nn777 facebook BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Best Black Friday Thunderbolt dock deals

How Recursive Equilibrium Proves the Robustness of DSGE Models

Source: Running back-returner Javon Leake staying put with Edmonton ElksBillionaire Gautam Adani is alleged to have personally met government officials in India on several occasions to advance the scheme. NEW DELHI - Stunning bribery charges in the United States against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, who is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have ricocheted through India’s political circles and wiped billions from his firms’ market value. On Nov 20, the US authorities announced that they had charged Asia’s second-richest person and head of the Adani Group, an Indian conglomerate whose businesses extend from energy to airports, over an alleged multi-billion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and six others were accused of promising more than US$250 million (S$336 million) in bribes to government officials in India to secure lucrative solar energy contracts. They had lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise US and international capital, said Mr Breon Peace, United States Attorney for New York’s eastern district. Adani, 62, is alleged to have personally met government officials in India on several occasions to advance the scheme. Arrest warrants have been issued in the US for Adani and his nephew Sagar, and prosecutors plan to hand those warrants to foreign law enforcement, Reuters reported, citing court records. US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani (centre) with participating in a scheme that involved bribing Indian government officials to secure solar energy contracts. PHOTO: AFP Describing the charges as “baseless”, the Adani Group said in a statement: “All possible legal recourse will be sought.” The bribery allegations have come as a shot in the arm for Indian opposition parties, which have long had the Adani Group in their crosshairs, alleging that Adani is bankrolling the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and accusing Mr Modi of favouring and protecting him in return, charges that the BJP has denied. Mr Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, a veteran Indian journalist who has reported extensively on the Adani Group’s alleged wrongdoing, said no industrialist “was ever as closely identified with the head of the (Indian) government as Mr Adani is today”, which is why the latest development “is bound to have an impact on India’s overall political economy”. “Politics, because the opposition will scream. And on the economy, because Adani’s stocks are very, very important in the market,” he told The Straits Times. The impact of the allegations in faraway US have already been felt in the Indian stock market. The combined market valuation of all 10 listed Adani Group firms fell sharply by 2.19 trillion rupees (S$34.8 billion) on Nov 21, according to a report from the Press Trust of India. On the same day, Adani Green Energy, which is building the “world’s largest renewable energy plant” in Gujarat in western India, cancelled plans to raise US$600 million in US dollar-denominated bonds. At a press conference on Nov 21, Mr Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, said Adani should be arrested immediately and questioned, but acknowledged this was unlikely. “We want to show the country that Mr Adani will not be arrested, and he won’t be arrested because India’s Prime Minister is standing behind him,” he said. Mr Gandhi, a Congress party leader, also called for the sacking of Ms Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson of the country’s securities regulatory body, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, accusing her of failing to investigate wrongdoings by the Adani Group. Congress has demanded that a joint parliamentary committee probe be conducted to look into the Adani Group’s alleged wrongdoings, with leaders from Aam Aadmi Party and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) - both opposition parties - calling for an independent judicial probe. “This is deeply rotten... Biggest question is: how much is the involvement of Modi & BJP in this?” TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale said in a post on X on Nov 21. At a press conference on the same day, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra refused to get drawn into the specifics of the charges and said the Adani Group would defend itself. “The law will take its own course,” he added. Mr Patra noted that the four states, including Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, mentioned in the US indictment against Adani and his associates had non-BJP governments during the period from July 2021 to February 2022 when the bribes were allegedly promised to the government officials. Mr Patra, however, did not mention Jammu and Kashmir, a region that also figures in the US criminal indictment. A former state, the region has since 2019 been governed directly by the BJP-led central government as a federally administered territory. Mr Gandhi has said he is open to an investigation in all states concerned, including those ruled by the Congress and other opposition parties. “If Ambani and Adani follow due process, we have no problem but if they are working with criminality, working for monopolisation, working through corrupt means, then we have a problem,” he said, referring to Mr Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest person, and chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries. The charges filed in New York are yet another blow to Adani, who had an estimated net worth of US$85.5 billion on Nov 20 and was the world’s 18th richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. In January 2023, he was accused