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An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionDallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, center, walks onto the field after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Philadelphia. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save PHILADELPHIA — The Cowboys lost the game the way they did so many earlier this season. Big. Sunday's 41-7 loss to Philadelphia in and of itself won't determine Mike McCarthy's fate. Five years of results as the Cowboys head coach tilts the scales more than anything that happens in the final eight days of the regular season. But what the Eagles did to a Dallas team that had won four of its last five games on this unseasonably warm afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field didn't help. McCarthy is about to finish his 18th season as an NFL head coach. The loss means the Cowboys (7-9) can't finish above .500. That's happened only four other times in McCarthy's coaching career. What does he make of the record with one game left in the regular season? "I mean, ask me that in eight days,'' McCarthy said. "I'm here to finish the race. "That's my mindset and that's the team's mindset.'' What is the mindset of Jerry Jones? That's the more pertinent question at the moment. The owner of the Cowboys approaches the decision on McCarthy in much the same way he did the lucrative extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Even though he has all the information he needs, Jones is going to take this down to the wire. There was never any doubt that Prescott and Lamb would be part of the franchise going forward. Doubt exists with McCarthy. It does with any coach who's allowed to enter the final year of his contract. But to hold McCarthy responsible for a game that backup quarterback Cooper Rush threw two interceptions — one a pick-six — and two other players lost fumbles while the defense forced no turnovers isn't going to happen. In the days heading into this rematch with the Eagles, McCarthy was asked if he was eager to learn his fate. His response? "I do believe in time and place,'' McCarthy said. "This is not the time or the place for me to speak on it... "I think it benefits everybody for me just to stay on course." The course of the Cowboys season was undoubtedly altered on Nov. 3 when Prescott was lost for the season with a partial proximal hamstring avulsion. The quarterback is off crutches now but still not moving that fast, which is why reporters were able to surround him before he left the locker room Sunday afternoon. Prescott said he hasn't had a chance to sit down and talk to Jones about bringing McCarthy back. Not yet. But he intends to have that conversation. "Obviously, I'm going to promote bringing him back,'' Prescott said. Prescott isn't the only key player the Cowboys have done without. When the season ends next weekend at AT&T Stadium against Washington, Dallas will have missed 49-player games from its Pro Bowl nucleus. "Definitely not what I envisioned,'' said defensive end Micah Parsons, who missed four games in one stretch with a high ankle sprain. "Definitely not what I hoped for coming off a devastating playoff loss saying, 'Hey, I want to get the same team back and kinda know what it's going to look like, what the team will be like.' "Then go into this season with the devastating injuries across the board. Between CeeDee [Lamb], Dak [Prescott], Tre [Trevon Diggs], I mean, you just can't catch a break.'' This is the first losing season Parsons has endured with the Cowboys. But here's the thing: Dallas was off to an uneven start before injuries began to mount. The Cowboys appeared to right themselves in recent weeks. Then the Eagles hit. "I mean, it's extremely hard for everybody,'' left guard Tyler Smith said. "But one thing I can definitely say is nobody on our sidelines quit. Not one person threw in the towel, folded, started pointing fingers or any of that. "I can definitely say our guys are one of a kind guys. We're going to come in and we're going to work. The result wasn't nearly what we wanted today but we have one more opportunity next week. "That's all we can focus on. That's all we can do.'' All McCarthy and this team can do now is finish out the season against the Commanders. And wait to see what Jones decides when it comes to the fate of his head coach.None

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Irish MFA expresses condolences to Azerbaijan over plane crash

MAPS DEADLINE: ROSEN LAW FIRM, NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS, Encourages WM Technology, Inc. Investors With Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important December 16 Deadline in Securities Class Action First Filed by the Firm – MAPSPoor-quality housing is putting the over-50s in England who have health conditions “in harm’s way”, a charity has said, as it said living in a home that damages their health was “the norm for far too many people”. The Centre for Ageing Better said data analysed on its behalf suggested more than a fifth of people in this age group are living in a poor-quality home that could be making their existing health condition worse. It said people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, those living in London and those who have a serious health condition or disability are more likely to be affected. Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing covering 2022/23 was analysed by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the charity. It found an estimated 4.5 million people aged 50 or older in England with a health condition aggravated by the cold are living in a home with one or more serious problems. Some 2.8 million were aged between 50 and 70, while 1.7 million were aged 70 and older. Health conditions included respiratory diseases, congestive heart failure, heart disease and lung conditions, including asthma. Housing problems identified in the research included damp, water leaks, bad condensation, electrical or plumbing problems, rot and decay. While some 2.2 million people over 50 with health and housing problems owned their home outright, the biggest proportion of people (51%) with such issues lived in rented accommodation. The charity said older renters with a health condition were up to three times more likely to have five or more issues with their home than someone in the same age group who owns their home. Those with a health condition that can be affected by poor housing who had a significant issue in their homes were most likely to live in London (52%) followed by the North East (35%) and the North West (35%), the West Midlands and the East of England (both on 28%), and the South West (27%). Almost half (46%) of people aged 50 and above from black and minority ethnic backgrounds with one of the health conditions had at least one problem with their home, which the charity said amounted to almost 500,000 people. Among white people in this age group it was just under one in three (32%). The research also suggested people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds living with a health condition were also more than twice as likely to have five or more issues with their housing compared with their white counterparts – 15% compared with 6%. Dr Carole Easton, the charity’s chief executive, said not only does the research show the difficulties faced by those living in poor housing, but it is also “very bad news” for both the economy and the NHS. She said: “Our latest research shows that our poor-quality housing crisis is putting people with health conditions in their 50s, 60s and beyond, in harm’s way. “This is obviously terrible for those individuals who live in homes that carry a very real risk of making them sick, particularly when winter comes around. “But it is also very bad news for the country. Older workers living in homes that are making their health conditions worse are going to be less likely to be able to work and help grow the economy. “Older people whose serious health conditions are made worse by their homes will require treatment, putting additional winter pressures on our health system. “All could be averted if we tackled poor-quality housing with the urgency and priority it demands.” Holly Holder, deputy director for homes at the charity, said the Government must “fix this hidden housing crisis by delivering a national strategy to tackle poor quality housing across all tenures and committing to halving the number of non-decent homes over the next decade”. She added: “No-one should have to live in a home that damages their health, yet it is the norm for far too many people in England today. “By failing to address poor-quality homes we are limiting the lives of some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people. “Our new analysis shows that the combination of health and house problems are most likely to impact groups of people who are already disadvantaged by multiple health and wealth inequalities.” A Government spokesperson said: “Despite the challenging inheritance faced by this Government, through our Plan for Change we’re taking action to improve housing conditions across all tenures and ensure homes are decent, safe and warm – especially for the most vulnerable. “We’re consulting on reforms to the Decent Homes Standard next year to improve the quality of social and privately rented housing, and introducing Awaab’s Law to both sectors to tackle damp, dangerous and cold conditions for all renters in England. “Our warm homes plan will also help people find ways to save money on energy bills and deliver cleaner heating, with up to 300,000 households to benefit from upgrades next year.”

Jimmy Butler says he's not worrying about his future with Heat amid trade speculation Jimmy Butler knows there are tons of questions about his future with the Miami Heat. He might get traded, he might leave as a free agent next summer, he might exercise a $52.4 million option to return to the Heat or he might get a new contract. He isn't sure what will happen. The Heat forward spoke out about trade speculation Wednesday, telling reporters after practice that he doesn’t mind his name being in the rumor mill. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Juan Soto gets free luxury suite and up to 4 premium tickets for home games in $765M Mets deal DALLAS (AP) — Juan Soto gets free use of a luxury suite and up to four premium tickets behind home plate for regular-season and postseason New York Mets home games as part of his record $765 million, 15-year contract. The Mets agreed to provide personal team security for the All-Star outfielder and his family at the team’s expense for all spring training and regular-season home and road games, according to details of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press. New York agreed to assist Soto’s family for in-season travel arrangements, guaranteed he gets uniform No. 22 and included eight types of award bonuses. Tulane QB Mensah transfers to Duke; Mississippi State’s Van Buren, Cal’s Mendoza enter portal Former Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah has already found a new program in Duke, while Mississippi State’s Michael Van Buren Jr. and Cal’s Fernando Mendoza are exploring changes of their own in the transfer portal. Mensah is a redshirt freshman with three years of eligibility remaining. He told ESPN on Wednesday he has transferred to Duke. He attended the Blue Devils men’s basketball game against Incarnate Word on Tuesday night. The Blue Devils will face Mississippi in the Gator Bowl, but without 2024 starting quarterback Maalik Murphy and backup Grayson Loftis, who also entered the portal. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Made in America: McKennie and Weah link up for goal to help Juventus beat City TURIN, Italy (AP) — Weston McKennie waved an imaginary wand and American compatriot Tim Weah joined him in celebration. The pair had just linked up with Weah assisting McKennie for Juventus’ second goal in a 2-0 win over Manchester City — marking the first time in Champions League history that two players from the United States combined for a goal. That lifted Juventus up to 14th place in the 36-team standings, with the top 24 advancing. It was also important for McKennie and Weah, who are both battling for minutes after recovering from injuries. Man City crisis deepens with loss to Juventus in Champions League as Barcelona and Arsenal win Manchester City plunged deeper into trouble in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Juventus in the latest setback in a scarcely believable run of poor results for the ailing English champions. City dropped to 22nd place in the 36-team standings and only the top 24 advances. Reaching the knockout stage looked a certainty before the season for a team that was European champion in 2022 and has won the last four Premier League titles. It's not anymore as City manager Pep Guardiola battles injuries and an apparent loss of belief among his players. Arsenal beat Monaco 3-0 and Barcelona won 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund. Lake Placid working with Italian officials as a backup sliding site for 2026 Winter Games Lake Placid would play host to bobsled, luge and skeleton events for the 2026 Olympics if a track currently being rebuilt in Italy isn’t finished in time for the Milan-Cortina Games, officials said Wednesday. There has been no indication from Italian officials that the track — a century-old facility that has been dormant for nearly 20 years — won’t be ready in time. Lake Placid would be serving only as a backup site, just in case. FIFA confirms Saudi Arabia as 2034 World Cup host despite human rights concerns ZURICH (AP) — Saudi Arabia has been officially confirmed by FIFA as host of the 2034 World Cup in men’s soccer. The Saudi bid was the only candidate and was acclaimed by the applause of more than 200 FIFA member federations. They took part remotely in an online meeting hosted in Zurich on Wednesday by the soccer body’s president Gianni Infantino. The decision was combined with approving the only candidate to host the 2030 World Cup. Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host in a six-nation project, with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay each getting one of the 104 games. The South American connection will mark the centenary of Uruguay hosting the first World Cup in 1930. US Biathlon officials ignored sexual harassment and abuse of female racers for decades, athletes say Sexual abuse and harassment by coaches and others who held positions of power over women on the U.S. Biathlon team were ignored or excused over decades by officials more concerned with winning medals than holding offenders accountable. That's according to Olympians and other biathletes interviewed by The Associated Press. While the men climbed the sport's ranks, these women say they were forced to end their careers early. The women and others describe a culture of misogyny and say they faced retaliation for speaking up. Three of the men denied allegations they were either part of the abuse or ignored allegations of abuse. A fourth did not respond to AP requests for comment.The year 2025 is poised to bring significant transformations in careers and finances, driven by planetary movements in March and May. These celestial shifts suggest an atmosphere of growth, innovation, and adaptation. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for Here's a detailed look at how each zodiac sign will fare in their professional journey this year, as mentioned in a report by Times Of India. Aries: Embrace Professional Change For Aries, 2025 signals a year of evolution in the workplace. Until March, Saturn aids in achieving long-term goals and expanding professional networks. This period is ideal for job seekers to leverage connections for new roles. From April, Saturn’s position encourages skill enhancement and strategic planning, making it vital to focus on personal development for career advancement. Taurus: Steady Growth and Rewards Taurus will experience a year of consistent growth. Saturn’s transit through the 10th house until March demands disciplined efforts and responsibility. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program From April, the focus shifts to networking and reaping the rewards of past hard work. Promotions and cooperative projects are likely in this phase. Gemini: Expansion and Recognition Gemini natives will find 2025 packed with opportunities. The first quarter emphasizes personal growth, education, and new ventures, thanks to Saturn’s placement in the 9th house. Post-April, career progression gains momentum as Saturn moves into the 10th house, offering recognition for diligent efforts. Cancer: Transformation and Learning For Cancer, the early months of 2025 call for introspection and financial reorganization. The 8th house transit of Saturn encourages clearing debts and refining strategies. From April, new learning opportunities and challenges await, offering a chance to rebuild and prepare for future milestones. Leo: Focus on Professional Relationships Leo’s 2025 career horoscope highlights the importance of collaboration. Until March, efforts should concentrate on fortifying professional relationships. Post-April, Saturn’s transit prompts strategic planning around financial management, offering opportunities to adapt and thrive amid workplace changes. Virgo: Hard Work Pays Off Virgo’s professional life in 2025 revolves around diligence and collaboration. Early in the year, enhancing work habits and meeting responsibilities are key. From April, Saturn emphasizes the importance of networking and balance in personal and professional realms, paving the way for meaningful partnerships. Libra: Creativity and