While New Hampshire and other states have cheered the new tax revenue from sports gambling, some new studies have linked the burgeoning industry to lower consumer credit scores, higher credit card debt and less household savings. With access on their cellphones, gamblers can bet more often and easily than in traditional casinos, heightening concerns about problem gambling and the financial fallout for sports fans. The rate of gambling problems among sports bettors is at least twice as high as it is for other gamblers, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. Legal sports gambling is more widespread than ever. Missouri voters in November became the latest to approve it, making it legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Last year, Americans bet more than $121 billion on sports, according to the American Gaming Association. While betting revenues are exploding, the industry is still relatively young – only blossoming after a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened the door for states to authorize sports gambling. New Hampshire, which legalized sports betting in 2019, has seen participation increase in recent years. In October 2020 – during the program’s first year — New Hampshire residents placed $40.2 million in total bets, known as the “handle.” The sole approved operator in the state, DraftKings, made $3.8 million that month and the state took in $1.8 million in revenue. In October 2024, that handle had risen to $69.5 million, and the state’s revenue share was $2.4 million, a 33 percent increase. In August, the N.H. Lottery Commission announced it had taken in a record $200.7 million in total gambling revenue in state fiscal year 2024, which ran from July 2023 to June 2024 — a 5 percent jump from the year before. Much of the increase was attributed to sports betting. The revenue is used to bolster the Education Trust Fund, which is expected to take in $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2025 from business taxes and other income sources. So far, researchers have not reached a consensus about potential harms, though three papers released this year found poor financial results for consumers in states with legalized sports gambling. In a working paper released in August, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California determined access to legal online sports betting led to lower credit scores and higher rates of bankruptcies. That study examined credit bureau data of more than 4 million American consumers. “Our results ultimately suggest that gambling legalization does harm consumer financial health,” the report said. That paper did not assess specific solutions but called on policymakers to find ways to protect residents at risk of becoming problem gamblers. “If no action is taken, it is highly likely that the large increase in sports betting will lead to a long-term increase in financial stress on many consumers and policymakers and financial regulators should be prepared for this.” A study led by a Southern Methodist University professor released in June found problem gambling increased in states that introduced online casino gambling alongside online sports gambling. Another working paper from researchers at several U.S. universities found legalized sports betting drained household finances more than other types of gambling and diverted money from saving and investing. The research comes as some state lawmakers have pursued new restrictions on sports gambling and federal lawmakers have eyed stricter regulations. Last month, New Jersey lawmakers introduced legislation to ban so-called prop bets — bets on a particular player’s performance that may not affect the outcome of a game — on college athletes. If approved, it would join 13 other states that ban those bets. The measure has advanced out of an Assembly committee. New Hampshire has a Council for Responsible Gambling, created in 2019 by the same statute that legalized sports betting. That five-person council, whose commissioners are approved by the Executive Council, is chaired by Maura McCann, the marketing director for New Hampshire Lottery. It is charged with providing “education, advocacy and prevention services,“ according to its website. In September, congressional Democrats introduced legislation that would implement minimum national standards and authorize research on the public health implications of sports betting. Among other provisions, the bill would ban sports book advertising during live sporting events, prohibit more than five deposits from gamblers in a 24-hour period, and prohibit artificial intelligence tools that create specialized promotions by tracking individual gambler habits. But it is unlikely to progress in the GOP-controlled House. “State regulation is faint-hearted and half-baked,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said at a news conference announcing the legislation. “That’s why we need a national standard — not to ban gambling, but simply to take back control over an industry that is out of bounds.” Industry pushes back Joe Maloney, senior vice president of strategic communications at the American Gaming Association, said legal betting is among the most regulated industries in the country. Aside from providing new revenue streams for states, Maloney said, legal sports betting has brought many consumers out of the illegal betting markets, providing more transparency for consumers and money for problem gambling programs. “You can go to any state that has yet to have an opportunity to erect a regulatory market and see a predatory and even more pervasive offshore, digital, illegal market that’s targeting consumers in those states,” he said. Maloney pointed to long-standing research finding no correlation between financial hardship and proximity to casinos. But he acknowledged that it isn’t yet clear whether sports betting has a different effect. “I think that topic needs to be further explored, because the scale of legalized gambling online and in the digital space is still very much in its infancy,” he said. But Maloney is skeptical of the idea that sports gambling harms household finances. He noted that Americans last year had record 401(k) holdings and record mutual fund ownership. Maloney highlighted a separate piece of recent academic research that determined the rapid rise of sports betting hasn’t led to an increase in adverse mental health outcomes or financial difficulties. The paper examined self-reported data on mental and financial health from nearly 2 million survey responses across multiple states with legalized betting. The results were somewhat surprising to lead researcher Timothy Bersak, an associate professor of economics at Wofford College in South Carolina. He said the