iPhone 17 May Pack Upgraded Display With 120Hz Refresh RatePakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has maintained its strong performance for the second consecutive year, posting an impressive growth of around 80%. In 2024, the benchmark KSE-100 index surged by almost 80% as on December 28, the market closed at 111,351 points. It indicated an impressive rise over the same period of the previous year, when the market closed at 62,052. This growth trajectory was further evident while looking back at December 30, 2022, when the market stood at 40,420 points, reflecting a 46% increase by the close of 2023. JS Global Deputy Research Head Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia said the KSE-100 index reached an all-time high of 117k in intra-day trading during CY24, a remarkable achievement despite significant foreign portfolio investors' selling driven by rebalancing activities. In terms of fiscal year 2023-24, the KSE-100 surged by 89.24% to 78,445 points on June 30, 2024 compared to 41,453 points in the previous year. "This remarkable growth restored market capitalisation to Rs10.37 trillion, which shows a rebound to peak levels last seen in 2017," the PSX wrote in the annual report for 2024 "Ode to Service". The KSE-100 posted an impressive gain of 70% in CY24, its highest return since 2002 and becoming the second best-performing global market after Argentina, according to the Pakistan Strategy 2025 released by AKD. The index is forecast to reach 165,215 points by December 2025, reflecting a potential upside of 55.5%. This performance highlights the growing appeal of the PSX among global investors. Increased activity Starting at lower levels at the beginning of 2024, the KSE-100 index experienced steady growth, with significant momentum building from April onwards. The second half of the year witnessed a sharp rally, when the index reached the high of 117,039.18 before slightly stabilising. By December 27, 2024, the KSE-100 closed at 111,351.17, near its peak levels. The 52-week range for the year was between 58,758.48 and 117,039.18, reflecting substantial recovery and growth. On December 28, the market recorded a trading volume of 816 million shares. Trading activity reached unprecedented levels in 2024. The traded volume soared to 151.4 billion shares, almost double from 2023, while the daily traded value averaged Rs22.1 billion, demonstrating heightened investor participation and confidence, according to the PSX report. Macroeconomic reforms played a pivotal role in supporting the market's strong performance. Interest rates are projected to decline to single digits in CY25, driven by structural adjustments under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility. Inflation, which peaked at 38% in May 2023, has since been anchored to single digits, significantly boosting investor confidence, according to AKD. New listings The year saw the listing of 11 new companies, including prominent entities like the Symmetry Group and TPL REIT Fund-I. These equity listings collectively raised Rs103.3 billion, which showed growing corporate interest in tapping the PSX potential. PSX played a pivotal role in facilitating the issuance of 22 government of Pakistan's Ijarah Sukuk instruments that raised Rs687.81 billion. Additionally, the introduction of a one-year Discounted Ijarah Sukuk provided innovative opportunities for Shariah-compliant investments, further diversifying market offerings, according to the PSX. Two new exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including the Mahaana Islamic Index ETF, were launched in 2024. These ETFs focused on Shariah-compliant and sector-specific investments, expanding the options for investors and promoting inclusivity in financial instruments, according to AKD. Sector-specific highlights Several sectors emerged as top performers in 2024, including banks, fertiliser, energy, and technology. These sectors benefitted from a stable currency, monetary easing, and reform-driven growth. In the medium term, textile exports are expected to lead the market, while technology remains poised for long-term double-digit expansion, reflecting the evolving dynamics of Pakistan's economy, AKD said. Foreign investors have shown increased interest in Pakistani equities, spurred by the country's improved weight in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index (6.4%). Furthermore, the anticipated reclassification of Pakistani equities into the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has created additional momentum, with seven stocks meeting the reclassification criteria, it added. PSX introduced a sophisticated primary market auction system for government debt securities. The implementation of the One-Share Lot System further enhanced liquidity and aligned the exchange with international standards. The exchange prioritised digital expansion by launching tools like the My Portfolio web app and the PSX WhatsApp Service, which provided real-time market updates and investor education. These innovations made market participation more accessible and user-friendly. Economic