Discipline Libra natives must align creativity with discipline in early 2025. This phase demands organization in all pursuits. From April, daily routines and health take precedence, with hard work being a significant driver for overcoming challenges and achieving career growth. Scorpio: A Year of Transition For Scorpio, 2025 bridges internal reflection and external action. The year starts with a focus on building stability and rethinking career strategies. Post-April, creativity and passion take center stage, offering an opportunity to transform aspirations into well-structured plans. Sagittarius: Communication is Key Sagittarius individuals must prioritize communication and skill-building in early 2025. This phase is ideal for networking and knowledge acquisition. From April, the focus shifts to establishing security and achieving work-life balance, creating a solid foundation for future success. Capricorn: Financial Focus Capricorn’s career journey in 2025 starts with a focus on financial prudence and value reassessment. As Saturn transitions to the third house in April, improving communication and establishing valuable connections become pivotal for career advancement. Aquarius: Growth and Financial Planning Aquarius will experience personal and financial growth in 2025. Until March, self-improvement takes precedence. Post-April, Saturn emphasizes financial stability, making it a crucial period for job seekers to explore roles that promise long-term rewards. Pisces: Reflection to Action For Pisces, 2025 begins with introspection and the release of unproductive patterns. By April, Saturn’s movement to the first house encourages proactive efforts and disciplined action, marking the beginning of a transformative career phase. FAQs Which zodiac sign is lucky in 2025? Starting January 2025, the North Node's influence on Aquarius' resource sector brings a wave of fortune. Financial matters take center stage, offering opportunities for empowerment and growth. Who is the lord of Leo? Leos, celebrated for their leadership and dynamic personality, revere Lord of Sun, the embodiment of energy, vitality, and charisma. Lord Of Sun inspires Leos to channel their creativity, embrace their leadership qualities, and cultivate a positive perspective on life. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Bill Oxford Shares of rare disease concern Amicus Therap eutics, Inc. ( FOLD ) are down 15% since producing a profitable Q3 2024 on a non-GAAP basis that compelled management to raise its outlook for FY2024. Entering the black and Live Chat on The Biotech Forum has been dominated by discussion of lucrative buy-write or covered call opportunities on selected biotech stocks over the past several months. To see what I and the other season biotech investors are targeting as trading ideas real-time, just join our community at The Biotech Forum by clicking HERE . Bret Jensen has over 13 years as a market analyst, helping investors find big winners in the biotech sector. Bret specializes in high beta sectors with potentially large investor returns. Bret leads the investing group The Biotech Forum , in which he and his team offer a model portfolio with their favorite 12-20 high upside biotech stocks, live chat to discuss trade ideas, and weekly research and option trades. The group also provides market commentary and a portfolio update every weekend. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of FOLD either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. 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.

Washington Commanders win in overtime to clinch play-off berth

Global Markets React to Central Bank Rate ChangesA handful of Belton ISD teachers will have their passion projects supported after the Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation awarded them a total of $125,000 in grant funding. It is the largest amount awarded — to a total of 36 projects across 18 campuses — in a single day to date. “The most exciting part of this day is being able to provide well-deserving teachers and staff with funding for the things they’ve requested,” Dayspring Fowler, a BEEF board member, said. “We focus on innovative grants, and while there are so many amazing requests to choose from, today is the day we get to make those choices a reality. It’s incredibly exciting. This is our main purpose — to provide scholarships for students and grants for teachers. It’s why we exist and what truly energizes us.” Projects include creating a “Delta Garden” at the new Delta Program facility that serves special education students. It is slated to open in the spring. “We’re planning to build raised beds for growing vegetables and herbs, which will provide a fantastic learning experience for our students and expand on-campus opportunities,” Nichole Fritz, a Delta 18-plus teacher who received the grant, said of her excitement. “The funding will help us get started with soil and seeds, and this is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time — to help the community, potentially join a farmers market, and work toward being more self-sustaining. I was so surprised to see my name on the check — it was really cool. I’m thrilled about this opportunity to teach new skills and hopefully give back to the community.” “I couldn’t always express my thoughts or feelings, and I know how difficult that can be,” Thomas, who recognized the need when she was in China, said. “I’m beyond thrilled about this grant because it will give kids the ability to communicate. As someone who has been a second language learner, this is deeply meaningful to me.” Other projects that BEEF will help come to fruition include the launch of Project Lead the Way, a STEM-based program; enhanced classroom technology; innovative teaching tools and resources to support district-wide programs that foster creativity; critical thinking; and hands-on learning opportunities for students. BEEF was founded in 1992.