findings contradict a popular narrative that sports betting leads to widespread harms. “Our results suggest that there’s not like a really large population of latent problem gamblers that would have these large gambling problems but for the prohibition on sports betting,” he said. Bersak said his findings don’t negate other recent research: There is a segment of the population that is likely worse off because of sports betting, he said. But for now, a much larger share of the population said they are not being hurt and finding enjoyment from it. “We really can’t have any sense of the long-term impacts at this point,” he said. “Because at least in the U.S., it’s only been around for at most six years.” ‘That money’s gone’ Justin Balthrop, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Kansas, expected that legalized sports gambling would displace other forms of entertainment spending. Maybe someone would forgo a night out, for instance, and instead put a few bucks on Sunday’s game. But a paper he co-wrote — titled “Gambling Away Stability” — found that legalized betting led households to spend more on both entertainment and betting, while putting less in savings and investment accounts. The paper examined financial transaction data from more than 230,000 households across 26 states with legal sports betting between 2018 and 2023. In households that placed bets, net investments dropped by 14 percent after legalization — a significant figure when factoring in the expected long-term gains of compound interest and rising stock prices. “What’s happening is they’re pulling money from what I think we would argue are more long-term productive uses of their funds to do this instead,” Balthrop said. Researchers found that sports betting disproportionately hurts lower-income households as they run up credit card debt and overdraft checking accounts. Balthrop said policymakers should do more to provide education and transparency to consumers, so they know the full extent of the odds against them. A gambler himself, Balthrop said bettors should go into every bet financially and mentally prepared to lose because most bettors don’t win. “I would say the same thing as someone who goes to a casino: Pretend that the hundred bucks you’re bringing to the casino is an entry fee, and maybe you get to leave with some of it,” he said. “But you need to mentally know that money’s gone.” West Virginia state Sen. Jason Barrett, a Republican, said he believes most people who have placed bets since the state legalized sports gambling in 2018 have done so for fun — not with the expectation of making money. “The way I look at it is, if somebody decides that they’d rather spend $50 on the outcome of an NFL game as opposed to going out to the movies, I think they should have the right to do that,” he said. “I’m not aware that there are a lot of people that are doing this for a real investment.” Barrett, the treasurer of a national group of state lawmakers that works on gambling issues, noted that sports betting is still just a fraction of the overall spending on gambling in West Virginia. The American Gaming Association reported sports betting last year brought in about $48 million in revenue in West Virginia; total casino revenues in the state reached nearly $806 million. While problem betting is always a concern, he said he’s seen no evidence sports gambling has dramatically increased addiction. “I don’t think all of a sudden that we’ve offered one new product through sports betting, that all of a sudden we’re going to create a bunch of gambling addicts,” he said, “or that people have this illusion that they’re somehow going to regularly beat the book, and that this is going to somehow replace their retirement.” The American Gaming Association reported that commercial gambling revenues hit a record $66.66 billion last year — a 10.3 percent increase over 2022. While casino revenues continue to rise, sports gaming revenues are exploding: Last year, when sports betting became available in five new states, the group reported a total of $11 billion in sports betting revenue — a 46 percent increase from the previous year. That figure does not include sportsbooks operating at tribal casinos. Those figures will likely continue to rise as more states approve sports betting. Missouri regulators are currently crafting rules and a licensing framework for sports betting following the narrow approval of the ballot initiative last month. Jan Zimmerman, chair of the Missouri Gaming Commission, said the state hopes to launch sports betting by summer. While the agency has heard concerns from state residents about increased problem gambling associated with sports betting, Zimmerman said regulators in other states have not reported a significant uptick. As it does with casinos, the gaming commission will funnel a portion of sports betting revenues to mental health work to address problem gambling. But because the initiative was passed as an amendment to the state constitution, the gaming commission has limited latitude to create new regulations or safeguards on sports betting. “The constitutional language is that which was created by that initiative petition,” she said. “So, there’s no going back and maybe molding that to work better to fit our needs.” The N.H. Bulletin’s Ethan DeWitt contributed to this report. This story was originally published by Stateline, which, like the N.H. Bulletin, is part of States Newsroom This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the N.H. Bulletin is part of States Newsroom. .Optical Illusion Personality Test: What You See First Reveals If You're Shy Or A Social ButterflyI used Amazon noise cancelling headphones on a long haul flight and slept the whole way'fortune gems 2 jili free download 。

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a professional athlete in the US. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Burrow was away playing in a 27-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Texas. A person employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home on Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen and have reached out to neighbours in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. The homes of Kansas Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into November 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burgled on September 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become "increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups." And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to "transnational South American Theft Groups" that are "reportedly well-organised, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices." Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials.

