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League fines Hawks $100,000 for Young missing NBA Cup gameNEW DELHI, India (AP) — A 13-year-old cricketer from India’s northern state of Bihar could become the sport’s latest Twenty20 batting sensation. The Rajasthan Royals think so highly of Vaibhav Suryavanshi that they paid $130,000 in the Indian Premier League’s mega auction for his services, making him the youngest ever to be selected. Suryavanshi came to the limelight last month when he scored a century against Australia’s under-19 team off just 58 balls before he got out for 104. At the age of 13 years and 187 days, Suryavanshi broke the record of Bangladesh’s present test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who at the age of 14 years and 241 days held the previous record of scoring a century at youth level. The Delhi Capitals also showed interest when the bid for Suryavanshi started at his base price of $35,500. “He’s been to our high performance center in Nagpur, he had trials there and really impressed our coaching set-up there,” Rajasthan CEO Jake Lush McCrum said after the auction ended Monday. “He’s an incredible talent and of course you’ve got to have the confidence so he can step up to the IPL level.” McCrum described Suryavanshi as a “hell of a talent” and hoped lots of work will go into the coming months before the IPL begins on March 14 with former Indian captain Rahul Dravid among the coaching panel of the franchise. Suryavanshi idolizes legendary West Indian batter Brian Lara and often gets tips from former India batter Wasim Jaffer, with whom he met during an under-19 tournament in Bangladesh last year. Suryavanshi’s father, Sanjiv, is his coach and has worked with him since his son showed interest in the game at an early age. “He is not just my son now, but entire Bihar’s son,” the elder Suryavanshi told Press Trust of India. “My son has worked hard.” The IPL does not have a formal minimum age requirement, but in 2020 the International Cricket Council set the minimum age of 15 for players to compete internationally. However, the game’s governing body also said at that time that cricket boards can request permission to allow players under 15 to represent their country. Prayas Ray Barman held the previous record of youngest player to win an IPL contract. He was 16 in 2019 when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru spent about $200,000 for him. But the wrist spinner faded away after playing just one match. Pakistani batter Hasan Raza holds the record of youngest cricketer to make his test debut — the five-day cricket format — at the age of 14 years and 227 days in 1996. ___ AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket The Associated PressFLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — This was not the homecoming scenario Kirk Cousins would have scripted. Cousins' return to Minnesota, his NFL home from 2018 through 2023, on Sunday comes as he is hearing speculation about his job security in Atlanta. Cousins has thrown six interceptions with no touchdowns in the Falcons' three-game losing streak. That includes four picks in last week's 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, his most in a decade. “It’s kind of the challenge always in pro football to be able to get back up off the mat and get back going,” Cousins said after Wednesday's practice. A vote of confidence from coach Raheem Morris can't silence suggestions that it's time to give rookie first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. a chance to jump-start the Falcons' struggling offense. Morris said Sunday he didn't consider removing Cousins from the game, and he repeated his support for the veteran on Wednesday. “Got to go to Minnesota and get a big-time win and Kirk’s ready to go,” Morris said before acknowledging Cousins must bounce back from “obviously a tough game.” “You know, realistically, man he is built for this and he’s ready to go,” Morris said. The losing streak has left the Falcons (6-6) struggling to remain on top of the weak NFC South. They hold the tiebreaker advantage with Tampa Bay (6-6), but need Cousins to end his turnover streak. Cousins, 36, was expected to be the reliable leader on offense after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract. He will be in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. He said he expects a loud reception from Minnesota's fans. “They’re great fans, great football fans,” Cousins said. “As a result I think they’ll make it as hostile as they can for us.” Cousins ranks fifth in the league with 3,052 passing yards. He has 17 touchdown passes and his 13 interceptions are only one shy of his career high. Cousins insists he feels strong in his return from last season's torn Achilles tendon. He was critical of his mental mistakes in the loss to the Chargers. He said he rushed some passes, sometimes lacking the necessary velocity on his throws and giving defensive backs the opportunity to step in front of receivers for interceptions. Atlanta offensive coordinator Zac Robinson also said Cousins' lack of velocity on his throws “just goes back to, you know, decisiveness, being decisive when you do cut it loose. Certainly those things happen with quarterbacks. There might be times where, you know, you’re not as convicted on a throw. And it shows by the way the football comes out.” Morris said he still has confidence in Cousins' arm and the mental side to his game. “He’s done a great job with us, and I have no real qualms about him bouncing back and him being able to play the game the way it needs to be done,” Morris said. “He’s still an elite processor. He has the ability to make all the throws. He’s shown that throughout the year.” Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores also said he expects Cousins will shake out of his slump. “I know the narrative is he had a tough game last week, but he’s played some good football," Flores said. "I think the people in this building know what Kirk can do. He’s a very, very good quarterback.” Added Flores: “He’s a bounce-back type of guy, as we all know. I’m expecting his best, the best version of Kirk, the best version of that offense. It’s going to be a major challenge for us.” Atlanta's offensive production has dipped while the veteran quarterback’s turnovers have been on the rise. The Falcons were held to under 20 points in each of their three straight losses. “Have to just believe that tough times don’t last, tough people do,” Cousins said. “You have to keep pushing.” ___ AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump didA version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here . President-elect Donald Trump has for years been railing against the concept of birthright citizenship in the 14th Amendment. During the 2024 presidential campaign, he promised that, on Day One of his second term, he would issue an executive order ending the current policy, which he said in a video is “based on a historical myth and a willful misinterpretation of the law.” A constitutional amendment beats an executive order every time in the US system of government, but Trump’s position represents the persistent belief that something should be done to stop the children of undocumented immigrants from claiming US citizenship. How might Trump challenge birthright citizenship? In that campaign video, Trump said his executive order will make “clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic US citizenship.” CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez has reported that Trump’s new administration could stop issuing passports to the children of the undocumented, engineering a legal showdown over the issue. In addition, Trump’s team might step up “expedited removal” of undocumented immigrants across the country without a court hearing, challenging another sentence of the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection to every person under the law. Both Trump and his incoming “border czar,” Tom Homan , have said they will not shy away from deporting the parents of US citizens who are children. “If you come in the country and have a child, that’s on you. You can either take the child with you, but that’s on you,” Homan said on Tuesday in Chicago , adding he would target undocumented people living in cities like Chicago that have sanctuary policies. As president in 2020, Trump tried to restrict visas for pregnant women entering the US for so-called birth tourism. Why does the US have birthright citizenship? The US has birthright citizenship to guarantee that the descendants of people brought to the US against their will and sold as slaves are citizens. In probably the worst moment in the US Supreme Court’s history , the Dred Scott decision of 1857, then-Chief Justice Roger B. Taney wrote for a 7-2 majority that no descendant of an enslaved person could be a US citizen. Scott was an enslaved man from Missouri who had lived in free territories with his Army surgeon owner. He sued for freedom after returning to Missouri. The decision was undone by the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the 14th Amendment, which guaranteed that everyone born in the US was a citizen of the US and protected by its Bill of Rights. What does the 14th Amendment say? Here’s the text of the first portion of the amendment: The language is pretty clear. Anyone born in the US is a citizen of the US. For more on the history of the amendment, read this excellent explainer from CNN’s AJ Willingham, written in 2018, when Trump threatened as president to challenge the concept of birthright citizenship. How could the 14th Amendment not apply to the children of the undocumented? One of the main backers of the idea that the amendment does not apply to children of undocumented immigrants born in the US is John Eastman, the very same lawyer who hatched the six-step game plan by which Trump attempted to subvert the 2020 election results. While Trump is returning to the White House, Eastman has since been indicted in Georgia and Arizona for election interference and disbarred in California. But before any of that, he was pushing the idea that the country has been misinterpreting the 14th Amendment for the past 150-plus years. He argued that the phrase in between the commas, “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” essentially disqualifies the children of people not legally living in the US. All it would take is for Congress to pass a law expressly saying the children of people in the country illegally cannot have citizenship, according to Eastman and some other scholars. It’s a fringe theory in that even conservative lawyers and judges have rejected it. Judge invites new ‘invasion’ theory For more on why Eastman’s argument does not apply, look to James Ho, now a Trump-appointed judge on the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. Ho wrote in 2006 that the 14th