US sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. Jackson breaks Vick's NFL rushing record for QBs in Ravens' rout over Texans HOUSTON (AP) — Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most yards rushing by a quarterback in NFL history in a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans in Wednesday. Jackson moved past Vick on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Jackson had 87 yards rushing to give him 6,110 yards, moving him past Vick, who piled up 6,109 in his 13-year career.US stocks experience mixed fortunes on quiet day of trading
Sabrina Carpenter slips into (lacy) Christmas stockings
AP News Summary at 3:08 p.m. ESTST. PAUL — Kris Bolle is living the “van life” these days with Annie, his mini Australian shepherd. Bolle, 46, bought a 2020 Dodge Ram ProMaster cargo van this past fall. The Hayfield resident planned, essentially, a studio apartment inside. The van with a high roof has room for a full bed, a small kitchen area and a writing desk. He saves money by forgoing rent, but there is a cost — isolation. It’s a lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to since he had to hide his sexuality over the years, including in the Navy under the now-defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which allowed gay and lesbian service members to stay in the military as long as they weren’t out, he said. “I had to be very, very tight-lipped about me ... so I’m used to it,” Bolle said. “But yes, it wears on you. It wears you down, and you feel isolated and you feel left out.” About 48% of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. The poll also finds that about half of Minnesotans feel lonely, at least some of the time. More specifically, 13% say they “often” lack companionship and another 35% lack companionship “some of the time.” Results were similar when Minnesotans were asked how often they feel left out and isolated from others. Bolle was one of 3,399 participants surveyed by the firm Lumaris. He said he often feels a lack of companionship as well. He hasn’t been in a relationship since 2009. He often feels left out and sometimes feels isolated. “I’m isolated in the sense where I really can’t find a suitable partner,” he said. His social connections are at his nursing assistant job, which he looks forward to, Bolle said. He’s never thoroughly enjoyed a job as much as his role at a skilled nursing facility, he said. “Work is great. I get to see people, I get to interact with people. I get to chat and talk and all the things that you know, that people do,” Bolle said. “That’s really hard to find.” The APM Research Lab included these questions in the survey, conducted this year between July 20 and Nov. 22, to better understand what the U.S. Surgeon General has called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The three questions used in the APM Research Lab survey were replicated from the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale to help assess Minnesotans’ state of mind in the post-pandemic era, and possibly to help identify groups of Minnesotans that are faring better or worse with feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report calling loneliness an epidemic, posing significant health risks akin to tobacco usage, obesity and addiction. Loneliness intersects with various aspects of people’s lives, said Carrie Henning-Smith, an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “Social isolation and loneliness have profound impacts on health, on mortality risks, on all of the ways that our lives play out within health, within that sphere, but in so many other ways, too,” said Henning-Smith, who conducts research on rural populations as the co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Program. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report, “the physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.” A lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death by more than 60%, the report added. Mary Jo Kreitzer, the founder and director of the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, said the report is significant. “Just by him [Murthy] touching that subject, everybody remembers that he did,” she said. “People remembered that. Because I’m sure that everybody has somebody like that in their life, or they themselves are feeling lonely.” There’s also a stigma surrounding the idea of loneliness. “People are reluctant to admit that they feel lonely. It somehow means like that you’re unlikable or unlovable or there’s something wrong with you,” Henning-Smith said. “It’s important to have these conversations, because the truth is, just about everyone will feel lonely at some point in their life.” she added. “It's a universal part of being human.” Kreitzer said the data reported by APM Lab is comparable to other global and U.S. data on the subject. “Other studies, like this one found that loneliness peaks in younger age groups,” she said, calling it “a very interesting finding.” The survey found that the Gen Z cohort of 18 to 27, were the most lonely. “That surprises a lot of people, but I think it’s consistent with other data,” Kreitzer said. She said people assume that older people suffer from loneliness because they lack the social connections they once had earlier in their lives. The survey data, instead, showed that baby boomers, currently aged 60-78, are the least lonely of adult-age generations in Minnesota: 63% score as “rarely lonely” and only 7% indicated frequent loneliness. “Sometimes, like in the boomer generation, when people have retired, they actually have more time to build and strengthen connections,” Kreitzer said. “Boomers can be great at joining groups, pursuing interests, be that hobbies or fitness activities or book clubs or volunteering, and all of those are ways that can really help us build social connections.” She said her local YMCA in Grand Rapids is a hub of activity with engaged older folks. She sees them playing cards, working out, swimming and more. Gen Zers, however, are experiencing numerous life transitions. “During that age, they’re expected to separate from their family, to find a partner, to launch a career,” Kreitzer said. “So there’s been a lot of disruption in social connections that they probably have had in their life for a long, long time.” Henning-Smith called the loneliness rates among young adults “concerning.” Social media and technology may explain part of the higher rates. “People who live their lives online, people who are digital natives and were born into a world where they’re living their lives online, have fundamentally different ways of connecting with other people,” Henning-Smith said. “I worry that some of those skills and some of the infrastructure for connecting with people in meaningful ways and in-person connections might be