mega r ZURICH — Saudi Arabia was officially confirmed Wednesday by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men's soccer, giving the oil-rich kingdom its biggest prize yet for massive spending on global sports driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich by the soccer body's president Gianni Infantino. "The vote of the congress is loud and clear," said Infantino, who had asked officials on a bank of screens to clap their hands at head level to show their support. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930. The decisions complete a mostly opaque 15-month bid process which Infantino helped steer toward Saudi Arabia without a rival candidate, without taking questions, and which human rights groups warn will put the lives of migrant workers at risk. "We look forward to hosting an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the FIFA World Cup by harnessing our strengths and capabilities to bring joy to football fans around the world," Prince Mohammed said in a statement. FIFA and Saudi officials have said hosting the 2034 tournament can accelerate change, including more freedoms and rights for women, with Infantino on Wednesday calling the World Cup a "unique catalyst for positive social change and unity." "I fully trust our hosts to address all open points in this process, and deliver a World Cup that meets the world's expectations," the FIFA president said. An international collective of rights groups said FIFA made a "reckless decision" to approve Saudi Arabia without getting public assurances, and the Football Supporters Europe group said it was "the day football truly lost its mind." A fast-track path to victory was cleared last year by FIFA accepting the three-continent hosting plan for the 2030 World Cup. It meant only soccer federations in Asia and Oceania were eligible for the 2034 contest, and FIFA gave countries less than four weeks to declare a bid. Only Saudi Arabia did. The win will kick off a decade of scrutiny on Saudi labor laws and treatment of workers mostly from South Asia needed to help build and upgrade 15 stadiums, plus hotels and transport networks ahead of the 104-game tournament. Amnesty International said awarding the tournament to Saudi Arabia represents "a moment of great danger" for human rights. "FIFA's reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections are in place will put many lives at risk," said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's Head of Labor Rights and Sport." One of the stadiums is planned to be 350 meters (yards) above the ground in Neom — a futuristic city that does not yet exist — and another named for the crown prince is designed to be atop a 200-meter cliff near Riyadh. During the bid campaign, FIFA has accepted limited scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's human rights record that was widely criticized this year at the United Nations. Saudi and international rights groups and activists warned FIFA it has not learned the lessons of Qatar's much-criticized preparations to host the 2022 World Cup. "At every stage of this bidding process, FIFA has shown its commitment to human rights to be a sham," Cockburn said. The kingdom plans to spend tens of billion of dollars on projects related to the World Cup as part of the crown prince's sweeping Vision 2030 project that aims to modernize Saudi society and economy. At its core is spending on sports by the $900 billion sovereign wealth operation, the Public Investment Fund, which he oversees. "It's amazing. The infrastructure, the stadiums, the conditions for the fans and everything. After what I see, I'm more convinced that 2034 will be the best World Cup ever," Cristiano Ronaldo said in a recorded package posted on X. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been part of Saudi Arabia's lavish spending on soccer — stunning the sport when agreeing to sign for Al Nassr in 2022 for a record-breaking salary reportedly worth up to $200 million a year. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of "sportswashing" the kingdom's reputation. The prince, known as MBS, has built close working ties to Infantino since 2017 — aligning with the organizer of sport's most-watched event rather than directly confronting the established system as it did with the disruptive LIV Golf project. The result for Saudi Arabia and FIFA has been smooth progress toward the win Wednesday with limited pushback from soccer officials, though some from women international players. The steady flow of Saudi cash into international soccer is set to increase. FIFA created a new and higher World Cup sponsor category for state oil firm Aramco, and Saudi funding is set to underwrite the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States that is a pet project for Infantino. North American soccer body CONCACAF signed a multi-year deal with PIF, Saudi stadiums host Super Cup games for Italy and Spain, and nearly 50 FIFA member federations have signed working agreements with Saudi counterparts. Lavish spending by PIF-owned Saudi clubs in the past two years buying and paying players – including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mané – put hundreds of millions of dollars into European soccer. That influence could be key in talks to agree which months to play the 2034 World Cup. The November-December slot taken by Qatar in 2022 to avoid extreme midsummer heat is complicated in 2034 by the holy month of Ramadan through mid-December and Riyadh hosting the multi-sport Asian Games. Still, January 2034 could be an option — and likely better for European clubs and leagues —after the International Olympic Committee said it saw few issues in clashing with the Salt Lake Winter Games opening Feb. 10, 2034. The IOC also has a major commercial deal with Saudi Arabia, to host the new Esports Olympics. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans keep proving that for every step forward, they always find ways to take two back. The Titans (3-9) clinched a third straight losing record to mark first-year coach Brian Callahan’s debut season in an ugly 42-19 loss to Washington. Yet another slow start, more turnovers, sacks, penalties ruined their chance at stringing together consecutive wins for the first time in more than two years. Callahan said Monday they’re trying to build consistency. “In the NFL, a lot of it is about not losing the game first, and we do right now with the amount of penalties and turnovers we’ve had,” Callahan said. “We put ourselves in position to lose games and not win them. And so, yes, there is a there is an element of learning how to win.” Tennessee had 11 of 12 penalties before halftime, trailing 28-7. The Titans also were the previous NFL team to be flagged for at least 11 penalties and trail by 20 or more points at halftime in Week 17 of 2005 against the Jaguars. Only Baltimore has been penalized more than Tennessee this season. Two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said after the loss that the Titans need to learn how to deal with winning better coming off a 32-27 win at Houston. Simmons said they were “hungover from our own success.” RELATED COVERAGE Justin Tucker’s erratic season isn’t getting any better, and it’s hurting Baltimore’s outlook Rams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Washington Buccaneers are back to .500 and in position to control their playoff hopes down the stretch Callahan said Monday he didn’t see any hangover issues. “You have a performance like that and you’re sort of grasping for an explanation on why and there really wasn’t one other than we made too many errors early in the game and put ourselves in a hole,” Callahan said. What’s working Quarterback Will Levis’ development over the four games since his return from a sprained, right throwing shoulder at least gives the Titans promise for the future. The second-year quarterback made some nice throws and limited yards lost on two sacks Sunday. He threw two TD passes for 212 yards. Since his return, he is completing 61.7% of his passes for 960 yards with seven touchdown passes and only two interceptions with a 101.3 passer rating in that span. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . What needs help Now the defense is struggling after going into Washington second in the NFL in yards allowed, ninth against the run and first defending the pass. They gave up a season-high 267 yards rushing after giving up just 40 a week ago. The Titans also gave up 28 points within the first 20 minutes, becoming only the third team to do that in the past five seasons . The Titans also did that in Week 8 earlier this season after being routed by the Lions in Detroit. Washington did it against Dallas in Week 16 of 2021. Stock up WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Originally undrafted out of Indiana, Westbrook-Ikhine is tied for fourth in the NFL with eight TD catches entering Monday. That’s despite starting only five games this season and not having a pass thrown to him the first month of the season. He has earned a multi-year deal with his performance. He had three receptions for 61 yards against Washington and was targeted a season-high eight times. Stock down Rookie Jha’Quan Jackson. A sixth-round pick out of Tulane and nephew of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ed Reed has fumbled five times as the punt returner recovering only two of those. That got him benched against Washington. His fumbles have come in the past six games, including one in each of the past two. His fumble against Washington led to an early touchdown. Injuries LT JC Latham hurt a quadriceps muscle but finished the game. Callahan said they will see how CB Roger McCreary (shoulder) and LB Kenneth Murray Jr. (strained hamstring) recover during the week. Key number 36 — The number of games since the Titans have had consecutive victories. Next steps The Titans at least are home with their best focus trying to improve their standing inside the AFC South with four divisional games down the stretch. They have two games remaining against Jacksonville (2-10) starting Sunday with Trevor Lawrence likely out. But their biggest question now is how high does this franchise draft in April. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

For leftist SYRIZA, the real challenge now lies ahead. We don’t mean the likelihood of more MPs defecting from its parliamentary group or the fact that the ill-mannered Pavlos Polakis came second in Sunday’s party leadership race with a stunning 43% that established him as the de facto voice of the opposition within the party. The challenges that lie ahead go a long way back. What’s left of SYRIZA will have to confront the past of a party that had its moment in the sun – in whichever way that was – and the fundamental questions that challenge the left globally. Who are they? Where are they headed? What is their message? How do they address the core contradictions that led the movement to disrepute and the party to such fragmentation? Self-criticism is the first thing that is required, for both tactical and essential reasons. Any initiative to bring the country’s “progressive forces” together, as SYRIZA has been touting for years, demands that it first heal the wounds it inflicted. There are many in center-left PASOK who will not soon forget how they were slandered and attacked – literally, too – by the clamorous hordes of SYRIZA when the leftists finally got their turn at the helm of government. The essential reasons are more important. There are many in SYRIZA who pine for those times of sheer audacity that led to the party’s pyrrhic victory in 2015 – hence Polakis’ 43%. But hooligan tactics do not build solid foundations or formulate propositions that can stand the test of time. Political parties need to develop deep roots in society instead of tapping into its most base and fickle instincts. Beyond the challenges it faces in Greece, the left is also in very poor shape globally. It is almost impressive how badly it’s doing, given that capitalism is coming under such serious fire. Workers everywhere are expressing their opposition to the system that is making them poorer by voting for the far-right. The left’s decline is bolstering its rivals, like Donald Trump, and empowering the representatives of big capital, like Elon Musk. Worldwide, the left is starting to look outdated or at least disconnected from society’s concerns and hopes, and, above all, from the social classes it seeks to represent. We obviously don’t expect Sokratis Famellos, as SYRIZA’s new leader, to solve the global problems of the left – we hardly expect him to solve the domestic ones. But we do hope that he initiates a bold dialogue about the problems besetting the left, a dialogue with something more meaningful to propose rather than “out with the Mitsotakis government.” Let’s not forget that it was this kind of thinking which took SYRIZA into what was one of the worst periods of its history – when Stefanos Kasselakis thought he had what it takes to bring down Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

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After absorbing their worst defeat of the year , the San Jose Sharks will be looking for a response Saturday against the Florida Panthers. The Sharks reverted to some bad habits during their 8-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, as they strayed from their identity and were generally outworked from start to finish. The seven-goal loss was the Sharks’ most lopsided of the season, unceremoniously ending a three-game winning streak. While the Sharks have been playing better hockey l ately, the loss in Tampa offered a blunt reminder that they can still get embarrassed when their details and competitive level are not where they need to be, particularly against playoff-caliber teams. “Break out pucks, defend hard, box out, you name it,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters when asked about the defense’s shortcomings. “What a defenseman’s responsibilities are, we could have done a lot better.” The forward group wasn’t let off the hook, either. “Didn’t pay a price,” Warsofsky said. “You watch (the Lightning), they’re blocking shots. (Mikey) Eyssimont), (Luke) Glendining (when it’s) 8-1. And that’s the price to pay to win games in this league and that’s what we’ve got to learn.” The Sharks have done a fairly good job this season of responding after blowout defeats. After an 8-3 road loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 18, they returned home and played a much more competitive game two days later against the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-1 loss. Two days after getting blown out 7-3 by the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 26, the Sharks erased a three-goal deficit in the final five minutes of the third period against the Utah Hockey Club and won 5-4 in overtime. Now the Sharks face the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, who, before Friday, were the third-highest scoring team in the NHL at 3.78 goals per game. Florida entered Friday tied for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Toronto Maple Leafs. “I’m not deflated. It’s an 82-game season,” Sharks defenseman Mario Ferraro said after Thursday’s loss. “We’ve got another game in a couple of days and another opportunity to play a really good hockey team and surprise them. So it’s not deflating, but it’s definitely not something that’s acceptable, so we’ve got to be better.” The Sharks have lost 10 straight games to the Panthers, with their last victory in South Florida coming on Dec.1, 2017. The Sharks might have to face the Panthers without rookie forward Will Smith, who did not practice Friday. Warsofsky told San Jose Hockey Now that Smith is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, although it remained unclear when the 19-year-old was injured. Against the Lightning, Smith played late into the third period and finished with 15:50 in ice time. Smith has 11 points in 23 games this season and has recently been playing on a line with Mikael Granlund and Klim Kostin. Regardless of who plays against the Panthers, the Sharks still need to prove that they can consistently produce a strong performance against quality opponents. “We’ll obviously take a look at everything and talk within the group and figure it out,” Sharks winger Luke Kunin said, “so it doesn’t happen again.” GOODROW RETURNS: Forward Barclay Goodrow, who has been on injured reserve since Nov. 28 with an upper-body ailment, skated Friday, per San Jose Hockey Now. Goodrow was injured by a high hit from Ridly Greig in the Sharks’ Nov. 27 game against the Ottawa Senators. He is questionable to play against the Panthers. TEDDY BEAR TOSS: The San Jose Barracuda are hosting its annual Teddy Bear Toss at Tech CU Arena on Saturday when it plays the Coachella Valley Firebirds at 6 p.m. Fans are urged to bring stuffed animals to the game and throw them on the ice after the Barracuda scores its first goal. The Barracuda will then distribute some of the stuffed animals to children at local Kaiser Permanente hospitals, as well as other kids who might not get a gift during this time of year. The AHL franchise is also joining forces with San Jose-based Working Partnerships USA, which, per the team, helps to tackle “the root causes of inequality and poverty by leading collaborative campaigns for quality jobs, healthy communities, equitable growth, and a vibrant democracy.” For Saturday’s game, the Barracuda will also wear specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game, with part of the proceeds going to Working Partnerships. The team is also giving away Barracuda stockings to the first 1,500 fans in the building.Chicago man faces felony charge for alleged role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

Dramatic new footage shows NHL star Johnny Gaudreau's alleged killer Sean Higgins moments after fatal crash

As lights ready to come on, Ladysmith Festival of Lights still good for businessBlackstone-backed International Gemmological Institute's initial public offering (IPO) will hit the D-Street on December 13, Friday. Through the three-day issue, the company plans to raise Rs 4,225 crore. The offer comprises a fresh issue of Rs 1,475 crore while an offer for sale (OFS) amounts to Rs 2,750 crore. The company filed its draft papers on August 27, 2024, and it received an observation letter from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) on November 28. About International Gemmological Institute The Blackstone portfolio company provides services related to the certification and accreditation of natural diamonds, laboratory grown diamonds, studded jewellery and coloured stones as well as the offering of educational programs. Stock Trading Options Trading Made Easy: Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Advanced Strategies in Stock Market Mastery By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis for Everyone - Technical Analysis Course By - Abhijit Paul, Technical Research Head, Fund Manager- ICICI Securities View Program Stock Trading Options Scalping Made Easy By - Sivakumar Jayachandran, Ace Scalper View Program Stock Trading Technical Trading Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Derivative Analytics Made Easy By - Vivek Bajaj, Co Founder- Stockedge and Elearnmarkets View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Market for Beginners: Stock Market Course For Beginners By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Commodity Markets Made Easy: Commodity Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Trading - Online Stock Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Cryptocurrency Made Easy: Cryptocurrency Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Ichimoku Trading Unlocked: Expert Analysis and Strategy By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program IGI is the world’s second-largest independent certification and accreditation services provider based on revenue for CY2023 among global peers for diamonds, studded jewellery and coloured stones certifications, with a global market share of approximately 33%, based on the number of certifications of diamonds, studded jewellery and coloured stones performed in CY2023, according to the Redseer Report. IGI IPO: Net proceeds The company proposes to utilise the net proceeds towards payment of the purchase consideration for the acquisition of IGI Belgium Group and IGI Netherlands Group from the promoter and for general corporate purposes. IGI India, is part of IGI group which is one of the established reputed certifiers in the global market, according to the Redseer Report. IGI IPO lead managers Axis Capital Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited, Morgan Stanley India Company Private and SBI Capital Markets Limited are the book-running lead managers to the issue. ( Disclaimer : Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times) (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )

The long sports-filled Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many Americans enjoy gathering with friends and family for good food, good company and hopefully not too much political conversation. Also on the menu — all the NFL and college sports you can handle. Here's a roadmap to one of the biggest sports weekends of the year, with a look at marquee games over the holiday and how to watch. All times are in EST. All odds are by BetMGM Sportsbook. What to watch Thursday • NFL: There is a triple-header lined up for pro football fans. Chicago at Detroit, 12:30 p.m., CBS: Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears go against the Lions, who are one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl in February. Lions favored by 10. New York at Dallas, 4:30 p.m., Fox: The Giants and Cowboys are both suffering through miserable seasons and are now using backup quarterbacks for different reasons. But if Dallas can figure out a way to win, it will still be on the fringe of the playoff race. Cowboys favored by 3 1/2. Miami at Green Bay, 8:20 p.m., NBC/Peacock: The Packers stumbled slightly out of the gate but have won six of their past seven games. They'll need a win against Miami to try to keep pace in the NFC North. Packers favored by 3. • College Football: Memphis at No. 18 Tulane, 7:30 p.m., ESPN. If college football is your jam, this is a good warmup for a big weekend. The Tigers try to ruin the Green Wave’s perfect record in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane is favored by 14. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes works in the pocket against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of Sunday's game in Charlotte, N.C. What to watch Friday • NFL: A rare Friday showdown features the league-leading Chiefs. Las Vegas at Kansas City, 3 p.m. Prime Video: The Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are 12-point favorites over the Raiders. • College Basketball: Some of the top programs meet in holiday tournaments around the country. Battle 4 Atlantis championship, 5:30 p.m., ESPN: One of the premier early season tournaments, the eight-team field includes No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 14 Indiana and No. 24 Arizona. Rady Children's Invitational, 6 p.m., Fox: It's the championship game for a four-team field that includes No. 13 Purdue and No. 23 Mississippi. • College Football: There is a full slate of college games to dig into. Oregon State at No. 11 Boise State, noon, Fox: The Broncos try to stay in the College Football Playoff hunt when they host the Beavers. Boise State favored by 19 1/2. Oklahoma State at No. 23 Colorado, noon, ABC: The Buffaloes and Coach Prime are still in the hunt for the Big 12 championship game when they host the Cowboys. Colorado favored by 16 1/2. Georgia Tech at No. 6 Georgia, 7:30 p.m., ABC: The Bulldogs are on pace for a spot in the CFP but host what could be a tricky game against rival Georgia Tech. Georgia favored by 19 1/2. • NBA. After taking Thanksgiving off, pro basketball returns. Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., ESPN: The Thunder look like one of the best teams in the NBA's Western Conference. They'll host Anthony Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James dunks during the first half of a Nov. 23 game against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles. What to watch Saturday • College Football. There are more matchups with playoff implications. Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State, noon, Fox: The Wolverines are struggling one season after winning the national title. They could make their fan base a whole lot happier with an upset of the Buckeyes. Ohio State favored by 21. No. 7 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, noon, ABC: The Volunteers are a fairly big favorite and have dominated this series, but the Commodores have been a tough team this season and already have achieved a monumental upset over Alabama. Tennessee favored by 11. No. 16 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson, noon, ESPN: The Palmetto State rivals are both hanging on the edge of the CFP playoff race. A win — particularly for Clemson — would go a long way toward clinching its spot in the field. Clemson favored by 2 1/2. No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. ABC: The Aggies host their in-state rival for the first time since 2011 after the Longhorns joined the SEC. Texas favored by 5 1/2. Washington at No. 1 Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC: The top-ranked Ducks have been one of the nation’s best teams all season. They’ll face the Huskies, who would love a marquee win in coach Jedd Fisch’s first season. Oregon favored by 19 1/2. • NBA: A star-studded clash is part of the league's lineup. Golden State at Phoenix, 9 p.m., NBA TV: Steph Curry and the Warriors are set to face the Suns' Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. What to watch Sunday • NFL: It's Sunday, that says it all. Pittsburgh at Cincinnati, 1 p.m., CBS: Joe Burrow is having a great season for the Bengals, who are struggling in other areas. They need a win to stay in the playoff race, hosting a Steelers team that's 8-3 and won five of their past six. Bengals favored by 3. Arizona at Minnesota, 1 p.m., Fox: The Cardinals are tied for the top of the NFC West while the Vikings are 9-2 and have been one of the biggest surprises of the season with journeyman Sam Darnold under center. Vikings favored by 3 1/2. Philadelphia at Baltimore, 4:25 p.m., CBS: Two of the league's most electric players will be on the field when Saquon Barkley and the Eagles travel to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Ravens favored by 3. San Francisco at Buffalo, 8:20 p.m. NBC/Peacock: The 49ers try to get back to .500 against the Bills, who have won six straight. Bills favored by 7. • NBA. The best teams in the Eastern Conference meet in a statement game. Boston at Cleveland, 6 p.m., NBA TV: The defending champion Celtics travel to face the Cavs, who won their first 15 games to start the season. • Premier League: English soccer fans have a marquee matchup. Manchester City at Liverpool, 11 a.m., USA Network/Telemundo. The two top teams meet with Manchester City trying to shake off recent struggles. • Auto Racing: The F1 season nears its conclusion. F1 Qatar Grand Prix, 11 a.m., ESPN2 – It's the penultimate race of the season. Max Verstappen already has clinched his fourth consecutive season championship. Before the 2023 National Football League season started, it seemed inevitable that Bill Belichick would end his career as the winningest head coach in league history. He had won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and 298 regular-season games, plus 31 playoff games, across his career. Then the 2023 season happened. Belichick's Patriots finished 4-13, the franchise's worst record since 1992. At the end of the year, Belichick and New England owner Robert Kraft agreed to part ways. And now, during the 2024 season, Belichick is on the sideline. He's 26 wins from the #1 spot, a mark he'd reach in little more than two seasons if he maintained his .647 career winning percentage. Will he ascend the summit? It's hard to tell. Belichick would be 73 if he graced the sidelines next season—meaning he'd need to coach until at least 75 to break the all-time mark. Only one other NFL coach has ever helmed a team at age 73: Romeo Crennel in 2020 for the Houston Texans. With Belichick's pursuit of history stalled, it's worth glancing at the legends who have reached the pinnacle of coaching success. Who else stands among the 10 winningest coaches in NFL history? Stacker ranked the coaches with the most all-time regular-season wins using data from Pro Football Reference . These coaches have combined for 36 league championships, which represents 31.6% of all championships won throughout the history of pro football. To learn who made the list, keep reading. You may also like: Ranking the biggest NFL Draft busts of the last 30 years - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1981-2003 - Record: 190-165-2 - Winning percentage: .535 - Championships: 0 Dan Reeves reached the Super Bowl four times—thrice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Atlanta Falcons—but never won the NFL's crown jewel. Still, he racked up nearly 200 wins across his 23-year career, including a stint in charge of the New York Giants, with whom he won Coach of the Year in 1993. In all his tenures, he quickly built contenders—the three clubs he coached were a combined 17-31 the year before Reeves joined and 28-20 in his first year. However, his career ended on a sour note as he was fired from a 3-10 Falcons team after Week 14 in 2003. - Seasons coached: 23 - Years active: 1969-91 - Record: 193-148-1 - Winning percentage: .566 - Championships: 4 Chuck Noll's Pittsburgh Steelers were synonymous with success in the 1970s. Behind his defense, known as the Steel Curtain, and offensive stars, including Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann, Noll led the squad to four Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1979. Noll's Steelers remain the lone team to win four Super Bowls in six years, though Andy Reid and Kansas City could equal that mark if they win the Lombardi Trophy this season. Noll was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, two years after retiring. His legacy of coaching success has carried on in Pittsburgh—the club has had only two coaches (Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin) since Noll retired. - Seasons coached: 21 - Years active: 1984-98, 2001-06 - Record: 200-126-1 - Winning percentage: .613 - Championships: 0 As head coach of Cleveland, Kansas City, Washington, and San Diego, Marty Schottenheimer proved a successful leader during the regular season. Notably, he was named Coach of the Year after turning around his 4-12 Chargers team to a 12-4 record in 2004. His teams, however, struggled during the playoffs. Schottheimer went 5-13 in the postseason, and he never made it past the conference championship round. As such, the Pennsylvania-born skipper is the winningest NFL coach never to win a league championship. - Seasons coached: 25 - Years active: 1946-62, '68-75 - Record: 213-104-9 - Winning percentage: .672 - Championships: 7 The only coach on this list to pilot a college team, Paul Brown, reached the pro ranks after a three-year stint at Ohio State and two years with the Navy during World War II. He guided the Cleveland Browns—named after Brown, their first coach—to four straight titles in the fledgling All-America Football Conference. After the league folded, the ballclub moved to the NFL in 1950, and Cleveland continued its winning ways, with Brown leading the team to championships in '50, '54, and '55. He was fired in 1963 but returned in 1968 as the co-founder and coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. His other notable accomplishments include helping to invent the face mask and breaking pro football's color barrier . - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1921-53 - Record: 226-132-22 - Winning percentage: .631 - Championships: 6 An early stalwart of the NFL, Curly Lambeau spent 29 years helming the Green Bay Packers before wrapping up his coaching career with two-year stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Washington. His Packers won titles across three decades, including the league's first three-peat from 1929-31. Notably, he experienced only one losing season during his first 27 years with Green Bay, cementing his legacy of consistent success. Born in Green Bay, Lambeau co-founded the Packers and played halfback on the team from 1919-29. He was elected to the Hall of Fame as a coach and owner in 1963, two years before his death. You may also like: Countries with the most active NFL players - Seasons coached: 29 - Years active: 1960-88 - Record: 250-162-6 - Winning percentage: .607 - Championships: 2 The first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry held the position for his entire 29-year tenure as an NFL coach. The Cowboys were especially dominant in the 1970s when they made five Super Bowls and won the big game twice. Landry was known for coaching strong all-around squads and a unit that earned the nickname the "Doomsday Defense." Between 1966 and 1985, Landry and his Cowboys enjoyed 20 straight seasons with a winning record. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990. - Seasons coached: 26 - Years active: 1999-present - Record: 267-145-1 - Winning percentage: .648 - Championships: 3 The only active coach in the top 10, Andy Reid has posted successful runs with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City. After reaching the Super Bowl once in 14 years with the Eagles, Reid ratcheted things up with K.C., winning three titles since 2019. As back-to-back defending champions, Reid and Co. are looking this season to become the first franchise to three-peat in the Super Bowl era and the third to do so in NFL history after the Packers of 1929-31 and '65-67. Time will tell if Reid and his offensive wizardry can lead Kansas City to that feat. - Seasons coached: 40 - Years active: 1920-29, '33-42, '46-55, '58-67 - Record: 318-148-31 - Winning percentage: .682 - Championships: 6 George Halas was the founder and longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and coached the team across four separate stints. Nicknamed "Papa Bear," he built the ballclub into one of the NFL's premier franchises behind players such as Bronko Nagurski and Sid Luckman. Halas also played for the team, competing as a player-coach in the 1920s. The first coach to study opponents via game film, he was once a baseball player and even made 12 appearances as a member of the New York Yankees in 1919. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1963 as both a coach and owner. - Seasons coached: 33 - Years active: 1963-95 - Record: 328-156-6 - Winning percentage: .677 - Championships: 2 The winningest head coach in NFL history is Don Shula, who first coached the Baltimore Colts (losing Super Bowl III to Joe Namath and the New York Jets) for seven years before leading the Miami Dolphins for 26 seasons. With the Fins, Shula won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1972 and 1973, a run that included a 17-0 season—the only perfect campaign in NFL history. He also coached quarterback great Dan Marino in the 1980s and '90s, but the pair made it to a Super Bowl just once. Shula was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. You may also like: The 5 biggest upsets of the 2023-24 NFL regular season Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Fostering Pacific unity | Insights from the Papua-Fiji Dialogue Forum

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What's New The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are preparing to close down for Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25. Why It's Important Stock markets always close on U.S. federal holidays, but opening hours can be adjusted in the days surrounding times of significant national importance. What To Know Regular trading hours on U.S. stock markets are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. But there will be some minor changes over the next few days. Is the Stock Market Open or Closed on Christmas Eve? Yes—the U.S. stock and bond markets are both open today, December 24, although trading hours have been cut down. The stock market in the U.S. will close at 1 p.m. ET, while bond and over-the-counter markets will close two hours earlier than usual at 2 p.m. ET. Is the Stock Market Open or Closed on Christmas Day? The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will not be open December 25. Bond markets and over-the-counter markets will also be closed. The stock and bond markets will resume operations on Thursday, December 26, with regular trading on Wall Street for the following days. The next planned stock market closure will take place on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, in celebration of the New Year. On New Year's Eve, bond markets will close early at 2 p.m. ET. The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will close as usual at 4 p.m. ET. Foreign Markets Some foreign exchanges will also shut earlier than usual today and remain closed tomorrow for Christmas. 2025 The stock market will also be closed on the following dates throughout 2025: What's Next The Santa Claus trading window—the last five trading days of the year and the first two trading days of the new year—officially kicks off after Christmas Day, and is expected to deliver a year-end rally for the stock market, which has been performing reasonably well throughout December so far .None

Some of our most-read stories of the year delved into the big issues of day-to-day life in the Bay Area: affording a home, negotiating traffic, finding a community. Here are five such reports. The home search series : When a Menlo Park family started looking for a place beyond their starter home, they had no interest in settling. “We’re looking for a unicorn,” Niket Sirsi said. The unicorn hunt was the sixth episode in housing reporter Kate Talerico’s series on Bay Area home hunts, following hopeful buyers as they narrowed down their options. Part 6: They wanted good schools, nature and ‘a feeling of privacy.’ What could they find on the Peninsula with $3.5 million? | The whole series They were part of the Bay Area exodus. Now, they’ve decided to return . For the Diaz family, Texas seemed — at first — to align with their more conservative politics and be a better place to raise children. That same summer, Rob Surrency made a major leap of faith with a move to Alaska: “If I’m going to do something drastic, then let’s do it.” Neither of them anticipated they would end up back here . They decided to leave the Bay Area and never looked back . Four former Bay Area residents say they’re happier after making the big move. Plus : 5 charts that explain the California Exodus Silicon Valley billionaires’ Solano County utopia plan: Big promises, deep doubts . Hundreds of thousands of residents. Thousands of well-paid jobs. Offices. Factories. Roads. Schools. Transit. Parks. These were the promises from California Forever , the controversial company backed by Silicon Valley billionaires planning to build a new city from the ground up in Solano County. Business reporter Ethan Baron followed the saga – until the sudden scrapping of the ballot initiative . State officials wouldn’t let these homeowners build a sea wall. Their lawsuit could reshape California’s coast . At the end of a quiet residential street in Half Moon Bay, a kind of coastal upheaval is gaining momentum — one that could decide the fate of billions of dollars of property and affect hundreds of public beaches as rising seas pose a growing threat to California’s beloved 1,100-mile coastline. | Latest update : The court’s ruling Plus : Billionaire Vinod Khosla loses bid to halt state lawsuit seeking more public beach access Turbo roundabout comes to South Bay, bringing mixed reactions from commuters . After nearly two years of work, commuters are using the pinwheel-shaped rotary for the first time, and while some say the experience has gone smoothly, others find the new traffic pattern confusing. More like this:

Get into the holiday spirit(s) with these festive pop-ups and menus at Vancouver barsThe Federal Trade Commission has announced it will issue refunds to nearly 630,000 Fortnite players after ruling that the maker of the popular video game, Epic Games, duped people “into making unwanted purchases.” The FTC said in a Dec. 9 press release that it will send more than $72 million to consumers. The average payment is expected to be around $114, according to the FTC. A settlement was first revealed in December 2022, at which time Epic Games was ordered to pay $245 million to clear up allegations that it used deceptive means to fool players into making unwanted purchases and allowed kids the ability to accrue charges without their parents’ knowledge. “The FTC alleged that Fortnite’s counterintuitive, inconsistent, and confusing button configuration led players of all ages to incur unwanted charges based on the press of a single button,” the FTC said in the Dec. 9 release. “For example, players could be charged while attempting to wake the game from sleep mode, while the game was in a loading screen, or by pressing an adjacent button while attempting simply to preview an item.” How do you know if you’re eligible for a refund? And how do you go about filing a claim? Here’s what to know. How to know if you’re eligible for a Fortnite refund The FTC listed on its website the requirements for a refund: Between January 2017 and September 2022, you were charged in the game for items you didn’t want. Between January 2017 and November 2018, your child charged your credit card in the game without your knowledge. Between January 2017 and September 2022, you were locked out of your account after you complained to your credit card about charges you didn’t want. If you already filed a claim after Oct. 8, you do not need to file anything further, according to the FTC. How Fortnite players can apply for a refund Eligible consumers still have time to submit a claim at www.ftc.gov/fortnite . Anyone interested in learning more about their payments can call refund administrator Rust Consulting, Inc. at 833-915-0880 or send an email to admin@fortniterefund.com . People can also visit the FTC website to learn more about the refund process. he deadline to file a claim is Jan. 10, 2025, the FTC said. How Fortnite players receive their refunds The FTC said it is in the process of sending a first round of payments, with additional refunds expected at a later date. So far, there are a total of 629,344 total payments. Affected consumers chose how they’d like to be paid when they filled out a claim form. Those people who received money through PayPal should redeem payment within 30 days. Consumers who receive checks have 90 days to cash their payment. How to find your Epic account ID When submitting a claim for a refund , people are required to provide a claim number or an Epic account ID. Epic Games provided on its website steps to find your Epic account ID online: Visit www.epicgames.com . Click “sign in” in the top right corner and sign in. Hover over your Epic Games account name and click on “account.” Your account ID is listed under “account information.” This article first appeared on TODAY.com . Read more from TODAY here: Savannah Guthrie reveals her family’s 2024 holiday card — with a surprise announcement Dad shares bittersweet video of when his 13-year-old confronted him about Santa: 'Oh my heart' Hilary Duff’s 12-year-old son joins her for rare red carpet outing

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ----- By Bill Barrow for the Associated Press Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.

