Election results on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean have set the background for the final stretch of campaigning for Irish parties ahead of polling day on Friday. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US has brought heightened concern that his administration’s proposals around corporation tax and tariffs would significantly impact Ireland’s economic model. Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has argued Ireland and other EU countries need to prepare for the possibility of trade shocks as he criticised the scale of Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as well as their saving plans. He said: “I think that is irresponsible, I think it is dangerous and I think it is reckless.” He accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of not being able to say what her party was prepared to do in the event of an economic crash, adding that Fine Gael would borrow and stop putting money towards a rainy-day fund. Asked if the party was engaging in “project fear” to dissuade voters against Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: “I call it ‘project truth’. It’s telling people what’s being discussed right across European capitals.” Ms McDonald told an RTE interview on Wednesday morning that a Sinn Fein government would also be prepared to start borrowing in the event of an economic downturn. Both Mr Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who were partners in the last coalition government in Ireland, have made clear they will not countenance Sinn Fein as a potential partner in the next administration in Dublin. One day after the only three-way debate featuring the leaders of the main parties, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of being “dishonest” about how they will fund their manifesto plans. Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, he said he is anxious to get clarity on the issue. “I think Sinn Fein have been very dishonest, frankly, in terms of the funds, because if you go through their figures, and this is a matter of fact, not opinion, they’re predicting a surplus of a billion in 2026, a billion in 2027. “Even in 2025, they’re talking about a mini budget, which would mean reducing the surplus that we’re anticipating in 2025. “There’s a legislative obligation now on any new government to put 0.8% of GDP to one side, and into the funds. There’s no way you can do that with a surplus of a billion in 2026 or 2027, and we would argue they would not have enough funds next year either to put into the funds.” He added: “It means they have no room to manoeuvre if things go wrong, if there’s headwinds come externally, or there are shocks internationally, Sinn Fein is not allowing any headroom at all in terms of room to respond or to move it.” Ms McDonald accused the other two parties of conspiring to keep Sinn Fein out of government and prevent change in Ireland. She said the two men were now “indistinguishable” from each other as she claimed they were suffering “acute amnesia” in regard to their records in government. On a visit to Naas fire station in Co Kildare, she said: “To listen to them, you’d imagine they had just arrived on the scene and that they were going to come up with all of these solutions. “They have had ample chances, ample opportunity, to make things better, and they have failed, and in between the two of them I make the case that now we ask for our chance, with our plans, with our team, to demonstrate how change can happen, how your community, your family, yourself, can be supported when the government is actually on your side.” Mr Martin’s and Mr Harris’ coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Greens, issued a warning to the public over a future government without his party. On Wednesday, he said it is looking likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be returned to government – but cautioned they may not want the Greens to continue “fighting hard” on policies. He told reporters: “My sense is certainly the mood music from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is that they’d like an easier life in the next government – and my concern is they use these small populist parties and right-wing independents.” Mr O’Gorman argued that the Greens could continue to provide stability to government at a time when economic shocks may be around the corner. As the Green leader suggested that relying on independents would be unstable, Mr Martin has also argued that “too much fragmentation would lead to incoherence in government”. Reflecting on Tuesday night’s debate, the Fianna Fail leader said the race remained “too close to call” while Mr Harris said it is “all to play for”. The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in the last televised debate before Friday’s General Election. The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, saw the parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day. The latest opinion poll on Monday put the parties in a tight grouping, with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Sinn Fein, and Fine Gael in a close third after a significant slide in a campaign marked with several hiccups for Mr Harris’s party. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power – with the Greens as a junior partner. From 2016 to 2020, Fianna Fail had supported Fine Gael in power through a confidence-and-supply arrangement from the Opposition benches in the Dail parliament. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.North Branch, MN, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tim Davis, a seasoned entrepreneur, has turned his family into a powerhouse team at the North Branch Dickey's Barbecue Pit . With Tim and his wife Sue at the helm, their son Seth as General Manager, and their daughter Hannah leading marketing efforts, the Davis family has transformed their location into a cornerstone of the community since opening in April 2024. "Our family dynamic is the foundation of our success," said Tim Davis, franchisee. "Everyone brings their strengths to the table, and together we're building something we're incredibly proud of—not just for us, but for our community." Tim and Sue Davis purchased the North Branch location after seeing it as the perfect opportunity to combine their entrepreneurial spirit with a love for great barbecue. With a background that includes real estate franchises and other business ventures, Tim saw something unique in Dickey's. "The decision to join Dickey's wasn't just about the product—it was about the people," said Tim. "The Dickey's corporate team provided unwavering support throughout the process, from training to daily operations. That personal touch made all the difference." The Davis family has made their Dickey's location a testament to collaboration and teamwork. Seth Davis, General Manager: With a passion for food and smoking meats, Seth has become the driving force behind the kitchen operations. Hannah Davis, Marketing Director: Leveraging her business and marketing degree, Hannah has taken the lead in connecting with the community through events, promotions, and catering. "Dad handles the business, Seth focuses on the food, and I handle the marketing," said Hannah Davis. "It's a perfect balance. We each bring something unique, and that collaboration is what makes this work." Sue Davis, a school principal, also contributes by helping with catering deliveries and providing strategic input. Together, the Davis family is creating a legacy of quality barbecue and community involvement. Like any business, the journey hasn't been without challenges. From navigating equipment repairs to managing labor costs, the Davis family has tackled each hurdle with determination and support from the Dickey's team. "You learn quickly that financial discipline and adaptability are key," said Tim. "Dickey's provides the resources and guidance we need to overcome obstacles and continue growing." The Dickey's system has been instrumental in helping the Davis family succeed. "Dickey's commitment to quality and tradition is what sets the brand apart," said Tim. "From the smoking process to the customer service, everything is designed to ensure an excellent experience." Roland Dickey, Jr. , CEO of Dickey's Capital Group , praised the family's efforts. "The Davis family embodies the spirit of Dickey's—hardworking, innovative, and community-focused," he said. "Their ability to create a welcoming environment while staying true to our brand's values is exactly what makes our franchisees so successful." For the Davis family, their Dickey's isn't just a restaurant—it's a gathering place for the North Branch community. They've prioritized building relationships with their neighbors and supporting local events, making Dickey's a true community hub. "We're here to serve more than just barbecue—we're here to serve people," said Hannah Davis. "Our goal is to create memories and make every guest feel like part of the family." Laura Rea Dickey , CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., highlighted the family's impact. "The Davis family represents what makes Dickey's so special," she said. "They've seamlessly blended entrepreneurial vision with the heart of a family business, creating an experience that resonates with their guests and their community." As the Davis family continues to grow their business, they remain committed to upholding Dickey's values of quality, community, and tradition. "Our journey with Dickey's is about more than just business," said Tim. "It's about creating a legacy for our family and a gathering place for our community. With the support of Dickey's, we're excited for what the future holds." About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world's largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey's barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey's never takes shortcuts—because real barbecue can't be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey's Barbecue Franchise and Dickey's Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey's has been recognized on Newsweek's 2022 "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation's Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers" for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology's Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com . Attachment Hannah Davis, Seth Davis, Tim Davis and Sue Davis in front of the North Branch © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.mnl168 games 。

ISLAMABAD – The Digital Nation Pakistan Bill 2024 was presented in the National Assembly by Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima. The session, chaired by the Deputy Speaker, was adjourned until 11am the next day following the bill’s introduction. Key Features of the Bill Formation of a National Digital Commission: A 17-member commission headed by the Prime Minister, including the Chief Ministers of all provinces. The commission will also include IT Minister as Vice-Chairman, five federal ministers, Chairpersons of FBR, NADRA, PTA, SECP, and the Governor of the State Bank. Pakistan Digital Authority (PDA) will be established with a three-member structure, approved by the PM. Digital Master Plan The bill aims to create a National Digital Master Plan to: Digitize governance systems. Transition Pakistan into a digital economy. Involve stakeholders for strategic planning. Monitor implementation through annual reviews. Supervisory and Financial Setup A nine-member oversight committee will supervise PDA’s activities. A Digital National Fund will be created to meet financial requirements. Centralize records, such as land, health, birth, and ID data, into one platform. Enable unified data access to track assets and activities efficiently. The bill sets a roadmap for digital transformation, aiming to enhance governance and public service delivery through technology.SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. territory of Puerto Rico has yet to produce a certified vote tally for a single district almost a month after holding historic general elections. Then on Wednesday, a judge issued a ruling that sparked an