, Justin Verlander was one of the hottest names on the free-agent market. Weeks earlier, the ultra-accomplished right-hander had added yet another accolade to his collection when he won the 2022 AL Cy Young Award unanimously, becoming the 11th pitcher in MLB history to win three Cy Youngs. Not only had he delivered a sparkling campaign in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but he had also done so at age 39, making him the to claim the game’s top pitching prize. And if his individual triumphs weren’t enough, Verlander’s Astros had just won the World Series. Such a sensational season at such an advanced age made Verlander an especially unique free agent following the expiration of his Astros contract. Still seemingly at the top of his craft, Verlander deserved a significant payday. But for a pitcher who was about to turn 40, it seemed likely that such a deal would come in the form of a shorter-term pact with a massive average annual value. Sure enough, the 2022 winter meetings in San Diego started with the New York Mets signing Verlander to a two-year, $86.66 million deal — one with a nearly identical $43.3M AAV to the three-year, $130M contract the Mets gave fellow future Hall of Fame right-hander Max Scherzer the winter prior. Signing Verlander was one of several huge expenditures for the Mets that offseason, as they also spent big to retain Edwin Diaz and Brandon Nimmo, in addition to signing Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga to a $75M deal. But the active offseason failed to translate to results the next season, prompting the Mets to dramatically deconstruct their roster at the 2023 trade deadline, including sending Verlander back to the Astros, ending his stint in Queens prematurely. It was a tenure further abbreviated by a spring training shoulder injury that forced Verlander to miss the first month of the season, meaning he made only 16 starts for New York — a stunningly small total considering the titanic contract the team had given him months earlier. As a 40-year-old in 2023, Verlander didn't pitch at a Cy Young level for the Mets or the Astros, but he was still an above-average starter once he returned from injury. While his fastball velocity had dropped a tick and his strikeout rate declined considerably, from 27.8% in 2022 to 21.5% in 2023, his stellar run prevention was intact: Verlander’s 3.22 ERA ranked . He also acquitted himself well in the postseason during Houston’s run to another ALCS (2.95 ERA in 18 1/3 innings), expanding his lengthy playoff résumé with three more solid October outings. Back for his age-41 season and the second year of his lucrative contract, shoulder issues again delayed the start to Verlander’s 2024 season, this time for a couple of weeks. He posted a 3.95 ERA across 10 starts before a neck injury sent him back to the injured list, where he joined a litany of Astros arms on the shelf. He returned in late August but struggled down the stretch, to the tune of an 8.10 ERA across 33 1/3 innings of work. Verlander’s poor form did not ultimately cost Houston in the standings, but it certainly damaged his prospects of cracking the playoff rotation as the Astros prepared for October. Verlander’s final start of the season came on Saturday, Sept. 28, in Cleveland in what turned out to be Houston’s final regular-season game of 2024, as Game 162 on Sunday was rained out. The final line — six innings, seven hits, three runs allowed, zero walks, five strikeouts — was hardly anything special, particularly by Verlander’s lofty standards. But it was comfortably his best outing since his return from the neck injury and an encouraging sign after a trying few months. "It's probably the best I've felt since coming back so far,” Verlander said afterward. His secondary stuff was sharp that day, as he threw a higher percentage of sliders and changeups than he had in any other start all season. His fastball , his hardest pitch since returning from injury and tied for his second-hardest pitch of the season. He threw 74% of his 95 pitches for strikes, his highest rate of the season. And it was just the second start all season in which he did not walk or hit a batter, with the other such outing coming in his first start of the season on April 19. “I'm somebody who tries to be realistic with myself, and I know I haven't been nearly as good as I need to be,” Verlander said of his struggles leading up to his regular-season finale. “I didn't have the luxury of time. I had to come back and try to figure this thing out and pitch. The only way you can find out where you're at is by pitching. And it's been tough, but slowly gaining on it. “I also know there's been some bad luck mixed in there, but, you know, I'm not going to let that be a crutch and say, ‘No, it's just that.’ It's not — I haven't been as sharp as I needed to be. But I feel like I've been inching in the right direction.” Earlier that week, the Astros had completed their epic chase-down of the Mariners and clinched another division crown, meaning that game had minimal stakes for either team. But for Verlander, still searching for something resembling his ace self, the outing carried significant weight, as it represented another opportunity to remind himself and the rest of the baseball world what he's capable of. “To be frank, I wish this wasn't the end of the season,” Verlander reflected further. “With somebody, myself, who works as hard as I possibly can to figure it out ... usually there's something I can get to click, like, ‘All right, that's it.’ But this injury has been a little bit different than that. It's just been a little off, and there's been nothing making it click. So it's been inching in the right direction. This would be nice to build off of.” Had the Astros advanced past Detroit in the wild-card round, Verlander might have been added to the ALDS roster, perhaps giving him the chance to build on the momentum from his final regular-season start. Instead, the Tigers upset the Astros in Houston, ending the Astros’ streak of seven consecutive trips to the ALCS and initiating Verlander’s free agency earlier than expected. "You never know what's gonna happen,” Verlander said after his start in Cleveland about the possibility of it being his final outing as an Astro. “But I've got some work to do this offseason personally. So that's kind of where my focus is at. And then if I end up back here, great. Love Houston, love the people, love my teammates. I've had an incredible run. "If not, will tip my cap and say thank you for an incredible journey.” While Verlander finished on a strong individual note in September, it was a far cry from his previous foray into free agency. Things are very different now. His name has spent scarce time in the headlines over the first month-plus of the hot stove season. Perhaps that will begin to change . He’s likely to sign a one-year deal with a contender, but so far, we’ve heard little beyond the expected dialogue between Verlander in Houston — fairly standard protocol for any free agent in the early stages of the winter. Verlander is hardly alone in his relative exclusion from such discussions across the industry; Juan Soto , with to interrupt the historic pursuit of the 26-year-old outfielder. But as a future Hall of Famer who firmly believes he still has something to offer major-league teams, Verlander’s free agency is unquestionably one of the more fascinating subplots of this winter. And while Cooperstown is sure to call at some point down the line, the ending of his illustrious career has yet to be written. Whether he stays in Houston or starts a new chapter elsewhere, Verlander will be attempting to defy the age limits historically imposed on his position. Since the turn of the century, have stayed in a big-league rotation for most or all of an MLB season at age-42 or older, and very few of them have been especially effective. The iconic Hall of Fame Braves trio of Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine all pitched the final seasons of their careers at age 42, with only Maddux making it through a full year healthy and none of them posting an above-average ERA. Randy Johnson made 33 starts in his age-42 season with the Yankees in 2006 and delivered three more solid campaigns after that, but none resembled that of a frontline arm. Roger Clemens, whose late-career excellence has been notoriously tarnished by his connection to performance-enhancing drugs, is the only example this century of true dominance at such an advanced age: He finished third in AL Cy Young voting as a 42-year-old in 2005 and pitched well in two seasons after that. Beyond those legends, a quartet of lefties stuck around and started games into their 40s: David Wells, Kenny Rogers, Jamie Moyer and, most recently, Rich Hill, none of whom provided above-average run prevention after turning 42. The same can be said about knuckleballers Tim Wakefield and R.A. Dickey, and their rare skillset made them obvious outliers. Finally, there’s Bartolo Colon, whose All-Star campaign with the Mets in 2016 was arguably the best non-Clemens age-42-or-older season among these dozen arms but who fell off after that in his final two years as a big-league starter (6.13 ERA). These examples of largely ineffective older pitchers demonstrate the challenge ahead for Verlander. After his tremendous Cy Young season at age 39, it seemed reasonable to expect him to continue to pitch well into his mid-40s, and he regularly spoke of his intention to do so. This past year might've put a damper on those ambitions, but it’s too early to say that dream is entirely dead. While there’s little left for Verlander to prove, he remains resolute that he has . Three hundred wins (he’s at 262 right now), but he’s just 84 strikeouts away from becoming the 10th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,500 Ks. And, of course, there are always more championships to chase. If his health cooperates — a big if — maybe he can build off his strong finish to 2024 and make the necessary adjustments to become a reliable rotation option again. His Cy Young-caliber days might be behind him, but a lot of teams would happily pay for the version of Verlander we saw in 2023. Whichever team that ends up being, the contract is sure to be a fraction of what Verlander received two winters ago. But no matter his salary or what jersey he’s wearing, Verlander’s 2025 will be one of the more intriguing campaigns to watch — to see whether he defies his age once again or succumbs to the same struggles as his 42-and-up predecessors.PITTSBURGH — Cam Heyward has been on good teams before. Ones that have captured divisions. Ones that have won playoff games, though admittedly not in a while. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.TikTok's future uncertain after appeals court rejects its bid to overturn possible US ban A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January - is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Police believe the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO left NYC on a bus after the shooting NEW YORK (AP) — Police officials say the gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer three days ago may have quickly left New York City on a bus after escaping on a bicycle and hopping in a cab. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN on Friday that video of the gunman fleeing Wednesday’s shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson showed him riding through Central Park and later taking a taxi to a bus terminal, directly across from New Jersey. Kenny said police have video of the man entering the bus station but no video of him exiting, leading them to believe he left the city. Investigators also believe the shooter left his backpack in Central Park and are trying to find it. Trump offers a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled nominee to lead the Pentagon WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is offering a public show of support for Pete Hegseth, his embattled choice to lead the Pentagon. Hegseth's ability to win confirmation by the Senate is wavering as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat. Trump posted on social media that Hegseth is a winner “and there is nothing that can be done to change that.” Hegseth spent much of the week on Capitol Hill trying to salvage his Cabinet nomination and reassure Republican senators that he is fit to lead the Pentagon. IAEA chief: Iran is poised to 'quite dramatically' increase stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium MANAMA, Bahrain (AP) — Iran is poised to “quite dramatically” increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium. That's according to comments by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Friday. Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke in Bahrain, on the sidelines of the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue. He says Iran had begun preparing advanced centrifuge cascades to spin at nuclear facilities to increase its supply of 60% enriched uranium. That kind of material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Grossi says this is “very concerning." Iran did not immediately acknowledge the preparations, which Grossi said had begun on Friday. Inspectors hope to examine what’s going on. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Trump taps forceful ally of hard-line immigration policies to head Customs and Border Protection WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's immigration and border team is filling out. Trump has announced a former Border Patrol chief, Rodney Scott, to head the Customs and Border Protection agency. Scott is a career Border Patrol agent who rose to head the agency during Trump's first term. He's been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures. At CBP he'll head a department of roughly 60,000 employees responsible for protecting the country’s borders while also facilitating trade and travel. Trump also said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that, among other things, arrests migrants in the U.S. illegally. Vitello is a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency. Romania's top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court has annulled the first round of the country’s presidential election, days after declassified intelligence alleged Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round. Friday's unprecedented and final decision by the Constitutional Court came after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence on Wednesday that alleged Russia ran a sprawling campaign comprising thousands of social media accounts to promote Calin Georgescu across platforms like TikTok and Telegram. Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner on Nov. 24. He was due to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff on Sunday. Crews recover the body of a woman from a Pennsylvania sinkhole after a 4-day search Police say the remains of a woman who fell into a sinkhole have been recovered four days after she went missing while searching for her cat. Trooper Steve Limani said Friday that the body of 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard is being taken to the Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office for an autopsy. Pollard disappeared while looking for her cat on Monday evening, and authorities found her car close to what is thought to be a newly opened sinkhole above a long abandoned coal mine a few hours later. The sinkhole is in the village of Marguerite, about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh. Jury gets OK to consider lesser charge in NYC subway chokehold case, dismisses manslaughter charge NEW YORK (AP) — The judge overseeing the trial of a man accused of using a deadly chokehold on an unruly subway passenger has dismissed the top charge in the case at the request of prosecutors, allowing the jury to consider a lesser count after the panel indicated it was deadlocked on whether Daniel Penny was guilty of manslaughter. The judge’s decision on Friday came hours after Manhattan jurors sent him a note saying they were unable to agree on a manslaughter verdict. Penny is facing charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, who Penny held in a chokehold for about six minutes on a New York City subway in 2023. Vance tells residents in hurricane-stricken North Carolina that they haven't been forgotten FAIRVIEW, N.C. (AP) — Vice President-elect JD Vance is surveying hurricane damage in western North Carolina in one of his first public appearances since the November election. Vance and his wife, Usha, visited the Fairview Volunteer Fire Department, which was flooded with 4 to 6 inches of water in the storm. They heard that roughly a dozen people contracted walking pneumonia while responding to the hurricane's destruction and that power outages prevented some first responders from talking with their families. Vance said, “My simple message to the people of Appalachia is that we haven’t forgotten you — we love you.” Vance has largely stayed out of the public eye since the election aside from shepherding Trump’s Cabinet nominees around Capitol Hill.The San Francisco 49ers are dealing with injuries in the secondary, which have influenced a roster move ahead of their Week 13 primetime matchup with the Buffalo Bills. San Francisco on Saturday promoted cornerback Nick McCloud to the active roster. McCloud takes the place of wide receiver Ronnie Bell, who was waived on Friday. He does so amid injuries to Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green, the former ruled out with a knee injury while rookie Green is questionable with a neck injury. Meanwhile, the 49ers have elevated linebacker Jalen Graham and offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez to their gameday roster for the Bills clash. Graham's elevation comes with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (knee) ruled out for the Bills game, while Gutierrez gives the Niners extra depth at tackle amid Trent Williams' absence for a second successive game. It means Gutierrez is in line to feature in only his second NFL game, having made his debut for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