outlook Pakistan's economic growth remained modest in FY24, with GDP expanding by 2.5%. However, projections indicate an uptick to 2.7-3.2% in FY25 and 4.3% in FY26, driven by industrial and services sector recovery. The current account is expected to maintain a surplus for the next two years, supported by strong remittance inflows and moderate import growth, according to AKD. Waqas Ghani Kukaswadia of JS Global said the State Bank continues monetary easing, reducing the policy rate by a further 200 basis points (bps) earlier this month to 13%, driven by a faster-than-expected decline in inflation. The Consumer Price Index for November 2024 stood at 4.9%. The State Bank has cut interest rate by 900 bps since the easing cycle began in July 2024. Real interest rates now stand at 9%. He forecast FY25 inflation at 6.5%, with a potential sixth interest rate cut, though smaller. He emphasised the importance of foreign capital, political stability, and IMF alignment for Pakistan's macroeconomic stability and investment prospects. Fiscal reforms resulted in a reduction in fiscal deficit to 5% of GDP in FY24, with further improvements anticipated, according to AKD. The government has implemented structural adjustments in taxation, energy tariffs, and investment frameworks to strengthen economic resilience and promote sustainable growth. Ahsan Mehanti, MD of Arif Habib Commodities, noted the PSX's strong performance despite low foreign direct investment and foreign outflows, driven by low inflation and SBP policy easing. He highlighted IMF disbursements and SBP oversight in stabilising the rupee. Looking ahead, falling lending rates, positive earnings forecasts, and regulatory changes in sectors like banking, pharma, and auto lending are expected to push the PSX to new records in 2025. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has emerged as a key driver of foreign direct investment, targeting annual inflows of $5 billion. Meanwhile, CPEC Phase 2.0 focuses on industrial, agricultural, and trade development, with significant emphasis on infrastructure and renewable energy projects, providing a transformative impact on Pakistan's economic landscape. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our
NoneFarmers on Saturday called for a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” at the Khanauri protest site on January 4 where farmers from all over the country will participate. While addressing a press conference, farm leader Abhimanyu Kohar said it is farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who wanted to meet farmers from across the country for whom he had been fighting for nearly four decades. “Both the forums, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM, non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), respecting the desire of Dallewal have announced this mahapanchayat. Farmers from across the country will participate in the mahapanchayat on January 4 and Dallewal will address them,” said Kohar. In the backdrop of the Supreme Court coming down heavily on the Punjab government for not shifting farmer leader Dallewal, who has been fasting for over a month, to a hospital, Dallewal said that the apex court “should issue the directions to the Union government and not to the state government”. After today’s hearing in the apex court about the contempt case against the Punjab government, Dallewal said, “I was shocked when the Supreme Court, while making observation against Punjab Government’s plea of issuing directions to the Union government, said that they won’t talk (go ahead) with any such pre-condition. For once, I thought these words were coming from the Union government, but I was surprised that it was the apex court that made this statement.” He clarified that the fight was against the Union government, and not with the Punjab government. On Saturday, in an unprecedented hearing, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia gave the Punjab government time till December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, giving it the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if the situation warrants. Expressing helplessness, the Punjab government said it is facing huge resistance from the protesting farmers who have encircled Dallewal and are preventing him from being taken to a hospital. The court also termed the conduct of some farmer leaders accompanying Dallewal surprising and questionable. Responding to it, Dallewal, in a video message, said, “I am sitting on a fast. Who gave this report to the Supreme Court and who spread this misconception that I have been kept hostage, where did such a thing come from? He added, “Seven lakh farmers of this country have committed suicide due to debt. To save farmers is necessary, therefore, I am sitting here, I am not under anyone’s pressure.” In his message, Dallewal also said he had written a letter to the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the Centre to accept the farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price on crops. -- With PTI inputsCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Front Row