bet boom streamers battle 6 Willy Adames agrees to $182 million, 7-year deal with the Giants, AP source says Willy Adames has agreed to a $182 million, seven-year deal with San Francisco, providing the Giants with a power-hitting shortstop in the prime of his career, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical. ESPN first reported the move. The 29-year-old Adames is coming off his best offensive season in the big leagues after hitting .251 with a career-high 32 homers and 112 RBIs with the Milwaukee Brewers. Georgia QB Carson Beck knocked out by hand injury in SEC championship game against Texas ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will not return after he was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Beck was one of the last players to return to the field following halftime. Backup Gunner Stockton led the offense to a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the second half. Arizona State makes College Football Playoff with 45-19 win over Iowa State in Big 12 title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Big 12 newcomer Arizona State will represent the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch the 12th-ranked Sun Devils beat No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 in the Big 12 championship game. The Sun Devils with 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham are 11-2 after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have won six games in a row. Iowa State is 10-3, already the first 10-win season in the program's 133-year history. LA Galaxy strike early, hold off New York Red Bulls 2-1 to win their record 6th MLS Cup championship CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic scored in the first half, and the LA Galaxy won their record sixth MLS Cup championship with a 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls. After striking twice in the first 13 minutes with goals from their star forwards, the Galaxy nursed a lead through a scoreless second half to raise their league’s biggest trophy for the first time since 2014. Sean Nealis scored for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, whose improbable charge through the playoffs ended one win shy of the founding MLS franchise’s first Cup championship. No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stake ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The stakes were higher for Iowa State, and the outcome was the same as the first for the Cyclones in their second trip to the Big 12 championship game. And the 112-year wait for a conference title will go on. No. 16 Iowa State was playing for a spot in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in a 45-19 loss to 12th-ranked Arizona State. Four years ago, neither Iowa State nor Oklahoma had a realistic path into the four-team tournament before the Sooners' 27-21 victory. The Cyclones haven't won a conference title since going 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1912. Big 12's Yormark brings up hard choices for fans before sparsely attended title game ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — College football fans are facing some hard choices in the expanded playoff system with some teams set to play away from home multiple times. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark raised that point No. 12 Arizona State's 45-19 victory over 16th-ranked Iowa State. The announced crowd of 55,889 at the home of the Dallas Cowboys appeared far smaller. Yormark says he remains committed to having a Big 12 title game. Besides the issues of fans, there have been suggestions that some leagues might be better off without title games as it relates to playoff hopes. Lindsey Vonn competes in a pair of downhills, another step on her comeback trail at the age of 40 COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. (AP) — Lindsey Vonn finished in the middle of the pack in a pair of lower-level downhill events as she competed for the first time in nearly six years. The 40-year-old Vonn is on the comeback trail after stepping away from the sport because of injuries. Vonn wasn't concerned with times and places in the races so much as getting used to the speed again and gaining the necessary points to compete on the World Cup circuit. Vonn accomplished both, finishing 24th in the first downhill race of the day and 27th in the second. She posted on social media after the FIS races she had enough points to enter World Cup events. Justin Thomas with big drives and a few big putts takes 1-shot lead over Scheffler in the Bahamas NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Justin Thomas has a one-shot lead over Scottie Scheffler going into the final round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Thomas is using a slightly longer driver and has been blasting away. He also was helped by two long putts on the back nine that carried him to 66 at windy Albany Golf Club. Scheffler muffed a chip on the 13th hole that cost him the lead and he never caught up. He still shot a 69 and will be in the last group with Thomas on Sunday. Tom Kim had a 62 and was two shots back. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy gets restructured deal after 3-9 season, according to reports Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy will be staying on with a restructured deal. That's according to news reports published on Saturday. The deal reportedly will shift some of his salary to revenue sharing with players. The Cowboys were among the preseason favorites in the Big 12, but a rash of injuries and problems at quarterback tanked the team, and the Cowboys went 3-9. The school's Board of Regents held a special meeting on Friday morning regarding his status, but no immediate action was taken. The fact that Gundy has 169 wins in 20 years plus a hefty buyout likely saved him from being fired outright. Norris takes pole for season-ending Abu Dhabi GP and Hamilton 18th in Mercedes farewell ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Lando Norris took pole position for the last Formula 1 race of the season alongside teammate Oscar Piastri to put McLaren on the verge of a first constructors’ title in 26 years. Norris’ last lap put him .209 of a second faster than Piastri, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. .020 further back. Seven-time F1 champion Hamilton qualified 18th for his last race with Mercedes after a bizarre incident wrecked his final qualifying lap. A plastic pole marking the inside of a corner was knocked loose by Kevin Magnussen’s Haas and Hamilton drove over it.School ends on a high note! The annual awards day and graduation ceremonies concluded the 2024 academic year. Journalists from The Fiji Times were busy travelling around the country taking pictures and reporting success stories from this special day. Ana Madigibuli and her team did a marvellous job as they reported on the prizegiving ceremonies that were carried out. I could imagine the excitement and sheer delight within those who walked away with a prize. Their hard work and struggles ended as they celebrated their success with loved ones. Nabua Secondary rewarded their students on Thursday, and I thank Wanshika Kumar and The Fiji Times for the coverage. The emotions on the faces of the day scholars and Matua students spoke about their struggles and how they brandished them to achieve excellence. The prize getters journey to achieving this feat has been through hard work and perseverance. These students organised and managed their time effectively. Their success demonstrates that with balance, and support, success is achievable. We must encourage young people to sacrifice and struggle to strive for their goals. They must be encouraged to set their priorities right and manage their time wisely. Parental support plays a vital role in the child’s success. With the changing tide and impact of drugs, technology and social media, parents need to step up and spend quality time with their children. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu Yaqona thieves On Taveuni, as with most areas throughout our beloved nation, the place is small enough that the people know more than those who are supposed to know! Just ask the people! They know who the culprits are! And you better start eradicating the freebies now because the words of warning out on social media for the culprits is most certainly not sounding good! On an island where the authorities have lost the plot, and the history of theft amounts to years and millions of dollars in heartbreak and losses, retaliation escalates to a peak where the outcome will most certainly not be pleasing! Noleen Billings Savusavu Bill to protect kids It’s good the parliamentarians have passed new legislation for the care and protection of children in need or at risk and Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam is waxing lyrical about it (FT 7/12). But I wonder how many of them had actually read the Juveniles Act, the Probation of Offenders Act and the Adoption of Infants Act which had provided the legal framework for the care and protection of children with their best interest and welfare as paramount? Rajend Naidu B Sydney, Australia Game changer The planned, game-changer $1.5billion tourism development on the Wailoaloa Nadi foreshore augurs well for Fiji’s employment, economy and the country’s inherited debt repayments. This is truly a massive investment. We trust all authorities will rise to the occasion with their vetting and due diligence. I wish to sincerely congratulate the Hong Kong based investors for their confidence in choosing Nadi for their bold initiatives. May every success and good fortune be bestowed upon them, Nadi and Fiji, as a whole. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi The horse has bolted The drug problem has gotten out of hand in the past two years since the election of this government. There appears to be a perception in high places that once a Commissioner of Police is confirmed the drug problem will suddenly disappear. I think these people believe in Santa Claus as well. All the chiefs are talking about making up their own laws about this problem as they go – just like the government has been making up laws as they go. The reality is, while everyone does not want vulagi things permeating the culture in Fiji, they simply cannot stop these things. It is like trying to stop a vulagi religion permeating every aspect of life in Fiji. The horse bolted a long time ago. Jan Nissar Osaka, Japan Supply and demand chain Honourable Naupoto mentions the need for a major Supply and Demand chain check in the country to assist in countering drug activities. This is best addressed by much more intensive investigation into the contents of shipping containers at wharfs, and further checks during unstuffing of containers at the point of delivery, e.g wholesalers, retailers, vehicle importers etc. Anecdotal advice suggests that the port of Suva is used as a major transit hub for precursors, at least one instance has been uncovered. In England, $200million worth of drugs was shipped in over four years hidden in consignments of garlic, onions and ginger which naturally cannot be detected by sniffer dogs. These items are plentiful imports into the country. Are these shipments ever thoroughly checked? Stashing drugs into large electrical items such as fridges, washing machines et cetera, is another favourite method which could be detected when containers are unstuffed at points of destination. It doesn’t need me to tell the authorities how proper checks can be implemented, it can be done but the “secrecy” is always a problem. Allan Loosley Tavua 2013 Constitution So much had been said and heard during the 26th Attorney-General’s Conference at the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort at Denarau in Nadi but with very little being accomplished as far as the Changing of the 2013 Constitution is concerned and rightly so because of the major hurdles of requirements of the majority numbers in Parliament and of course the unpredictable public referendum. Digesting the many issues that were the highlights of constitutional and prominent Suva lawyer Jon Apted (F/T 07/12), it is obviously clear and plain that the 2013 Constitution was engineered by its authors with all the intention of permanent subjection of all people of this small, tiny country with autocracy and subserviency control under the covering of ‘democratic’ principles. Now, we must bear in mind that as we currently live under this 2013 documents, we are actually living and conducting all our civil and democratic principles unlawfully since the coup-de tat of 2006 was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court ruling in April 2009 with the Qarase case judgement. Aren’t we conscious of our total illegality? So, the only possible path way forward without too many hurdles is for this country to allow the Court system to decide on that 2009 Supreme Court ruling on the Qarase case and remove this controversial and illegal document and believe me – there is no other way. MELI BOGILEKA Natabua, Lautoka Walking the talk You raise a number of pertinent questions in The Fiji Times editorial on who is responsible and accountable for the “over 8000 illegal immigrants in Fiji” (FT 7/12). One thing for sure is that it’s not the ordinary citizens. Could this have been a post coup phenomenon when democratic governance was weakened because those in power could not be held to standards of transparency, accountability and scrutiny expected? One other very important question we must not shy away from is what part official corruption played in the influx of illegal immigrants in the country? Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia Lack of trash bins! I commend the trusted brand and the people’s newspaper for highlighting Fiji’s political, social and environmental issues in an ethical and professional manner. Littering has become a nemesis, an eyesore and an issue affecting our municipal councils and the residents alike. While the municipalities are pointing fingers at the residents for illegal rubbish and white goods dumping, fingers are also pointing at the municipalities for their failure to collect white goods on time and for the lack of trash bins, as pointed out by The Fiji Times (05/12). According to Jake Wise, municipalities across Fiji were grappling with a shortage of rubbish bins, leaving many towns and cities unable to effectively manage the growing waste generated by their growing populations. It’s sad to note that there is a shortage of rubbish bins along footpaths in the Capital City. With rising urban population, the demand for proper waste management systems, including the provision of sufficient rubbish bins, is more urgent than ever. We need to keep our environment clean. It cannot be done by an individual but by everyone! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu Cause and effect Drugs have silently eroded the moral and physical stature of the people of our beloved nation. I note that the second Speaker’s Debate touched on Drugs while the slogan on the banner that late afternoon cried ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention’. Sadly, the reality of our solutions are targeted more at fixing the effects of drugs while we tend to shy away from treating the cause which is the heart and heat of the matter! And despite the fact that we have national security planners and are spending ‘every which way’ as us kailoma like to put it, somehow our borders remain open and defenceless to all forms of criminal activity. So how about instead of bringing in the huge boats that get stuck on reefs, we decentralise our Customs Department, set them up on the furthest of our islands in our group of islands including Rotuma, build the right infrastructure on them, equip them with the right communication and surveillance equipment, get them say 40 boats and a bunch of armed policemen and service them with our government barges and island freighters! We can bet our bottom dollar that our weak and vulnerable points has been studied to the letter! Noleen Billings Savusavu English and the vernacular OK, I get it. Children taught in their vernacular, as Prof. Paul Gerahaty (FT 29/11) is suggesting, might help improve some of the academic results attributed to a better comprehension in their own language. But jeez, Prof, how on Earth do you teach a myriad of subjects in the vernacular that require English as a basis of learning and understanding? If we were to take a step back, could the problem be how teachers are conveying the message of the subject so it’s a communication based teaching style issue that needs looking into? Or, could it be a lack of adequate teaching materials and technological support? Could it be a lapse and focus on the part of pupils who’re failing because of the challenges of home life where there are serious financial constraints or even domestic violence issues? Could the problem be related to nutrition where a child is not getting adequate nutrients in their everyday meals because of the financial struggles in the home? Could it be linked to problems with alcohol, drugs, porn and the lure of digitised games on the internet because of plain boredom? Is the curriculum relevant or appropriately structured to meet the needs and standards of the current crop of students? Could some of these students who’re not up to par have learning difficulties? Could some of these students have issues at home where they’re not receiving the love and support of their parents and/or guardians to help them overcome the hurdles and challenges of school life? Could it be because exams favour certain learning styles while they lose a significant proportion of pupils because they didn’t understand or grasp the message, context or concept of what was being taught? There could be a myriad of different reasons why certain children do well while others flop. So there needs to be a holistic approach to understand why so many children are struggling with school work and with their exams. I’m a fan of yours and have great respect for the work that you do. I know your heart’s in the right place. And I understand that you’re trying desperately to find a solution to help improve academic excellence and performance. However, the positive side to all of this is that your suggestion has started a dialogue deluge. And hopefully, there’ll be a host of solutions raining down to help fix the failure rate. So vinaka and good on you for sparking the discussion. Colin Deoki Australia

The Detroit Lions have equaled the franchise record for most consecutive victories and stand alone atop the NFC standings. They still have plenty of obstacles to clear to remain at that perch. Even the NFC North remains up for grabs and they'll try to create a little more separation when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Lions (11-1), who have won 10 straight, haven't been able to shake free from Minnesota (10-2) or Green Bay (9-3). Detroit will host Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month. The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory. Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins now. "The best part of all of this -- we're in playoff football right now, that's where we're at," he said. "We're in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent -- we've got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it's also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament. "So, yeah, we're a resilient bunch and nothing's going to change that. We've just got to worry about the one in front of us." Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears' poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus' firing. The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth. "I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side," defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it's not the playbook that's the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It's the style of play that we have and that's easy to learn." Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed. Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings. "With most good teams, they play the game the right way," Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. "Certainly, Detroit's been doing that for a couple years now. That's who they are and that's who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night." The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur. "They're two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he's going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you've got to try to corral because he can take it the distance," he said. "Jared (Goff) is playing at an MVP level, so they've got a really potent offense." Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen -- DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwezurike (hamstring) -- didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) missed the Packers' practice. --Field Level Media Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.The American Athletic Conference is the only Football Bowl Subdivision league whose championship game matchup is set: Army vs. Tulane. The final week of the regular season will determine pairings for the other eight conferences. Here's a look at the possible matchups in the Power Four and Group of Five. All championship games are Dec. 7 except in the AAC, Conference USA and Mountain West, which will be played Dec. 6. ACC at Charlotte, North Carolina SMU vs. Miami or Clemson. Miami is in if it beats Syracuse. Clemson is in if Miami loses. Big Ten at Indianapolis Oregon vs. Ohio State, Penn State or Indiana. Ohio State is in if it beats Michigan or if Penn State and Indiana lose this week. Penn State is in if it beats Maryland and Ohio State loses. Indiana is in if it beats Purdue and Ohio State and Penn State lose. Big 12 at Arlington, Texas Arizona State vs. Iowa State if both win this week. Multiple scenarios including BYU, Colorado and other teams exist otherwise. SEC at Atlanta Georgia vs. winner of Texas-Texas A&M game. American Athletic at TBD Army vs. Tulane. Conference USA at Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville State vs. Liberty, Western Kentucky or Sam Houston. Liberty is in with a win over Sam Houston. WKU is in with a win over Jacksonville State and a Liberty loss. Sam Houston is in with a win over Liberty and a Jacksonville State win. Mid-American at Detroit Miami, Bowling Green and Ohio are tied for first place and control their destinies. Miami-Bowling Green winner is in, as is Ohio if it beats Ball State. Other scenarios exist that include those teams and Buffalo. Mountain West at Boise, Idaho Boise State vs. UNLV or Colorado State. If UNLV and CSU both win or lose their final regular-season games, the tie would be broken by either College Football Playoff rankings or results-based computer metrics. Sun Belt at TBD Louisiana-Lafayette at Marshall if both win their games this week. Other scenarios exist if one or both lose. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — As a former and potentially future president, Donald Trump hailed what would become Project 2025 as a road map for “exactly what our movement will do” with another crack at the White House. As the blueprint for a hard-right turn in America became a liability during the 2024 campaign, Trump pulled an about-face . He denied knowing anything about the “ridiculous and abysmal” plans written in part by his first-term aides and allies. Now, after being elected the 47th president on Nov. 5, Trump is stocking his second administration with key players in the detailed effort he temporarily shunned. Most notably, Trump has tapped Russell Vought for an encore as director of the Office of Management and Budget; Tom Homan, his former immigration chief, as “border czar;” and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of policy . Those moves have accelerated criticisms from Democrats who warn that Trump's election hands government reins to movement conservatives who spent years envisioning how to concentrate power in the West Wing and impose a starkly rightward shift across the U.S. government and society. Trump and his aides maintain that he won a mandate to overhaul Washington. But they maintain the specifics are his alone. “President Trump never had anything to do with Project 2025,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt in a statement. “All of President Trumps' Cabinet nominees and appointments are whole-heartedly committed to President Trump's agenda, not the agenda of outside groups.” Here is a look at what some of Trump's choices portend for his second presidency. As budget chief, Vought envisions a sweeping, powerful perch The Office of Management and Budget director, a role Vought held under Trump previously and requires Senate confirmation, prepares a president's proposed budget and is generally responsible for implementing the administration's agenda across agencies. The job is influential but Vought made clear as author of a Project 2025 chapter on presidential authority that he wants the post to wield more direct power. “The Director must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the President’s mind,” Vought wrote. The OMB, he wrote, “is a President’s air-traffic control system” and should be “involved in all aspects of the White House policy process,” becoming “powerful enough to override implementing agencies’ bureaucracies.” Trump did not go into such details when naming Vought but implicitly endorsed aggressive action. Vought, the president-elect said, “knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State” — Trump’s catch-all for federal bureaucracy — and would help “restore fiscal sanity.” In June, speaking on former Trump aide Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, Vought relished the potential tension: “We’re not going to save our country without a little confrontation.” Vought could help Musk and Trump remake government's role and scope The strategy of further concentrating federal authority in the presidency permeates Project 2025's and Trump's campaign proposals. Vought's vision is especially striking when paired with Trump's proposals to dramatically expand the president's control over federal workers and government purse strings — ideas intertwined with the president-elect tapping mega-billionaire Elon Musk and venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a “Department of Government Efficiency.” Trump in his first term sought to remake the federal civil service by reclassifying tens of thousands of federal civil service workers — who have job protection through changes in administration — as political appointees, making them easier to fire and replace with loyalists. Currently, only about 4,000 of the federal government's roughly 2 million workers are political appointees. President Joe Biden rescinded Trump's changes. Trump can now reinstate them. Meanwhile, Musk's and Ramaswamy's sweeping “efficiency” mandates from Trump could turn on an old, defunct constitutional theory that the president — not Congress — is the real gatekeeper of federal spending. In his “Agenda 47,” Trump endorsed so-called “impoundment,” which holds that when lawmakers pass appropriations bills, they simply set a spending ceiling, but not a floor. The president, the theory holds, can simply decide not to spend money on anything he deems unnecessary. Vought did not venture into impoundment in his Project 2025 chapter. But, he wrote, “The President should use every possible tool to propose and impose fiscal discipline on the federal government. Anything short of that would constitute abject failure.” Trump's choice immediately sparked backlash. “Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump unilateral authority he does not possess to override the spending decisions of Congress (and) who has and will again fight to give Trump the ability to summarily fire tens of thousands of civil servants,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a Democrat and outgoing Senate Appropriations chairwoman. Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico, leading Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said Vought wants to “dismantle the expert federal workforce” to the detriment of Americans who depend on everything from veterans' health care to Social Security benefits. “Pain itself is the agenda,” they said. Homan and Miller reflect Trump's and Project 2025's immigration overlap Trump’s protests about Project 2025 always glossed over overlaps in the two agendas . Both want to reimpose Trump-era immigration limits. Project 2025 includes a litany of detailed proposals for various U.S. immigration statutes, executive branch rules and agreements with other countries — reducing the number of refugees, work visa recipients and asylum seekers, for example. Miller is one of Trump's longest-serving advisers and architect of his immigration ideas, including his promise of the largest deportation force in U.S. history. As deputy policy chief, which is not subject to Senate confirmation, Miller would remain in Trump's West Wing inner circle. “America is for Americans and Americans only,” Miller said at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally on Oct. 27. “America First Legal,” Miller’s organization founded as an ideological counter to the American Civil Liberties Union, was listed as an advisory group to Project 2025 until Miller asked that the name be removed because of negative attention. Homan, a Project 2025 named contributor, was an acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement director during Trump’s first presidency, playing a key role in what became known as Trump's “family separation policy.” Previewing Trump 2.0 earlier this year, Homan said: “No one’s off the table. If you’re here illegally, you better be looking over your shoulder.” Project 2025 contributors slated for CIA and Federal Communications chiefs John Ratcliffe, Trump's pick to lead the CIA , was previously one of Trump's directors of national intelligence. He is a Project 2025 contributor. The document's chapter on U.S. intelligence was written by Dustin Carmack, Ratcliffe's chief of staff in the first Trump administration. Reflecting Ratcliffe's and Trump's approach, Carmack declared the intelligence establishment too cautious. Ratcliffe, like the chapter attributed to Carmack, is hawkish toward China. Throughout the Project 2025 document, Beijing is framed as a U.S. adversary that cannot be trusted. Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote Project 2025's FCC chapter and is now Trump's pick to chair the panel. Carr wrote that the FCC chairman “is empowered with significant authority that is not shared” with other FCC members. He called for the FCC to address “threats to individual liberty posed by corporations that are abusing dominant positions in the market,” specifically “Big Tech and its attempts to drive diverse political viewpoints from the digital town square.” He called for more stringent transparency rules for social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube and “empower consumers to choose their own content filters and fact checkers, if any.” Carr and Ratcliffe would require Senate confirmation for their posts.CM Omar Abdullah meets delegates of World Craft CouncilIntel's new Lunar Lake hardware is a reflection of modern chip design. It's tempting to call it a "processor" or "CPU" — old habits die hard, after all — but it's really a system-on-a-chip (SoC), both in terms of architecture and philosophy. The CPU cores are joined by integrated GPU cores, a neural processing unit (NPU), and even on-chip RAM. Also, unlike past Intel chips, Lunar Lake seems set on striking a balance between the three. That's keenly felt in Intel's approach to Lunar Lake's integrated graphics (iGPU). Building on the success of Intel Core Ultra, Intel's new processors also offer Intel Arc graphics — but this time around, Intel has returned to providing each iGPU a name unique to its configuration, and the best version here is the Intel Arc 140V with eight Xe Cores and a max frequency of 2.05GHz. Meanwhile, Intel's competition hasn't been spinning its wheels. AMD's latest Ryzen AI processors have their own integrated graphics updates in the form of the Radeon 880M (succeeding the well-respected Radeon 780M) and the new Radeon 890M (which clearly thumped an earlier Intel Arc iteration in our last integrated graphics test). So, how well does the iGPU in Intel's Lunar Lake chips perform? Is it a minor boost over previous incarnations? Or a major update? Spoiler alert: Lunar Lake's visual chops are good enough to let you play many modern games without paying extra for a discrete graphics card. Keep reading for our in-depth benchmark test results. Updated on November 22, 2024: This article was updated to include benchmark results from the Asus Zenbook S 14 with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V. Additional testing was conducted after initial results suggested the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition might be delivering lower-than-typical graphics performance for this configuration. Hardware specifications for our tests Our game benchmarks below were conducted on two laptops: a Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition with Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor and an Asus... Matthew S. Smith

How to Watch the Clippers vs. Pelicans Game: Streaming & TV Channel Info for December 30Sydney Thomas isn't the only person in her friend group making waves on social media. The viral ring girl from the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight has blown up on social media. Thomas, a 20-year-old college student at the University of Alabama, landed the special Paul vs. Tyson gig through social media. She was declared the true "winner" of the fight night by many fans. Now, she's seen an increase in more than 500,000 followers to her accounts. She's not the only one benefiting from the attention, either. Thomas' best friend, Regan Ward, is now turning heads on social media this weekend. Regan Ward/IG Ward, a Georgia native who also attends the University of Alabama, is trending on social media herself. The friend of the viral ring girl has close to 50,000 followers on Instagram. She's shared a lot of head-turning content to her Instagram page in recent weeks. Perhaps we'll see both Sydney and Regan doing ring girl work for Jake Paul's next fight. View the original article to see embedded media. View the original article to see embedded media. View the original article to see embedded media. View the original article to see embedded media. View the original article to see embedded media. Thomas and Ward likely had a tough weekend, though, as their Alabama Crimson Tide were blown out on the road by the Oklahoma Sooners. Hopefully for their sake, the Crimson Tide can finish the year strong next weekend, against rival Auburn in the 2024 Iron Bowl.Salesforce Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

