A Sydney woman has gained viral attention on TikTok after discovering an unwelcome visitor inside her headphones when she went to clean them—a dead insect that had taken up residence in the worn-out ear pads. "I got the headphones in around 2017, and when the ear pads started to deteriorate recently, I opened them up to install new pads," Abbie von Bertouch, also known as Vonn, told Newsweek . "When I saw the bug, I screamed and then got my camera out because I thought it had to be seen to be believed." Last week, Vonn shared the discovery on TikTok in a video that has so far been viewed over 9.5 million times where she showed the dead bug in the headphone cover. Thankfully, life in Australia has given Vonn a pretty laid-back attitude to bugs. "I wish I could say I'm more disgusted, but living in Sydney has desensitized me to bugs. I'll just be keeping [the headphones] in their case from now on," she said. In the comments section in her TikTok video, users shared their own bug-based stories. "My kettle started whistling softly and after MANY teas I realized there was a roach blocking the little hole and I was drinking roach tea for a while," Katieclarry wrote. Onata commented: "One time I was about to put my headphones on and seen an earwig. There were two others in there after I took off the padding." "If it makes you feel any better, one time I had bed bugs in college and didn't know and they got into my headphones and ate tf out of my ear and I had no idea what caused it for like a week," user Marley recalled. "New fear unlocked," the TikTok United Kingdom (TikTok UK) account wrote. Meanwhile, some users on the social media platform saw the humor in the situation. Marina jokingly wrote: "New meaning to hearing crickets." "He was singing you all those songs," wrote walthuwide SqrrlGrl added: "I'm wearing those exact headphones right now, and I'm frozen with fear." For Vonn, it was amazing to see how many people had similar stories—and it made her feel better to know that she wasn't the only one. "I wasn't prepared for how many people have a similar bug story," Vonn said. "It makes me feel a little better about the whole situation." Other viewers, though, were left with their own new fears, and an extra job to do for the day. "I'm holding you personally responsible for the 45 mins it's taken to get my headphone covers back on now," user radicelm commented.In response to the overwhelming wave of cheating reports in Black Ops 6 Ranked Play, the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team gave a behind the scenes look at what’s being done to combat the issue. Hours after Ranked Play launched in BO6, players already encountered lobbies infested by cheaters and posted clips online of hackers taking over high-rank matches. Frustrations eventually boiled over as content creators and Call of Duty League pro players tore apart the game mode on social media. Nadeshot claimed , “The cheating in Ranked Play on Black Ops 6 is the worst it’s been.” Other prominent competitive CoD community members agreed, forcing the development team to release a public statement. The RICOCHET team outlined their plan to crack down on cheaters in BO6: Identified and fixed a data outage that lowered efficacy of AI systems Adjusting existing thresholds for Ranked Play – aggressive targeting of suspicious accounts Accelerating Replay Investigations to review suspicious players Black Ops 6 players skeptical of RICOCHET Ranked Play plan Despite the development team assuring the player base of changes being made to improve the overall experience, doubts remain. 100 Thieves co-owner CouRage claimed , “RICOCHET is the biggest failure in recent Call of Duty history. It’s insane.” Meanwhile, CoD streamer Westie added , “To say I have any confidence whatsoever in Ricochet would be an understatement. You have almost endless resources. The situation HAS to improve.” This update also fails to address Xbox and PlayStation users not being able to turn off-crossplay if they want to avoid cheaters on PC. BO6 streamer LunchTime asked, “Would love to hear why crossplay has been forced enabled for console players. I understand that cheat vs anticheat is a constant battle, but console players should have the option to opt out of crossplay.” Related: So, while this is a positive step in the right direction, competitive fans aren’t quite ready to applaud the developers for their effort in the never ending battle against cheating.