Motorsports, one of two teams suing NASCAR in federal court, accused the stock car series Thursday of rejecting the planned purchase of a valuable charter unless the lawsuit was dropped. Front Row made the claim in a court filing and said it involved its proposed purchase of the charter from Stewart-Haas Racing. Front Row said the series would only approve it if Front Row and 23XI Racing dropped their court case. “Specifically, NASCAR informed us that it would not approve the (charter) transfer unless we agreed to drop our current antitrust lawsuit against them,” Jerry Freeze, general manager of Front Row, said in an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina. The two teams in September refused to sign NASCAR's “take-it-or-leave-it” final offer on a new revenue sharing agreement. All other 13 teams signed the deal. Front Row and 23XI balked and are now in court. 23XI co-owner Michael Jordan has said he took the fight to court on behalf of all teams competing in the top motorsports series in the United States. NASCAR has argued that the two teams simply do not like the terms of the final charter agreement and asked for the lawsuit be dismissed. Earlier this week, the suit was transferred to a different judge than the one who heard the first round of arguments and ruled against the two teams in their request for a temporary injunction to be recognized in 2025 as chartered teams as the case proceeds. The latest filing is heavily redacted as it lays out alleged retaliatory actions by NASCAR the teams say have caused irreparable harm. Both Front Row and 23XI want to expand from two full-time cars to three, and have agreements with SHR to purchase one charter each as SHR goes from four cars to one for 2025. The teams can still compete next season but would have to do so as “open” teams that don't have the same protections or financial gains that come from holding a charter. Freeze claimed in the affidavit that Front Row signed a purchase agreement with SHR in April and NASCAR President Steve Phelps told Freeze in September the deal had been approved. But when Front Row submitted the paperwork last month, NASCAR began asking for additional information. A Dec. 4 request from NASCAR was “primarily related to our ongoing lawsuit with NASCAR,” Freeze said. “NASCAR informed us on December 5, 2024, that it objected to the transfer and would not approve it, in contrast to the previous oral approval for the transfer confirmed by Phelps before we filed the lawsuit,” Freeze said. “NASCAR made it clear that the reason it was now changing course and objecting to the transfer is because NASCAR is insisting that we drop the lawsuit and antitrust claims against it as a condition of being approved.” A second affidavit from Steve Lauletta, the president of 23XI Racing, claims NASCAR accused 23XI and Front Row of manufacturing “new circumstances” in a renewed motion for an injunction and of a “coordinated effort behind the scenes.” “This is completely false,” Lauletta said. Front Row is owned by businessman Bob Jenkins, while 23XI is owned by retired NBA Hall of Famer Jordan, three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and longtime Jordan adviser Curtis Polk. NASCAR had been operating with 36 chartered teams and four open spots since the charter agreement began in 2016. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. The teams contend they must be chartered under some of their contractual agreements with current sponsors and drivers, and competing next year as open teams will cause significant losses. “23XI exists to compete at the highest level of stock car racing, striving to become the best team it can be. But that ambition can only be pursued within NASCAR, which has monopolized the market as the sole top-tier circuit for stock car racing,” Lauletta said. "Our efforts to expand – purchasing more cars and increasing our presence on the track – are integral to achieving this goal. “It is not hypocritical to operate within the only system available while striving for excellence and contending for championships,” he continued. “It is a necessity because NASCAR’s monopoly leaves 23XI no alternative circuit, no different terms, and no other viable avenue to compete at this level.” AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
(All times Eastern) Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts Sunday, Dec. 29 COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) Noon BTN — Indiana St. at Ohio St. 1 p.m. PEACOCK — Penn at Penn St. 1:30 p.m. PEACOCK — Northeastern at Northwestern 2 p.m. BTN — Chicago St. at Illinois PEACOCK — Morgan St. at Minnesota 3 p.m. ESPNU — Buffalo at Temple PEACOCK — NJIT at Washington 4 p.m. BTN — Winthrop at Indiana 6 p.m. BTN — Toledo at Purdue 8 p.m. ACCN — Campbell at North Carolina BTN — W. Kentucky at Michigan COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) Noon ACCN — Virginia at Notre Dame, Noon SECN — Alabama A&M at Vanderbitl 1 p.m. ESPN2 — South Florida at Rice 2 p.m. ACCN — Louisville at Boston College SECN — Wofford at South Carolina 4 p.m. ACCN — North Carolina at Miami SECN — Texas Rio Grande Valley at Texas 6 p.m. ACCN — Clemson at NC State 10 p.m. BTN — Michigan at Southern Cal HORSE RACING 3 p.m. FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races IIHF HOCKEY (MEN’S) Noon NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Switzerland vs. Sweden, Group B, Toronto 2:30 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: U.S. vs. Finland, Group A, Ottawa, Ontario 5 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Czechia vs. Slovakia, Group B, Toronto 7:30 p.m. NHLN — World Junior Championship Group Stage: Canada vs. Germany, Group A, Ottawa, Ontario NBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL 2 p.m. NBATV — Osceola at Raptors 905 NFL FOOTBALL 1 p.m. CBS — Regional Coverage: N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, Carolina at Tampa Bay, Tennessee at Jacksonville FOX — Regional Coverage: Las Vegas at New Orleans, Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, Dallas at Philadelphia 4:05 p.m. CBS — Miami at Cleveland 4:25 p.m. FOX — Green Bay at Minnesota 8:20 p.m. NBC — Atlanta at Washington PEACOCK — Atlanta at Washington NHL HOCKEY 8:30 p.m. ESPN — Dallas at Chicago SOCCER (MEN’S) 10 a.m. USA — Premier League: Nottingham Forest at Everton 12:15 p.m. USA — Premier League: Liverpool at West Ham United 12:40 p.m. CBSSN — English League Championship: Leeds United at Derby Country TENNIS 6 a.m. TENNIS — Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds 6:30 p.m. TENNIS — United Cup: Britain v. Argentina; Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds; Hong Kong-ATP, Auckland-WTA Early Rounds 6 a.m. (Monday) TENNIS — Brisbane-ATP/WTA Early Rounds The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by TV listings provided by .NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Tracer Biotechnologies, a next-generation diagnostics company, today announced a multi-year project with AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN). The agreement will enable AstraZeneca to use Tracer’s circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring technology for clinical trials. Tracer has developed a proprietary platform for tumor-informed ctDNA detection based on digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Tracer’s platform optimizes ctDNA detection, enabling cost-effective, precise, and scalable testing for patients as an alternative to radiographic imaging. “We are entering a new era of oncology where patients will no longer have to wait for costly and imprecise radiographic scans to assess treatment and disease progression,” said Mark Kaganovich, CEO of Tracer Biotechnologies. “We are proud to work with AstraZeneca to leverage frequent, precise, and cost-effective ctDNA measurement for minimal residual disease detection and treatment response monitoring.” About Tracer Biotechnologies Tracer Biotechnologies is a next-generation diagnostics company. Tracer is the only ultrasensitive ctDNA assay for Molecular Response surveillance. Combining tumor-informed personalization with dPCR allows Tracer to offer cost-effective assays for an unlimited number of timepoints on a study. The Tracer assay is available for blood and urine. For more information, please visit https://tracerbio.com/ . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212366378/en/ communications@tracerbio.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK NORTH AMERICA UNITED STATES IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ONCOLOGY HEALTH MEDICAL DEVICES RADIOLOGY CLINICAL TRIALS PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SOURCE: Tracer Biotechnologies Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 02:00 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 02:00 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212366378/en
By JILL COLVIN NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time. In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act , had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. Related Articles National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg National Politics | Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump’s suite at football game National Politics | About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll “Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.PGI records over 28 lakh OPD registrations in 2024CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calf and will be reevaluated in 10 days. Dosunmu got hurt during Monday night’s 112-91 loss to Milwaukee. The Bulls provided an update on his injury on Saturday. Dosunmu, who turns 25 on Jan. 17, is averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 assists in his fourth NBA season. He has appeared in 30 games, including 17 starts. The Chicago native was selected by the Bulls in the second round of the 2021 draft. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
FLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORSJessica Chastain left close to tears on stage as she shares rare childhood details