Arizona junior tight end Keyan Burnett is entering the transfer portal, he announced on his social media accounts Saturday afternoon. Burnett will enter the transfer portal after three seasons at Arizona. Burnett entered the portal in January after the UA hired head coach Brent Brennan, but withdrew his name. Burnett signed with Arizona as a four-star prospect in 2022 out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California. The 6-6, 248-pound Burnett was one of four Servite players to sign with Arizona in '22, along with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, quarterback Noah Fifita and linebacker Jacob Manu. Burnett is the son of former Arizona linebacker and "Desert Swarm" member Chester Burnett, who was a Second-Team All-Pac-10 selection in 1996. Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett (88) looks up field for room to run after making a catch over the middle against Texas Tech in the third quarter. The younger Burnett played his first two seasons behind Tanner McLachlan, who was Arizona's most productive tight end since Rob Gronkowski. After McLachlan went on to play in the NFL, Burnett had a productive spring and fall training camp and appeared due for a breakout junior season, but injuries hindered Burnett throughout the season. In eight games this season, Burnett had a career-high 18 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. His only touchdown as a Wildcat was the 35-yard dagger score in Arizona's upset win over 10th-ranked Utah in Salt Lake City. Burnett joins offensive lineman Wendell Moe, quarterback Brayden Dorman, tight end Dorian Thomas, running back Rayshon Luke, wide receiver AJ Jones and running back Brandon Johnson as players entering the transfer portal. The transfer portal officially opens on Monday. Contact Justin Spears, the Star's Arizona football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com . On X(Twitter): @JustinESports Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sports ReporterOMAHA, Neb. — Brice Williams and Juwan Gary each scored 16 points, and Nebraska never trailed in a 74-63 victory over No. 14 Creighton on Friday night. The Cornhuskers (4-1) held preseason All-American Ryan Kalkbrenner to four points — all on free throws — while winning on their in-state rival's home court for the second time in the past three seasons. Texas Tech transfer Pop Isaacs scored 25 points for the Bluejays (4-1), while Kalkbrenner had 11 rebounds. Wisconsin transfer Connor Essegian had 15 points for Nebraska. Berke Buyuktuncel added 12 points and Rollie Worster had 11. Nebraska held Creighton to 32.7% shooting from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. The Cornhuskers led 31-13 late in the first half. Creighton got within 42-35 in the second half but Nebraska responded with an 8-1 run and was never seriously threatened from there. Takeaways Nebraska: The Huskers were active on defense throughout, forcing 17 Creighton turnovers and only turning the ball over 10 times. Nebraska's Rollie Worster (24) turns to shoot against Creighton's Jackson McAndrew, back, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Credit: AP/Rebecca S. Gratz Creighton: The Bluejays' normally reliable 3-point shooting deserted them early and never returned. Key moment Creighton cut Nebraska's lead to eight points twice late in the second half, but the Huskers responded each time with defensive stops that ignited small runs. Key stat Kalkbrenner came in averaging 25.8 points per game but attempted just one field goal in the first half, a missed 3-pointer. Up next Nebraska hosts South Dakota on Wednesday. Nebraska's Juwan Gary (4) plays against Creighton during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. Credit: AP/Rebecca S. Gratz Creighton heads to Las Vegas for the Players Era Festival, beginning on Tuesday against San Diego State.A tearful goodbye. Shreveport Goodwill's Lynn Nelson-Stevens will be sorely missed.Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive accelerates

( / ) (ITV1) | ( ) (BBC One) | If there’s one thing the world doesn’t need right now it’s another addition to the oversaturated fantasy genre, but maybe Sky Atlantic’s new six-parter offers something a little different? That’s not to claim that I was bouncing on the sofa with anticipation. Developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker, the show is a prequel to (a remake of David Lynch’s 1984 original), which I found rather dull: two-and-a half-hours of sand, CGI and boyband brooding from Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides. The new series is set 10,000 years before Atreides shows up on Arrakis, and as per with such ventures, the premise is laboriously set out at the beginning, as if we’ve all failed our fantasy studies GCSE and must now suffer on a sci-fi cramming course. A prologue tells us how thinking machines have been vanquished, technology banned. From there, we meet a sisterhood of Truthsayers – women in billowing black robes who root out liars and whisper advice into powerful ears, like alt-reality spads. The sisters are trained and led by morally dubious Valya (Emily Watson), who works alongside her sister Tula (Olivia Williams), and together... Hey, hang on... At what point was permission granted for two older female actors to lead a TV fantasy franchise? It feels like a minor feminist miracle. Valya and Tula are in control of baby breeding for better leaders (think a non-evil, female-friendly Gilead), but a bearded stranger, Desmond Hart (Travis Femmel), has shown up, able to burn people alive with mind power, and the weak emperor (a dazed-seeming Mark Strong) is in his thrall. ‘It’ll be nice for Coleen to do a trial that doesn’t involve Rebekah Vardy,’ quipped Dec Elsewhere, there’s routine fantasy silliness: for instance (spoiler alert), it is breathlessly revealed that Hart acquired his powers by being ingested by a giant sandworm. Still, feels a lot more thoughtful and inventive than most fantasy fare, and with women placed at the centre. Looking ahead, Valya and Tula can still be found quietly but grittily scheming and plotting, alone and together, like a sandier . It’s worth a look. Over to the Australian jungle for the opener of the new series of (ITV1), presented by Ant and Dec. This time, thankfully, with no ( tone) “divisive political figures”. No former health secretary Matt Hancock trying to nice-bloke away breaking his own lockdown rules. No Nigel Farage, populist man of the sheeple, gloating about his giant fee, hilariously unaware he’s tanked 2023’s launch viewing figures by 2 million. Instead, it’s back to the classic ragbag of celebs, including record £1.5m signing Coleen Rooney, wife of former England footballer Wayne (“It’ll be nice for Coleen to do a trial that doesn’t involve Rebekah Vardy,” quipped Dec), former pro Oti Mabuse and McFly’s Danny Jones. At this early stage everyone is being warm and supportive, which is wonderful and uplifting but needs to stop. There’s not nearly enough starvation-induced diva griping and sniping for my black-hearted tastes. Give them time. Disney+ drama , created by Joshua Zetumer, is nine episodes long and still feels as if it needs more space for the huge task it sets itself. Based