Amendment was enacted expressly to undo the Dred Scott decision and return the US to principles of English common law, by which everyone born in the country was a citizen. Note: The United Kingdom actually did away with unrestricted birthright citizenship with its British Nationality Act of 1981 , but many other countries, including Canada and Mexico on either side of the US, still adhere to the principle. Ho, a potential contender for a Supreme Court seat if one opens up during Trump’s new term, raised many eyebrows when he was interviewed by the libertarian Reason magazine in November. Without commenting on any specific cases, he added a qualification to his legal support for birthright citizenship. Ho said this: Earlier this year, coincidentally, CNN’s John Fritze notes that Ho had used that term, “invasion,” in a concurring opinion on a different topic. “In an opinion this summer dealing with Texas’ construction of a floating barrier on the Rio Grande, Ho wrote that Texas should have prevailed in the case because the state was repelling an ‘invasion’ of migrants,” according to Fritze. Has the Supreme Court ever ruled on this? The Supreme Court did unequivocally find in the case of Wong Kim Ark in 1898 that the children of noncitizens born in the US to “resident aliens” are citizens under the 14th Amendment. Wong Kim Ark was born in the US to Chinese immigrants but denied entry back into the country after a trip to China due to the Chinese Exclusion Act . Ho described the circumstances of that case in his 2006 defense of birthright citizenship. He included this sweeping language confirming the principle of birthright citizenship from the 1898 court: At the time, Ho argued that the decision extended citizenship to people born in the US regardless of immigration status. Why doesn’t Trump just change the Constitution? There hasn’t been a constitutional amendment ratified in more than 30 years. They’re notoriously hard to enact. They can either be proposed by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the states. The amendment must then also be ratified by three-quarters of state legislatures or of special conventions called in each state. If talk of Trump and the 14th Amendment sounds familiar, that’s because a different section of the amendment bars people who engaged in or aided insurrection against the US from serving in federal office. The Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the insurrection clause could only be applied to Trump by an act of Congress, clearing the way for his appearance on ballots this fall.
Ranked squads will be on Friday’s college basketball schedule in four games, including the Oklahoma Sooners squaring off against the UNLV Rebels. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to Luton Today, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. Luton boss Rob Edwards declared it was a ‘magical’ feeling to see Elijah Adebayo’s mood-changing last minute goal hit the net to secure a much-needed 2-1 victory over Stoke City at Kenilworth Road this evening. The Hatters had fallen behind early to Tom Cannon’s close range strike only to see Carlton Morris level the scores with 24 minutes on the clock, heading home Jordan Clark’s excellent corner. A tight second half was just about to enter stoppage time when Clark sent another dangerous set-piece into the box which was cleared out to Tom Krauß. Advertisement Advertisement The German midfielder returned it with interest, as Adebayo, who had already seen two shots cleared off the line, was able to divert his attempt over any covering defenders on this occasion for his third goal in three matches. Discussing the manner of the winner, Edwards said: “My initial thought was to look at the linesman. I saw him running back and was ‘yes, okay, I can enjoy that now,’ it’s a good feeling. It is great, I don't think there’s a better feeling. I always know how hard it is for them, it’s a horrible game at times football but it’s a good night for us tonight and it does feel great. "It changes the mood somehow. If we’d have scored in the 70th minute and then seen the game out 2-1, I don’t think the feel around the place would have felt as good as it does now. In that dressing room it was really lively after at the end. There is something magical about a last minute winner, a really good feeling. I think it was deserved, you take those moments and you try and enjoy it.” Having seen Town produce a thoroughly uninspiring display when drawing 1-1 with Swansea City at the weekend, Edwards was far happier with what his team produced this evening, especially having fallen behind inside the opening six minutes. He added: “Overall the performance was good, better than the weekend. I’m proud of how everyone reacted, proud of how everyone reacted after going 1-0 down early on. We showed some real character to get back on the front foot and find a way to win the game, so It was a good night for us in quite difficult circumstances. “I think we’re about 18 points from the past nine games at home, so we’ve been doing that here, it’s away we need to try and find that now. The form here is all right and I’m not concerned about that. We’ve come out on the right side of a number of games, not necessarily with a late winner like that, but tight games. Now we’ve got to try and find consistency which I've been saying for quite a long time, that’s our challenge at the moment, but let’s try and enjoy this one for a night.”
By Yuji Yoshikata / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent 7:00 JST, December 11, 2024 TEHRAN — Last year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, who has been released temporarily from a Tehran prison on medical grounds, vowed to continue her fight for women’s rights. “I will not keep silent,” she said during an exclusive interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun. Mohammadi gave her first in-person interview with a media organization since receiving her Nobel Prize at her home in the Iranian capital on Thursday. Mohammadi, 52, a political prisoner, had surgery about three weeks ago mainly to remove a tumor from her right leg. She was granted temporary medical leave from prison on Dec. 4 for a period of 21 days. She has a brace on her right leg and currently uses a walker. But with her high spirits, she does not look like a longtime prisoner. “Within these 21 days, I will not keep silent,” Mohammadi said in the interview. “It doesn’t matter if these 21 days are going to change into two days or 22 days. It will not affect my decision.” She expressed deep concern about the oppression of women in Iran and Afghanistan, saying, “I think talking about peace and democracy in the current world without paying attention to women’s rights is impossible or meaningless.” Mohammadi on Thursday evening invited Yomiuri Shimbun reporters to her home, along with her relatives, fellow human rights activists and supporters. With the painful-looking brace on her right leg, she talked with the visitors for more than five hours. Mohammadi is a political prisoner who has been sentenced to lashings and a total of more than 30 years in prison on charges that include spreading propaganda against the state. However, the authorities have imposed no major restrictions on her during her release. No obvious signs of surveillance were seen around her home. Even if restrictions are imposed, “I will not accept them,” she insisted. According to Mohammadi, news of the Nobel prize win in October last year reached her through an inmate who had learned about it from another inmate who was allowed to talk on the phone with people outside the prison. “I think the Nobel Peace Prize created an opportunity not only for me but also for Iranian women and the country to accomplish democracy and achieve women’s rights,” said Mohammadi. Her 55-year-old brother, Mehdi, and his wife are currently in Tehran from Mashhad, northeastern Iran, to take care of Mohammadi. “Twenty-one days is too short. I hope the temporary release will become a full release,” he said. During the interview, Mohammadi also delivered a message for women in Japan. “I think that the interaction and dialogue between women in various societies can lead to reciprocal growth of the societies,” she said. “I hope that such dialogues and interactions will be created between women of Iran and Japan.” When the topic shifted to her 18-year-old twin children — Ali and Kiana, who live in exile in Paris with their 65-year-old father, Taghi Rahmani — Mohammadi walked over to where the wallpaper had been marked with the twins’ heights, and wondered aloud how tall her children had grown. About a decade ago, her twins fled Iran amid growing government pressure on Mohammadi, and Rahmani later joined them. Since then, Mohammadi has been unable to see them in person as she has been arrested and imprisoned multiple times. “When they were leaving [Iran], they were a bit taller than 1 meter,” she said while tracing with her finger over the wallpaper of cartoon animals where her twins’ heights had been marked. “I have kept this, so that when they come back someday, I will measure their height and know how much I have lost,” she said. Though a strong-willed human rights activist who has refused to buckle under pressure, Mohammadi is also motherly, and related how missing out on so much time with her children caused her “deep sorrow.” , human rights activist and journalist Born in Zanjan, northwestern Iran, in 1972, Mohammadi was arrested and imprisoned multiple times after writing articles criticizing the Iranian government in 1998. She has been sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in prison and 154 lashes. In 2023, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Brandi Glanville, 52, reveals she has spent $70K trying to get rid of the Mexican 'parasites' in her face By HEIDI PARKER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 22:07, 10 December 2024 | Updated: 23:04, 10 December 2024 e-mail 25 shares 17 View comments Former model Brandi Glanville is having a rough time this year as she tries to tackle an unusual health problem that involves bugs. On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with Entertainment Tonight 's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills veteran thinks she could be a potential face parasite from Mexico . The ex-wife of actor Eddie Cibrian is treating it with a 'cell sound procedure' and the help of Dr. Nicholas Nikolov. The 52-year-old reality TV star also explained why she is rarely in public and has not shared more on social media. Brandi also let the site know if she is watching the latest season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Former model Brandi Glanville is having a rough time this year as she tries to tackle an unusual health problem that involves bugs On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with Entertainment Tonight 's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately Before, she has claimed to have stress-induced angioedema and said she has lost five teeth. On Tuesday the cover girl spoke with ET's Brice Sander about her recent issue with her face which has been looking different lately. And she commented on the feud between costars Dorit Kemsley and Kyle Richards . 'I've been on meds this whole year. I don't socialize. I don't go out and I'm just spending all of my money on trying to figure out what's wrong with me, over $70,000,' she told ET. Glanville has been going to the hospital to see a variety of doctors. 'Honestly, I have so many doctors and I've had so many tests ... I did lab work for $10,000. I ran every test under the sun.... They're like, it could be a parasite that's, you know, new.' Brandi thinks she knows how she contracted the potential parasite. 'I mean, we had food sitting out for hours on end and some of it was meat. In Morocco,' she offered. 'Six months after I got back from [filming in] Morocco, I started having this speaking thing and the swelling up thing, it started in July and we're still here trying to figure it out.' And she admitted that she has been watching her former show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Seen left after a year of issues, and seen right in 2009 The bombshell with ex Eddie Cibrian at the Living Out Loud premiere in 1998 Read More Brandi Glanville reveals doctor's shock theory about the REAL reason her face is now unrecognizable 'You know what? It's garbage and yes, I am. It's a train wreck you can't stop watching. But it's really sad TV,' she shared. She thinks RHOBH was very bad for her. 'I've had a great 13-year run. It seems like it's always when I'm on Bravo that it's hard. All the other ones have been really easy and there's been a lot. So, going back to Bravo ruined my life.' Last week she shared an image of her swollen complexion over the summer. She wrote on X: 'What happened? I wish I knew I've been in and out of the hospital this passed year 1/2 spent almost every dollar I have trying to figure it out. 'Some Dr.'s say I have a parasite that jumps around my face. Some say it's stress induced edema. I personally say it's Bravo.' Earlier this year, Brandi took to Twitter to blame the channel for her 'stress induced angio-edema' which she claimed had left her unable to work. She admitted that she has been watching her former show, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. 'You know what? It's garbage and yes, I am. It's a train wreck you can't stop watching. But it's really sad TV,' she shared She wrote on X: 'I read that I wasnt punishment4the false allegations in Morocco.Um I was fired,removed from the cast held hostage in a hotel in Morocco for days! The cast rallied on my side didnt want to continue without me. 'Cuz of the bad untrue press Ive been canceled from all jobs. 'I've been left no choice but to sue Bravo.I have receipts 4days.This stress has ruined my health.I have uncontrollable stress induced angio-edema I havent worked for a year half.Im to depressed to do my podcast to swollen 4cameo or OF. IM BEING USED AS A FALLGUY. 'I WANT SO DESPERATELY TO TWEET ALL OF MY RECEIPTS BUT MY LAWYERS WONT LET ME. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF UR SUPPORT MORE THAN YOU KNOW. MY CAST FROM MOROCO HAS BEEN SO AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE I LOVE THOSE GALS! (sic)' Dorit Kemsley Mexico Eddie Cibrian Share or comment on this article: Brandi Glanville, 52, reveals she has spent $70K trying to get rid of the Mexican 'parasites' in her face e-mail 25 shares Add comment
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This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. (FinaMill via AP) This image provided by QelviQ shows a wine bottle chiller. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. (QelviQ via AP) This image provided by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo shows a smartphone printer. Fujifilm Instax’s Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the printer with film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. (FUJIFILM North America Corporation and FUJIFILM Corporation Tokyo via AP) This image provided by FeatherSnap shows a female cardinal bird perched on a FeatherSnap Wi-Fi Solar Powered Camera Smart Bird Feeder. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. (FeatherSnap via AP) This image provided by Nama shows the M1 plant-based milk maker. If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid unnecessary ingredients like sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. (Nama via AP) This image provided by Pull Start Fire shows the matchless fire igniter in use. Made of 89% recycled materials, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling.(Pull Start Fire via AP) This image provided by Uncommon Goods shows a 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set. Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. (Uncommon Goods via AP) This image provided by easyplant shows a Marxii Calathea plant in a small, beige, self-watering pot. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. (easyplant via AP) This image provided by Souper Cubes shows No Mess Utensils held upright on pot edges. The No Mess Utensil lives up to its name. The utensils, a serving spoon and a ladle, have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot. (Ashley Cuoco via AP) This image provided by FinaMill shows the FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder Set. The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. (FinaMill via AP) By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | ‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained? Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.NFL Fans Mock CJ Stroud for Making Similar Dan Orlovsky Error
COP29 chief blames rich countries for ‘imperfect’ dealTogether with her husband Jonathon, Alyson Gregory Richter owns Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio in Denton— an imaginative culinary school for kids across all age groups that combines food with fun and themed adventure. Adult classes are offered, too. Here, kids learn valuable basic cooking and baking skills they can implement throughout their lives. The positive culinary experiences and camaraderie of preparing, cooking and sharing a meal together transform into everyday life skills. “Flour Power is the catalyst for kids going beyond what they presently know about cooking,” Richter said. Cousins Hattie Thompson, Noelle Richter and Juanita Thompson bake together at Flour Power Inspired by their daughter Noelle’s interest in baking when she was 8 years old, the Richters observed her picking up recipes and tips from the internet and cooking shows, yet she lacked direction and a foundation of understanding the basics. Flour Power Kids Cooking Studio in Allen proved to be the nearest location for a kid’s culinary school, so they enrolled her there. Once they learned it was a popular, fast-growing franchised business, the Richters felt Denton, where they reside, would embrace such an opportunity to benefit the community. “We opened our doors in April 2022,” Richter recalled. “This year Noelle turned 13 and she still loves to bake, plus now she has a variety of baking skills. Her friends love to spend time in the Flour Power kitchen with us.” At Flour Power, everyone is welcome to their table to take part in the many classes they have to offer. With the conviction that “food matters,” the studio thoughtfully engages every aspect of cooking and baking, from the ingredients, composition and nutrition to the deliciousness of food, ensuring that friends and family will thoroughly enjoy the process. “We make cooking and baking acceptable for everyone, and every class is both informative, interesting and fun,” Richter acknowledged. A team-building group, ready to get creative in the kitchen. “Our studio doesn’t contain any commercial equipment. It’s a casual and comfortable environment, stocked with kitchen items most people have at home.” Classes and parties are held year-round. Classes are pre-registered, and parties are scheduled in advance, so there are no walk-ins. “Our classes are tailored for and divided into age groups. Parents may enroll a child as young as two and a half as a Preschool Chef until the child turns 5,” Richter explained. “Children aged 5 to 8 are Lil’ Chefs, Tween Chefs are 9 through 12, Teen Chefs 13 to 17, and once 18, chefs participate in adult classes.” Family and a family friend in the kitchen together, left to right, JoAnn Engelbrecht, daughter Jennifer Engelbrecht, friend Martha Coburn. Flour Power offers an extensive selection of themed classes, day camps, holiday events, birthday parties and more, with fun as the main ingredient. “I’d say our events are pretty evenly divided between baking and cooking,” Richter noted. ““We try to create both a savory and a sweet during our classes, but we lean toward baking around holiday time.” In addition to individual classes, class packs are offered. Choose any four classes and chefs have six months to use them. Themed camps provide all-day kitchen fun from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where chefs whip up both snacks and lunch. Kid’s Night Out is a hit with both kids and their parents, when mom and dad are free to have their own evening out, while the kids cook a meal for themselves. “We offer them the recipes to take home, and hopefully they’ll make them in their family kitchen, proudly sharing with loved ones what they’ve learned,” Richter advised. Entire families or groups of friends of all ages can also enjoy an evening together creating and sharing their dishes. Seasonal events are always on the menu, with plans for the Christmas season, such as Santa’s Workshop for the entire family, a North Pole Express Pajama Party, where kids cook in their pjs and, of course, a visit from Santa himself. “Throughout the year we love to host team building and corporate events, too,” Richter added. Santa Claus visits a group of budding chefs. Flour Power Cooking Studio drives fun. It is also a catalyst for empowering children of all ages to embark on a lifelong culinary journey, where they practice teamwork, follow directions, cultivate creativity, learn food techniques, make better food choices and share their accomplishments. “There are so many talented people of all ages in Denton. We love meeting new kids and giving them a place to have fun,” Richter remarked. “We really want to do more Denton-centric events, because we want to continue supporting the community.” This article was originally published in Denton County magazine. For additional content and access to our free bimonthly publication, visit dentoncountymagazine.com.
Germany’s struggling economy needs urgent action to boost its competitiveness, Deutsche Bank’s DBKGd.DE CEO said on Wednesday as he called for structural reforms, less regulation and lower taxes on companies. “Germany needs to adjust its business model,” Christian Sewing told the FT Global Banking Summit in London. “It is urgent we take action,” he said, flagging the likelihood of further job losses in Germany’s auto industry and adding that February’s snap election could provide the opportunity for a reset. The German economy has been dogged by intensifying competition from abroad, weak demand and an industrial slowdown. To boot, a budget row brought down the country’s three-way coalition last month, leaving Europe’s largest economy in political limbo until a snap election on Feb. 23. The OECD on Wednesday cut its forecast for German economic growth next year. Sewing, who has headed Deutsche Bank since 2018, said via video that the company would invest 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) annually to increase automation as it tries to keep a lid on costs and improve its technology. Deutsche’s 2010 acquisition of Postbank resulted in glitches that locked customers out of their accounts, and a long-running tech integration only concluded last year. The Frankfurt-based lender has seen its shares gain 35% in 2024, outperforming a European banking index .SX7P, after a run of quarterly profits and a rebound in its investment banking business. But its stock remains below levels hit after the global financial crisis in 2008-2009, and the lender has forecast higher bad loan provisions as the domestic economy weakens. Deutsche’s rival Commerzbank CBKG.DE has been at the centre of speculation about a return of European banking consolidation after Italy’s UniCredit CRDI.MI snapped up a stake, triggering widespread opposition in Germany to any hostile takeover. Sewing said his lender was “staying out” of the Commerzbank-UniCredit situation and was focused solely on itself, given Deutsche had “only actually seen 60% to 65% of our potential”. Banking consolidation in Europe was “a logical trend”, he said, but the lack of a banking union remained a hindrance to dealmaking. “I do believe before the real wave starts we need further foundations met,” he said, adding it remained “very hard” for Deutsche Bank to shift liquidity from one country to another in Europe despite being in 14-15 markets. Bankers have repeatedly called for euro zone-wide capital and deposit rules to replace national requirements. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes, Editing by Sinead Cruise and Christina Fincher)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns , Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday to reach double-digit wins for the 10th straight season. Noah Gray caught two TD passes as the Chiefs (10-1) bounced back from last week’s 30-21 loss at Buffalo and won at the buzzer yet again in a season of narrow escapes. DeAndre Hopkins also had a touchdown catch for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, who scored on their first five possessions. Bryce Young finished 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-8), who had their two-game winning streak snapped. David Moore had six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 27-19, Young completed a fourth-down pass to Adam Thielen to move the chains, then went deep for the veteran receiver, who drew a pass-interference penalty on Chamarri Conner. That set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard. Young's initial 2-point conversion toss to Moore drew a flag on Trent McDuffie, and Hubbard ran for 2 on the next play to tie the game with 1:46 left. Mahomes ran for 33 yards on the ensuing drive and was sprung by a downfield block from Justin Watson to reach field goal range. Then he connected with Kareem Hunt for 10 yards to make it a chip shot for Shrader. Mahomes finished with 60 yards rushing. The Chiefs wasted no time setting the tone as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play of scrimmage for a 7-0 lead. Gray went nine games without a TD catch before hauling in two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more against the Panthers . The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, resulting in field goals of 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards for Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Running back Jonathan Brooks made his NFL debut for Carolina, but was limited to 7 yards on two carries. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by a one-score margin, and this was their second straight victory decided on the last play. They beat Denver two weeks ago by blocking a would-be game-winning field goal. Kansas City's Travis Kelce had six catches for 62 yards and moved into third place in career yards receiving by a tight end. He ranks behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. However, Kelce failed to find the end zone for the ninth time in 11 games this season. Panthers: Rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to the hospital with a neck injury after landing awkwardly on his head after making a catch near the end of the second quarter. Chiefs: Host Las Vegas on Friday. Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLSyrian rebels who overthrew the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday are reportedly executing their opponents, imposing Islamic sharia law, and threatening non-Muslim minorities, including the Kurdish population in the north. Videos are circulating on social media showing Syrian rebels killing people associated with the regime — some of whom may have been part of the state security services, and others who appear to have been ordinary employees. The New York Times reported Tuesday: Islamic State forces on Tuesday killed 54 people in the Homs region in central Syria who had been part of the Syrian government’s military and fled during the collapse of the Assad regime, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group. The killings highlight the chaos in Syria as various rebel factions operate in different regions. One video also shows thousands of smashed bottles of liquor at the duty free store of the Damascus airport, where Islamist rebels apparently enforced the Islamic ban on alcohol by force, as Islamists did in Lebanon in the 1980s. In addition, Islamist rebels, backed by Turkey, have been threatening Kurdish communities, backed by the U.S. The Times reported that the Syrian rebels are fighting with Kurdish militias: Fierce fighting was underway on Tuesday between rebels supported by Turkey and U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led forces near Kobani, a town in northern Syria with historic and symbolic significance for American involvement in the region. The fight illustrates how, even as rebels try to build a government after taking Damascus, armed groups with competing interests are still fighting for territory and power, trying to fill the vacuum left by a collapsed regime and, in this case, pitting proxies of the United States and Turkey against each other. U.S. Central Command commanding officer General Erik Kurilla actually visited Syria on Tuesday, reviewing the current state of preparations among U.S. troops and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syrian army positions and arms stockpiles, destroying what was left of the military Assad abandoned, preventing it from falling into rebel hands. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days , available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency , now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak .NCDIT Celebrated for Tech Innovation and Cybersecurity Efforts at NC TECH Gala in RaleighThe Egypt international and France counterpart Kylian Mbappe both joined the 50-goal club in the competition. Mohamed Salah extended Liverpool’s perfect Champions League record as they won 1-0 at Girona to claim a sixth victory out of six. Salah nervelessly converted a 63rd-minute penalty, his 16th goal of the season, after French referee Benoit Bastien had been advised to take another look at Donny van de Beek’s clumsy challenge on Luis Diaz. In the process, he became just the 11th man to score 50 goals in the competition – Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe later also joined that exclusive club – on a night when victory at the Estadi Montilivi meant the six-time European champions will enter 2025 sitting proudly at the top of the table. France international Michael Olise produced a moment of magic to set the seal on Bayern Munich’s demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk and ease them towards the knockout stage. Olise’s brilliant stoppage-time run and finish capped a 5-1 victory for the Germans, in which he had early scored from the penalty spot, in Gelsenkirchen. Kevin’s fifth-minute strike had given the home side the perfect start, but Konrad Laimer levelled before Thomas Muller’s 55th goal in the competition sent the visitors in ahead at the break and set the stage for Olise’s double either side of Jamal Musiala’s strike. Jude Bellingham breathed life back into Real Madrid’s campaign as they held off Atalanta to earn a 3-2 victory in Bergamo. After Charles De Ketelaere had cancelled out Mbappe’s opener from the penalty spot, second-half goals from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham in quick succession put the visitors in charge, although Ademola Lookman’s 65th-minute strike meant the contest was alive until the final whistle. Ross Barkley took Aston Villa a step closer to automatic qualification with a late winner against RB Leipzig in Germany. Villa had led twice through John McGinn and Jhon Duran, but equalisers from Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner kept Leipzig in it until substitute Barkley struck five minutes from time to snatch a 3-2 victory. Goals from Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and substitute Desire Doue – his first in the competition – handed French champions Paris St Germain a much-needed three points after a comfortable 3-0 win at RB Salzburg. Nordi Mukiele left it late to end Inter Milan’s unbeaten Champions League record as Bayer Leverkusen claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory at the BayArena. Mukiele struck in the 90th minute to inflict a first defeat across six games in this season’s competition on the Serie A champions – it was also the first goal they have conceded. Casper Nielsen came off the bench to fire Club Brugge to a 2-1 home victory over Sporting Lisbon after Eduardo Quaresma’s own goal had handed them a way back into the game following Geny Catamo’s early opener. Julien Le Cardinal’s first-half strike was enough to handed Brest a 1-0 victory over Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, while Kasper Schmeichel’s save from Marko Pjaca’s close-range 80th-minute header ensured Celtic returned from Dinamo Zagreb with a 0-0 draw.
