The Darian DeVries era at West Virginia may only be five games old, but it already has a signature victory. WVU’s first-year men’s basketball coach and his Mountaineers knocked off No. 3 Gonzaga, 86-78, in overtime Wednesday afternoon in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. DeVries was grinning from ear-to-ear after the victory when he sat down for his postgame interview with the Mountaineer Sports Network crew. “I’m smiling because I’ve got glasses and can read the stat sheet, and it says we won. This is awesome,” beamed the normally reserved coach. With the upset, WVU improved to 4-1 on the young season. West Virginia moves on in the winners’ bracket of the tournament and will meet Louisville (4-1) in the second round at noon on Thursday (ESPN). The Cardinals pulled off their own first-round upset Wednesday, blasting No. 14 Indiana (4-1), 89-61. Ranked No. 3 in the country, Gonzaga had previously been a perfect 5-0 this season. It was also a perfect 5-0 in past meetings with West Virginia, dating back to the first contest between the two in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Certainly defeating a highly-rated opponent is never easy. West Virginia came to the Bahamas with just a 13-43 all-time record against foes ranked in the top three in the A.P. poll. That included a 3-21 mark against those ranked No. 3, though it did pull off a 91-85 upset over third-ranked Kansas at the WVU Coliseum last season. Despite those long odds, the Mountaineers added another top-three victory to their resume Wednesday. “We’ve been telling the guys all summer and fall to keep putting in the work and believing in themselves, and they’ve been doing that,” stated DeVries. “We’re going to continue to grow together. We’ll have some bumps in the road too, but I love the way they competed and fought tonight. They had opportunities to give in, but they refused to do that.” Despite not shooting particularly well in the early portion of the game, West Virginia stayed fairly close in the first half. WVU led 16-15 eight minutes into the contest, but then Gonzaga went on a 10-0 run. GU would remain on top the rest of the half, as the Mountaineers went cold, missing eight-of-nine field goal attempts during a nine-minute stretch. For the half, West Virginia made just nine-of-30 shots (30%) and six-of-18 3-point tries (33.3%). But the Mountaineers limited their turnovers in the first 20 minutes to just six against the high-pressure Gonzaga defense and kept the rebounding battle fairly close (18 GU, 16 WVU) against the bigger Zags. Because of all that, West Virginia trailed at halftime but by just a 39-31 count. It was only the second time in its first six games this season that Gonzaga hasn’t enjoyed a double figures halftime lead – a 38-38 tie against Arizona State in an eventual 88-80 GU victory being the only other. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 10 points in the early going of the second half, but then it was WVU’s turn to go on a run, racing off 12 straight points to move in front 45-43 five minutes into the period. The two went toe-to-toe from there. West Virginia enjoyed a five-point advantage a couple of different times, but Gonzaga kept battling back. The Zags led by five with 20 seconds left in the second half, but a Tucker DeVries 3-pointer was quickly followed by a midcourt steal from the senior forward. That led to a pair of clutch made free throws by DeVries, which tied the game at 71-71 with 5.9 seconds remaining in regulation. GU didn’t get a shot off in its game-winning chance, and the clubs headed into overtime. West Virginia quickly pushed in front in the opening moments of the five-minute OT session. It eventually extended its advantage to four, then six, then eight points, and by the end, it was celebrating a huge victory over a ranked foe. Four Mountaineers scored in double figures, led by Javon Small’s 31 points. Amani Hansberry had 19 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Tucker DeVries added 16 points, as well as six rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two steals. Toby Okani chipped in 10 points. Braden Huff came off the bench to lead Gonzaga’s scoring effort with 19 points. West Virginia's Javon Small Darian DeVries and Tucker DeVries share the prioritis in WVU's game plan and how the execution came together in their 86-78 win over No. 3 Gonzaga Gonzaga head coach Mark Few and players Ryan Nembhard and Braden Huff share details on a couple of critical breakdowns, and a missed chance for a timeout, that helped WVU knock them off in the Battle 4 Atlantis
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Brighton draws 0-0 with Brentford in lackluster Premier League encounterJimmy Carter , the 39th President of the United States, and the longest-lived Commander-in-Chief in American history, has died. Defying the odds until the very end , he celebrated his 100th birthday on October 1st. His son James E. CARTER III announced on Sunday, December 29 that the former president had passed away, almost two years after announcing he had entered hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, his hometown. It's the only home the President ever owned, and he built it himself in 1961. His son confirmed his death but did provide further details. The former President's wife Rosalynn Carter , who he married in 1946 and is considered the most politically active first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt, died November 19 , months after the Carter Center revealed her dementia diagnosis . During their 77-year