lacking for some folks in younger generations.” Kreitzer suggests to those who may have frequent bouts of loneliness to acknowledge the feelings. Don’t ignore them. She advises them to reach out to family and friends to try to build or rebuild social connections. She also encourages people to join groups based on their interests. Kreitzer highly recommends volunteering because of the health benefits associated with it. “There’s actually research on that that, like, volunteering helps improve our own well-being,” she said. “It can actually improve our overall positive outlook, our mental health and well-being.” Back in Hayfield, Bolle said he tries to find community to fend off his loneliness. His location is a challenge because he finds groups in the Twin Cities some 90 miles away. He belongs to a spiritual group that meets once a week in Rochester, but that’s a 52-mile round trip, so he only goes from time to time. Bolle also prepares himself to encounter situations that bring on feelings of loneliness when he goes to Rochester on his weekends to run errands. “When I see families out having fun together, or groups of people, groups of young people, you know, out together and having fun, that can trigger pangs of loneliness,” he said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on human connection.” He said when he was younger, he bought into society’s emphasis on rugged individualism. “But it just doesn’t work, because you will almost ultimately, always end up feeling lonely,” he said. When he traveled the world with the Navy, Bolle said he saw community and family as top priorities in other countries as well as in the Mexican and Latino communities of Southern California where he grew up. “You really do need that connection with other people,” he said. “It’s almost as important as food and shelter, you know?” The data and the heart appear to agree. This story was originally published on MPRNews.orgTOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Sam Lewis' 18 points helped Toledo defeat Defiance 111-49 on Saturday. Lewis also had five rebounds for the Rockets (6-3). Javan Simmons scored 16 points while shooting 8 of 9 from the field and 0 for 3 from the line and added eight rebounds. Sonny Wilson finished 7 of 10 from the field to finish with 16 points. Jalen Brown finished with 12 points for the Yellow Jackets. Connor Bush added eight points for Defiance. Donovan Stone finished with eight points. Toledo took the lead with 19:42 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. The score was 55-23 at halftime, with Simmons racking up 14 points. Toledo extended its lead to 90-34 during the second half, fueled by a 16-3 scoring run. Grgur Brcic scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from . The Associated Press
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has addressed concerns surrounding the proposed establishment of a Sharia court in Oyo Town, affirming his commitment to upholding the law and the Nigerian Constitution. While speaking on the issue in a video seen by Tribune Online , Makinde emphasised that although individuals or groups may pursue initiatives such as the Sharia Court, these actions must remain within the confines of the law. He assured that any deviation from legal provisions would face scrutiny and enforcement to ensure compliance. He said, “About the establishment of Sharia court in Oyo Town, People may try, but for us, I swore to uphold our laws & the Constitution of Nigeria. If their actions are within the law, fine, if not they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed.” Tribune Online reports that some netizens recently took to social media, reacting differently to the news of the planned inauguration of a Sharia Court in Oyo State. In a now-viral flyer shared on X, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, announced its plans to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo town and its environs in January 2025. While some netizens expressed support for the announcement, others strongly criticised it. Opponents argue that establishing a Sharia court in the South West, a region predominantly inhabited by Yoruba people undermines the area’s cultural and religious diversity, where no single faith is dominant. However, the Khadimul Muslimeen of Oyo Kingdom, Imam Daud Igi Ogun, has announced in a statement issued on Tuesday that the inauguration of the Sharia Court in Oyo State has been postponed indefinitely. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNETexas head coach Steve Sarkisian blasts uneven refereeing in SEC Championship game vs. Georgia | Sporting News
A large cargo ship remains stuck in the St. Lawrence River after running aground on Saturday afternoon. The Tim S. Dool, a 225-metre-long lake freighter, ran aground in U.S. waters just east of Morrisburg, Ont. at approximately 12:30 p.m. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation says there were no injuries and there is no reported pollution or ingress in the water. The ship is currently stable and remains outside the navigation channel, the corporation said in a statement. "Work is underway to finalize a salvage plan. An update will follow, once the salvage plan is known," the corporation said. The Tim S. Dool is owned the Algoma Central Corporation, a Canadian shipping company. The ship went into service in 1967 with a gross tonnage of 18,700 tons. It services the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Ottawa Top Stories Police lay more charges against pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Ottawa Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont. Ottawa addiction recovery organization celebrates 41 years Sandy Hill apartment building evacuated for high levels of carbon monoxide Indigenous boy donating hair to cancer patients, raising money for Kemptville hospital Hawkesbury, Ont. OPP officer charged with assault Mixed reaction from Ottawa business owners, customers on GST exemption Ottawa councillor violated Code of Conduct for daycare incident last summer, integrity commissioner concludes CTVNews.ca Top Stories Second Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident Second Cup Café has closed one of its franchise locations in Montreal following allegations of hateful remarks and gestures made by the franchisee in a video that was widely circulated online during a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday. ‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home A family in Riverview, N.B., is making plans for Christmas and the future after escaping a fire in their home on November, 14. 'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger. Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada. A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. Las Vegas police fatally shot him A Las Vegas man called for police help during a home invasion before an officer fatally shot him, according to authorities and 911 calls. These royal residences are opening their doors this Christmas Not so long ago, if you wanted to spend Christmas with the royal family, the only way to get close was to press your nose up to the TV screen during the monarch’s Christmas speech. Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA Donations are ramping up for a BC SPCA cat with a mangled paw after being caught in a hunting snare, one of a rising number of pets to fall prey to the hunting device. Jannik Sinner leads Italy past the Netherlands for its second consecutive Davis Cup Jannik Sinner clinched Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season by beating Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. Lotto Max jackpot hits $80M for second time ever The Lotto Max jackpot has climbed to $80 million for just the second time in Canadian lottery history. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks 24 Of The Best Host And Hostess Gifts You Can Find Online Right Now The Best Advent Calendars For Women In 2024 All The Best Beauty Stocking Stuffers That Ring In Under $25 Home Our Guide to the Best Jewellery Boxes You Can Find Online Right Now 16 Home Gadgets That'll Make Your Life Easier The 5 Best Drip Coffee Makers In Canada In 2024, Tested and Reviewed Gifts 23 Gifts, Add-Ons, And Stocking Stuffers For Anyone Who Spends A Lot Of Time In Their Car The Ultimate 2024 Holiday Gift Guide For Nature Lovers And Outdoor Adventurers 27 Of The Absolute Best Stocking Stuffers For Men Beauty 20 Anti-Aging Skincare Products That Reviewers Can’t Stop Talking About 12 Budget-Friendly Makeup Brushes And Tools Worth Adding To Your Kit If You Suffer From Dry Skin, You'll Want To Add At Least One Of These Hydrating Moisturizers To Your Cart Deals These Apple Products Are Majorly On Sale On Amazon Canada Right Now, So It Might Be Time To Upgrade Your Tech Black Friday Has Begun On Amazon Canada: Here Are The Best Deals Black Friday Is Almost Here, But These Deals On Mattresses And Bedding Are Already Live Atlantic ‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home A family in Riverview, N.B., is making plans for Christmas and the future after escaping a fire in their home on November, 14. Nova Scotia retirement community asks people to ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ The Berkeley retirement community is asking people to “Be a Santa to a Senior” by making a donation until December 9 at one of their four locations in the Halifax Regional Municipality. Man arrested in Saint John, N.B., for weapons offences Saint John Police Force in Saint John, N.B., arrested a 30-year-old man for weapons related offenses on Saturday. Toronto Walking pneumonia is on the rise in Canada, but what about Ontario? Doctors and emergency rooms across Canada have said they are seeing an unusual rise in walking pneumonia cases, particularly in children, but what about here in Ontario? 'It's an optimistic space:' Inside Toronto's new drug withdrawal centre Joshua Orson sits on the edge of a bed in a bright, clean room, thinking about his journey from addict to health-care worker. Routes to avoid during the 120th Santa Claus Parade on Sunday The 120th Santa Claus Parade is back in Toronto on Sunday and will bring along some road closures. Montreal Second Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident Second Cup Café has closed one of its franchise locations in Montreal following allegations of hateful remarks and gestures made by the franchisee in a video that was widely circulated online during a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday. Future of virtual doctor appointments in Quebec uncertain as negotiations stall Virtual appointments with family doctors in Quebec may end on Dec. 31, as negotiations between the province and their union remain deadlocked over compensation. Two suspicious fires in Rawdon Provincial police (SQ) are investigating two suspicious fires on the same street within 24 hours in the municipality of Rawdon. Northern Ontario Northern Ont. First Nation files claim against Ontario and Newmont mining Taykwa Tagamou Nation, a Cree First Nation located within Treaty 9, has filed a statement of claim against the Province of Ontario and Newmont, a mining company that owns properties in Timmins. Senior killed in dog attack in northern Ont. An 81-year-old was killed in a dog attack this week in Bonfield, Ont. Police believe three dogs were involved. More carrots pulled from grocery store shelves in expanded recall for E. coli: CFIA The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced an expanded recall on carrots over risks of E. coli O121 contamination, according to a notice issued Friday. Windsor How a senior's efforts to craft hats for students knitted his community together A Windsor, Ont., man knitting hats for kids in need has inspired his neighbours to make sure more than just ears are staying warm. Increased police presence in Tecumseh Tecumseh will see more police around Ryegate Drive and Lemire Street, as per OPP. CPKC Holiday Train coming to Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex If you were hoping to see the CPKC Holiday Train this year, you’re in luck! The train is chugging through Canada and the U.S., stopping in Chatham-Kent and Windsor-Essex on Monday. London World Champion Jennifer Ogg of London, Ont. among inductees in Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame When Jennifer Ogg signed up an Ironman race in Cozumel, Mex., she had no idea that months later, she’d get the call to be inducted into the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame. Two displaced in $200,000 house fire The London Fire Department was on scene of a house fire in the city on Sunday. Three people in hospital due to collision Kitchener Kitchener auto repair shop hosts fundraiser for children with disabilities, joined by hockey legend Wendel Clark An auto repair shop based in Kitchener held a special fundraiser Saturday to help children and youth with physical disabilities, with former Maple Leafs captain Wendel Clark in attendance. Colleges and universities face job cuts, deficits amid international student cap Groups representing post-secondary institutions say this may just be the tip of the iceberg, as dramatic drops in international student enrolment exacerbate some schools' existing budget shortfalls. Walking pneumonia is on the rise in Canada, but what about Ontario? Doctors and emergency rooms across Canada have said they are seeing an unusual rise in walking pneumonia cases, particularly in children, but what about here in Ontario? Barrie Driver seriously injured after crashing into tree: OPP An overnight crash in Tiny Township is under