NEW YORK — Outside Nebraska football team’s hotel, sirens blared, horns honked and music cut through the cold December air. A lengthy procession of cars, escorted by the New York Police Department, paraded through the Manhattan streets reveling with passers-by as they celebrated Hanukkah in full force on Thursday night. While trips to a New York Knicks game, the 9/11 Museum and other sights around New York City have been highlights for the Nebraska football roster, head coach Matt Rhule is pleased with the level of focus he’s seen from his players. “Walking around New York City, there’s a lot of things to do that could pull you away (from the game), but they’ve done everything right and we’ve practiced well,” Rhule said. One final non-football activity took place Friday morning when Rhule, Ty Robinson, Isaac Gifford and Jahmal Banks went to the New York Stock Exchange. Rhule helped ring the bell to denote the opening of the stock markets for the day. People are also reading... Beatrice house suffers severe damage from Christmas fire Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Beatrice church starts construction on fellowship hall Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway City employee retires after 47 years Gage County supervisors vote down FOP contract offer Two faces charges in January vehicle thefts Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Beatrice's Schroeder wins at Junior Angus show Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park Main Street welcomes new director “I’ve grown up here and if you’d told me in one day I’d be on the floor of the stock exchange ringing the bell and a couple hours later I’d be on the field at Yankee Stadium, I never would have believed you,” Rhule said. Having arrived in New York on Monday, Nebraska has practiced in multiple different locations which include the New York Giants practice facility, Fordham University and a Christmas-day walkthrough inside Central Park. “When we landed we went right to practice, and the first thing we did was put our pads on and hit,” Rhule said. “We’ve given them some free time, we’ve done a lot of cool things and celebrated Christmas together, but at the end of the day this is an opportunity for us to finish our season the right way.” * Friday marked the first time Nebraska stepped foot inside Yankee Stadium for an on-field walkthrough prior to playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. As players and coaches alike soaked up the feeling of being inside the legendary sports venue, Rhule found himself impressed with the bowl game’s setup. “A lot of times they play a football game in a baseball stadium and it’s kinda shoehorned in there, but when they rebuilt Yankee Stadium they certainly did it right because (the field) fits perfectly,” Rhule said. * A photo posted by Nebraska football’s social media accounts on Thursday showed the nine newcomers who traveled with the team and have taken part in NU’s bowl game practices. Transfer defensive end Jaylen George and eight incoming freshmen have gotten a “jumpstart” to their Nebraska careers, Rhule said, by being part of team meetings and the on-field preparation. * With wide receiver Isaiah Neyor having opted out of Nebraska’s bowl game, Rhule identified Jaylen Lloyd and Keelan Smith as two wideouts who could see increased opportunities on Saturday. * Nebraska’s transfer portal efforts are not yet fully finished. Following the New Year, the Huskers can again host transfer players on campus for visits. “We’ll be back at work on the first,” Rhule said. “There’s no break, there’s no vacation and there’s no time away; there’s the game and then we’ll be ready to host people that first week (of January).” Get local news delivered to your inbox!

‘Christmas Light Fight’ Host Carter Oosterhouse on Holiday Traditions, Marriage to Amy Smart & More

is a legendary movie actor and considered by critics and movie lovers alike as one of the best to ever do it. His range and resume speaks for themselves. From playing an LAPD narcotic officer in giving life to an African American revolutionary in being a Washington Herald reporter in " lawyer Joe MIller in " ; coach Herman Boone in " ; to a flawless bodyguard on and the action packed saga, Washington pretty much can do it all. His latest piece of work is giving life to Macrinus, a former slave who plans to overthrow the emperors Geta and Caracalla in the much anticipated sequel " from one of the most influential movie directors of all time, shares a lot of screen time with actor , who plays the grandson of former emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of and Lucilla. Denzel Washington is not a fan of social media On a recent one-on-one with Mescal, Washington talked about his dislike of social media and they way that the younger generations interact. "I pray for your generation." said Washington (69 years old) to Mescal (28 years old). "We didn't have to deal with what you have to deal with, and it's our fault for putting it in your hands. There were no 9 million opinions of any momento of my day, people that like you and all of the sudden they hate you and you don't understand why." said the legendary actor. "I never had... I don't even know how you call it, an account, never had one, what's the other name? . I don't have any of those things." added the New York native. "You don't have ?" asked Mescal. "No, I have a Cadillac." answered Washington.