Chukwuzubelu Ufodike, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University in the United States of America is one of Nigeria’s scholars who wish that the country was a better place for them to thrive. In this interview with Tony Manuaka , he draws a line between the education system in Nigeria and what obtains in America. And as technology continues to advance, Dr Ufodike explains why he is pushing for Blacks in Additive Manufacturing, a new frontier where he wants Nigerians and Africans in general to be adequately represented as it gains momentum. He also shares his experience on some of the bottlenecks that discourage Nigerian professionals living abroad from returning to the country, even when the offers seem to be better. Take us through your academic journey from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri and the University of Lagos until you arrived at the Texas A&M University I schooled in Nigeria before I went to the United States for my PhD. After that, I transitioned into academia. This is my fifth year in academia. So far, so good. I’m enjoying it. Hopefully, I will keep striving and keep inspiring young minds and young Africans so that they can become internationally acclaimed scholars. What actually gives you joy; is it the fact that you live in Texas or the job you’re doing there? My joy comes from life itself, even being at peace with myself and doing what I enjoy to do best, which is to empower and mentor young minds like myself. I’ve done a lot of mentorship because my path wasn’t too smooth. So I find myself helping people to go through the same path but without much huddles to let them know where the bottlenecks are before they get there so that they don’t screw themselves up. It’s difficult to connect the fact that you are an assistant professor at Texas A&M University at a young age with the fact that your path wasn’t smooth. How did it happen? It’s a long story but where do we start from? It all started from just being fascinated by the way things work; having an engineering mindset as a kid. I was always fascinated by physics, chemistry, and how bonds are formed and how structures come together to make up an atom. And then, I went to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where I got my Bachelors in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. And then I started working in the oil and gas sector. At that time, I was going to school while I was working. I did my masters in Process Engineering at the University of Lagos while I was working and also doing an MBA. I was doing two programmes while I was working. During that time, I realized that I had a passion for research. School was just something I was drawn to. So, I went to Florida State University to further my education again, and I dumped my day-time job, which was a little bit uncomfortable at the time, and became a full-time student. That was painful, but it was very interesting because that took me to the path of getting my PhD but first of all, my third masters degree which was in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, and later my PhD from Florida A&M University in the same Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. And that was how it all started. So when I applied for academic jobs and I got offers; I chose Texas A&M University. We are the largest university in the United States of America with about 80, 000 enrolled students before 2023. For someone who began his education in Nigeria and is now an assistant professor in the United States, can you make an assessment of the Nigerian education system? Absolutely! With my experience, five degrees from five different universities from two different countries from two ends of the world, I think I’m in a good position to make such an assessment. I was explaining to someone the difference between teaching and lecturing. In Nigeria, education from the undergraduate level is very theoretical from K12, that is, what we call in the United States, nursery to secondary school; that is kindergarten to SS3. So, from K12, we do teaching. And what that encompasses is that we are teaching the kids how to understand fundamentals but when you get into the university what you get is lecturing on concepts you should know. That is why you see some students struggling in the universities. In engineering, we advise that students should take what is known in Nigeria as Further Math before they get into any engineering programme because basically you need to know your calculus. Now the Nigerian educational system is theoretical; there’s no experimentation. And there is a lack of equipment that will enable you to carry out experimentation. To cut a long story short, coming to the United States, education is not just theoretical, there is hands-on experiment, you are going to use equipment, you are going to understand why you are doing it, and you are going to understand that this is applied. But guess what, I think that the reason a lot of Nigerians do well outside the country’s university system is because they already understand the theoretical concepts. With your versed knowledge in engineering in the United States and your background back in the days as a worker in the Nigerian oil sector, don’t you think Nigeria needs you more than the United States? In fact, I’m going to be 100 per cent honest with you. When I left this country, before I got my visa, I was asked, ‘Are you going to come back to this country?’ In all honesty, I answered, ‘Yes’, not because I was planning to migrate to a different country but because I actually wanted to gain the knowledge. But the rest is history. Nigeria has lost a lot of human resources like myself not because we do not want to come back to Nigeria to reinforce that learning but because Nigeria hasn’t created the foundation or the capacity to retain us. So, at this point, until that happens, Nigeria will continue to lose its best. Unfortunately, there are people who are ready to pay 200 times...but it’s not about the money, it’s more about one’s stability. I mean, I could easily work at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, but guess what? I visited Owerri a few days ago to give a lecture at my alma mater; I gave the same talk at the University of Lagos. I’ve not been to FUTO in many years but to get there, the roads were completely in a terrible shape. But somehow we were able to manoeuvre our way through some bush path to get into the university. And this is a federal university. If I work under that kind of atmosphere, I don’t think I will be as productive as I am today. That alone is already a bottleneck for me as a researcher. So I want an environment where I can strive. You’ve been promoting educational consultancy through the Blacks in Advanced Additive Manufacturing. What is it all about? I’m not promoting educational consultancy through Blacks in Additive Manufacturing. That is rather a product of Graduate Excel. So, BiAM is a non-profit organisation that is inspired by promoting and empowering under-represented groups specifically in Advanced Additive Manufacturing. Advanced Additive Manufacturing is strictly “printing”. It’s unlike conventional manufacturing like blowing, extrusion, or casting. Additive Manufacturing is new, so there is no adequate representation of black people in Additive Manufacturing. And that is how Blacks in Additive Manufacturing started. Currently, Blacks in Additive Manufacturing is sponsored by huge manufacturing organizations like the Society for Manufacturing Engineers, which is the largest manufacturing society in the world; and some other groups like the American Society of Manufacturing Engineering. Now, specifically if you are talking about my consultancy product, which is Graduate Excel; that goes back to the roadblocks and bottlenecks that I had in the past. And that started from when I realized that I wanted to study abroad. And I wanted to get a PhD in engineering but I didn’t know how to go about that. At a point there were little or no resources. This was about 14 to 15 years ago when I wanted to explore my graduate path. So I struggled and looked for resources on my own and I realised that I had to take the Graduate Record Examination; I found how to write a Statement of Purpose (SOP). These are documents you need to submit as part of your application. I did all that without any clear resource or help or mentorship or guardian. And that was really painful. So what the Graduate Excel does is that it creates a mentorship programme for aspiring scholars who are usually international students, specifically, African international students. We mentor them in writing personal statements, guiding them in resume writing and structuring application clearly in terms of what programme fits them best. Some students who want to do a masters or PhD are not so sure if they can get into the programmes right from undergraduate level. That is me giving back specifically to people in Africa to navigate the graduate school huddles. Do you do this for a fee? Yes, I mean, it’s my time, and I want to see commitments from prospective students as well because it’s a professional consultation. Of course I’m not part of any admission committee and as such I can’t guarantee that they will get any admission but I can assist them, making sure that their package is competitive because they are competing against other people from around the globe for the same spot. So they have to come out with highly competitive applications in order to get excellent reviews from the graduate committee. What does it cost to access the Graduate Excel consultancy service? It changes, but we have a management team that takes care of pricing. I’m not entirely sure I can give you the figures but if you go on my website, the products and pricing should be listed there. The pricing compares with those offered by people who are rendering similar services, but at this point, I don’t see any competitor because I’m the only one as far as I know, who can give real professional advice on what it actually takes to write a graduate school application because I’m right at the middle of the system. Because I’m in the system, I can give those ‘insider secrets’. Does this mentorship also guarantee job opportunities for students in the United States? Good question. This mentorship is not just limited to applying to university and post graduate mentorship. I could also mentor on resume revamping, professional consultation on career path options and mentor student and see how we can say, for instance people who read Economics or Business Finance and they want to transition to IT, I’m able to tell them the right courses they should do because you know, IT is a game changer