by the US short-seller Hindenburg Research of a “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme”, following which the group’s fortunes plummeted by over US$80 billion. The Indian mogul regained much of his wealth in early 2024. The indictment in the US coincides with a Nov 19 ruling from the High Court in Bangladesh that directs the government to conduct a high-level inquiry into its electricity purchase deal with Adani Power Limited in 2017. The firm’s energy exports to Bangladesh have been controversial, with claims that it forces Dhaka to buy power at exorbitantly high prices. On Nov 20, Kenya announced the cancellation of a more than US$700 million deal its energy ministry had signed with a unit of the Adani Group to construct power transmission lines. Kenyan President William Ruto attributed the decision to “new information provided by investigative agencies and partner nations”. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now

Jets' search for GM and coach will be assisted by former GMs Tannenbaum and SpielmanThe Fall of Assad’s Syria

Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Carter, including US President Joe Biden, who was one of the first politicians to endorse Mr Carter for president in 1976 and said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia. pic.twitter.com/aqYmcE9tXi — The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) December 29, 2024 “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Carter was “a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world”. He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my sympathies to President Carter’s children and extended family, to President Joe Biden, to the people of the United States, and to his wide circle of colleagues and friends across the globe.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally, the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center managed to virtually eliminate Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.Mayor Mike Johnston's pointed comments last week about Denverites resisting a federal mass-deportation effort have generated blowback in Colorado and across the country. He has walked back from some but stuck by his vow of resistance.The New York Jets are turning to one of their former general managers to help them find their next GM and head coach. The franchise announced Monday that The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, will assist team owner Woody Johnson in the searches. Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman, former GM of the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings, will be The 33rd Team's primary representatives in helping find replacements for former coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. The 33rd Team was founded in 2019 by Tannenbaum as a media and technology company. In their announcement, the Jets said The 33rd Team will help identify and vet GM and coach candidates and coordinate interviews. Douglas was fired last Tuesday , the latest shakeup for a franchise that had Super Bowl aspirations with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at quarterback but has limped to a 3-8 start and appears likely to miss the playoffs for a 14th consecutive year. Phil Savage, a senior football adviser with the Jets since 2019, will serve as the interim general manager for the rest of the season. The firing of Douglas came exactly six weeks after Johnson fired Saleh as coach on Oct. 8 after the Jets were 2-3 to open the season. New York has since gone 1-5 under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was tabbed as the interim coach. The Jets are coming off their bye-week break and will host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. The franchise has plenty of questions to answer over the next several months, including decisions on their next general manager and coach — and the future of Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP turns 41 next week, has dealt with leg issues all season and is off to the worst statistical start of his career. Tannenbaum and Spielman will help the Jets find the people to help Johnson and brother Christopher make those key decisions. Johnson took a similar approach in 2015, the last time the Jets hired a general manager and coach in the offseason. Former NFL GMs Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf worked as consultants for the team, which hired Mike Maccagnan as GM and Todd Bowles as coach. Tannenbaum, currently an analyst for ESPN, has first-hand familiarity with Johnson and the franchise. He worked in the Jets' front office for nine years before being promoted to general manager and serving in that role from 2006 to 2012. Tannenbaum helped build the 2009 and 2010 Jets teams that went to the AFC championship game in consecutive seasons under coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, who last coached the Jets in 2014 and also is currently an analyst for ESPN, recently has been lobbying on air for a return to New York's sideline. Tannenbaum also was Miami’s executive vice president of football operations from 2015 to 2018. Spielman served as the Vikings’ general manager from 2012 to 2021 after working as the team’s vice president of player personnel for six years. He was also the Dolphins’ GM in 2004 and served as an adviser last year for the Washington Commanders in their GM and coaching searches. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Spielman was formerly GM of the Minnesota Vikings instead of the Detroit Lions. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Dennis Waszak Jr., The Associated Press

Vikings staying on track and in control behind Sam Darnold's composure and confidenceTwisted Minds take crown in first ESL Saudi Challenge