investigation, where a car allegedly crashed into a tree and both occupants were taken to hospital. First snowfall hits region Simcoe Muskoka saw its first signs of snow of the season Sunday morning, with a mix of flurries and rain leading to worsening road conditions and police reporting multiple collisions. Local high school basketball team wins provincial championship The Maple Ridge Ravens girls’ basketball team won a gold medal at the Girls AAA OFSAA Championships this weekend in Brampton, defeating the Mother Teresa Spartans 46-42 in comeback fashion. Winnipeg 'I had no idea that they even existed': Family reunites with 80-year-old letters hidden in Winnipeg home The family of a soldier who fought during the Second World War has been reunited with letters written to him 80 years ago. Winnipeg postal workers still collecting letters to Santa amid ongoing strike Here's how Winnipeg families can still deliver their letters to Santa amid the ongoing Canada Post workers' strike. Have you seen Bostyn? Winnipeg police search for missing teenager Winnipeg police are asking the public to help find a 15-year-old girl who went missing Saturday afternoon. Calgary Festival of Lights kicks off 38th year as snow arrives just in time For a while there, Lions Festival of Lights chair Otto Silzer was worried there wouldn’t be any snow to decorate the light show. Snowfall warning lifted as threat of more flurries fades from Sunday forecast The snowfall warning for Calgary has been lifted after a Saturday snowstorm socked the city, and the sun came out while the city dug its way out of some pretty deep drifts. Revival of Pospisil, power play fuels Flames to 4-3 shootout win over Wild A week ago, the Calgary Flames were winning despite Martin Pospisil's slump and the NHL club's weak power play. Edmonton Electric cars a 'hot commodity' in Alberta despite misconceptions Electric vehicles are off Alberta car lots, despite what experts say are some ongoing misconceptions about the technology. Podkolzin snaps scoring slump in Oilers win over Rangers Vasily Podkolzin vowed there's more to come after his first goal with the Edmonton Oilers. Podkolzin scored the game’s first goal and Connor McDavid had two goals and an assist for the Oilers in a 6-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday. Canada Post down eight million parcels amid strike as talks carry on over weekend Canada Post says it has seen a shortage of more than eight million parcels amid an ongoing strike that has effectively shut down the postal system for nine days compared with the same period in 2023. Regina Regina slammed with second snowstorm inside a week Regina is digging itself out yet again – mere days after it was slammed with the first major snowfall of the season. Dinosaur discovery reveals more about ancient Saskatchewan Researchers from McGill University have discovered a first of its kind fossil specimen for Saskatchewan. Regina police searching for answers after man injured by firearm The Regina Police Service (RPS) is searching for information after a man was injured in a firearm- related incident early Saturday morning. Saskatoon Saskatoon schools will be closed Monday following heavy snowfall Saskatoon Public Schools (SPS) has announced that all schools will be closed on Monday due to heavy snowfall and hazardous road conditions. Saskatoon digs out from another snowfall Saskatoon residents are digging out from another major snowfall that blanketed the city overnight. 'I'm excited to take it on': Saskatoon businesses weigh in on GST exemption Some local businesses say the federal government’s recent plan to pull back GST on several items is a positive initiative, but it should have been rolled out earlier in the holiday season. Vancouver Man charged with murder in East Vancouver woman's death A man has been charged with second-degree murder after a woman was found dead in an East Vancouver home this weekend, and police say the suspect and victim were married. B.C. man awarded $800K in damages after being injured by defective bear banger A B.C. man has been awarded nearly $800,000 in damages as compensation for injuries he sustained from a defective bear banger, according to a recent court decision. Vancouver Police Board member resigns over social media posts A member of the Vancouver Police Board was asked to resign after social media posts surfaced that made her continued service on the oversight body “untenable,” according to the chair. Vancouver Island B.C. man awarded $800K in damages after being injured by defective bear banger A B.C. man has been awarded nearly $800,000 in damages as compensation for injuries he sustained from a defective bear banger, according to a recent court decision. BC Hydro says power almost fully restored after B.C. windstorms British Columbia's electric utility says it has restored power to almost all customers who suffered outages during the bomb cyclone earlier this week, but strong wind from a new storm has made repairs difficult in some areas. Fall legislative sitting scrapped in B.C. as Speaker Chouhan confirmed to serve again There won't be a sitting of the British Columbia legislature this fall as originally planned. Kelowna Man in hospital following targeted shooting in Kamloops Police are appealing for information on a targeted shooting that resulted in the hospitalization of a man in Kamloops. Police cleared of fault in fatal 2023 crash in B.C.'s Interior British Columbia's independent police watchdog has cleared officers of wrongdoing in a crash where three people were killed south of Kamloops in July of last year. B.C. woman sentenced for stealing $14K in funds raised for schoolkids A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail. Stay Connected
The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game. However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team. The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time. ODDS AND TRENDS The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered. The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak. The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line. PROP PICKS --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book. --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games. KEY STAT The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers. THE NEWS The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday. Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games. Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2). "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'" Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries. INJURY REPORT The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session. Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring). THEY SAID IT Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself. "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all. "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that." PREDICTION Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19 --Field Level Media