The Yomiuri Shimbun 6:00 JST, November 24, 2024 This is the third installment in a series examining how society should deal with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Kento Kawaharazuka, a project assistant professor at the University of Tokyo, had a pleased look while recently working at a laboratory in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, as a humanoid robot successfully put butter in a frying pan, turned on a stove and put a raw egg into the pan from a bowl to make a sunny-side up egg. “Although it’s a little burnt, it looks good,” said Kawaharazuka after watching the cooking experiment. “The robot moved well.” The instruction given to the robot was simple: “Make a sunny-side up egg using butter.” The robot, which is equipped with generative AI, acted autonomously while recognizing when the butter melted and how the egg was cooked, among other things. Since conventional robots need to be taught how to use each tool and perform each necessary task in advance, it takes a huge amount of time and effort to just make them repeat the same movements. The AI-equipped robot, however, was able to perform a variety of actions as it had learned from not only text information and images, but also videos as data. “This is a major turning point in robot development. I feel like robots have acquired the ‘common sense’ that humans have,” said Kawaharazuka who has been doing research on generative AI robots for two years. Expectations are growing, particularly in industrial circles, for robots that have acquired generative AI as their “brains.” The global market for AI robots is expected to rapidly grow from about $12 billion (¥1.9 trillion) in 2022 to about $70 billion (¥11 trillion) in 2031, according to a consulting firm. AI-equipped robots also are being used for customer interactions. Denso Corp., a leading manufacturer of automotive components, conducted experiments in January using an AI-equipped arm-type robot at a souvenir shop in Nagoya. The robot asked customers if they are on their way home from work or if this is their first visit to Nagoya, for instance, before choosing souvenir recommendations such as alcoholic drinks and sweets based on the content of its conversation with customers. The robot then handed the products to customers using its arm. Watching the robot’s ability to choose products flexibly based on the topics of conversation, Masatake Sato of Denso’s development team said the robot could be used not only in customer interactions but also in a wide range of areas such as looking after children or providing nursing care. AI robots seem to be rapidly evolving as a partner of humans, transcending the realm of tools. Will we eventually see the appearance of AI robots that transcend human beings, like Doraemon or Astro Boy? Hitoshi Matsubara, an AI researcher and Kyoto Tachibana University professor, spoke of a parable about an AI robot with advanced intelligence. It says that the robot, ordered to solve environmental problems, decides that humans are the ones polluting and destroying the Earth, and starts to wipe out the human race. AI that has no sense of ethics or standards of right and wrong may seek to achieve its goals even if it means harming humans. “Even if AI appears to be equipped with common sense, the intelligence of humans and that of AI are different,” Matsubara emphasized. “It is essential to closely examine under what conditions society can accept AI, for instance, when it enters our lives.”Smokers who quit for a week could save a day of their life, experts sayESPN announced Thursday that Smith, an ESPN reporter and SEC Network host, will be part of ESPN's three-man broadcast team for the inaugural TGL season. Smith will be the reporter for the telecasts. He will interview the golfers during the matches, and will also interview team owners and celebrity guests. All the matches will be held at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Scott Van Pelt will host for the pre-match, intermission and post-match shows from Washington, D.C., while Matt Barrie be at SoFi Center to handle the play-by-play. A company founded by Woods and Rory McIlroy is behind the new league, whose season will run from January to March. There will be six teams of four PGA Tour players apiece, with matches on Mondays and Tuesdays. The first telecast will be Jan. 7 at 9 p.m. Smith will also be on ABC's Jan. 5 season preview special. Smith will still do his other assignments, including the College Football Playoff and The Masters. VMI promotes Hampton VMI assistant coach and Lord Botetourt graduate A.J. Hampton tweeted Wednesday that he has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Hampton has been on the VMI staff since January 2023. He was the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator his first year, then added the title of passing game coordinator to his duties for the 2024 season. Patrick Ashford was VMI's offensive coordinator the past three seasons, including the 2022 season under then-coach Scott Wachenheim and the past two seasons under coach Danny Rocco. The Keydets won just one game this year. When asked Thursday in a text message if he had opted to let Ashford go, Rocco replied, "No. I am in the process of realignment within our staff." Hampton, a former receiver, was a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech in 2022. He was the passing game coordinator at West Virginia State in the 2021 season. — Mark Berman Ohanian makes UVa donation Virginia's athletic fundraising arm announced Thursday that Reddit co-founder and UVa graduate Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, has made a "transformational" gift to the women's basketball