because everyone is transitioning into that. So what kind of responses have you been getting from Africa particularly from prospective scholars in Nigeria? I’m not going to brag about this, but we just launched this officially in March or April this year, and there are a lot of followers on Instagram, Facebook and our other social media platforms. You need to see what our inbox looks like in terms of inquiries on how people can come into our mentorship programme. I think generally, Nigerians, Africans are very passionate in terms of pathways and options on how to study abroad.The world is more fractured by conflicts and misunderstandings than it was a few years, if not decades, ago. At the same time, the act of storytelling has acted as a bridge of healing and unity. Stories come in myriad forms and carry the weight of our pasts, aspirations, and humanity. Creative expression ranges from literature and art to theatre and music. It has the power to transform these stories into bridges that connect communities. The word now used widely is reconciliation for this process. Stories are a fundamental aspect in human nature. They help us make sense of the world. They force us to preserve cultural heritage. Above all, they convey values across generations. It’s a different case in divided societies, where stories become tools of exclusion with divisive narratives. Reconciliation begins when individuals and groups challenge these dominant stories and start giving voice to marginalised perspectives. Consider the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa, established after the end of apartheid. The commission invited victims and perpetrators of violence to share their stories. It generated a national narrative that acknowledged pain and sought justice. Archbishop Desmond Tutu described this process as revealing the truth to lay the foundation for healing. The TRC may have a fair share of hiccups, but the Commission demonstrated how storytelling can confront uncomfortable truths and sow the seeds of reconciliation. Medium for Reconciliation Creative expression amplifies the power of storytelling. How so? Creative expression involves engaging emotions, stimulating empathy, and transcending linguistic and cultural barriers. Art, literature, theatre, and music allow individuals to convey complex emotions and perspectives that may be difficult to articulate in conventional discourse. The Write to Reconcile project is a case in point that exemplifies how literature could contribute to reconciliation. Initiated in the aftermath of the civil war, this initiative brought together writers from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds to craft stories reflecting their experiences and aspirations. These narratives range from the pain of displacement to the search for common ground. The end product offers readers a nuanced understanding of complex post-war realities. For instance, stories from the project highlight shared struggles. It could be a mother’s grief over a missing child at times irrespective of whether she’s Tamil or Sinhalese. Such literature challenges stereotypes and humanises the other, making reconciliation a tangible possibility. Bridging Divides Visual arts have similarly played a milestone role in reconciliation efforts worldwide. In post-genocide Rwanda, the Murambi Memorial transformed a former school into a space for reflection and remembrance. Through photographs, sculptures, and installations, the memorial confronts visitors with the horrors of the past while advocating for unity and peace. The Colombo Art Biennale has served as a platform for artists to explore themes of identity, memory, and coexistence. One notable work featured fragments of letters from individuals affected by the war, stitched together to form a montage. This symbolic act of mending was meant to convey the power of creative expression to heal. Theatre offers a participatory avenue for reconciliation. In Northern Ireland, the Derry Playhouse launched Theatre of Witness, a programme that brought together former combatants, survivors, and witnesses of violence to perform their stories. The participants stepped into each other’s shoes to experience catharsis and develop empathy for opposing viewpoints. Ruwanthi de Chickera’s plays have also tackled themes of division and healing. Her work Walking Path critiques societal fragmentation and prompts audiences to reflect on their role in shaping a more inclusive society. Harmonizing Differences Music, with its universal appeal, has been a unifying force in reconciliation. After the Bosnian War, the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra resumed performances, to bring together musicians from different ethnic groups. Their concerts became symbols of hope and resilience, demonstrating that harmony in music could inspire harmony in society. The National Youth Orchestra unites young musicians from across the country. Collaborative performances encourage camaraderie and mutual respect. It goes on to say how music can bridge divides and nurture reconciliation. Creative expression holds potential for reconciliation, but it is not without challenges. The act of telling stories can reopen old wounds, particularly if not handled sensitively. Not all stories lead to reconciliation. Some may worsen grievances. The political and social context also influences the impact of creative initiatives. Artistes and writers may face censorship or backlash in polarised environments. Whether inclusivity—where all voices, especially those of marginalised communities, are represented— is in effect is another concern. How is it possible to overcome these concerns? Community-based projects allow individuals to share their stories in familiar and supportive environments. Programmes like Write