Israeli rabbi found dead in UAE
Hair has served as a symbolic and narrative medium in postmodern and contemporary art, touching on themes of identity, gender and memory. In the upcoming art exhibition at the , Gozitan artist Godwin Cutajar uses human hair as both a medium and a narrative tool. Before him, artists like Jannis Kounellis, Mona Hatoum and others have used human hair to evoke primal connections to the body and to explore themes of exile and identity. Other artists, such as Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Wenda Gu and Sonya Clark, have also employed hair to address issues of cultural heritage and personal identity. Hair, with its strong associations to the body, becomes a vessel for expressing intimate, social and historical narratives. Another exhibit using human hair. Each piece operates on both a physical and psychological level. Cutajar’s work could be interpreted by using psychoanalytic theories. Hair, in the artist’s compositions, symbolises complex emotions and unconscious drives, echoing Freudian, Jungian and Lacanian ideas. Freudian theories suggest that hair may represent libidinal energy and childhood fixation, while Jung views hair as an archetype tied to vitality and the process of individuation. Lacan’s concept of – a blend of pleasure and pain – adds depth to Cutajar’s exploration of the tension between desire and discomfort. Through these out-of-the-ordinary abstract works, where dark strands of hair are set against crumpled paper, Cutajar invites viewers into a dialogue between the personal and the universal. Each piece operates on both a physical and psychological level, offering a reflection on identity, memory and the residue of human experience. Banca Giuratale You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.
SoftwareONE Holding AG (OTCMKTS:SWONF) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest
AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:40 p.m. ESTCollege Football Playoff's first 12-team bracket is set with Oregon No. 1 and SMU in, Alabama outSouth Africa’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final received a boost when they completed a 233-run over Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Saturday. The result lifted South Africa to second place in the WTC table, which is calculated on average points earned. With their remaining three matches to be played at home – the second Test against Sri Lanka followed by two against Pakistan – South Africa are well-placed to qualify for the final at Lord’s in London next June if they carry on winning. “That’s always been one of our goals as a team,” said South African captain Temba Bavuma. “The conversation has always been there. We’ve not been loud about it but that conversation will probably become more alive now.” Set a massive 516 runs to win, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 282. Left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, the destroyer in Sri Lanka’s record-low first innings of 42, took four for 73 to finish with match figures of 11 for 86. He was named player of the match. Bavuma said conditions had changed considerably during the match, in which South Africa battled to make 191 in the first innings before Sri Lanka were blown away in 13.5 overs, with Jansen taking seven for 13. “We were in a tough position and we knew we had to dig deep,” said Bavuma. “We were quite confident that if they could put us under pressure with the ball we could do the same to them. “We weren’t expecting things to go so quickly but we knew the conditions (for bowling) were in our favour and that we could exploit them.” Referring to the Test championship, Bavuma said his team needed to continue to focus internally on what they needed to do, rather than be concerned about factors beyond their control.
Mahakumbh Nagar, Dec 29 (IANS): The 2025 Mahakumbh will take place in Prayagraj from January 13, and special preparations are underway for the same. For the first time, an AI chatbot will be used during this major religious congregation, providing information in 11 Indian languages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned the Constitution Day and Mahakumbh in the 117th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat. In a special conversation with IANS, Ravindra Puri, President of the All India Akhada Parishad, and Yoganand Giri, Mahant of the Juna Akhada, discussed the significance of the event. In Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi emphasised that participating in the Kumbh should be an opportunity to resolve to eliminate division and hatred from society. Ravindra Puri commented: "We believe our Prime Minister is a great protector of Sanatan Dharma. All Hindus take pride in him, and I would like to say that after Jagatguru Shankaracharya, it is PM Modi who has contributed immensely to reviving Sanatan Dharma. Saints and the work being done for religious gatherings and fairs deserve high praise for PM Modi." Ravindra Puri further stated: "We have always tried to eliminate caste and discrimination, and we will continue to do so. We have provided leadership positions to people from all castes. However, once we become sanyasis, we do not discuss caste; we are all sanyasis. All castes have representation in our leadership, and we strive to remain united. We want to ensure no negative messages are sent from Prayagraj that would harm the interests of saints and the government." This year's Kumbh will also have a digital dimension, offering pilgrims many conveniences. Ravindra