Olivia Olson scored 18 points, including eight straight to open the fourth quarter, as the No. 23 Michigan Wolverines survived a 60-54 scare from the Northwestern Wildcats in the Big Ten opener for each team in Ann Arbor, Mich. Northwestern (4-4, 0-1 Big Ten) led throughout the third quarter and took a four-point lead into the fourth, but Olson capped her 8-0 burst with a 3-pointer, and Syla Swords also nailed a trey to put the Wolverines (8-1, 1-0) ahead 50-44. Michigan has won eight straight games since opening the season with a six-point loss to then-No. 1 South Carolina. Caileigh Walsh's 3-pointer put the Wildcats back in front 53-52 with 3:36 to go. Michigan responded by scoring eight of the game's last nine points, six by Jordan Hobbs. Hobbs finished with 16 points and teammate Mila Holloway had 10. Kyla Jones led Northwestern with 14 points and Walsh notched 10 before fouling out. No. 4 Texas 93, James Madison 62 Madison Booker, Jordan Lee and Rori Harmon dominated the first half as the Longhorns clobbered the host Dukes in Harrisonburg, Va. Booker scored 21 points, Lee added 20 and Harmon 19 by combining on 25-of-33 shooting. They had 49 of their points in the first half as Texas (7-1) piled up a 58-29 halftime lead. The Longhorns, who entered seventh in the nation in scoring at 90 points per game, shot 54 percent for the game to 40 percent for the Dukes. Roshala Scott led James Madison (7-3) with 22 points and Peyton McDaniel and Ashanti Barnes had 12 apiece. McDaniel added eight rebounds for the Dukes, who had 24 turnovers. No. 10 Notre Dame 93, Syracuse 62 The Fighting Irish pulled away from a seven-point halftime lead to demolish the host Orange in the ACC opener for both schools. The trio of Sonia Citron, Hannah Hidalgo and Olivia Miles led Notre Dame's win with double-doubles. Citron had 25 points and 11 rebounds, Hidalgo racked up 24 and 10, respectively, and Miles shone with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo, third in Division I in scoring (24.6 ppg), netted nine points and Citron had eight in the third quarter, as Notre Dame (7-2, 1-0 ACC) outscored Syracuse (4-6, 0-1) 29-13 to pull away. Keira Scott posted 16 points and Sophie Burrows tacked on 13 for the Orange, who shot only 32.5 percent. The Irish shot 50 percent and thrived despite 20 turnovers. No. 16 North Carolina 72, Coppin State 46 The Tar Heels built a comfortable halftime lead and used its bench players freely in devouring the Eagles in Chapel Hill, N.C. North Carolina (9-1) entered second-best in the nation in scoring defense at 49.1 points per game and excelled again, holding Coppin State to 27.3 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels shot 44.4 percent while having 12 players enter the scoring column, led by Maria Gakdeng's 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Reniya Kelly scored six of her eight points in the first quarter as North Carolina took a 23-13 lead. The Tar Heels grew the lead to 46-27 by intermission. Tiffany Hammond and Angel Jones scored 12 points apiece for Coppin State (6-5), and Laila Lawrence added 10 points with 10 rebounds. No. 18 Ole Miss 85, Tennessee State 38 The Rebels had more points by halftime than the Lady Tigers scored in the game after jumping out to a 14-2 lead in the first quarter and 44-19 by intermission. Kennedy Todd-Williams led Ole Miss (6-3) with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Sira Thienou added 12 and six, respectively. The Rebels shot 46 percent for the game. Ole Miss began the day seventh in the nation in scoring defense at 49.8 points allowed per game, and it punished Tennessee State to the tune of 23.6 percent shooting and 22 forced turnovers. XaiOnna Whitfield led the Lady Tigers (4-6) with 10 points. No. 20 Iowa State 82, Central Michigan 56 Audi Crooks scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and added 10 rebounds as the Cyclones slammed the Chippewas in Ames, Iowa. Emily Ryan netted 10 of her 12 points in the first quarter and Crooks scored nine in the period as Iowa State (8-2) jumped out to a 31-13 lead and enjoyed a cushion of at least 18 points the rest of the way. Addy Brown added 18 points for the Cyclones, who shot 52.5 percent and rolled despite having 20 turnovers. Jayda Mosley led Central Michigan (3-6) with 11 points and Madi Morson and Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added 10 apiece. The Chippewas shot only 33.3 percent from the floor and had 26 turnovers. No. 24 Michigan State 89, DePaul 61 The unbeaten Spartans put four scorers in double figures as they systematically disposed of the Blue Demons in East Lansing, Mich. Jaddan Simmons finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists, and Julia Ayrault stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals for Michigan State (9-0). Emma Shumate and Jocelyn Tate had 12 and 10 points, respectively. Jorie Allen put up 15 points, 11 boards, seven assists and three steals and Grace Carstensen also notched 15 points for DePaul (3-7), which shot just 28.8 percent despite hitting 9 of 18 of its 3-point attempts. The Spartans led by seven after one quarter and 17 at halftime before coasting through the second half. No. 25 Nebraska 84, Minnesota 65 Strong first quarters by Callin Hake and Amiah Hargrove sent the Cornhuskers on their way to pinning the first loss on the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Conference opener for each team. Hake scored eight of her 11 points in the first period and Hargrove eight of her 10 as Nebraska (8-1, 1-0 Big Ten) seized a 27-11 lead and never looked back. Hargrove scored eight of the Cornhuskers' 10 straight points to end the quarter. Alberte Rimdal led the winners with 12 points and Alexis Markowski added 11 with nine rebounds. Mallory Heyer collected 12 points and eight rebounds for Minnesota (10-1, 0-1). Tori McKinney scored 11 points and Grace Crocholski and Alexsia Rose 10 