Donald Trump aides contact Google, Meta, Snap over online drug sales: ReportStock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report - The Associated Press

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, a symbolic gesture rejected by the United States and Israel. The resolution -- adopted by a vote of 158-9, with 13 abstentions -- urges "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire," and "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages" -- wording similar to a text vetoed by Washington in the Security Council last month. At that time, Washington used its veto power on the Council -- as it has before -- to protect its ally Israel, which has been at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian militant group's October 7, 2023 attack. It has insisted on the idea of making a ceasefire conditional on the release of all hostages in Gaza, saying otherwise that Hamas has no incentive to free those in captivity. Deputy US Ambassador Robert Wood repeated that position Wednesday, saying it would be "shameful and wrong" to adopt the text. Ahead of the vote, Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon said: "The resolutions before the assembly today are beyond logic. (...) The vote today is not a vote for compassion. It is a vote for complicity." The General Assembly often finds itself taking up measures that cannot get through the Security Council, which has been largely paralyzed on hot-button issues such as Gaza and Ukraine due to internal politics, and this time is no different. The resolution, which is non-binding, demands "immediate access" to widespread humanitarian aid for the citizens of Gaza, especially in the besieged north of the territory. Dozens of representatives of UN member states addressed the Assembly before the vote to offer their support to the Palestinians. "Gaza doesn't exist anymore. It is destroyed," said Slovenia's UN envoy Samuel Zbogar. "History is the harshest critic of inaction." That criticism was echoed by Algeria's deputy UN ambassador Nacim Gaouaoui, who said: "The price of silence and failure in the face of the Palestinian tragedy is a very heavy price, and it will be heavier tomorrow." Hamas's October 2023 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. That count includes hostages who died or were killed while being held in Gaza. Militants abducted 251 hostages, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 44,805 people, a majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry that is considered reliable by the United Nations. "Gaza today is the bleeding heart of Palestine," Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour said last week during the first day of debate in the Assembly's special session on the issue. "The images of our children burning in tents, with no food in their bellies and no hopes and no horizon for the future, and after having endured pain and loss for more than a year, should haunt the conscience of the world and prompt action to end this nightmare," he said, calling for an end to the "impunity." After Wednesday's vote, he said "we will keep knocking on the doors of the Security Council and the General Assembly until we see an immediate and unconditional ceasefire put in place." The Gaza resolution calls on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present "proposals on how the United Nations could help to advance accountability" by using existing mechanisms or creating new ones based on past experience. The Assembly, for example, created an international mechanism to gather evidence of crimes committed in Syria starting from the outbreak of civil war in 2011. A second resolution calling on Israel to respect the mandate of the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and allow it to continue its operations was passed Wednesday by a vote of 159-9 with 11 abstentions. Israel has voted to ban the organization starting January 28, after accusing some UNRWA employees of taking part in Hamas's devastating attack. abd/sst/jgc/nro/desDonald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling

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Gazing through a camera lens beats staring down an empty bottle. That’s one fine insight you’ll receive from talking with Garry Waldram. The retired Rutherglen resident is well-known around Bonfield and throughout the region for his awesome nature photography, particularly when he turns his lens to our feathered friends. What most don’t know is how photography helped Waldram put away the booze, which was a big problem for him. “Alcohol was my way of coping,” Waldram said, “It got to the point where I had to seek help, and it was at that point that I decided that photography was what I wanted to do to help myself.” Born and raised in Hamilton, Waldram came of working age in the 80s, “And the recession was going so Stelco and Dofasco weren’t hiring.” He did a couple of years at McMaster before turning to the mills for work, but that wasn’t a fit, either. “That’s why I joined the military,” Waldram said. He served in the Navy from 1982 to 2006. After duty in the regular force, he did several more years as a full-time reservist with two years in Halifax and three years in North Bay at the National Recruiting Contact Centre (before it closed) between 2012 and 2015. That last stop is why Waldram remains in the area today. Waldren put in two tours to Afghanistan, one to Kandahar and the other to Kabul, where he worked at home leave travel assistance – booking travel home for soldiers to see their families. He also went back to Afghanistan for a time to work alongside the military with a civilian organization. He spent almost 13 years “attached to ships,” during his time in the Navy, mostly deployed on NATO exercises oversees. The list of places those ships brought him to is too long to list – Spain, France, Germany, Scotland – the list is long, and the sights were vast. To paraphrase the old song, he’s been everywhere. But some of those stops and travels stuck with Waldram in a bad way. “It did affect me, and I was going through some issues with mental health and PTSD.” In the early phases of these illnesses, Waldram figured he was in a depression, but after working with psychologists and psychotherapists with Veterans Affairs, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as well. He’s been working the Veterans Affairs’ rehabilitation program, and “It’s really been helpful to me. I haven’t had a drink in over three and half years.” Waldram is very open about his past, as he knows others may have similar stories. And his tale of overcoming the bottle might inspire others to conquer the same battle. “I mean if I can help somebody, I have no problem telling my story.” “I don’t feel like I’m addicted to photography,” Waldram joked, “although I do spend an awful lot of time doing it, but I don’t think it’s detrimental to my health.” Indeed, almost daily Waldram grabs his gear and heads out into the wilds of Rutherglen, or wherever the birds might be. He prefers photographing nature, with birds being his favourite subjects. It’s not unusual to find him in kayak, loaded with long lenses and Nikon cameras, waiting for the perfect shot of a mallard or merganser. Nature has always cast a spell for him, and when he was younger, he was an ace athlete, part of the Hamilton Water Polo Club, which also led him to McMaster, as it had the top water polo team in the country then. So being out in the bush and on the ponds and lakes suits Waldram just fine in his older years, camera in hand, waiting for the ideal light for the perfect shot – “And wildlife doesn’t always give you the opportunity,” for the perfect shot, he added. Waldram keeps tabs on migration patterns, and often has his nose in a field guide, but one very useful tool in his arsenal is a phone app called Merlin. He raved, “It’s an amazing app because you can put it on audio ID, and it will identify birds by their songs or calls.” He’s also joined the Nipissing Naturalist Club to get out with other members of the Bird Wing Group and share insights into bird watching and photography. Each month they have a “bird bash” and hit the woods with binoculars and cameras in hand. As for the birds, owls are the trickiest to capture in a photo, Waldram noted. He’s travelled to the Ottawa area to get a good shot of a snowy owl. The Northern Saw-whet owl is the most common owl in Canada, Waldram added, but if you can capture it on film, you should also buy a lottery ticket, because the elusive species has yet to be crossed off Waldram’s list. It’s not unusual for Waldram to travel the region for photos, and last winter, he even packed his cameras and went to Costa Rica for a bird tour. Apparently, these tours are quite popular, with plenty of destinations to choose from. He plans to return this coming March, and capture some of the 900 bird species that call Costa Rica home. Waldram posts photos to his social media page and they are always well-received by the community. It’s been an interesting journey, as before he stopped drinking, he didn’t even think about photography, and over a short period of time, he’s taken wholeheartedly to the hobby. As for posting his photos, “The comments I get from the people are wonderful, because you know there’s so much negativity in the media today, and people on social media are always complaining.” “I just think it’s amazing that I can put my photos out there and make people happy.” To see more of Waldram’s photos, learn more about his work, or pick up print, visit his site Big Bear Adventure Photography at . He’s also working towards taking out small groups on photography tours, so stay tuned for that. David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” A look at some of the issues covered: Trump has threatened broad trade penalties, but said he didn’t believe economists' predictions that added costs on those imported goods for American companies would lead to higher prices for U.S. consumers. He stopped short of a pledge that U.S. households won't be paying more as they shop. “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow,” Trump said, seeming to open the door to accepting the reality of how import levies typically work as goods reach the retail market. That's a different approach from Trump's typical speeches throughout the 2024 campaign, when he framed his election as a sure way to curb inflation. In the interview, Trump defended tariffs generally, saying they are "going to make us rich.” He has pledged that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada unless those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He also has threatened additional tariffs on China to help force that country to crack down on fentanyl production. ”All I want to do is I want to have a level, fast, but fair playing field,” Trump said. He offered conflicting statements