on the bestselling 2018 book by Patrick Radden Keefe, it spans decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, from the 1970s onwards. Set mainly in Belfast, the story focuses on real-life IRA operatives the Price sisters – Dolours (portrayed over the years by Lola Petticrew, then Maxine Peake) and Marian (Hazel Doupe/Helen Behan) – and Brendan Hughes (Anthony Boyle/Tom Vaughan-Lawlor). It also features Gerry Adams (Josh Finan/Michael Colgan), who was Sinn Féin president from 1983 until 2018, though each episode ends with firm legal disclaimers stating Adams’s consistent denial of involvement with the IRA. Elsewhere, deals with the “disappeared”, including the appalling case of widowed mother of 10 Jean McConville (Judith Roddy), abducted and killed by the IRA for allegedly being an informant to the British army, although it was never proven that she was. In many ways this is an astonishing work, with striking performances all round, and the radicalisation of the Prices is skilfully conveyed. One harrowing episode covers their 1973 bombing of the Old Bailey in London, which injured and maimed more than 200 people, and the sisters’ subsequent imprisonment and hunger strike. Ultimately, though, struggles to control myriad threads: eras are linked by Peake’s older Dolours, and, later, Vaughan-Lawlor’s Hughes giving interviews to Boston College, Massachusetts’ oral history . There’s also a highly problematic rock’n’roll-style excitement to early IRA manoeuvres, though this is addressed as the series progresses, and, for some characters, doubt and conscience seep in. What emerges is a disordered, skewed account, but a powerful one. It’s hard to know where you are with new four-part BBC One drama – and that’s both its biggest fault and its greatest selling point. Adapted from his own left-field novel by Canadian author and playwright , it follows teacher Claire (a vivid performance from Rebecca Hall) as she struggles to cope with an omnipresent rumbling hum only she can hear – to the increasing alarm and exasperation of her husband and daughter (played by Prasanna Puwanarajah and Mia Tharia respectively). Directed by Janicza Bravo ( ), the story has a chilly, stubbornly conceptual feel as Claire keeps gaining and losing your sympathy. Surely a teacher would know it was inappropriate to meet alone with a teenage pupil (a credibly off-kilter Ollie West) who also hears the hum? They join a group of fellow listeners, led by a risibly creepy, blissed-out couple. As Claire’s life unravels, themes jostle: conspiracy theories; alternative facts; cults; condescension to women (Claire’s hum is initially branded a menopausal symptom); quasi-religious fervour and rapture, but also rising dread. There are times when feels akin to a sprawling, uber-woolly episode of . But there’s also the sense that you’re partaking against your will in a televised immersive art installation, and I like that. Here is a drama that aggravates and intrigues in equal measure. (Paramount Plus) The new Taylor Sheridan ( ) drama set in the recent past in west Texas. Demi Moore, Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton star in an ambitious oil business saga about billionaires, law enforcement and drug cartels. (BBC Two) A disturbing documentary about people still campaigning for justice after the devastating effects of the British government’s postwar nuclear test programme in Australia/South Pacific in the 1950s/60s. (BBC Two) Full-on documentary marking the genesis of magazine and the ensuing 90s lads’ mags revolution. Interviewees include Irvine Welsh, Gail Porter and founding editor James Brown.

Authored by Frank Fang via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued two more executive orders targeting Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in his state , after announcing an initial order on Nov. 18 aimed at protecting local dissidents from the Chinese regime’s harassment. Abbott signed Executive Order No. GA-49 on Nov. 20 to safeguard critical infrastructure from cyberattacks and issued Executive Order No. GA-48 on Nov. 19 to protect Texans from the CCP’s espionage operations. Executive Order No. GA-49 directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to prepare for any potential cyberattacks aimed at the state’s critical infrastructure. Under Abbott’s order, the two agencies will create a task force to study potential vulnerabilities within government systems and critical infrastructure, run response simulations to cyberattacks, and put together a committee of state agencies to “simulate a restart of Texas’ electric grid in the event of a foreign attack,” according to a Wednesday statement. “ China has made it clear that they can—and will—target and attack America’s critical infrastructure ,” Abbott said in the statement. “Texas will continue to protect our critical infrastructure to ensure the safety of Texans from potential threats by the Chinese Communist Party or any hostile foreign government.” The order highlighted Volt Typhoon, one of China’s state-sponsored threat groups, and how it had targeted communications, energy, transportation, water, and wastewater systems in the United States and its territories. Volt Typhoon, which was dismantled by a multi-agency operation in January, had maintained “access and footholds within some victim IT environments for at least five years,” the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said in February. The order also cited FBI Director Christopher Wray’s warnings at the Vanderbilt Summit in Nashville in April, when he said that China “has made it clear that it considers every sector that makes our society run as fair game in its bid to dominate on the world stage.” Executive Order No. GA-48 directs all state agencies and public institutions of higher education to “harden” their systems from potential infiltration by hostile nations, including more thorough background checks on state employees and contractors who can access critical infrastructure. Additionally, state agencies will be banned from contracting “companies owned or controlled by a foreign adversary government , and bidding companies must prove that “none of its holding companies or subsidiaries is owned by a foreign adversary government,” according to a Tuesday statement. Faculty members of higher education institutions are banned from taking part in “any foreign recruitment program by a foreign adversary nation,” such as China’s Thousand Talents Program, according to the statement. The Thousand Talents Program is one of many talent recruitment initiatives the Chinese regime has maintained for decades to attract overseas Chinese and foreign experts to work in China’s science and tech sectors. Through these programs, the CCP hopes to quickly turn China into an industrial and innovation powerhouse and ultimately outperform Western countries. The FBI warns on its website that Chinese talent programs pose threats to U.S. national security and usually involve “undisclosed and illegal transfers” of U.S. intellectual property to the Chinese side. “The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that the Chinese government has actively targeted local and state officials as part of their strategy to undermine the national security of the United States,” Abbott said in a statement. “Hardening our state government is critical to protect Texans from hostile foreign actors who may attempt to undermine the safety and security of Texas and the nation.” As an example of the CCP’s infiltration, Abbott’s order pointed to the recent indictment against Linda Sun, former deputy chief of staff to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Sun was charged with spying for Beijing. Another name mentioned in the order is Christine Fang , a suspected Chinese intelligence agent who Abbott’s office said “developed deep connections” with California’s political figures and national politicians. On Monday, when Abbott announced Executive Order No. GA-47, the FBI’s field office in Houston took to the social media platform X to urge victims to come forward. “The government of the [People’s] Republic of China (PRC) may be cyberstalking, physically intimidating, and harassing Chinese citizens, naturalized U.S. citizens, and families of dissidents who speak [out] against the Chinese Communist Party in Texas,” the office wrote. Under Abbott’s order , the Texas Department of Public Safety will target and arrest any individual found to be engaging in CCP influence operations within the state. Washington-based advocacy group Campaign for Uyghurs took to X on Monday to applaud the governor’s decision, saying that CCP continues to carry out its “nefarious practice” of transnational repression in Texas. An example of Beijing’s transnational repression came to light in April last year, when two Chinese nationals were charged with allegedly establishing a secret police station in Manhattan in coordination with China’s Ministry of Public Security. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday applauding Abbott’s leadership. “ Texas is leading the charge in combating the CCP with the help of Governor Abbott’s leadership ,” McCaul stated. “We cannot sit idly by while China attempts to infiltrate our country and harm U.S. national security. “These executive orders send a strong message of deterrence to the CCP: Don’t mess with Texas.”

Join Sam McKewon and Amie Just as they dive deep into the Husker sports scene — rationalizing, analyzing, and summarizing as only they can! In the latest episode of The Showdown, Sam McKewon and Amie Just break down a jam-packed week for Nebraska Athletics. The open with the football game between Nebraska and Wisconsin, how the Huskers' can come out victorious in the matchup and the weird comments from Luke Fickell about who will be the Badgers' play caller. They move onto the doubleheader between both Nebraska and Creighton basketball teams, including the loss of Natalie Potts and how Creighton's difficult schedule can help the Husker women. The duo also talk the Husker men's chances against the Bluejays and Ryan Kalkbrenner. They close out with Nebraska volleyball's upcoming match against Wisconsin on Senior Day and the looming match against Penn State. People are also reading... Recap: Here's how Joey Graziadei will win 'Dancing with the Stars' At the courthouse, Nov. 16, 2024 Zitel bound over to district court in death of child Kidnapping in Nebraska prompted police chase that ended with 3 dead on I-29 in Missouri Beatrice native's latest film gets special engagement in hometown BPS mini-marts offer help They fell in love with Beatrice. So they opened a store in downtown. Chamberlain among seven inducted into Nebraska Baseball HOF Inmate cited for damaging video system Just Askin': Dana Holgorsen noncommittal on future, ranking a big week for Nebraska Athletics Beatrice High School first-quarter honor roll Micheal J's to reopen Former Daily Sun publisher Thomas dies Historical society appoints board members, elects officers At the courthouse, Nov. 9, 2024 Subscribe to HuskerExtra.com Join co-hosts Sam and Amie as they dive deep into the Husker sports scene – rationalizing, analyzing, and summarizing as only they can! Get local news delivered to your inbox!Princeton 66, Rutgers 49None

Nate Johnson scores 25 as Akron defeats Alabama State 97-78LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jimmy Carter was honored with a moment of silence before the Atlanta Falcons’ game at the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, hours after the 39th president of the United States died at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. Beyond being a Georgia native who led the country from the White House less than 8 miles (12 kilometers) away during his time in office from 1977-81, Carter was the first president to host the NFL's Super Bowl champions there when he welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980. Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a statement released by the team before kickoff said he was deeply saddened by the loss of his dear friend and mentor, calling Carter “a great American, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humanitarian.” “He lived his life with great civic responsibility and took it upon himself to be the change he wished to see amongst other,” Blank said, recalling meeting Carter at The Home Depot. “President Carter’s kind and uniting spirit touched so many lives. He was a man of deep faith, and did everything with principal and grace, doing things the right way for the right reasons." ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Stephen Whyno, The Associated PressThis year, the Mets are expected to sign Juan Soto. It's been the story of the winter and the Mets are considered finalists to land the generational hitter that recently played in the Bronx.

Dunlin, a Near Threatened species, spotted during Kerala Bird RaceNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Carter Whitt scored 14 points as Belmont beat Middle Tennessee 82-79 on Saturday. Whitt also added eight rebounds, eight assists, and three steals for the Bruins (8-2). Isaiah Walker also scored 14 points while going 6 of 12 and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line while they also had eight rebounds. Sam Orme had 12 points and went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range). The Blue Raiders (7-3) were led by Jlynn Counter, who recorded 22 points and five assists. Middle Tennessee also got 21 points and two blocks from Jestin Porter. Essam Mostafa finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Belmont went into the half ahead of Middle Tennessee 38-30. Walker scored eight points in the half. Belmont pulled off the victory after a 19-2 run spanning both halves erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 44-30 with 19:01 remaining in the second half. Whitt scored 10 second-half points and his four free throws in the final half-minute helped the Bruins maintain their lead. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

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