outcry and threatened to further delay the certification process as the Jan. 2 swearing-in looms. The judge, in response to a lawsuit, ordered Puerto Rico’s State Elections Commission to count early votes following ID verification even if the postal address used to request those votes is different from the one in the general voter registration. “Contrary to what some actors in our society may have encouraged in public opinion, our legal framework in electoral matters is covered with guarantees of reliability, which leave no room for speculation or doubts about the validity of early votes,” Judge Raúl A. Candelario López wrote. The Nov. 21 lawsuit was filed by a dozen voters affiliated with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, which won the gubernatorial race, according to preliminary results. The ruling noted that those voters alleged “their rights are being violated since they requested early voting, complied with all the requirements for it, and their votes are being subject to additional requirements without any legal basis.” The judge’s decision angered many including Karla Angleró, electoral commissioner for the opposing Popular Democratic Party, one of Puerto Rico’s two main parties, She said the party would appeal Wednesday’s ruling. In September, Angleró and electoral commissioners from other parties agreed that if they uncovered addresses that didn’t match, officials would call people to confirm that they indeed requested an early vote to prevent any fraud. Angleró and other commissioners had recently requested that the elections commission investigate how more than 40 ballots with different residential addresses were requested from the same P.O. box in the southern coastal town of Santa Isabel. “We’ve been waiting for weeks,” she told reporters on Wednesday of the investigation. Judicial officials already are investigating allegations made before Nov. 2 about electoral crimes including people who said they received confirmations for early voting when they had made no such request. As those investigations continue, workers are certifying ballots with the aim to finish by Dec. 20 or 22, according to Jessika Padilla, alternate president for the elections commission. The aim was to finalize the district of the capital of San Juan on Wednesday, but that was pushed back to Sunday, she told reporters. Numerous obstacles have delayed the certification process, including an increase in write-in votes and a flurry of errors detected in bedside ballots, prompting all electoral commissioners to agree to start counting more than 60,000 such votes from scratch. The delay prompted electoral commissioners last week to temporarily halt the counting of ballots cast in a nonbinding referendum also held Nov. 2 on Puerto Rico’s political status so they could focus on election ballots. Local law dictates the certification process must be completed by Dec. 31.

Brazil's legal landscape is on the brink of a significant development as a comprehensive indictment against former President Jair Bolsonaro and his associates is anticipated. Sources indicate that Brazil's top public prosecutor, Paulo Gonet, plans to consolidate three Federal Police investigations into Bolsonaro's actions, which challenged the country's democratic framework, into a single global indictment. The Federal Police have formally charged Bolsonaro and 36 individuals with attempted coup d'état and other serious offenses. These allegations stem from a nearly two-year probe into Bolsonaro's attempts to negate his 2022 election defeat. The investigation culminated in reports of planned assassinations and riots in Brasilia shortly after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inauguration. Gonet's approach emphasizes technicality and thoroughness, suggesting that the indictments, once analyzed and compiled, will form a robust case. However, the consistent delays point towards potential charges only being finalized by 2025. Despite mounting legal challenges, Bolsonaro retains influence as the leader of a major right-wing movement in Brazilian politics. (With inputs from agencies.)Syracuse, Albany each hoping to get right at expense of the other

Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on January 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected for investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what they saw as overreach. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40% since Trump’s victory. It hit new highs Thursday and was nearing $100,000. Bitcoin moved notably higher still after Gensler's resignation was announced. Gensler's stance on the rise of cryptocurrencies was captured during a speech he gave during the first year of his chairmanship in 2021 where he described the market as “the Wild West.” “This asset class is rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications,” he said in a speech at the Aspen Security Forum. “There’s a great deal of hype and spin about how crypto assets work. In many cases, investors aren’t able to get rigorous, balanced, and complete information.” Under Gensler, the SEC brought actions against players in the crypto industry for fraud, wash trading and other violations, including as recently as last month when the commission brought fraud charges against three companies purporting to be market makers, along with nine individuals for trying to manipulate various crypto markets. Yet access to cryptocurrencies became more widespread under Gensler. In January, the SEC approved exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of bitcoin. With such ETFs, investors could get easier access to bitcoin without the huge overlays required to buy it directly. Gensler, however, acknowledged the SEC had denied earlier, similar applications for such ETFs, including Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, among the first to eventually be approved by the SEC. “Circumstances, however, have changed,” Gensler said, pointing to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that said the SEC failed to adequately explain its reasoning in