on how he would approach the justice system after winning election despite being convicted of 34 felonies in a New York state court and being indicted in other cases for his handling of national security secrets and efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden. “Honestly, they should go to jail,” Trump said of members of Congress who investigated the Capitol riot by his supporters who wanted him to remain in power. The president-elect underscored his contention that he can use the justice system against others, including special prosecutor Jack Smith, who led the case on Trump’s role in the siege on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump confirmed his plan to pardon supporters who were convicted for their roles in the riot, saying he would take that action on his first day in office. As for the idea of revenge driving potential prosecutions, Trump said: “I have the absolute right. I’m the chief law enforcement officer, you do know that. I’m the president. But I’m not interested in that." At the same time, Trump singled out lawmakers on a special House committee who had investigated the insurrection, citing Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. “Cheney was behind it ... so was Bennie Thompson and everybody on that committee,” Trump said. Asked specifically whether he would direct his administration to pursue cases, he said, “No,” and suggested he did not expect the FBI to quickly undertake investigations into his political enemies. But at another point, Trump said he would leave the matter up to Pam Bondi, his pick as attorney general. “I want her to do what she wants to do,” he said. Such threats, regardless of Trump's inconsistencies, have been taken seriously enough by many top Democrats that Biden is considering issuing blanket, preemptive pardons to protect key members of his outgoing administration. Trump did seemingly back off his campaign rhetoric calling for Biden to be investigated, saying, “I’m not looking to go back into the past.” Trump repeatedly mentioned his promises to seal the U.S.-Mexico border and deport millions of people who are in the U.S. illegally through a mass deportation program. “I think you have to do it,” he said. He suggested he would try to use executive action to end “birthright” citizenship under which people born in the U.S. are considered citizens — although such protections are spelled out in the Constitution. Asked specifically about the future for people who were brought into the country illegally as children and have been shielded from deportation in recent years, Trump said, “I want to work something out,” indicating he might seek a solution with Congress. But Trump also said he does not “want to be breaking up families” of mixed legal status, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” Long a critic of NATO members for not spending more on their own defense, Trump said he “absolutely” would remain in the alliance “if they pay their bills.” Pressed on whether he would withdraw if he were dissatisfied with allies’ commitments, Trump said he wants the U.S. treated “fairly” on trade and defense. He waffled on a NATO priority of containing Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Ukraine should prepare for less U.S. aid in its defense against Putin’s invasion. “Possibly. Yeah, probably. Sure,” Trump said of reducing Ukraine assistance from Washington. Separately, Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire . Asked about Putin, Trump said initially that he has not talked to the Russian leader since Election Day last month, but then hedged: “I haven’t spoken to him recently.” Trump said when pressed, adding that he did not want to “impede the negotiation.” The president-elect said he has no intention, at least for now, of asking Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to step down before Powell's term ends in 2028. Trump said during the campaign that presidents should have more say in Fed policy , including interest rates. Trump did not offer any job assurances for FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term is to end in 2027. Asked about Wray, Trump said: “Well, I mean, it would sort of seem pretty obvious” that if the Senate confirms Kash Patel as his pick for FBI chief, then “he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? Somebody is the man that you’re talking about.” Trump promised that the government efficiency effort led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will not threaten Social Security. “We're not touching Social Security, other than we make it more efficient,” he said. He added that “we're not raising ages or any of that stuff.” He was not so specific about abortion or his long-promised overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. On abortion, Trump continued his inconsistencies and said he would “probably” not move to restrict access to the abortion pills that now account for a majority of pregnancy terminations, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. But pressed on whether he would commit to that position, Trump replied, “Well, I commit. I mean, are -- things do -- things change. I think they change.” Reprising a line from his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump again said he had “concepts” of a plan to substitute for the 2010 Affordable Care Act, which he called “lousy health care.” He added a promise that any Trump version would maintain insurance protections for Americans with preexisting health conditions. He did not explain how such a design would be different from the status quo or how he could deliver on his desire for “better health care for less money.” Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.Watch the best shots from Daniel Berger and Nelly Korda's first round at the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational, where strong iron play keeps the pairing in touch with the leaders. Brentley Romine reports from Florida on the latest surrounding PGA Tour Q-School action, where he catches up with Alistair Docherty after his terrific Friday and looks ahead to expected conditions this weekend. Watch the best shots from Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson's -9 first round at the 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational, which included a hot start, some beautiful iron shots and a special birthday celebration. Brentley Romine and Jim Gallagher Jr. join Golf Central to highlight notable golfers making waves at PGA Tour Q-School action in Florida and the pressure of trying to earn a PGA Tour card. Amy Rogers reports on the latest surrounding Mollie Marcoux Samaan stepping down as LPGA Tour commissioner, where she hears from Mel Reid and Megan Khang about what they'd like to see in the next commissioner. Amy Rogers catches up with several new teams ahead of this year's Grant Thornton Invitational, including Tom Kim-Jeeno Thitikul and Allisen Corpuz-Sahith Theegala. The Golf Central crew reflects on the wild storylines that came out of the 2024 men's major golf events and looks forward to 2025. Justin Thomas had a brutal day around the greens to end the Hero World Challenge, but Golf Central thinks he's trending in the right direction after a solid tournament as a whole. Todd Lewis and Brandel Chamblee analyze Scottie Scheffler's game at the Hero World Challenge and how he flexed his incredible overall skillset to cap a successful 2024 with a win. Tom Kim took a big leap on moving day at the Hero World Challenge, knocking in a dozen birdies and putting himself in contention for a win in the Bahamas. Todd Lewis and Brandel Chamblee look at the birdie-filled scorecard of Tom Kim's third round at the Hero World Challenge and how he was able to put himself in position to win on the final day.

Ex-Auburn QB Brown commits to play for IowaThousands of pro-Europe protesters rallied Sunday in Georgia against the government's decision to shelve European Union accession talks, marking the 11th consecutive day of demonstrations amid a post-election crisis. The country's pro-Western opposition and the president rejected the ruling Georgian Dream party's claimed victory in October 26 parliamentary polls and tens of thousands had taken to the streets against alleged electoral fraud. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's shock decision last week that EU-candidate Tbilisi will not seek the opening of accession talks triggered a fresh wave of protests, which met with a tough police response.I used Amazon noise cancelling headphones on a long haul flight and slept the whole way'

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With temperature dropping and everyone gearing up for the magic of Chistmas, the season for cosy hot chocolate is finally upon us. And while Jack Frost is ipping at your nose, Londoners are bundling up and warming their hands and hearts with variety of delicious cocoa treats. London's hot chocolate scene has evolved far beyond simple cocoa powder and milk, with artisanal cafes and chocolatiers offering extraordinary variations of this beloved winter warmer. From thick, Italian-style drinking chocolate to innovative flavour combinations, the city's best hot chocolate spots provide unique experiences for chocolate enthusiasts. Italian Bear Chocolate This social media sensation has revolutionised London's hot chocolate scene with their innovative triple-chocolate approach. What sets them apart is their unique layering technique: they begin by carefully melting three distinct varieties of chocolate - creamy white, smooth milk, and rich dark - which are individually ladled into each mug to create stunning visual layers before being topped with their signature hot chocolate blend. Beyond their famous drinks, their triple-layered fudge cake has become equally legendary, drawing comparisons to the infamous cake scene in Roald Dahl's Matilda. Address: 41 Broadwick St, Carnaby, London W1F 9QL, United Kingdom Timings: 10 am to 11 pm Cost for two: £10–20 Chin Chin Labs This innovative dessert laboratory has earned its reputation through experimental creativity and theatrical presentation. Their signature hot chocolate experience features a generous crown of marshmallow fluff, dramatically blow-torched to order for a caramelised finish. The brand has cleverly expanded beyond its brick-and-mortar locations by offering a premium home delivery service - their DIY hot chocolate kits contain pre-blended Valrhona chocolate (a prestigious French chocolate maker) prepared in their Soho kitchen. The addition of their famous marshmallow fluff allows customers to recreate their signature experience at home. Address: 49-50 Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF, United Kingdom Timings: 12 pm to 7 pm Cost for two: £15 Ruby Violet Hidden away in King's Cross, this charming ice cream parlour offers a unique take on hot chocolate with