apiece, but the Golden Gophers hit just 35.2 percent of their shots. --Field Level MediaENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What’s stoking the Denver Broncos’ surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos’ come-from-behind at Las Vegas. “Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said. Again. “He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He’s just always there when you need him.” Sutton’s size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he’s in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week. “He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.” Nix’s first touchdown toss to Sutton was an that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe’s 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game. The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton’s hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards). “Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.” Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn’t targeted a single time in Denver’s 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn’t pan out for various reasons.) In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he’s caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9. “I think we’re just scratching the surface,” Sutton said. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December. What’s working The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection. What needs help The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders’ run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards. Stock up OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it. Stock down Once again, the Broncos’ special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn’t missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return. Injuries Payton isn’t saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they’re not serious setbacks for either player. Key number 2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins. Next steps The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week. ___ AP NFL:

Croatia’s incumbent president wins most votes at polls but still faces runoffAt more than three hours, it stars Adrien Brody as an architect after World War II and was made on a shoestring budget after years of delays.

25 years ago, it was hard to escape talk of the 'Y2K bug'Trump calls for ending daylight saving timeMake gaming easier for the video game enthusiast in your life. (iStock) Finding a gift for the gamers in your life can be difficult, especially if you have no idea what type of tech they’d like. Well, Amazon has you covered this holiday season. During their early Black Friday sales, Amazon has sales on gaming accessories and consoles that every type of gamer is sure to love! In an era where gaming is not just a hobby but a lifestyle, the right present can really enhance the gaming universe and make a gamer’s setup more comfortable. These 10 gifts cater to various aspects of gaming, ensuring that you can find something that will be cherished by the gamers in your life. Most purchases can be delivered to your door in 24 hours if you're an Amazon Prime member . You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your holiday shopping today. Nintendo Switch Lite: on sale for $185 Original price: $199.99 Take your games on the go with a Nintendo Switch Lite. (Amazon) A lighter version of the classic Switch, the Nintendo Switch Lite brings everything gamers love just in a slightly smaller package. It’s still compatible with all physical and digital Nintendo Switch games that support Handheld mode. Video gaming floor rocker: on sale for $160 Original price: $229.99 Help your gamer relax in style with this gaming rocker. (Amazon ) A floor rocker is the ultimate gaming chair for gamers who want to be comfortable. This gaming floor rocker has helpful arms that fold down when you don’t want to use them. It also has a built-in Bluetooth speaker for an immersive gaming experience. 8 STADIUM ESSENTIALS YOU'LL NEED FOR GAME DAY Logitech wired gaming mouse: on sale for $39.99 Original price: $79.99 A gaming mouse makes computer-based games easier. (Amazon ) Gamers who play via a computer will love this newly updated Logitech gaming mouse . It has 11 customizable buttons you can assign commands to. It also has onboard memory that stores up to five player profiles. Gaming USB microphone: on sale for $48.99 Original price: $69.99 Game with others with a noise-canceling microphone. (Amazon) When playing multi-player games, a gaming microphone helps you communicate with other players. This USB gaming microphone comes with one-click noise cancelation technology that immediately blocks out background noise, helping gamers stay focused. You can also change the color of the lights on the microphone to match your gaming aesthetic. Acer Nitro V gaming laptop: on sale for $799.99 Original price: $849.99 A new gaming laptop is sure to be your gamer's favorite gift. (Amazon ) Gamers who primarily use their laptops to game could likely use a new gaming laptop this holiday season. The Acer Nitro V is extremely fast and allows you to play all your favorite games wherever you are. Gamer neon sign: on sale for $25.89 Original price: $39.99 Add some fun to the gaming den with this sign. (Amazon ) Gamers of all kinds will love a gamer neon sign featuring a controller. This vibrant sign is easy to hang and gives off bright, neon light that will add to the gaming atmosphere. 