program to help UVa recruit and retain "championship level talent." The unnamed sum is the largest donation in UVa women's basketball history and the second-largest donation in UVa women's athletics history, according to the announcement. The multiyear donation will address "the financial and competitive demands of this new era of college athletics," according to the news release. “I am proud to support the women’s program at my alma mater with this donation," Ohanian said in the news release. "It’s time to bring the nation’s best hoops talent to Charlottesville and win some championships in the next four years.” Peek joins Brewers' organization Jefferson Forest graduate Zach Peek was plucked from the Baltimore Orioles' Class AA team by Milwaukee in the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in Dallas on Wednesday. The former Winthrop standout pitched for two of the Orioles' minor-league teams this year. He pitched in five games for the Orioles' Carolina League affiliate and in three games for the Orioles' Class AA team. Milwaukee took him in the second round of the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft; he was the 45th overall pick. Milwaukee assigned him to Triple-A Nashville. In the third round, the Chicago Cubs drafted former Salem Red Sox pitcher Robert Kwiatkowski from Boston's Double-A team. He was assigned to the Cubs' Triple-A team. In the fourth round, St. Louis drafted former Salem Red Sox outfielder Miguel Ugueto from Boston's South Atlantic League affiliate. He was assigned to the Cardinals' Triple-A team.

Announcement Comes as Two Long-Time Executives Retire TROY, Mich. , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 365 Retail Markets, the global leader in unattended retail technologies, today announced the appointment of Anton Rakushkin as Chief Technology Officer and Bill Reidy as VP of Sales for North America . These strategic hires come as two long-time leaders, Joe Rogan and John Chidiac , retire after years of dedicated service to the company. Rakushkin comes to 365 with twenty years of experience in retail technology including time with Streamware Corporation and Crane Connectivity Solutions. He holds impressive accomplishments in the areas of vending management, including the architecture of Vendmax, an extensively used VMS system across the industry. His achievements also include innovations around data exchange and tools for operator success such as industry-first pre-kit and dynamic scheduling features. Rakushkin has had notable success working closely with both customers and other solution providers to create widely adopted industry standards. "I am excited to bring my experience to the world-class team at 365 and look forward to elevating their impressive accomplishments across the industry as well as extending that success to more opportunities. By understanding customer needs and providing solutions that will drive the industry forward, we will accomplish great things," said Rakushkin. Reidy joins 365 Retail Markets with over thirty years of experience in sales leadership and executive management. Throughout his career, he has successfully developed and grown businesses across various verticals and industries. Reidy has cultivated a deep understanding of the SaaS industry by advancing through prominent firms, including well-known players in the automotive technology space, such as KPA, Netsertive, and DealerMatch. During his time at vAuto, he designed highly effective sales and operations management processes and built a renowned national sales team. When asked about his optimism around 365's growth potential, Reidy noted, "I'm fortunate to be joining a well-established team at 365 Retail Markets, and I believe that through coaching and establishing the right processes, we can expand our opportunities immensely. I am looking forward to elevating the reach and success of this organization through the help of a world-class sales team." Joe Hessling , CEO at 365 Retail Markets, expressed his excitement about the leadership additions. "Bringing experts like Anton and Bill onto the team is essential to keep up with the intense growth we are seeing in our unattended retail business. We have heard for years that the market is tired of the lack of investment by the legacy VMS providers and the lack of consumer-focused features from the me-too payment terminal providers. Anton and Bill will be focused on being sure 365 remains the global leader for decades to come." Joe Rogan retires after 10 years with 365. While currently serving as Chief Strategy Officer, he has previously served as Chief Financial Officer and an early advisor and Board Member helping define nearly every successful initiative in the company's history. Joe will be missed greatly by his industry colleagues and friends at 365 but will remain in an advisory role in his retirement. John Chidiac's decade of service to 365 comes with many accomplishments in roles as Chief Operating Officer and later as President of International, spearheading international growth. His dedication to 365 has positioned the long-term success internationally and his relationships with many in the industry has gained him immense respect among his peers and colleagues. Hessling acknowledged their contributions, stating, "I would like to thank both Joe and John for helping me turn 365 into what it is today. Taking the leap to join over 10 years ago was a risk neither had to take and their impact on 365, me, and the industry has been something that most don't ever get the chance to do in their careers. I will miss working with them both but am happy for them in their next stage of life." Both retirements are effective December 31, 2024 and 365 Retail Markets thanks both individuals for their incredible dedication and commitment to the organization and industry. CONTACT: Navreet Gill VP of Marketing & Communications, 365 Retail Markets navreet.gill@365smartshop.com About 365 Retail Markets 365 Retail Markets is the global leader in unattended retail technology. Founded in 2008, 365 provides a full suite of best-in-class, self-service technologies for food service operators including end-to-end integrated SaaS software, payment processing and point of-sale hardware. Today, the company's technology solutions autonomously power food retail spaces at corporate offices, manufacturing and distribution facilities, hospitality settings and more, in order to provide compelling foodservice options for consumers. 