their 'short and intense' serving. Unlike standard hot chocolates, they serve their concentrated creation in an elegant gold cup, accompanied by house-made almond brittle that provides a delightful textural contrast. The intimate setting and attention to detail make this spot perfect for chocolate purists seeking quality over quantity. While hot chocolate might not be their primary focus, they've managed to create a distinctive offering that complements their artisanal ice cream selection. Address: Midland Goods Shed, 3 Wharf Rd, London N1C 4BZ, United Kingdom Timings: 11:30 am to 9 pm Cost for two: £15 Venchi Chocolate With a heritage spanning back to 1878, this Italian chocolate institution brings authentic European chocolate craftsmanship to London. Their hot chocolate menu showcases their expertise in chocolate making, featuring various formulations that cater to modern dietary requirements including gluten-free and vegan options. Their commitment to quality ingredients and traditional methods, combined with their willingness to adapt to contemporary dietary needs, has helped maintain their position as one of London's premier chocolate destinations. Address: Unit 18 The Market Building, London WC2E 8RB, United Kingdom Timings: 10 am to 11 pm Cost for two: £10 KonditorThis established bakery chain, founded by Gerhard Jenne in 1993, has an impressive celebrity pedigree, having baked for music legends like Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones. Starting from a single Waterloo location, they've expanded to three central London stores, earning critical acclaim along the way. Their hot chocolate stands out for its rich, comforting quality - particularly appreciated during London's colder months. The combination of their baking expertise and chocolate craftsmanship has created a unique hot chocolate offering that complements their celebrated cake selection. Address: 9 Bow Ln, London EC4M 9EB, United Kingdom Timings: 8 am to 6 pm Cost for two: £10 The Parlour at Fortnum & Mason This iconic department store's parlour adapts seasonally, transitioning from summer sundaes to winter hot chocolates. Their menu features three distinct varieties: classic dark, creamy milk, and innovative salted caramel, all available with indulgent toppings of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. They offer a special £12.25 pairing menu that matches their hot chocolates with premium treats like millionaire's shortbread, honey and ginger cheesecake, or orange madeleines, creating a complete luxury chocolate experience. Address: 1st floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER, United Kingdom Timings: 10 am to 8 pm Cost for two: £20 Gelupo While primarily known for its exceptional gelato, this Soho establishment offers a sophisticated take on hot chocolate during winter months. Their interpretation is distinctly Italian in style - eschewing the typical British additions of marshmallows and whipped cream in favour of an intense, concentrated shot of melted dark chocolate. This adult-oriented approach provides a pure, unadulterated chocolate experience that's more akin to drinking liquid truffles than traditional hot chocolate. Address: 7 Archer St, London W1D 7AU, United Kingdom Timings: 12 pm to 11 pm Cost for two: £15 KnoopsThis Sussex-born chocolate specialist has successfully expanded into London with a scientific approach to hot chocolate creation. Their unique concept involves trained "Knoopologists" who guide customers through selecting their ideal chocolate percentage from an extensive "chocolate library" featuring white, milk, ruby, and dark varieties. The experience can be further customised with carefully selected additions like Maldon sea salt, Szechuan pepper, or cardamom. The presentation includes their signature homemade marshmallow square and bowl-style serving, creating an elevated hot chocolate experience that's both educational and indulgent. Address: 2 New Row, London WC2N 4LH, United Kingdom Timings: 9 am to 10:30 pm Cost for two: £10 Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Food Reviews, Lifestyle and around the world.Jim Carrey Just Revealed His One Condition For Reprising The Grinch, And I Actually Kinda Hope This HappensLive Nation Entertainment Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market

Chesapeake native Brandon Osmundson scored the winning goal 3:22 into the extra period off assists from Darick Louis-Jean and Ben Zloty. The Admirals will be at Scope for their next six games. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Cause of underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets still unknown — and may stay that way, fire chief says Cause of underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets still unknown — and may stay that way, fire chief says Hampton’s superintendent just got a massive raise. Here’s how it compares. Hampton’s superintendent just got a massive raise. Here’s how it compares. Man taken into custody after shooting at Suffolk church staff member Man taken into custody after shooting at Suffolk church staff member Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination has echoes across the US Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination has echoes across the US John Hinckley Jr. nixes plans to open Williamsburg music store John Hinckley Jr. nixes plans to open Williamsburg music store Disney influencer Dominique Brown dies at 34 after