US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale costs in the United States picked up sharply last month, signaling that price pressures are still evident in the economy even though inflation has tumbled from the peak levels it hit more than two years ago. The producer price index — which tracks inflation before it reaches consumers — rose 0.4% last month from October, up from 0.3% the month before. Measured from 12 months earlier, wholesale prices climbed 3% in November, the sharpest year-over-year rise since February 2023. Higher food prices helped fuel the November wholesale inflation reading, which was higher than economists had expected. Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began the process on Thursday for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act. It would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. The legislation has passed the House. The bill would add more strain on the Social Security Trust funds, which are already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. The measure would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. From a 10-year-old to a Muppet to a president-elect, NYSE bell-ringers range from famous to obscure The first guest invited to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange in 1956 wasn’t a company executive, a politician or a well-known celebrity. It was a 10-year-old boy, Leonard Ross, who received the honor by winning a television quiz show.Since then, business titans, political giants and global film stars have all been among those ringing the opening bell at the NYSE. Ronald Reagan rang the bell as president in 1985. Billionaire businessman and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. - have also rung the bell. The list includes famous Muppets: Miss Piggy was once a bell ringer. Trump is named Time's Person of the Year and rings the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange after being recognized by Time magazine as its person of the year. The honors Thursday for the businessman-turned-politician are a measure of Trump’s remarkable comeback from an ostracized former president who refused to accept his election loss four years ago to a president-elect who won the White House decisively in November. At the stock exchange, Trump was accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump, daughters Ivanka and Tiffany and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Trump grinned as people chanted “USA” before he opened the trading day and raised his fist. Ontario to restrict electricity exports to US and bar American-made alcohol if Trump tariffs applied TORONTO (AP) — A senior official in Canada’s most populous province says that Ontario could bar American-made alcohol and restrict electricity to three U.S. states if President-elect Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products. The states are Michigan, New York and Minnesota. An official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government said Thursday that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries. ECB cuts rates a quarter point amid concerns of tepid growth, impact of Trump trade policies FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The European Central Bank is cutting interest rates by a quarter percentage point amid signs of weakening growth and concern about the impact of political chaos in France and the possibility of new U.S. import tariffs. The bank’s rate-setting committee made the decision Thursday at its skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt to lower the benchmark rate from 3.25% to 3%. Lower rates should support growth amid signs that the post-pandemic recovery is slowing in the 20 countries that use the euro currency and concerns that U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump might impose new tariffs, or import taxes, on goods imported to the US after he is inaugurated Jan. 20. YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor The head of the Federal Aviation Administration says he will step down next month to let President-elect Donald Trump name his choice to lead the agency. Mike Whitaker announced his pending resignation in a message to FAA employees on Thursday. Since taking the helm at the FAA in October 2023, Whitaker has dealt with challenges that include a surge in close calls between planes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and antiquated equipment. He has led a tougher enforcement policy against Boeing since a panel blew off a jetliner in January. The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees NEW YORK (AP) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Thursday it's capping overdraft fees at $5 with a rule set to take effect in October 2025, if it isn't overturned by Congress or altered under a Trump administration. President Joe Biden had called the fees, which can be as high as $35, “exploitative,” while the banking industry has lobbied extensively to keep the existing fee structures in place.