12 LAWN GAMES TO HELP YOUR FAMILY GET OUTSIDE MORE Gaming keyboard: on sale for $65.99 Original price: $129.99 A bright gaming keyboard provides a satisfying gaming experience. (Amazon ) Get the gamer in your life a new shiny gaming keyboard this year. The Logitech gaming keyboard is a durable keyboard that delivers an audible and tactile click that’s so satisfying while gaming. It’s also ultra-portable and won’t take up a ton of space on a gaming desk. Controller charger station: on sale for $32.98 Original price: $34.80 Charge all your Xbox controllers quickly. (Amazon ) Xbox users can more easily keep their controllers charged with a controller charging station . The station includes one rechargeable battery pack that provides 18 to 25 hours of game play once the controllers are charged. It’s also a universal charger that works on all Xbox controllers. Gaming mouse pad with wireless charging: on sale for $28.99 Original price: $32.99 Charge your phone and keep all your gaming accessories in one place. (Amazon ) Level up your gaming equipment with this gaming mouse pad with a wireless charging station . It’s big enough to hold a keyboard, mouse and phone. Speaking of phones, this mouse pad also has a built-in charger that’s compatible with most iPhones and Samsung devices. For more Deals, visit www.foxnews.com/category/deals Minecraft heroes & enemies pullover hoodie: on sale for $30.79 Original price: $43.99 Every Minecraft lover will want this sweatshirt. (Amazon) Gamers who spend their days playing Minecraft can show off their love of the game with this Minecraft pullover hoodie . You can choose from blue, black and gray.

BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Hussein Malla, Associated Press Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Hassan Ammar, Associated Press Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Leo Correa, Associated Press Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. Leo Correa, Associated Press After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it? There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found. Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether. Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation. But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through. So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap? The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. Emanuele Cremaschi // Getty Images There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood. Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle , according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues. Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive. However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance. There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business . This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum. Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before. Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark. Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing. The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices. Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit. From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group // Getty ImagesSeveral Illinois school districts will be receiving millions in federal grant dollars to purchase electric school buses to replace gas-powered ones, Board of Education officials said. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced on December 19 that it had been awarded a $19.9 million grant from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiative “made possible by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.” The initiative, called the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant (CHDV) program, is doling out more than $400 million to communities across the country in areas that have been designated as being in “non-attainment” with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The nearly $20 million will be distributed to nine Illinois school districts in order to replace 70 traditional school buses with “zero-emission” electric buses, as well as to install electric vehicle charging stations for each new bus and to conduct workforce training to “support these new technologies,” the ISBE said. WATCH — LIVE: How Biden’s Green Energy, Electric Vehicle Push Is Hurting Americans: “With this funding, we’re building on our progress toward a more sustainable future by providing nine school districts with the resources to advance our clean energy goals,” Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) said in the press release. “Through the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Duty Grant program, these districts will receive electric school buses, charging infrastructure, and workforce training — reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality. Thanks to our federal and local partners, we’re creating healthier and cleaner environments for students and communities across the state.” WATCH — Don’t Trust Electric Vehicles! E-Bike Shop Engulfed in Flames After Battery Explodes: “Clean transportation solutions not only create healthier living and learning environments for our students but also save money for our school districts and taxpayers,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “I am proud of our staff here at the Illinois State Board of Education for winning this competitive grant and securing this valuable investment in Illinois’ clean energy future.” Forest Park School District 91 will get five new buses, Franklin Park School District 84 will get three, Hazel Crest School District 152.5 will get one, Joliet Township High School District 204 will get ten, Lincolnshire-Prairie View District 103 will get four, Marengo Union Elementary CSD 165 will get two, Township High School District 113 will get three, Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C will get a whopping 32 buses, and Zion-Benton Township High School District 126 will also get 10. The grant money will also fund two full-time ISBE employees who will be working to “support grant implementation” and “other green energy initiatives,” the board stated.