Puri said: "This is the first time the Mahakumbh is going digital. Our Mahakumbh is now divine, grand, and clean. We now also have digital services. We have walkie-talkies, mobile phones, and drones monitoring the entire fairground. If we need anything or want to know where something is, we can use the app that provides all the information. The administration has worked tirelessly to make this possible." Ravindra Puri concluded: "I urge pilgrims from India and abroad to come to Prayagraj, bathe in the holy waters, and take advantage of this beautiful opportunity for atonement. Bathing in the sacred Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers will purify you and bring you closer to salvation. Whatever wishes you bring will be fulfilled, we believe." Meanwhile, Dr. Yoganand Giri, speaking with IANS, expressed his gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's mention of the Kumbh in Mann Ki Baat. "The way Prime Minister Modi has brought up the Kumbh with respect to its divinity, grandeur, cleanliness, and modernisation is praiseworthy. The integration of AI technology and complete digitalisation of the Kumbh is a commendable step. A digital ‘Lost and Found’ centre is also being created. The way the Kumbh is being digitised is highly appreciated." Yoganand Giri also pointed out that the Kumbh Mela promotes unity in society, fostering harmony and goodwill. He said: "The Kumbh Mela is all about eliminating animosity and encouraging mutual love and respect. The saint community has always worked towards uniting society. Even those communities that society has marginalised have found a place among the saints. We have made them Acharyas and Mahamandaleshwars. Since ancient times, saints have worked towards societal unity, and today Prime Minister Modi acknowledged this in Mann Ki Baat. He deserves all the praise for his deep understanding of our Sanatan traditions. We thank him immensely."
Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation opens new STEM center at Tinicum school featuring drones and free technology
LONDON: A group of climate vulnerable nations is using a U.N. meeting this week to push for a credit ratings overhaul, arguing ratings should reflect climate resilience measures, an advisor to the group told Reuters. The U.N. meeting in New York is the second of four to set goals for a major finance conference in Spain next year, where heads of state will look to step up efforts to meet the world's climate and sustainability targets. At the forefront of the talks are 39 so-called Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - including Cuba, Haiti, Fiji and the Maldives - that are bearing the brunt of increasing tropical storms, flooding, erosion and rising sea levels. Proponents of the initiative say the current ratings system undermines their ability to raise funds because it focuses on the potential economic damage from their exposure to the effects of climate change . "For the first time, the credit rating issue is on the table and it's being negotiated," said Ritu Bharadwaj , director of climate resilience and finance at the International Institute for Environment and Development. Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Learn InVideo AI: Create Videos from Text Easily By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass By - CA Himanshu Jain, Ex McKinsey, Moody's, and PwC, Co - founder, The WallStreet School View Program Legal Complete Guide to AI Governance and Compliance By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Tally Prime & GST Accounting: Complete Guide By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations 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 Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Ratings given by the "Big Three" agencies - Moody's, S&P Global and Fitch - consider the risks and potential for economic harm from climate change. However, they do not typically factor in the social and economic benefits of investing in climate resilience, said a report by the institute. In response, a Fitch spokesman referred to several documents on the company's methodology but did not comment on the criticism directly. S&P and Moody's did not immediately respond. A credit rating is essential to attract money from the world's biggest pools of cash – pension funds and other institutional investors. But just 13 of the SIDS have a Big-Three credit rating, and most of those are classified as sub-investment grade or 'junk'. For others, the cost of obtaining one can be prohibitive. Many nations are expected to struggle to access the private finance seen vital to the total annual $1.3 trillion climate finance goal agreed at COP29 in Baku last month. "We are pushing to redefine the credit rating and look at the opportunities as well as the risks, so it gives a more balanced view on returns on investment," Bharadwaj said. The process of assigning credit ratings has come under scrutiny in recent years. The African Union plans to launch a new African ratings agency, arguing the Big Three do not fairly assess the risk of lending to the continent. Describing the current ratings process as "illogical, punitive, and backward looking", Gastone Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, told Reuters he wanted to see a "more equitable" system that was "fit for purpose". Nominations for ET MSME Awards are now open. The last day to apply is December 15, 2024. Click here to submit your entry for any one or more of the 22 categories and stand a chance to win a prestigious award.