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator and Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology member Afnanullah Khan on Saturday pledged to support the digital rights bill. In an interview with a news channel, the senator stated that the PML-N would back the digital rights bill, underscoring the commitment to advancing the "Digital Pakistan" initiative. Khan highlighted the past achievements in the development of IT, adding that efforts would continue in line with the vision of transforming Pakistan into a digital hub. "I am pleased to announce that internet users in Pakistan will soon experience faster speeds," he said, adding that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman and the IT minister were collectively addressing the issue. "We have introduced multiple bills that will yield fruitful results in the coming months," he remarked. The senator emphasised that the government was actively working to transform Pakistan into a digitalised nation with a focus on providing high-speed internet facilities to citizens. This initiative, he added, was part of efforts to enhance connectivity, improve digital infrastructure and increase investment in digital skills. "Our goal is to create a knowledge-based economy, driven by innovation and entrepreneurship, which will ultimately spur economic growth," he said. To achieve this, the Ministry of IT and Telecom is launching programmes to build a network of National Incubation Centres and induct promising start-ups. "With the support of initiatives like the Digital Pakistan programme, the country is poised to become a leading player in the global digital landscape." Responding to a query, Senator Khan acknowledged that Pakistan was facing challenges in its digital transformation journey. However, he gave assurances that such challenges were being addressed and would be resolved soon. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see ourNone
Herbert tosses 3 TD passes and Chargers secure a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots
A group of 11 Chicago area teenagers have been hit with felony charges, including hate crimes, after allegedly using dating apps to lure and then beat two men in an act inspired by a social media trend, police said. The suspects, who remained unidentified because they are all minors, are implicated in two separate attacks that took place on the evening of July 8, the Mount Prospect Police Department said in a press release . The first victim to make a report was a 41-year-old man who came into the police station at approximately 9:45 p.m., saying he had been battered by a group of male teenagers in a parking lot at 606 West Northwest Highway earlier that night. The man said he had arranged to meet someone from a dating app at the location but was verbally and physically confronted by the group of teens, who also allegedly damaged the vehicle he arrived in. The victim relayed that the group then followed his car in their vehicles as he fled before he was eventually able to get away. Less than ten minutes after the 41-year-old came into the department, Mount Prospect officers responded to a similar report of a 23-year-old man being assaulted in the 400 block of See Gwun Avenue, the release stated. Upon arrival, the second victim told police he was also beaten by a group of teenagers, who also damaged his vehicle, after attempting to meet someone he connected with on a dating app. The man said that while he was being verbally accosted and battered, one of the teens slashed his tires. The victim said he was able to get back into his vehicle and drive to a nearby home to ask the residents to call 911. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The subsequent investigation, which involved reviewing surveillance cameras that captured the incident at 606 West Northwest Highway, led to police identifying the 11 suspects. “The investigation also found one of the offenders yelled a racial and another derogatory term during the incident, resulting in that juvenile offender being charged additionally with two counts of Hate Crime,” police said. The juvenile suspects, all charged with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, and mob action, willingly turned themselves into the authorities in November and were transported to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago. While police did not specify what slurs were yelled during the incidents or what apps were used to lure the men, they said that “some of the teenage offenders got this idea through a viral social media trend they saw online.” “We are asking parents to take these incidents as an opportunity to talk with their teenage children about the seriousness of actively participating in these types of trends they see on social media,” Mount Prospect Police chief Michael Eterno said.Heisman Trophy finalist and two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter was named The Associated Press Big 12 defensive player of the year while also being a first-team selection at wide receiver on Thursday. Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the league's top offensive player. Kenny Dillingham, the 34-year-old in his second season at Arizona State, was the unanimous choice as Big 12 coach of the year after leading his alma mater to a championship and a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Sun Devils (11-2) went into their league debut as the preseason pick to finish last among the 16 teams. At cornerback, Hunter had 31 tackles, tied for the Big 12 lead with 11 pass breakups and was tied for second with four interceptions. On offense, he leads the Big 12 with 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns, and is second with 1,152 yards receiving. His 21 catches of at least 20 yards are the most nationally. He is also the AP's player of the year. Sanders is the Big 12 passing leader, completing 337 of 454 passes (74.2%) for 3,926 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns with eight interceptions for the Buffaloes (10-2) Arizona State freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt, who is 11-1 as a starter, is the league’s top newcomer. The Michigan State transfer has 2,663 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and only five picks in 304 attempts. LAS VEGAS — Former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has agreed to lead UNLV's 24th-ranked football program, two people with knowledge of the hire said Wednesday. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no announcement has been made. The 52-year-old Mullen replaces Barry Odom, who left for Purdue on Sunday after going 19-8 and helping the Rebels receive back-to-back bowl invitations for the first time in program history. UNLV will play California in the LA Bowl on Wednesday. UNLV athletic director Erick Harper wasted little time in finding Odom's replacement. Mullen, most recently an ESPN college football analyst, went 103-61 at Florida and Mississippi State. Rich Rodriguez is returning to West Virginia for a second stint as head coach at his alma mater. Athletic director Wren Baker announced the hiring on Thursday, 17 years after Rodriguez made a hasty exit for what became a disastrous three-year experiment at Michigan. “We are thrilled to welcome Coach Rich Rodriguez and his family back home,” Baker said in a statement. “Coach Rodriguez understands what it takes to win at West Virginia, and I believe he will pour his heart, soul and every ounce of his energy into our program. I am convinced Coach Rodriguez wants what is best for West Virginia, WVU and West Virginia football, and I am excited about the future of our program.” Rodriguez, who is the current coach at Jacksonville State, an architect of the spread offense and a polarizing figure in his home state, replaces Neal Brown, who was fired on Dec. 1 after going 37-35 in six seasons, including 6-6 this year. BRIEFLY FCS: The NCAA is taking its Football Championship Subdivision title game back to Tennessee. The FCS championship games at the end of the 2025 and 2026 seasons will be played in Nashville on the Vanderbilt campus. This season’s game will be played Jan. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, which will host the game for a record 15th season in a row and was set for at least two more. OC: UCLA announced Tino Sunseri’s hiring as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Sunseri replaces Eric Bieniemy, who was fired on Dec. 5 after fielding one of the nation’s worst offenses this season. Sunseri spent one season as Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after following Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison. Get local news delivered to your inbox!The Commanders have activated defensive tackle Jonathan Allen from injured reserve, per a team announcement . Allen landed on IR in October after a pectoral injury that was originally thought to be season-ending. Optimism grew after doctors discovered during surgery that his pectoral was only partially torn. He was able to return to practice on Dec. 18 , giving him enough time to ramp up and return to the field before the end of the season. The two-time Pro Bowler was off to a slightly slower start than previous years, notching just 15 tackles and 2.0 sacks in his first six games. Washington’s run defense still suffered without him; the Commanders have surrendered 2,061 rushing yards so far this season, the fifth-most in the NFL. Washington has relied on two recent second-round picks — Phidarian Mathis and Jer’Zhan Newton — to fill the void left by Allen’s absence. The Commanders waived Mathis earlier on Saturday , signaling that Allen would soon be headed back to the active roster. He will rejoin fellow Pro Bowler Daron Payne on the interior of Washington’s defensive line. Payne has started all 15 games, though his 68% snap share is a career-low. Allen and Payne will hope to anchor the Commanders defense against the Falcons on Sunday night. A win would clinch Washington’s first playoff appearance since 2020, an impressive outcome after an organizational overhaul resulted in a new owner, head coach and rookie quarterback. This article first appeared on Pro Football Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
Butterball Turkeys Recalled Amid Sex Abuse Allegations This Thanksgiving? What W...