rejecting Grayscale’s proposal. Even there, Gensler made sure not to endorse the merits of bitcoin. He pointed to how ETFs that hold precious metals are tracking prices of things that have “consumer and industrial users, while in contrast bitcoin is primarily a speculative, volatile asset that’s also used for illicit activity including ransomware, money laundering, sanction evasion, and terrorist financing.” Gensler was tested early in his tenure with the rise of the meme stock phenomenon that shocked the financial system in early 2021. Earlier this year, the SEC under Gensler pushed Wall Street to speed up how long it takes for trades of stocks to settle, one of the areas where the commission’s staff recommended changes following the reckoning created by GameStop, one of the first meme stocks. In the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, hordes of smaller-pocketed and novice investors suddenly piled into the stock of the struggling video-game retailer. During the height of the frenzy, several brokerages barred customers from buying GameStop after the clearinghouse that settles their trades demanded more cash to cover the increased risk created by its highly volatile price. In May 2024, new rules meant broker-dealers have to fully settle their trades within one business day of the trade date, down from the previous two. Critics of the SEC under Gensler have called many of the agency's proposals overly burdensome. The investment industry, for example, is pushing against a proposal to force some advisers and companies disclose more about their environmental, social and governance practices, otherwise known as ESG. Critics say the proposal is overly complex and increases the risk of investor confusion, while imposing unnecessary burdens and costs on funds. On Thursday, Gensler stood by the SEC's track record under his direction. “The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike," Gensler said in prepared remarks. “The staff comprises true public servants. It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve with them on behalf of everyday Americans and ensure that our capital markets remain the best in the world.” Gensler previously served as Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, leading the Obama Administration’s reform of the $400 trillion swaps market. He also was senior advisor to U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes in writing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and was undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance and assistant secretary of the Treasury from 1997-2001.Seahawks have taken a bumpy path to first place in the NFC West

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I’m A Celebrity’s Coleen Rooney reveals her surprising budget family holidays to Butlins despite living in £20m mansionWilmington, Del., Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Participating in a tradition that has evolved since 1792, today, employees from Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) gathered on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland, joined by company executives, rang the trading day’s opening bell . The event signifies a decade of evolution, resilience and sustainable solutions for the additives and specialty ingredients company and recognizes its 100-year anniversary. “I want to thank our employees for their dedication, our customers for their trust and our shareholders for their support over the years which continues to be the foundation of our success,” said Guillermo Novo, chair and chief executive officer, Ashland. From its origin of gavel banging to the modern workday bell ringing , the ritual marks the start and end of trading through the years and has come to celebrate economic growth and progress. One year ago, Ashland introduced seven new technology platforms aligned to the company’s pharmaceutical, personal care and specialty additives core, that extend to secondary markets with new and differentiated capabilities to unlock organic growth for Ashland and its customers worldwide. The platform solutions bring “new to the world” sustainable innovations, offering tunable choices to customers to enable the reshaping of their product portfolios, answering global megatrends, and responding to various regulatory landscapes. “As the stock market has demonstrated resilience through devastating lows and exuberant highs over time, Ashland has consistently transformed itself ahead of market trends from an oil and refining company to a matrixed chemical company, and from a broad chemicals and materials provider to the focused additives and specialty ingredients company we are today; integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) in our operating plans to responsibly solve for a better world,” said Novo. strategy update event Ashland is hosting a strategy update event for analysts and investors on December 10, 2024, in New York City. The company will provide an in-depth review of Ashland’s strategic priorities, key initiatives and financial objectives while emphasizing a proactive approach to market uncertainty in fiscal year 2025. The event includes presentations and prepared remarks from members of Ashland’s executive team, as well as breakout sessions for in-person attendees and an opportunity for both live and webcast attendees to ask questions during moderated Q&A sessions. “This was a year marked by recovery from prolonged inventory destocking in the materials sector, yet Ashland was able to deliver strategic progress, margin expansion, high-quality free cash flow, and disciplined execution across our global portfolio,” continued Novo. “Despite a complex operating environment, we demonstrated our ability to drive value through portfolio optimization, commercial excellence, and focused growth in our core markets. As we execute our strategy, we remain focused on delivering sustainable, profitable growth and long-term shareholder value. I look forward to providing more context during our upcoming event,” concluded Novo. To participate in Ashland’s strategy