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Cue the William Regal, because it is time for: WarGames. Held every year since 1987, Survivor Series will be Saturday night with five bouts scheduled to take place, headlined by the match stipulation that has become synonymous with the event. There will be two WarGames matches, including the one between the new Bloodline vs. old Bloodline that much of the WWE Universe is eagerly waiting for. Three championships will also be on the line in the final main roster premium live event of the year as the road to WrestleMania approaches when 2025 begins. Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the highlights and analysis for Survivor Series 2024: Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 is Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. ET. Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 will take place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada. It will be the first premium live event to take place in Vancouver since 1998. The event can be streamed on , but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on WWE Network. Yes. The preshow for Survivor Series: WarGames will begin at 4 p.m. ET and will air on Peacock, WWE's YouTube and social media accounts. Roman Reigns, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and CM Punk vs. Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Jacob Fatu and Bronson Reed. Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton and Candice LeRae vs. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Naomi, Iyo Sky and Bayley. Gunther (c) vs. Damian Priest. Bron Breakker (c) vs. Sheamus vs. Ludwig Kaiser. LA Knight (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. What more surprises are in store for the next chapter of The Bloodline? The formation of the OG Bloodline made it appear as if they’d cruise to victory, but the addition of CM Punk and return of Paul Heyman complicates things. However, OG Bloodline stands tall, but don’t be shocked if something happens afterward. OG Bloodline It’s really Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. As much as Ripley will want to unleash a brutal assault against them, her focus costs her team as Team Live sneaks by with a victory. Team Liv. Damian Priest has been on a heater recently and this won’t be near the same matchup as the SummerSlam one. While he continues to reach superstar-levels, Gunther’s reign won’t end this quickly. Gunther. This match has the opportunity to steal the show with the absolute talent each person possesses. Ludwig Kaiser would compliment Gunther if he were to win, but the chaos of a triple threat favors the champion. Bron Breakker. It’s been a mysterious return for Shinsuke Nakamura. The new personality is great, yet he hasn’t actually had a match in a long time. Nakamura does have the potential to take the title away, this is just too soon. LA Knight. Created by Dusty Rhodes in 1987, WarGames is one of the most unique matches in WWE in that it involves two rings side-by-side, and has become a staple in the company since its introduction into NXT in 2017. The two rings are surrounded by an extended steel cage, and are contested by two or three teams. The match begins with one competitor from each team starting in the ring. After five minutes, another competitor from one team enters the match to give a brief 2-on-1 advantage. Two minutes afterward, a competitor from the disadvantaged team enters to even the odds. Teams then alternate entrants until all competitors are in the match. A team wins by pinning or submitting any member of the other team. Survivor Series is the second-longest running pay-per-view in WWE behind WrestleMania. The event first took place in 1987 at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio. While most premium live events typically have a championship match as the main event, Survivor Series has been known for having tag team matches headlining the event. Often five-on-five elimination tag team matches, there have been matches that include stars forming teams or brand matchups like Raw vs. SmackDown. Survivor Series started using the WarGames matches in 2022 after it was first used in NXT. This year’s event will mark the fifth and sixth WarGames matches to take place in Survivor Series history. The OG Bloodline is back and ready to take on the new iteration as Roman Reigns tries to retake the title of Tribal Chief away from Solo Sikoa. Reigns was reunited with Jimmy Uso at Bad Blood, and after weeks of pleading, the duo finally got the other Uso, Jey, to rejoin the group. The original trio then added Sami Zayn, who was part of the group in late 2022 and was a successful member. The new Bloodline of Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and Jacob Fatu added the needed fifth member of the match in Bronson Reed. Needing another member, the OG Bloodline got the return of Paul Heyman a week before Survivor Series, who revealed CM Punk would be the fifth person on the team. Saturday night’s match may finally determine who is the real Tribal Chief, but the feud between the two sides is far from over and will likely continue into the new year.
Worst places in the US to cash Social Security checks in 2025 – Neither California nor New York
Two women to appear in court for fraudulent Thailand trip
After a thrilling conference championship Saturday and a drawn-out reveal show Sunday, the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field is set. The first true tournament in FBS history has plenty to love -- and elements to loathe. What Went Right: Unique opening-round matchups Whether the first round proves to be more competitive than the four-team Playoff's often lopsided semifinal matchups remains to be seen. Until then, there is at least intrigue in the historic rarity of the four pairings. One opening-round matchup -- ACC automatic qualifier Clemson at Texas -- is a first-time encounter between two programs that combine for seven claimed national championships. Of the other three, the most recent contest occurred in 1996 when Tennessee topped Ohio State in the Citrus Bowl. The Vols and Buckeyes meet as the No. 9 and No. 8 seeds at Ohio State's Horseshoe, with the winner advancing to face top overall seed Oregon. SMU, a perhaps surprising final at-large selection given the Mustangs' dearth of high-profile wins, meets Penn State for the third time ever and first since 1978. The Nittany Lions scored a 26-21 come-from-behind win in Happy Valley, where they will again host SMU. The Penn State victory ended a 30-year stalemate after the first and only meeting in the 1948 Cotton Bowl produced a 13-13 tie. Here's hoping the third part of a 76-year trilogy is as closely contested as the initial two. Meanwhile, the matchup with the most previous installments is the closest in proximity -- less than 200 miles separate in-state counterparts Indiana and Notre Dame -- and the most lopsided. The Fighting Irish and Hoosiers last played in 1991, with Notre Dame's 49-27 win marking its sixth straight victory by multiple scores. Indiana's last win in the series came in 1950, a 20-7 Hoosiers victory in Bloomington. What Went Right: Boise State's big opportunity Although not the first outsider to reach or win a Bowl Championship Series game, Boise State's 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma was arguably the most pivotal moment in building support for outsiders to compete for the national championship. The Broncos spent two decades knocking on the door, beginning with their perfect 2004 regular season, extending through two Fiesta Bowl wins, and withstanding the heartbreak of late-season losses in 2010 and 2011. The celebration in response to Boise State being part of the bracket -- and not just in, but as the No. 3 seed with a bye into the quarterfinals -- marked a culmination of generations of effort for just this opportunity. What Went Right: ‘Football weather' comes to the postseason From the birth of the bowl system with the first-ever Rose Bowl Game, college football's postseason has resided primarily in warm-weather destinations. This makes sense for the original purpose of bowl games as showcases and celebrations of a team's regular-season performance, but less so for the goal of crowning a national champion. After decades of playing what often amounted to road games in the postseason, northern teams get their opportunity to host. Three of the four first-round contests are in such climates -- though Indiana won't be particularly disadvantaged by weather when playing Notre Dame in South Bend. With average December highs in Pennsylvania in the 30s, SMU will need its heaters on the sideline at Penn State's Beaver Stadium. The more intriguing trip, however, is Tennessee's to Ohio State. Longtime college football fans know the arguments about SEC teams playing in Big Ten country late in the year. Pitting two high-quality teams from the two leagues head-to-head in such conditions is a highlight of this new postseason system. And, given Tennessee and Ohio State have two of the nation's best defenses, expect a style of play befitting what is often described as football weather. What Went Wrong: More teams means more politicking When Mack Brown seemingly spent as much time on TV campaigning in 2004 as that year's presidential candidates, George W. Bush and John Kerry, his Texas Longhorns were among a small collection of teams vying for BCS bids. With the 12-team Playoff opening the top postseason opportunities to as many as 20 teams realistically, the political campaign ads that mercilessly ended in early November were replaced by the politicking of college football figures. Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard spent last week taking shots at SMU and other programs over strength of schedule -- a point neglecting that the Cyclones' losses came to unranked Texas Tech and sub-.500 Kansas. Arizona State's thorough dismantling of Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game solved that debate at the proverbial ballot box. However, brace yourself for an offseason of recount demands coming out of the SEC. Alabama's exclusion at 9-3, while 11-2 SMU landed the final at-large spot, is sure to play into the same controversy that South Carolina coach Shane Beamer leaned into last week. Beamer told The State (Columbia, S.C.) last week that his program may consider changing its nonconference scheduling in response to its seemingly inevitable Playoff snub. It's an odd position, given South Carolina's three losses all came in-conference, and the Gamecocks' nonleague slate included sub-.500 teams Old Dominion, Akron and FCS Wofford. But then again, how often are political campaign pitches rooted in logic? What Went Wrong: Quantity over quality? A more salient position in Beamer's case for South Carolina is that the Gamecocks scored quality wins during a season-ending, six-game streak. With its Rivalry Week defeat of Clemson, South Carolina added a victory over a Playoff qualifier to complement victories over Texas A&M and Missouri. Alabama, meanwhile, boasts wins over No. 2 overall seed Georgia and that same South Carolina team in contention. SMU's resume might be the most likely to draw ire, given the Mustangs received the last at-large berth. However, SMU beat nine- and eight-win Duke and Louisville, with two losses by a combined six points. Indiana should be the more contentious at-large choice, with the Hoosiers beating only one team that finished above .500: 7-5 Michigan. Indiana's only other matchup with an above-.500 opponent was a 38-15 blowout at Ohio State. That's something Alabama and South Carolina have in common with Indiana, as all three teams lost in routs. Alabama dropped a 24-3 decision late in the season at Oklahoma that presumably doomed the Crimson Tide's chances, while South Carolina lost to Ole Miss 27-3. To that end, there are arguments to be made for and against every team that was on the bubble. No system will ever appease all parties. What Went Wrong: Seeding conundrum Much of the Playoff's very existence flies in the face of college football tradition. One facet of how the field was set that upholds tradition in its own small way is rewarding teams for winning their conferences by reserving the four first-round byes for league champions. When this format was implemented, however, the committee could not have envisioned that two of the top five conference champions would not be ranked in the top 10. Because three-loss Clemson survived a furious SMU comeback in the ACC championship game, and Arizona State caught fire after underwhelming losses to Texas Tech and Cincinnati to win a weak Big 12, the committee was in the unusual position of having to slot a non-power conference champion and double-digit-ranked team in a top-four spot. This first edition of the Playoff seems likely to be the last to use this format, even if this scenario seems like an outlier. --Kyle Kensing, Field Level MediaFrom Aidoghie Paulinus, Kyiv Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned Nigeria and other African countries against partnering with Russia, saying it doesn’t matter when Russian missiles will begin to land in the different countries. Speaking with journalists from African countries on the sidelines of the ‘Summit on Food Security – Grain from Ukraine,’ Zelenskyy said that when the time comes, it will not matter what kind of partnership the affected country has with Russia. He particularly said African countries will have a lot of problems with Wagner and Russia’s influence. “I think that they will have a lot of, to my mind, I am sorry, I don’t wish you, God bless you, it will never be. But I think that you will have a lot of problems with Wagner and with Russian influential politics in your country. It is about security and, as we know very well, it is a pity, but we know it very well. “When you are very dependent on Russia, they will come to you. And when they will come, it doesn’t matter what economic issues you will have, what benefits you have – energy benefits, chemical benefits, grain, etc., from Russia. “It doesn’t matter when missiles come to your houses, when your country begins to be destroyed backwards, when your children just, you know, die. It doesn’t matter what you have, what price you can reach. At this moment, it doesn’t matter what the price of petrol is in your country. Trust us,” Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian President further said it is so important before the world, and that it is nothing that people are in the world except to protect human life. Earlier, Zelenskyy said the programme, Grain from Ukraine, is working really successfully and will continue to expand. “I want to thank everyone who makes this possible. “Today, important figures, important volumes are being announced here, which represent the most important thing – the real lives of people: children, families in different parts of the world. And it’s not just Europe, of course, which is very important for us. But Africa and Asia – the entire world. These are the countries that we have really helped: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen. “Now there was a very sensitive video. It was Nigeria and Gaza and so on. Many parts of the world. And I am very pleased, and I want to express my gratitude. And I would like us to applaud the whole team, all the countries that provide all this – such support for people. They bring life to people. Thank you very much!” the Ukrainian President also said. He disclosed that overall, during the operation of the Grain from Ukraine programme, Ukraine managed to save 20 million people from hunger. “And this is solely due to one of our humanitarian programmes. “In total, Ukraine’s food exports feed 400 million people in 100 countries of the world. “Ukraine is one of the world’s largest contributors to food security. And we maintain this status despite everything. Despite this colonial challenge from the Russian Federation. This war is a war against the lives of Ukrainians, against our people, our families,” Zelenskyy further said. He added that the full-scale Russian invasion began, among other things, with the Russian fleet blockading Ukrainian ports. According to Zelenskyy, “This was the starting point. And Russia was well aware of the consequences of this. They wanted those consequences, of course, the terrible outcome for the whole world – not just for Ukraine. “They wanted global food prices to rise. And this was not just a desire for more money, more profits. This certainly is the case, and it was the case in Russia. But then it was primarily about power. If they can create a food catastrophe, it means they can subjugate a nation that is dependent on food imports – any food. This is an extremely sensitive issue for most African nations, for a significant number of people in Asia. And in Europe or in America, the question of prices is always a question of stability in this or that region. And stability is important for people’s lives.” The Ukrainian President also explained why the world needed to come together to defend food security. “That is why it is so important that we continue to stand together in defending food security, the security of food supply routes and other critical export goods. “Solely during the operation of the food export corridor in our Black Sea – from July of last year to this month – 321 infrastructure facilities in our ports have been damaged by Russian missiles and Iranian drone strikes. More than 20 vessels – ordinary civilian vessels – were also damaged in the strikes. And we are talking about other countries’ vessels. It is not about Ukrainian vessels. More than 60 targeted strikes were aimed specifically at food infrastructure. “Through this war against Ukraine, Russia has shown that there are no truly distant countries in the world. Everything in the world is now strongly interconnected. There is no distance. There is none. “Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and other countries of Africa and the African continent depend directly on the ability of farmers and agribusinesses in Ukraine to function properly. The speed with which we can clear our fields of Russian mines determines how quickly the food market can return to its normal stability. And here, of course, I would like to thank our people, our farmers – we have very little time for this gratitude during the war. First of all, we mention our priority – our army, and this is only fair. But I want to tell you: because of this war, because of the heavy mining of our lands, the large amount of land – we are talking about hundreds of thousands of hectares – a significant number of people were injured, but the farmers continued to work, continued to do all this, despite the technical lack of equipment in Ukraine to demine such volumes. I want to thank all the farmers, all the people in the world who have been fighting against hunger around the world. Thank you very much! “And for Ukraine, it is important to remind everyone of this on these very days, now, when we commemorate all the victims of the large-scale and artificial famine in Ukraine, the Holodomors of different times. Primarily the Holodomor of 1932-1933, which was orchestrated against our people by the then-Moscow authorities. More than 90 years have passed, but the memory of this in Ukrainian families has not and will not fade because millions of people died. We should certainly value every person, tens, thousands, hundreds of thousands. But when it comes to the Holodomor, it is a real genocide because millions of people died. “We have not forgotten that it all happened. And we must do everything to prevent Russia, again because of its colonial ambitions, or anyone else from creating similar catastrophes that happened in Ukraine – similar catastrophes around the world,” Zelenskyy concluded.
Rupee tumbles 3% in 2024; turbulence to ebb in slow motion in next yearDonald Trump is saving TikTok in US. Is President-elect planning a 'deal of the century'?WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2024 live results: Match card, what to know for PPV