Dallas (7-8) at Philadelphia (12-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 7 1/2 Against the spread: Dallas 6-9; Philadelphia 9-6 Series record: Cowboys lead 74-58. Last meeting: Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Eagles’ 34-6 rout of the Cowboys at Dallas on Nov. 10. Last week: Cowboys defeated the Buccaneers 26-24; Eagles lost 36-33 at Washington. Cowboys offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (10), scoring (20) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (27), pass (21), scoring (30) Eagles offense: overall (6), rush (1), pass (31), scoring (8) Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (2), scoring (5) Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-3; Eagles plus-6 RB Saquon Barkley is 162 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and needs 268 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. In his past five games, QB Cooper Rush has passed for nine touchdowns and one interception, looking more comfortable of late after taking over for Dak Prescott in November. Rush is 9-2 as a starter against teams that are not the Eagles. Dallas’s rushing defense vs. Barkley. Can anyone stop him? The Cowboys will be the latest to try to corral Barkley, who has 1,838 rushing yards and 2,114 scrimmage yards, both of which lead the NFL. Dallas ranks 28th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing an average of 135.9 yards a game. Philadelphia, behind Barkley’s stellar play, tops the league at 187.9 yards a game on the ground. Cowboys: WR CeeDee Lamb will miss the final two games after getting shut down over the sprained right shoulder he's been dealing with the second half of the season. ... LB Eric Kendricks (calf) warmed up but wasn’t able to play against Tampa Bay last week. Eagles: Hurts is in concussion protocol after leaving the game following a 13-yard scramble with 9:52 left in the first quarter last week. ... DE Josh Sweat (ankle) and Jordan Davis also left the game at Washington early. ... QB Ian Book was signed to the practice squad Thursday. The Cowboys made the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons, but were eliminated prior to their game against Tampa Bay last week when the Commanders came back from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Philadelphia. ... Dallas is 5-2 on the road. ... The Eagles can clinch the NFC East and one of the conference's top two seeds with a victory. ... On Jan. 11, 1981, the Eagles defeated the Cowboys 20-7 at their former home, Veterans Stadium. Wilbert Montgomery rushed for a 42-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia an early lead that propelled the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance. LB Micah Parsons needs half a sack to reach double digits in sacks for the fourth straight season to begin his career and would become just the fifth player to accomplish the feat in NFL history. ... K Brandon Aubrey made a 53-yard and two 58-yard field goals against the Buccaneers, upping his league-leading total to 14 made of 50-plus yards. ... Kenny Pickett went 14 of 24 for 143 yards and a TD in relief of Hurts last week. If he can’t go because of the rib injury and Hurts remains unavailable, Philadelphia could turn to third-stringer Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick, is no stranger to starting, going 14-10 as Pittsburgh’s QB earlier in his career. ... Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected against Washington for committing two unsportsmanlike penalties. ... The Eagles already set a team record for rushing yards in a season with 2,818, and they are within four rushing touchdowns of tying the club’s best single-season mark of 32, set in 2022. ... Barkley needs just 33 yards from scrimmage to break McCoy’s mark of 2,146 scrimmage yards, set in 2013. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the NFL with 16.3 yards a catch and ranks ninth in the league with 1,043 receiving yards, joining Mike Quick (1983–85) as the only Philadelphia players to have three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Philadelphia’s defense is tied for ninth in the NFL with a plus-6 turnover margin. With Hurts possibly sidelined, Philadelphia giving up an uncharacteristic 36 points last week and the chance to clinch the division, the Eagles defense likely will be extra motivated to have a good performance against a Dallas offense that ranks 21st in the league in points. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
ITV shares in demand amid takeover talk By CITY & FINANCE REPORTER Updated: 16:52 EST, 24 November 2024 e-mail View comments ITV shares will be in the spotlight when the stock market reopens today following reports it has become a takeover target. The stock has fallen more than 10 per cent this month – and suitors are said to be looking to take advantage of its depressed valuation. The firm, which is home to shows including Coronation Street, and whose production arm ITV Studios is behind Disney+ hit Rivals starring David Tennant, is valued at £2.5billion. Private equity giant CVC Capital Partners is exploring a deal for ITV with a European broadcaster. Hit: The company's production arm ITV Studios is behind Disney+ series Rivals starring David Tennant RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next ITV shares tumble as Hollywood strikes continue to hurt... ITV set to lose millions from Government ban on junk food... Share this article Share HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP How to choose the best (and cheapest) stocks and shares Isa and the right DIY investing account That could see CVC take ITV Studios with the broadcaster taking the rest of ITV, Sky News reported. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said ITV's shares may 'have a little run' on the back of the reports of a takeover. DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS AJ Bell AJ Bell Easy investing and ready-made portfolios Learn More Learn More Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Free fund dealing and investment ideas Learn More Learn More interactive investor interactive investor Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month Learn More Learn More Saxo Saxo Get £200 back in trading fees Learn More Learn More Trading 212 Trading 212 Free dealing and no account fee Learn More Learn More Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Compare the best investing account for you Share or comment on this article: ITV shares in demand amid takeover talk e-mail Add comment Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.
United States-based veteran activist Freeman Chari, who is also a Biomedical Scientist and Software Engineer, torched off a storm when he launched into an analysis of what he felt were the shortcomings of opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and his CCC party at the time. Shortly after Chari launched his no-holds barred critique, UK based lawyer Brighton Mutebuka also gave a detailed response. We publish both their contributions separately. Below is the response from Mutebuka. So yesterday (01 December 2024), the situation eventually came to a head and Freeman Chari decided that it was time that he parted ways with the opposition movement after serving decades in the trenches. It is clear that the cause of his disengagement is his frustration after he consistently felt that his counsel was either ignored or not valued by Nelson Chamisa. In the lead up to that monumental development, Freeman had consistently publicly dished out tweets laden with fierce criticism of Chamisa’s leadership in general and more specifically centring on the stolen August 2023 Zimbabwean elections. I waded into the matter, focusing more particularly on what I considered to be Freeman’s misdiagnosis of the political significance of his interaction with Prof Welshman Ncube over what he cited as a 72 hour period during the election period. This is against the backdrop of Freeman and I having what I considered to be a deep, robust, respectful and long established relationship. My intervention was respectful and issue driven – highlighting key factors which I deemed to be indicative of fundamental failings in Freeman’s assessment of the situation. Freeman’s response was hard hitting, no holds barred and featured a dose of demeaning personal insults inconsistent with the kind of relationship that I thought we had. This suggested that I had no agency and was in the business of boot licking Chamisa – effectively reducing the entirety of my contribution to that motive. I later saw other Tweets from him referring to “running dogs” having been “sent” more in the context of hired political merchants having been deployed by Chamisa to carry out a hatchet job on him. I consider Freeman to be a highly combustible character prone to shooting from the hip, just like the late nationalist and ZANU PF SG Edgar Tekere was. Chari fearlessly guards his independence and appears to prefer the lone ranger or rebel with a cause approach to politics. A gifted and innovative scientist who has been at the centre of a number of crucial opposition initiatives over the past few decades to unseat ZANU PF from power, he tends to speak without a filter, thereby offending many. He appears unfazed by the consequences of his straight shooting approach to politics, which has resulted in him regularly falling out with some of his colleagues over the years – before returning to the fold – and going through it all over again. In the current situation, Chari has appeared to struggle to interpret events around the stolen August 2023 election. He appears to want to pin the entire blame for the consequences of that stolen election on Nelson Chamisa. The fallout has stemmed from the fact that Chari has appeared to heap praise on figures such as Prof Welshman Ncube – primarily due to the latter’s outstanding Administrative efficiency in disbursing funds to candidates ahead of the election – in comparison to other opposition leaders. When I tried to challenge Chari’s position, – respectfully it must be said, rather than tussling it out with me intellectually and civilly to try and persuade me, he was quick to dismiss my contribution as being motivated by sycophancy – without any attempt to engage with the actual objective points that had been raised on their own merits. Thus, without any hint of irony, Chari was unable to embrace divergent views made in a comradely fashion – the very failing that he repeatedly chides Chamisa for. It was also alarming & unfortunate that – rather than critically engaging with the actual contents of what had been raised, Chari exhibited a propensity of wanting to seek to achieve supremacy in the exchange by invoking or roping in past conversations which would have been made in confidential or intimate settings. I did not sense any awareness of the existence of an overriding duty / responsibility to safeguard privileged information that would have been obtained in confidential settings – a hallmark of mature, principled leadership & sound judgment. In further exchanges with others from the opposition movement – it was clear that Chari was obstinately clinging to the idea that only his judgment & viewpoint was supreme – that hammering home Chamisa’s culpability & unwillingness to work with others. He was generously doling out insults to any contrary view, literally erasing agency in scenes inconsistent with a veteran of the democratic movement. I later tried to engage him behind the scenes but, regrettably, I was unsuccessful in persuading him otherwise. I consider yesterday to have been a dark day in the opposition movement as we literally saw a highly revered figure for many years essentially pressing the self-destruct button & rupturing his well earned & deserved reputation as a fearless & inspirational