A high-profile barrister who was cleared of misconduct over social media posts has called on the head of the Bar Standards Board to resign. Dr Charlotte Proudman , who specialises in family law, had faced a Bar Standards Board (BSB) disciplinary tribunal over a 14-part Twitter thread criticising a judge’s ruling over a domestic abuse case, saying it echoed a “boys’ club”. However, the five charges against the 36-year-old were dropped on Thursday. In an interview with The Times , Dr Proudman described the position of Mark Neale, the board’s director-general, as “untenable” and said its chairwoman, Kathryn Stone, should also stand down. “They need a change, not just in those two individuals, though, because, of course, it seeps down to the rest of the organisation,” she said. She told the paper she “genuinely” wanted to work with the Bar Standards Board in helping them to understand how misogyny and sexism have impacted women at the bar. However, she said that “under the current leadership, it’s just not going to be possible”. The charges alleged Dr Proudman had “failed to act with integrity” in posting the tweets, that they amounted to professional misconduct, were “misleading” and “inaccurately reflected the findings of the judge” in the case. The women’s rights campaigner was also accused of behaving in a way “which was likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public placed in her and in the profession”, and that she “knowingly or recklessly misled or attempted to mislead the public” by making the posts. But panel chairman Nicholas Ainley found her tweets are protected under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right of freedom of expression. He said her tweets did not “gravely damage” the judiciary, which would “put them outside” of Article 10 protection, even if they “might not have been pleasant for any judge to read” or even “hurtful”. “We take the view that the judiciary of England and Wales is far more robust than that,” he said. The panel also concluded that some of the tweets were only inaccurate “to a minor degree” and not to the extent necessary for a charge of a lack of integrity. Speaking after the hearing, Dr Proudman told the PA news agency: “This ruling is a victory for women’s rights and a right to freedom of speech. “The prosecution against me brought by my regulatory body, the Bar Standards Board, should never have happened and I said that from day one. “I criticised a domestic abuse judgment. Everyone should have the right to do that, whether you’re a barrister or not. Our justice system, which I strongly believe in, is robust enough to withstand criticism from me.” She believes her tweets help “foster confidence” in the justice system, adding: “Only that way can we go about building change and a better treatment for all victims, women and children and men who are affected by domestic abuse.” Explaining that the BSB appears to have spent almost £40,000 “of barristers’ money” on instructing counsel in her case, she added: “I think it’s shameful that they’re using our money to pay for, in my view, malicious, vexatious prosecutions which I have no doubt was a personal attack against me as a woman and as a feminist, as an outspoken critic and advocate for women’s rights.” Dr Proudman called for “systemic change” within the board. “They don’t understand gender, they don’t understand diversity, I don’t think they’ve ever heard of the concept misogyny and certainly not institutional misogyny,” she said. “Until they recognise the deeply rooted, entrenched issue of bullying, harassment, sexism at the bar, for which I have suffered relentlessly... and own up to it I don’t think we’re going to see any change and I have no confidence in them.” She told of how male barristers have called her insulting names on social media and made derogatory comments about her. In the posts on April 6 2022, Dr Proudman referenced a case in which her client alleged she had been subjected to coercive and controlling behaviour by her husband, a part-time judge, meaning she had been “unable to freely enter” the couple’s “post-nuptial” financial agreement. Commenting on the ruling by Family Court judge Sir Jonathan Cohen, Dr Proudman wrote: “I represented Amanda Traharne.“She said she was coerced into signing a post-nuptial agreement by her husband (who is a part-time judge). I lost the case. “I do not accept the Judge’s reasoning. I will never accept the minimisation of domestic abuse.”She continued: “Demeaning the significance of domestic abuse has the affect of silencing victims and rendering perpetrators invisible. “This judgement has echoes of (t)he ‘boys club’ which still exists among men in powerful positions.”In the thread, Dr Proudman wrote that the judge had described the relationship of the couple as “tempestuous”, which she argued was a “trivialisation” of domestic abuse. “Tempestuous? Lose his temper? Isn’t this the trivialisation of domestic abuse & gendered language. This is not normal married life,” she wrote.Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema forcefully defends Fighting Illini’s Week 13 hero in Rutgers win after award snub | Sporting News

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President-elect John Mahama Acknowledges Outgoing President Akufo-Addo’s Gesture of Unity

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers formally asked a judge Monday to throw out his hush money criminal conviction , arguing that continuing the case would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ In a filing made public Tuesday, Trump’s lawyers told Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan that anything short of immediate dismissal would undermine the transition of power, as well as the “overwhelming national mandate" granted to Trump by voters last month. They also cited President Joe Biden’s recent pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . People are also reading... “President Biden asserted that his son was ‘selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,’ and ‘treated differently,’" Trump’s legal team wrote. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, they claimed, had engaged in the type of political theater "that President Biden condemned.” Prosecutors will have until Dec. 9 to respond. They have said they will fight any efforts to dismiss the case but have indicated a willingness to delay the sentencing until after Trump’s second term ends in 2029. In their filing Monday, Trump's attorneys dismissed the idea of holding off sentencing until Trump is out of office as a “ridiculous suggestion.” Following Trump’s election victory last month, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed his sentencing, previously scheduled for late November, to allow the defense and prosecution to weigh in on the future of the case. He also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier. He says they did not and denies any wrongdoing. The defense filing was signed by Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who represented Trump during the trial and have since been selected by the president-elect to fill senior roles at the Justice Department. Taking a swipe at Bragg and New York City, as Trump often did throughout the trial, the filing argues that dismissal would also benefit the public by giving him and “the numerous prosecutors assigned to this case a renewed opportunity to put an end to deteriorating conditions in the City and to protect its residents from violent crime.” Clearing Trump, the lawyers added, would also allow him to “to devote all of his energy to protecting the Nation.” Merchan hasn’t yet set a timetable for a decision. He could decide to uphold the verdict and proceed to sentencing, delay the case until Trump leaves office, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court or choose some other option. An outright dismissal of the New York case would further lift a legal cloud that at one point carried the prospect of derailing Trump’s political future. Last week, special counsel Jack Smith told courts that he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump — one charging him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate, the other with scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost — citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. The hush money case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Prosecutors had cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him. Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels. Trump later reimbursed him, and Trump’s company logged the reimbursements as legal expenses — concealing what they really were, prosecutors alleged. Trump has said the payments to Cohen were properly categorized as legal expenses for legal work. A month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for official acts — things they did in the course of running the country — and that prosecutors can’t cite those actions to bolster a case centered on purely personal, unofficial conduct. Trump’s lawyers cited the ruling to argue that the hush money jury got some improper evidence, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form, testimony from some White House aides and social media posts made during his first term. Prosecutors disagreed and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case. If the verdict stands and the case proceeds to sentencing, Trump’s punishments would range from a fine to probation to up to four years in prison — but it’s unlikely he’d spend any time behind bars for a first-time conviction involving charges in the lowest tier of felonies. Because it is a state case, Trump would not be able to pardon himself once he returns to office. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Georgia's ombudsman accuses police of torturing pro-EU protesters

The Bermuda Football Association [BFA] has announced that the match between PHC and St. George’s scheduled for tonight [Nov 22] has been postponed. A spokesperson said, “The Premier Division match between PHC/St Georges scheduled for tonight, Friday, November 22nd – 8:00pm at PHC Field has been postponed due to the field being waterlogged. “We will advise of the new match details once confirmed by the Competitions Committee.” : ,McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules

Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games without pay after violent hit on Trevor Lawrence HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games for repeated violations of player safety rules following his hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion. Al-Shaair’s punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, he noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons. Runyan says “video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide.” USWNT beats Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher's final match THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Alyssa Naher made two critical saves in her final match for the United States, Lynn Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 71st minute and the Americans beat the Netherlands 2-1. The U.S., which won its fifth Olympic gold medal in France this summer, wrapped up the year on a 20-game unbeaten streak. The Americans were coming off a scoreless draw with England on Saturday at Wembley Stadium. Naeher announced two weeks ago that the European matches would be her last. The 36-year-old goalkeeper played in 115 games for the U.S., with 111 starts, 89 wins and 69 shutouts. Second-to-last college playoff rankings offer last chance to see how nervous teams should be The next-to-last rankings for the College Football Playoffs come out Tuesday night, serving up one last chance to see who would be in, who would be out, who will be mad and who should be very, very nervous. There are about 18 teams vying for 12 spots in the first-of-its-kind playoff that begins Dec. 20. Outside of Oregon — the only undefeated team in the country — and Notre Dame — on a 10-game winning streak and not playing this weekend — there are very few sure things. The rankings released Tuesday will be the last dry run before the real list is revealed Sunday. High school recruiting isn't the only way to build a winner in the era of the transfer portal Texas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. Javier Mascherano arrives at Inter Miami as coach, 5 years after team first pursued him to play FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Javier Mascherano has arrived in Miami and is already at work as Inter Miami's new coach. The former teammate of Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez says he's aware of critics who believe he doesn't have the experience needed to succeed in the job. Inter Miami first pursued Mascherano as a player in 2019 with hopes that he would coach in its academy system after one season. Five years later, he's tasked with bringing trophies to the club that Messi has lifted to new heights. Analysis: Getting benched may have been best thing that happened to Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson Getting benched may have been the best thing that happened to Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. Both second-year quarterbacks are playing well since returning to the starting lineup. Young has steadily improved after coming back in Week 8. He’s displayed the skills that earned him a Heisman Trophy at Alabama and convinced the Panthers to draft him ahead of C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. Richardson has led Indianapolis to a pair of comeback wins late in the fourth quarter in three starts after he regained his starting job. Young and Richardson both have a long way to go to prove they can be franchise quarterbacks. But there’s far more optimism now that they’re not busts. Transgender powerlifter asks Minnesota Supreme Court to let her compete in women's events ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Attorneys for a transgender athlete have urged the Minnesota Supreme Court to allow her to compete in the women's division at powerlifting events, saying she’s protected against discrimination by the Minnesota Human Rights Act. USA Powerlifting rejected JayCee Cooper’s application in 2018 to compete in the women’s division of its events on the ground that she enjoys strength advantages over other women. Cooper sued in 2021, and a trial court sided with her. But the Minnesota Court of Appeals sent the case back to the trial court in March, saying there were “genuine issues of fact” about why USA Powerlifting excluded Cooper. Fueled by boos, Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy turns in 235-yard performance in return to Denver DENVER (AP) — The boos only brought out the best in Jerry Jeudy as he returned to Denver. The explosive Cleveland Browns wideout turned in an electric performance Monday night with nine catches for 235 yards, the most in NFL history by a receiver against his former team. He also had a 70-yard touchdown in a 41-32 loss to the Broncos. Jeudy, who played his first four seasons with Denver, was jeered every time he caught the ball. He loved all the noise directed at him, even motioning at times for the crowd to get even louder. His only regret was the Browns couldn’t close out the win. Ryggs Johnston goes from a tiny Montana town to Australian Open champion: Analysis Talk about taking the road less traveled. Ryggs Johnston honed his golf game in the tiny Montana town of Libby in the northwest corner of the state. He fulfilled his dream of going to Arizona State but never won a college tournament. But he did well enough to earn status in Canada and a pass to the second stage of Q-school. His Arizona State coach gave him a nudge to try European tour school. Johnston made it through all three stages and then won the Australian Open in only his second start on the European tour. Religious beliefs put two captains in spotlight during Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign The captains of two Premier League teams are in the spotlight for their choices as the competition celebrates LGBTQ+ inclusion in its campaign to promote equality and diversity. Rainbow-colored captain’s armbands were issued to the 20 clubs in the league ahead of matches last weekend and the upcoming midweek round. Ipswich’s Sam Morsy has been the only captain in action who didn’t wear the rainbow armband. Ipswich says Morsy, a practicing Muslim, made the decision “due to his religious beliefs.” Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi wore a rainbow armband bearing the words “I love Jesus” on it against Newcastle on Saturday and the words “Jesus loves you” against Ipswich on Tuesday.

Ginger farmers turn to organic methods after N10bn loss in KadunaMarvell Technology Stock Climbs After Better-Than-Expected Q3 Results, Strong Q4 GuidanceOur writers and editors independently determine what we cover and recommend. When you buy through our links, E! may earn a commission. Learn more . Shopping for someone who likes to work out (or just likes to look like they're going to work out)? Then you want the comfiest and most supportive activewear, lounging, and athleisure fit . That can be anything from buttery soft leggings , comfy pullovers, cute tennis skirts , and more. Lucky for you, you can score all these items for less than $50 -- with some styles as low as $4.97. So, now is the time to stock up on those activewear essentials or just take advantage of these low prices . Scroll down to check out the best activewear gifts from Alo Yoga , Athleta , Amazon , Old Navy , and more, plus some finds from lululemon . 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Athleta Easy Fleece 1/2 Zip Hoodie Whether you're looking for a hoodie for the gym, commuting, or travel, this soft fleece 1/2 zip is a solid option. It's available in 12 colors and includes a trendy cropped length that looks great with high-waisted leggings or jeans. Alo Yoga Blissful Henley Bra Top Made from a thick ribbed knit, this henley bra top gives you light to medium support for running or running errands. Pair it with a cute tennis skirt or high-waist leggings. Athleta Vital Shine Bra A-C This sports bra is top-rated on Athleta for a reason. It's buttery soft for low-impact activities and comes in 23 colorways (but our fav is Simone Biles navy , of course). Victoria's Secret VSX Elevate Racerback Bodysuit Sleek, breathable, and sweat-wicking, this racerback bodysuit is a great base layer and a versatile gift. It can be worn to the gym, to dinner, or just walking the dog. Athleta With Ease Rib Tee Soft and loose, the best part about this workout top is that it's made of an odor-controlling yarn that stays fresher for longer. Of course, the price tag is pretty good, too. American Apparel Unisex ReFlex Fleece Pullover Hoodie This black unisex hoodie is great for everyone. Warm and cozy, it's a classic, relaxed fit that looks good with everything. The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers. As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. 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Alones Creative/iStock via Getty Images Quantum Computing’s Meteoric Rise Quantum Computing ( NASDAQ: QUBT ) stock skyrocketed nearly 53% on Wednesday. The rally followed news earlier in the week that the photonics company won a contract with NASA to utilize Dirac-3, its entropy quantum optimization machine, to support I am Steven Cress, Head of Quantitative Strategies at Seeking Alpha. I manage the quant ratings and factor grades on stocks and ETFs in Seeking Alpha Premium. I also lead Alpha Picks , which selects the two most attractive stocks to buy each month, and also determines when to sell them. Steven Cress is VP of Quantitative Strategy and Market Data at Seeking Alpha. Steve is also the creator of the platform’s quantitative stock rating system and many of the analytical tools on Seeking Alpha. His contributions form the cornerstone of the Seeking Alpha Quant Rating system, designed to interpret data for investors and offer insights on investment directions, thereby saving valuable time for users. He is also the Founder and Co-Manager of Alpha Picks, a systematic stock recommendation tool designed to help long-term investors create a best-in-class portfolio. Steve is passionate and dedicated to removing emotional biases from investment decisions. Utilizing a data-driven approach, he leverages sophisticated algorithms and technologies to simplify complex, laborious investment research, creating an easy-to-follow, daily updated grading system for stock trading recommendations. Steve was previously the Founder and CEO of CressCap Investment Research until its acquisition by Seeking Alpha in 2018 for its unparalleled quant analysis and market data capabilities. Prior to that, he had also founded the quant hedge fund Cress Capital Management, after spending most of his career running a proprietary trading desk at Morgan Stanley and leading international business development at Northern Trust. With over 30 years of experience in equity research, quantitative strategies, and portfolio management, Steve is well-positioned to speak on a wide range of investment topics. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given that any particular security, portfolio, transaction or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. The author is not advising you personally concerning the nature, potential, value or suitability of any particular security or other matter. You alone are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, security or strategy, or any product or service, is appropriate or suitable for you based on your investment objectives and personal and financial situation. Steven Cress is the Head of Quantitative Strategy at Seeking Alpha. Any views or opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank.Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The Miami Hurricanes, who once appeared to be a near-lock for the College Football Playoff, are not playing for a national title. Instead, they will play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando. That bowl berth against Iowa State is a let-down for fans with dreams of a sixth national title in their minds, as well as players hoping to compete for a championship. However, Miami’s trip to Orlando and the lead-up to it are still crucial periods for the Hurricanes for multiple reasons. First, it’s a chance for the program to achieve something it has not done in more than two decades: win 11 games. Although the 11th win won’t get them closer to a championship, it is a good sign of the program’s progress over Mario Cristobal’s tenure. It would also end UM’s five-game losing streak in bowls. “We’re not satisfied,” Cristobal said. “We want to win every single game. We won 10. We were close on the other two, but close isn’t good enough. We want progress. We’re hungry and driven to get better, and so that’s what our focus is on: to improving as a football program, to getting better, to moving into the postseason with an opportunity against a great football team like this and putting our best on the field.” People are also reading... OSU football: A prediction gone badly wrong The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Corvallis decides layout for new civic campus — with a side of strife Albany man pleads to numerous sex crimes As I See It: Six reasons why Trump won again 2025 to bring rate increases, new fee for hauling Corvallis waste Corvallis Samaritan hospital has new CEO Court dismisses jail-related Benton County whistleblower complaint Graduate employees reach deal with OSU to end strike Graduate strike at OSU continues. What's the holdup? OSU football: Beavers add 18 players as signing period opens Agreement reached (again), GAPS teachers get new contract Corvallis woman cuts hair for homeless: 'The Lord gave me a calling' Family objects to Jefferson man’s sex offense sentence Philomath's Lumos among 6 wineries suing Pacific Power over wildfires There are signs the Hurricanes will show up at close to full strength for the bowl game. Running back Damien Martinez announced he was going to play, and star quarterback Cam Ward said in a video call posted on social media that he intends to play, as well. “We’re trying to win our first bowl game in 20 years,” Ward said in the video, mistaking the length of UM’s long bowl losing streak. “We’re going hard.” Playing in the bowl game also provides the opportunity for the Hurricanes to get in several practices between now and the game. That means Miami can develop its young players and prepare them for next season during both the practices and the bowl game itself. “It’s extremely valuable,” Cristobal said. “You really don’t have many opportunities throughout the course of the year — time is limited more and more each season with your student-athletes. I want to state this and be very clear: it’s very important, it’s ultra-important for the University of Miami to continue to develop and grow and progress by stressing the importance of offseason opportunities ... You learn a lot about your team and learn a lot about your people and your program when you head to the postseason.” Of course, there are potential negatives. Players can get hurt; Mark Fletcher Jr. suffered a foot injury in the Pinstripe Bowl last year that cost him all of spring practice. A poor performance can also potentially set the tone for next season, like how Florida State, fresh off a playoff snub last year, suffered a devastating loss against Georgia in the Orange Bowl and went on to a dismal 2-10 season this year. “This is the ending of ’24 and the beginning of ’25,” Cristobal said. “This is the last opportunity to be on the field and carry some momentum into the offseason. So it is, in essence, it is the most important game because it’s the next game. “There’s a lot of excitement in the form of opportunity for our guys. Our guys love to play football. The chance to play one more time with this special group — this is a special group of guys now. They’ve worked hard to really change the trajectory of the University of Miami, and they want to continue to elevate the status and the culture at the University of Miami. So certainly a ton to play for.” ____ Get local news delivered to your inbox!

With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fightAlthough Shenghua Wen entered the United States on a student visa, eventually settling in San Bernardino County, law enforcement officials say he had a more nefarious purpose: exporting shipments of firearms, ammunition and other military items to North Korea. Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested Wen, 41, at his Ontario home, alleging he acted as an operative for the North Korean government, smuggling illicit goods concealed inside shipping containers from Long Beach. Wen, who authorities said is a Chinese national living illegally in the U.S. after overstaying his visa, has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which deals with sanctions and frozen foreign assets. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Wen’s federal public defender did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is illegal to supply North Korea with certain technologies and military supplies without U.S. government approval, according to U.S. Atty. Martin Estrada. “North Korea engaged in a scheme to circumvent and evade those restrictions,” Estrada said at a news conference Tuesday morning. “It’s essential we keep sensitive materials, including military equipment, outside the hands of our adversaries where they can harm us or our allies.” Wen, who arrived in the U.S. in 2012, was “key to this scheme and central to this plot” by North Korea, Estrada said. Before leaving China, Wen met with North Korean officials at two consulates, where they allegedly directed him to procure goods in the U.S., according to a Nov. 26 criminal complaint. In an interview with federal authorities, Wen said he was probably chosen for this role because he was good at smuggling, according to prosecutors. Wen told authorities that while he was in the U.S., two North Koreans living in China, whom he identified as Jin Yong Nan and Cui, reached out to him. Wen kept in contact with Cui via an encrypted messaging platform, according to the complaint. In his interview with federal authorities, Wen allegedly admitted he shipped two containers of firearms and other items to North Korea via Hong Kong in October and December 2023. One shipment was labeled as a refrigerator, another as camera parts, Estrada said. Wen allegedly received money for the containers and shipping fees — totaling at least $2 million — from North Korean officials. To obtain the weapons, Wen paid $150,000 to buy Super Armory, a business with a federal firearms license that he later registered in Texas. Wen allegedly used the company and people known as straw purchasers to assemble shipments, according to the complaint. Authorities said he would then drive the guns and ammo from Texas to California. Federal authorities said they also found emails and text messages from January to April, between Wen and a U.S.-based broker about obtaining a civilian airplane engine. During a September interview with authorities, Wen said North Korean officials told him to purchase plane engines, which would be used to help develop the North Korean military drone program, according to the complaint. At Wen’s home on Aug. 14, law enforcement officials seized two devices that he allegedly intended to send to North Korea for military use: a chemical threat identification device and a handheld countersurveillance gadget that detects electronic eavesdropping, according to the complaint. On Sept. 6, law enforcement seized about 50,000 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition — stored in his white Ford van — that he’d allegedly obtained to send to North Korea, authorities said. Wen told authorities he believed the North Korean government wanted the items he sent to prepare for an attack against South Korea, according to the complaint. Wen allegedly told authorities that the government wanted him to obtain military uniforms to be used by the North Korean military to disguise its soldiers during a surprise offensive. Wen’s student visa was valid from Dec. 5, 2012, to Dec. 3, 2013, according to the complaint. Estrada said it’s unclear whether that was legitimate and whether he was actually studying. Wen was ordered removed from the U.S. in 2018 and, after a 2021 arrest, he signed a form acknowledging his overstay status, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. It’s unclear how he was able to stay in the country. Estrada said authorities learned about Wen through multiple tips, including from some individuals from whom he tried to purchase items. “We can’t say how long he was operating this. The investigation continues,” Estrada said.

Germany's president dissolves parliament, sets national election for February 23Safari Balls are a new type of Poké Ball exclusive to the Go Wild 2024: Global event running on Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November in Pokémon Go . Go Safari Balls, because of course Pokémon Go has to find a way to include 'Go' in everything, are more effective at catching Pokémon compared to the other brands of Poké Ball . (Well aside from Master Balls , but they're a completely different beast.) This makes them perfect for catching the Mighty Pokémon appearing throughout Go Wild 2024: Global. There is a catch though - rumour has it Safari Balls can expire ... Don't worry though, we're here to help you learn how to get Safari Balls in Pokémon Go , whether Safari Balls expire and what exactly Go Safari Balls are . On this page: How to get Safari Balls Do Safari Balls expire? What are GO Safari Balls? How to get Safari Balls in Pokémon Go There are two ways you can get Safari Balls for free during the Go Wild 2024: Global event in Pokémon Go. The first is by completing the Timed Research task you'll receive when you first log into the event , which will reward you with a small amount of Safari Balls. The second is to spin PokéStops , but, since this method all comes down to luck, you may not always get a Safari Ball. Though, if you're prepared to drop some cash, there are a couple of other ways you can earn Safari Balls. The first is by purchasing a Go Wild Area 2024: Global ticket for £11.99, $11.99 or the equivalent pricing in your local currency. Doing so will see you receiving a Timed Research task which rewards Safari Balls every hour. Just make sure you complete it and collect the rewards within this hour though or else both will vanish forever. If you don't fancy purchasing a full ticket to the event, but still want some extra Safari Balls then you can also buy the Go Safari Ball: Extra Access Ticket for £1.99, $2 or the equivalent price in your local currency . This will also grant you access to additional hourly Timed Research tasks, with each one rewarding you with four Safari Balls. (Though again, you must complete these tasks before that hourly time limit is up!) This ticket can be combined with your Wild Area 2024: Global ticket to grant you two Safari Ball Timed Research tasks per hour. It's also important to note that the Go Safari Ball: Extra Access Ticket can only be published here on the Pokémon Go web store , so, if you fancy it, then it's worth buying before you head out to play Pokémon Go. Neither tickets can be purchased using Poké Coin nor are nonrefundable . But, before you start throwing Safari Balls at Pokémon, there's an important fact to consider... The Max Out Season is here. The new global event, Wild Area , is nearly here and In the Wild is our lead-up event, which includes the global release of Toxel . You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles . First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest .Don't forget to try out Routes , Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon , fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases . Do Safari Balls expire in Pokémon Go? Yes, Safari Balls do expire in Pokémon Go. Any spare Safari Balls you have will expire from your inventory at 6:15pm (local time) at the end of each Go Wild Area 2024: Global event day - either Saturday 23rd November and Sunday 24th November. This means that Safari Balls do not overlap between event days. If you've been playing Pokémon Go on Saturday, you'll instead have to start collecting Safari Balls all over again Sunday morning. For this reason, it's a good idea to spend the last hour and 15 minutes of the event (5pm to 6:15pm local time on both days) using up any spare Safari Balls you might have. Best to get your money's worth after all! An ideal Safari Ball target are the Mighty Pokémon appearing throughout the Wild Area event hours or the Galarian Legendary Birds who have a chance of spawning when you're using Daily Adventure Incense . Remember - use your Safari Balls before it's too late! They will vanish at 6:15pm (local time) on both Saturday and Sunday! What are GO Safari Balls in Pokémon Go? Go Safari Balls are the Pokémon Go version of the classic Poké Ball you receive upon entering any Safari Zone in a mainline Pokémon game. Decorated with a camouflage pattern, these Poké Balls have 'GO' printed on their sides in big white letters to help you remember which game you're playing. As we mentioned above, Safari Balls are highly effective at catching Pokémon . This makes them perfect for catching any Mighty Pokémon you might encounter. The downside is, again like we said above, that they expire. Though, when you think about it, this expiration date is oddly fitting for Safari Balls.In the many of the mainline games where the zones made an appearance, you could be kicked out of the area after taking a certain number of steps. The fact that Pokémon in Safari Zones had to be caught without battling them, simply tossing Safari Balls, treats and stones (yes, stones), also matches up well with Pokémon Go's gameplay. (Well, apart from the stones but I guess a good number of people have tossed their phones because of this game.) At the time of writing, Safari Balls have only been available during the Fukuoka, Japan and Global Wild Area 2024 events. We wouldn't be surprised to see them return during other in-person Pokémon Go events. Best of luck using Safari Balls during the Wild Area 2024: Global event!

UVALDE, Texas — A Texas judge on Thursday refused to throw out criminal charges accusing the former Uvalde schools police chief of putting children at risk during a slow response to the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting. Pete Arredondo said he was improperly charged and that the shooter was responsible for putting the victims in danger in the school attack on May 24, 2022. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed. Arredondo also said he was scapegoated for the halting police response. Nearly 400 law enforcement agents rushed to the scene in rural South Texas but waited more than 70 minutes to confront and kill the gunman in a fourth-grade classroom. Judge Sid Harle handed down the ruling during a hearing in a Uvalde courtroom, and set a trial date for Oct. 20, 2025. Several victim family members attended the hearing but left without comment. Arredondo has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of abandoning or endangering a child, each of which carried a punishment of up to two years in jail. He and former Uvalde schools officer Adrian Gonzales are the only officers who have been charged for their actions that day. Gonzales has not asked the judge to dismiss his charges but could at a later date. Gonzales and Arredondo attended the hearing in person. Nico LaHood, an attorney for Gonzales, said he will ask for the trial to be moved out of Uvalde County because he believes his client cannot receive a fair trial there. “Everybody knows everybody,” in Uvalde, LaHood said. The indictment against Arredondo alleges he did not follow his active shooter training and made critical decisions that slowed the police response while the gunman was “hunting” his victims. It alleges that instead of confronting the gunman immediately, Arredondo caused delays by telling officers to evacuate a hallway to wait for a SWAT team, evacuating students from other areas of the building first, and trying to negotiate with the shooter while victims inside the classroom were wounded and dying. Arredondo’s attorneys say the danger that day was not caused by him, but by the shooter. They argued Arredondo was blamed for trying to save the lives of the other children in the building, and have warned that prosecuting him would open many future law enforcement actions to similar charges. “Arredondo did nothing to put those children in the path of a gunman,” said Arredondo attorney Matthew Hefti. The massacre at Robb Elementary was one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, and the law enforcement response has been widely condemned as a massive failure. Nearly 150 U.S. Border Patrol agents, 91 state police officers, as well and school and city police rushed to the campus. While terrified students and teachers called 911 from inside classrooms, dozens of officers stood in the hallway trying to figure out what to do. More than an hour later, a team of officers breached the classroom and killed the gunman. Within days of the shooting, the focus of the slow response turned on Arredondo, who was described by other responding agencies as the incident commander in charge. Multiple federal and state investigations have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers. Several victims or their families have filed multiple state and federal lawsuits. ___ Associated Press reporter Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, contributed.Adam Schiff Sworn in as California’s Newest U.S. Senator to Fill Late Feinstein’s Seat

US sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling political partyCryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will help drive modernisation of Australia’s financial system, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared while revealing the re-election of Donald Trump has already forced a rethink of the emerging sector’s importance. Chalmers said while there were legitimate concerns such as the use of crypto by criminal elements, the possible advantages from the creation of new investment opportunities should not be curtailed by overzealous regulation. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have attracted even more interest since the re-election of Donald Trump. Credit: Bloomberg Cryptocurrencies, which encompass digital currencies that are effectively policed by investors rather than authorities such as governments or central banks, were already one of the world’s fastest-growing investment opportunities before Trump’s election victory in November. Trump has promised to be a “crypto president” by loosening regulation around products, creating a stockpile of bitcoin – the value of which has surged by a third since November – and making it easier for crypto investors to gain access to traditional banking systems. In Australia, broad investment in cryptocurrencies is still well short of traditional sectors such as equities and property, but there is growing interest, particularly among younger people. Chalmers said he believed crypto, and the infrastructure surrounding it, could be a key feature of an improved financial system. “I think crypto has a role to play, and it’s part of modernising and innovating in our financial system,” he said. “We need to make sure there are appropriate protections and guard-rails, but we need to make sure we don’t overdo that and stomp on part of the industry which, I think, will be important in the industry.” Last month, RBA governor Michele Bullock, who previously headed up the bank’s payments arm, was less bullish than Chalmers about cryptocurrency and said she didn’t see a role for it in the economy. “I don’t really see a role for it in, certainly in the Australian economy or payments system,” she said. Governments, central banks and policymakers around the world are watching Trump’s policy agenda with particular interest, given he has promised to impose wide-scale tariffs , deport millions of undocumented workers and possibly intervene in official interest rate settings . Chalmers said Trump’s approach to crypto was also uppermost in the government’s mind. “Of the list of changes in policy emphasis we expect from the incoming Trump administration, this is one of the ones we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about,” he said. “We think about trade and tariffs, we think about financial regulation, we think about deregulation more broadly. We think about the energy transformation, and we think about crypto.” The government is planning to introduce legislation next year that would create licensing arrangements for businesses that offer digital assets such as crypto and stablecoin – a type of cryptocurrency pegged to the value of another currency or commodity. The licensing is in part due to growing crypto-related scams that were estimated last year to have cost Australians about $180 million in losses. AUSTRAC this month warned that it believed specialist crypto ATMs were being used by criminal organisations in South-East Asia to launder the money of Australian-based criminals. Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes cryptocurrencies will drive modernisation and innovation across the nation’s financial system. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Chalmers said regulations around crypto had to balance security issues for potential investors in the asset class against being overly onerous. “Our interest here is to recognise it’s legitimate, it’s important, it’s growing,” he said. “We need to make sure that people are protected, but we don’t want to overdo it in a way that stifles an industry we believe in. “Obviously, the multinational crime element of it is something people are focused on with good reason, but I think we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we overfocused on the downside and didn’t sufficiently focus on the upside.” One of the downsides is the use of crypto by criminals attracted to the way its underlying technology makes it difficult to track major financial transactions. In some cases, criminals have demanded ransom payments in crypto. This masthead can also reveal that cryptocurrency assets are increasingly being seized by the Australian Federal Police as part of their inquiries. Between July and November this year, the AFP had collected more than $20 million worth of crypto. Over the same period, more than $28 million in cash was seized by the AFP’s criminal asset confiscation taskforce. All seized cash goes into an account used for community safety programs. The AFP has collected $62 million in crypto since the middle of 2019. The value of that crypto may be growing. Once the AFP collects it, the agency does not track the ongoing value of the crypto (which is managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority). Since July 1 this year, the value of bitcoin has soared from $US63,352 to $US97,742. As recently as December 17, bitcoin had reached $US106,470. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .

Editor’s note: The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writers. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation , a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. The holidays offer many opportunities for awkward moments. Political discussions, of course, hold plenty of potential. But any time opinions differ, where estrangements have caused lingering rifts, or when behaviors veer toward the inappropriate, awkwardness can set in. Awkwardness is what happens in social interactions when you suddenly find yourself without a script to guide you through. Maybe the situation is new or catches you off guard. Maybe you don’t know what’s expected of you, or you aren’t sure what role you’re playing in the social drama around you. It’s characterized by feelings of self-consciousness, uncertainty and discomfort. As a philosopher who studies moral psychology , I’m interested in awkwardness because I wanted to understand the ways social discomfort stops people from engaging with difficult topics and challenging conversations. Awkwardness seems to inhibit people, even when their moral values suggest they should speak up. But it has a positive role to play, too — it can alert people to areas where their social norms are lacking or outdated. People often blame themselves when things take a turn toward the awkward. But awkwardness is really a collective failure — people aren’t awkward, situations are. And they become awkward because you don’t have the resources to navigate your way through tricky social situations. Awkwardness is often confused with embarrassment, but the two are different in important ways, and so are their remedies. Embarrassment is a response to a personal failing or gaffe , and the right response is to acknowledge it, own it and move on . Because awkwardness is caused by a lack of social guidance, you can try to anticipate and head it off before it happens, or you can respond to it by trying to develop better or clearer social scripts to help you — and others — navigate similar situations in the future. After researching and writing an entire book on awkwardness , I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not something we can — or should — avoid altogether. But there are a few strategies people can use to minimize awkwardness and deal with it when it does, inevitably, happen. READ MORE: When meeting someone new, try skirting the small talk Uncertainty is the oxygen of awkwardness. Before you engage in a potentially awkward or contentious interaction, ask yourself: What do I want to get out of this? When you’re clear on your goals for the interaction, not only are you better able to perform your role in it, but you’re also giving clearer signals to others, helping them perform their roles in the unfolding social drama. So, if you’re worried it’ll be awkward when your uncle starts in on his annual political rant, think about what you want the outcome to be. Do you want to convince him he’s wrong? Unlikely to happen. Do you want other family members to feel less anxious? Do you want your own views to be heard? I’m not suggesting that some forethought will make things go smoothly or guarantee that no one’s feelings will be hurt. But it will help you feel more confident in your ability to navigate toward your desired outcome. Awkward situations breed intense self-consciousness . This is both uncomfortable and counterproductive. By focusing on yourself, you’re not attuned to the people around you or the signals they’re sending — signals that could offer you a pathway out of the awkward situation. So make sure you’re paying attention to the other players in the drama, not just your own discomfort. People do so much planning in other areas of their lives, yet they expect social interactions to just flow effortlessly. But like a vacation or a hike in the woods, sometimes a conversation goes better when you approach it with a map. Have some go-to topics or questions at hand. And you don’t have to go it alone. If you’re worried about broaching a sensitive topic, or interacting with a particularly prickly guest, coordinate with a friend or relative. READ MORE: Why is it so stressful to talk politics with the other side? If you expect to see someone with whom you have an unresolved relationship — an estranged family member, an old friend you ghosted — try to do some prep work in advance. Emails or letters can give people a chance to process reactions without putting them on the spot. Even having a scripted activity on deck can make things less awkward. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, like a board game. Just keep some tasks available for guests who might otherwise lurk uncomfortably — like shaking up the salad dressing or putting forks on the table. If, despite your best efforts, awkwardness does strike, offer people a way out — they’ll probably grab it. This doesn’t need to be momentous; it could be a little joke, a small-talk topic, or even — and only if things get very desperate — knocking a spoon off the table to break the silence. READ MORE: Personality traits drive our ideas about fairness and sharing These strategies might help you avoid awkwardness. But take a moment to consider whether you really want to. Awkwardness is the result of social uncertainty; it slows things down and curbs your confidence. In its absence, other emotions can set in. Having things out in the open can be a relief, but it can also lead to anger, sadness and other feelings that might best be saved for another occasion. So if things are awkward, it’s worth looking around to see what role that awkwardness is playing, and what might take its place if it’s gone. Alexandra Plakias is an associate professor of philosophy at Hamilton College. Her research focuses on issues in moral psychology, such as the role of evolution and culture in our moral values. Plakias does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.Georgia's ombudsman accuses police of torturing pro-EU protesters