marriage, the couple had four children together, Jack , 75, James , 72, Donnel , 70, and Amy , 55, as well as 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. While Carter himself famously claimed to not be a politician at heart, his wife was, and together they became a package deal for the White House; Carter described his late wife as "an almost equal extension of myself." After his term ended in 1981, they took on the longest and most active post-White House roles through their humanitarian work. Born on October 1, 1924 in Plains Georgia, James Earl Carter Jr. was the first US President to have been born in a hospital. He was both a peanut farmer and a US Navy Lieutenant before going into politics. Former US President Jimmy Carter, 98, enters hospice care after 'series of hospital stays' A longtime advocate for world peace and human rights, he was first a Georgia state senator from 1963 to 1967. He later became the governor of Georgia in 1971, serving in that post until 1975. Two years after the end of his gubernatorial term, on January 20, 1977, he was inaugurated President of the United States, after defeating the incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford , who had stepped in for former President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal. After his inauguration, he became the first President to get out of the presidential limousine and walk among the crowd. His presidency, which only lasted one term, was marred by economic struggles for the nation, due to a continuing recession and inflation, as well as the 1979 energy crisis. During the energy crisis, he stressed the urgency for energy conservation, wearing sweaters after he opted to turn off the heat in the White House. He submitted a plan to ration gasoline, plus, as an early advocate for climate change prevention, he installed the first solar water heating panels on the White House, though they were later taken down by his successor, President Ronald Reagan. MORE: Jimmy Carter pays emotional tribute to his wife of 77-years Rosalynn after her death at 96 MORE: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter diagnosed with dementia Another challenge of his presidency was the Iran hostage crisis, which many consider to have cost him a second term. On November 4, 1977, a group of Iranian students took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, after which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for the following 444 days. They were only released after Reagan was inaugurated as Carter's successor in 1981. The New York Times recently uncovered a plan on behalf of Reagan's campaign team to convince Iranian leaders to not release the hostages before the election, reasoning that the late Republican President would give them a better deal. Before, during, and after his presidency, Carter was an advocate for civil rights, and during his tenure as Governor of Georgia, he angered the Ku Klux Klan when he hired Black employees and added the portraits of three prominent Black Georgians to the capitol building. As President, he appointed more women and minorities to federal judgeships than all 38 Presidents before him, combined. Additionally, citing cost concerns for taxpayers, he sold the presidential yacht, the USS Sequoia. Still, he is most lauded for his work after he left office – particularly his humanitarian efforts – and he became arguably far more liked as a former President than he was during his administration. He leaves behind a legacy of unwavering public service, which he upheld for long after the end of his presidency, and right until his passing. Shortly after his 95th birthday in 2019, he suffered a fall that left him with a black eye, several bruises, and requiring 14 stitches. Nonetheless, the next day, he honored his commitment to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. He had worked alongside and volunteered for the organization since 1984.
On the heels of , which wrapped last week in Baku, Azerbaijan, the future of the planet is anything but certain. The talks ended with a deal to provide US per year to developing nations to decarbonize their economies and cope with the effects of climate change. That’s a marked increase from the $100 billion currently distributed; however, critics raised concerns that the sum is insufficient for the task at hand, calling it “ .” Action on climate goals is still very much a work in progress. Next spring, countries are being asked to publish updated over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, methane, which in the atmosphere, is flooding the atmosphere, and climate change is wreaking havoc . Although global investment in — twice that of fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency — there are questions about the repercussions of the recent U.S. election on the future of climate technology. Cleantech initiatives, such as the , 2022 legislation that accounts for $500 billion US to boost clean energy and curb greenhouse gases, are likely to be diluted or struck down, and sweeping changes to climate policy could adversely affect , . So how worried should we be about humanity’s prospects? We asked three experts for their perspectives on the important gains we’re making in the race against a warming climate, the hazards undermining cleantech’s progress and the reasons to hold on to hope for the future. “There are two primary greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide and methane. Methane has a much greater impact on the environment in the short term. If we look at a 20-year scale, every tonne of methane mitigated is like of carbon dioxide. If we look at a five-year scale, it’s actually over 100 times greater impact than carbon dioxide. If we want to have a shot at keeping global temperatures within 1.5 degrees [above pre-industrial average] to avert the worst effects of climate change, we need to address methane emissions now, and I think more and more people understand that. “On Nov. 12, there was a U.S.