update event, interested participants must register for the event and have the option to attend via live webcast or in person. Presentations are expected to begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and conclude following Q&A sessions at 11:00 a.m. ET. After Q&A, in-person attendees will have the opportunity to discuss key initiatives with business line leaders and scientists in breakout sessions until 12:00 p.m ET. To register, participants should use the following link: registration page . Registration information and further event details will be posted on Ashland’s investor website at http://investor.ashland.com . A webcast of the event will be available live and can be accessed, along with supporting materials, through the Ashland website. A replay will be available within 24 hours of the live event and will be archived, along with supporting materials, on Ashland’s website for 12 months. Copies of the presentation may also be requested by sending an email to investor_relations@ashland.com About Ashland Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a global additives and specialty ingredients company with a conscious and proactive mindset for environmental, social and governance (ESG). The company serves customers in a wide range of consumer and industrial markets, including architectural coatings, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care and pharmaceutical. Approximately 3,200 passionate, tenacious solvers thrive on developing practical, innovative and elegant solutions to complex problems for customers in more than 100 countries. Visit ashland.com and ashland.com/ESG to learn more. TM Trademark, Ashland or its subsidiaries, registered in various countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Attachments Press_Release_ASH_100_Yr_Bell_Ringing_20241209 100 yr anniversary lockup for PR Dec 2024

By MIKE CATALINI, Associated Press TRENTON, N.J. — A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim have both gone out on drone hunts, hoping for answers. The FBI, Homeland Security, state police and other agencies are investigating. Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft — and to be allowed to shoot them out of the sky. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones statewide since mid-November, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Murphy, a Democrat, said Monday that equipment supplied by the federal government has yielded little new information. He declined to describe the equipment except to say it was powerful and could even “mitigate” the drones, though he added that’s not currently legal on U.S. soil. The state tallied 12 sightings Saturday and just one on Sunday. Murphy urged Congress to give states more authority to deal with the drones. The growing anxiety among some residents is not lost on the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Trump for not dealing with the matter more aggressively. White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Monday said the federal government has yet to identify any public safety or national security risks from reported drone sightings in the northeast, saying officials believe they were lawfully flown drones, planes or even stars. “There are more than 1 million drones that are lawfully registered with the Federal Aviation Administration here in the United States,” Kirby said. “And there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones that are lawfully in the sky on any given day. That is the ecosystem that we are dealing with.” The federal government has deployed personnel and advanced technology to investigate the reports in New Jersey and other states, and is evaluating each tip reported by citizens, he said. The FBI received more than 5,000 tips in recent weeks, he added, with only “about 100” deemed credible enough to require additional investigation. Authorities say they do not know. The Department of Homeland Security and FBI said they have no evidence that the aircraft pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” Speculation has nevertheless raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing investigations have found no evidence to support such concerns, but U.S. Rep Chris Smith, a Republican, on Saturday echoed such speculation. “The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea,” he said. On Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder cast doubt on the idea that the drones are engaged in intelligence gathering, given how loud and bright they are. He said about 1 million drones are registered drones in the U.S. and about 8,000 flying on any given day. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh has said the aircraft are not U.S. military drones. Drones flying around Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, forced base officials to close its airspace for about four hours late Friday into early Saturday, said Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson. It was the first time drones had been spotted at the base, one of the largest in the world, and no sightings have been reported since, Purtiman said Monday. He said the drones had no impact on any facilities on the base. Trump has said he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on Truth Social. Kim said he’s heard no support for the notion the government is hiding anything. He said a lack of faith in institutions is playing a key part in the saga. “Nothing that I’m seeing, nothing that I’ve engaged in gives me any impression of that nature. But like, I get it, some people won’t believe me, right? Because that’s the level of distrust that we face,” Kim said Monday. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut last week called for the drones to be “shot down.” Rep. Smith urged the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to bring down one or more drones to try to figure out who deployed them. The objects could be downed over the ocean or in an unpopulated area on land, Smith said Saturday. “Why can’t we bag at least one of these drones and get to the bottom of it?” Smith said.