GERRY Hutch is eyeing up an alliance of Independents to get him over the line next time - as he aims to master the transfer votes which cost him his Dail dream. The Monk suffered at the hands of Ireland’s proportional representation system which saw the fourth seat in Dublin Central snatched by Marie Sherlock from under the gangster’s nose. But he won’t be caught out again, and has vowed to come back stronger when the country next goes to the polls. He said: “I absolutely would do it all again, it was great fun. No one thought I would get as many votes as I did and I also learnt a lot. I don’t feel as though I’m finished with politics. “In boxing we have journeymen who support one another. As an Independent candidate in politics, I needed some journeymen and I didn’t have any. “These would be like-minded Independents who, when they would be canvassing, would be asking their supporters to give me a second preference and I would do the same for them." The patriarch of the Hutch family spent less than €10,000 on a campaign that saw few posters and barely any canvassing - but a huge media and social media exposure. The Dublin and Lanzarote -based crime chief saw a significant lead over Labour’s Sherlock eaten away by surpluses from Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe among others. His near miss forced people to sit up and take notice of what many presumed was a joke candidate. Hutch, cleared of the 2016 Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel thug David Byrne last year, reckons he would have been elected if he had those other “allies” whose transfers he could have relied on. The numbers bear that out. He told the Sunday Independent: “If I had more transfers, if I had journeymen with me, it would have made a big difference and I definitely would have won a seat. I went in blind and only ran my campaign for a few weeks. “Imagine what I could do if I ran a campaign for six months? So I’m throwing this out there now, to see if there might be other candidates who want to help their community, if we might form some kind of Independent alliance.” “I’m very pleased with how I did and I got more votes than anyone expected. “I certainly would consider running again. I’ve gotten a taste for politics.” Hutch, named in the Special Criminal Court as the patriarch of the Hutch family — which is involved in a feud with the Kinahan cartel that has claimed 18 lives — said he wished the four elected TDs in Dublin Central the best of luck. He insists he knew even before turning up for his infamous RDS count centre appearance that he wasn’t going to win a seat. He added: “It would have been disrespectful to the people who voted for me if I didn’t. I also thought it was the right thing to do to shake the hand of the Labour candidate who did get the fourth seat, Marie Sherlock, and wish her well. “I hope she does a great job for the community.” The three other candidates in the constituency who won seats were Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats.In chapter 11, referred to by many preachers as ‘The Hall of Faith’, the writer lists an impressive wall of names who are forever remembered for their faith. I have read this chapter many times over the years, but something stood out for me this week that I had not seen before, it was; We may not be too surprised to see Abraham and Sarah’s name, or Noah and Enoch and Moses and King David. But Barak is on this list – he’s the one who wouldn’t go out to war unless Deborah the prophetess went with him, and by faith Israel had the victory! Then there’s Rahab, her profession would leave some families somewhat embarrassed, however, her faith saved her family and she is included in the genealogy of Jesus! Then there’s Jephthah. He made a thoughtless vow which led to him sacrificing his only daughter and yet by faith he too won the victory for Israel and is forever mentioned in this Hall of Faith and in The Bible! Looking at this list, there were two names I thought should have made it into this Hall of Faith, I mean, if Barak, Rahab and Jephthah made it, then where were these two? I presumed that King Saul would have made the list, given he was the first King of Israel, but he is omitted from this list. And of all the Kings who reigned over Israel, surely King Solomon, the wisest man of all, who took Israel to her peak, should have been on this list, but he was not either. It left me wondering why, both these notarise men were intentionally not included. So I re-looked at how Saul and Solomon’s story ended, which may have been the reason for their exclusion. It’s not how you start, but how you finish! King Saul was God’s chosen man. He started well and with much fervour serving the LORD, He was anointed and empowered by God and led Israel well in the beginning, but he could not overcome his insecurities. He took matters into his own hands and did not follow the ‘Rhema Word of the LORD’ through Samuel. Eventually his insecurities produced an intense jealousy of the very guy who was adding to his victory count (David), and by the end of his reign he consults a witch to find counsel from Samuel, until tragically he took his own life! Very tragic indeed. Saul’s biggest problem was insecurity, which led to disobedience of God’s Rhema Word and sadly to his demise. Insecurity is simply putting your trust or security in the wrong place, instead of in Jesus! If you put your trust in man, or yourself, you will certainly face disappointment. Look at what the Prophet Jeremiah had to say about