-China and they announced that 159 countries are now in the . That’s amazing. The vast majority of the emissions coming from oil and gas and also from waste and coal are covered by the Global Methane Pledge. We need to translate the pledge into action, and that’s a lot of what we saw at COP28 and at COP29, although we still have a lot of work to do. “The climate negotiation process put in place by the UN is absolutely critical. It’s the only mechanism we have globally for all the countries to get together. The part I see is the international community — from NGOs to corporations — that is also involved in addressing those climate goals. The energy and the enthusiasm around that group, and all the ideas and solutions they’re bringing to bear, is an important part of the COP process, even if we’re not directly involved in negotiations. “There continue to be new and exciting ways to deal with emissions, from pure hardware solutions to digital solutions and AI. I fundamentally believe that innovation has a huge role to play in tackling the climate crisis, and we need to keep it going. “I’m optimistic that with the increased attention on methane and the understanding that it really is a quick win, levels will plateau soon. Fixing methane now buys us time to fix CO2 later. It’s a complicated picture, but I think pressure is leading toward greater world action.” “What keeps me up at night is: We’re a decade behind on the energy transition and that means we need to supercharge both innovation and deployment. The (IEA) says we need to , and . Those are all big marks to hit. “In Canada, we’re really good at the innovation side. We are less good at commercialization, so that’s something that we’re very much focused on at CICE. We support the early-stage innovators. There are 13 Canadian companies on the , and seven of them are based in B.C. We need to see more of those companies grow and stay in Canada. “I would say that global fragmentation and uncertainty are the biggest threats to meeting climate targets. Whether it’s trade issues or supply chain challenges or government zigging and zagging on policy at the global level — all those things create inefficiencies that slow progress. “If you’re running a business today, you likely have supply chain risks — it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the concert business or building products. Companies need to be building out those net-zero adaptation plans while not forgetting that clean growth is a $4-trillion opportunity by 2030. For corporate leaders, there’s a big opportunity and a risk management piece that go hand-in-hand. “We saw under Trump’s last presidency that global investment in clean energy and climate tech continued to go up. Is it a headwind? Yes. I think the biggest risk is uncertainty. If you’re growing a Canadian business and you’ve got customers in the States, is that department of energy grant or loan still there to expand your business? “Right now only two per cent of capital flows to women-led ventures. It’s about six per cent in climate and cleantech. That means 50 per cent of the population is not fully deployed to come up with those innovative solutions. This is about economic opportunity, and we’re leaving half the team in the dressing room. “There’s a lot of risk aversion in Canada’s corporate sector in terms of trying new things. We need to stop thinking of climate as a crisis and think of it as the biggest economic opportunity. Think about what China has done with batteries and critical mineral supply chains. We’re putting in tariffs because while we debated whether climate change was real, they got on with building a giant business that is now very competitive. We need to recognize that the countries building the economy of the future are the ones delivering the solutions the world needs.” “There’s a tremendous amount of momentum driving solutions that provide a clean transition for industries that have historically been really challenging to decarbonize. Genuine ways of doing clean cement or other commodities are super exciting because we need these things to be produced in ways that are fully electrified. “There are also a lot of interesting innovations happening at the intersection of biology and climate that could change things relating to food security and nutrition. Those are real challenges, especially as we think about the needs of the global population. “Typically, it takes eight years to get something new to market because of field trials and seasonality. That can be a roadblock. Some companies are doing amazing genetic modification work and figuring out ways to hack biology — plant innovations, plant augmentation, plant modifications — to create more resilient crops with larger harvests. “I’m optimistic about the number of people diving into this space. Given Engine Ventures’s close ties with academia and industry, we have the opportunity to work with amazing researchers who become entrepreneurs. And if we have enough talented and smart people giving their all, the diversity of solutions is going to be so strong and robust that we will be able to push forward some amazing things.”
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia's government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” “Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate,” Rowland said. The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. "This bill would have had the effect of suppressing the free speech of everyday Australians, as platforms would have censored online content to avoid the threat of big fines,” Coleman said said in a statement.Jimmy Carter , humanitarian, diplomat, and 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia after receiving hospice care, according to his son James E. Carter III per The Washington Post . He was 100. Carter’s death comes after the death of his wife Rosalynn , to whom he was married for 77 years. A former state legislator and Georgia governor, Carter unexpectedly rose to clinch the 1976 Democratic primary and presidency. His folksy charm and Washington outsider status won over a nation searching for a moral compass in the wake of Watergate and the Vietnam War. But Carter would serve only one term. Despite several landmark foreign-policy accomplishments, his time in office was characterized by struggles to manage an energy crisis, an unstable economy, and the Iran hostage crisis, which spanned 444 days of his presidency. To many Americans, Carter never seemed a natural fit for the White House, turning his back on many of the trappings of the office — he famously banned the playing of “Hail to the Chief” — and failing to project a resolute image in the face of a series of national maladies. Though his time in office was fraught, Carter’s post-presidential legacy of humanitarian and diplomatic work was unparalleled. In 2002, he became the third president after Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to win the Nobel Peace Prize (Obama would also win the prize, in 2009.) With his wife Rosalynn, he founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit through which he worked to promote human rights until his death. He credited his religious faith as his moral lodestar and lived a famously modest life after holding the highest office in the land, returning to the same small ranch home he lived in prior to moving to Washington, buying his clothes at the Dollar General store, and teaching Sunday school almost every week at the Maranatha Baptist Church in the rural town of Plains, Georgia. Born October 1st, 1924, in Plains, Carter was raised in a family of peanut farmers. He attended Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Tech, and the United States Naval Academy. His seven years of active-duty service in the Navy was spent mostly as a submariner, including working in the nuclear-submarine program. After Carter’s father died in 1953, he returned to Plains to take over his family’s peanut business (which he relinquished control of before being sworn in as president, a concession that has often been cited for its stark contrast to President Trump’s refusal to divest himself from the Trump Organization despite clear conflicts of interest). Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Carter soon established himself as a progressive local leader. In Jim Crow Georgia — where racism among the ruling class was unvarnished — he resisted pressure to join the local White Citizens Council, a white-supremacist organization that, unlike the KKK, met openly and was considered part of the community. Carter jumped into politics in 1962, winning a seat in the Georgia state Senate. He became governor on his second bid, in 1970, claiming that he and Rosalynn shook 600,000 hands and visited every factory in the state en route to victory. Though he was a long shot, Carter’s relentless campaigning and honest man-of-the-people message landed him the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. Rolling Stone endorsed Carter with a cover story written by Hunter S. Thompson, who met the future president in 1974 when he gave what Thompson described as a “king hell bastard of a speech” about how the judicial system had failed minorities. “Hunter was my good buddy,” Carter said in 2007 when asked by Tom Brokaw about his relationship with the gonzo journalist. So too were Willie Nelson, Gregg Allman, and Bob Dylan, the latter Carter referred to in that speech as a “poet” who aided his “understanding of what’s right and wrong in this society.” Carter’s outsider status may have helped him win the presidency, but his aversion to playing politics made for a coarse relationship with Congress throughout his time in office. Though most historians have not considered Carter a particularly effective president, he was able to normalize relations with China; broker peace between Israel and Egypt through the Camp David Accords; and ratify the Panama Canal treaties, which turned control of the waterway over to its namesake nation and ensured its neutrality. These were all foreign-policy accomplishments, however. Where Carter struggled was in inspiring hope domestically. See Also Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ Director, Dead at 83 Olivia Hussey, Star of 1968 Classic ‘Romeo and Juliet,' Dead at 73 “There was something more than a desire to lead,” Carter’s speechwriter Hendrik Hertzberg told Rolling Stone in 2011 . “That was very strong. But as strong was the self-sacrificial ideal of doing the right thing even if it cost him the presidency. He risked it over and over. He loved thankless tasks like the Panama Canal. It’s a perfect Carter achievement. He got absolutely no mileage out of it. It sparked Reagan. Reagan rode it to the election. And yet, by doing it, he avoided a catastrophic, very serious war in Latin America.” By 1979, the U.S. was gripped by an energy crisis, sparked by instability in the Middle East, which resulted in skyrocketing oil prices and long queues of cars at gas stations. The nation’s fears about energy security were further heightened by the nuclear mishap at Three Mile Island that March. On July 15th, Carter delivered an address that has since become known as the “malaise speech,” in which he criticized the nation’s crisis of confidence. “The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways,” said Carter. “It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” But Carter’s attempt to right the course of his presidency was foiled when a group of Iranian students took control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage that November. The standoff consumed Carter, who often secluded himself in the White House as he grappled with how to resolve it. In April 1980, he ordered Operation Eagle Claw, a military mission to rescue the hostages. It failed, and eight American service members were killed. The crisis persisted through the end of Carter’s presidency, and triggered his landslide Electoral College defeat in 1980. After warding off a primary challenge from Ted Kennedy, Carter lost all but six states and the District of Columbia to Ronald Reagan, who ran on the campaign slogan, “Let’s make America great again.” (All 52 hostages were freed minutes after Reagan took the oath of office.) In 1982, Carter and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center to “advance peace and health worldwide.” The nonpartisan nonprofit sent election-monitoring delegations everywhere from Panama to Indonesia; worked to eradicate Guinea worm, an effort Carter called “one of the most gratifying experiences of my life”; and led initiatives aimed at cultivating equality around the world. Two years after founding the Carter Center, he and Rosalynn began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a Georgia-headquartered nonprofit devoted to building housing in poverty-stricken areas. As part of the Carter Work Project, the couple spent time on the ground helping to build houses around the world, from Southeast Asia’s Mekong River region to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Carter’s post-presidential work as a diplomat was equally far-reaching. He traveled to North Korea in 1994 to negotiate a treaty freezing the nation’s nuclear program, and would visit the nation again in 2010, when he arranged for the release of Aijalon Gomes, an American teacher who had been detained after illegally entering the country. Carter’s diplomatic efforts also took him throughout the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, but such excursions were often a source of frustration for the White House. As Nicholas Dawidoff wrote for Rolling Stone in 2011 , Carter “operates as a foreign service of one, going where he pleases, making his own assessments, issuing statements that can alter the course of world events. The ambiguity of this official-yet-unofficial status has irritated every American president from Reagan on.” Carter’s “own assessments” — often relayed through opinion pieces — were a constant in the American political discourse. In 2003, he urged President Bush not to invade Iraq, arguing that “ our government has not made a case for a pre-emptive military strike .” He long advocated for Palestine’s right to statehood, green energy solutions, and universal health care. After the Supreme Court ruled in step with Citizens United in 2014, effectively eliminating caps on campaign donations, Carter described the United States as an “oligarchy with unlimited political bribery.” Prior to the 2018 midterm elections, he called on Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Brian Kemp, who was accused of deploying myriad voter suppression tactics, to resign as the state’s secretary of state . While Carter was critical of President Trump, he made his expertise available to the administration. In 2017, at the age of 93, he offered to serve as an envoy to North Korea as tensions escalated between Trump and Kim Jong-un. “This is the most serious existing threat to world peace, and it is imperative that Pyongyang and Washington find some way to ease the escalating tension and reach a lasting, peaceful agreement,” Carter wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post . Though he noted that President Trump “reacted quite well” to an invitation to talk with North Korea — Carter himself was criticized over the years for his willingness to meet with dictators — he was typically more critical of the 45th president. “If I were foolish enough to feel I could be president again, I think the first thing I would do would be to change all of the policies that President Trump has initiated,” he said in 2018 at Emory University, where he was a professor. “I pray for him fairly regularly. If he answered my prayers, he’d have to change a lot of things.” Unlike other presidents, Carter did not parlay his post-presidential fame into monetary gain. He spent his later years living modestly in Plains, painting, reading, and writing. Carter authored dozens of books. An Hour Before Daylight , his 2001 memoir of his upbringing in rural Georgia, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He won two Grammy awards, among nine nominations, including for the audio version of his final book, 2018’s Faith: A Journey For All. To the end, Carter was a realist who never lost sight of his ideals, which he strove toward more tirelessly and for far longer than anyone else who has occupied the Oval Office. For Carter, there was no other option. “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices,” he said in 2002 while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes — and we must.”
By ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.Jimmy Carter, Former U.S. President, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dies At 100
The Browns have no good options when it comes to the final two years of quarterback Deshaun Watson's fully-guaranteed contract. And so they're whipping up a batch of salary-cap chicken salad. PFT has confirmed multiple reports that the Browns and Watson have agreed to terms on a restructuring. The news terms, however, aren't what others have characterized them to be. The Watson contract already gave the Browns the right to convert a portion of his $46 million base salary into a guaranteed payment. At some point, the Browns likely will do just that, dropping his 2025 cap number from $72.935 million. The new terms in the latest deal include a $200 million 2029 salary that becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster on the third day of the 2027 league year. The Browns are expected to use the post-June 1 designation to release Watson on the first day of the 2027 league year, splitting his final cap charges into 2027 and 2028. The move costs Watson nothing and it helps the Browns create cap space that can be used while he's still on the team. It also qualifies him from injury protection under the CBA for 2027 and 2028. The revised deal essentially guarantees that Watson will remain with the Browns through 2026. But that was always happening. They owe him $46 million in each of the next two seasons. The cap consequences of cutting him would be massive. The real question is whether he'll be the starter in 2025. While they have to pay him, they don't have to play him. And if the Browns play him, the fans might not want to pay for tickets to watch the games.
After running into overtime, the Conference of the Parties (COP29) at Baku in Azerbaijan, hosting 198 countries for nearly a fortnight, finally adopted a ‘roadmap’, or a weaker form of an agreement, to say in traditional climate-talks parlance. While setting the stage for kickstarting UN-approved carbon markets, the Conference failed to deliver on the main goal: a New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG). Amidst opposition and protests, a deal was agreed upon early Sunday to “aim to mobilise” $1.3 trillion a year by 2035, with developed countries agreeing to “lead efforts” to pool in $300 billion a year as a base figure. The NCQG refers to money that will be given to developing countries by developed countries to help the former meet their goals to transition away from the continued use of fossil fuels and to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Developing countries were insisting on mobilising $1.3 trillion annually. To this end, developed countries have mobilised and transferred $115 billion in 2021-22 – though not all countries agree – but per the Paris Agreement , a new target higher than $100 billion had to be agreed upon by 2025. “This new finance goal is an insurance policy for humanity amid worsening climate impacts hitting every country,” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change. “But like any insurance policy, it only works if premiums are paid in full and on time. Promises must be kept, to protect billions of lives. It will keep the clean energy boom growing, helping all countries to share its huge benefits: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all.” This document is an optical illusion: Indian delegation However, this conclusion – hammered out in the early hours of Sunday morning – did little to placate several countries who were expecting much more money. A member of the Indian delegation publicly voiced her objections at the closing plenary of the summit. This was acknowledged by the President of the COP, Mukhtar Babayev, only after he had ceremoniously slammed the gavel declaring the end of discussions on the finance aspects. The objection will however make it to the written COP records. “I regret to say that this document is nothing more than an optical illusion. This, in our opinion, will not address the enormity of the challenge we all face. Therefore, we oppose the adoption of this document,” Indian delegation representative Chandni Raina told the closing plenary . Nigeria backed India’s stance and termed the finance deal a “joke,” Press Trust of India reported. COP29 also reached an agreement on carbon markets – which several previous COPs had not been able to achieve. These agreements will help countries deliver their climate plans more quickly and cheaply, and make faster progress in halving global emissions this decade, as required by science, a UN Presidency statement noted. On day one of COP29, the countries agreed on standards for a centralised carbon market under the UN ( Article 6.4 mechanism ). This is good news for developing countries, who will benefit from fresh flow of finance. And it is particularly good news for least developed countries, who will get the capacity-building support they need to get a foothold in the market, it added. Experts stress need to step up “No country got everything they wanted, and we leave Baku with a mountain of work to do,” said Mr. Stiell. “The many other issues we need to progress may not be headlines but they are lifelines for billions of people. So this is no time for victory laps, we need to set our sights and redouble our efforts on the road to Belem.” The finance agreement at COP29 comes as stronger national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs) become due from all countries next year. These new climate plans must cover all greenhouse gases and all sectors, to keep the 1.5°C warming limit within reach. COP29 saw two G20 countries, the UK and Brazil, signal clearly that they plan to ramp up climate action in their NDCs 3.0 because they are entirely in the interest of their economies and peoples. “The goal of $300 billion adopted yesterday by CoP 29 in the face of categorical objections of countries including India, Nigeria, Bolivia, Cuba and walk-outs...bodes ill for the future of the NCQG and the collective efforts to address climate change. The multilateral process has not emerged in good light in this event,” said R Rashmi, former environment secretary and Distinguished Fellow, The Energy Resources Institute. “The declared goal is clearly a prisoner of the geopolitics of the present times and is paltry compared to the financing needs of mitigation and adaptation faced by the developing world.” “It kicks the can down the road. The outcome has good intentions and affirmative verbs which are non committal. There is also no description of what constitutes NCQG nor is there any mention of how and from where the finance will come,” said Dhruba Purkayastha, Director, Council on Energy, Environment and Water. Published - November 24, 2024 08:30 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit climate change / United Nations (climate change) / climate change (politics) / carbon emissionsOsamu Suzuki, the man who brought affordable mobility to millions of Indians, dies at 94
STEVENSON, Wash. — Two Oregon men were found dead in a Washington state forest after they failed to return from a trip to look for Sasquatch, authorities said Saturday. The 59-year-old and 37-year-old appear to have died from exposure, the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office said via Facebook. The weather and the men’s lack of preparedness led the office to draw that conclusion, it said. Sasquatch is a folkloric beast thought by some to roam the forests, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. The two men were found in a heavily wooded area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, which is about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northeast of Portland. A family member reported them missing at around 1 a.m. on Christmas Day after they failed to return from a Christmas Eve outing. Sixty volunteer search-and-rescue personnel helped in the three-day search, including canine, drone and ground teams. The Coast Guard used infrared technology to search from the air. Authorities used camera recordings to locate the vehicle used by the pair off Oklahoma Road near Willard, which is on the southern border of the national forest.
:Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday, pressured by a large surprise build in U.S. gasoline stocks and worries about U.S. interest rate cuts next year, but prices drew support from concerns about supply eased after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah. Brent crude futures settled 2 cents higher at $72.83 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 5 cents to $68.72. U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 3.3 million barrels in the week to 212.2 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration said, counter to analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 46,000 barrels. Crude stocks fell by 1.8 million barrels in the week ended Nov. 22, the EIA added, far exceeding analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a draw of 605,000 barrels. Market sources, citing the American Petroleum Institute, had said on Tuesday that oil inventories fell by 5.94 million barrels and fuel inventories rose last week. "It is surprising to see gasoline inventories building so much and implied demand not really budging week-on-week, given expected record travel this Thanksgiving," said Matt Smith, an analyst at Kpler. Oil prices also were dented by U.S. data showing progress on lowering inflation appears to have stalled in recent months, which could narrow the scope for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates in 2025. Traders added to bets the U.S. central bank will lower borrowing costs by 25 basis points at its Dec. 17-18 meeting, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. However, they anticipate the Fed will leave rates unchanged at its meetings in January and March. Slower-than-expected rate cuts would keep the cost of borrowing elevated, which could slow economic activity and dampen demand for oil. Both oil benchmarks settled lower on Tuesday after Israel agreed to a ceasefire deal with Lebanon's Hezbollah group, effective Wednesday after both sides accepted the agreement brokered by the U.S. and France. The ceasefire started on Wednesday. "The real question will be for how long it (the ceasefire) will truly be honoured," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. Oil gained support after sources from the OPEC+ group, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies led by Russia, said it is discussing a further delay to the oil output increase set for January. The group, which produces about half of the world's oil, had aimed to gradually ease production cuts through 2024 and 2025, but weaker global demand and rising output outside OPEC+ have cast doubt on that plan. The decision will be made at a Dec. 1 meeting. The heads of commodities research at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley said oil prices are undervalued, citing a market deficit and risk to Iranian supply from possible sanctions when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Sources also told Reuters on Tuesday that crude oil would not be exempt from the 25 per cent tariffs that Trump has threatened to impose on all products coming into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada. Oil industry analysts and traders warned the move would likely raise oil prices for U.S. refiners, squeezing margins and driving up the cost of fuel.As we approach 2025, designated by the National Institutes of Health as the year of the brain, it’s the perfect time to prioritize your brain health and boost your brain performance. Your brain is a vital part of who you are, and taking steps now can lead to a healthier and happier you in the years ahead. To help enhance your brain health and safeguard your cognitive well-being, I’ve created a mnemonic: BRAIN. This stands for Boundaries, Rest, Active, Ingest, and Nurture. Each component represents a key factor on your journey to becoming a better version of yourself in 2025. Adopting these five strategies can unleash your limitless capacity to achieve your personal best. Boundaries Maintaining boundaries is crucial for your mental and emotional well-being. This creates a protective barrier that shields you from negativity, manipulation, and unnecessary stress. Recognizing your own needs and effectively communicating them to those around you is not optional; it's necessary. While saying "yes" may open doors, saying "no" can close off those that should never have been opened. It can be challenging when someone consistently drains your energy or causes you pain. If you're feeling uncertain about the purpose of that relationship , it might be a sign to take a step back and evaluate its value in your life. Your well-being is important, and you deserve connections that uplift and support you. Boundaries are a vital expression of self-respect. Remember, if others value you, they will also respect the boundaries you establish. By setting these boundaries, you create the space needed to focus on nurturing yourself and attend to other critical elements for optimizing your brain health. Establishing boundaries is the first step in your path to growth and achieving happiness in the new year. Rest Rest is extremely important for our brain health, and it's something we often overlook in our busy lives. Taking time to rest allows our brains to recover and repair, which is essential for maintaining our mental and cognitive well-being. When we sleep , our brains consolidate our memories, process information, and clear out toxins that can build up during the day. These toxins have been linked to conditions like dementia, which highlights just how critical it is to get good rest. By getting enough