to Reconcile exemplify how grassroots efforts can complement national reconciliation policies. Schools and universities already incorporate storytelling, art, and theatre into curricula. Early exposure to diverse perspectives can cultivate a generation committed to coexistence. Funding is another pathway. Providing funding, training, and platforms for creative practitioners guarantees sustainable reconciliation efforts. Governments and non-governmental organizations can work in collaboration in this regard. Joint initiatives that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds encourage dialogue and mutual understanding. These projects should prioritise inclusivity and representation. The stories we carry define, and represent, who we are and how we connect with others. Creative expression is the most beautiful pathway in a divided society. It shows us the path.

Arsenal go second with 1-0 win over struggling IpswichTHE magical effect of Gulf State money has transformed the Premier League. It will take a while to discover whether these riches will continue. 3 Gianni Infantino operates like an emperor in football Credit: EPA Neither of the two clubs which have hugely benefited, Manchester City and Newcastle, are blowing our socks off so far this season. Pep Guardiola’s City, it is fair to say, have disappointed their fans so far — but not for long, I am sure. Toon lie close to City in mid-table which must be no more than acceptable to Eddie Howe, his players and the masses on the Tyne. There is further heat for the pair over whether any football club should be financed by a state. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT Tiger Woods hugs ex-wife Elin Nordegren at Florida golf event ALL FORE IT I've been golf correspondent for nearly 25 years - here are my top ten courses A Parliamentary Bill is in the pipeline. At a debate I attended at the House of Lords last week, Lord Scriven made his view clear: “There is a specific issue with the Gulf states. “If people are potentially put to death for being gay in a state, would that debar a state entity or an individual in that government from owning an English club? It is a clear question.” One which like so many others, was not answered. Apparently, a letter answering the question will be put in the “library”. Most read in Football KRIS BOYD Philippe Clement has two games to save his job, if this is still Rangers I knew BAL ROLLING Clement delivers injury update on Balogun ahead of Motherwell & Celtic clashes GREEN LIGHT KMI review panel rules on Celtic-Motherwell penalty row and Butland yellow card KEEP CAM Celtic hero Cameron Carter-Vickers 'emerges as shock target for European giants' I hope it doesn’t have to wait as long to get his letter as it has taken the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to reply to the Prem clubs she invited in to discuss the Bill. We’ve been waiting five months and counting... Fans baffled as Donald Trump sends bizarre video message to pal ‘Jonny’ Infantino before Fifa Club World Cup draw Similar funding will be responsible for the 2034 Saudi World Cup, having dodged inspection by the 211 national federations. Or anyone else bar the press and campaigners. Critics point out that hundreds, possibly thousands, of workers died building stadiums for the 2022 World Cup in fellow oil state Qatar. The deaths were barely reported at the time. It may be too late for protestors concerned at this return to a Middle East autocracy because Fifa president Gianni Infantino wrapped up the process before they could make a full case. Infantino bizarrely said he felt “gay, African and disabled” before Qatar and also told women to “pick the right battles”, so he was hardly going to think about the treatment of the fairer sex when awarding the World Cup. Amnesty International reports women “continue to face discrimination in law, inheritance, marriage, divorce and child custody”. But women have been battling for decades against this sort of nonsense, so we won’t be relying on Infantino to fight any corners for us. I’m sure neither City nor Newcastle regard Fifa’s practices as their affair. The Prem already have strict rules about spending on transfers and soon new directives will cover what can be spent on players’ wages. Ownership is, rightly, open to investment from companies all over the world. 3 Nearly half of top-flight teams are ultimately controlled by American investors, as well as by Chinese, Pakistan, Thai, Greek and even English! All of these owners are multi-millionaires and have boardrooms. The oil states have only Arab royalty. Infantino’s behaviour is open to question. Clearly, he likes to operate as an emperor, altering the fixture list in open warfare with Uefa. His Club World Cup intrudes on the close season and relegates the Champions League to a runner-up in importance. Plus, any possibility of an open competition for the 2034 enlarged World Cup has been shut tight. Infantino, a lawyer by trade, knows just how to get his own way and pay. When he was elected Fifa president unopposed in 2023, his annual salary with bonuses was raised by 33 per cent to more than £5million a year. And, as a Swiss-Italian, he now lives in Florida and pays no taxes there. Although some countries, notably Germany, asked questions, he will remain president until 2027 when he is likely to stand again for a further four years. Read more on the Scottish Sun SNOW WAY Weather maps show heavy snow for Scotland in DAYS – with -2C New Year’s chill NO CRIME Orange Order slam cops after Celtic activist was cleared over 'sectarian rants' The new Club World Cup will take place in 11 stadiums for a month next summer in the US. Chelsea and City are our entrants on the basis of Champions League success. Good luck to them. And readers for the coming year. 3