democrat. What was tragic is that I was unable to see a conscious attempt at social regulation / damage limitation / kusiya pehukama. The “running dogs” jibe is as inflammatory as it is highly damaging. It’s the type of language that is normally the preserve of cold, cruel & insensitive regime apologists normally deployed at opposition activists. In the end, it appears to me that while Chari rightly feels entitled to criticise Chamisa & pass judgment over what he considers to be the latter’s weaknesses, Chari himself appears unable or unwilling to accept being subjected to the same scrutiny – thereby opening himself to charges of hypocrisy. I am also of the view that Chari’s understanding / mastery of key past & current political events appears dubious at best & woeful at worst – especially events surrounding FAZ, Tshabangu’s role as ED’s proxy & his interaction with the ex PDP cabal, Welshman & others. It is difficult to understand why Chari would be unwilling to re-evaluate the full gamut of his dealings with Ncube in the lead up to the stolen elections, particularly in light of what has emerged since. After all, George Charamba’s boastful pre-election Tweet about an impending palace coup plot brewing in the opposition movement dovetails with the subsequent Tshabangu fronted insurgency, roping in Biti, Phulu and Doink via the “anga achapera ega” audio clip & several aborted Tshabangu published documents purporting to appoint Biti & Ncube – to joint leadership positions. Even now, it is clear that Welshman Ncube is behaving like a captured or co-opted opposition leader, as he is offering zilch resistance to ED – while Doink, from the same faction, has joined the opposition hall of infamy via graduating from the ZANU PF school of indoctrination, the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology – and recently upped the ante on the opposition hall of infamy spectrum via dishing out stratospheric levels of pro-ED bootlicking live on TV! Given the above, Chari’s positive appraisal of Ncube, even within the limited context he highlighted, – was ill-judged & amounted to political suicide. What made it worse is that, it was juxtaposed with withering criticism of Chamisa’s leadership & none in respect of Ncube & his crew, despite their chequered history & recent shameful shenanigans, suggesting the prevalence of bias / absence of parity / balance. That opened Chari to charges of being consistently biased against Chamisa to the point of holding open hostility / contempt. It is striking that a mere 72 hours worth of interaction with Ncube appears to have been so decisive in shaping Chari’s views on the subject to the point of being unwilling even to re-evaluate the situation in light of subsequent events. Another point worth noting is that, when I tried to push Chari on the importance of avoiding the use of intemperate language, he appeared unable or unwilling to accept that this could be potentially damaging to important relationships & the ability to get your message through. Summing it all up, I will defend Chari when it comes to charges of being compromised. Such charges should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Chari is simply another Two Boy Tekere. He lacks diplomatic tact. He’s a volatile character & is prone to being explosive. He is direct & speaks his mind without a filter & worrying about the potential impact & consequences of what he says on others. Such an approach renders one unpredictable, ungovernable, potentially disruptive, upsets team spirit & harmony and is thus unsustainable in the long term. I think he is an awesome Scientist but struggles with making sound political judgments at the highest level – but he is oblivious of this failing. We now know that although he is prone to fiercely criticising others, he is himself unable or unwilling to take similar heat. It is possible that his “rants” against Chamisa are the direct result of failing to convince Chamisa to take his advice. It also possible that owing to his tendency to venture into public outposts / tirades – and disclosing sensitive or confidential conversations and intel, Chamisa would have long distrusted him – and despised the manner of delivery – perhaps with Chari barely able to disguise / contain his contempt when expressing / challenging Chamisa on issues he disagreed with him – thereby sealing the fate of the relationship! There is also the possibility that Chari is perhaps unaware of the constraints that leadership entails – and that it’s possible that there is intel that he might not be privy to – which ultimately sometimes shapes decisions that Chamisa, like any other leader has to make – leaving a trail of disappointed cdes like Chari in his wake. Whatever the basis of how we got here, this is a real tragedy to the broader opposition movement! After all, Chari will always be one of us & a real patriot, regardless of the Piri Piri that he sometimes unleashes with reckless abandon! I hope that in the fullness of time, he will reconsider some of the invective he has directed to so many who revered him, thereby haemorrhaging his reputation as a stalwart of the opposition movement cultivated over many years! I wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Bon Voyage Chari!
Dallas (7-8) at Philadelphia (12-3) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 7 1/2 Against the spread: Dallas 6-9; Philadelphia 9-6 Series record: Cowboys lead 74-58. Last meeting: Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Eagles’ 34-6 rout of the Cowboys at Dallas on Nov. 10. Last week: Cowboys defeated the Buccaneers 26-24; Eagles lost 36-33 at Washington. Cowboys offense: overall (16), rush (28), pass (10), scoring (20) Cowboys defense: overall (27), rush (27), pass (21), scoring (30) Eagles offense: overall (6), rush (1), pass (31), scoring (8) Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (9), pass (2), scoring (5) Turnover differential: Cowboys minus-3; Eagles plus-6 RB Saquon Barkley is 162 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season and needs 268 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. In his past five games, QB Cooper Rush has passed for nine touchdowns and one interception, looking more comfortable of late after taking over for Dak Prescott in November. Rush is 9-2 as a starter against teams that are not the Eagles. Dallas’s rushing defense vs. Barkley. Can anyone stop him? The Cowboys will be the latest to try to corral Barkley, who has 1,838 rushing yards and 2,114 scrimmage yards, both of which lead the NFL. Dallas ranks 28th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing an average of 135.9 yards a game. Philadelphia, behind Barkley’s stellar play, tops the league at 187.9 yards a game on the ground. Cowboys: WR CeeDee Lamb will miss the final two games after getting shut down over the sprained right shoulder he's been dealing with the second half of the season. ... LB Eric Kendricks (calf) warmed up but wasn’t able to play against Tampa Bay last week. Eagles: Hurts is in concussion protocol after leaving the game following a 13-yard scramble with 9:52 left in the first quarter last week. ... DE Josh Sweat (ankle) and Jordan Davis also left the game at Washington early. ... QB Ian Book was signed to the practice squad Thursday. The Cowboys made the playoffs in each of the previous three seasons, but were eliminated prior to their game against Tampa Bay last week when the Commanders came back from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat Philadelphia. ... Dallas is 5-2 on the road. ... The Eagles can clinch the NFC East and one of the conference's top two seeds with a victory. ... On Jan. 11, 1981, the Eagles defeated the Cowboys 20-7 at their former home, Veterans Stadium. Wilbert Montgomery rushed for a 42-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia an early lead that propelled the Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance. LB Micah Parsons needs half a sack to reach double digits in sacks for the fourth straight season to begin his career and would become just the fifth player to accomplish the feat in NFL history. ... K Brandon Aubrey made a 53-yard and two 58-yard field goals against the Buccaneers, upping his league-leading total to 14 made of 50-plus yards. ... Kenny Pickett went 14 of 24 for 143 yards and a TD in relief of Hurts last week. If he can’t go because of the rib injury and Hurts remains unavailable, Philadelphia could turn to third-stringer Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-round pick. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick, is no stranger to starting, going 14-10 as Pittsburgh’s QB earlier in his career. ... Defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected against Washington for committing two unsportsmanlike penalties. ... The Eagles already set a team record for rushing yards in a season with 2,818, and they are within four rushing touchdowns of tying the club’s best single-season mark of 32, set in 2022. ... Barkley needs just 33 yards from scrimmage to break McCoy’s mark of 2,146 scrimmage yards, set in 2013. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the NFL with 16.3 yards a catch and ranks ninth in the league with 1,043 receiving yards, joining Mike Quick (1983–85) as the only Philadelphia players to have three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Philadelphia’s defense is tied for ninth in the NFL with a plus-6 turnover margin. With Hurts possibly sidelined, Philadelphia giving up an uncharacteristic 36 points last week and the chance to clinch the division, the Eagles defense likely will be extra motivated to have a good performance against a Dallas offense that ranks 21st in the league in points. 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 without permission.
Joe Biden announces ceasefire deal to end fighting between Israel and HezbollahIsrael strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. New York to charge fossil fuel companies for damage from climate change ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Large fossil fuel companies would have to pay fees to help New York fight the effects of climate change under a bill signed by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul. The governor signed the new law Thursday. It requires companies responsible for substantial greenhouse gas emissions to pay into a state infrastructure fund for repairs or projects that help avoid future damage from climate change. Lawmakers approved the bill earlier this year. It's meant to make big oil and gas companies contribute to the cost of repairs after extreme weather events or for resiliency projects. Such projects may include restoring coastal wetlands or upgrading roads, bridges and water drainage systems. Legal challenges to the new law are expected. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Why this Mexican American woman played a vital role in the US sacramental peyote trade MIRANDO CITY, Texas (AP) — Amada Cardenas, a Mexican American woman who lived in the tiny border town of Mirando City in South Texas, played an important role in the history of the peyote trade. She and her husband were the first federally licensed peyote dealers who harvested and sold the sacramental plant to followers of the Native American Church in the 1930s. After her husband's death in 1967, Cardenas continued to welcome generations of Native American Church members to her home until her death in 2005, just before her 101st birthday.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Trenton McLaughlin scored 23 points as Northern Arizona beat South Dakota 95-82 on Saturday. McLaughlin shot 6 of 14 from the field, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and went 9 for 12 from the line for the Lumberjacks (7-3). Jayden Jackson scored 20 points while going 6 of 9 and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line and added seven assists. Monty Bowser had 14 points and shot 6 for 7, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc. Isaac Bruns led the way for the Coyotes (7-4) with 22 points and seven rebounds. Chase Forte added 15 points, five assists and four steals for South Dakota. Paul Bruns also had nine points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .NBA's Christmas Day ratings skyrocket, even going up against NFL games
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Tayshawn Comer scored 18 points as Evansville beat Campbell 66-53 on Sunday night. Comer had six rebounds and six assists for the Purple Aces (3-4). Cameron Haffner scored 16 points and added six rebounds. Gabriel Pozzato shot 3 for 5, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 10 points. Jasin Sinani led the way for the Fighting Camels (3-4) with 22 points. Colby Duggan added 11 points and Nolan Dorsey totaled eight points, seven rebounds and four steals. Evansville took the lead with 1:45 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 34-28 at halftime, with Haffner racking up eight points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Three men fatally shot during police operation in St. James
Opposition fighters are at Damascus' gates. Who are they and what now?The 20 Christmas Eve traditions people in Yorkshire do every year