sleep, we strengthen our neural connections, making it easier to learn and remember new things. Additionally, rest plays a vital role in helping us regulate our emotions. It gives our brains the chance to recharge, which in turn helps us manage stress. When we don’t get sufficient rest, we may find ourselves struggling with concentration, cognitive performance, and even our mood, opening the door to mental health challenges such as anxiety or depression. Remember, it's okay to take a step back and prioritize sleep. Doing so not only helps maintain optimal brain function but also boosts our productivity and fosters our long-term brain health. You’re not alone in this—many of us need reminders to slow down and care for ourselves. Active While it is important to rest and get a good night’s sleep, it is also important to keep your mind and body active. Consider incorporating practices such as reading books, listening to enlightening podcasts, attending educational lectures, and learning new skills. These activities can effectively stimulate your brain and promote an active neural network. In addition to mental stimulation, finding ways to include physical activity in your daily routine can foster significant benefits for your brain health. Regular exercise plays a vital role in enhancing blood flow to the brain, which optimizes the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that promote neuron growth and make your brain more adaptable. This adaptability is important for learning and memory. Moreover, engaging in physical activity can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which negatively impact brain health. Exercise also naturally boosts your mood by releasing endorphins, which can help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression that may hinder cognitive function. By actively nurturing both your mind and body, you can enhance mental clarity, focus, and overall cognitive performance. This approach not only promotes immediate well-being but also contributes to a lower risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, in the long term. Ingest What you put into your body is essential for your overall well-being. A healthy diet fuels your brain with the vital nutrients it needs to stay focused and sharp. It’s crucial to maintain a balanced intake of nutrients from a variety of sources, such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and other wholesome foods. If you’re unsure how to implement a nutritious diet, don’t hesitate to consult your medical provider. Many healthcare providers are well-equipped to offer valuable dietary guidance. If your provider is unable to craft a detailed dietary plan for you, seeking the expertise of a dietitian or nutritionist is a smart choice. It’s also critical to recognize what to avoid or consume in moderation. The prevalence of alcohol use disorder in the US is concerning. If you find yourself needing to cut back on drinking , feeling annoyed by others’ criticism of your habits, lying about your consumption, experiencing guilt over your drinking, or reaching for a drink first thing in the morning, it’s time to seek help. If your life revolves around alcohol or illicit substances like cocaine or narcotics, getting assistance is essential. These substances can be harmful to your brain, damaging neurons and other cells that support brain function. Prioritizing your health and seeking support is a powerful step forward. Nurturing Relationships There are many types of relationships that are critical for brain health. If you have family and friends who can provide a supportive environment, it is important to spend time with them. Building strong social connections helps create stronger neural pathways in your brain. Socializing with friends and family increases the production of certain chemicals that contribute to improved well-being. If you belong to a specific faith, consider strengthening relationships within your religious community. If you have a medical condition, joining a support group can connect you with others who share similar experiences. Another beneficial type of nurturing relationship is with members of your medical team. The more your provider understands your life and challenges, the better advice they can offer for maintaining your health. Don’t hesitate to openly discuss what is happening in your life, including any difficulties you may encounter in following your treatment plan. For example, if you can’t afford medication or certain recommended therapies due to high deductibles or copays, let your provider know. Likewise, if you have food, housing or transportation insecurity, this should also be shared with your medical provider as they may be able to provide referrals to help you overcome these challenges. Maintaining optimal brain health and boosting your brain performance are essential for overall well-being and longevity. Boundaries protect your mental space, eating a nutritious diet fuels your brain, and limiting alcohol use helps prevent cognitive decline. Additionally, structured cognitive and physical activity boosts brain function and memory, and adequate rest allows the brain to repair and recharge. Equally important are nurturing healthy relationships with friends, family, and medical providers, as strong social connections and professional support promote emotional resilience and mental clarity. Together, these practices can help setup your mind and body to be vibrant and sharp as you navigate 2025.How local hovernments are keying into Universal health coverage
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