allergic reaction at food event, report says Disney influencer Dominique Brown dies at 34 after allergic reaction at food event, report says VHSL state semifinal scoreboard: Oscar Smith, Maury, Phoebus advance to championship games VHSL state semifinal scoreboard: Oscar Smith, Maury, Phoebus advance to championship games Williamsburg-area Democrats announce candidacy for House seats Williamsburg-area Democrats announce candidacy for House seats Hokies will play in Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota in Charlotte Hokies will play in Duke’s Mayo Bowl against Minnesota in Charlotte Hampton Roads native’s acting career grows with role on NBC’s ‘Brilliant Minds,’ airing Monday Hampton Roads native’s acting career grows with role on NBC’s ‘Brilliant Minds,’ airing Monday Trending Nationally Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass MAGA influencer Nick Fuentes charged with battery of woman he maced: report ‘America’s Got Talent’ comedian Kabir ‘Kabeezy’ Singh dead at 39 Police may search a vehicle based on the smell of raw cannabis, Illinois Supreme Court rules ‘Oppenheimer’ actor Emma Dumont comes out as transmasculine, changes nameJohn Fury has thrown down the gauntlet to Logan Paul - with the American responding by telling him to "start training" as he expresses his eagerness to fight the YouTube star in a match that could feature alongside his son Tommy's potential rematch with Logan's brother, Jake. After a period out of the public eye following Tyson Fury's loss to Oleksandr Usyk, John has made headlines at a recent press conference for Tommy's called-off bout against Darren Till. In light of Tommy pulling out, due to Till's warning of a head kick if he found himself behind, John took to social media to lay out a challenge to the Paul brothers. READ | John Fury breaks silence with brutal Logan Paul call-out and makes one condition "This is a message to Logan Paul," said John on social media. "You keep going on about Tommy Fury not wanting to fight your brother. Here's one for you my friend. He does want to fight your brother and I'll tell you what else... I will fight you on the undercard. As soon as possible... ASAP. I'm sick of people saying 'I won't do this and I won't do that.' I will show you how I'll do." "Tommy will fight your brother as early as end of February or end of January and I'll fight you on the undercard. You're a lot younger than me, we know that. You're a 15st man, but I won't do as other fighters do... I will let my punches go at you. I'm sick of the critics saying; 'I won't do this' or 'I won't do that and I'm a coward'. "I will show you how much of a coward I am, I will fight you anywhere in the world - except America - on your brother and Tommy's undercard. Get back to me if you're interested... I will fight you Logan Paul and I will throw punches at you." "I will let my hands go and I won't s*** myself. I'll let my f****** hands go. "So, if you're interested, let me know and then I'll fight you on your brother and Tommy's undercard wherever it may be in the world." Logan has now responded to John Fury's call-out on Instagram, responding with a short message: "Start training". Logan - despite being well-known in the world of WWE - also has some experience inside the ring, as per reports from The Mirror .Bus route diverted until December due to anti-social behaviour

DALLAS (AP) — The Washington Nationals will have the No. 1 overall pick in the amateur draft next summer after winning the lottery in a drawing of ping-pong balls at the winter meetings Tuesday. Unlike last year, when the Nationals were ineligible after initially coming out with the top spot, they will get to make the first pick in July in Atlanta, the site of the All-Star Game. Washington was ineligible for a top-six pick last year because the collective bargaining agreement states a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan cannot have a lottery selection in back-to-back years. The Nationals chose outfielder Dylan Crews with the No. 2 pick in 2023. The Los Angeles Angels have the second pick for next summer. Seattle, Colorado, St. Louis and Pittsburgh round out the top six. A weighted lottery among the 18 teams that failed to make the playoffs this season determined the order of picks for the third year in a row. The Nationals went in with a 10.2% chance, the fourth-best odds, for getting the No. 1 pick. Colorado and Miami, both 100-loss teams, had the best odds at 22.45%, ahead of the Angels at 17.96%. Miami instead ended up with the seventh pick. Seattle got the No. 3 overall pick after having a 0.53% chance to get the No. 1 pick, the second-worst odds among 16 eligible teams. The 121-loss Chicago White Sox, who had the most losses of any major league club since 1900, were not eligible for the draft lottery since they had one of the top six picks last year (No. 5) and is a team that pays into the revenue-sharing plan. The CBA also doesn’t allow teams that receive money in revenue sharing to have lottery picks three years in a row. That made the Athletics (69-93) ineligible for the lottery — they picked fourth last year after having the No. 6 selection in 2023. Chicago instead got the 10th pick, one spot ahead of Oakland — the highest possible positions for those two teams because of their recent lottery picks. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB The Associated Press

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