Titans showing signs of growing tougher under 1st-year coach Brian CallahanTOMS River, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator has called for mysterious drones spotted flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary,” even as it remains unclear who owns them. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. People in the New York region are also concerned that the drones may be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, he said, demanding more transparency from the Biden administration. The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels. “We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby said, echoing statements from the Pentagon and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security. The FBI has been investigating and has asked residents to share any videos, photos or other information about the drones. On Wednesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said they are not U.S. military drones. The number of sightings has increased in recent days, though officials say many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones. It’s also possible that a single drone has been reported more than once. The worry stems partly from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. In a post on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was frustrated by the lack of transparency, saying it could help spread fear or misinformation. “We should know what’s going on over our skies,” he said Thursday. Fantasia, a Morris County Republican, was among several lawmakers who met with state police and Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings from the New York City area across New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia. It is unknown at this time whether the sightings are related. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, say the military should shoot down the drones. Smith said a U.S. Coast Guard commanding officer briefed him on an incident over the weekend in which a dozen drones followed a motorized Coast Guard lifeboat “in close pursuit” near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Coast Guard Lt. Luke Pinneo on Wednesday told The Associated Press “that multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park.” Associated Press reporters Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and reporter Darlene Superville and videojournalists Serkan Gurbuz and Nathan Ellgren in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.ROSEN, LEADING INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages iLearningEngines, Inc. Investors to Secure Counsel ...
Ricks 4-8 0-0 9, Hutchins-Everett 1-4 3-3 5, Brown 4-12 3-3 13, Freeman 3-9 0-0 7, Smith 2-6 2-2 6, Lindsay 6-11 0-0 17, Anderson 3-4 0-0 7, Williams 1-2 0-0 3, Taylor 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 8-8 67. Kapic 5-8 1-1 12, Gray 6-9 1-3 16, Howell 4-7 2-2 11, McGhie 4-12 0-0 9, Tait-Jones 4-10 13-18 21, Rochelin 0-1 1-2 1, Burke 1-1 0-0 3, Milovich 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-48 18-26 73. Halftime_UC San Diego 34-28. 3-Point Goals_James Madison 11-27 (Lindsay 5-8, Brown 2-6, Williams 1-1, Anderson 1-2, Ricks 1-4, Freeman 1-5, Hutchins-Everett 0-1), UC San Diego 7-18 (Gray 3-3, Burke 1-1, Howell 1-3, Kapic 1-4, McGhie 1-6, Tait-Jones 0-1). Rebounds_James Madison 25 (Smith 9), UC San Diego 24 (Tait-Jones 6). Assists_James Madison 10 (Brown 4), UC San Diego 10 (Tait-Jones 4). Total Fouls_James Madison 22, UC San Diego 15.
Herbert tosses 3 TD passes and Chargers secure a playoff spot with a 40-7 rout of Patriots
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has a strained right calf and will be reevaluated in 10 days. Dosunmu got hurt during Monday night’s 112-91 loss to Milwaukee. The Bulls provided an update on his injury on Saturday. Dosunmu, who turns 25 on Jan. 17, is averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 assists in his fourth NBA season. He has appeared in 30 games, including 17 starts. The Chicago native was selected by the Bulls in the second round of the 2021 draft. ___ AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBATracer Biotechnologies Announces Agreement for Next-Generation Cancer Monitoring for Drug Development