this; “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5 The Psalmist points us back to the true source of security; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 You see, there is a reason Jesus is called, The Cornerstone, The Rock of our Salvation, and The Rock of Ages! There is a reason why Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 24: 24 & 25 Building on the rock is to obey Jesus commands! Unfortunately for Saul, it was on this matter that he failed, bringing great tragedy for himself and his entire family. King Solomon was always referred to as the wisest man who ever lived, yet his finish was worse than King Saul’s! He finished his reign by building high places to the gods of his wives (which he had lots of them!) eventually joining them in the worshipping of idols in his later years. Not only was Solomon considered the wisest, but The LORD visited him twice! Yet with all his wisdom, he did not apply his own writings, or the writings of others, to his life. The key to Solomon’s demise lies with his number of wives (700) and his concubines (300). It’s not difficult to see that some, if not most of these marriages were politically motivated. Marrying into all these royal families strengthen the king’s position, power and wealth, and as for the concubines, well they came with the wives from the other monarchies. As any man alive would know, a happy wife is key to a successful marriage. Solomon had 1000 to keep happy, and I’m not talking about sex! Eventually their constant demand led him to simply join them in their pagan worship. Surely, no amount of wealth and power is worthy of an eternity separated from God? Solomon’s wealth grew exponentially due to these marriages, and the gifts that came from the agreements made to these monarchies. This was not the case with his father David, who grew his wealth from battles he fought and won. Now the LORD had already given instruction regarding the kings of Israel, we read in Deuteronomy 17:16-17: “The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” Again, we see from this verse a failure, on Solomon’s part, to heed the written (Logos) Word of the LORD. With both these men we see an alarming warning for us today. If someone like Solomon, who was much wiser and with more anointing than most of us put together, was able to fall, then we ought to take heed lest we think we are immune to the subtly, slippery slope of sin. I’ve now been in full-time ministry for over 30 years and the number of people who once confessed Christ as Lord, but now deny Him, is more than I care to think of. However, in both these cases there is one obvious fault, which lead to their downfall. Both had unique qualities in their circumstances, but both faulted in this one area: They did not follow The WORD of The LORD, both Logos and Rhema. As we near the end of another year, drawing closer to Christmas, let me encourage you as we prepare ourselves for a new year, to be steadfast in your obedience to the Word of The LORD – both Rhema and Logos, remembering the words of Jesus, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:23 7 24 Have a blessed Christmas.

JHVEPhoto Adobe ( NASDAQ: ADBE ) is set to report its fourth-quarter results this upcoming Wednesday, December 11th, after market close. Although shares have recovered from their May bottom, Adobe is closing in on a disappointing 2024. Introduction To Adobe Adobe is one of 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 (other than from Seeking Alpha). 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 as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above 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. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.NoneGas prices slightly up as 1.8 million Tennesseans prepare for Thanksgiving travel

B.C. court cases capturing the attention of British Columbians in 2024 usually involved murders but several civil cases, one about a fake nurse and another alleging passing documents to China, also caught people’s attention. Easily the most high-profile case of the year was the tumultuous trial of the man convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a teen girl in Burnaby’s Central Park. Ibrahim Ali was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 25 years in June after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the girl’s death. The girl’s partially naked body was found in the bush beside a trail in Central Park on July 18, 2017. "Mr. Ali, you have been found guilty of first-degree murder, and you have heard the profound harm and grief you have caused for raping and murdering 13-year-old (name redacted) in Central Park on July 18, 2017," B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lance Bernard said. B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Crossin ruled Dec. 11 that Jian Wei Wang, 52, was not criminally responsible for the murder of his wife Jian Ying “Angela” Du's May 2022 death due to a mental disorder. Du, 51, suffered 27 stab wounds and seven slash wounds, Crossin said. “His mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing his action was wrong,” Crossin said. Sister Lucy Du told Glacier Media the decision was sad and disappointing, “morally unfair” and “unjust.” Wade William Cudmore was convicted in the deaths of two Kamloops brothers in a drug deal case. On Nov. 19, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown sentenced Cudmore to life in prison without parole eligibility for 18 years for the “savage” Naramata drug-related killings. Cudmore was convicted in October of second-degree murder by a jury in the May 10, 2021 deaths of Erick and Carlo Fryer. “Two victims were killed in a brutal, gratuitous fashion,” Brown said Nov. 19, as Cudmore attended by video from prison. “I had nothing to do with the murders,” Cudmore told the court before sentencing. “My story’s not going to change.” Brigitte Cleroux pleaded guilty to multiple charges of assault, fraud, impersonating a nurse and forgery in connection with cases at BC Women's Hospital, a dentist’s office in Surrey and a Vancouver Island clinic. Her December sentencing hearing in B.C. Supreme Court heard Cleroux had used the identity and credentials of a real nurse to get employment. She will spend a total of seven years in prison . She was brought to Vancouver for the case from an Ontario prison where she is serving a sentence for similar offences. Defence lawyer Guillaume Garih argued her offences across Canada were a spree and should be treated as such in the sentencing process. The case of a former RCMP officer charged with allegedly working with the People's Republic of China to harm Canadian interests is a matter of national security, a B.C. judge heard Sept. 13. William Robert Majcher is charged with retaining or gaining access to information and preparation for the commission of an offence. The charges are laid under the federal Security of Information Act. A Prosecution Service of Canada 2023 report said the case of R. v. William Robert Majcher is about a former RCMP inspector alleged to have been obtaining, with the help of others, information for the purpose of helping China to damage Canadian interests. A B.C. Supreme Court judge in August froze assets of Fred Sharp , a former Vancouver lawyer found liable in the United States for being the mastermind of a $1-billion stock market fraud scheme. Justice Amy Francis issued a Mareva injunction against Sharp on June 26, according to a written decision issued Aug. 12. A Mareva injunction freezes assets to prevent a defendant from hiding them when faced with forfeiture proceedings. In this case, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sought the injunction, plus a list of Sharp’s assets, after Sharp was found liable in civil proceedings on May 12, 2022, for orchestrating a network of pump-and-dump arrangements via offshore shell companies. Two men pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in New Westminster Supreme Court to the killing of former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik. Malik , 75, was gunned down on July 14, 2022, near his Newton office on Surrey’s 128 Street and died at the scene. Police called it a targeted killing. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said those responsible fled in a white Honda CR-V . It was later found on fire at 122 Street and 82 Avenue. Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez were charged with first-degree murder in July 2022. With files from Graeme Wood and Cornelia NaylorKyriakos Pierrakakis at the Patriarchate of Alexandria – The signing of memoranda of understandingIowa moves on without injured quarterback Brendan Sullivan when the Hawkeyes visit Maryland for a Big Ten Conference contest on Saturday afternoon. Former starter Cade McNamara is not ready to return from a concussion, so Iowa (6-4, 4-3) turns to former walk-on and fourth-stringer Jackson Stratton to lead the offense in College Park, Md. "Confident that he'll do a great job," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of Stratton on his weekly radio show. "He stepped in, did a really nice job in our last ballgame. And he's got a good ability to throw the football, and he's learning every day. ... We'll go with him and see what we can do." Iowa had been on an upswing with Sullivan, who had sparked the Hawkeyes to convincing wins over Northwestern and Wisconsin before suffering an ankle injury in a 20-17 loss at UCLA on Nov. 8. Stratton came on in relief against the Bruins and completed 3 of 6 passes for 28 yards. Another storyline for Saturday is that Ferentz will be opposing his son, Brian Ferentz, an assistant at Maryland. Brian Ferentz was Iowa's offensive coordinator from 2017-23. "We've all got business to take care of on Saturday," Kirk Ferentz said. "I think his experience has been good and everything I know about it. As a parent, I'm glad he's with good people." Maryland (4-6, 1-6) needs a win to keep its hopes alive for a fourth straight bowl appearance under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins have dropped five of their last six games, all by at least 14 points, including a 31-17 loss at home to Rutgers last weekend. "It's been a challenging last few weeks to say the least," Locksley said. The challenge this week will be to stop Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who leads the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,328) and touchdowns (20), averaging 7.1 yards per carry. "With running backs, it's not always about speed. It's about power, vision and the ability to make something out of nothing," Locksley said. "This guy is a load and runs behind his pads." Maryland answers with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr., who leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (285.5) and completions (268). His top target is Tai Felton, who leads the conference in catches (86) and receiving yards (1,040). --Field Level Media

Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah