MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a season of lows, the Patriots’ offensive line might have hit rock bottom in Sunday’s 34-15 loss to the Dolphins. The unit was charged with seven penalties and let up 16 total pressures to the Dolphins, per PFF’s in-game charting. Left tackle Vederian Lowe was penalized four times with three false starts and one holding penalty and allowed a strip sack, and he wasn’t the offensive tackle who wound up getting benched. That was right tackle Demontrey Jacobs, who was flagged once for a false start and once for a hold while also allowing a sack and seven pressures. “He was having a tough game,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of Jacobs. “Whether it was penalties or blocking the edge, he was having a tough game. We’ve got to protect the quarterback. As an offensive lineman, that’s what we do. We protect quarterbacks and we have to open up holes for the backs.” In all, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was sacked four times. Guard Michael Jordan also allowed a sack. Maye didn’t have his best game of the season, but line play made the offense inoperable at times. They strung together three straight three-and-outs in the first half. Pressure also caused both of Maye’s turnovers. “Just a lack of technique,” Jacobs said of his issues. “Just got to be better in those moments really. I wouldn’t say it was nothing too extraordinary, just have to be better.” Jacobs was claimed off waivers from the Broncos in late August. Beginning the season as a deep reserve on the roster, he’s gone on to start seven games at right and left tackle. He was replaced by Sidy Sow late in the game. On top of strip-sack and four penalties, PFF charted Lowe with three hurries. When healthy, he’s been the Patriots’ top left tackle dating back to training camp. “I need to do better with cadence,” Lowe said of his false starts. “I’m trying to time up the snap and get a jump to get in the best position to be able to block these edge rushers. And I just need to be better with my operation. Those are things that I can control. Pre-snap penalties are something that you could control, it’s something nobody else did. So I know I need to be better with that.” Lowe wouldn’t blame his shoulder injury and trying to get an extra step on defenders or the crowd noise for his false starts. The starting left tackle appeared to disagree with his holding penalty. He said that it’s a trap technique he’s coached to do and one he’s performed throughout the season, but this is the first time he’s been flagged for it. “I don’t know what he saw,” Lowe said. “I’ll just go back and watch the film and try to see what he saw.” The Patriots are expected to get rookie tackle Caedan Wallace back off of injured reserve at some point this season, and he could potentially replace Jacobs. They could also slide Mike Onwenu back over from guard to right tackle. They have more depth at guard with Cole Strange returning to practice off of the PUP list and Sow and Layden Robinson as options in reserve roles. Tackles Caleb Jones and Jalen McKenzie and guard Liam Fornadel are on the practice squad. Sow, Onwenu and center Ben Brown appeared to have steady performances in Sunday’s loss.Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.How to watch Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys: TV channel, streaming info

Amidst the chaos, Alibaba swiftly issued an official statement reassuring the public that despite the fire, their cloud services remained unaffected. The company emphasized that measures had been put in place to ensure the continuity of their operations and to minimize any potential disruptions for their customers.

Nvidia, the renowned American technology company known for its graphics processing units (GPUs) and artificial intelligence solutions, is currently under scrutiny as it faces an antitrust investigation. The investigation, initiated by regulatory authorities, aims to examine Nvidia's business practices and assess whether the company has violated any antitrust laws. As a result, Nvidia's future business operations, market dominance, and reputation may be at stake.The implications of this shift towards a moderately loose monetary policy are far-reaching. It is likely to have a positive impact on financial markets, as investors interpret the move as a signal of support for growth. It may also lead to lower borrowing costs for businesses and consumers, which could stimulate spending and investment. At the same time, policymakers will need to remain vigilant against the risks of overheating and inflationary pressures, and be prepared to adjust their stance as needed.

Witnesses on set couldn't help but be moved by the genuine camaraderie between Xue Jianing and Zhao Lusi. Their easy banter, shared laughter, and mutual respect were a testament to the years of friendship that have only grown stronger with time. As they chatted animatedly between takes, it was evident that their bond was built on a foundation of trust, loyalty, and unwavering support for each other.While the allowance of small knives on trains may seem surprising to some, it is important to understand the rationale behind this regulation. The restriction on blade length ensures that only small and relatively harmless knives are permitted on board, reducing the risk of potential harm or danger to other passengers. Additionally, the regulation reflects a balance between ensuring security and safety on trains while also considering the practical needs of passengers.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. "I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success," Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. "For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us." The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch, led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. "If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich," offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism." The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. "I've been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy," Allar said. "I think that's been a huge difference for me this year." The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory. He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. "For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm," Allar said. "Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game." Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. "He's a football player," Warren said. "He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he's just a football player and that fires up our offense." Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. "I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad." Get local news delivered to your inbox!