Kevin O’Connell won his 30th career game as a NFL head coach on Sunday afternoon, reaching the milestone faster than any coach in Vikings history and celebrating the victory in a manner that’s by now become familiar. The coach praised his players’ resilience in his locker room speech after the Vikings overcame a 13-point deficit in the final 16 minutes to beat the Cardinals 23-22 , saying he hadn’t once wondered whether they believed they could emerge with a victory. He acknowledged the Vikings’ imperfections, challenging them to keep chasing an ever-improving standard of play, and he gave out game balls to the players who’d produced the pivotal moments in the game. “Got our 10th win by December 1st, which I think is an accomplishment,” O’Connell said in his Sunday news conference . “Games are hard to win. I do think that’s a really well-coached, playoff-caliber football team in the other locker room. They made it hard on us. We’ve got to be a lot better offensively and see if we can not put ourselves in a hole. But I will say, you know, when we absolutely needed it, to put those drives together and find a way to get the points needed to win the game is obviously the intent of everything here.” O’Connell reached the 30-win mark in 46 games, two faster than Dennis Green and four faster than Bud Grant. That mark is built on the Vikings’ success in close games: they are 24-9 in one-score games under O’Connell, with a .727 win percentage that trails only the Eagles and Chiefs in that time, and their 7-1 mark this year is the second-best in the league behind only Kansas City’s 9-0 record. According to ESPN Stats and Information, O’Connell‘s record in one-score games is the third-best in league history, behind only Guy Chamberlin and John Madden. The frequency of the Vikings’ close games has become something of a gripe among fans, perhaps because of the stress they induce. This year, as in 2022, they’re frequently used in service of the narrative the Vikings are an illegitimate contender, with a florid record dressed up by narrow victories. Indeed, the Vikings resisted the urge to run it back after 2022, letting go of veterans like Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Eric Kendricks and Za’Darius Smith after a season where a 13-4 record (despite the fact they’d been outscored) might have convinced them to return with the same group. They continued to remake the roster after 2023, and it’s entirely possible they’ll continue to do so after 2024, with a number of veterans on one-year contracts driving them toward a playoff berth that few saw coming . But in the two years where they have paired O’Connell with consistent quarterbacking, they have found a way to succeed in a league where close games are more prevalent than ever. The frequency of close games in the NFL has been ticking up for years, spurred on by the relatively even distribution of talent and rules that facilitate the kinds of passing games that can catalyze comebacks. With one game to go in Week 13 of the 2024 season, 106 of the 194 games have been decided by seven points or less, putting the league on pace for 148 in a 272-game season. That would break the record of 139, set in 2022. (It’s worth noting that the 2022 and 2023 seasons, which both had teams playing 17 games, rank atop the list, but the eight seasons with the most close games in NFL history have all occurred since 2010.) Compared to previous Vikings coaches, O’Connell has certainly coached an outsize portion of close games. Thirty-three of his 46 regular-season games, or 71.7%, have been decided by one score. That’s easily the highest percentage in Vikings history, ahead of Green (53.4%), Leslie Frazier (51.8%), Brad Childress (50%), Mike Zimmer (49.6%), Grant (48.2%), Mike Tice (47.6%), Les Steckel (43.8%), Jerry Burns (43.1%) and Norm Van Brocklin (31%). After losing three games by 17 points or more in 2022, though, the Vikings have played more close games in part because they haven’t been blown out much. They lost just once by three scores in 2023, and their two losses this season are by a total of 12 points. As a result, they have outscored opponents by 78 points this season, tied with the Packers for the fifth-best mark in the league. “The margin of victory tells some story about your team,” O’Connell said. “But I do know that if you stack a whole bunch of one-score wins together, and you don’t have any lopsided losses, your margin of victory is going to be at a good number for the season, and that means you played somewhat consistent.” The coach said he doesn’t think all one-score games “are created equally,” bringing up the differences between a five-point victory over the Jaguars where the Vikings held the ball for 42:19 and their 13-point comeback to beat the Cardinals by a point on Sunday. Against Arizona, though, Darnold delivered a performance that evoked Kirk Cousins’ work in the Vikings’ eight comeback wins two years ago. In engineering the biggest comeback of his career and just his fifth fourth-quarter comeback in the NFL, Darnold completed seven of his 12 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. A week before, he‘d thrown for 90 yards on the Vikings’ game-winning overtime drive against the Bears . ”I don’t know how many times he’s had a game where he’s been down 10 or 13 points and been able to manifest that kind of scoring,” O’Connell said. “It’s almost a surgical level of doing [his] job and trying not to do too much, but also knowing, ‘My job might be to put a ball in a tight window here and there.’ ... When you stack them all up, it’s winning football.” Whether with Cousins (who returns to U.S. Bank Stadium with Atlanta on Sunday) or with Darnold, the Vikings continue to stack up one-score wins under O’Connell faster than at any point in their history. To get exclusive analysis on the Vikings by Ben Goessling in your inbox every Friday, sign up for the free Access Vikings newsletter . Email your Vikings questions to accessvikings@startribune.com .None

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