365's technology solutions include a growing suite of frictionless smart stores, micro markets, vending, catering, and dining point-of-sale options to meet the expanding needs of its customers. 365 continuously pioneers innovation in the industry with superior technology, strategic partnerships and ultimate flexibility in customization and branding. For more information about 365 Retail Markets, visit www.365retailmarkets.com and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/365-retail-markets-strengthens-leadership-team-with-key-hires-302339366.html SOURCE 365 Retail Markets, LLCBy Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children’s toys and hair accessories. The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were “an order of magnitude lower” than the EPA’s thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it’s actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren’t enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn’t be in these products in the first place. “The math error does not impact the study’s findings, conclusions or recommendations,” said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they’re heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you’re wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It’s nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That’s because these products that include recycled e-waste don’t disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it’s also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study “had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them,” she said. Anytime you’re looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you’re going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn’t a definitively timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.IRVING, Texas (AP) — A rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL's entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show, won’t impact the league's relationship with the music mogul. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday after the conclusion of the league's winter meetings. "We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt . The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation, one of his companies. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable with not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Hutson has five assists, defending champ U.S. routs Germany 10-4 at world juniors OTTAWA — Defenceman Cole Hutson had five assists as United States opened its defence of its gold medal with a resounding 10-4 win over Germany on Thursday as the 2025 world junior hockey championship got underway. Canadian Press Dec 26, 2024 2:47 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Sweden forward Otto Stenberg (25) and teammate Rasmus Bergqvist (2) celebrate Axel Sandin-Pellikka's (4) hat-trick goal during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action against Slovakia, in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby OTTAWA — Defenceman Cole Hutson had five assists as United States opened its defence of its gold medal with a resounding 10-4 win over Germany on Thursday as the 2025 world junior hockey championship got underway. James Hagens had two goals and two assists while Gabe Perreault and Brodie Ziemer also scored twice for the Americans, who are considered among the favourites in Ottawa. Trevor Connelly, Brandon Svoboda, Carey Terrance and Cole Eiserman also scored for the Americans. Julius Sumpf, David Lewandowski, Lenny Boos and Timo Ruckdaschel scored for Germany. Trey Augustine made 18 saves for the U.S., while a busy Nico Pertuch stopped 46 shots. Germany next plays Finland on Friday, while the U.S. has a day off before facing Latvia on Saturday. Earlier, defenceman Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a natural hat trick as Sweden kicked off the tournament with a 5-2 rout of Slovakia. Sandin Pellikka, a Detroit Red Wings prospect playing in hist third world juniors, added an assist for Sweden, which is looking for its first title since 2012. Rasmus Bergqvist and Linus Eriksson had the other goals for Sweden. Dalibor Dvorsky had a goal just under 12 minutes into the game to open the scoring for Slovakia, which was then held without a goal until Daniel Jencko scored on a power play with 85 seconds left in regulation. Sweden plays Kazakhstan and Slovakia meets Switzerland on Friday. In other games Thursday, Czechia played Switzerland and host Canada took on Finland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Junior Hockey Canada set to take on Finland as world junior championship gets underway Dec 26, 2024 1:00 AM Canadian world junior goalie Carter George uses music to drown out pressure Dec 25, 2024 2:56 PM McKenna to Martone: 10 players to watch at the world junior hockey championship Dec 24, 2024 8:27 AM

Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge