Kotu ta yi martani ga boren wasu lauyoyi a KanoIn the presence of HE the Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Lekhwiya launched its strategic plan 2024-2030. The ceremony was attended by a number of ministers, leaders, and directors from various military, security, and civilian state agencies. In his remarks during the ceremony, HE the Deputy Commander of Lekhwiya Staff Major General Mohammed Misfer al-Shahwani said that the announcement comes as a culmination of strenuous efforts and tireless work to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing the security capabilities of the force and achieving security and stability for the homeland. He pointed out that the new strategy is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030, and with the directives of the wise leadership that emphasise the importance of sustainable development and achieving a balance between security and development to achieve a safe and stable environment. In a related context, he emphasised the support of HE the Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and his instructions towards excellence, adding that Lekhwiya strives to be an effective part of this ambitious vision. He indicated that the strategy aims to enhance the operational efficiency and technical capabilities of the force’s personnel, by adopting the latest technologies and innovations in the fields of security, and also seeking to enhance co-operation and co-ordination with local and international security agencies to ensure the highest levels of protection and safety. HE Staff Major General al-Shahwani highlighted that this strategy is not just a document, but rather a collective commitment toward a safer and more stable future for the nation. He pointed out the keenness to develop advanced training programmes aimed at raising the level of readiness and efficiency among the force’s members and preparing them to face emerging security challenges with high efficiency. HE the Deputy Commander of Lekhwiya stressed that investing in people is the main pillar for achieving the goals of Lekhwiya. In this regard, he said that Lekhwiya is committed to developing its cadres to achieve excellence and leadership in the field of internal security. For his part, director of the planning and development department at Lekhwiya Major Dhafer Nasser al-Hajri gave a presentation on the force’s strategy (2024-2030), explaining its relationship to Qatar National Vision 2030. Major al-Hajri reviewed the stages that took place during the construction of this plan, which was prepared according to a scientific and practical methodology based on a comprehensive analysis of the internal and external environments to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. He noted the co-operation of all the leaders of Lekhwiya toward building the strategic plan. He also addressed the objectives of the strategy, which include enhancing the leadership role of the Lekhwiya in the field of internal security, developing multi-domain operations, enhancing the ability to respond quickly and qualitatively, ensuring the safety and continuity of security operations, achieving sustainable readiness, leadership in international co-operation, governance of administrative operations, integration of technology, and developing the institutional culture and attractiveness of work in the force. Related Story LoI signed by Lekhwiya, German Federal Police
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) (Nasdaq: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $750 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private placement (the “offering”) to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Nutanix also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes within a 13-day period from, and including, the initial issuance date of the notes. The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Nutanix. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes will mature on December 15, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, subject to certain conditions and during certain periods. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled in cash, shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, at Nutanix’s election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. Nutanix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes”) concurrently with the pricing of the offering in separate and privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of its 2027 notes (the “concurrent note repurchases”) effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, and (ii) repurchase up to $200.0 million of shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions with institutional investors effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, at a price per share equal to the last reported sale price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of the pricing of the notes (the “Share Repurchase”). Any such Share Repurchase would not reduce the amount available for future repurchases under Nutanix’s existing share repurchase program. Nutanix intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions. From time to time, Nutanix evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products. Currently, however, Nutanix does not have any understandings or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. The terms of the concurrent note repurchases are anticipated to be individually negotiated with each holder of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, and will depend on several factors, including the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock and the trading price of the 2027 notes at the time of each such concurrent note repurchase. Certain holders of any 2027 notes that Nutanix agrees to repurchase may have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such 2027 notes and may, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying Nutanix’s Class A common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Nutanix’s Class A common stock. Any repurchase of the 2027 notes, and the potential related market activities by holders of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, together with the repurchase by Nutanix of any of its Class A common stock concurrently with the pricing of the notes, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, which may affect the trading price of the notes at that time and the initial conversion price of the notes. Nutanix cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or its Class A common stock. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2027 notes or the Class A common stock will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. Neither the notes nor the shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful. About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Nutanix’s financing plans, Nutanix’s ability to complete the offering, the timing and size of the offering, the concurrent note repurchases and the Share Repurchase, Nutanix’s intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether Nutanix will be able to consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions with respect to the offering of the notes, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering of the notes, which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Nutanix’s management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by Nutanix’s forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in Nutanix’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, and the risks discussed in Nutanix’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Investor Contact: Richard Valera ir@nutanix.com Media Contact: Lia Bigano pr@nutanix.com
BEIRUT — Israel's military launched airstrikes across Lebanon on Monday, unleashing explosions throughout the country and killing at least 31 while Israeli leaders appeared to be closing in on a negotiated ceasefire with the Hezbollah militant group. Israeli strikes hit commercial and residential buildings in Beirut as well as in the port city of Tyre. Military officials claimed they targeted areas known as Hezbollah strongholds. They issued evacuation orders for Beirut's southern suburbs, and strikes landed across the city, including meters from a Lebanese police base and the city's largest public park. The barrage came as officials indicated they were nearing agreement on a ceasefire, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet prepared to discuss an offer on the table. Bulldozers remove the rubble of a destroyed building Monday that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. Hussein Malla, Associated Press Foreign ministers from the world’s leading industrialized nations also expressed cautious optimism Monday about possible progress on a ceasefire. People are also reading... “Knock on wood,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said as he opened the Group of Seven meeting outside Rome. “We are perhaps close to a ceasefire in Lebanon," he said. "Let's hope it's true and that there's no backing down at the last-minute.” A ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon was foremost on the agenda of the G7 meeting in Fiuggi, outside Rome, that gathered ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the last G7 encounter of the Biden administration. For the first time, the G7 ministers were joined by their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as the Secretary General of the Arab League. Thick smoke, flames and debris erupt Monday from an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Tayouneh, Beirut, Lebanon. Hassan Ammar, Associated Press Meanwhile, massive explosions lit up Lebanon's skies with flashes of orange, sending towering plumes of smoke into the air as Israeli airstrikes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs Monday. The blasts damaged buildings and left shattered glass and debris scattered across nearby streets. Some of the strikes landed close to central Beirut and near Christian neighborhoods and other targets where Israel issued evacuation warnings, including in Tyre and Nabatiyeh province. Israeli airstrikes also hit the northeast Baalbek-Hermel region without warning. Lebanon's Health Ministry said Monday that 26 people were killed in southern Lebanon, four in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel province and one in Choueifat, a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs that was not subjected to evacuation warnings on Monday. The deaths brought the total toll to 3,768 killed in Lebanon throughout 13 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah and nearly two months since Israel launched its ground invasion. Many of those killed since the start of the war between Israel and Hezbollah have been civilians, and health officials said some of the recovered bodies were so severely damaged that DNA testing would be required to confirm their identities. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Israel claims to have killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Lebanon's Health Ministry says the war has displaced 1.2 million people. Destroyed buildings stand Monday in the area of a village in southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel. Leo Correa, Associated Press Israeli ground forces invaded southern Lebanon in early October, meeting heavy resistance in a narrow strip of land along the border. The military previously exchanged attacks across the border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that began firing rockets into Israel the day after the war in Gaza began last year. Lebanese politicians have decried the ongoing airstrikes and said they are impeding ceasefire negotiations. The country's deputy parliament speaker accused Israel of ramping up its bombardment to pressure Lebanon to make concessions in indirect ceasefire negotiations with Hezbollah. Elias Bousaab, an ally of the militant group, said Monday that the pressure has increased because "we are close to the hour that is decisive regarding reaching a ceasefire." Israeli officials voiced similar optimism Monday about prospects for a ceasefire. Mike Herzog, the country's ambassador to Washington, earlier in the day told Israeli Army Radio that several points had yet to be finalized. Though any deal would require agreement from the government, Herzog said Israel and Hezbollah were "close to a deal." "It can happen within days," he said. Israeli officials have said the sides are close to an agreement that would include withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon and a pullback of Hezbollah fighters from the Israeli border. But several sticking points remain. A member of the Israeli security forces inspects an impact site Sunday after a rocket fired from Lebanon hit an area in Rinatya, outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel. Leo Correa, Associated Press After previous hopes for a ceasefire were dashed, U.S. officials cautioned that negotiations were not yet complete and noted that there could be last-minute hitches that either delay or destroy an agreement. "Nothing is done until everything is done," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The proposal under discussion to end the fighting calls for an initial two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the southern border south of the Litani River. The withdrawals would be accompanied by an influx of thousands more Lebanese army troops, who have been largely sidelined in the war, to patrol the border area along with an existing U.N. peacekeeping force. Western diplomats and Israeli officials said Israel demands the right to strike in Lebanon if it believes Hezbollah is violating the terms. The Lebanese government says such an arrangement would authorize violations of the country's sovereignty. Shoppers say they want eco-friendly products, so why aren't they buying them? Shoppers say they want eco-friendly products, so why aren't they buying them? On paper, being more sustainable and eco-friendly while shopping sounds great—so why don't more people do it?There is growing consumer consciousness about the environmental impact of where people choose to shop and the sustainability of the products they buy. According to McKinsey, over 60% of individuals surveyed in 2020 said they would be willing to pay more for a product that is packaged in an eco-friendly way. Since 2019, products marketed as being environmentally sustainable have seen a 28% growth in revenue compared to 20% for products with no such marketing, a 2023 McKinsey and NielsenIQ report found.Much of this is thanks to the preferences and attitudes of Gen Z, who, on average, care more than their older counterparts about being informed shoppers. The younger generation also has more social justice and environmental awareness altogether.Shoppers are willing to spend around 9.7% more on a product they know is sourced or manufactured sustainably, with 46% saying they would do so explicitly because they want to reduce their environmental footprint, according to a 2024 PwC report. Sustainable practices consumers look for from companies include production methods, packaging, and water conservation.But despite the growing consciousness around being more environmentally responsible, consumer actions don't always align with their values. In psychology, this is defined as the "say-do gap": the phenomenon wherein people openly express concern and intention around an issue, but fail to take tangible action to make a change. According to the Harvard Business Review in 2019, most consumers (65%) say they want to buy from brands that promote sustainability, but only 1 in 4 follow through.So why don't people actually shop sustainably, despite how much they express a preference for eco-friendly products—and how can we close the gap?The RealReal examined reports from the Harvard Business Review and other sources to explore why some shoppers want to buy sustainably but struggle to follow through. This lack of action isn't due to a lack of caring—in many cases, it's hard to know how to be a sustainable consumer and other factors are often outside of shoppers' control. But the more people shop sustainably, the easier and more accessible that market will be for everyone—making it much easier for folks to buy aligned with their values. Emanuele Cremaschi // Getty Images Barriers to sustainable shopping There are many obstacles preventing shoppers from upholding eco-friendly habits as much as they may want to—but not all of these barriers are necessarily real, or accurately understood.Shopping sustainably simply isn't convenient or accessible for many. Those who live in apartment buildings are 50% less likely to recycle, according to Ipsos. Reasons for this can vary from lack of space to buildings being excluded altogether because of recycling contamination issues.Many believe that sustainable products are too expensive or of a lower quality. The former is often true, which does create a hurdle for many: The manufacturing processes and materials for sustainable products are pricey. For instance, organic cotton requires an intensive production process free of certain chemicals or pesticides; by definition, true eco-friendly products can't be mass-produced, further upping their price tag. Using recycled materials for packaging, or obtaining an eco certification, can also be expensive.However, although the narrative of eco-friendly products being more expensive is true, there is often more of an effort to use better quality materials that last longer than their noneco-friendly counterparts. This could end up saving consumers money in the long run: By paying more upfront, they can get more wear out of sustainable fashion, for instance.There is also undeniable political rhetoric surrounding eco-friendly products—however, despite many Conservative politicians decrying sustainable products, members of all generations are increasingly choosing to prioritize shopping sustainably regardless of their political affiliation, according to research from NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business. This finding shows a trend toward seeing sustainability as a nonpartisan subject everyone can benefit from, no matter where they lie on the political spectrum.Some might think eco-friendly clothing, in particular, is not fashion-forward; after all, many of the top clothing retailers in the world partake in fast fashion. However, brands are increasingly being recognized as 'cool' and 'trendy' for supporting environmentally ethical practices, particularly as younger generations prioritize sustainability, as noted before.Many increasingly popular online stores are taking advantage of this paradigm shift by offering secondhand shopping options that are not only fashionable, but also more affordable, like ThredUp or Poshmark.Additionally, many legacy large-name brands are hopping on the sustainability movement and are gaining appreciation from loyal customers. Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly program partners with third-party certification bodies to make it easier for shoppers to identify eco-friendly products as they browse the website. H&M's newly launched H&M Rewear program debuts a resale platform that allows the resale of all clothing brands—not just their own. Similarly, Patagonia's Worn Wear program allows shoppers to trade in and buy used gear and clothing.The federal government is also working to close this gap. The Environmental Protection Agency's Safer Choice program is attempting to make sustainable shopping easier for consumers and companies alike. It includes a directory of certified products, a list of safer chemicals to look out for on labels, a "Safer Choice" label that products can earn to denote they are eco-friendly, and resources for manufacturers looking to adopt more sustainable practices.Most of all, though, the biggest way shoppers can shift toward sustainable shopping is through their behaviors and attitudes amongst their peers and communities. Studies show that humans largely care what others think of their actions; the more shoppers make environmentally conscious shopping the norm, the more others will follow suit.From an economic perspective, the more consumers shop eco-friendly, the more affordable and accessible these products will become, too: Sustainable products are currently more expensive because they are not in high demand. Once demand rises, production rates and prices can lower, making these products more accessible for all.Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn.This story originally appeared on The RealReal and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group // Getty Images Be the first to know
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden kicked off his final holiday season at the White House on Monday by issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in southern Minnesota. Biden welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom” and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles. “It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025. That's when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability. Biden is 82. Until Inauguration Day, the president and first lady Jill Biden will continue a busy run of festivities that will double as their long goodbye. The White House schedule in December is replete with holiday parties for various constituencies, from West Wing staff to members of Congress and the White House press corps. Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president's home state of Delaware. “The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden's right. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters. Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on.’” Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.” Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near the southern Minnesota city of Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989. With their presidential reprieve, Peach and Blossom will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agriculture interpretative center near Waseca in southern Minnesota. The center's aim is to promote agriculture and educate future farmers and others about agriculture in America. Separately Monday, first lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meters) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene . Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm lost thousands of trees in the storm “but this one remained standing and they named it ‘Tremendous’ for the extraordinary hope that it represents,” Jill Biden said at the event. The Bidens also traveled to New York City on Monday for an evening “Friendsgiving” event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island. Biden began his valedictory calendar Friday night with a gala for hundreds of his friends, supporters and staff members who gathered in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn, with a view out to the Lincoln Memorial. Cabinet secretaries, Democratic donors and his longest-serving staff members came together to hear from the president and pay tribute, with no evidence that Biden was effectively forced from the Democratic ticket this summer and watched Vice President Kamala Harris suffer defeat on Nov. 5. “I’m so proud that we’ve done all of this with a deep belief in the core values of America,” said Biden, sporting a tuxedo for the black-tie event. Setting aside his criticisms of Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy, Biden added his characteristic national cheerleading: “I fully believe that America is better positioned to lead the world today than at any point in my 50 years of public service.” The first lady toasted her husband with a nod to his 2020 campaign promise to “restore the soul of the nation,” in Trump’s aftermath. With the results on Election Day, however, Biden’s four years now become sandwiched in the middle of an era dominated by Trump's presence on the national stage and in the White House. Even as the first couple avoided the context surrounding the president's coming exit, those political realities were nonetheless apparent, as younger Democrats like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Biden's Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg not only raised their glasses to the president but held forth with many attendees who could remain in the party's power circles in the 2028 election cycle and beyond. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.The 2024 college football season may have slowed down, as most teams across the country have shifted into bowl and playoff mode. But one thing that is heating up every day is the college football transfer portal. The official transfer portal window opened on Monday, Dec. 9, and will close on Dec. 28. The transfer portal has become a vital tool in college football recruiting, especially in 2024. Coaches across the county use both the portal and recruiting classes to build their rosters every season. Let's run through the top list of college football transfer portal players and see which guys can make immediate impacts at their schools. MORE CFB: Transfer portal QB tracker | Bill Belichick rumors tracker Transfer portal rankings 2025: Top players available While this list is subjective, we'll use 247Sports' rankings as a guide. 1. Luke Kromenhoek, QB, Florida State: Florida State switched between quarterbacks DJ Uiagalelei, Brock Glenn, and true freshman Luke Kromenhoek this year. In six games during Florida State's 2-10 season, Kromenhoek threw for 502 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, rushing for 113 yards. A 4-star recruit, Kromenhoek was the No. 5 ranked signal-caller from the class of 2024, per 247Sports. Possible landing spot: Georgia Bulldogs, given that he is from Savannah and was a top-10 prospect in the state. 2. Eric Singleton Jr., WR, Georgia Tech : Singleton had an outstanding first two seasons at Georgia Tech. He started playing as a true freshman and combined for 1,468 yards receiving with nine touchdowns over his past two seasons. Possible landing spot: He is scheduled to visit Ole Miss, Georgia, and Auburn this week. Any one of these teams could use a talented wideout like Singleton. 3. Princewill Umanmielen, EDGE, Nebraska: Princewill is the younger brother of former Florida and Ole Miss defensive lineman Princely Umanmielen. He spent the past two seasons at Nebraska, where he racked up 35 total tackles with eight for loss, including 1.5 sacks. Possible landing spot: 247's Crystal Ball projections has him following his older brother and ending up at Ole Miss. 4. Dane Key, WR, Kentucky: Key was a bright spot during a tough year for the Wildcats, who finished 4-8 on the season. Key put up the best numbers of his career, getting 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns. Possible landing spot: A Kentucky native, Key has the talent to transfer to a bigger SEC program. He has been rumored to potentially be taking a visit to Louisville, as well. 5. Nic Anderson, WR, Oklahoma: Anderson had an unfortunate start to 2024, playing in just one game before suffering a season-ending quad injury. He had a breakout season for the Sooners in 2023 as a redshirt freshman, making 38 catches for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns, which was second on the team. Possible landing spot: Although Anderson doesn't have visits lined up just yet, he took official visits to USC, Oregon, and Penn State in high school. He is originally from Kathy, Texas, so the Longhorns could certainly be in play. 6. Hunter Zambrano, IOL, Illinois State: Zambrano spent the past four seasons at Illinois State, making 23 starts from 2021-23. He suffered a season-ending hip injury early in the 2024 season. Possible landing spot: Zambrano is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He'll have his pick of schools as an experienced offensive lineman, despite his injury. 7. KC Concepcion, WR, NC State: Concepcion had a breakout season as a true freshman at NC State, accounting for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers dipped a bit this year, getting just 53 receptions for 460 yards and six scores. Possible landing spot: Concepcion has reportedly been targeted by Alabama and is visiting Texas A&M on Tuesday. 8. Maalik Murphy, QB, Duke: Murphy started his career at Texas from 2022-23, making two starts for the Longhorns in 2023. He threw for 477 yards three touchdowns and an interception. Following his transfer to Duke last offseason, he threw for 2,933 yards with 26 touchdowns —a Duke school record— and 12 interceptions. Possible landing spot: Murphy is from Inglewood, Calif., so the likes of USC and UCLA could certainly be in the mix. He has the experience to have his pick of where to play, though. 9. Patrick Kutas, IOL, Arkansas: Kutas started in 13 games over two seasons for the Razorbacks, where he signed in 2022. Possible landing spot: 247's Crystal Ball projects Kutas to end up at Ole Miss. 10. Jaheim Oatis, DL, Alabama: Over his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa from 2022-23, Oatis accounted for 55 total tackles, including 16 for loss. Early this season, Oatis dealt with numerous injuries and didn't see much playing time, prompting him to opt out of the season and enter the portal in early October. Possible landing spot: 247's Crystal Ball also predicts Oatis to sign with Ole Miss. 11. Micah Hudson, WR, Texas Tech: Despite being a former 5-star recruiting prospect and the nation's No. 4 overall wideout for 2024, Hudson didn't see the field much this year in Lubbock. He finished with just eight receptions for 123 yards. Possible landing spot: Hudson is reportedly set to visit Texas A&M in the coming weeks. The Aggies also recruited him while he was in high school. 12. Williams Nwaneri, EDGE, Missouri: Williams was a highly-touted recruit from the class of 2024. A former 5-star prospect, he was the No. 1 overall defensive lineman prospect in his class. He played in just two games for Missouri this season, getting two total tackles and a sack. Possible landing spot: He'll have his pick of schools as a talented prospect, but he looks to be an early LSU target. 13. Barion Brown, WR, Kentucky: Over the past three seasons for the Wildcats, Brown had accounted for 1,528 yards with 11 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. Possible landing spot: He reportedly is being recruited by a number of SEC schools, as well as Florida State. 14. Bear Alexander, DL, USC: Alexander is on the move again, starting his career at Georgia in 2022 and winning a national title with the Dawgs that season. He transferred to USC before the 2023 season and had 48 total tackles with 1.5 sacks last year. After playing in three games for USC this season, he decided to take a redshirt and enter the transfer portal. Possible landing spot: Alexander has been linked to Oregon, Penn State, and SMU early on. 15. James Williams, EDGE, Nebraska: Williams spent the past two seasons at Nebraska, accounting for 18 total tackles including seven sacks in Lincoln. Possible landing spot: Williams already has a visit lined up with Florida State in the coming weeks. 16. Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M: Weigman is one of the more talented signal-callers in this year's transfer portal class. He was a five-star QB prospect from the class of 2022, signing with Jimbo Fisher's No. 1 overall recruiting class. Although he has dealt with some injuries during his career, he's thrown for 2,694 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions over the past three seasons. Possible landing spot: Weigman can have his pick of where to go. One possible fit might be Notre Dame, which has used transfers like Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard in back-to-back seasons. 17. Mario Craver, WR, Mississippi State: Craver spent 2024 as a true freshman at Mississippi State. He had a solid season, finishing with 17 receptions for 368 yards and three touchdowns. Possible landing spots: Craver played high school football in Alabama, so expect Alabama and Auburn to be in the mix. Both schools offered him during his recruiting process last year. 18. Max Klare, TE, Purdue: During the Boilermakers' 1-11 season, Clare was a bright spot. He led the team in receiving with 685 yards and four touchdowns on the year. Possible landing spots: A native of Cincinnati, Klare was previously committed to Duke during his high school recruiting process. 19. Johntay Cook II, Texas, WR: It's rare to have a player on a team in the CFP enter the portal, but Cook II is here. He hasn't had much production, accounting for just 16 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns over the past two seasons. He was ranked as the No. 3 wideout in the class of 2023. Possible landing spots: There were rumors that Cook was planning a visit to Texas A&M, but it appears he doesn't have any set just yet. He is from DeSoto, Texas. 20. Reggie Virgil, WR, Miami (Ohio): Virgil has spent the past three seasons at Miami of Ohio, getting 43 receptions for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns. Possible landing spots: Virgil, from Apopka, Fla., is expected to be a Miami Hurricanes target, and he reportedly has plans to visit the University of Florida. Transfer portal rankings 2025 by position Quarterbacks Wide Receivers Running backs Tight ends Offensive tackles Interior offensive lineman Defensive linemen EDGE rushers Defensive backs Linebackers Punters/Kickers TBDNutanix Announces Proposed $750 Million Convertible Senior Notes OfferingDorn scores 21 as Elon knocks off Navy 69-63
Nov. 30—The Wichita City Council is poised to vote on a new contract with the Fraternal Order of Police that gives officers hefty raises and eliminates one controversial provision that allowed officers to buy their way out of suspensions. But the contract won't include many of the police accountability recommendations put forward in a $214,000 report by national police consultant group Jensen Hughes in 2023, and in at least one instance directly conflicts with a Jensen Hughes recommendation. Those proposals — including changes to officer discipline, promotion policies aimed at diversifying the department, excessive force policies and a requirement that officers immediately report misconduct to a supervisor — were removed from contract negotiations and would have to be negotiated separately to be implemented. Members of the Wichita FOP have already voted to approve the new contract; the City Council will discuss it on Dec. 3 and vote on it Dec. 10. It would start in late December and run through 2026. The FOP contract continues to prohibit the city from releasing the names of officers who shoot civilians or commit misconduct, a longtime ask of police reformers. It will also continue the policy of allowing officers accused of misconduct to review their investigative files before being interviewed by the Professional Standards Bureau, a practice that conflicts with the Jensen Hughes report. It also gives officers eight weeks paid parental leave and 10 additional hours of vacation time in 2026. The contract is expected to lock in annual raises for police officers ahead of an estimated budget shortfall of $55 million from 2026 to 2028. More than one-third of the city's entire general fund budget pays for police salaries and benefits, according to this year's adopted budget. "Budget considerations were at the forefront of every meeting as negotiators sought to balance the need to maintain a competitive wage scale with future budget limitations," Jim Jonas, director of strategic communications for Wichita, said in a written statement. The new contract puts the police budget $3.2 million over the 2025 adopted budget and $1.8 million over the 2026 projected budget, according to the city's agenda report on the contract, meaning the city will likely have to make cuts to other projects to make up the difference. What's in the contract? The city says the new contract includes raises of 4.5% in 2025 and 2% in 2026 while eliminating a $2.25-an-hour bonus for officers who don't violate city policies, which