HT Year Ender: Ratan Tata to Liam Payne, 10 deaths that shook the world in 2024Ebonkoli 1-8 0-0 2, Grady 5-9 1-1 14, Petty 2-6 7-10 13, Brown 1-3 0-0 3, Faas 1-9 0-0 3, Kopp 3-4 2-2 10, Gob 0-2 4-4 4, Hall 1-4 0-0 2, Nyeri 3-4 2-2 9, Diallo 0-0 0-0 0, Ijeh 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-49 16-19 60. G.Jones 5-9 5-5 16, Mayock 2-6 2-2 7, Rogers 3-11 0-0 6, Smalls 3-5 7-7 13, Stephens 2-4 10-11 14, Ball 1-1 0-0 2, Nausadis 2-7 0-0 5, Michaels 0-0 1-2 1, Iturbe 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-43 25-27 64. Halftime_UMKC 29-27. 3-Point Goals_UMKC 10-24 (Grady 3-5, Kopp 2-3, Petty 2-5, Brown 1-2, Nyeri 1-2, Faas 1-5, Hall 0-2), American 3-20 (G.Jones 1-5, Mayock 1-5, Nausadis 1-5, Smalls 0-1, Rogers 0-4). Fouled Out_Smalls. Rebounds_UMKC 25 (Ebonkoli, Faas 5), American 31 (Rogers 7). Assists_UMKC 9 (Kopp 3), American 5 (G.Jones, Mayock, Rogers, Smalls, Ball 1). Total Fouls_UMKC 22, American 19. A_50 (12,000).

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.

By REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.Where to Watch Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders on TV or Streaming Live – December 7

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The Onion's rejected purchase of Infowars in an auction bid supported by families of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting dealt them a new setback Wednesday and clouded the future of Alex Jones' conspiracy theory platform, which is now poised to remain in his control for at least the near future. What's next for Infowars and Sandy Hook families' long-sought efforts to hold Jones accountable over calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax was unclear, after a federal judge in Houston late Tuesday rejected The Onion's winning bid for the site . U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston said he did not want another auction but offered no roadmap over how to proceed. One possibility includes ultimately allowing Sandy Hook families — who comprise most of Jones' creditors — to return to state courts in Connecticut and Texas to collect on the nearly $1.5 billion in defamation and emotional distress lawsuit judgments that Jones was ordered to pay them. “Our hope is that when this process ends, and it will end, and it will end sooner rather than later, is that all assets that Alex Jones has available are paid to the families, and that includes Infowars, and that as a result of that process Alex Jones is deprived of the ownership and control of the platform that he’s used to hurt so many people,” Christopher Mattei, an attorney for the Sandy Hook families, said in a phone interview Wednesday. The families, meanwhile, were preparing the mark the 12th anniversary of the Dec. 14 shooting. The sale of Infowars is part of Jones’ personal bankruptcy case , which he filed in late 2022 after he was ordered to pay the $1.5 billion. Jones was sued for repeatedly saying on his show that the 2012 massacre of 20 first graders and six educators was staged by crisis actors to spur more gun control. Lopez said there was a lack of transparency in the bidding process and too much confusion about The Onion's bid. He also said the amount of money offered in the only two bids was too low and there needed to be more effort to try to raise as much money possible from the selling of Infowars' assets. The Onion's parent company, Global Tetrahedron, submitted a $1.75 million cash offer with plans to kick Jones out and relaunch Infowars in January as a parody . The bid also included a deal with many of the Sandy Hook families for them to forgo $750,000 of their auction proceeds and give it to other creditors. Lopez called it a complex arrangement that led to different interpretations of the bid's actual value as well as last-minute changes to a proposed sale order. The other bidder was First United American Companies, which runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements and planned to let Jones stay on the Infowars platforms. It offered $3.5 million in cash and later, with Jones, alleged fraud and collusion in the bidding process. Lopez rejected the allegations, saying that while mistakes were made there was no wrongdoing. Christopher Murray, the trustee who oversaw the auction, said he picked The Onion and its deal with the Sandy Hook families because it would have provided more money to Jones' other creditors. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday. The judge directed Murray to come up with a new plan to move forward. Murray and representatives of The Onion did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The judge said there was a possibility there could be a trial in 2025 to settle Jones' bankruptcy. He said Murray could try to sell the equity in Infowars' parent company. He also said Murray could abandon the efforts, which could allow the Sandy Hook families to return to the state courts where they won their lawsuits against Jones and begin collection proceedings against him. The judge said he wanted to hear back from Murray and others involved in the bankruptcy within 30 days on a plan to move forward. Mattei, who represented the Sandy Hook families in the Connecticut lawsuit, said everyone is waiting to see what plan the trustee comes up with. Jones, meanwhile, continued to allege fraud and collusion on his show Wednesday and threatened legal action over what he called an attempted “rigged auction.” On the social media platform X, he called the judge's ruling a “Major Victory For Freedom Of The Press & Due Process." “I don’t want to have to go after these people, lawsuit-wise, but we have to because if you don’t then you’re aiding and abetting and they do it to other people. They made some big mistakes," he said. It's a solemn and heartbreaking week for relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. The 12th anniversary is Saturday, and some of the victims' relatives were traveling to Washington, D.C., to attend the annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence on Wednesday evening. The families usually mark the anniversary out of the public eye. Many of the families said their lawsuits against Jones bought back the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones, as well as the trauma of being harassed and threatened by believers of Jones' hoax conspiracy. Relatives said they have been confronted in public by hoax believers and received death and rape threats. Robbie Parker, whose 6-year-old daughter Emilie was killed, testified at the Connecticut lawsuit trial in 2022 that the decade of abuse his family suffered made them move across the country to Washington state, and even there he was accosted in person. The families have not received any money from Jones since winning the trials. Jones has been appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments, and has since conceded that the shooting did happen. Last week, a Connecticut appeals court upheld most of the judgment in that state but reduced it by $150 million. Associated Press writer Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.

At least two journalists and a police officer were killed Tuesday after armed gangs opened fire on them inside an old military hospital in Haiti’s capital. The attack also left at least seven journalists and two police officers injuredwith gunshot wounds. The injured were being treated at La Paix Hospital after a specialized unit of the Haiti National Police went inside the facility that is part of the Hospital of the State University of Haiti , better known as the General Hospital, to rescue the wounded. Police officers told a Miami Herald freelancer and other waiting journalists that they had left four bodies on the ground. After three ambulances arrived at the hospital, journalists identified two of the bodies inside one of the ambulances as online journalists Mackendy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. A Haitian police spokesman could not be reached for comment. The tragedy unfolded while the press was awaiting the arrival of Health Minister Duckenson Lorthe Blema to cover the reopening of the General Hospital, which had been closed for months because of gang attacks. As reporters waited inside for the arrival of Blema, they could hear gunfire out in the streets, where two armored police vehicles were patrolling. Inside, final arrangements were being made for the minister’s visit. That’s when several armed men stormed the area outside and opened fire. In a video shared online, long volleys of gunfire could be heard as bullets flew through the green iron gates of the General Hospital. Other photos and videos shared online by some of the reporters trapped inside showed journalists lying on the floor covered in blood, with gunshots wounds to the head, chest and mouths. In one video, a journalist showed where a bullet had pierced his tongue. “We haven’t found a nurse or anyone to give us first aid, anything,” a journalist who was not injured said as she pleaded for help. “Those who are the most vulnerable, we want to get them out of here.” But getting out of the area proved difficult as police exchanged gunfire with gang members. “The whole area is under siege,” Guy Delva, head of the press freedom group SOS journalists, said before police moved in to rescue the trapped reporters. “Bandits are shooting all around. If the journalists go out into the street, they will be killed and no one is helping them. The situation is very worrisome. They are stranded.” Delva blamed the Haitian government for the incident, saying the attack is part of a larger problem in which journalists are being targeted by the police as well as gangs. Reporters have reported being harassed by police while on assignment. Earlier this year Haitian authorities issued a list of journalists they were seeking to arrest, claiming they were working with gangs. Last month the country’s telecommunications authority, CONATEL, shut down a popular program, Boukante la Pawol, hosted by Guerrier Henri, on Port-au-Prince’s Radio Mega after Henri allowed gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier to speak. Delva said the move infringed on press freedoms and was a throwback to the days Haiti was ruled by dictators. “Journalists have been working with a lot of fear,” he said. “They realize that the government doesn’t care. They not only try to block them but they openly show they won’t intervene to help them.” The General Hospital, the country’s largest public medical facility, had been closed since March when a united front of powerful gang leaders led attacks on police stations as well as the main airport, seaport and prison with the hope of toppling the government. Since then, the violence has continued to escalate, with hospitals across Port-au-Prince shutting down. In July Haitian authorities claimed that they had taken control of the General Hospital. But days later, the country’s prime minister was forced to run for cover, along with police officers, when armed gangs opened fire as he was giving a tour of the facility to visiting CNN journalists. The Christmas Eve attack added to an avalanche of bad news for Haiti. As the attack was happening in Port-au-Prince, authorities in the northwest region confirmed the deaths of at least seven people from torrential rains that continued to hit the city of Port-de-Paix on Tuesday. Officials said that 10 others had been injured, while at least 100 houses had been destroyed and 500 others seriously damaged. About 11,000 houses were flooded and 20 vehicles were swept away. A bridge, constructed less than six months ago, also collapsed. On Monday, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, issued a statement about Haiti’s escalating crisis. Her statements as president of the U.N. Security Council came on the same day the U.N. political office in Haiti issued a report on a recent gang massacre in the Wharf Jérémie neighborhood in the capital. The report said at least 207 people, most of them elderly, were killed between December 6 and 11 by gang leader, Micanor Altès, after he accused most of them of using Vodou to make his son sick. Some of of the victims were also family members of the elderly, who had attempted to flee the area, or individuals suspected of having leaked information about the crimes to local media. The victims were tracked down at their homes and at a place of worship, then driven to the gang’s stronghold, where they were shot or killed with machetes. After the killings, Altès tried to erase all evidence, by burning the bodies or dismembering them, and then throwing them into the sea, the U.N. found. The security council, Thomas-Greenfield said, is deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Haiti. This story was originally published December 24, 2024, 12:28 PM.Pakistan Launches Air Strikes On Militant Hideouts In Afghanistan

Trimble and Mallon sanctioned DUP ministers over rotation planIreland blamed Northern Ireland Office for ‘damaging leaks’, records show

'AI textbooks' are coming to Korea. But is the country ready for them?Sinn Fein was accused of “ignoring” the role 3,000 Troubles deaths had in damaging community relations in Northern Ireland in a memo sent to a direct rule minister in 2003. Declassified files show the note to former MP John Spellar also said the republican party had ignored the “visceral component of sectarianism” in responding to a new government good relations strategy. Mr Spellar, then a Northern Ireland Office minister, had launched a consultation on the “A Shared Future” document, an attempt to address community divisions, segregation and sectarianism in the region at a time when the devolved powersharing institutions were suspended. A file at the Public Record Office in Belfast shows that OFMDFM official Chris Stewart wrote to the minister in July about a response to the document from Sinn Fein representative Bairbre de Brun. Mr Stewart told Mr Spellar that Ms de Brun’s letter had been critical of the document and was clearly intended to “mark your card”. He said among a number of points raised by de Brun was that “the promotion of equality is the key to improving community relations”. His memo adds: “Sinn Fein is clearly seeking to position or align the issue of community relations within its equality and human rights agenda. “This general Sinn Fein position has resulted in a simplistic analysis of community relations, which is flawed in its description of the causes and necessary policy response. “There is of course, no doubt that a lack of equality has been a contributing factor to poor community relations. “However, Sinn Fein ignores the many other factors, not least the violent conflict that resulted in over 3,000 deaths. “Sinn Fein also portrays poor community relations (for nationalists) as being a purely rational response to the political situation. “This ignores the more visceral component of sectarianism, which is all too prevalent in both communities.” Mr Stewart continues: “To suggest, as Sinn Fein does, that the promotion of equality should be the key component of good relations policy is to ignore the key message in A Shared Future, that indirect approaches alone are insufficient to deal with sectarianism and the abnormal relationship between sections of the Northern Ireland community.” The official recommended the minister invite representatives of Sinn Fein to a meeting to discuss the policy. The file also contains a note about Mr Spellar’s meeting with DUP representatives Maurice Morrow and Peter Weir the following month to discuss the document. The note says: “Morrow said he had no problem with sharing the future and suggested that the first step to that would be an election to decide who spoke for whom – though he was quick to say he didn’t want politics to dominate the meeting.” It adds: “Weir said that the biggest step towards improving community relations would be the creation of a political environment that had the broad support of both unionism and nationalism, and the GFA (Good Friday Agreement) could not create that environment.” We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” “I'm a travelin' dog and I've made a lot of stops/All over this town...” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. “...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely ... " People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. “...If you're ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle ...” Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” "... and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return ..." Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

Amid the ongoing protests by electricity employees against privatisation of Chandigarh’s power sector, the private firm selected for the takeover, has claimed it will serve the city using advanced technologies, while also assuring to safeguard employees’ interests. Eminent Electricity Distribution Limited (EEDL), a 100% subsidiary of the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation (CESC) under Kolkata-based RP-Sanjiv Goenka (RPSG) Group, has been awarded the contract for privatisation of the UT electricity department. The UT administration is set to transfer assets to the discom by December 31. Issuing a statement on Wednesday, PR Kumar, president, power distribution, RPSG, said, “We are embarking on a new chapter to deliver reliable, efficient and innovative power solutions to the residents of Chandigarh. We also assure the employees of the Chandigarh electricity department that their welfare, including service conditions and retirement benefits, will be fully safeguarded in line with the agreement. The RPSG Group, with a workforce of over 50,000 employees, remains committed to serving the people of Chandigarh with the highest level of dedication and care.” Addressing employees’ concerns, Kumar added, “Rumours claiming that EEDL lacks expertise in power distribution are entirely baseless. As a 100% subsidiary of CESC Limited, EEDL benefits from decades of operational excellence and a proven track record in delivering reliable, efficient and customer-focused power solutions across the country.” Put privatisation on hold: Bansal Former Union minister and four-time Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal has urged UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to put the privatisation process on hold. He called for comprehensive consultations with the UT Powermen Union, resident welfare associations (RWAs), the Administrator’s Advisory Council, and civil society before making any final decision. Bansal cited the Supreme Court judgment in the case of BCPP Mazdoor Sangh vs NTPC and Others, which held that the government or its instrumentalities cannot alter the terms and conditions of service of employees to their detriment, nor can employees be transferred to a private organisation without their explicit consent. Further, Bansal pointed out public apprehensions regarding privatisation. “The electricity department is functioning efficiently and profitably. There seems to be no justification for handing it over to a private party at a cost far below the department’s current asset value,” he said. The UT Powermen Union and residents shared concerns that privatisation could compromise the department’s efficiency and affordability for the public, he added.Misleading Photo Circulates, Falsely Linking Anas to Anti-Corruption ORAL Team

The world approved a bitterly negotiated climate deal Sunday but poorer nations most at the mercy of worsening disasters dismissed a $300 billion a year pledge from wealthy historic polluters as insultingly low. After two exhausting weeks of chaotic bargaining and sleepless nights, nearly 200 nations banged through the contentious finance pact in the early hours in a sports stadium in Azerbaijan. But the applause had barely subsided in Baku when India delivered a full-throated rejection of the dollar-figure just agreed. "The amount that is proposed to be mobilised is abysmally poor. It's a paltry sum," said Indian delegate Chandni Raina. "This document is little more than an optical illusion. This, in our opinion, will not address the enormity of the challenge we all face." Nations had struggled to reconcile long-standing divisions over how much rich nations most accountable for historic climate change should provide to poorer countries least responsible but most impacted by Earth's rapid warming. EU climate envoy Wopke Hoekstra said COP29 would be remembered as "the start of a new era for climate finance". Sleep-deprived diplomats, huddled in anxious groups, were still revising the final phrasing on the plenary floor hours before the deal passed. At points, the talks appeared on the brink of collapse, with developing nations storming out of meetings and threatening to walk away should rich nations not cough up more cash. In the end -- despite repeating that no deal is better than a bad deal -- they did not stand in the way of an agreement, despite it falling well short of what they wanted. The final deal commits developed nations to pay at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developed countries green their economies and prepare for worse disasters. That is up from $100 billion under an existing pledge but was slammed as offensively low by developing nations who had demanded much more. "This COP has been a disaster for the developing world," said Mohamed Adow, the Kenyan director of Power Shift Africa, a think tank. "It's a betrayal of both people and planet, by wealthy countries who claim to take climate change seriously." A group of 134 developing countries had pushed for at least $500 billion from rich governments to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases. UN climate chief Simon Stiell acknowledged the deal was imperfect. "No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work still to do. So this is no time for victory laps," he said in a statement. The United States and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. The final deal "encourages" developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, reflecting no change for China which already provides climate finance on its own terms. Wealthy nations said it was politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. The deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. Wealthy countries and small island nations were also concerned by efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last year's summit in Dubai to phase out fossil fuels. The main texts proposed in Baku lacked any explicit mention of the Dubai commitment to "transitioning away from fossil fuels". A number of countries had accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets temperature records and faces rising deadly disasters. bur-np-sct/lth/tym

Trimble and Mallon sanctioned DUP ministers over rotation planPhiladelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. Eagles player to watch RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. Rams player to watch S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Key matchup Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Key injuries Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. Series notes The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Stats and stuff Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry’s 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn’t accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Fantasy tip Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia’s pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they’ll find ways to produce. ___ AP NFL:None

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NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of the people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's of the UnitedHealthcare CEO in a targeted killing on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, ran the insurance arm of the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. since 2021 and had worked at the company for 20 years. He previously led its Medicare and retirement businesses. As CEO, Thompson led a business that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at Pricewaterhouse Coopers and had little name recognition beyond the industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. Thompson’s few moments of public attention stood in contrast to his role in reshaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy, rather than focusing on treating them when they get sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson was scheduled to speak at an investor meeting when he was shot around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a masked assailant who fled on foot, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. He said Thompson walked out of the hotel alone. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporter Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report. This story corrects the style of the company’s name to UnitedHealthcare.New Orleans (4-8) at New York Giants (2-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Saints by 5. Against the spread: Saints 5-7; Giants 3-9. Series record: Giants lead 17-15. Last meeting: Saints beat Giants 24-6 on Dec. 17, 2023, in New Orleans. Last week: Saints lost to Rams 21-14; Giants lost to Cowboys 27-20. Saints: overall (12), rush (10), pass (19), scoring (14) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (26), pass (29), scoring (19) Giants offense: overall (T26), rush (15), pass (31), scoring (32) Giants defense: overall (19), rush (29), pass (6), scoring (18) Turnover differential: Saints plus-2; Giants minus-8. Derek Carr. The quarterback completed 23 of 28 for 218 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the previous meeting and had a 134.8 quarterback rating. Drew Lock. The veteran quarterback is going to make his second straight start with Tommy DeVito (forearm) hurt. He threw for 178 yards and ran for a career-high 57 yards in the loss to the Dallas. He scored on an 8-yard run and had a 28-yard scramble to set up another. He also made mistakes, throwing a pick-6 and losing a fumble on a scramble. Saints offense vs Giants defense. The Giants defense is banged up. DT Dexter Lawrence (elbow) was put on injured reserve Monday and fellow starter Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck) missed practice earlier in the week. Leading tackler and ILB Bobby Okereke is dealing with a back issue. Saints: Tight end Taysom Hill's knee injury last week will sideline him the rest of the season. Running back Kendre Miller (hamstring) is eligible to come off injured reserve and could return to the lineup Sunday. Guards Cesar Ruiz (concussion) and Nick Saldiveri (knee) have been held out of practice this week. Center Erik McCoy (groin) , who sat out last week's game, returned to practice early this week on a limited basis. Guard Lucas Patrick (calf) has practiced on a limited basis after sitting out the past three games. Tyrann Mathieu (forearm) has returned to full practice this week after sitting out much of the second half of last week's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Giants: Lawrence and rookie TE Theo Johnson (foot) were placed on injured reserve and probably are out for the season. ... DeVito (forearm) and LT Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) missed the Dallas game but they are making progress this week. DeVito will back up Lock. ... Eluemunor and RT Evan Neal (hip) may be game-time decisions. ... CB Deonte Banks (ribs), Okereke (back) and Nunez-Roches (neck) are unlikely to play. WR Malik Nabers was added to the report Thursday with a nagging groin issue. The Saints have won two of the past three meetings. The Giants are winless in all six games at MetLife Stadium this season. The Saints are 2-1 under interim coach Darren Rizzi, who was born in New Jersey and grew up a Giants fan. ... Carr ranks sixth among qualified passers with a 103.3 rating in 2024. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has had TD catches in his past three games. ... TE Juwan Johnson had five catches against the Rams. ... DT Bryan Bresee has a career-high 6 1/2 sacks and is looking for his third straight game with a sack. He had two sacks against New York last season. ... DL Chase Young has two sacks and three tackles for loss against the Giants in December. ... LB Demario Davis had 10 tackles and a sack in the previous meeting. ... CB Alontae Taylor is the only player with at least 10 passes defended and five tackles for loss in each of the past two seasons. ... Mathieu needs five tackles for his eighth straight season of at least 50 tackles. ... Giants: RB Tyrone Tracy ranks second among rookies with 619 yards rushing. He has run for four touchdowns. ... WR Malik Nabers has 75 catches for 740 yards. His reception total is the most by a rookie in his first 10 games. .... Wan'Dale Robinson has career-high 63 catches. ... OLB Brian Burns has a career-high eight passes defended and 10 tackles for loss. ... Okereke needs seven tackles for his fourth straight season of 100 or more tackles. ... S Tyler Nubin leads all rookies and ranks fourth among DBs with 93 tackles. ... The Giants have set an NFL record going 11 straight games without an interception. They have one interception this season. The NFL record for fewest in a season is two by the 2018 San Francisco 49ers. The fewest in a season by the Giants was six in 2022. Look for running back Alvin Kamara to have a big game. He has 894 yards rushing on 206 carries and he has caught 59 passes for 450 yards. He has seven touchdowns, six rushing. The 29-year-old has had eight games of at least 100 yards from scrimmage this season and he is third in the league with 1,344 yards from scrimmage. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflSAO PAULO (AP) — Police have formally accused Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of attempting a coup to keep the right-wing leader in office after his electoral defeat in 2022. Their allegations threaten to torpedo Bolsonaro's hopes of returning to politics. Brazil’s Supreme Court said Friday that police findings were delivered to Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who next week will relay them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro or toss the investigation. Bolsonaro told the news website Metropoles on Thursday that he is waiting for his lawyer to review the police report, which is reportedly about 700 pages long, but that he would fight the case. He dismissed the investigation as the result of “creativity.” The former president denies that he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has since faced a series of legal threats. That police are seeking formal charges indicates the investigation found evidence of “a crime and its author,” and it is likely there are legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges, said Eloísa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. On Friday, the attorney for Bolsonaro’s former right hand, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, said in a live television interview that his client had informed the Supreme Court that Bolsonaro was aware of the coup plot. “The then-president knew it all. Actually, he led this organization,” Cid’s attorney, Cezar Bitencourt, told network GloboNews. Just minutes later, Bitencourt partially retracted his statement. "I didn’t say Bolsonaro knew it all. ‘All’ is a lot. He was evidently aware of some things.” Police said the Supreme Court agreed to the release all 37 names in the police report “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” Among them are dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides, including: Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. Braga Netto’s lawyers said they would wait to formally receive the police documents before making any comments. The retired general shared their statement on X late Thursday. Bolsonaro is already accused separately of smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil and directing Lt. Col. Cid to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied those charges. Another probe found he abused his authority by casting doubt on Brazil's electoral system, and judges on the top electoral court barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he insists he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by President-elect Donald Trump's recent election win despite his swirling legal troubles. Local media report that Gonet is already under pressure to move forward with multiple investigations against the former president, and politicians say if the 69-year-old Bolsonaro does stand trial his allies and rivals will race to seize his influence with voters. “Bolsonaro is no longer the sole leader of the right-wing. He is coming out of mayoral elections in which most of his candidates lost. All these probes don’t help him at all,” said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper, a university in Sao Paulo. “The governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, the radical candidate for Sao Paulo mayorship Pablo Marçal, the governor of Goias state, Ronaldo Caiado ... There are politicians lining up to court Bolsonaro voters,” Melo said. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, said the formal accusation is “obviously bad” for Bolsonaro, but that it might not impede him if he does decide to run for office again. “This could give those targeted a chance to portray themselves as being persecuted,” de Souza said, adding that could benefit them. Bolsonaro's allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023, in an attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill would be “politically challenging” in light of the new allegations against Bolsonaro and others, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an effort to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. Last week, a man tried to enter the Supreme Court in the capital Brasilia with explosives but was blocked by guards. He threw the explosives outside the building , killing himself.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bucky Irving isn’t choosy. The rookie running back relishes any opportunity he gets to contribute to the success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have rebounded from a tough stretch to climb back into a tie for first place in the NFC South. Irving leads NFL rookies in rushing with 732 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while sharing the workload with starter Rachaad White and third-stringer Sean Tucker, who have combined to ease some of the burden on quarterback Baker Mayfield. A fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Irving is coming off rushing for a season-best 152 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He had another 33 yards receiving, giving him a rookie-leading 1,017 total yards from scrimmage through 12 games. The Bucs (6-6) on Sunday host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10), who have an outstanding newcomer of their own with Brock Bowers on the verge of breaking the league's record for catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers leads all players, regardless of position, with 84 receptions. He's fourth with 884 yards receiving and second behind Irving among rookies with 895 total yards from scrimmage. “I don’t really like taking all the credit. It’s those guys up front,” Irving said, deferring to Tampa Bay’s improved offensive line. “I think I have to do something special for those guys for Christmas because they’re getting the job done.” The Bucs are eighth in the NFL in rushing at 137.2 yards per game. They’ve gained 100-plus yards on the ground in nine of 12 games after only doing it nine times in 34 games over the past two seasons. Irving, whose ability to make defenders miss and accelerate in the open field, has provided a spark to an offense that sputtered without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during a four-game losing streak. It doesn’t seem to bother the rookie that he still sits behind White on the depth chart. The starter had a 38-yard run in overtime to set up the winning field goal last week. Coach Todd Bowles continues to stress that the Bucs, tied with Atlanta for the NFC South lead, need both Irving and White to be successful. “In our room, all our success is one,” said Irving, who in the past two weeks became the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to string together consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. “If I’m having success,’’ Irving added, “everybody in the room is having success.” Tampa Bay’s porous secondary figures to be tested by Bowers, the first tight end to lead the league in catches after Week 13 since Todd Christenson in 1986. The first-round draft pick out of Georgia needs three receptions to break Sam LaPorta’s season record (86 in 2023) for catches by a tight end. He’s 116 yards away from joining Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends to finish with 1,000-plus yards receiving. “I thought he was one of the best tight ends coming out in a long time – not just this draft, but in a long time,” Bowles said. “He’s living up to expectations. He can play wideout, he can play tight end, he can do some fullback, he can run jet sweeps,” the Bucs coach added. “They do a lot of things with him and he’s a very talented guy.” The last time the Raiders went against Mayfield was two seasons ago when he came off a plane to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite having minimal time with the playbook and just one brief practice, Mayfield rallied the Rams to a 17-16 victory on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the team’s linebackers coach at the time. “He plays the game kind of like Brett Favre, who I played against in (the) league,” Pierce said. “He’s very fiery. He’ll do whatever it takes to make a play. The play’s never dead with him. You’ve got to keep your eyes on him and then stay in coverage, so that’ll be a challenge.” Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell didn’t look as though he had missed nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb when he almost led Las Vegas to a victory at Kansas City last week. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 19-17 loss to the Chiefs. But O’Connell had a hard time looking at the positives given how close the Raiders came to beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. “Definitely some good plays, but it just stinks more than anything,” O’Connell said. “It was just a really hard loss. Even sometimes when you have a game right after, it’s easier to move on. But we had a longer week this week and so kind of really got to sit in it and it’s no fun.” AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflMoore scores 20 as Norfolk State beats Grambling 76-70Alex Berenguer prodded the hosts ahead after 53 minutes before Mbappe – who failed to convert a Champions League penalty against Liverpool last week – sent his kick too close to Bilbao goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. Jude Bellingham appeared to have rescued a point for Real after scoring for the fourth successive league game 12 minutes from time. 📸 PORTERAZO. JULEN, JULEN! JULEN JULEN! #AthleticRealMadrid #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/w260s6xo79 — Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) December 4, 2024 But Federico Valverde’s mistake two minutes later gifted Gorka Guruzeta the winner in front of a delirious San Mames crowd. On a busy night of second-round Copa del Rey action, Villarreal suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Pontevedra while there were wins for Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Fiorentina went out of the Coppa Italia to Empoli on penalties on an emotional night at Stadio Artemio Franchi. Viola were back in action after Edoardo Bove’s health scare forced their weekend league fixture with Inter Milan to be abandoned during the first half. Midfielder Bove collapsed on the pitch and required emergency medical treatment. He was taken to hospital but regained consciousness in intensive care. Esposito's penalty books Empoli's place in the next round 💪 #FiorentinaEmpoli pic.twitter.com/UUxghH9l6b — Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 4, 2024 Empoli led at half-time through Emmanuel Ekong’s fourth-minute opener before Moise Kean and Riccardo Sottil put Fiorentina ahead. Sebastiano Esposito struck 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 and take the last-16 tie into extra time, Empoli eventually winning 4-3 on penalties. Benjamin Sesko opened the scoring and Luis Openda struck twice as RB Leipzig brushed aside Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the German DFB Pokal. Second-half goals from Denis Vavro, Jonas Wind and Yannick Gerhardt saw Wolfsburg beat Hoffenheim 3-0. Cologne knocked out Hertha Berlin 2-1 after extra time with Dejan Ljubicic converting a penalty in the final seconds, while Augsburg prevailed 5-4 on penalties against Karlsruhe after a 2-2 draw.

Manitoba auditor general calls for better cybersecurity, financial reportingCde Muswere said when the resolutions were read out to theconference delegates, none in the house opposed them. Among the several key resolutions the Zanu PF AnnualPeople’s Conference held in October in Bulawayo passed was extending PresidentMnangagwa’s terms by two years to allow him to steer his Vision 2030 agenda tofruition. “The Delegates to the ZANU PF 21st National People’sConference resolve as follows: the President and First Secretary of ZANU PFParty, His Excellency, Cde. Dr E. D. Mnangagwa’s term of office as President ofthe Republic of Zimbabwe and First Secretary of ZANU PF be extended beyond 2028to 2030. The Party and Government should, therefore, set in motion thenecessary amendments to the National Constitution so as to give effect to thisresolution,” reads the resolution. Cde Muswere said any other meetings outside Zanu PF forumswere private and of no relevance to party’s processes. He said noise makers outside Zanu PF were not part of thedecision-making process. Cde Muswere recently took time to explain and defend theparty’s ED2030 slogan and growing calls for President Mnangagwa to remain inoffice and continue the development trajectory beyond 2030. Cde Muswere, who is also Information, Publicity andBroadcasting Services Minister, and legislator for Makoni West Constituency,emphasised that the call for Mnangagwa’s continued leadership was an agreedparty position, resolved and adopted at the annual national people’sconference. He was responding to a question raised by Cde Gilbert Zowa,a recently elected war veterans’ association member, to clear the air on theslogan. Cde Zowa had sought clarity on the ED2030 slogan, notingthat President Mnangagwa himself had expressed disinterest in extending histerm beyond 2028, despite the party’s enthusiasm for his continued leadership. He raised the issue during the Zanu PF Makoni DistrictCoordination Committee (DDC) meeting held at the Makoni Rural District Councilboardroom in Rusape. The ED2030 slogan has garnered significant traction asparty supporters overwhelmingly urge President Mnangagwa to extent hisPresidency beyond the current constitutional two-term limit. Cde Muswere said the resolution to extend PresidentMnangagwa’s leadership beyond 2030 is in line with Zanu PF’s constitution,since the conference that endorsed the resolution had a full quorum, making itlegally and properly constituted. He highlighted importance of maintaining constitutionalintegrity and adherence to party principles and values when implementing suchresolutions. Cde Muswere said the extension of President Mnangagwa’sleadership is an opportunity to consolidate the ongoing economic,infrastructural and social transformation programmes, guaranteeing continuityin policies aimed at achieving Vision 2030. Stability and consistency inleadership, he said, are crucial for realising the country’s long-term goals. “Regarding the ED2030 slogan, as Cde (Gilbert) Zowamentioned, the President made his own announcement. However, our guidingprinciple on this matter should be the ZANU PF constitution, which stipulatesthe holding of the annual National People’s Conference. The last conference washeld in Bulawayo, which was attended by all the requisite party organs. Most ofyou here today attended that conference. This conference was attended byvarious party organs, including the Central Committee. It was legally and properlyconstituted, with the required quorum,” he said. “The Central Committee report, which encompassed allresolutions from Provincial Coordination Committees (PCCs), was tabled. Theresolutions from Zanu PF provinces were read out and unanimously adopted. Themeeting also reviewed thematic committees’ deliberations. Most of you were inattendance at the conference, which was chaired by Zanu PF nationalchairperson, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri. Together with other leaders, CdeMuchinguri-Kashiri requested the adoption of the resolutions asking the Presidentto remain in office beyond 2030, in order to continue pursuing the country’sdevelopment trajectory,” said Cde Muswere. HeraldIt’s prime time for returning stuff at stores. Retailers are still figuring out the best way to handle it.

0ega Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared his perspective on former President Trump’s endorsement of cryptocurrency, noting how this support is enhancing the industry’s credibility in the world of mainstream politics. As the crypto sector continues to expand, such high-profile backing plays a significant role in boosting its legitimacy. As the potential for profits in the crypto space rises, Plus Wallet has emerged as a leading choice for users looking to capitalize on this growth. The wallet offers a range of essential features, along with innovative reward programs such as Swap to Earn and Refer to Earn, which allow users to generate passive income. Coupled with its intuitive and user-friendly design, Plus Wallet has become the top pick for traders who want to maximize their earnings in the expanding digital currency market. At the same time, Binance has announced the relaunch of its Web3 wallet. The Binance Wallet Relaunch is designed to enhance accessibility, making it easier for users at all experience levels to engage with decentralized technologies. Ripple CEO Discusses Crypto's Increasing Mainstream Appeal Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently shared his thoughts on former President Donald Trump’s growing support for cryptocurrency, noting that the sector has reciprocated this endorsement. This exchange of support underscores how crypto is steadily gaining ground in both mainstream politics and the broader economic landscape. With the rising popularity of digital currencies, endorsements from high-profile figures like Trump play a crucial role in enhancing the credibility of the industry. This signals a larger trend, where cryptocurrencies are gradually becoming a more influential element in global financial systems and policymaking. Binance Wallet Relaunch Focuses on Simplifying Web3 Binance has unveiled the relaunch of its wallet, designed to make Web3 more accessible to a broader audience. The updated Binance Web3 wallet will be introduced in phases, addressing various challenges related to adoption and user experience. Winson Liu, the Global Lead of Binance Wallet, highlighted that the primary goal of this relaunch is to enhance simplicity and usability. By focusing on a more intuitive design, Binance aims to provide a smoother experience for both newcomers and seasoned users. The overall vision is to make Web3 as easy to navigate as everyday tasks like checking email or shopping online, empowering users to easily explore and leverage the benefits of decentralized technologies. Effortless Passive Income Made Simple with Plus Wallet In today’s dynamic financial landscape, many are turning to passive income as a way to boost their earnings. However, building a reliable income stream can feel out of reach, especially for those with limited time or resources. Plus Wallet bridges this gap, offering innovative earning opportunities through a simple and flexible digital crypto wallet. The wallet’s built-in Swap to Earn and Refer to Earn programs make generating passive income easy and rewarding. Swap to Earn provides users with rewards for every trade they complete, without any limits on the number of transactions. Refer to Earn, on the other hand, lets users earn rewards based on the trading activity of the people they refer. With these programs, users can seamlessly earn extra income while performing everyday crypto transactions. Plus Wallet’s design prioritizes usability, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced traders. Its cross-chain compatibility supports a wide range of blockchains, including Bitcoin, Binance, Ethereum, and more. This multichain support gives users the freedom to explore and trade digital assets across various networks effortlessly. By combining innovative earning features, ease of use, and robust cross-chain functionality, Plus Wallet stands out as the ultimate digital crypto wallet for efficient portfolio management and steady passive income today. A Glimpse into the Future Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlights the growing role of cryptocurrency in shaping the global economy, with support from influential figures like Trump adding to its credibility. As this evolution unfolds, newcomers need practical and adaptable tools to navigate the crypto landscape and make the most of their opportunities. While Binance has announced a wallet relaunch to address these needs in the near future, Plus Wallet is already setting the standard. With its smooth rewards programs, users can generate extra money painlessly and enjoy their trading profits. Combining an easy interface with a lot of sophisticated trading capabilities, Plus Wallet is the ultimate crypto wallet for trading and managing digital assets anywhere and at any time. Website: https://pluswallet.app/ Download: https://pluswallet.onelink.me/8QWS/install Twitter: https://x.com/pluswalletapp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluswallet.app/ Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.BRITS can earn £100s every month by simply renting out their driveway - in one of the easiest money-making side hustles around. According to data from Just Park, home owners living across many different locations up and down the UK can make extra cash with their unused parking spaces - with some areas highly sought after. Homeowners could earn £330 every month - and in some very rare cases the figure rises up to £5,000 a month - by renting out their driveways, according to research by LKQ Euro Car Parts. The motoring experts have crunched the numbers and revealed that Brighton is the most lucrative location. Residents living in the coastal city are able to earn an average of £636 a month by renting out their unused driveway or parking space. This number is somewhat inflated by the fact that in some parts, the most expensive parking space to rent in Brighton is advertised at more than £5,000 a month. London also features high on the list, with the average monthly income from renting out a parking space there standing at £480. The most expensive parking space listed in the capital is a corking £1,057 a month. Glasgow and Edinburgh are also significant earners, with people living in these Scottish cities receiving over £400 a month for renting out their unused parking spaces. Mark Newman, from Sheffield, is just one home owner who’s turned his parking space in a great little earner, largely thanks to match-going fans heading to a nearby football stadium. He said: “I first started to rent my parking space after a gentleman knocked on my door enquiring about it. “I live only a stones-throw away from Hillsborough, the Sheffield Wednesday football stadium, and he spotted an opportunity to grab himself a reserved spot in a fantastic location. “I agreed to let him rent my space for every home-game, £10 per match, which adds up to over £250 across the football season. “He’s been renting this space for a season and a half now and drops a white envelope through my door every time he parks, handwritten with a ‘thanks’ and the £10 enclosed. “If I had any advice to people looking to rent their parking space, I'd say make sure you look at the available options online and compare with your location to see what might be available to you. “You never know, you could make a nice little side hustle out of it.” LKQ Euro Car Parts weighed in, adding: “Parking rentals are a great way to earn extra cash and make use of your unused space, but they also provide an affordable option for your vehicle when visiting other cities. “If you’re parking somewhere other than a secure car park, it’s important to ensure that your vehicle is protected from potential theft. “Never leave valuables in your car, especially in plain sight, and keep your key in a protective case that prevents fob hacking technology.” This comes as a man recently shared how he makes £1,000 a month from renting his EV charger that he has installed outside his home. Joseph Gorham, 53, paid £350 for his charger which he rents out to fellow electric car owners.

Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue baseball book — 50 years later

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu —AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, Pool, File TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption. Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, he boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being. Netanyahu, 75, is among older world leaders including US President Joe Biden, 82, President-elect Donald Trump, 78, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 79, and Pope Francis, 88, who have come under scrutiny for their age and health issues. Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout. The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.” Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center announced late Sunday that the procedure had been completed successfully and that the prime minister had woken up. Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days of observation. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation. With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world. As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky. Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies. Prostate issues are common and in many cases easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses. Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets. But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public. A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats. The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests. The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel. Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed. Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious. Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation. According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection on Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case. Complications from prostate enlargement are common in men in their 70s and 80s, Dr. Shay Golan, head of the oncology urology service at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center, told Israeli Army Radio. Golan spoke in general terms and was not involved in Netanyahu’s care or treatment. He said an enlarged prostate can block proper emptying of the bladder, leading to a build-up of urine that can lead to an infection or other complications. After medicinal treatment, doctors can recommend a procedure to remove the prostate to prevent future blockages, Golan said. In Netanyahu’s case, because the prostate is not cancerous, Golan said doctors were likely performing an endoscopic surgery, carried out by inserting small instruments into a body cavity, rather than making surgical cuts in the abdomen to reach the prostate. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The procedure lasts about an hour, Golan said, and recovery is quick. He said that aside from catheter use for one to three days after the procedure, patients can return to normal activity without significant limitations. —AP

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NoneFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter has died. He was 100 years old and had spent more than a year in hospice care. The Georgia peanut farmer served one turbulent term in the White House before building a reputation as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy. He defeated President Gerald Ford in 1976 promising to restore trust in government but lost to Ronald Reagan four years later amid soaring inflation, gas station lines and the Iran hostage crisis. He and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, then formed The Carter Center, and he earned a Nobel Peace Prize while making himself the most active and internationally engaged of former presidents. The Carter Center said the former president died Sunday afternoon in Plains, Georgia. Contributing: Associated Press

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Another week, another pair of records for Miami quarterback Cam Ward — breaking 40-year-old marks by Bernie Kosar in both cases. Ward, Miami's Heisman Trophy contender who already holds the Hurricanes' single-season record for touchdown passes and is on pace to break the school mark for completion percentage, on Saturday eclipsed Kosar's school records for both passing yards in a season and completions in a season. Ward's 13-yard completion to Damien Martinez with 1:27 left in the second quarter gave him 3,643 yards for the season. Kosar's mark of 3,642 yards was set in 1984. Later Saturday, Ward threw a 15-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo for his 263rd completion of the year — topping Kosar's mark of 262, also set in 1984. “Congrats #CamWard,” Kosar posted on social media. “U R Awesome.” Ward is on pace to break Miami's single-season completion percentage mark of 65.8% set last year by Tyler Van Dyke. He also is on pace to top the Miami career mark — among those with at least 300 attempts — of 64.3% set by D'Eriq King in 2020 and 2021. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballCrisis-hit Cowboys nearing rock-bottom ahead of Commanders clashWashington Commanders release 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes

Jaland Lowe flirted with a triple-double as Pitt improved to 6-0 with a 74-63 win over LSU on Friday afternoon at the Greenbrier Tip-Off in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Lowe finished with a game-high 22 points to go along with eight rebounds and six assists for the Panthers, who have won their first six games of a season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. It would have been the second straight triple-double for Lowe, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against VMI Monday. Ishmael Leggett chipped in 21 points and Cameron Corhen supplied 14, helping Pitt outshoot the Tigers (4-1) 44.4 percent to 37.3 percent overall. Vyctorius Miller and Jalen Reed recorded 14 points apiece for LSU, with Reed also snatching seven boards. Cam Carter contributed 11 points. Pitt took control in the first four-plus minutes of the second half, opening the period on a 13-0 run to build a 40-28 lead. The Tigers were held scoreless following the break until Carter converted a layup with 13:13 to go. It was still a 12-point game after Zack Austin hit a pair of free throws with 12:50 remaining, but LSU then rallied. Corey Chest, Reed and Jordan Sears each had a bucket down low for the Tigers during an 8-1 spurt that made it 43-38. However, Lowe stemmed the tide, answering with back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Panthers up 49-38 with 9:31 left. Miller did everything he could to keep LSU in contention, scoring eight points in a span of 1 minute, 23 seconds, with his four-point play getting the Tigers within 56-52 with 6:03 to play. But Pitt never let LSU get the upper hand, and it led by at least six for the final 5:05 of the contest. The Tigers had a 28-27 edge at intermission after ending the first half on an 8-2 run. LSU overcame a quick start by the Panthers, who raced out to a 12-6 advantage and led by as many as eight in the first 20 minutes of action. --Field Level MediaU.S. stocks are extending their lead over global peers and some investors believe that dominance could grow if President-elect Donald Trump can implement his economic platform without becoming mired in a full-blown trade war or ballooning the federal deficit. The S&P 500 .SPX has gained over 24% in 2024, putting it well ahead of benchmarks in Europe, Asia and emerging markets. At 22 times expected future earnings, its premium to an MSCI index of stocks of more than 40 other countries stands at its highest in more than two decades, according to LSEG Datastream. Though U.S. stocks have outperformed their counterparts for more than a decade, the valuation gap has widened this year thanks to resilient economic growth and strong corporate earnings — particularly for the technology sector, where excitement over developments in artificial intelligence have boosted the shares of companies such as chipmaker Nvidia NVDA.O. Some market participants believe Trump’s agenda of tax cuts, deregulation and even tariffs can further fuel U.S. exceptionalism, outweighing worries over their potentially disruptive nature and inflationary potential. "Given the pro-growth tendencies of this new administration, I think it's tough to fight the battle against U.S. equities, at least in 2025," said Venu Krishna, head of U.S. equity strategy at Barclays. Invest wisely: Best online brokers Signs of a growing U.S. bias were evident immediately after the Nov. 5 election, when U.S. equity funds received more than $80 billion in the week following the vote while European and emerging market funds saw outflows, according to Deutsche Bank. Strategists at Morgan Stanley, UBS Global Wealth Management and the Wells Fargo Investment Institute are among those who recommend overweighting U.S. equities in portfolios or expect them to outperform next year. Earnings engine A critical driver of U.S. strength is corporate America's profit edge: S&P 500 company earnings are expected to rise 9.9% this year and 14.2% in 2025, according to LSEG Datastream. Companies in Europe’s Stoxx 600, by contrast, are expected to increase earnings by 1.8% this year and 8.1% in 2025. "The U.S. continues to be the geographic region of the world that generates the highest earnings growth and the most profitability," said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Global Advisors. The dominant role of massive technology companies in the U.S. economy and their heavy weightings in indexes such as the S&P 500 .SPX are helping drive that growth. The five largest U.S. companies — Nvidia, Apple AAPL.O, Microsoft MSFT.O, Amazon.com AMZN.O and Alphabet GOOGL.O — have a combined market value of more than $14 trillion, compared with roughly $11 trillion for the entire STOXX 600 .STOXX, according to LSEG data. More broadly, the U.S. economy is expected to grow by 2.8% in 2024 and 2.2% in 2025, compared with 0.8% this year and 1.2% next year for a group of about 20 countries using the euro, according to forecasts from the International Monetary Fund. Trump’s plans to raise tariffs on imports could help the U.S. extend that advantage, despite the risk of some blowback, said Mike Mullaney, director of global markets research at Boston Partners, who favors U.S. stocks. "If Trump throws on a 10% to a 20% tariff on European goods, they're going to get hurt more on a relative basis than we are," Mullaney said. Trump trades: Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on $100,000 Republicans’ lock on power in Washington — which could make it easier for Trump to enforce his agenda — prompted Deutsche Bank’s economists to raise their 2025 U.S. growth forecasts to 2.5% from 2.2%. While tax cuts and deregulation are expected to boost growth, relatively tight margins in U.S. Congress and the administration's sensitivity to market reactions could limit the scope of the most “extreme” policies, such as tariffs, the bank wrote on Thursday. Analysts at UBS Global Wealth Management, meanwhile, expect the S&P 500 to hit 6,600 next year, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, lower interest rates, tax cuts and deregulation. The index closed at 5,948.71 on Thursday. Still, an all-out trade war with China and other partners could hit U.S. growth and stoke inflation. A scenario in which countries retaliate against far-reaching U.S tariffs could send the S&P 500 to as low 5,100 — though global stocks would also decline, UBS said. Certain corners of the market could be particularly vulnerable to Trump’s policies: worries over plans for cutting bureaucratic excess bruised shares of government contractors last week, for example, while drugmakers fell when Trump picked vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Broad tax cuts could also spark concerns about adding to U.S. debt. Deficit worries have helped drive a recent selloff in U.S. government bonds, taking the 10-year Treasury yield to a five-month high last week. At the same time, the valuation gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world could become so wide that U.S. stocks start looking expensive, or international equities become too cheap to ignore. For now, however, the long-term trend is in favor of the U.S., with the S&P 500 gaining more than 180% against a rise of nearly 50% for Europe's STOXX over the past decade. "Momentum is a great thing," said Colin Graham, head of multi-asset strategies at Robeco. "If you've got something that keeps outperforming, then investors will follow the money." Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Matthew LewisThere’s one question I get every time I give a talk. I’m , and when I discuss the deep history of political division in our country, someone in the audience always asserts that we can’t possibly compare past divisions to the present, because our media landscape is doing unprecedented harm, unlike anything seen in the past. I’m always struck by people’s belief in a placid media landscape in the past, a time of calm before the internet blew everything up. In fact, the most divided period in the history of U.S. democracy – the mid-1800s – coincided with a sudden boom in new communications technologies, confrontational political influencers, widespread disinformation and nasty fights over free speech. This media landscape helped bring the Civil War. The point is not that 21st century media is like the 19th century’s, but that the past was hardly full of the upstanding, rational, nonpartisan journalists many like to believe it was. And at this era’s center, in the campaign that actually led to the war, was a huge, strange, forgotten movement – – born from this media landscape and fought out in the newspapers, polling places and, ultimately, battlefields of the nation. for centuries, but as American rates of literacy rose, millions of ordinary citizens became daily news junkies. The number of papers jumped from a few publications in 1800 to 4,000 brawling rags by 1860, printing hundreds of millions of pages each year. They ranged from the snarky, and the blood-drenched true crime reports in the to the . Nearly everyone devoured them – from wealthy elites to schoolgirls to . Newspapers published scandals and rumors, riling mobs and sparking frequent attacks on editors – often by other editors. Well into the 20th century, communities were still pulling newspaper presses out of local rivers, . Ninety-five percent of newspapers had explicit political affiliations. directly. There was until the turn of the 20th century. These partisan presses, not the government, . Readers voted by cutting ballots from their pages and bringing them to the polls. Imagine if TikTok influencers or podcasters were responsible for administering elections. The telegraph may seem old-timey today, but after its introduction in the 1840s, Americans could disseminate breaking news . It allowed people to argue the issues nationwide – before the internet, television or radio. Americans became a people by arguing politics in the press. When politics was local, the major parties had avoided discussing slavery, taking what Abraham Lincoln mocked as a “don’t care” attitude. But now that Maine could debate with Texas, the topic shot to the forefront. By the 1850s, Northerners digested its evils daily. – first printed Harriet Beecher Stowe’s hair-raising “ ,” by far the most . Meanwhile, the radical pro-slavery magazine “ ” spread a maximalist vision of expanding slavery far and wide. Americans living thousands of miles from each other could argue the issue, and the only gatekeepers were editors who profited from spreading often legitimate outrage. It’s fitting, then, that the Northern pushback to expanding slavery came from the 19th century equivalent of “very online” young newspaper readers. Early in the 1860 election, a core of young clerks in Connecticut formed a club to . They happened to live in the state with the highest literacy rates and huge newspaper circulations. So when a local editor wrote that the Republicans seemed “Wide Awake” in the campaign, the boys named their club “ .” Adding militaristic uniforms, torch-lit midnight rallies and an open eye as their all-seeing symbol, a new movement was born, which I chronicle in my recent book, “ .” Often, their chief issue was not the knotty specifics of what to do about slavery, but the fight for a “Free Press” – unsuppressed by supporters of slavery, South or North. The Wide Awakes exploded across the national newspaper network. Within months of their founding, young Republicans were forming clubs from Connecticut to California. Most learned how to organize their companies through the papers. They built a reciprocal relationship with America’s press: cheering friendly newspaper offices and harassing pro-slavery Democratic papers’ headquarters. Friendly editors returned the favor, marching with the Wide Awakes and pushing their readers to form more clubs, like the Indiana newspaperman who nudged: “Cannot such an organization be gotten up in this town?” None of this could be admired as independent journalism, but it sure spread a movement. It only took a few months to turn the Wide Awakes into one of the largest partisan movements America had ever seen, believed to have 500,000 members – proportionally the equivalent of 5 million today. The same newspaper network spread fear as well. Readers in much of the South saw the clubs as a partisan paramilitary organization. Wild accounts shared accidental misinformation and deliberate disinformation, pushing the false notion that the Wide Awakes were preparing for a war, not an election. The presence of a few hundred African American Wide Awakes in Boston morphed into claims in Mississippi that “the Wide Awakes are composed mainly of Negroes,” who were plotting a race war. A dispersed, partisan media exaggerated such falsehoods like a national game of telephone. By the time , hysterical editors predicted a Wide Awake attack on the South. Secessionist newspapers used fears of Wide Awakes to help push states out of the Union. The Weekly Mississippian reported “WIDE-AWAKE INVASION ANTICIPATED,” the very day that state seceded. Meanwhile, Wide Awake editors began to push back against the widening secession conspiracy. German newspapermen in . In Pennsylvania, the editor James Sanks Brisbin ordered Republicans to “organize yourselves into military companies. ... Take muskets in your hands, and from Maine to Oregon let the earth shake to the tread of .” What began in ink was spiraling into lead and steel. It took 16 years to develop from the introduction of the telegraph to the Civil War. Undoubtedly, the fight over slavery caused that conflict, but the newspapers fed it, amplified it, exaggerated it. Mid-19th century Americans lived with an odd combination: an unprecedented ability to spread information, but also a siloed and partisan system of interpreting it. It helped the nation finally reckon with the crimes of slavery, but also spread bad faith, irrational panic and outright lies. This history can add a needed perspective to today’s political conflicts, so often magnified by social media. In both eras, new technologies supercharged existing political tensions. Yet we can see from this heated history that political media is less like an unstoppable, unreformable force that will consume democracy, and more like another in a succession of breathtaking, catastrophic, wild new landscapes that must be tamed.

1 megawatts is equal to Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad ruleIn response to this challenge, banks have rolled out a series of aggressive deposit campaigns, offering attractive interest rates, bonus incentives, and other perks to entice customers to deposit their funds with them. Some banks have even resorted to offering promotional rates that are significantly higher than the market average, in a bid to stand out from the competition.

Tech Titans on the Rise! Discover the Power Players Shaping 2024

The debate over Aria's pale blue skin raises important questions about the balance between creativity and political correctness in video game design. While it is essential for games to reflect diverse representations of characters, it is equally crucial for developers to maintain a sense of authenticity and coherence in their storytelling. Striking this balance can be challenging, as developers navigate between the desire to be inclusive and the need to stay true to the game's setting and narrative.The past two years have seen Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) dominate market headlines as the cornerstone of the AI stock boom. With its shares catapulting by over 800% recently, Nvidia continues to draw investor attention for its role in bolstering the S&P 500, thanks to its prowess in artificial intelligence chipmaking. This year alone, Nvidia’s stock has skyrocketed 174%, outpacing its closest Magnificent 7 competitor, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), which noted a 74% increase. However, despite such remarkable performance, questions arise about whether Nvidia can sustain this momentum, especially with new AI chip challengers and potential geopolitical trade hurdles on the horizon. Data centers offer broad growth avenues for Nvidia, while new consumer market opportunities loom. Nonetheless, increasing AI chip competition and political uncertainties could present obstacles. Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ:AMD) and Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO) are already nipping at Nvidia’s heels, with lesser-known contenders like Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL) gaining traction by partnering with tech giants. Despite this, Nvidia’s innovation continues to fuel demand—its forthcoming Blackwell chip is anticipated to match hyperscaler data center needs. Unprecedented pre-orders suggest a promising start for Nvidia in 2024, as indicated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing’s plans to magnify chip production capacity. Wall Street anticipates Nvidia’s sales and profits to surge over 50% by 2025. Yet, growth forecasts predict a slowdown by 2026. While continued gains are expected, replicating past explosive growth might prove challenging. Nvidia, while still a potential investment gem, might face headwinds in maintaining its rapid ascent. With tempered expectations, it remains key for investors to monitor the evolving market landscape for AI technologies. Nvidia’s AI Chip Dominance: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead Nvidia has been a cornerstone in the AI stock boom, capturing global attention with its exceptional growth. While its shares have soared by over 800% recently, questions abound about whether the company can maintain this trajectory amid rising competition and geopolitical challenges. Pros and Cons of Nvidia’s Growing Influence Pros: – AI Leadership: Nvidia’s unmatched prowess in AI chipmaking positions it as a leader in the industry. The anticipated release of the Blackwell chip is set to meet the demands of hyperscaler data centers, suggesting continued dominance. – Market Expansion: With data centers and new consumer markets, Nvidia has multiple avenues for growth. The company’s innovation garners substantial pre-orders, pointing to a promising outlook. Cons: – Growing Competition: AMD and Broadcom are intensifying the competitive landscape, while companies like Marvell Technology are gaining traction through strategic partnerships. This rising competition could affect Nvidia’s market share. – Geopolitical Risks: Potential trade restrictions could pose significant hurdles for Nvidia, affecting global operations and sales. Market Predictions and Trends Wall Street analysts predict Nvidia’s sales and profits could surge over 50% by 2025. However, growth may slow by 2026, indicating that while gains are expected, recreating past explosive performance might be challenging. Innovations and Future Insights Nvidia’s forthcoming innovations, especially in AI chip technology, keep the market optimistic about its future. The collaboration with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to enhance chip production capacity supports this optimistic outlook. The ongoing pre-orders highlight the market’s confidence in Nvidia’s new products. Industry Comparisons and Market Analysis When comparing Nvidia with competitors like Tesla and AMD, it’s clear that Nvidia’s focus on AI chipmaking has offered unique growth opportunities. However, with AMD and Marvell Technology expanding their foothold, remaining vigilant to industry shifts is imperative. For more business insights into artificial intelligence, visit Nvidia’s official website . Sustainability and Security Aspects As AI technology continues to evolve, sustainability and security remain crucial concerns. Nvidia is expected to prioritize eco-friendly chip design and robust security features to cater to market demands and regulatory requirements. Summary: Navigating Challenges and Capitalizing on Opportunities In conclusion, Nvidia stands out as a potential investment gem, though sustaining its rapid ascent will require navigating industry challenges and geopolitical risks adeptly. Investors should watch market trends and Nvidia’s strategic initiatives closely. With tempered expectations, Nvidia’s future remains promising in the dynamic AI landscape.

The incident, which occurred in the midst of a tense training session, reportedly saw Pique execute a cheeky nutmeg on Setien, much to the surprise and amusement of his teammates. Setien, known for his meticulous approach to tactics and technique, was left red-faced and fuming as Pique cheekily celebrated his moment of triumph. The incident quickly spread like wildfire across social media, with fans and pundits alike weighing in on the clash of egos between the coach and player.Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll change

The young woman, whose name has been withheld out of respect for her family's privacy, was reported missing last week after failing to update her social media accounts for several days - a highly unusual occurrence for someone who thrived on sharing her life with thousands of followers. Concerned friends and family members raised the alarm, sparking a frantic search for the missing influencer.4. Report suspicious activities: If you encounter any suspicious behavior or receive fraudulent packages, report it to the authorities immediately. By alerting law enforcement agencies, you can help prevent further scams and protect others from falling into the same trap.Washington football vs. No. 1 Oregon: Live updates, score, how to watch

Meanwhile, Lei Jun, the visionary entrepreneur behind Xiaomi, made waves in the automotive industry by unveiling his latest creation, the YU7. Contrary to expectations, the new car was released ahead of schedule, catching both industry experts and consumers off guard. Lei Jun's decision to "unmask" the YU7 earlier than planned has sparked speculation about the vehicle's unique features and potential impact on the market. With Xiaomi's track record of disruptive innovation, the YU7 is poised to shake up the automotive landscape.We urge everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Together, we can create a safer and more secure community for all.

Title: OpenAI's Sora Goes Live, Official Website Overloaded; Lei Jun: New Car YU7 Released Early, Unmasked; Apple: Not Interested in AGI | Geek's Early InsightIn conclusion, the Education Bureau's response to the winter school uniforms being cut into pieces as fabric waste reflects their commitment to addressing environmental concerns and promoting responsible waste management practices in schools. The ongoing investigation will provide valuable insights into what went wrong and help guide future decision-making to prevent similar incidents from happening again. It is a timely reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the need for collective action to protect our planet.

Julia Bradbury said she has become more focused on her health than she has ever been after “death looked her in the eyes”. The 54-year-old TV presenter revealed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and later underwent a mastectomy during which her breast plus two lymph glands were removed before reconstruction took place. Bradbury has since stopped drinking alcohol and has changed the priorities in her life, but revealed she has received some pushback on social media from sharing her approach. She told The Times Weekend magazine: “I wasn’t close to death, but death looked me in the eyes. So I am more focused on my health than I ever have been. “I don’t drink, I eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. “When I came home from my mastectomy, I promised I would spend time outside every day, and that is my mantra, however poor it might be in this shitty winter.” Bradbury, who has since been given the all-clear, said a doctor recently helped her reframe how she utilises her energy. She recalled: “He said, ‘This drive that you have – you’re running on a credit card. You can push through all sorts of things. But is that the best thing for you?’. “I realised you don’t have to win every race. You don’t have to overcome everything. I don’t want to max out the credit card.” The presenter previously discussed her experience in an ITV documentary, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer And Me, which followed her as she came to terms with her diagnosis and prepared to undergo her single mastectomy. She also regularly shares her wellness and fitness tips with her more than 270,000 Instagram followers. However, she revealed she has had pushback from people saying, “I was healthy, I go to the gym, I got cancer, and now its metastasised and I’ve got secondary cancer. So are you blaming me for my illness?”. Responding to the accusations, she added: “No. All I’m saying is, this is what I went through. It was a wake-up call, and it made me look at life differently. “It made me prioritise my sleep, emotional health, and give more time to my loved ones. “If I drink more than four units of alcohol a week, my risk of reoccurrence goes up by 28%. But people find me giving up drinking infuriating.” Bradbury, who has a 13-year-old son Zephyr, and nine-year-old twins Xanthe and Zena, said having children later in life has caused her to not be as “patient” as she feels she should be at times after becoming more set in her own ways. “People think that after you’ve got a cancer diagnosis, you become this beautiful angel with a halo, and a super mum and do everything right”, she added. “But no, you make the same mistakes. I lose my temper, and I can hear myself saying things that I can’t believe I’m saying. “None of us know what we’re doing, really. We’re just doing our best. I know they do have lots of love. They are told that they’re loved every day.”Chandigarh: The public accounts committee (PAC) of the Parliament will decide on the action to be taken regarding non-realisation of licence and entry fees from cab aggregators , amounting to crores of rupees, by the UT state transport authority (STA). This has been stated by the director general of audits (Central) in its latest report. The department had failed to realise licence fees from the aggregator licence holder amounting to Rs 60 lakh. Similarly, it failed to realise entry fees of Rs 1.34 crore from the cab aggregators. Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the STA's short realisation of licence and entry fees was submitted to the PAC and its decision is awaited. The Chandigarh administration, via notification dated April 6, 2017, had enacted rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, that are called ‘Chandigarh Administration On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregator Rules, 2017'. Its Rule 3 provided that no person shall act or permit any other person to act as an aggregator unless he held an effective licence under these rules. However, vehicles registered with the states of Punjab & Haryana carrying an ‘all-India tourist permit' could also be used by paying an entry fee of Rs 1,000 per quarter or as decided by the Chandigarh transport department from time to time. City-based social and RTI activist RK Garg said, "The lack of adequate response and action by the Chandigarh administration on the issue shows callous way the administration is dealing with recovery of dues from private organisations. This is not the first time this issue has been raised by the auditors." Times View The authority's failure to recover the dues in various fees smacks of an ad hoc approach. There should have been a system to monitor the total cabs operating in the city and tally it with the fees realised. A periodic inspection of records and a tracking mechanism on entry would have ensured that the dept did not land in such a mess. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss yearly career horoscopes 2025 for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .

( ) shares have taken a nosedive in 2024 and are down 30% this year to date. Chief to the downsides has been the price of lithium, which itself recently hit multi-year lows, before retracing higher to CNY 79,050 per tonne at the time of writing. Pilbara shares have also been some of the most heavily on the ASX this year. Those betting on the stock price to fall have profited handsomely as a result. But now the tide may be turning on those with short bets on the lithium miner. Reports suggest that investors may be starting to unwind this trade, potentially in search of new ideas. Let's take a closer look. Pilbara Minerals shares heavily shorted A quick glance at the list of most shorted stocks throughout 2024 will see Pilbara Minerals shares in the top 10 for most of the year. As a reminder, short selling to profit when share prices are declining, unlike 'going long', which means profiting from rising share prices. As of Monday this week, it was , with nearly 18% of shares outstanding considered to be sold short. With lithium prices potentially finding a bottom and Pilbara down sharply this year, reports suggest the bet against the miner could be reversing. Hedge funds, which can go both long and short stocks, have off the table, according to How do we know? Well, whilst about 18% of the company's shares were shorted last week, this is down from 22% back in August. Could these funds be seeking out their next opportunities? It's not entirely clear, but if the trend continues, this may or may not be good news for Pilbara Minerals shares. Time will tell. Pilbara above $3 per share? Brokers are fairly for Pilbara shares. UBS is in the bearish crowd, rating the stock a sell with a $2.35 price target. Meanwhile, Bell Potter is a hold, valuing the business at $2.95 per share. Both brokers cite the fundamentals of the underlying lithium market as causes for concern in their investment theses. But if lithium prices begin to curl higher, is this good news for Pilbara Minerals shares? Morgans thinks so. It rates the stock a buy with a $3.25 price target, noting an uptick in lithium demand could be positive for Pilbara. Time will tell if the lithium miner can nudge back to these levels. Foolish takeout Pilbara Minerals shares have been heavily shorted this year, but the tides might be starting to turn. What impact this will have on the long-term outlook of the stock isn't clear. What will have more of a bearing is the actual performance of the business relative to the lithium market.Recently, OpenAI to turn its for-profit side into a Delaware public benefit corporation, but the transition to for-profit hasn’t been without pushback, especially from Musk. Now, Encode, a nonprofit focused on AI safety, is jumping in to oppose the transition. They’re the same group that backed , which aimed to regulate AI. Despite support from Musk, Geoffrey Hinton, and even actor Mark Ruffalo, . In a proposed brief , Encode stated: OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, claim to be developing society-transforming technology, and those claims should be taken seriously. OpenAI Inc.’s charitable mission is to develop and deploy that transformative technology in a way that is safe and beneficial to the public, and OpenAI’s proposed restructuring into a for-profit enterprise would undermine that commitment. If the world truly is at the cusp of a new age of artificial general intelligence (AGI), then the public has a profound interest in having that technology controlled by a public charity legally bound to prioritize safety and the public benefit rather than an organization focused on generating financial returns for a few privileged investors. This legal tussle adds fuel to the ongoing spat between Altman and Musk. Altman has accused Musk of being a bully who enjoys picking fights. But the opposition doesn't end there. Meta to block OpenAI’s move to go for-profit, saying it could set a risky precedent for other startups. Back in October, it was , valuing the company at $157 billion. This funding is crucial, as they acknowledge . In other news, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed plans to launch the o3 mini model by the end of January 2025, followed by the full o3 model later on. Image via

A convergence of innovation and leadership

Despite the positive outlook for the real estate industry, securities firms acknowledge that challenges remain, such as fluctuating market conditions, regulatory changes, and global economic uncertainties. However, with a proactive approach to risk management and strategic planning, firms can navigate these challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the evolving real estate market.Rounding out the list is Ford Motor Company, which reported encouraging sales figures in November. The company's popular models like the F-150 and Explorer helped boost overall sales, signaling a positive outlook for the remainder of the year. With a renewed emphasis on electrification and sustainability, Ford is optimistic about its prospects for meeting its annual sales targets and remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

A: I couldn't be happier! Seeing the joy and excitement that this hairstyle brings to my clients is incredibly rewarding. It's a testament to the power of creativity and self-expression through fashion. The "Monkey Zuo" hairstyle has opened up new possibilities for hairstyling and I'm grateful to be a part of that innovation.

Age is a crucial factor in determining the appropriate amount of sleep for individuals. As we age, our sleep patterns naturally change, with older adults often requiring slightly less sleep than younger adults. It is essential for individuals to listen to their bodies and adjust their sleep habits accordingly as they age.As the dust settles and the curtains close on "Mad Donkey," one thing remains clear: the power of art to provoke, challenge, and incite change is undeniable. While the play may have sparked controversy and backlash, it also ignited important conversations about the role of theater in addressing social issues and the responsibility of artists to consider the impact of their creative choices.