Germany is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the European economy. GDP is on track to fall for a second straight year. Energy-intensive industries like chemicals and metalwork are in the tank. National champions such as Volkswagen and ThyssenKrupp have announced unprecedented job cuts and factory closures. The best way to understand these problems is as a negative consequence of Germany’s own prior economic success and of the institutional underpinnings of those earlier achievements. The German economy’s current malaise is further evidence of this. In the aftermath of World War II – a period of upheaval and crisis but also of renovation and opportunity – what was then West Germany developed a set of economic and political institutions ideally suited to the conditions of the time. To capitalise on its existing prowess in quality manufacturing, policymakers put in place successful vocational training and apprenticeship programmes that expanded the supply of skilled mechanics and technicians. To exploit rapidly growing world trade and penetrate global export markets, German industry doubled down on the production of motor vehicles and capital goods, fields where it had developed a pronounced comparative advantage. At the same time, West Germany built a bank-based financial system to channel funds to dominant firms in these sectors. To ensure harmony in its large companies and limit workplace disruptions, it developed a system of management codetermination that gave workers’ representatives input into C-suite decisions. Finally, to limit disruptive politics, and specifically to check the kind of political extremism and parliamentary fragmentation that had haunted Germany in the past, a proportional electoral system was put in place so that all mainstream parties had a voice, subject to a 5% minimum threshold for parliamentary representation (to limit the influence of fringe parties). The happy result of this alignment of institutions and opportunities was the Wirtschaftswunder, the growth miracle of the third quarter of the twentieth century, when West Germany outperformed its major advanced-economy rivals (with the sole exception of Japan). Unfortunately, these same institutions and arrangements proved exceedingly difficult to modify when circumstances changed. Focusing on quality manufacturing became problematic with the rise of new competitors, including China, yet German firms remained heavily invested in the strategy. Attempts to alter workplace organisation, much less close down uneconomical plants, were stymied by codetermination. Funding startups in new sectors was not the natural inclination of fusty banks accustomed to dealing with long-established customers engaged in familiar lines of business. And a proportional electoral system with a 5% threshold yielded unsatisfactory results and unstable coalitions when voters moved to the extremes, positioning the Alternative for Germany on the right and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance on the left to earn parliamentary representation, while leaving the more moderate Free Democrats at risk of being shut out. The solutions, it would seem, are obvious: Invest more in higher education and less in old-fashioned apprenticeships and vocational training so that Germany can become a leader in automation and artificial intelligence. Develop a venture capital industry to take risks that banks are unwilling to shoulder. Use macroeconomic policies to stimulate spending instead of relying on tariff-ridden export markets. Rethink codetermination and a mixed-member proportional electoral system that has outlived its usefulness. Not least, release the “debt brake,” another inheritance from the past, which limits public spending. Doing so will permit the government to invest more in research and development and in infrastructure, two critical determinants of economic success in the twenty-first century. Imagining such changes may be easy, but implementing them is not. Change is always hard, of course. But it is especially hard when one seeks to modify a set of institutions and arrangements whose successful operation, in each case, depends on the operation of the others. Attempting to do so is akin to replacing a Volkswagen’s transmission while the engine is running. To take one example, German banks, which rely on their existing customer relationships, are most comfortable when lending to long-established firms doing business in long-established ways. In turn, those firms perform best when they have long-standing relationships with banks on which they can rely for finance. Replace those established firms with startups, and the banks, lacking the expertise of venture funds, will be at sea. If they lend nonetheless, they are at risk of going under. Replace banks with venture capital funds, which have little interest in stodgy metal-bending firms, and those firms will lose access to the external finance on which they depend. Such is the nature of Germany’s institutional gridlock. The bad news, then, is that there is a serious mismatch between Germany’s current economic situation and its institutional inheritance, and that there are major obstacles to altering the latter to realign it with the former. The good news is that a crisis that prompts a wholesale rethink of that institutional inheritance could conceivably break the logjam. Maybe this is just the crisis that Germany needs. Related Story Qatar stresses need to preserve Syria's unity Qatar establishes WEF's Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution

Macy’s, other big retailers hike store-branded credit card rates as holidays ramp upBloody Axe Wound Review: Tearing at the Heart of Things By The horror genre is always looking for ways to innovate, new approaches, or a different perspective when doing classic stories, and fans are quick to reward these creative fancies when they’re done well. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and these types of re-imaginings are often easier when they use familiar – but legally distinct – characters, especially in comedic situations. Then all that’s required is a little clever writing, maybe a few likable protagonists, or just some gnarly inventive kills. Bloody Axe Wound is festering in that sense—no, wait, I meant thriving—in that sweet spot where it almost hits all of these bars in an attempt to make something new and fun with a little bite. The story follows Abbie Bladecut–and that last name is more than appropriate, as her family is in the slasher business. Her dad, Roger, has turned killing teenagers into his life’s work and it keeps their video rental store open and puts food on the table. Wanting to appease her weakening father – even if he doesn’t think a girl can carry the franchise – Abbie is determined to become the best serial killer she can, but a rocky path leads her to try some more in-depth research at the local high school, showing the young girl what it’s like for kids on the other side. Now she’s faced with weighing her potential new friends and a budding romance against her responsibilities and family legacy, leading to an eventual confrontation against the patriarch that won’t end well. Bloody Axe Wound was written and directed by Matthew John Lawrence, someone I’m not familiar with, but after this movie and finding out one of his previous projects is called Uncle Peckerhead, I’m taking note. Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, The Boys) is involved as a producer, but he also pops up in the film briefly, something that they made sure to show off in the excellent trailer. What attracted me even further was that superb retro-styled poster, which made me want to sit down and watch the entire Bladecut series immediately. What Lawrence crafted here is an excellent coming-of-age lesbian romance slasher flick, and it works because it feels as genuine as possible within the established universe. This is a comedy, and the humor is done well, even if not everything lands just right. The movie has an attitude. The characters swear, say naughty things, while the teenage angst and rebellion come across as just raw enough. More importantly, we care about the people we’re following. All the players, even the antagonists, have real-life issues on their plates, from bills and family squabbles to lost loves and the desire to achieve something. They all feel like someone we knew in school or could have interacted with, minus the killer part. Sari Arambulo (A.P. Bio) is excellent as Abbie, and Molly Brown (Evil, Dexter: Original Sin) beautifully plays her fiery counterpart, Sam, with the two bouncing perfectly off each other as their relationship escalates quickly and violently. Billy Burke (Twilight, Batman: The Long Halloween) is the stern father figure, but he has moments of showing concern and being thankful, which makes it worse when he and his daughter start working against each other. There isn’t a lot of talking toward the end, but each character feels strongly about their convictions and all of the actors are doing a fantastic job, showing off tons of chemistry, minus one or two annoying side characters that could have been trimmed. Bloody Axe Wound moves quickly after a specific inciting event and comes in at a brisk 83 minutes. As much as I enjoy the story, it feels like the ending could have taken a bit more time to breathe, extending the conflict between Abbie and her dad, but maybe Lawrence felt that wasn’t the point as much, or that there was a risk of overstaying. Abbie’s motivations to continue her family legacy could have been touched on more in general, making a stronger argument for why she never thought to question what they did before now. Her being adopted seems to play a small role, causing an urge to be accepted into the family, but there’s almost nothing said about that. There’s a lot of lore here, especially with the supernatural elements we’re given, that are just brushed up against and I have to wonder if Lawrence has learned that faithful lesson that fans want to know more, but once they do, a franchise can lose its mystique. Still, even though I enjoyed the ending I felt there were many unanswered questions – like who is filming this stuff – and we were missing about ten minutes or just a little more exposition. But in a way, that just makes me want a sequel, so perhaps that was the intention. Most of my complaints about the movie equal to wanting more or thinking they should have gone a bit further, none of that means this wasn’t incredibly enjoyable. Several of the aforementioned positive factors just fell into place, making it a fun experience. This was helped by the period setting, like a real small town out of a ‘90s horror story, some wonderful camera work, and a solid licensed soundtrack with at least one appropriate catchy cover. This is a horror comedy, so there are some kills here. One or two are stylish, and a couple are absolutely hilariously dumb, but the murders aren’t where this project excels. What’s handled well is the gore. Slightly savage and grotesque, the make-up and slashing aftermaths look great, even if a couple of them are accompanied by ridiculous amounts of blood–so many gallons. There are over-the-top moments and stupid deaths, even some charred genitals, but the majority of it worked. These elements are part of why I initially thought the title was a metaphor for a vagina—probably not, but there is a pretty abrupt period gag early on, so maybe I’m not too far off. These bits are all part of that punk attitude I mentioned earlier, giving the film a playful and energetic feel. Bloody Axe Wound isn’t redefining the genre. It’s a cute twist, a bloody tryst, and it is committed to an enjoyable concept that played within the established playground while managing to let splashes of its style shine. I’ll take more of these for sure, and I think others might enjoy it too. Even if not, it’s just a wound. As ComingSoon’s explains, a score of 7 equates to “Good.” A successful piece of entertainment that is worth checking out, but it may not appeal to everyone. Playing video games and watching old cartoons in the basement of Raccoon City's Police Department, where misplaced commas and lack of pizza are the biggest problems. Share article

Middle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 Palestinians

Trump Border Czar Tom Homan Plans PR War over Migration and RepatriationsMy gravy’s better than yours | Lisa Smith Molinari

In a pretty significant and recent incident for US military operations in the Middle East, a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet was accidentally shot down by an US warship over the Red Sea in the month of December, reported Y Net News. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America According to Y Net News, this actually occurred during US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in the capital of Yemen named Sanaa. Though following the accident, both the pilots successfully ejected and were eventually rescued with one sustaining minor injuries. The Houthis at the same time quickly claimed responsibility for the downing, although the Pentagon has not confirmed any direct link between the friendly fire incident and ongoing combat against the Iranian backed group. This incident actually sheds a light on the challenges posed by the Iranian proxies specifically the Houthis who have actually intensified their missile and drone campaigns in support of Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on the date of October 7, asserted Y Net News. The Houthis have targeted both Israel and civilian vessels in the Red Sea while raising concerns over global trade routes. As severe tensions escalate, the US President Joe Biden administration faces a severely complex situation while balancing military action with diplomatic efforts to resolve the civil war of Yemen, noted Y Net News. Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Web Development C++ Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) ChatGPT Mastery from Zero to Hero: The Complete AI Course By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Soft Skills Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery: Connect with Confidence By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Collaborative AI Foundations: Working Smarter with Machines By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Entrepreneurship Boosting Startup Revenue with 6 AI-Powered Sales Automation Techniques By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program The evolving capabilities of the Houthis which is being reportedly bolstered by Iranian support have actually alarmed the US officials and raised questions about the effectiveness of current strategies to deter their aggression. FAQs: Who accidentally shot down a US fighter jet pretty recently? Pretty recently, a US Navy F/A-18 fighter jet was accidentally shot down by an US warship over the Red Sea in the month of December. What are being targeted and attacked by the Houthis during recent days? The Houthis have targeted both Israel and civilian vessels in the Red Sea while raising concerns over global trade routes. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )

Heading into the 2024 college football season, Texas Longhorns fans were operating under the assumption that quarterback Quinn Ewers would be playing his final season. The former five-star recruit will forever be credited for bringing Texas "back" to prominence following the conference title and College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. While the 2024 season started with Ewers establishing himself as the Heisman favorite and contender for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, the buzz quickly died down after an oblique injury sidelined him during the team's Week 3 game against UTSA. He missed the next couple of weeks and then returned for the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma, which saw him look rusty. A performance that he followed up with one of the worst of his Texas career in the team's loss to Georgia. Ewers was so unsettled in the first half against Georgia that he was benched in favor of Arch Manning for a couple of drives. Steve Sarkisian made it clear he would ride with Ewers, but the third-year starter has had several ups and downs. With his draft stock taking a bit of a hit and him not performing as well as he once was, some speculated he could return for another season. Something that neither he nor Sarkisian opted not to address leading up to Saturday's game against Kentucky, which is currently the final home game on the schedule, barring a playoff game for Texas. Ewers was also not featured in the team's graphic of players being honored for senior day. However, CJ Vogel of On Texas Football reported on Saturday that Ewers is in fact expected to partake. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images "Texas QB Quinn Ewers is expected to be recognized during pregame senior day festivities today vs. Kentucky," wrote Vogel. If this truly is the final game for Ewers at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, he deserves the biggest standing ovation possible. He perfectly managed the hype that surrounded him, and handled the buzz around Manning with grace. While this may indicate his time at Texas is done, there's still technically a chance he can return to college football next season if he chooses. Whether or not that is at Texas is a different discussion. The Longhorns came into Saturday favored by 18.5. Related: Paul Finebaum Has Embarrassing Wardrobe Mishap Ahead of Texas-Kentucky

Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Haiti gangs fire on journalists covering a planned hospital reopening, leaving casualties PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Suspected gang members have opened fire on journalists in Haiti’s capital as they were covering the attempted reopening of the country’s largest hospital, wounding or killing an unknown number of people. The country's interim president, Leslie Voltaire, said in an address to the nation that journalists and police were among the victims of the vicious Christmas Eve attack. He did not specify how many casualties there were, or give a breakdown for the dead or wounded. Radio Télé Métronome said earlier on Tuesday that seven journalists and two police officers were wounded in the shooting. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Middle East latest: Israeli raid and airstrikes in West Bank kill at least 8 Palestinians The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least eight people were killed by Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank. The ministry said three of the dead were killed by Israeli airstrikes. The attacks took place around the city of Tulkarem and nearby refugee camps. The Israeli military said it opened fire after militants attacked soldiers, and it was aware of some uninvolved civilians who were harmed in the raid. Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian city of Bethlehem was marking a somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of the war in Gaza. Most festivities were cancelled and crowds of tourists were absent. Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Major storm pounds California's central coast, blamed for man's death and partially collapsing pier SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm has pounded California’s central coast bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds and waves up to 60 feet Monday as it gained strength from California to the Pacific Northwest. Some California cities have ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon. Forecasters have warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. Medellin Cartel victims demand truth and justice as cartel boss Fabio Ochoa walks free in Colombia BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — The return of the notorious drug trafficker Fabio Ochoa to Colombia, following his deportation from the United States, has reopened old wounds among the victims of the Medellin cartel, with some expressing their dismay at the decision of Colombian authorities to let the former mafia boss walk free.Some of the cartel victims said on Tuesday that they are hoping the former drug lord will at least cooperate with ongoing efforts by human rights groups to investigate one of the most violent periods of Colombia’s history, and demanded that Colombian prosecutors also take Ochoa in for questioning.

2 held for defiling Babasaheb Ambedkar’s bust in Khokhra

Step Finance plans tokenized stock trading via Solana acquisition

7 tips to prepare for next year’s taxes now

E-gates: We Have Data Linked To Interpol, Other Security Agencies To Prevent Crime – Tunji-Ojo RevealsIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away

Pat Bryant caught a 40-yard touchdown on fourth down with four seconds remaining as No. 25 Illinois rallied for a dramatic 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J. With Rutgers playing cover-zero defense, Bryant caught Luke Altmyer's sidearm toss on fourth-and-13 at the 22-yard line in the middle of the field and ran in from the right side for a 36-31 lead. Bryant's dramatic catch came after Illinois initially decided to attempt a go-ahead 57-yard field goal into the wind. Following a timeout, the Ilini went for it on fourth down. Altmeyer's two-point conversion attempt to Bryant was incomplete, but the visitors recorded a safety on the game's final play. Bryant finished with seven catches for a career-high 197 yards, and his score came after Rutgers took a 31-30 lead on a 13-yard rushing TD by Kyle Monangai with 1:08 left. Monangai gave the Scarlet Knights the lead after Illinois overcame a nine-point deficit on Aidan Laughery's 8-yard TD run with 13:48 remaining and Altmyer's 30-yard run with 3:07 left. Bryant's clutch catch gave Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) eight wins for the second time in three seasons on a day when it committed 11 penalties. Altmyer finished 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and threw two touchdowns. He also gained a team-high 74 yards on the ground as the Ilini totaled 182 rushing yards. Monangai finished with 122 yards on 28 carries and Kaliakmanis completed 19-of-37 passes for 175 yards, but Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) was unable to win a third straight Big Ten game for the first time. Kaliakmanis also rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The Scarlet Knights saw their losing streak against ranked teams reach 41 games after taking a 17-9 halftime lead and a 24-15 advantage early in the fourth. --Field Level Media