the Jensen Hughes report identified as sending the wrong message to officers. Instead, FOP leaders said, the $2.25-an-hour bonus will now be rolled into all officers' base hourly pay, whether they violate policies or not. After rolling the code of conduct pay into base salaries, officers will receive a nearly 13% hourly base pay raise next year and would be eligible for an additional 2% merit raise. New officers will start out making $33.45 an hour under the new contract and would max out after 15 years at $47.27 an hour. Detectives will make hourly wages between $36.66 and $51.80, while sergeants make between $40.22 and $56.83 an hour. The FOP says it hopes that the 2025 wage increase — which will make the Wichita Police Department the best-paid department in Kansas — will help attract and retain officers amid a staffing shortage of more than 95 officers. The city reopened the FOP contract in 2023 to award $5,000 bonuses to all commissioned officers and to increase overtime pay from 1.5 times their standard rate of pay to 2.5 times their standard rate of pay — at a cost of $3.4 million — for any times they were called back to work by a supervisor or during an emergency. The hike in overtime pay was included in the new contract. The city declined to answer questions about police staffing levels, employee rosters and how many officers left the department after accepting $5,000 bonuses last December. Instead, the city filed the questions as a request under the Kansas Open Records Act and charged The Eagle $120, which was paid Tuesday ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. The records had not been provided by Friday morning. FOP President Jeremy Diaz said pay was a top priority for the FOP in the negotiations and that the union continues to work with Chief Joseph Sullivan and other police leaders to implement other Jensen Hughes recommendations. "Ultimately, these changes are not just about making WPD a desirable place to work — they are about ensuring the safety and security of Wichita," Diaz said. "Fully staffing the department is essential for maintaining response times, building community relationships, and keeping crime under control." Additionally, Diaz said, the City Council should fund a police staffing study "conducted by a neutral, professional third party." He said he believes the department's staffing level should be nearly 1,000 officers instead of the 700 positions the City Council has authorized. "Previous leadership has created several specialized units to meet the department's needs, but rather than growing the department to create these positions, it has come at the expense of patrol numbers — the backbone of policing," Diaz said. Jensen Hughes changes In the aftermath of a 2022 SWAT team text-messaging scandal first reported by The Wichita Eagle, the city hired Jensen Hughes, a national police consulting firm that specializes in organizational assessments, to draft a blueprint for restoring public trust in the Police Department and improving officer morale. Several of the recommendations required changes to the FOP contract. Only one made its way into the new contract. That change would eliminate a provision that gave extra pay for expected behavior and allowed officers to buy out suspension days by trading in the so-called code of conduct pay or vacation time. Diaz said several other Jensen Hughes recommendations are still being worked on by the police chief and the FOP. "Several of the remaining items, however, are complex and require significant time and collaboration to address properly," he said, pointing to a new discipline matrix that would more narrowly define the penalties for police misconduct. Among the recommendations not included are changes to the use of force policy, a duty for officers to intervene in excessive use of force cases, a requirement that officers report misconduct by other officers to a supervisor, setting minimum scoring standards for promotions and hiring an outside source to look at how the department promotes to increase diversity within the department. Jensen Hughes recommended the department be cautious when awarding points for promotion based on seniority and investigative experience because that practice could exclude women and minority candidates due to past recruitment patterns, meaning they "would not have been afforded the same access to those seniority and experience points." The city's Jensen Hughes dashboard says those changes could be implemented in 2026. The city's agenda report says "WPD and the FOP engaged in good faith discussions regarding the Jensen Hughes recommendations that were not included in the FOP memorandum of agreement but could affect workplace conditions." Those policy revisions include changes to the promotions policy, administrative internal investigations, criminal investigations involving department employees and a professional standards dashboard, according to the agenda report. The professional standards dashboard — which includes generic and brief descriptions of closed complaints against officers — does not appear to match the recommendation by Jensen Hughes that called for providing detailed summaries of complaints against officers to the Citizens Review Board and the public. Future changes? Faith Martin, vice chair of the Wichita Citizens Review Board and the Wichita Racial Profiling Board, said she would like to see the city take steps to make the FOP contract process more transparent in the future — such as releasing the details of the contract before officers vote on it and allowing the public to provide input early in the discussions. She said the Racial Profiling Board recommended releasing officers' disciplinary histories to other police departments and the public; creating an Office of Police Oversight with "unfettered access" to the police department's internal investigations of officer misconduct to improve civilian oversight of the department's disciplinary practices; and a new process that gives Wichita residents more of a say in the FOP negotiation process before it is approved. None of those materialized through the FOP contract discussion. Martin said she did not expect the city to implement all of the Jensen Hughes recommendations, given the political make-up of the council — a majority of which was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police. But she said the city's top priority should be to make sure the community has a more active role in future FOP negotiations. "It would behoove the city to treat the FOP contract the same way they treat the budget, where you get lots of community feedback, they go back and they iterate this with the negotiation team, run it by HR, and then a draft is presented to the community. That was our ask," she said. (c)2024 The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.) Visit The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.) at www.kansas.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
College football team backs out of bowl appearance after losing over two dozen players to transfers
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College football team backs out of bowl appearance after losing over two dozen players to transfers READ MORE: Donald Trump slams President Biden for never going to Army-Navy By JAKE FENNER Published: 19:56, 14 December 2024 | Updated: 20:01, 14 December 2024 e-mail View comments College football players opting out of bowl games has become a common ordeal as athletes try to stay healthy for the NFL Draft. But an entire team has decided to forgo its bowl appearance this year after losing too many players. The Marshall Thundering Herd football team has notified officials that they will be backing out of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl this season, according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger . DailyMail.com After winning the Sun Belt Conference championship, the 10-3 Thundering Herd will no longer be set to play the No.22 ranked Army Black Knights (11-2). This news comes days after head coach Charles Huff decided to leave the team to take the job at Southern Mississippi . Not only has the coach departed, but over 25 players from Marshall have decided to enter the transfer portal - with some of them following Huff. Three of the team's quarterbacks, Marshall's leading rusher from the season prior, three of their top-seven leading receivers, and their star linebacker are among the names that are leaving the team. Marshall University's football team will be backing out of their Independence Bowl appearance Coach Charles Huff departed the school for Southern Miss and over two dozen players have put their names into the transfer portal - including multiple offensive and defensive starters Read More Donald Trump set to watch Army-Navy with Defense pick Pete Hegseth, Ron DeSantis and Daniel Penny The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened this past Monday and will remain open until December 28. Players need to leave their current schools with plenty of time in order to enroll in their new institutions in time for the spring semester. More than 2,800 FBS scholarship players put their names into the portal last season, according to On3 Sports. Not all of those players found new schools, as some withdrew from the portal while others went pro. Now, the NCAA is in the tough position of trying to find a new team to replace Marshall. Teams are considered 'bowl eligible' when they reach a record of 6-6. But this season, all of the teams with that record had been assigned bowl berths. Now, the NCAA has to determine its replacement through a ranking of NCAA Academic Progress Report scores of teams that went 5-7 this season. Share or comment on this article: College football team backs out of bowl appearance after losing over two dozen players to transfers e-mail Add commentIsrael launches new strikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah
In the immediate wake of Dakota Ditcheva's title winning performance over Taila Santos at the PFL 2024 Championships, the Manchester native is one of the biggest names in the sport for at least one weekend. Fans have immediately begun speculation over how she would do against other great fighters like Valentina Shevchenko, where Ditcheva sits on the pound-for-pound list, and if she will move to the UFC in the near future. In an interview with TalkSport MMA , the martial arts star shed light on at least one of these questions. "It's difficult now because I've just beat the best girl here. I think big fights suit me better, but will anyone watch the PFL season without me?" The question is a valid one. The women's flyweight division did not even exist in PFL until this season, as the promotion shut down their lightweight division following Kayla Harrison's departure, instead forming the 125-lb division for Ditcheva, Santos, and Bellator champ Liz Carmouche. As far as big fights, the reference is clear. Valentina Shevchenko barely beat the woman Dakota just annihilated and is coming off a trilogy where she both lost and drew a fight. The UFC flyweight champion is scheduled to defend her title against French kickboxer Manon Fiorot soon. If Fiorot snatches the belt from Valentina, Manon vs. Ditcheva would also instantly become a big fight, as would fights against the likes of Zhang Weili, who may move up to flyweight, and Alexa Grasso. Even Natalia Silva could be a big fight one day, as a young, rising striking talent like Ditcheva herself. The status of 'Dangerous' Dakota's contract is unknown at present, she may be tied to PFL for the 2025 season and even beyond. Yet if she is not, a bidding war may ensue for her services, or she may go looking for big fights anyways now that she has $1 million in her wallet and money is less of an issue. BODY SHOT FINISH! DAKOTA DITCHEVA IS THE 2024 PFL WOMENS FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION! #ANDNOW #PFLWorldChampionship LIVE NOW ON ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/cU8qbGIiSe
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